Richard Taylor (abt 1620-1673)

Richard TAYLOR (abt. 1620-1673), "tailor"

 * Early settler of Yarmouth, Plymouth Colony. Not to be confused with his (possibly slightly younger) contemporary, also of Yarmouth: Richard Taylor (abt 1625-1703), farmer or husbandman of "The Rock". Both were supposedly married to women by the name of Ruth.

Vital statistics

 * Sex: Male


 * Born: about 1620 at England
 * Died: about 13 December 1673 at Yarmouth, Plymouth Colony, age at death unknown.
 * Interment: Probably at Yarmouth, Plymouth Colony

Pedigree
Richard Taylor's origins and emigration are unknown. (But see below.)

Spouse(s)

 * Ruth Whelden (abt 1625-1673). She was found in a board, drowned, off Duxbury, MA about 3 December 1673.

Offspring

 * Ruth Taylor, b. July 29, 1647; buried in 1648.
 * Ann Taylor, b. Dec. 2, 1648; buried March 29, 1650, aged about 1-1/2 years.
 * Mary Taylor (1649-??), m. [Abijah Merchant (1651-?)]].
 * Martha (1650-1728), b. Dec. 18, 1650; m. Joseph Bearse of Barnstable Dec. 3, 1676; d. Jan. 27, 1727-8, aged 77, leaving issue.
 * John Taylor (1652-1721), m. 15 December 1674 Sarah Matthews, daughter of James Matthews.
 * Elizabeth Taylor (1655-1721), m. Dec. 20, 1680, Samuel Cobb (1651-?) of Barnstable; d. May 4, 1721, aged 66, leaving issue.
 * Hannah Taylor (1658-1743), m. as his 2d wife July 19, 1680, Deacon Job Crocker of Barnstable; d. May 14, 1743, in her 85th year, leaving issue.
 * Ann Taylor (1659-?), m. Josiah Davis, of Barnstable, June 25, 1679, and had issue.
 * Joseph Taylor (1660-?)
 * Sarah Taylor (?-1695); d. unmarried July 31, 1695. The inventory of Sarah Taylor of Barnstable was taken Aug. 16, 1695, and amount to £34 19s. Deacon Job Crocker and Samuel Cobb, brothers-in-law, were made administrators Sept. 23, 1695. The estate was, Sept. 13, 1695, ordered equally divided between the brothers and sisters of the deceased, given in the following order, to wit: John Taylor, Joseph Taylor, Mary Marchant, Martha Bearse, Elizbaeth Cobb, Hannah Crocker and Ann Davis. The inventory consisted of wearing apparel, five pounds of worsted yarn, a Bible, cattle, sheep and lambs, cash moneys due from Samuel Cobb and Joseph Bearse, &c.

Early life and education
There was a Richard Taylor, age 16, on the ship Truelove which departed Gravesend, England on 11 Jun 1635. Other Taylors on that ship were: James Taylor, 28; William Taylor, 17; Ann Taylor, 24.

Military service

 * 1643 (August): He is first mentioned in the Colonial records as among those in Yarmouth between 16 and 60 years of age able to bear arms.

Career

 * 1648 (June 7): was a surveyor of highways for Yarmouth.
 * 1651 (June 6): was sworn as a member of the grandjury.
 * 1656 (May 30): with Edmond Hawes, Richard Taylor was witness to a deed of Samuel Mayo to John Phinney of Barnstable.
 * 1656 (June 3): he was constable of Yarmouth.
 * 1657 (June 3): he was one of the surveyors of highways there. That year he took the oath of fidelity.

Family life

 * 1647 (Oct 28): Gabriel Whelden gave his assent for Richard Taylor to marry his daughter, Ruth Whelden.
 * 1655 (May 28; July 27): Richard Taylor, tailor, among others suing widow Margaret Whelden, for a share of the estate left by Gabriel Whelden.
 * 1673 (Dec 3): Richard's wife, most likely this same Ruth Whelden Taylor, was discovered drowned in a boat off Duxbury. Richard died within a couple of weeks.

Contributors
Jillaine