A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789 by Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al.
TAYLOR, PETER (1680-ca. 1747/48). BORN: in 1680, in Dorchester
County; youngest son. NATIVE: third generation.
RESIDED: Dorchester County.
FAMILY BACKGROUND. FATHER: Thomas Taylor (ca. 1643-1696), Gent., who
served as
sheriff of Dorchester County in 1669, quorum justice by 1679, captain,
and major, by 1680; son of Capt. Philip Taylor (ca. 1610-ca. 1649) and
wife Jane (?-ca. 1659), stepson of William Eltonhead (ca. 1616-1655).
MOTHER: Frances.
BROTHERS: John Taylor (1662-ca. 1705/6); Philip (?-1706); and Thomas.
SISTERS: Frances; Mary; and Aloyance (Aloysia).
MARRIED by 1717 Mary, widow of Owen Sullivan (Sulivane) (?-1708/9).
CHILDREN.
SON: Peter (?-1741), who married Sarah.
STEPSONS: Daniel Sulivane (ca. 1708-by 1783); Owen Sulivane; and John
Sulivane. DAUGHTERS: Mary; and Frances.
STEPDAUGHTER: Elizabeth Sulivane.
PRIVATE CAREER. EDUCATION: literate.
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Protestant.
SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: Gent., by 1703; almost continuous
representation of Dorchester County for 19 years. In 1739, Taylor was
admonished by the
Committee of Aggrievances for "Illegal, Injurious, Cruel and oppressive"
behavior while he
was sheriff. Both Taylor and John Mackall, his under sheriff, were
ordered to pay charges arising from the inquiry and were to be held in
custody of the sergeant at arms until the fines were paid.
OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE: planter. PUBLIC CAREER.
LEGISLATIVE SERVICE: Lower House, Dorchester County, 1715, 1716-1718,
1719-1721/22 (election to the 1719-1721/22 Assembly declared void on May
19, 1719, during the 1st session; reelected to the 2nd session),
1728-1731, 1732-1734.
LOCAL OFFICES: justice, Dorchester County, 1720-1733 (quorum,
1732-1733); sheriff, Dorchester County, 1734-1737.
STANDS ON PUBLIC/PRIVATE ISSUES: fined in 1719 for indecent expressions
in
respect to the governor.
WEALTH DURING LIFETIME.
LAND AT FIRST ELECTION: at least 2,048 acres.
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN LAND BETWEEN FIRST ELECTION AND DEATH: eventually
owned over 3,000 acres; very active in buying and selling land in the
late 1730s and early 1740s, after which he turned over most of his land
to his son.
WEALTH AT DEATH.
DIED: estate inventoried on January 19, 1747/48.
PERSONAL PROPERTY: TEV, £40.0.3 current money (had given most of his
estate to his
heirs during the two decades prior to his death); FB, estate overpaid
£21.10.3.
TAYLOR, JOHN (1662-ca. 1705/6). BORN: in 1662, probably in Dorchester
County.
NATIVE: third generation.
RESIDED: in Dorchester County.
FAMILY BACKGROUND.
FATHER: Thomas Taylor (ca.
1643-1696), Gent., who served as sheriff of Dorchester County in 1669,
quorum justice by 1679, captain, and major by 1680; son of Capt. Philip
Taylor (ca. 1610-ca. 1649) and his wife Jane (?-ca. 1659), stepson of
William Eltonhead (ca. 1616-1655).
MOTHER: Frances.
BROTHERS: Philip (?-1706); Thomas; and Peter Taylor (1680-ca. 1747/48).
SISTERS: Frances; Mary; and Aloyance (Aloysia).
MARRIED first, by 1682/83, Priscilla.
MARRIED second, by 1696, Dorothy.
CHILDREN.
SONS: Thomas; William.
DAUGHTERS: Dorothy;
Elizabeth; Jane; Frances; and Elinor.
PRIVATE CAREER.
EDUCATION: literate.
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Protestant.
SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: Gent., by 1686.
OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE, planter.
PUBLIC CAREER. LEGISLATIVE SERVICE: Lower House, Dorchester County,
1704-1705 (died before the 4th session of the 1704-1707 Assembly).
LOCAL OFFICES: sheriff, Dorchester County, 1683/84-1686; deputy
surveyor, Dorchester County,1684, 1702; justice, Dorchester County,
1694-ca. 1705/6.
STANDS ON PUBLIC/PRIVATE ISSUES: members of Taylor's family were strong
supporters of
the proprietary faction; Taylor refused to take the oath of allegiance
and supremacy under the government of the Protestant Associators, 1690;
lost a contested election to the Lower House in 1701 by one vote to John
Lecompte (ca. 1662-1705).
WEALTH DURING LIFETIME.
LAND AT FIRST ELECTION, ca. 2,050 acres.
WEALTH AT DEATH.
DIED: between November 17, 1705, and February 4, 1705/6, in Dorchester
County.
PERSONAL PROPERTY: TEV, £376.8.4 (including 1 servant and 7 slaves); FB,
£28.7.2. LAND: 2,050 acres, plus a tract of unspecified acreage.