TAYLOR.
William Taylor in 1737 obtained a grant of twelve hundred
acres on Moore's Creek, which is believed to include the land
whereon Charlottesville is situated. He also patented the
same quantity on the north fork of Hardware in 1741. It
must have been a part of this tract, nearly eight hundred
acres, which James Taylor, most probably a son, sold to
James Buchanan in 1765. The same year James sold to
James Buchanan part of a patent of his own, which was located
on Hardware and Murphy's Run in 1750, and on which
he was then living. Nothing further is known of these persons,
except that Nancy, a daughter of James, was the wife
of John Eaves.
During 1760 and some years after, Benjamin Taylor became
the owner by patent and purchase of more than seven
hundred acres on Broadaxe Creek and Mechum's River.
Part of this land he sold in 1772 to Micajah Chiles. He died
in 1809. His wife's name was Mary, and he had three sons,
Fleming, Winston and Benjamin. In 1811 the widow, being
about to remove to Georgia, appointed George M. Woods
her attorney, to transact any of her unfinished business.
Her sons may possibly have preceded her to that State; but
though none of the family remain, they have left behind a
memorial of their name in the passage through the mountain
near their old place, which is still known as Taylor's Gap.
At a much later period, J. C. R. Taylor came to the county
from Jefferson. He married Martha J., daughter of Colonel
T. J. Randolph, and resided at Lego. He died in 1875.
