Latest in Taylor Family History Research

So what are just a few of the biggest question marks in our Taylor family history story?

1. The link between us and Revolutionary War veteran James Taylor (b. 1750 in Coventry, CT) is proven and established through birth, marriage and death records beyond dispute. Establishing the link between James and his father William is less certain (though we do have probate records that give his father's name as William Taylor). Therein lies the first big issue...William Taylor is such a common name in 18th-Century Connecticut that we are not quite sure which one he is. Family lore holds it that there was a family bible that listed William, Jr. as son of another William, who was son of Stephen Taylor, Jr. of East Windsor, CT. If we can establish this link concretely (perhaps I should say 'these links') that would be a huge family history accomplishment. We have very good historical documentation regarding the life of Stephen Taylor, Jr. (b. 1644, d. 1707 both in Windsor, CT). The life of his father brings us to the next great genealogical riddle to solve: Stephen Taylor, Sr.
2. The parentage and origins of Stephen Taylor, Sr. (d. 1688, Windsor, CT) are uncertain. Here is what our current research says about Stephen TAYLOR, Sr. -- he is listed in the LDS Ancestral File (AF) as the great grandson of a Robert, grandson of a Robert, and son of a Robert. The latter designation is the Robert Taylor of Spreyton, Devonshire, England. Stephen's mother is variously listed, but if he is a son of Robert of Spreyton, then his mother would be Thomasyne SMALLRIDGE, a daughter of Richard. She was christened in St. Mary's parish (Parish records) in Tedbury, Devon, England on June 15, 1586, and she died in 1618, probably shortly after her son's birth. It is not certain who Stephen's parents were. What is known is that he was not a great grandson of the Robert Taylor listed in the AF. A personal search of many parish registers of Devon show that there was no connection between the older two generations of Robert TAYLOR (who clearly were father and son) and the third generation Robert TAYLOR. The above information is currently being researched by Randall Taylor of Saratoga Springs, Utah and he is hoping to publish a book about it (contact info. RandallTaylor44@gmail.com). There is reason to believe that Stephen was at least born in England's West Country, the southwest peninsula that contains the shires of Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. The associates of Stephen after his definitive arrival in the New England area were known to have come from these regions. Stephen is first known to be in Windsor, Connecticut in 1640 by being named in the Windsor Land Inventory (Great Migration Begins, Anderson, 1995, NEHGS, p. 938, 995), although there is another published claim (Search for the Passengers of the Mary and John, Edited by Burton Spear, Vol. 17, p. 201) indicating Stephen may have been in Dorchester, Massachusetts as early as 1633. He first is seen in Windsor Town Records at the time of his marriage to Sarah HOSFORD on 1 November 1642. His marriage to Elizabeth ____ NOWELL was 25 October 1649 (Windsor VR Vol. 1, p. 62) and this union led to the births of six children (Windsor VR Vol. MG). There is a discussion of Stephen Taylor of Windsor available and published in The American Genealogist (Vol 37, pgs. 197-203), and there is a brief biography in Stiles The History of Ancient Windsor (Vol II, p. 749-750). He was admitted to the First Church of Windsor March 6, 1644 (Stiles, p. 749). He was one of the first to move to the East side of the Connecticut River about 1656 with Richard Samways. He is mentioned in a number of other publications, including Memorial History of Hartford County, Vol II, p. 552, 557 and Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, p. 190. 353 and 356; his name is inscribed on the Palisado Monument of Windsor as a Founder. He died 1 September, 1688. Elizabeth, his wife, probably born about 1630, was a widow when she married in 1649 to Stephen. Her husband, Thomas NOWELL (Conn Nutmegger, 6/93, Vol. 26, p.23), had died the year before her marriage to Stephen. Thomas and Elizabeth apparently had no children. Her maiden name remains unknown. She was admitted to the church in 1666 (Stiles Vol. II, p. 749), and Elizabeth died in 1689, "the widow Taylor dyed August 5 1689" (Land Records Colony of Connecticut, p. 57 of Vol. D). The will of Stephen TAYLOR of Windsor is preserved in Hartford, probate number 5403. A transcript of it is as follows: "Will of Stephen Taylor:
 August 16, 1683
: The last will and testament of Steuen Taylor sener is as followeth my Soule I bequeath too god that gaue it and my body to a christian buriall and as for that estat that god hath giuen me all my just debts being payd and funerall charges first I giue to my deare and loueing wife my house and barne and the Uper halfe of my lott bounding by Thomas Bissell duering her life and also I giue to my wife liberty too take of my house all goods what se ses cause duering her life and also out of the estat ten pounds to be at her owne dispose. I giue to my son Steuen the lower haluf of my lott to tak posession after my Deceas he paying ten pounds to my estat within on twelue month after my disceas: to my son Samuell I giue twenty shillings also to my son Thomas I giue ten pounds: as for my son John i giue after my wiues decease I giue him my house and barne on that haluf of my lott next to Thomas Bissell he paying forty pounds with in three years after his mother desease and too my daughter Abigall I giue twenty four pounds and too my daughter Mary i giue twenty ponds too my daughter Mindwell I giue therty five pounds shee being pay of the legacy first twenty pounds and then for what my estate fals short to pay thay must all stay by equall proportion till the money be dew from Steuen and John but in case by any prouedent my estat fals short to make good all my legaces thay are all to beare ther parts proportiabl as thay are to reseave also I apoint my wife and son John executers to this my last will and my desier is that Thomas Bissell senr and Nathanell Bissell may be ouerseers of this my last will and to be helpfull too my wife and John and thay to repare to them for aduice and councell this the sixteene day of August eighty three in witness hear of I set my hand in the presant of witnes that word first about mindwell was enther lines before subscription.
Stephen Taylor
witnes Thomas Bissell
Nathanell Bissell sener
(In the margin is written lengthwise) it is further addes i presence of ye witnesses yt in case his daughter Mary be dead, yt the legacy given her it should be devided amongst her children" (On the reverse of the Will in the Library in Hartford) "Will of Stephen Taylor late of Windsor, decd 1688. September 4, 1688. Inventory taken of the estat of Steuen Taylor deceased 49 pounds 8 shillings and 3 pence. (Signed) Joseph Fitch, Samuel Grant sener, Joshua Wills."