ROBERT   SAWYER    TAYLOR

 

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Robert Sawyer Taylor was born Nov. 20, 1834.  from Baptismal records of St. Georges Chapery in Hyde Cheshire England. page 37 Parish of Stockport.  His parents were Joseph Taylor and Lucy Hollins.  He was baptized by H. AlkinMr. Taylor was listed then as a shoemaker.  Hyde is east of and just outside Manchester.

Robert  attended school in Hyde and learned mechanical engineering.  He put this to use in a variety of ways in America.  When Robert was just 14 the family sailed from Liverpool on the ship Rappannock, with Cap. Cushing arriving in New York City on Nov. 6, 1848. from NYC 1820 - 1850 Passenger and Immigration Lists, Microfilm M237, Roll 76
> 1850 Census living in Birmingham borough of Allegheny County. page 62. This is on the south side of the;Monongahela  River in what is now greater Pittsburgh.
Joseph Taylor is 39 and a shoemaker, Louisa is 42 and Robert 15. all born in England.

The Biographical and Genealogical History of the State of Delaware, Vol 1 written in 1899 page 470; has a full page dedicated to Robert S.; Taylor.; The story includes his parents and uncle. It fills in some of the gaps not found in census or deed documents.p; As Robert did not die until 1928, it is very likely he supplied the details himself. According to the Bio the family moved to Louisville Ky in 1850 - would have been after the census was taken in PA.In Louisville he was trained as a glass and bottle blower.

PA, Bridgewater. There are actually 3 Bridgewaters in PA, but I believe it most likely they were; moving via the Ohio River, ie Pittsburgh to Louisville, then back up the river to the Bridgewater that is on the Ohio just west  of Pittsburgh. There Robert secured work in a glass works as a skilled worker. Finally, the family moved to Delaware where Robert's uncle, James Taylor owned and operated a woolen mill on Pike Creek in Mill Creek Hundred.

It is not known just when the family arrived in Delaware but on Dec 31, 1857 Anna Kelley was wed to Robert Taylor by James S. Vallandingham. a Presbyterian minister of the area re Delaware Marriage Records 1806-1933, page 122.

Shortly, in 1858 Robert Taylor, then age of 24, purchased a farm of 60 acres in Mill Creek Hd. and lived and managed the farm for over 40 years.

The1860 Census Delaware of Mill Creek Hrd,Mermaid Post Office, page 29 taken June 20  :had the Taylor family:
Joseph Taylor age 48 farm tenant born England
Lucy Taylor, age 52, (Jospeh's wife) born England
Robert Taylor, age 25, an engineer, born England
Ann Taylor, (Robert's wife) age 22 born Delaware
Lucy Taylor, age 1, born Pennsy (think an error)
Catherine Whitehead age 7 born Del.  (I do not know who she is)

However the previous page had John and Ann Whitehead - age 50. (what is the connection ??)
The Taylor family lived next door to John Kelly age 25 and his family (Ann's brother)
James Taylor, age 50, Woolen  manufacturer, born England was on page 31.  He was Joseph's older brother and the first to come to Delaware.

1870 Delaware Census, Mill Creek Hr  Pleasant Hill roll M593_120, page 572:
Robert Taylor, 35 farmer born England
Anna Taylor, 33 born Delaware as were all children
Lucy Taylor, 10
George Taylor, 8
Catherine Taylor, 6
Sarah E. Taylor, 4
Katherine Kelly 69, Anna's mother

Next door to Robert'' parents Joseph and Lucy Taylor.

Robert was a very active citizen.  Not only did he successfully run a farm with  profitable stock and grain, but he was constantly employed as an engineer by a variety of businesses including his uncle's woolen mill, iron mills of Bringhurst, P & O Railroad, and various Kaolin businesses in Hockessin.

The bio completes the story by noting Robert Taylor was a Republican, elected school commissioner in District #90, where he lived on Pike Creek, and that he and his children were members of the M.E. Church. I would guess that to be Ebenzer.  I need to look for church records.  However, his wife Anne continued at White Clay Presbyterian church where she was raised and her family attended. 

Robert Taylor owned and lived next to a mill on Pike Creek very near the intersection and bridge of Old Coach Rd.  There are some structural characteristics in the Pike Creek stream bed that can be seen from the bridge.  Perhaps that is where the mill was located.  On a Beers map the home was just up Pike creek on the first wide spot between the road and the creek.

The 1880 Delaware Census, E District, roll 79_119, FH film 1254119, page 165 D

Robert S. Taylor, age 44                   I've added known married names for the daughters, found on
Anna Taylor,
age 43                            Find a Grave
George T.
age 18
Sarah E.
age 13                    Sarah Elizabeth Taylor Day
Josephine,
age 10                Josephine Taylor Eastburn
Hannah,
age 8                     Mary Hannah Taylor Eastburn
Ether,
age 4                          Ethel May Taylor Armstrong
Catherine Kelly,
age 79    
  then there is Catherine Ann Taylor Boulden & Lucy Taylor Welch who had already married and moved out of the family home.                     

1900 Delaware Census, enumeration district 55, page 15,
Robert  S. Taylor,
age 65   - Engineer,   home is mortgaged
Anna Taylor,
age 63
George Taylor,
age 38 - farmer
A. Mary Taylor,
age 27,  (probably Hannah from above)
J.W.McKendrick,
age 20 - farm laborer

On Janurary 6, 1908 appeared an article in the Evening Journal of Wilmington De, image 5 (maybe page 5) telling of the 50th anniversary celebration held for Robert and Anna Taylor at their home near Marshallton on New Years Day. "of seven children, the six living were all there" Lucy was not listed but her husband and daughter were there.  11 grandchildren were also in attendance.

1910 Delaware Census, Representative District 8
Robert,
75 and Anna, 73 now live without children at home, but next door is
George
with his wife Mary E.
Robert
states he is "Out of work" and was for 32 weeks.

The couple again appeared in the Evening Journal, May 24, 1911 in a social column telling of an "autoing party"  when all members of Catherine Ann Boulden's family visited her parents "last Sunday in Pike Creek".  That is Mr. & Mrs. John C. Boulden, Dr. & Mrs Harry R. Pennock, and Miss Grace Boulden of Wilmington.

Anna Kelley Taylor died Dec. 30, 1919 near Harmony, in White Clay Hundred. I have trouble reading the cause of death.  It may be Bronchites.  She was buried at White Clay Creek Presbyterian Cemetery on Jan 2, 1920 though the death certificate says Ebenezer. She is in plot 124.  re Find A Grave. Memorial 154868227 with photos of the grave in cemetery.

In the 1920 Delaware Census, Robert Taylor is a widower and lived with his son George.  Robert Taylor lived another 8 years. He died Jan 22, 1928 at 93 years old.   He is buried next to her. Photo and details are on Find a Grave, Memorial ID # 137830248



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Date created: 12/3/2020
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Date edited 4/20/2023