Dr. James Taylor, "The Elder"

• Not the same as Col. James Taylor, of King & Queen
  • Not the father of William “Nathaniel” Taylor

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I have researched this allegation. Here is what I believe can be documented. A John Taylor with wife Elizabeth __?__ died in Lancaster Co., VA (not PA), in 1651. He seems to be the John Taylor who was born in 1607 in England. He had a brother, James Taylor (b. 12 Feb. 1609/10) who appears to be the James Taylor, surgeon, who married Elizabeth Underwood and died in Surry Co., VA, in 1655. [He had an affair with his servant, Ursula Kettle, in 1651 which produced a bastard son, James Taylor, who was born in 1652 in Surry Co., VA. He also apparently mistreated his wife physically (and emotionally) who sued him for legal separation in 1653-1654.]

• emigrated in 1635 aboard the ship "True Love"
• On March 26, 1654, Edward Skynner presented a petition to the Commonwealth charging that Dr. James Taylor of Surry County,..." 'chyrugeon' hath lived in loathsome sin of adultery with his late servant Ursula Kettle and that she delivered a bastard child the 18th October last past." Ursula made deposition to the charge, whereupon Elizabeth filed for divorce.
• 26 Mar 1654: James Taylor deceased. Surry County, VA.

notes

From http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=thamm&id=...

!"Elizabeth Underwood married first Dr. James Taylor. Was he a son of Rev. James Taylor who was associated with the family in Isle of Wight County? He certainly was NOT a kind or faithful husband to her so that she felt compelled to appeal to the Governor and Council for a separation in order that she could return to the home of her mother. The details are such that it would have been impossible for her to have remained with him without being killed or maimed. Before the matter was finally settled the husband obligingly departed this life, according to the first record book of Surrey County. Recorded 26 March 1654. Virginia Genealogies #1, Genealogies of Virginia Families V, Underwood Family of Virginia, page 630.

!26 Mar 1654: James Taylor deceased. Surry County, VA.

!1 May 1655: 1 May 1655, the estate account of Mr. James Taylor returned and among other items is where Mr. Slaughter was paid one third of the estate in right of his wife (Vol. 1, 53). 6 November 1655, Francis Slaughter for and in consideration of two cowes with caves and 2000 pounds of tobacco to be paid the 10th of October next and 1000 pounds more to be paid of 1657 by Thomas Culmer of Surrey Countye Chyrurgion all claim (in right of his wife) unto the house and plantation where he now lives. (Page 83). Virginia Genealogies #1, Genealogies of Virginia Families V, Underwood Family of Virginia, page 630.

comments

Warning: This profile is often confused with that of James Taylor of King & Queen. That profile includes references to Frances Taylor and Mary Gregory as wives before and after emigration. It seems plausible that the sources listed here that attribute those wives to Dr. James Taylor made an error and confused the two James Taylors.

• - The wife "Mary Gregory" really doesn't belong with Dr. James. She belongs solely with James Taylor of King & Queen. There is evidence in the latter profile for this.
• - The wife "Francis Slaughter", who is the mother of James Taylor, shows up as a claimant of Dr. Taylor's estate
• - James Taylor of King & Queen also apparently had a wife by the name of "Francis" as his first wife, but it's doubtful they are the same "Francis". Dr. James Taylor's first wife apparently remarried to a Mr. Slaughter.
• - Dr. James Taylor had two wives: Francis (maiden name unknown) and Elizabeth Underwood, and a lover: Miss Kettle.
• - There is no evidence (yet) that Dr. James had children other than John Henry Taylor and James Taylor (whose profile I created)
• - James Taylor of King&Queen had at least 11 children, 4 by "Francis" and 7 by "Mary", and there's evidence to that effect recorded in the profile

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From https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Taylor-49951

Elizabeth Underwood married first Dr. James Taylor. Was he a son of Rev. James Taylor who was associated with the family in Isle of Wight County?

He certainly was NOT a kind or faithful husband to her so that she felt compelled to appeal to the Governor and Council for a separation in order that she could return to the home of her mother. The details are such that it would have been impossible for her to have remained with him without being killed or maimed. Before the matter was finally settled the huband obligingly departed this life, according to the first record book of Surrey County. Recorded 26 March 1654.[2]

—- Elizabeth Underwood was born before 1640, the daughter of ____ Underwood and Margaret ____. She married first between 1652-54 to Dr. James Taylor, who died 1655 in Surry Co., VA shortly after Elizabeth received a legal separation from him.

Links

• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=thedash1&...
• Updated from MyHeritage Family Trees via wife Mary Bishop Thomas (born Gregory) by SmartCopy: Feb 2 2015, 16:05:46 UTC

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GEDCOM Source

Ancestry.com England & Wales, Christening Index, 1530-1980 Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2008; @R2@ Place: Plumpton-Wood, Lancashire, England; Collection: ; BTs; Date Range: 1604 - 1618; Film Number: 1470949

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry.com 1851 England Census Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; @R2@ Class: HO107; Piece: 1500; Folio: 22; Page: 37

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry.com U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010; @R2@ Place: Virginia, USA; Year: 1648; Page Number: 250

GEDCOM Source

Godfrey Memorial Library, comp. American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI) Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 1999; @R2@

GEDCOM Source

Edmund West, comp. Family Data Collection - Deaths Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; @R2@