Thomas Taylor



This information is contributed by Kat Taylor






Thomas Taylor born 1748 NC died 9 Aug 1815 Davidson Co., TN; married abt 1770 Orange Co., 
NC to Martha (Last name Unknown), she was born 1749 NC and died 17 Aug 1826 Davidson Co., 
TN

Thomas Taylor served as a Major and Colonel in the American Revolutionary War in the Orange 
County Cavalry.

Excerpt from the DAR Book Text:

"The said Thomas Taylor who resided during the American Revolution at Orange County, N.C. 
assisted in establishing American Independence, while acting in the capacity of Major and 
Colonel of Cavalry, Orange Co., N.C. Colonel Taylor scoured the County of Chatham, N.C. with 
Gen. Harrington's Forces, for disaffected persons, procuring provisions, apprehending Deserters, 
etc; commanded Corps of Cavalry; at Phyffer's Mills, to remain, to gain what intelligence & 
communicate same; to harrass British." 

National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, published 2003, DAR Patriot Index, 
Gateway Press Inc. Baltimore MD, ILL, P-Z, pg. 2658:

TAYLOR, THOMAS B. 1748 D. 8-9-1815 TN M [1] MARTHA X COL NC

Land and court records of Orange Co., NC show that Thomas lived and fought in that area in the
Revolutionary War. A land grant to Thomas Taylor in Granville Co., NC shows he entered that grant 
15 Oct 1778 and it was granted 3 Sep 1779. Thomas and Martha owned land on the Eno River and 
on 20 July 1785, sold 188 1/2 acres of land on the Eno River to William Sheppard. About this time, 
court records show that Thomas moved from the county of Orange. He is next found in the 1787 
Tax List for Davidson Co., TN.

Thomas and Martha had ten children, the first six born in North Carolina

1. James B. Taylor born 11 Jul 1771 Orange Co., NC m. [1] Elizabeth "Betsy" Unknown abt 1795 
m. [2] Braxton Lee 2 Jan 1818 Davidson Co., TN; died before 1820 in Wilson Co., TN

2. Susana Taylor born 2 Jan 1773 Orange Co., NC m. [1] Unknown Wray 6 Aug 1794 Davidson 
Co., TN; m. [2] William Shaw 28 Feb 1807 Davidson Co., TN;

3. John Taylor born 2 Jan 1775 Orange Co., NC; died after 1845 in TN

4. Mary Taylor born 4 Mar 1777 Orange Co., NC m. [1] Evan Tracy 6 Aug 1794 Davidson Co., TN; 
died 5 Apr 1859 Wilson Co., TN.

5. Robert Taylor born 28 Apr 1779 Orange Co., NC m. [1] Eliza "Lizzy" Branch 4 Apr 1868 
Davidson Co., TN; died 1846 Rutherford Co., TN.

6. Hannah "Fanny" Taylor born 22 Apr 1784 Orange Co., NC m. [1] Robert Branch 6 Jun 1799 
Davidson Co., TN.

7. Sarah Elizabeth Taylor born 2 Mar 1786 [?] died 10 Jun 1815 Rutherford Co., TN.

8. Thomas Taylor Jr. born 27 Jan 1790 Davidson Co., TN m. [1] Martha Branch 25 Mar 1812 
Davidson Co., TN; m. [2] Mary Polly Garner 25 Dec 1821; died 27 Dec 1852 Rutherford Co., TN.

9. Margaret "Peggy" Taylor born 7 Jul 1792 TN; m. [1] John Nicholas Branch 15 Sep 1810 
Davidson Co., TN; died 15 Jul 1850 Shelby Co., TN.

10. Martha Ann "Patsy" Taylor born 22 Oct 1794 Davidson Co., TN; m. [1] Jonathan Clay 23 
Aug 1811 Davidson Co., TN.




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