ROBERT SAWYER TAYLOR
Robert Sawyer Taylor was born Nov. 20, 1834.
from Baptismal records of St. Georges Chapery in Hyde
Cheshire England. page 37 Parish of Stockport.
Her parents were Joseph Taylor and Lucy
Hollins. He was baptized by H. Alkin
. Mr. 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
The family moved a lot. It appears their
first home was in Pittsburgh. They are on the 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 on 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.
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.
In 1853 they returned to 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.
Very shortly, in 1858 Robert Taylor at the
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
Date edited 1/7/2021