This February 6th will mark General James Ewell Brown (Jeb) Stuart’s 191st birthday. In 1884, Taylorsville was incorporated into a town and renamed Stuart in honor of the heroic Cavalry General who was born west of the town in the community of Ararat, Virginia.
So, how did the county seat of Patrick get the name Taylorsville? According to local historians, Virginia and Lewis Pedigo, in 1792, Taylorsville was named in honor of Welsh emigrant, George Taylor. One year earlier, Patrick County had been created from part of its’ eastern neighbor, Henry County.
George Taylor, born in 1745, brought his Welsh bride, Elizabeth Anyon, to the colonies and became one of the largest landowners in the area. George Taylor served in the Continental Army during the American Revolution; this may be the reason that the county seat was named in his honor.
According to an article in the June 17th, 1984, edition of the Martinsville Bulletin, the Henry County Courthouse holds two George Taylor land grants (both written on sheepskin). The first land grant is for 343 acres for the price of 35 shillings and was signed by colonial governor, John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore, in 1774. The second George Taylor land grant was for 254 acres on the south side of the Mayo River for 25 shillings and was signed by the second governor of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson, in 1781.
George and Elizabeth Anyon Taylor’s first child, Mary (Molly) was born in November of 1769. Molly married a Hutchens and moved to Cumberland County, Kentucky. The couple’s second child, Josiah Franklin Taylor, was born in November of 1771. Josiah married Miss Elizabeth (Betsy) Harris from Henry County on December 14th, 1805, and the couple made their home in Danbury, Stokes County, North Carolina.
The third of Taylor’s children was James Lemuel, born in 1775. According to the Pedigo’s history, James died during the War of 1812. Susannah Taylor, child #4, was born in 1780. Susannah married Chadwell Vawter (Vaughter) in October of 1816 in Henry County. Susannah and Chadwell made their home in Stokes County, N.C.
George and Elizabeth’s fifth child was John Taylor, born in 1872. John married Miss Elizabeth Pedigo, from Patrick County. John and his bride migrated to Monroe, Kentucky, where John was working as a wool carder in the 1850 census.
Tragically, the Taylor’s sixth child, Blagrove Taylor, died at Fort Norfolk on January 4th, 1814, serving during the War of 1812. Elizabeth Matilda Taylor was the next child born to the couple in 1783; she married George Burrus in Henry County on February 3rd, 1805. The newly married couple migrated to Blue Springs in Jackson County, Missouri.
The eighth child born to the couple was Adelphia Taylor, born in 1784. Adelphia never married and in the 1850 through 1870 census’, she was living with her great nephew in Horsepasture, Virginia. Adelphia passed away in 1871 at the age of 87. George Taylor Jr. was born on January 30th, 1875; he married Miss Elizabeth McMillan in Henry County on January 24, 1811. George Jr. fought in the War of 1812 and upon his return, he and Elizabeth settled in Giles County, Tennessee.
The last two sons of George and Elizabeth Anyon Taylor broke with tradition and did not marry a girl named Elizabeth! When I was researching the family, I kept double checking if this could be correct; could George Taylor have a wife and four daughters in law named Elizabeth Taylor? Yes!
William Anderson Taylor was born in 1788 and married Miss Catherine Ann “Kitty” Hill on November 10th, 1817, in Henry County, Virginia. Most of the couple’s eight children settled in Patrick or Henry County or just over the North Carolina line in Stokes or Surry County.
Reuben Taylor, the youngest child of George and Elizabeth Taylor, was born on the 30th of August 1793. Reuben married Miss Nancy Gray on February 27th, 1816, and the couple had several children which remained in the area. In 1844, Reuben and Nancy Gray Taylor donated the land to build Mayo Baptist Church. The first services held at the church were conducted by Elder John Lee, and Elder John Robertson, of Leaksville, North Carolina. In 1996, the General Joseph Martin and Patrick Henry Chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution honored Reuben and Nancy’s fathers for their service during the War for American Independence.
Next week, we will look at George and Elizabeth Taylor’s grandson, William Fountain Taylor, Elamsville doctor.
Woody may be reached at rockcastlecreek1@gmail.com or (276) 692-9626.
