William Lafayette Taylor

portrait
Contents

Personal and Family Information

William was born on 14 Aug 1846 in Pulaski, Giles Cty, Tennessee, the son of unknown parents.[Note 4]

He died on 27 Jul 1927 in Woodruff County, Arkansas.[Note 5]

He had two marriages/partners. His first wife was Cornelia Jane McGuire, who he married on 23 JAN 1868 in Athens, Limestone County, Alabama. Their five known children were John M (1867-1889), Dick (1872-1873), Tully T (1874-1876), Lucius Jerome (1870-1907) and Arthur F (1876-<1927).

His second wife was Mary Elizabeth Lewis, who he married on 9 NOV 1880 in Woodruff County, Arkansas. Their eight known children were Alabama B. (1881-1926), Lula Ellen (1883-1964), Ida Bernice (1885-1942), Benjamin Lafayette (1887-1945), Jimmie Beurah (1889-1989), Lewis Opal (1891-1981), Edd Bryant (1893-1975) and Joe C. (1895-1896).

Events

EventDateDetailsSourceMultimediaNotes
Birth14 AUG 1846
Place: Pulaski, Giles Cty, Tennessee
Type: Arkansas1900 census, Jackson County, Arkansas
Agency: Taylor Family Bible
Cemetery Record of Woodruff County Arkanasas
Source: Cemetery Record of Woodruff County Arkanasas
Authors: Adelia C Kittrell and Curtis A Houston
Publisher: Reprinted by Woodduff County Historical Society 2006/1992 copywrite 1978

See Note 4
Death27 JUL 1927
Place: Woodruff County, Arkansas
Age: 78 Y 11m 15d
Agency: death cert per Jerome T Berry
Cemetery Record of Woodruff County Arkanasas
Source: Cemetery Record of Woodruff County Arkanasas
Authors: Adelia C Kittrell and Curtis A Houston
Publisher: Reprinted by Woodduff County Historical Society 2006/1992 copywrite 1978

Obit - Taylor, WL and Betty
media

See Note 5
Census18 OCT 1850
Place: Giles County, Tennessee
Age: 3 born Tenn
Address: Lafayette Tailor district 13 dwelling 64 family 64
Agency: 1850 census Tenn
See Note 6
Census1860
Address: not our guy
Agency: 1860 Census Ala
Census 1860 Tennessee Giles, Pulaski Town
media

See Note 7
Census1870
Place: Limestone County, Alabama
Age: 23 born Tenn
Address: Dwelling 83, family 67 Tayler, William age 23, Cornelia wf 31, Ala, Wm. Rotenberry wm 12 Ala Martha wf 10 Ala, Lucy James wf 8 Ala, John W Taylor wm 2 Ala
Agency: 1870 Census Alabama
Census 1870 Alabama, Limestone County
Source: Census 1870 Alabama, Limestone County

Census 1870, Alabama, Limestone County
media

Census15 JUN 1880
Place: Jackson County, Arkansas
Age: 33 born Tenn
Type: white male
Address: no wife, but 5 children stepson William Rotenberry nearby who is Arthur age 4, born Ark?
Agency: 1880 Census Arkansas
Census 1880 Arkansas, Jackson County, Breckenridge twp, ED 131, page 19, stamp 438
Source: Census 1880 Arkansas, Jackson County, Breckenridge twp, ED 131, page 19, stamp 438
Publisher: ancestry .com

See Note 8
Census6 JUN 1900
Place: Breckenridge Township, Jackson County, Arkansas
Age: 54 b Ala
Address: with second wife and second family Dwelling 75, family 76
Agency: Census 1900 Ark
Cemetery Record of Woodruff County Arkanasas
Source: Cemetery Record of Woodruff County Arkanasas
Authors: Adelia C Kittrell and Curtis A Houston
Publisher: Reprinted by Woodduff County Historical Society 2006/1992 copywrite 1978

Census 1900 Arkansas, Jackson County, Breckenridge,ED 53 Union ED 61
Source: Census 1900 Arkansas, Jackson County, Breckenridge,ED 53 Union ED 61
Publisher: Twelfth Census of the US

See Note 9
Census1910
Place: Breckenridge Township, Jackson County, Arkansas
Age: 61 b Tenn
Agency: 1910 census Ark
Census 1910 Arkansas, Jackson Cty Breckendridge ED 63 and Union ED 73
Source: Census 1910 Arkansas, Jackson Cty Breckendridge ED 63 and Union ED 73
Publisher: US Department of Commerence

Census26 JAN 1920
Place: Deview Twp, Woodruff Cty Ark
Age: 73 b Tenn
Address: Farm, dwelling 130, family 133
Agency: 1920 Census Ark
Census 1920 Arkansas, Woodruff County, Deview Twp
Source: Census 1920 Arkansas, Woodruff County, Deview Twp

BurialJUL 1927
Place: Odd Fellows Cemetery, South Half
Address: 2 1/2 miles south of McCory Ark, cemetery Records of Woodruff Cty http://www.arkansasgravestones.org/view.php?id=928963 Find A Grave Memorial# 137881288 GPS: 35°13'03.7"N 91°12'02.1"W
Cemetery Record of Woodruff County Arkanasas
Source: Cemetery Record of Woodruff County Arkanasas
Authors: Adelia C Kittrell and Curtis A Houston
Publisher: Reprinted by Woodduff County Historical Society 2006/1992 copywrite 1978

Other Event1863
Place: Tennessee
Age: 17
Type: Military Service
Address: 5th Regement , Co G, Tenn Calvary earlier maybe 5th Co C. http://www.arkansasgravestones.org/view.php?id=928963
Agency: Woodruff Co Hist Soc, Vol XI, #4, Fall 1983
Military Record, Taylor, William Layfette
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See Note 10

Multimedia

media
Bud and Mary...
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Bud Taylor a...

Notes

Note 1

from Cemetery Records of Woodruff County

Kittrell and Houston, Volume 1

White Church Cemetery also known as White Lake Cemetery

section 14/15 T9N just west of Ben Simmons home..

11 members of Taylor family first one is:

Taylor, Allie , dau of W. M. and L.C.. b Jan 8, 1887, d Oct 9 1889.

Lucius J, b July 26, 1870, d Feb 10, 1907

William L in Odd Fellows south of McCory

noted as a Confederate Soldier

Note 2

related?? to General Zachary Taylor War of 1812,

12th president of United States, elected 1848

born 24 Nov 1784 in Orange Cty Virginia

died July 9, 1850, Washington DC, buried Louisville Kentucky

 From: Lgbutler@aol.com

Subject: Family info

Date: March 15, 2009 9:17:01 PM CDT

Take W. L. Taylor,  for instance.  What info that I have on him borders on myth.  There are,  or have been, several family members who have tried to get some sort of history on him.  As far as I know, none have succeeded.  It's like he popped up after the Civil War out of nowhere.  Family verbal history has it,  that he was from Pulaski, TN.  I have not been able to prove that.  There was also a story that he had to leave TN because of a Blood Feud with another family.  The story goes that his brother was shot while working in the field and discretion being the better part of valor,  he left. 

I have no idea whether this is true or not.  If it is, could he have possibly changed his name?  Who knows.  I have a copy of a letter from the War Dept dated 1940 that gives a rundown of his service record, but,  the dates just don't jive.  By the way, have you ever looked to see how many William Taylors are listed in the TN civil war records?  Don't plan to print them out unless you get a new ink cartridge first. 

There evidently is a Taylor behind every tree in TN and they all try to relate back to Zachary in one way or another.  I keep searching for someone who is coming from the other direction, but as yet, nothing.  Even his year of birth varies by several years,  depending on the source. 

State Land Records

Last Name: Taylor

First Name: William L.

Date: 11/23/1886

Box: 71 File: 3

Record Type: Forfeited Deed

Notes: 7991

Location: Sec. { } (Cave City)

Note 3

who are Dick Taylor died Mat 11, 1873 and

Tully T Taylor died July 11, 1876

per Taylor family Bible/Grover Butler summary

see also 1927 obit says 5 children, none survived to 1927..

Note 4

apparently before civil war and marriage to Cornelia Rotenberry he was born about 1849.

In constrast most of records after war and first marriage indicate birth about 1847.

death certificate has birth and death differ by one year

Per Jerome T Berry. 1997

Note 5

see Jerome T Berry correspondence, apparently gravestone has wrong dates. Death certificate has July 30 1926 as does obit for his wife Mary Elizabeth in 1944.

DC gives age 78y 11m, 15d and thus birth calculates as 16 AUG 1847

Jerry Berry commented that many of his recors have birth on August 14 and both years 1846 and 1847.

Wm L Taylor obit is not dated, but does give his birth as August 14, 1848 near Pulaski, Tenn. Moved to Athens Ala as a small boy, and came to Tupelo Ark in 1870. Then eight years ago 1926-8 = 1918? moved to Grays, Woodruff Cty, Ark.

Note 6

3 year old Lafayette Tailor and sister 5 year old Parthena J--

they are with Robert Scott age 66, farmer born Georgia? and Harriet Scott age 65 born Penn   

dwelling 64, family 64   District 13 Giles

born Georgia might be a connection to Felix Simmons

My Grandmother,  Jim Butler told us several times about W. L's father and brother having been bushwhacked in the field while working.  William's father was killed immediately and his brother died a day or so later.  Could he and other siblings have been left orphans ?   I realize that this is a great big hunk of supposition and I could be all wet on the whole thing, but one grasps at straws when nothing else presents itself. Gray Butler 9/13/09

this is not our guy,

same place as in 1860 census and still there in 1870 also

Pulaski, Giles Cty, Tenn

dwelling 58, family 58

James H Tailor, age 34, male, grocery merchant, value of real estate $2800, born Virginia

Sarah " age 38, female, born Tenn

Medora ", age 7 female, born Tenn

Mary ", age 6, female born Miss

James " age 4, male born Tenn

William " age 1 male born Tenn

Thomas Abbernathy, age 24 male, grocery merchant, born Tenn/

Note 7

not our guy

either William L or William P age 11, born Tenn

in dwelling 304 family 272

James H Taylor age 46 , male, white, Merchant, $4200, $1400, born Va

Sarah A Taylor, age 39 female born Tenn

Medora Taylor age 17, female born Tenn

Mary Taylor age 15, female born Tenn

James H Taylor, age 13, born Tenn

if this is the right family, then look at 1850 census same place

and there they are

dwelling 58, family 58 James H Tailor with Sarah, Medora, Mary, james and William.

1870 census William P is still with parents in Giles Cty Tenn...

another possiblilty

william Taylor age 14 b tenn in 1860 Tenn, Dist 23 Lincoln Cty

Note 8

1880 Census, Jackson County, Arkansas

William L Taylor wm 33 Tenn

John W wm 12 Ala

Jerome wm 10 Ala

Arthur wm 4 Ark

Martha Rotenberry wf 18 Ala

Lucy James wf 16 Ala

Nearby is William Rotenberry wm 22 Ala

Note 9

1900 Census, Breckenridge Twp, Jackson County Arkansas

Taylor, William L wm Aug 1845 54, married 20 yrs, b Ala, f b Ala, m b Ala

Betty, wife , wife, Sept 1859,40, married 20, 8 children 7 living, b Ala, Ala,Ala

Ala, Dau wf, Sept 1880, 19 s, b Ark,f bAla, m b Ala

Lula , dau WF, Sept 1882 17 s, b Ark,f bAla, m b Ala

Ida , dau wf Aug 1884,15 s, b Ark,f bAla, m b Ala

Benjamine, son wm July 1887, 12 s, b Ark,f bAla, m b Ala

Jimmie, dau, wf, Feb 1899, 11 s, b Ark,f bAla, m b Ala

Louis, dau wf, Sept 1890, 9 s, b Ark,f bAla, m b Ala

Ed Bryant son wm, Apr 1893, 7 s, b Ark,f bAla, m b Ala

Carley, Robert, hired hand wm Aug 1880, 19s, b Ms f b Tn, m b Tn

Note 10

Taken prisoner in Georgia

discharged in Montgomery Ala, 1865

Catalog of Arkansas Resources and Archival Treasures:

Arkansas Confederate Pensions

Surname: Taylor

Given Name: William L.

Application Number: 29925

Widow Surname: Taylor

Widow Given Name: Mary Elizabeth

Company:G

Regiment:5

State Served From:Tennessee

Division:Cavalry

Pension County:Woodruff

Death Date:7/27/1927

Application Year:

Widow Death Date:

Comments:widow applied 1929 / questionnaire

Sources

  1. Cemetery Record of Woodruff County Arkanasas
    Source: Cemetery Record of Woodruff County Arkanasas
    Authors: Adelia C Kittrell and Curtis A Houston
    Publisher: Reprinted by Woodduff County Historical Society 2006/1992 copywrite 1978
  2. Census 1870 Alabama, Limestone County
    Source: Census 1870 Alabama, Limestone County
  3. Census 1880 Arkansas, Jackson County, Breckenridge twp, ED 131, page 19, stamp 438
    Source: Census 1880 Arkansas, Jackson County, Breckenridge twp, ED 131, page 19, stamp 438
    Publisher: ancestry .com
  4. Cemetery Record of Woodruff County Arkanasas
    Source: Cemetery Record of Woodruff County Arkanasas
    Authors: Adelia C Kittrell and Curtis A Houston
    Publisher: Reprinted by Woodduff County Historical Society 2006/1992 copywrite 1978
  5. Census 1900 Arkansas, Jackson County, Breckenridge,ED 53 Union ED 61
    Source: Census 1900 Arkansas, Jackson County, Breckenridge,ED 53 Union ED 61
    Publisher: Twelfth Census of the US
  6. Census 1910 Arkansas, Jackson Cty Breckendridge ED 63 and Union ED 73
    Source: Census 1910 Arkansas, Jackson Cty Breckendridge ED 63 and Union ED 73
    Publisher: US Department of Commerence
  7. Census 1920 Arkansas, Woodruff County, Deview Twp
    Source: Census 1920 Arkansas, Woodruff County, Deview Twp
  8. Cemetery Record of Woodruff County Arkanasas
    Source: Cemetery Record of Woodruff County Arkanasas
    Authors: Adelia C Kittrell and Curtis A Houston
    Publisher: Reprinted by Woodduff County Historical Society 2006/1992 copywrite 1978
  9. Cemetery Record of Woodruff County Arkanasas
    Source: Cemetery Record of Woodruff County Arkanasas
    Authors: Adelia C Kittrell and Curtis A Houston
    Publisher: Reprinted by Woodduff County Historical Society 2006/1992 copywrite 1978