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Settlers or Squatters Land records suggest that the Taylor's migrated down from the Eastern Shore of Virginia with the Mear(e)'s family. (Spelling variations in the names can be found in private and public records for the same individuals.) Because of the often-repeated use of Henry as a first name, I followed the convention established by others: The oldest Henry in this line, probably born before 1800, is designated Henry 1. His son, Henry 2, is the principal in the 1828 will.) The land records list Henry 1’s grandfather as William R. Taylor, who’s father also is linked with the Mears in Accomack County, Virginia. The oldest William suspected to be in this line is known to have come over from England, but the connection is so tenuous to be held for further validation. However, in support of the claim, in Henry 1’s generation and continuing, we find many instances of marriages between the Taylor and Mears families. Once in Robeson County the Taylor family continued their life as farmers. A Henry Taylor is listed in "Squatters in Robeson County 1753-1761" which might account for the family settling in the rich farmland alongside the Lumber River. At the time the principal Native American inhabitants were the Lumbee Indians with many British-sounding surnames who claimed to be the descendents of Sir Walter Raleigh’s "Lost Colony" of Manteo, on the coast just inland from Cape Hatteras. In most instances the Lumbees were peaceful neighbors who welcomed new farmers into the sparely populated area and often inter-married, continuing their tradition of integration rather than conflict until the troubles of the mid-1800s. One of the major antagonists to the Lumbees was a "John Taylor." No connection between this John Taylor and the descendants of Lemuel has been identified. The earliest document recording my Taylor Family in Robeson County, North Carolina is a copy of Henry Taylor 2’s will, dated May 12th, 1828, proved and recorded in the Robeson County Will Book. Our modern records can trace our family firmly back to Lemuel Taylor and his wife Elizabeth Phillips. From there, the connection is thin, but the only document found that links speculation to fact is Henry 2’s will, which mentions a son, "Lamb" Taylor. "Lamb" is believed to be the same Lemuel who can be traced back from our present day records. Others have agreed "Lamb’s" siblings mentioned in the will are the same as Lemuel’s, although no documentation exists to confirm this. However, the location of the property, in the Burnt Swamp portion of Robeson County, supports this theory. The only other Lemuel Taylor born about the same date, circa 1800, is listed in Martin & Edgecombe Counties, born of parents from the Elizabeth City region. Fortunately, Lemuel’s will well documents the family line to which I belong which includes Henry Senior, a veteran of the Civil War, and his brothers and sisters. In Henry 2’s will, he passed on over several hundred acres of property, a few head of livestock, a home and "farming utensils." Henry’s was a common situation and met the definition of "land poor," meaning he owned property but little else. In that place and time, he was one of many subsistence farmers providing for their families. The wills of Henry and Lemuel indicate that many of the individuals until the mid 1800’s were not literate and depended upon the public servants of the day to properly record their names, to be verified with their own "mark,", an "X" on the appropriate legal document. As common farmers, they were not noticed in the press of the day, nor are there other records of their movement into North Carolina. The farming tradition continued down through Henry's sons and daughters and their cousins. Over the years, many moved away from the farm, becoming teachers and soldiers, tradesmen and professionals of all types. But our roots are firmly planted in the swamps of Robeson County, North Carolina. The Pittman family is closely associated with Lemuel's children. Willis, John and Anderson, all Taylor boys, married Pittman sisters Charlotte, Mary and Rosa, respectively. I also have Lindsey Ann Taylor, a sister of the boys, marrying Henry Pitman, and several other connections to the Pittman name, including some that are spelled with only one "t" that may also be related. If my suspicion is correct, Henry Pitman may be a cousin to the Pittman girls, since I show different parents for them. The girls' mother is Charity Taylor, so the Pitman/Taylor family ties may go back further than I can document. |
© 2000-2008 John M. Taylor |