Elias Taylor (bef. 1641 - abt. 1717)

Born before 21 Sep 1641 in Hungars Parish, Northampton Co, VA

Husband of Comfort (Anderson) Finney — married about 1690 in Accomack County, Colonial Virginia

Descendants

Died about 3 May 1717 after about age 75 in Accomack County, Virginia Colony

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Biography

Elias was born on 21 Sep 1641 and his parents were Lydia and William Taylor.

Elias Taylor married Comfort Anderson. ^[1]

About 1717 he left a last Will which was witnessed by his daughter Mary Taylor and his wife Comfort Taylor and Thomas Perry. ^[2]

Their daughter Mary Taylor married Samuel Alexander and they later moved to Cecil County, Maryland where they both died.

He died about 1717 in Accomack County, Virginia.

Elias was born in 1661 at Hungars Parish, Northampton Co, VA.2 

He was baptized on 22 September 1661 at Hungars Parish, Northampton Co, VA. He was shown as Elias, son of William and Elizabeth Taylor.2 

Elias was named in his father's will on 21 September 1686 at Assawoman, Acc Co, VA. He was shown as son Elias Taylor in the will of William Taylor of Assawoman

He married Comfort [42] Anderson, daughter of William Anderson (Burgess) and Mary [14] Wise, circa 1690.3 

Elias was named as administrator of an estate on 8 December 1697 at Accomack Co, VA. It was on this date that administration on the estate of William & Bridget Taylor his wife was granted to Elias Taylor, brother of the said William, for the use of their 6 children with Timothy Coe & Samuel Taylor securities.4,5 

Elias died before 4 June 1717 at Accomack Co, VA. The within last Will & Testamt of Mr Elias Taylor was proved in Open Court of Accomack County by the Oaths of Thomas Perry William Taylor & Mary Taylor ye three Witnesses to ye same 4 June 1717 Which ye Court admitted to record. Recorded 19 June 1717.

Family

Elias married Comfort [42] Anderson, daughter of William Anderson (Burgess) and Mary [14] Wise, circa 1690.

Children

1. Elizabeth 'Betty' Taylor+ b. c 1692, d. b 30 Nov 1762
2. Naomi Taylor+ b. c 1694, d. b 27 Apr 1762
3. Comfort Taylor+ b. c 1698, d. b 1742
4. Joshua Taylor b. c 1700, d. b 2 Feb 1731
5. Mary Taylor+ b. c 1702
6. Esther Taylor+ b. c 1704
7. Hannah Taylor+ b. c 1706

Research Notes

Per some genealogists, Elias was also known by George.

Court Records

He was named in a court order on 9 December 1697 at Accomack Co, VA. Mr. John Custis, who married Bridget the widow of Wm. Taylor, petitioned that Mr. Elias Taylor had obtained a letter of administration on Wm. Taylor's estate. Now Custis requested that division of the estate be made, "that ye said Custis might have his just part in right of his wife." Ordered that the estate be divided by the same persons appointed to appraise the estate.6 

He was named in a court order on 5 April 1698 at Accomack Co, VA. Mr. Elias Taylor (as the administrator his brother William Taylor, deceased) complained that the order he had obtained 4 January 1697/98, for appraisement and division of the estate had not been performed because Mr. William Anderson and Mr. George Hope (two of the appraisers) had been sick. Ordered that Mr. Anderson, Joseph Stockley, George Hope, Thomas Perry and John Watts, or any four of them, appraise and divide the estate and report to the next court. It was further ordered that Mr. John Custis, who had married Bridget (Wm. Taylor's widow) and was in custody of the estate, give an inventory of the estate in his possession and swear to its accuracy at the next court.7 

He was named in a court order on 7 June 1698 at Accomack Co, VA. Administration of the estate of William Taylor (deceased) had been granted to his brother, Mr. Elias Taylor. On behalf of William's orphans, an inventory and appraisal of the estate had been ordered. But "by reason of some disappointments" it was not done, and at the last court the order was renewed. Now Elias set forth his reasons why the appraisers had not performed the order: Mr. John Custis (who had married Bridget, the widow of William Taylor) had not performed what he had been ordered to do. By his attorney, Custis pleaded that the order for him to give an inventory under oath "was not grounded upon legal process but only upon a bare petition." After a full hearing, the court judged the order to be erroneous and reversed it. Attorneys in the case were TR (Tully Robinson) and JC (John Custis?). Since the order for the inventory of the Taylor estate was made void, Mr. Tully Robinson, attorney of Mr. Elias Taylor (administrator of the estate of his brother, William Taylor, deceased), made a new motion. The court ordered that Mr. William Anderson, Joseph Stoackly, Mr. George Hope, Thomas Perry and John Watts (or any four of them) were to inventory and appraise the estate before the next court.8 

He was named in a court order on 4 October 1698 at Accomack Co, VA. Mr. Elias Taylor (as administrator of the estate of William Taylor) claimed that he had submitted an inventory and appraisal of as much of the estate that had come into his hands; he noted that administration had formerly been granted to Bridget (widow of Taylor), who had failed to inventory and appraise the estate "and before any proceedings therein, did intermarry with Mr. John Custis, who also failed to proceed to any appraisement of ye said estate until ye said Bridget was lying on her sick & death bed, at which time ye said Custis did cause ye appraisers in yt order named to meet at the said Wm. Taylor's house & plantation." The men inventoried and appraised what Custis presented to them, including about 39 pounds money. By order of the court, the same appraisers took a second inventory; they then found "ye said parcel of money and several goods & merchandises wanting." Taylor asked that John Custis appear to give an account of the money and other missing goods. Ordered that Custis be summoned to the next court where he was to render under oath an account of Wm. Taylor's money and goods.9 

He was named in a court order on 3 October 1699 at Accomack Co, VA. Elias Taylor (administrator of the estate of his brother, William Taylor, deceased) had, on 4 October 1698, obtained an order for the sheriff to summon Mr. John Custis (who married Bridget, widow of Wm. Taylor) to give an account of William Taylor's estate in his possession. Because John Custis had "absented himself out of ye county", the proceedings had not been able to continue; Taylor requested the order to be revived. Now present in court, Custis alleged that he did not leave the county to evade the order, but had been about his affairs in Maryland. Ordered that the sheriff summon Custis to the next court to render under oath an account of Taylor's estate.10 

He was named in a court order on 8 November 1699 at Accomack Co, VA. Elias Taylor (administrator of the estate of his brother, William Taylor, deceased) had, on 4 October 1698, obtained an order for the sheriff to summon Mr. John Custis (who married Bridget, widow of Wm. Taylor) to give an account of William Taylor's estate in his possession. Because John Custis had "absented himself out of ye county", the proceedings had not been able to continue; Taylor requested the order to be revived. Now present in court, Custis alleged that he did not leave the county to evade the order, but had been about his affairs in Maryland. Ordered that the sheriff summon Custis to the next court to render under oath an account of Taylor's estate.11 

He was named in a court order on 3 January 1699/0 at Accomack Co, VA. At the last court it was ordered that the sheriff take Mr. John Custis into custody till he posted security to swear at this court to an account of the estate of William Taylor, deceased. The sheriff (Capt. Thomas Welburne) had returned an endorsed copy of the order, declaring that he had summoned Custis to this court to answer, with Capt. Henry Custis assuming to be security. Mr. Tully Robinson (attorney for Elias Taylor), objected to this, saying that the sheriff should have taken security from Custis himself. Since the sheriff had failed to perform according to the order, the case was continued to the next court. Welburne was ordered to perform the contents of the order or be answerable for damages.12 

He was named in a court order on 6 March 1699/0 at Accomack Co, VA. Upon the complaint of Elias Taylor (administrator of the estate of William Taylor, deceased), it was ordered that Mr. John Custis (who married Bridget, widow and administrator of William Taylor) should render an account of Taylor's estate in Custis's hands. However, Custis refused to obey the order. For his contempt, the court ordered that the sheriff immediately take Custis into custody and detain him until he performed the order.

Mr. John Custis was granted the liberty to appeal the above decision to the next General Court. Capt. Henry Custis was his security.13 

He was named in a petition that was recorded in court records on 3 August 1708 at Accomack Co, VA. Elias Taylor (administrator of the estate of his brother William Taylor, deceased) petitioned that Tabitha (one of William's daughters) was now about the age of 17 years and desired her part of her father's estate. Elias was willing to give it to her but asked for an order of the court, which was given.14 

He was named in a petition that was recorded in court records on 4 September 1711 at Accomack Co, VA. Elizabeth Taylor, daughter of William Taylor, petitioned that her father had left her a small estate which was now in the hands of her uncle, Mr. Elias Taylor (administrator of her father's estate). Now arrived to lawful age, Elizabeth asked that her portion be given to her. Ordered that Taylor immediately deliver Elizabeth's part to her and pay court costs.15 

He was named in a petition that was recorded in court records on 2 October 1711 at Accomack Co, VA. Mr. Elias Taylor claimed that he had justly administered the estate of his brother William Taylor and had paid his brother's children their full shares. Elias asked for quietus from the administration, which was granted after the court perused the accounts.16 

Will

He made a will on 19 April 1717 at Accomack Co, VA. I Elias Taylor being sick and weak in body but of sound & perfect memory (Blessed be God) And knowing the Uncertainty of this life on Earth, and being desirous to settle things on Earth in order to my dessolution, Do make this my last will and Testament in Manner & form following, that is to Say first & primcipally I commend my soul to Almighty God my Creator, Assuredly beleving that I shall receive full pardon & free Remission of all my sins, And be saved by ye precious death & merrits of my blessed Savior & Redeemer Christ Jesus, & my body to the Earth to be buried in such decent and Christian manner as shall be thought meet by my Executors hereafter name And as touching such worldly Estate as the Lord hath lent me, My Will & meaning is that the same shall be Employed and bestowed As by this my will is Expressed,

• And first I do revoke, renounce frustrate and make void, all wills by me formerly made, and declare and Appoynt This to be my last Will & Testament & no other.
• Item 2: I Give & bequeath unto my son Joshua Eight Negro Salves Viz Joseph, Robert, Mary, & her son Francis, Elizabeth & Henry her son, Priscilla & Grace.
• Item 3: I give and bequeath to my son Joshua my Silver tankard & Cup & half a doz of Silver Spoons & my Silver Headed Cane, my Bible in folie, Allso the Antiquities of the Jewe pr Josephus in folie.
• Item 4: I Give & bequeath to my son Joshua two guns One of them known to be my Father, The other yn which I brought of Mr Andrew Clark Mereht ind Allso my best pistol & holster and Trooper sadle and likwise my Hoasemill, and Allso his his chois of ye hansmills with all their appertenance, likewise I give that is my son Joshua my New Still Containing 30 galln or more, & my will is not to have it moved off the plantation.
• Item 5: I will & bequeath to my son Joshua all my Land & plantation at Asswoman which was given to me by my Father William Taylor so by his last Teatament bearing date sixeteen hundred eighty six will appear to him and heirs of his body lawfully begotten for ever.
• Item 6: I Give and bequeath to my son Joshua Taylor four hundred and fifty acres of land lying on ye Eastern or Northeastern side of a branch called Assowman Branch and called Queenhive to him and his lawfull hereditable issue for Ever,
• but for want of such I give ye ye said 450 Acres to my daughters Hannah and Esther to be Equally divided between them, to them & their heirs for Ever, and if either dies whthout lawful issue then to ye Survivor & her heirs for Ever.
• Item 7: I Give & Bequeath to my son Joshua twenty one head of Cattle aged from two years & upward to six years so qualified, And Allso tow horses & one Mare not Exceeding five years old, and allso my old looking glass.
• Item 8: I will and bequeath to my son Joshua Two good feather beds & furniture and my East Indian Quilt allso I give him two pair of large hand irons One pair of the with Brass heads, my large tongs & fire shovel, & my two pair of Stillards and Six pewter dishes one doz pewter plates & my two best Chests.
• Item 9: To my Two daughters Hannah Taylor & Esther Taylor I give and Bequeath my five hundred Acres of Land which I purchased of Coll John Custis of Northampton County Esqr to be Equally divided between them by a paralled line from the head of the said land to the seaside to them & their Heirs of their body lawfully begotten for Ever, but not to sell lease mortagage any part or parcel thereof without Each to other or to ye heirs of my Daughter Elizabeth Whittington, & no other,
• but if my two daughters Hannah and Esther dies with lawfull Issue That the 500 Acres of Land shall revert to my Daughter Elizabeths Issue that shall inheritt ye south Side of Occoconson.
• Item 10: I Give and bequeath to my daughter Hannah Two Negro Slaves named Sam & Kate with her Increase for Ever.
• Item 11: I Give to my Daughter Esther two Negro Slaves Felix and Dorcas with her Encrease for Ever.
• Item 12: I bequeath to my son Joshua my great iron pot Containing near 15 Galin and one Smaller one with pothooks & Tremells.
• Item 13: I Give and bequeath to my Two daughter Hannah & Esther to Each of them a feather bed & furniture & to Each an Iron Pot.
• Item 14: I Give & bequeath to my Daughter Mary three Slaves a Mustee named Toby & a Negro Woman named Dian & likewise her Son named Ebin.
• Item 15: I Give & bequeath allso to my Daughter Mary Twelve head of Cattle and the Same Number of Sheep & a Dun Mare & Colt running now at Sacks Island with their increase I allso I Giver her one feather bed with its appurtenances & one Iron pot.
• Item 16: The 500 Acres of Land given to my two Daughters Hannah and Esther my meaning & will is That if either of them shall dy without hereditable Issue Then the Survivour to possess the whole and if both should die then as aforesd.
• Item 17: I Give & bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth Whittington one Negro Slave named George Longgo to her & her heirs for Ever.
• Item 18: I Give to my Loving Wife my brick house withall ye rooms thereunto belonging for & during her natural Life My Will and desire is That if my wife shall again Marry That then my son shall attain to Age to Enjoy & possess what is above given at the Age of Eighteen years & my daughter at sixteen, but if she Continues in widdowhood my son to remain with her till he shall attain to twenty One years & my daughter (word black out) till they are Eighteen or Married.
• Item 19: The Negroes Mary & Elizabeth given in the Second Article to my son Joshua my Will (--- ) is That my daughter Mary shall have one of them named Elizabeth, And instead of Elizabeth I will yt my son Joshua Shall have Dina and her son Ebin which in the fourteen Article was given to my daughter Mary, Allso I give to my sone Joshua Negro Dick.
• Item 20: I Give & Bequeath to my Daughter Naomi Davis ten head of Sheep. Item 21: I Give to my Daughter Comfort Ewel two Cows & Calves.
• Item 22: I Give to my Daughter Mary Taylor my sorrel riding horse
• Lastly I do ordain Constitute & appoint my Loving wife Comfort Taylor sole Executrix of this my Last & absolute Will & Testament My Will and desire is That if my Excutrix should die before my son Joshua shall arrive to ye Age of Eighteen years Then I ordain & apoint my son in law Mr William Whittington as absoulute Executr to this above.

Sealed in present of: Thomas Perry, Wm. Taylor and Mary Taylor.

Sources

1. ↑ U.S. and International Marriage Records 1560-1900 compiled by Yates Publishing on ancestry.com
2. ↑ Will of Elias Taylor, 19 June 1717 with witnesses daughter Mary Taylor & wife Comfort Taylor & Thomas Perry.

[S570] Stratton Nottingham, Accomack Co, VA, Wills & Administrations, 1663-1800, p. 15 (will of William Taylor, Assawoman Creek).

[S497] James Handley Marshall, Northampton Co, VA, Abstracts of Wills & Administrations, 1632-1802, p. 67 (list of children baptized in Hungars Paish).

[S570] Stratton Nottingham, Accomack Co, VA, Wills & Administrations, 1663-1800, p. 30 (will of William Anderson).

[S570] Stratton Nottingham, Accomack Co, VA, Wills & Administrations, 1663-1800, p. 51 (adm of William & Bridget Taylor his wife to Elias Taylor).

[S704] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1697-1703, Volume 9, p. 2 (8 Dec 1697).

[S704] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1697-1703, Volume 9, p. 7 (9 Dec 1697 Court).

[S704] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1697-1703, Volume 9, p. 18 (5 Apr 1698 Court).

[S704] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1697-1703, Volume 9, p. 25 (7 June 1698 Court).

[S704] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1697-1703, Volume 9, p. 35 (7 June 1698 Court).

[S704] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1697-1703, Volume 9, p. 69 (3 Oct 1699 Court).

[S704] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1697-1703, Volume 9, p. 78 (8 Nov 1699 Court).

[S704] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1697-1703, Volume 9, p. 85 (3 Jan 1699/1700 court).

[S704] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1697-1703, Volume 9, p. 88 (6 Mar 1699/0 Court).

[S826] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1703-1710, Volume 10, p. 166 (3 Aug 1708 Court).

[S827] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1710-1714, Volume 11, p. 48 (4 Sep 1711 Court).

[S827] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1710-1714, Volume 11, p. 50 (2 Oct 1711 Court).

[S200] Matthew M. Wise, Boston Family of Maryland, 2nd Ed, p. 378 (#2 William Taylor).

[S570] Stratton Nottingham, Accomack Co, VA, Wills & Administrations, 1663-1800, p. 56 (will of Elias Taylor, wife Comfort).

• Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900> Accomack> Wills, 1692-1715. Image 1092. Database and images on-line at Ancestry.com. Image Original data: Virginia County, District, and Probate Courts. Typescript.

Will of William Anderson of Accomack County. Signed: 23 July 1698; Proved 4 October 1698.

Bequests to: ... granddaughters – Elizabeth, Naomi, and Comfort Taylor -- by my daughter Comfort Tayler; to wife Mary; conditional bequest to Elias Taylor or Comfort his wife ...

Enslaved people named in will: .... Guy, old Sarah, Nanny, Mary’s son George – left to daughter Comfort Tayler; girls named Bab, Jenny, young Sue – left to Tayler granddaughters

See Also

• Webster, Richard, "A History of the Presbyterian church in America : from its origin until the year 1760", Joseph M. Wilson, Philadelphia, 1857 (p. 318) (https://archive.org/details/historyofpresb00webs/page/320/mode/2up)

Acknowledgements

Thank you to C Handy, for creating WikiTree profile Taylor-9809 on Wednesday, July 9, 2014.