William Taylor 1787-1839 Elizabeth Patrick 1793-1880

Note:  I have a life sketch for William elsewhere on this blog because of the many discrepancies about his life.  His story takes a lot of time and space to explain.

William Taylor

-M-
paternal
4th great grandparents

Parents:  Joseph Taylor and Sarah Best
Born 21 Mar 1787 Taylor Plantation on Coneto Creek, North Carolina
Note:  at 15 years of age, he moved to Kentucky with his parents

Married Elizabeth Patrick 22 Mar 1811 Warren County, Kentucky

Part of Zion's Camp
Died 9 Sep 1839 Illinois
Buried On the road between Lima and Warsaw, Illinois
Sources

Book:  Coneto Creek Taylors by Jesse L Warner (1975) page 30b
Book:  Coneto Creek Taylors by Jesse L Warner (1975) page 14-18

Zion's Camp: https://www.lds.org/manual/church-history-in-the-fulness-of-times-student-manual/chapter-twelve-zions-camp?lang=eng
Marriage: Book:  Coneto Creek Taylors by Jesse L Warner (1975) page 18
Picture of him:  Family Group Sheet my grandmother had
Nauvoo Death Records listed as a source for William on the following link: http://www.earlylds.com/getperson.php?personID=I23912&tree=Earlylds
Church News Article Issue: 24 Sep 1994: Temple Moments;  Rewards of Faith
Memorial for him on findagrave:  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12627753/william-taylor

Note: there is a picture posted on findagrave that is actually James Allred, not William and it is noted as being wrong.
Family Search
ancestry.com

Elizabeth

Elizabeth "Betsy" Patrick

Parents: John Patrick and Sarah Kendrick
Born 9 Dec 1793 Mecklenburg, Virginia

Mormon Overland Trail:  Allen Taylor Company (her son)

Pioneer

Note:  she traveled as Elizabeth Allred, not Elizabeth Taylor

Married 2) James Allred 3 Feb 1846 Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois
Note:  they did not live together as man and wife - ever.  James served as proxy for William to be sealed for time and eternity to Elizabeth.  At that same time, James became a husband in name only.  She eventually ended up living out the remainder of her life in Ogden at her son, Pleasant Green's place (thank you to Karilyn Taylor via Family Search for letting me in on this).  

Also I received the following from Norman Nelson1, anything in parentheses is my contribution to clarify (thank you Norman): 
"The (Nauvoo) temple records do show Elizabeth being sealed for time only. This was common practice at that time for widows in order to maintain their property. Women did not have property rights at that time and anyone could just take an abandoned home and call it their own. Elizabeth left Nauvoo shortly after her being sealed to William so her marriage to her long time friend helped her maintain her rights to her Nauvoo home."
Died 25 Oct 1880 Harrisville, Weber, Utah
Note:  she died at her son's (Pleasant Green's) home

Buried Ogden City Cemetery, Ogden, Weber, Utah
Obituary

Elizabeth's headstone

Of old age, in Harrisville Ward, Weber Co., Utah, at 9:30 o'clock a.m. on Tuesday, Oct 26, at the residence of her son, Bishop P.G. Taylor ELIZABETH PATRICK, relict of Wm. Taylor, aged 86 years, 10 months, and 16 days.  Deceased was born December 10th, 1793, in the State of Virginia.  Joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with her husband in the Spring of 1832, in Monroe County, Missouri, and shared with the Saints in their persecutions in that State; she arrived in  Salt Lake valley with her family in the fall of 1840, made her home in Kaysville, Davis County, at which place she lived until about eight years ago.  Her family has become very numerous, numbering 14 children, and 193 grandchildren, 407 great-grandchildren, and 23 great-great grandchildren.  These four generations number 637 souls, and all of them are within the boundaries of the organized stakes of Zion.

Sources

Birth:  Book:  Coneto Creek Taylors by Jesse L Warner (1975) page 30b
Obit: Book:  Coneto Creek Taylors by Jesse L Warner (1975) page 31
Picture:  Family Group Sheet
Headstone: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7368178/elizabeth-taylor

1850 US Census for Davis, Utah ( age 56, living with son Levi)
Family Search
ancestry.com

CHILDREN

John Taylor

*John Taylor

To see John as a parent: http://upperlevelgen.blogspot.com/2009/07/john-taylor-eleanor-burkett.html
Born 7 Dec 1812 Bowling Green, Warren, Kentucky

Occupation Farmer
Married Eleanor Burkett 3 Apr 1834 Liberty, Clay, Missouri

John and Eleanor's headstone

Children: Eleanor, Alma, Teancum, Eleanor, Joseph, Sarah, Mary, John, Hyrum, Eliza, William, Lucinda, James, Amanda

Died 7 Feb 1896 Plain City, Weber, Utah

Buried 10 Feb 1896 Ogden City Cemetery, Ogden, Weber, Utah Plot E-5-40-2W1

-M-
3rd Great grandfather

Note:  John was born in Kentucky, but joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 30 Jun 1834 in Missouri.  He later left the church and joined the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was a member of the RLDS church at the time of his death

Sources

http://www.taylorassociation.org/biographies/Biography.asp?ID=6&Char=B

http://home.comcast.net/~susanjackman/burketweb/ancestornarrative/b12.htm

1840 US Census Hancock County, Illinois

1850 US Census Milam, Texas (age 38)

1860 US Census Weber County, Utah

1870 US Census Madison County, Montana (age 56)
Note:  household of Leopold Van Gorp.  He had his wife, William, James, and Amanda with him

1880 US Census for Plain City, Weber, Utah (age 68)
Note:  lists his father's birthplace as SC and it should be NC

Picture:  findagrave, Family Search, family group sheet

Note:  The Joseph Taylor Sr. Family Association has information copied by Susan Holley Jackman from the records of her grandfather, Horace Holley, son of Amanda Jane Knight, daughter of Sarah Elizabeth (listed below).  She states there are a lot of "gross errors" in the history and did her best to straighten out several misleading stories.
Family Search
ancestry.com

Headstone: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25146555/john-taylor

Alan Taylor

Allen Taylor

Born 17 Jan 1814 Bowling Green, Warren, Kentucky

Military:  Mormon Battalion
Married 1) Sarah Lovisa Allred 5 September 1833 Monroe County, Missouri
Children: Isaac, Mary, William, Sarah, Joseph, Nancy, Clarissa, Orissa, Independence, Jedediah, Lovisa

2) Hannah Egbert 1 January 1850 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Children: John Egbert, Susanna, Liberty, Jeremiah, Ann Crillia and Alfred Allen.
Note:  She re-married in 1874 so they must have divorced.
3) Elizabeth Smith 26 November 1856 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
Children: Anna Durdell
Note:  She had been married twice before
4) Phoebe Ann Roberts  27 March 1857 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.

Children: Harriet, Mary, Julia, Amanda, Levi, James, Phoebe, Allen Jr., Louisa, Amy, Wilford, Matilda

Died 5 December 1891 Loa, Wayne, Utah

Buried: Loa Cemetery, Wayne, Utah.

Symbol for the Battalion

Short Life History:

Allen came to Utah 15 October 1849, with the Mormon Pioneers. He was the Captain of his (the Allen Taylor) Company. On arrival at Salt Lake City, he settled at the mouth of Mill Creek Canyon. He moved to Kaysville, Davis, Utah in 1850. He was called to be LDS Bishop there in 1854. He moved to St. George, Washington, Utah in 1862, and from there to Loa, Wayne, Utah in 1883.

Allen's headstone

Phoebe Ann Roberts, his fourth wife, born 22 January 1842, at Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois. She was the daughter of Levi Roberts and Harriet Ann Hefford. She and Allen had 12 children. Phoebe died 20 September 1919, at Loa, Wayne, Utah. She and Allen were both buried at the Loa Cemetery.

Sources

Family Search
Ancestry.com
Book: Family History of the Joseph Taylor, Jr. and Sarah Best Family by Shari H. Franke
1880 US Census for Washington, Utah Film Number T9-1339 Page Number 373D (66 years old)
Headstone:  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22190157/allen-taylor
Family Search
ancestry.com

Julia Ann Taylor Allred

Julia Ann Taylor

Born 9 Feb 1815 Bowling Green, Warren, Kentucky

Organization:  Nauvoo Relief Society
Was first wife of polygamist Isaac Allred, married 11 Oct 1832 Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois

Children: William, John, Eliza, James, Sidney, Amanda, Mandy, Juliann, Hannah, Mary

Note:  Isaac was killed by "friend" Thomas Ivie, over a matter of sheep (Thomas beat him with a stick and Isaac died the next day).  He was buried in the Spring City Cemetery. There is a lot of information regarding him, including the fact he was on a mission for the church in 1837, leaving behind his wife and children while he served.  Julia, like so many of her peers, had to take over raising the family. 

Julia's headstone

Died 16 May 1898 Richmond, Cache, Utah

Buried Richmond City Cemetery, Richmond, Cache, Utah

Sources
1850 US Census Pottawatomie, Iowa
1860 US Census Mt. Pleasant, San Pete, Utah
Pic: From my grandmother's Book of Remembrance
Headstone: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5080190/julia-ann-allred
Book: Family History of the Joseph Taylor, Jr. and Sarah Best Family by Shari H. Franke
Family Search
ancestry.com

Mary Ann Taylor MacCord Hendrickson

Mary Ann Taylor

Born 22 Mar 1818 Near Richardsville, Warren, Kentucky

Married 1) Robert MacCord 29 May 1834 Monroe County, Missouri

Note: In the marriage record her surname is spelled Tailor and his surname Maccord.  They were only married a month.  He died of cholera.
2) Jordan Paddox Hendrickson Nov 1839
Children:  Simeon

Died 5 Sep 1842 Illinois

Buried (assumed) Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois
Sources
Marriage to Robert: Extracted record.  Film 0975086 V 1-3 dated 1831-1879 Batch M515871
Picture:  Family Search
Online biography:  http://www.taylorassociation.org/ 
Family Search
ancestry.com
Memorial on findagrave:  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/89997555/mary-ann-mccord

Louisa Taylor Stout

Louisa Taylor

Born 19 October 1819 near Richardsville, Warren, Kentucky.

Married Hosea Stout 29 November 1840 Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois

Note: She was Hosea's second wife
Children: Lydia , William , Hyrum, Louisa, Elizabeth , Hosea Jr., Eli, Joseph

Louisa's headstone

Died: 11 January 1853 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Note: died 2 days after giving birth to her eighth child, probably from complications of childbirth. Her husband was away on an LDS Mission to China when she died.

Buried: Salt Lake Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Salt City, Utah
Sources

Book: Family History of the Joseph Taylor, Jr. and Sarah Best Family by Shari H. Franke

1850 US Census for Great Salt Lake, Utah  Film 25540 Image 199 Family Number 402
Headstone: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19356651/louisa-stout
Family Search

ancestry.com

Elizabeth Ann Taylor Driggs Criddle

Elizabeth Ann Taylor

Born 30 Nov 1821 Bowling Green, Warren, Kentucky

Married 1) Samuel Driggs 4 Oct 1840 Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois
Alternative place of marriage:  Mounthope, Adams, Illinois
Children: Louisa, Hannah, Maria, Levi, Jane, Amasa, Sarah, John

Elizabeth and John's headstone

2) John Criddle 1854
Children: William, Sarah, James, John, Elizabeth
Died 9 Mar 1906 Kaysville, Davis, Utah
Buried 13 Mar 1906 Kaysville Cemetery, Kaysville, Davis, Utah

Sources
1850 US Census for Davis County, Utah ( age 29)
Utah Death Certificate
Pic: Family Search
Headstone:  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/124475/elizabeth-ann-criddle
1860 US Census for Davis County, Utah page 67 (age 38)
1870 US Census for Utah (age 48)
1880 US Census for Kaysville, Davis, Utah page 316B (age 58)
1900 US Census for Kaysville, Davis, Utah page 1A (age 78, widowed, living with stepson James' family)
Family Search
ancestry.com

Sarah K B Taylor Dobson

Sarah's headstone

Sarah Kendrick Best Taylor

Born 24 Aug 1823 Bowling Green, Warren, Kentucky

Married Thomas Dobson 29 Oct 1843 Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois

Children: Mary, Thomas, Cyrus, John, Keziah, Ellen, Sarah, Arsena, Elizabeth, Emma, Eli

Died: 27 Apr 1909 Deloit, Crawford, Iowa 

Buried: 29 Apr 1909 Deloit City Cemetery, Deloit, Crawford, Iowa

Sources
Family Group Sheet my grandmother had
1850 US Census for Pottawatamie, Iowa (age 28)
1860 US Census for Milford, Crawford, Iowa (age 36)1870 US Census for  Iowa (age 46)
1880 US Census for Iowa page 50B (age 55, widowed)
1900 US Census for Milford, Crawford, Iowa page 12A (widowed)
Iowa Deaths and Burials 1850-1990
Family Search
ancestry.com
Headstone: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18792565/sarah-kendrick_best-dobson

Joseph Taylor

Joseph Taylor

Born 4 Jun 1825 Bowling Green, Warren, Kentucky

Married 1) Mary Moore 24 Mar 1844 Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois
Children:  Clarissa, Joseph, Mary, William, Jane
2) Jane Ordway Lake 1852 Ogden, Weber, Utah
Children: Juliette, Andrew, Mary, James, Philomena, Esther, Amanda, Lydia, Emma, Moroni, Elizabeth 
3) Hannah M Harris 7 Jan 1865 Utah
4) Caroline Mattson abt 1866

1850 Emigrated to Utah with James Lake Company

Military:  Mexican War Co A Mormon Batallion

Symbol for Battalion members

Joseph Taylor's headstone

Died 11 Aug 1900 Farr West, Weber, Utah

Obituary:

JOSEPH TAYLOR DEAD

WAS ONE OF THE OLD MORMON BATTALION VETERANS

This morning Joseph Taylor died at his home at Farr West, of general debility, at the advanced age of 75 years. He was a pioneer in every sense of the word. He had lived in Weber county for fifty years and was a member of the old Mormon Battalion. He leaves many relatives to mourn his loss, among whom is Bishop Greene Taylor, who is a brother. His life was known to all. He had friends by the score, but he had passed his three score years and ten and he is now numbered among those who have crossed the river.

Buried 14 Aug 1900 Ogden City Cemetery, Ogden, Weber, Utah

Sources
1850 US Census for Davis County, Utah Territory (age 26, living with Mary)
1880 US Census for Harrisville, Weber, Utah (age 55, living with Amanda)
1900 US Census for Harrisville, Weber, Utah (age 75, widowed)
Online:  Veterans with Federal Service Buried in Utah, Territorial to 1966
Family Search
ancestry.com

Book: Family History of the Joseph Taylor, Jr. and Sarah Best Family by Shari H. Franke
Headstone:  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25966738/joseph-taylor

Pleasant Green Taylor

Pleasant Green Taylor (Green)

Born 8 Feb 1827 Bowling Green, Warren, Kentucky
Mormon overland trail:  James Lake Company
Married 1) Clarissa (Clara) Lake

P.G. Taylor's headstone

Children: Green, Amanda, Nephi, Pleasant, Amasa, Elcemina, Joseph, Lydia, Alexander,Orson, Laura

2)  Mary Eliza Shurtliff (9 children)
3) Jane Narcissus Shurtliff (7 children)
4) Sarah Jane Marler (6 children)
Died 16 May 1917 at the homestead, Harrisville, Weber, Utah

Buried Ogden City Cemetery, Ogden, Weber, Utah Plot: D-5-12-1E

Sources

1850 US Census of Davis County, Utah (age 23)

1860 US Census of Weber County, Utah (age 33)

1880 US Census of Harrisville, Weber, Utah (age 53)

1900 US Census of Farr West, Weber, Utah

1910 US Census of Harrisville, Weber, Utah (age 83)
Book: Family History of the Joseph Taylor, Jr. and Sarah Best Family by Shari H. Franke
Family Search
ancestry.com
Monument in Harrisville, Utah

Glenn Rawson Stories (about 30 minutes in) here is the link : https://www.facebook.com/GlennRawsonStories/videos/220046132722686/
Headstone:  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14152866/pleasant-green-taylor

William W Taylor

William Warren Taylor

Born 13 December 1828 Richardsville, Warren, Kentucky.
Occupation:  Farmer

William's headstone

Married 1) Julia Aner Carbine 23 July 1853
Children: Julia, Adelia, William, Edmund, Mary, Eugene, Eugenia, Sarah, Joseph, Lenora
2) Mary Adelia Carbine 17 May 1862 (Julia Aner's sister).
Children: Albert, Francis, Llewellyn, James
Died:  20 February 1892 New Harmony, Washington, Utah
Note:  William was taking down a cellar and had just gotten to the point where he was ready to let the ridge pole down when he saw one of his grandchildren under it. He grabbed the child and threw him out of the way, but the ridge pole fell on William's neck, breaking it. He lost his own life in saving the life of his grandchild. He was killed at his home at New Harmony, Washington, Utah.
Buried: New Harmony Cemetery, Washington, Utah
Sources
Book: Family History of the Joseph Taylor, Jr. and Sarah Best Family by Shari H. Franke
1860 US Census for Weber County, Utah (age 32)
1870 US Census for Utah (age 41)
1880 US Census for Harmony, Kane, Utah (age 51)
Family Search
ancestry.com
Headstone: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53515/william-warren-taylor

Levi Taylor

Levi Taylor

Levi and Emeline's headstone

Born 3 Sep 1830 Bowling Green, Warren, Kentucky
Married Emeline Owen 23 Jul 1853 Kaysville, Davis, Utah
Children:  Lillie, Armenia
Died 9 Apr 1909 Kaysville, Davis, Utah
Buried Kaysville City Cemetery, Kaysville, Davis, Utah Plot: 19-3-A-9
Sources
1850 US Census for Davis County, Utah (21 years old)
1860 US Census for Davis County, Utah (30 years old) page 56
1880 US Census for Kaysville, Davis, Utah (49 years old) page 321
1900 US Census for Kaysville, Davis, Utah Sheet 8B
Family Search
ancestry.com
Headstone: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/123903/levi-taylor

Nancy Jane Taylor Smith

Nancy Jane Taylor
Born 17 May 1833 Missouri
Married Jonathan Smith 11 Jul 1857 Monroe County, Missouri

Nancy's headstone

Note: alternate marriage year 1847 - she would have been 14
Children:  Jonathan, Abigill, Permilia, Nancy, Arilla, Sarah, Joseph, Thomas, Mary, Jesse, Ida, Loretta, Flavilla, Marzella
Died 19 Mar 1900 Weston, Franklin Idaho
Buried Weston Cemetery, Franklin, Idaho Plot: Section C, Lot 45, Grave 2
Sources
1860 US Census for Farmington, Davis, Utah page 44 (age 27)
1880 US Census for Harrisville, Weber, Utah
Family Search
ancestry.com
Headstone: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33016334/nancy-jane-smith

Amanda

Amanda Melvina Taylor
Born 28 Jan 1835 Jackson, Monroe, Missouri
Died 22 Oct 1845 Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois
Buried (assumed) Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois
Sources
Family Search
ancestry.com
Nauvoo Death Records are listed as a source for Amanda here:  http://www.earlylds.com/getperson.php?personID=I3372&tree=Earlylds

James C Taylor

James Caldwell Taylor

Born 27 Feb 1837 Ray, Missouri
Married 1) Sarah Matilda Hyde 8 Jan 1860 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake,Utah
Children:  Maryann, James, Elizabeth, William, Sarah, Heman, George, Charles, Austin, Joseph
2) Lucy Jane Lake 15 Oct 1885 Logan, Cache, Utah
Died 3 Nov 1907 Clifton, Oneida, Idaho
Note:  the death information (extracted from the death certificate) claims 18 Dec 1907 as death date - headstone claims 3 Nov 1907.  He has 2 stones and both have the same information so I voted to go with the stones.

Sources
1870 US Census for Utah (33 years old)
1880 US Census for Franklin, Oneida, Idaho (43 years old)
1900 US Census for Fairview, Oneida, Idaho

Online:  Idaho Death and Burials 1907-1965 Film 1450637 P 1 No 28
Family Search
ancestry.com
Headstone: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50035504/james-caldwell-taylor

Life Sketch: William Taylor (Elizabeth Patrick)

I gathered this from my Taylor grandparents who had a copy among the Family Group Sheets. The original author was Lola Taylor Wells and she didn't list sources or a date when she wrote the document. Spelling and grammatical errors are left intact - I put corrections or clarifications in green italics and added some punctuation.

William Taylor, a son of Joseph Taylor and Sarah Kendrick Best, was born 21 March 1737 in Edgecomb County North Carolina. He had two brothers, Allen and Joseph, and eight sisters. Elizabeth Patrick, daughter of John Patrick and Elizabeth Kendrick, was born 9 Dec 1793. After they were married, they lived in or near Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky. In the spring of 1830, they moved to Missouri, Nonroe (Monroe) County and settled between the two forks of Fishing River. This state at that time was a wilderness in which there were many Indians and wild animals. It was a beautiful rolling prairie with some timber.

The Allred family came from Tennessee and settled there also. (Significant because their daughter Julia Ann would marry Isaac Allred)

They must have been guided there to receive the Gospel because they were situated in the line of the March of Zion's Camp. When the Proghet (Prophet, meaning Joseph Smith) camped on Fishing River, it was the time when a mob from Missouri had gathered to fight Zion's Camp which they believed to be a monstrous army due to reports they had heard, that night an immense storm arose. It so swelled the river that it was impossible for anyone to cross thereby saving the members of Zion's Camp and giving the members of these families a chance to hear the gospel. They arrived Friday night and William Taylor gave them shelter. The brethern (brethren) preached that evening, 19 June 1934 (1834) and the next day. Sunday, twenty-eight persons were baptized, William Taylor being the first person to be baptized in the Missouri River. He and one of his sons, and Isaac Allred and one of his sons joined the camp and went with the Prophet to Jackson County. The camp (Zions camp) disbanded there without fighting because the saints decided it was better to give up the land than to cause bloodshed. Soon after his baptism, William was ordained an Elder and became an earnest expounder of the doctrines of the church.

The Taylor family had sold slaves in Kentucky and so had quite a sum of money when they came to Missouri. Their farm was a valuable one consisting of six hundred and forty acres of valuable land. That fall they gathered with the Saints on Fishing River, they had to move out due to persecution and so received nothing for their land. They were robbed of $500.00 besides other things. Next, they moved to Long Creek, eight miles south of Far(Farr) West. In the fall of 1838, they moved into the streets of Far(Farr) West because of mob violence. They shared all the trials of the saints and on 8 Feb 1839, they were again compelled to leave their homes. For 320 acres of land and 1,000 bushels of grain, they received a neck-yoke worth about two dollars and a half. In all, they had owned a thousand acres in different parts of Missouri, from which they had not received a cent.

William Taylor died on the way to Nauvoo, 9 Sep 1839, and was buried on the main road from Lima to Warsaw. Before his death, he had called his family together and had counselled (counseled) them to rally around the priesthood and to remain with the main body of the church. He secured a promise from each of his children not to marry outside of the church. The prophet gave the family a lot three-quarters of a mile south of the temple on which they build (built) a house of one and one-half stories. At the time sickness was broken out in Nauvoo, one of Elizabeth Taylor's little girls was healed by rubbing a red silk handkerchief on the face of the child. The handkerchief had been given to one of the boys by the prophet who was too busy to come in person and administer to the child. Note: I have read other stories about a handkerchief (no special color mentioned) being used during this time by the Prophet who was too ill to rise from his sick bed.

Elizabeth sold butter and eggs to the Prophet. Her sons, Joseph, 14, and (Pleasant) Green, 12, worked for twenty-five cents a day to help provide for the family. The family were all present at the laying of the cornerstone of the temple and they worked every tenth day on it. The members of the family were very true to the Prophet and his cause. Two sons were guards to the prophet. This family saw the bodies of the martyred men brought to the city. They saw the Apostle, Brigham Young, take on the appearance of the Prophet and knew that he was their new leader. The 24 January 1846, Elizabeth and her three sons, Allen, Joseph, and Green, received their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple. The 8th of February they crossed the Mississippi River on ice. They reached Council Bluffs in June and planned to come on to Utah. This was interrupted by the calling of the Mormon Battalion and so they were not able to come until 1850.

The children of William and Elizabeth Taylor were: John, Allen, Julia Ann, Mary Ann, Louisa, Elizabeth Ann, Sarah K. Best, Joseph, Pleasant Green, William Warren, Levi, Nancy Jane, Amanda Melvina, and James Caldwell. They all came west but (Amanda) Melvina, who died when a child, and Sarah K Best. They (meaning the children who came west) married and moved to various parts of the west where they did their part in pioneering. (Pleasant) Green Taylor settled in Harrisville. His mother lived with him until her death 25 Oct 1880.

Here is a second version of the same story - most of it is the same, but there are a few significant differences and more family information (highlighted in red italics); which is the reason I added it. The author in this case is Leila Marler Hogan - again, no date or sources are given.

William Taylor was born in the state of Virginia on March 21st, 1787. He was the sone of Joseph Taylor, whose ancestors had come to America from England as early as 1635, and Sarah Best (Taylor). William had two brothers, Allen and Joseph, and eight sisters, Elizabeth, Frances, Sarah Best, Lottie, Amy, Temple, Mary Ann, and Delilah.

While William was still a small boy he came with his parents to Warren County, Kentucky. He became a well-informed man and was pronounced in his political views, being a democrat. He was married to Elizabeth Patrick, daughter of John Patrick and Elizabeth Kindrick, at Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky. This estimable woman bore him fourteen children, seven sons and seven daughters, their names being: John, Allen, Julia Ann, Mary Ann, Louisa, Elizabeth Ann, Sarah Kindrick Best, Joseph, Pleasant Green, William Warren, Levi, Nancy Jane, Amanda Malvina, and James Caldwell.

They made their home at the fine old homestead at Bowling Green until the year 1830 then, following their inborn desire for pioneering adventure and a broader experience, they sold their property and pushed out into the west with other pioneers. They settled in Monroe County, Missouri. The country at this time was a veritable wilderness inhabited mostly by red men and wild animals, but it was a beautiful country. Part of it was valuable timber and part of it was rolling prairie land rich in promise of the great wealth that later would be wrested from it through the thrift and diligence and the high ambition of its possessor. Here in the new country William Taylor purchased six hundred and forty acres of this valuable land and began the worthy task of converting it into a beautiful farm.

The Latter Day Saints had become an organized church in the spring of 1830, from that time forward they had been continually persecuted because of their religious belief, being driven from their homes in Missouri and denied the common rights of US citizens so in the spring of 1834, President Joseph Smith formed a military company of one hundred men, known as Zion's Camp, and started west to demand that his people in Missouri be given their rights. About two hundred recruits joined the camp en route.

At this time, William Taylor and his family were located on a slight elevation of land between two forks of the Fishing River. When Zion's Camp reached this place they were forced to stop to mend some of their wagons and to go in search of some of their horses that had wandered away. Enemies of the church had made threats against the camp, but before they could carry out their plans a furious storm arose. So much rain fell that the Fishing River became an impassible torrent. The members of Zion's Camp were forced to take refuge in an old church and in the homes of the residents thereabout. The terrific storm routed the mischief makers, who fled in panic. Joseph Smith and his followers remained in the vicinity from Friday night, June 19, till Monday morning, June 22nd. On the sabbath day services were held and the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints were explained. Having heard one sermon, William Taylor was converted. Before the camp moved on, he and all members of his family and friends who were old enough, were baptized in the Fishing River. There were twenty-eight persons baptised (baptized) at this time. William Taylor was the first person to accept the gospel and the first man in the state of Missouri to be baptized into the church. Shortly after this, he was ordained an Elder in the church and became an earnest preacher of the gospel.

Two days after meeting Joseph Smith, William manifested his confidence in the Prophet by fitting up his own son and his son-in-law with provisions, munitions and equipment, to become members of Zion's Camp.

From the time he joined the church, William Taylor threw himself into the work wholeheartedly and followed the saints through all their persecutions. He was forced to give up one home after another, his property was stolen and destroyed and insults and injury were heaped upon him and his family, but they never doubted the wisdom of their loyalty to the faith they had accepted. Trials only held them closer to the Latter-Day Saints with whom they had cast their lot. They owned homes successively in Monroe County, Jackson County, and Caldwell County, altogether more than a thousand acres of choice land, but it was all lost to them. William lent a man $500 in cash but when he went to get his money the man threatened his life. Another man stole a herd of finely-bred pigs from him, which he did not recover.
William finally settled on Long Creek in Clay County, Missouri, eight miles south of Farr West. He bought a home and remained here until the spring of 1839. It was a great joy to him that all his family could witness the laying of the cornerstone of the Tample (Temple) at Farr West. Late in the fall of 1836, to escape mob violence, he moved his family into Farr West. So many of the saints had moved in for the same purpose, that they were unable to find shelter and were compelled to camp in the open streets and make their beds down on the ground. The first night the snow fell ten inches deep on their bedclothes. From this time forward the persecutions became more terrible until finally the city was surrendered to the mob. William Taylor and his family moved back to their home at Long Creek only to find that the mob had been there and devastated everything they possibly could. They had eaten fowls and pigs and several head of cattle and had burned and destroyed whatever crops they could.

In February 1839 they were again forced to move. Among other things they left one thousand bushels of corn in the crib, for which they received in return, an old neck-yoke worth about $2.50.

Finally, Governor Boggs ordered that all the Latter-Day Saints be expelled from the state of Missouri. William Taylor accepted his lot patiently and heroically. He and his family travelled (traveled) hundreds of miles through rain and snow and mud. People along the way were unkind to them and added to their discomfort instead of lending kindly sympathy. At last, through exhaustion and great exposure, William Taylor became ill of Typhoid Fever, and on September 9th, 1839, he passed away, a martyr to the great cause for which he had so heroically sacrificed. He was buried on the main road between Lima and Warsaw.

A short time before his death, he called his family around him and counselled (counseled) them to rally round the priesthood and stay with the main body of the church. Each of his children promised him that they would not marry outside the church.

So ended the life of a great and good man. Through all the years he was resourceful, industrious, and progressive. Though he had a strong will, he was a humble and God-fearing man. He had great faith and keen intellect and was absolutely fearless in living according to his convictions.
Without hesitation, he placed the accumulated wealth of a lifetime on the altar. When he decided to leave everything in order to follow the church his relatives clung to him and begged him to remain with them, but there was no turning back for him. From the day that he answered that first challenge of truth, his life was a devotion to the cause that to him was dearer than life itself.

This third version is the same basic story (gathered from taylorassociation.org) However, the Taylor Association has noted there is some confusion about William's miraculous conversion.  Comments in green are information that differs or clarifies (sort of) There is more to this story because it follows Joseph Taylor's eventful life, but I put this part of his story here because it contains information about the family as a whole.

In their pioneer home in Kentucky, William and Elizabeth Patrick Taylor became the parents of their eighth child, Joseph, on 4 June 1825. Although some records indicate he was born in Bowling Green, the Taylors actually lived approximately 12 miles north of that town and just west of Richardsville near the Barren River. Joining in the westward migration that was characteristic of those times, the William Taylor family, including their eleven children, moved to Monroe County, Missouri, in 1831 along with other relatives. The family obtained an 80-acre land grant on 3 Nov. 1831 in Jefferson Township along the Ivy Branch of the South Fork of Salt River. William said that Missouri was the most beautiful and fertile land he had ever seen when his family moved there.

Apparently, the early missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints met the Taylor family in 1832. Joseph's father, a man who was very conversant with the Bible, believed himself to be the first person baptized into the Church in the state of Missouri. The Taylors lived in an area called the Salt River Branch. (The above facts appear to disprove an earlier account of William Taylor's miraculous conversion as written by Leila Marler Hoggan in Fred. G. Taylor's Book of Remembrance.)

In truth, I find this account the most confusing of all because of the questions it raises
like what to put for the place of birth - Barren River, Richardsville, or Bowling Green.
I understand the conversion story details could have been muddied over time, but 80 acres is quite a stretch of ground and I don't know how close it is to the Fishing River...I need to do more research.

Brandson Peters 1726 Susanna East 1733

Brandson Peters

Born Abt 1726 in Meldreth, Cambridge, England

Married 24 Nov 1751 Meldreth, Cambridge, England
Buried 20 Dec 1783 England

Source

Ancestral File
Susanna East

Christened 16 Dec 1733 in Bassingbourne, Cambridge, England
Note:  Her given name is Susan on the record
Parents: Ralph East and Martha (unknown surname)
Sources

Christening:  England Births and Christenings 1538-1975 Film 1040367 Batch C00794-9 Item 12
Ancestral File

CHILDREN

William Peters
Christened 21 Jan 1753 Meldreth, Cambridge, England

Possible marriage to Sarah Winters 26 Jan 1775 Melbourn, Cambridge, England

Sources

Ancestral File
John Peters 

Christened 6 Jul 1755 Meldreth, Cambridge, England

Sources

Ancestral File
Joseph Peters
Christened 1 Oct 1758 Meldreth, Cambridge, England

Sources
Ancestral File
Elizabeth Peters
Christened 14 Oct 1759 Meldreth, Cambridge, England

Buried 26 Apr 1765

Sources
Ancestral File
Mary Peters
Christened 24 Jun 1764 Meldreth, Cambridge, England

Buried 5 Jun 1813 Whaddon, Cambridge, England

Sources
Ancestral File
Anne Peters
Christened 1 Jul 1770 Meldreth, Cambridge, England

Sources
Ancestral File