General James Taylor Family Papers

INTRODUCTION:

Size: 6.04 linear feet (2.5 manuscript boxes, 3 oversize boxes, 1 map drawer)

Span Dates: 1785-2001, undated                    Bulk Dates: 1785-1879

Accession Number(s): M2001-0117; NKU2011-003

Creator: Taylor family

Donor: Campbell County Public Library; Carol and Richard Hudson

Custodial History: Collection was donated in two accruals from Campbell County Public Library: a household ledger book was donated in 2001 and land records, account ledgers, correspondence, and other materials were donated in 2005. This collection was previously known as the "General James Taylor Papers." In 2011, Carol and Richard Hudson purchased and donated several Taylor documents. These documents have been added to the collection.

Summary: The General James Taylor Family Papers contains material documenting land speculation and businesses in the northern Kentucky and southern Ohio region during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries as well as records relating to founding of Newport, Kentucky. Also included are materials about the Taylor family (e.g., new clippings and articles).

ACCESS AND USE:

Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research access. For fragile materials, researchers will be asked to view digital copies of originals. Department personnel will authorize use of originals on a case-by-case basis.

Use Restrictions:The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, US Code) governs the reproduction of copyrighted material. The User assumes full responsibility and any attendant liability for the fair use of materials requested in total compliance with the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) that may arise through the use of any requested materials.

Preferred Citation: [Box #, Folder #], MS-6 General James Taylor Family Papers, Eva G. Farris Special Collections, W. Frank Steely Library, Northern Kentucky University.

Separated Materials: Two CDs of scanned images of the Taylor family ledger have been removed and placed in Special Collections CD storage.

Related Materials:

MS-13 Dr. Morris Garrett Kentuckiana Collection, Eva G. Farris Special Collections, W. Frank Steely Library, Northern Kentucky University.

MS-9 Margaret Strebel Hartman Local History and Genealogy Collection, Eva G. Farris Special Collections, W. Frank Steely Library, Northern Kentucky University.

MS-32 Taliaferro Family Collection, Eva G. Farris Special Collections, W. Frank Steely Library, Northern Kentucky University.

James Taylor Papers, 1774-1888, Special Collections, The Filson Historical Society, Louisville, Kentucky.

James Taylor Supplemental Papers, 1792-1894, Special Collections, The Filson Historical Society, Louisville, Kentucky.

James Taylor Miscellaneous Papers, 1799-1851, Special Collections, The Filson Historical Society, Louisville, Kentucky.

James Taylor and Family Papers, 1783-1845, Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort, Kentucky.

Processing Information: Reprocessed by Anne Ryckbost in Winter, 2012. Processed by archives staff in December, 2005.

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ACCESS POINTS:

Subject(s):
Campbell County (Kentucky)--surveys.
Estates (Law)--Kentucky--History--19th century.
Kentucky. Militia. Regiment, 48th
Land titles--Registration and transfer--19th century.
Land settlement--Kentucky--Boone County--History--19th century.
Land settlement--Kentucky--Campbell County--History--19th century.
Land settlement--Kentucky--Mason County--History--18th century.
Surveys.
Surveyors--Kentucky--History--Sources.
Taylor family--Correspondence.
Virginia Military District.

Person(s):
Findley, William.
Harris, Keturah.
Harrison, William B.
Taylor, Edmund.
Taylor, James, 1732-1814.
Taylor, James, 1769-1848.
Taylor, James, 1802-1883.
Taylor, Reuben.
Williamson, Jane.
Wooten, Thomas, 1795-1844.

Geographic Location(s):
Licking River (Ky.)
Little Miami River (Oh.)
Newport (Ky.)
Northwest Territory.
Ohio River.
Paint Creek (Oh.)
Scioto River (Oh.)
United States--Kentucky--Campbell County.
United States--Kentucky--Mason County.

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SCOPE AND CONTENT:

The General James Taylor Family Papers contain materials documenting early land speculation in the northern Kentucky and southern Ohio region and records relating to founding of Newport, Kentucky. The papers illustrate the economic and demographic transformation of the Ohio River valley through land records. They cover such topics as late eighteenth century and nineteenth century land ownership, early Newport businesses and schools, and household economics. Duplicates of these papers may exist as copies were often produced for filing with various land offices and individual records.

Series I, Correspondence, includes incoming and outgoing correspondence among General James Taylor, his son Colonel James Taylor, family members and business clients mostly regarding land claims, surveys, and sales. Researchers may be interested in a letter from Samuel Moron to All [?] L. Ward dated March 13, 1847 that discusses the exchange of slaves.

Series II, Legal and Financial Papers, largely consists of materials relating to land speculation by members of the Taylor family. These records include indentures for land purchases, land grants, deeds, depositions over property disputes, land surveys, and receipts. The series is organized first by geographic location beginning with Kentucky and then follows with other legal and financial matters such as wills and family financial account records. A lot sales record book also includes a few pages of meeting notes from the 48th regiment of the Kentucky militia from 1808 to 1809.

Series III, Newport Academy, contains a small notebook with minutes of trustee meetings from the Newport Academy, an academic institution, from 1799 to 1804. A note in the book indicates that another copy exists whose location is unknown.

Series IV, Ephemera, consists of a few printed signs and pamphlets including one containing the laws and by-laws of the Newport Manufacturing Company, a business started by members of the Taylor family that manufactured cotton, hemp, flax, and wool. It also contains a handwritten document with instructions for diagnosing and treating [fistula?] Poll Evil, a rare ailment in horses.

Series V, Other Materials, has collected materials such as new clippings and articles about the Taylor family. It also contains one folder on the 1937 Ohio River flood. The relationship between these materials and other materials in the collection is unclear.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:

James Taylor (1769-1848) was born to James Taylor (1732-1814) and Anne Hubbard Taylor in 1769 in Virginia. He became a surveyor in Caroline County, Virginia in 1788 and later served there as deputy sheriff and elector. He moved to Kentucky and established a large plantation named Bellevue, on which the city of Newport, Kentucky was eventually founded. Taylor made noteworthy contributions to the area: In 1794, he became clerk of the newly formed Campbell County; and he became quarter-master general for the Northwest army in the War of 1812. He also served as an officer in the Kentucky militia. Taylor made a significant fortune on land speculation throughout northern Kentucky and southern Ohio, particularly land granted in the Virginia Military District between the Scioto and Little Miami Rivers.

He married Ketturah Moss Leitch, widow of David Leitch, in 1795 and they had eleven children, four of whom lived to adulthood. Taylor died on November 7, 1848. His son, Colonel James Taylor, inherited much of his land, although the inheritance was disputed by several daughters, and became a notable Kentucky businessman.

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CONTAINER LISTING:
 

Series II: Legal and Financial papers

Series III: Newport Academy trustee minutes

Series IV: Ephemera

Series V: Other Materials

Note to staff: Boxes 4-6 are oversize; see map case for map drawer 4.

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