Person:Unknown Taylor (180)

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Theories for the Identity of Sudbury Richard Taylor's Father

In the published compilation of Littleton vital records, a chapter is included containing research notes of one Samuel Smith-- known as the Hoar Library collection. It implies that Richard Taylor of Sudbury was son of another Richard, but there is no documentation of this outside of "New England Marriages Prior to 1700" (by Clarence Almon Torrey), page 730, which even includes question marks about his theory of Sudbury Richard's parentage.

• See Taylor in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States which excludes Richard Taylor, tailor or Richard Taylor, the Rock, as candidates for Sudbury Richard Taylor's father.

• A Richard Taylor of Boston had a son John 1647 by wife Mary; this RT died in Boston in 1673 with a will naming "my only son John," a sister Joan in England, and a (subsequent) wife, Elizabeth. [ NEHGS Register, p. 46: Early Bells of Massachusetts

• Richard Taylor of Watertown; will probated 4 Oct 1659 names wife Ann and [married] daughter Frances Adams. No other children are named. Sudbury Richard would have been a minor at this time.

• A Richard Taylor was in Charlestowne at least by 1665 when his wife Ann joined the church there. Presumably this same couple had a child there 16 Dec 1673 and 2 Apr 1675. Pope claims additional children with Ann through 1678, thereby discounting THIS Richard as he who marries Hannah in Sudbury in 1677. So he is too young to be Sudbury Richard's father (unless this is a subsequent marriages), and can also not be the same man as Richard of Sudbury.

We can rule out William Taylor and Mary (some say Merriam) as parents of Sudbury Richard Taylor since William died a year before Richard, and William's will names his children and Richard is not included.

One possibility is that Richard Taylor was the son of James Taylor and Isabel/Elizabeth Tompkins of Concord. James and Isabel were married in 1641 (Concord VR). The Concord VR doesn't name any children of this couple until a son Henry who was born and died in 1648 and then another gap until 1656. There are therefore two periods of time rather long without record of children for couples normally having children every 18 months or so. Where are the children likely born between James & Isabel's 1641 marriage and the 1648 birth of Henry? Where are the likely children born between 1648 and the 1656? Both of these time periods are likely times for the birth of Richard Taylor who marries in Sudbury in 1677. And both James Taylor of Concord and Richard Taylor of Sudbury were carpenters. But what disturbs me about this theory is that Richard of Sudbury names none of his children James or Isabel.

In any case, there is no confirmed proof of the name of the father of Richard Taylor (abt 1650-1694).

Research to Conduct

1. Check Wapping, Middlesex, England as a possible site of origin for the TAYLOR family/families of Massachusetts. In the mid 1660s there is a Taylor family there with very similar names as those who end up in England, namly, William, Jonathan, Caleb, Ruth, Hannah, etc. (See NEHGS Register 1895, vol 49, p. 126.)
2. See also Cranbrook, England: NEHGS Register, volume 51, 1897, p. 215 From Cranbrook Registers, Marriages...

1623 - July 29: Richard Taylor and Mary Holden
p. 216:
(Holden family of Cranbrook, Engl.)
From the registers of St. Alphage, Canterbury
Wills:
Will of John Holden of Cranbrook, clothier. Mentions my dau. Mary wife of Richard Taylor... proved Consistory Court of Canterbury, Sept. 19, 1625, Vol. 48, Fo. 1. [Is this Cranbrook Richard possibly one of the New England Richards?]

1. NEHGS Register, Volume 53, 1899, p. 18:
   

[Note the surnames mentioned in this British will; many (those in CAPS) may be found shortly thereafter in the same vicinities in New England!]
"Richard WARDE of Cannons Ashbye in the county of Northampton gent 12 September 1630, with codicil added 19 September 1631 (1630?), proved 11 November 1631. The poor of the parish of Middleton Cheney. Mr. John Dodd, minister of Fawlesley, and sundry other clergymen. My brother William WARDE minister of London. My brother Thomas WARDE of Middleton Cheney. My sister Martha Fosson. My sister TAYLER als Parris. My sister HALL of Cropready. My sister WARDE, my eldest brother's wife. My sister Warde, my brother Thomas his wife. My brother Richard TAYLOR als Parris and my brother Richard Fosson.... [p. 19:] ... to Thomas TAYLER, my brother Taylor's eldest son... to a child of Tayler's at Merston St. Lawrence... Every one of my sister Tayler's children, except Thomas Tayler, my brother Tayler's eldest son..."

Additional Sources

[Incorporate into Sources]

1. "Emigrants for St. Christophers", NEHGS Register, Volume 14, October 1860, p. 354: x Junij 1635 Theis underwritten names are to be transported to the Bormoodes or Somer-Islands, imbarqued in the Truelove de London. Robert Dennis Mr. being examined by the Minister of Gravesend concerning their confirmitie to the order and discipline of the Church of England as it now stands established: And took the oath of Allegiance...
James Tayler, 28
Rich. Tayler, 16 [therefore b. abt. 1619] [Many believe this to be Richard Taylor the "Rock" of Yarmouth, but there is simply no proof of WHICH Richard this is! He could just as easily be one of the Richard Taylors of Boston or Charlestown]
Wm. Tayler, 17
Ann Taylor, 24

2. NEHGS Register, Volume 23, 1869, p. 283:
Record Book of First Church in Charlestown, p. 13:
1664, 7th month, 17th day: Anne Taylor: ye wife of Richard Taylor... admitted.

3. NEHGS Register, Volume 26, 1872, p. 153:
Record Book of First Church in Charlestown, p. 233:
1673: 9th month, 16th day, baptized Richard, ye son of Richard Taylor & Anne his wife. [This couple, per Pope, go on to baptize children through 1678 at this church; therefore cannot be the Sudbury couple.]

4. Same, p. 156:
Record Book of First Church in Charlestown, p. 236:
1675: 2 mo, 2nd day: Alice, ye daughter of Richard Taylor and of Anne his wife [baptized?] [ditto]

5. NEHGS Register, Volume 34, 1880; p 269
In 1688, Richard Tailor was taxed in Charlestown [he w
as also a tailor.]