University of Virginia Library

THE TALIAFERRO FAMILY

Hand and arm holding dagger cutting bar.

Fortis et firmis.

Of all family legends and traditions none is more ancient,
or more interesting, than that of the Taliaferro Family, which
carries one back to Julius Caesar and his campaign in Gaul.

This tradition has it that Caesar, while inspecting camp at
twilight, was surrounded by Gallic warriors who were bent upon
taking his life. In the midst of this imminent peril, Caesar so
bravely comported himself that he won the admiration of the
leader of the band, who refused to allow him to be slain. In the
course of the campaign Caesar's captors became his captives and
recognizing the man who had spared his life, Caesar made him
one of his personal attendants and permitted him to bear arms—
a privilege not allowed to any but Roman soldiers—and thus
the name Taliaferro originated from the Latin "telum"—a
dart—and "ferro"—to bear.

A branch of this family wandered to Normandy, thence
to England with William the Conquerer. A member of the
family—Baron Taliaferro—fought with the Conquerer and became
known to history as "The Hero of Hastings." After William
the Conquerer won the English throne he made large grants of
land to Baron Taliaferro in county Kent, and Taliaferro and his
descendants who possessed these lands were known as Earls of
Pinnington.

After the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, two brothers—
James and John—came to America and purchased an estate on
the James. John Taliaferro afterward settled near Williamsburg
and established "Powhatan" and became the progenitor of the
Taliaferro family in Caroline and in Virginia. "Hay" in King
George county is also an old Taliaferro estate.

The family has given many useful men to the State and
nation, among whom may be mentioned John Taliaferro, (1768-1853)
member of Congress, Presidential Elector, Librarian of
Treasury Department at Washington. John Wishart Taliaferro,
Surgeon on the Bon Homme Richard under John Paul Jones.
Lawrence Taliaferro, Major in the United States Army; Walker
Taliaferro, member of the House of Burgesses from Caroline,
1766-1768 and James Monroe Taliaferro, god-son of President
Monroe and class-mate of Robert E. Lee.