 | Old churches, ministers and families of Virginia. |  |
No. XIII.
The Baylor Family.
[The following account has been furnished me by a member of the same.]
John Baylor the elder, and first of the name who came to the New
World, was born at Tiverton, in England, where, from old Sellers, we learn
that he was related to the Freres, Courtenays, Tuckers, Hedjers, Nortons,
and others. His son John was born in 1650, and, emigrating to Virginia,
was followed by his father, a very old man. He settled in Gloucester
county, and was married to Lucy Tod O'Brien, of New Kent, in 1698.
Large grants of land had been made to father and son in various parts of
the Colony, and the latter, being of an enterprising character, embarked
extensively in mercantile schemes, by which a large fortune for that day
was amassed,—the inventory of his personal effects amounting to £6500.
The books kept at his various counting-houses in Gloucester, King and
Queen, and New Kent, from 1692 to 1722, are preserved, and not only
attest his method and exactness, but afford an interesting comparison.
The relative value of some articles of merchandise then and now is
worthy of note. We find nails at four shillings sixpence per pound,
cotton at one shilling sixpence per yard; and a Madagascar boy, "from on
board ship Tiverton," in one place, is charged to Thomas Randolph at £6,
and another at £10. Mention is made of between six and ten ships,
belonging to him, at different times, engaged in trading with the Old
World. To John Baylor the second and Lucy his wife were born two
children,—John, on the 12th of May, 1705, and another whose fortunes
we have no means of following. The Essex family of the same name
originate here. John, the third of the name, married Lucy Walker at
Yorktown, the 2d of January, 1744, several sons and daughters being the
issue of this marriage. A sister of Lucy Walker married, at the same
time and place, John Norton, of London, of whom we shall have occasion
to speak hereafter. John the third (Colonel Baylor) was with Washington
at Winchester. He represented the county of Caroline in the House
of Burgesses from about 1740 to 1760. A list of the votes at one
election is extant, and reveals his extensive popularity, as he received
every vote in the county save one. Colonel Baylor moved to New Market—
then King and Queen—in 1726, and occupied a grant of land which was
made by Robert Tronsdale in behalf of the King the year before. This
paper is also preserved. The year following Caroline was formed, and
New Market remains in possession of the family, from which it has never
been alienated. Extravagance and folly, unfortunately, leave few such
instances of successive proprietorship, in the State, for so long a time.
The Episcopal church at the Bowling Green was built by Colonel Baylor,
and other gentlemen, between 1640 and 1660, where the family continued
church had no minister and the building, like many others in Virginia,
was destroyed and the materials devoted to secular purposes. Colonel
Baylor held several commissions, one of which, constituting him Lieutenant
of the county of Orange, signed by Robert Dinwiddie at Williamsburg in
1752, is in the possession of the family. He too, like his father, was a
man of great energy. New Market was in his time celebrated for a large
and generous hospitality. John, the eldest son of Colonel Baylor, fourth
of the name herein mentioned, was born at New Market on the 4th
of September, 1750; was sent at twelve years of age to Putney Grammar-School,
from which he was removed to Cambridge, and was a classmate
and associate of Mr. Wilberforce. While in Europe, the Letters of Junius
appeared, and, for some reason, he felt so deep an interest, either in the
subject, style, or authorship, as to transcribe them as they were published,—
the manuscript being now in a perfect state of preservation. The performance
of a task so laborious as that involved in the copying of these
famous letters from the Public Advertiser as they appeared, the numbers
of which could have been as well preserved, presents a puzzle which
has exercised the minds of his descendants to this day. This John Baylor
the fourth was married, while in England, to Fanny, his cousin, only
daughter of John and Courtenay Norton, of Gould Square, London, and
returned to Virginia. They were followed by the brothers of Mrs. Baylor,
John Hatley, George, and Daniel Norton, who married in Virginia, leaving
issue. Several of their descendants have devoted their lives to the
ministry. The Rev. John H. Norton, of Fauquier, is one of them. George,
the second son of Colonel Baylor and Fanny Walker, was born at New
Market the 12th of January, 1752. He was aid to General Washington
at the battle of Trenton, and enjoyed the honour of presenting the colours
then taken to the Congress at Philadelphia, and would doubtless have
filled a large space in the stirring history of the times, had not a bayonet-wound
through the chest, in a night-skirmish a short time after, disabled
him so as to unfit him for the service. He died of pulmonary disease,
from this injury, in Barbadoes in 1784. The regiment of horse which
bore his name sprung into existence from his patriotic exertions and
from the pecuniary aid of his elder brother, which was freely given.
Colonel George Baylor married, at Mansfield, Lucy Page, daughter of
Mann Page, Esq., by whom he had one son,—John W. Baylor. Mrs. Baylor,
widow of Colonel George Baylor, was married a second time, to Colonel
N. Burwell, of Millwood, Frederick county, Virginia. Walker, fourth
son of Colonel Baylor, was a captain in the Revolutionary army. He was
also disabled, by a spent ball, which crushed his instep, at Germantown or
Brandywine, which made him a cripple for life. He married Miss Bledsoe,
and left several sons and daughters, one of whom—Judge R. E. B.
Baylor—is now alive and is a prominent citizen of Texas. Robert, fourth
son of Colonel Baylor, married Miss Gwinn, of Gwinn's Island. Lucy,
17th of March, 1764. The sons by this marriage were all endued with
martial spirit. Lewis was killed in battle in Canada; George defended
Baltimore when attacked by the British in the war of 1812; and two
other brothers occupied distinguished rank in the army of their country.
John and Fanny Norton resided at New Market, and were the parents of
two sons and five daughters, who intermarried with the Claytons, Upshaws,
Foxes, Roys, &c. John Walker Baylor also left children. The
Brents and Horners belong to this branch.
John Roy Baylor, of New Market, Caroline county.
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