Research Observation (2000):1968 "The Cecil County, Maryland connection may also be a significant clue to keep in context. A large enough group of early settlers in Washington County came from Cecil County that the township east of Robinson was named "Cecil" in honor of these settlers. However, the Cecil County people scattered all over the county in areas that became culturally heterogeneous, unlike the settlers from some other areas who formed concentrated enclaves in southern and eastern Washington County. Read what Crumrine1315 has to say about Judge Henry Taylor. He uses the case of this important early settler as an illustration as he describes a variety of scenarios about early settlement here. Taylor's story, therefore, is scattered across a number of important pages in Crumrine's with important explanations that you might not find while tracing other family names in isolation."

Biographical Sketch (1902):1677, p. 35. "This Henry Taylor, who had the honor of being the first president judge of our courts, had come from Cecil County, Maryland, about 1769 or 1770, to the 'Rich Hills,' about a mile and a half northeast of Washington, where two great-grandsons, George F. and John R. Taylor (sons of Matthew), now reside. Late in life he built the brick house on an adjoining property (owned afterward by Wilson McLane, later by George Munce), where he lived till his death, on October 8, 1801, sixty- three years of age. He was the father of nine children: Matthew, Henry, George, John, James, Joseph, Jane (married a Dagg), Mary (married a Patton), and Eliza (married a Dr. Layton). . . . Hon. Henry Taylor was known also as Colonel Henry Taylor, from his connection with the county militia, which meant something in his day. On April 19, 1793, the year of Wayne's expedition against the western Indians, Colonel Taylor was commissioned by Governor Mifflin 'Brigadier-General of the Brigade composed of the militia of the County of Washington, other than the townships of Greene, Cumberland, Morgan, Franklin and East Bethlehem,' those townships, except the last named, being in what is now Greene County, cut off from Washington County in 1796."

Biographical Sketch (1902):1677, p. 208. "In 1770 Henry Taylor, of English descent, most likely from Chester County, Pennsylvania, but directly hither from Cecil County, Maryland, is found blazing out upon the trees the lines of his land, and building his cabin only about a mile northeast of this town, on the old Pittsburg clay road, where his descendants are found at this time. Many funny things could be told you of this Henry Taylor, but I must not in this presence; yet I will state that the records of Westmoreland courts show that before Washington County was created he was bound over to appear in the Quarter Sessions of Westmoreland County for a misdemeanor very common with the best of men in those days, an assault and battery committed in a controversy about a division line."

Biographical Sketch (1882):1315, p. 241. "Henry Taylor, as we have seen, had come to the "Rich Hills," where his grandson, Matthew, now resides, in the fall of 1770, from Cecil County, Maryland. Late in life he built the brick house on the property lately owned by William McClane, now by George Munce, where he lived until his death, Oct. 8, 1801, sixty-three years of age. He was the father of nine children — Matthew, Henry, George, John, James, Joseph, Jane (married a Daggs), Mary (married a Patton), and Eliza (married Dr. Layton). . . . On the 19th April 1793, which was during Wayne’s expedition against the Indians, he was commissioned by Governor Mifflin "Brigadier General of the Brigade composed of the Militia of the County of Washington."

Biographical Sketch (1882):1315, p. 952-953. "Henry Taylor came to this section of the country from Cecil County, Md., about the year 1770, and settled on land he afterwards purchased. The first purchase of which there is any record is of one hundred and fifty acres on the Middle Fork of Chartiers Creek, ‘Bounded on the northeast by Robert Howelton's land, and on the path leading from Catfish Camp to Pittsburgh including his improvement.’ This deed or patent is signed by John Penn, Feb. 1, 1771. Taylor afterwards purchased other tracts, amounting in the aggregate to about seventeen hundred acres, all in what is now South Strabane. He married Jane White, and settled on the portion of land which afterward became the farm of John Smith, and now owned by George Davis. On this he built a cabin which was occupied by him for several years. His sons were Matthew, Henry, John, Joseph, and George; the daughters were Jane, Eliza, and Mary."

Biographical Sketch (1882):1315, p. 953. "Henry Taylor was appointed a major of militia and a justice of the peace of Yohogania County; and upon the erection of Washington County, in 1781, was elected a justice of the peace, October 15th, and appointed by the Supreme Executive Council, a justice of the peace and of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions, and later made the presiding justice, a position he held until the office was abolished in 1791, and the Hon. Alexander Addison, a judge learned in the law, succeeded him. He died Oct. 8, 1801, sixty-three years of age."

Biographical Sketch (1893):1316, p. 292. "The first of his family to come to Washington county was Henry Taylor, who moved hither from Cecil County, Md., some time prior to 1780. Washington county was erected in March, 1781, and Henry Taylor became the first judge or president of courts therein, his appointment, which was dated October 2, 1781, coming from the chief executive council of Pennsylvania. He served with much ability as judge some years, and after a short interval was reappointed September 30, 1788, to the same position. He married Jane White, who bore him eleven children, of whom Matthew was the grandfather of the subject of these lines. Henry Taylor took up a "tomahawk right" to over 1,200 acres of land in the Rich Hills, in this county, all of which, with the exception of the Matthew Taylor estate, of South Strabane township, has passed out of the family. This sturdy old pioneer passed away from the scenes of his busy and eventful life in 1800. In addition to his civil offices, he was a general in the militia, and his commission is still in the possession of the family."

Biographical Sketch (1893):1316, p. 396. "Henry Taylor, was a native of Wales, and about the year 1770 took a "tomahawk right" of 1,200 acres of land in this county, and added thereto until the amount aggregated some 1,700 acres, all lying in what is now South Strabane township. He was a member of the M. E. Church, a Whig in politics, and was the first judge of the courts. He married Jane White, and by her had seven sons and six daughters."

Biographical Sketch (1893):1316, p. 648. "Some time prior to the Revolutionary war, Henry Taylor, the first ancestor of the family under consideration, took up 1,000 acres of land in South Strabane township, part of which is now in the possession of Matthew Taylor's heirs. He was married to Jane White, whose home was at the stone house still standing near the County Home, Washington county, Penn.; she had ten brothers and one sister. In those days all the grain was gathered by the hand sickle, Mr. White's ten sons reaping grain in the same field with their father, who prided himself in his farming, and was always out to see that it was properly done. Henry Taylor had children as follows: Sons--Matthew, Joseph, John, Henry, James, George--and daughters--Jane (married to Richard Dagg), Mary (wife of A. Patton), Eliza (wife of Dr. Layton) and Ann (married to A. McCalmont). The father of this family was the first judge of Washington county. In 1800 Judge Taylor built the first brick house ever erected in Washington county, Penn., the walls of which are eighteen inches thick from foundation to top; it is still standing, apparently as good as ever, and is now owned by the Willets."

Family Remembrance:1302, p. 22. "Father of John Taylor Sr. may be: Judge Henry Taylor, of Washington County, Pennsylvania. The children of Judge Henry Taylor are: Matthew Jr., b. 1775; Joseph, b. 1777; John, b. 1779; Henry, b. 1781; James, b. 1783; George, b. 1785; Jane, b. 1788; Mary, b. 1790; Eliza, b. 1782; and Ann."

Family Remembrance:1302, p. 21. "The Henry Taylor . . . was a resident of Washington County, Pennsylvania. Henry Taylor, b. 1739, m. 1772, Jane White, d. 8 Oct. 1801, was the first Judge of Washington County. When I finally sent my generation chart into Southwestern Pennsylvania Genealogical Society, Irene Taylor, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, replied. Her husband, Howard, is a descendant of Henry Taylor, through Henry’s son Matthew. And she took me back another generation to Matthew Taylor, b. 2 Feb. 1707 in Ireland. Matthew lived and died in Cecil County, Maryland. About 1770, Henry crossed the mountains to Washington County, Pennsylvania."

1738 Birth:2034 Estimated from age at death, 63 years, as recorded in Family Bible of son Matthew Taylor.

1770 Cabin on Chartiers Creek:1315, p. 146. In a deposition 30 January 1784, John Williams stated, "That in the faul of the year 1770, that he seen Henry Taylor living in a new cabban on the Rich Hills which he understood was built by said Taylor, as he frequently lodged at his house at the Monongahela River, when going and returning from Chartiers; that he seen said Taylor having surveying instruments to run out his land; that when he was hunting there he saw new marked lines which was called Taylor’s Lines; at that time he seen no improvements on or within said lines but what was called Taylor’s, and that cabban on the Rich Hill where Taylor was living in was the first he know or ever seen on the forks of Chartiers Creek; that said Taylor hired him that same faul to further improve the said land; that he deadened some timber and cut and split five hundred rails on the Rich Hill tract, five hundred rails on the White Oak Ridge tract, that he built a good cabban and split five hundred rails on another tract, for which the said Taylor paid him before he left the settlement a riffle gun and four dollars cash, and the next spring when the said Taylor returned from Cecil County, Maryland, he paid me the remainder honorably, being eight pounds Pennsylvania money."

1771 Return from Cecil County, Maryland:1315, p. 147. "On the 1st day of February, 1771, before his return in the spring following, he obtained orders for his improvements, one of which recites: ‘Whereas Henry Taylor of the County of Cecil in Maryland, hath requested that we would grant him to take up one hundred and fifty acres of land on the Middle Fork of Chartiers Creek, bounded on the northeast by Robert Hamilton’s land and on the path leading from Catfish Camp to Pittsburg, including his improvements in the County of Cumberland, provided the same land does not interfere with any manor or appropriated tract in the said County of Cumberland.’ The warrant is signed, ‘John Penn’."

1774 Road Viewer:1315, p. 372. "At January sessions, 1774, Andrew Pierce, Moses Brady, Morgan Morgan, David Allen, Henry Taylor, and John Kennon (doubtless John Canon) were appointed viewers, on the petition of divers inhabitants of Springhill and Pitt townships, to view a road to begin at Thomas Guess’s (Gist’s) fromthen to Paul Froman’s mill near the river Monongahela, and from thence to another mill of the said Paul Froman on Chartiers Creek."

1775 Road Viewer:1315, p. 205.,2101, p. 23. On 22 February 1775 Henry Taylor was one of nine West Augusta County, Virginia, citizens ordered to "view a road from Providence Mounce’s mill by Ausberger’s Ferry & from thence to Catfish Camp, and make a report of the conveniences & inconveniences to the next court."

1776 Recommended as Major in Militia:2101, p. 75. On 23 December 1776, "Ordered that Dorsey Penticost Exquire be recommended to his Excellency the Governor as a proper person to have the command of the Militia of this county; and that John Cannon be a proper person to be recommended as Colonel of the said Militia; Isaac Cox be recommended as Lieutenant Colonel of said militia, and Henry Taylor, Major of said Militia."

1777 Council of War:1315, p. 185. On January 28 and 29 of 1777, a "Council of War" was held at Catfish Camp (now Washington), in the District of West Augusta, attended by several county lieutenants and field-officers and thirty-two captains of militia. Major Henry Taylor was one of the attendees.

1777 Commissioned as Major in Militia:2101, p. 77. On 29 April 1777, "Henry Taylor came into court and took the oath of Major of the Militia."

1777 Resigned as Major in Militia:1315, p. 216.,2101, p. 113. On the 24th of December, 1777, the following orders were made: . . . ‘Ordered that Gabriel Cox be recommended to his Excellency the Governor as a proper person to serve as Major of this County, in the stead of Henry Taylor who has resigned his Commission.

1778 Ear Crop Registered:2101, p. 159. On 27 May 1778, the court of Yohogania Country, met and "on the motion of Hentyr Taylor ordered that his mark a crop in the left ear and two slits in the right ear be recorded." [Note: Assume this to be an identification mark for animals, similar to a brand.]

1778 Road Viewer:1315, p. 218.,2101, p. 169. In the court of Yohogania County, on 23 June 1778, "upon the petition of Richard Yeates; Ordered, that Henry Taylor, James Allison, James Patterson & William Brashers, or any three of them, being first sworn, view a road from Catfish Camp to Penticost’s Mills and make a report of the convenience and Inconvenience to their next Court."

1778 Road Duties Neglected:1315, p. 219.,2101, p. 208. In the court of Yohogania County, on 24 November 1778, it was "ordered that Henry Taylor, James Allison, James Patterson, and William Brashers be attached for Neglecting to make report of the convenience and inconveniences of a Road from Catfish Camp to Pentecosts Mills, agreeable to a former order of Court."

1779 Peace Commission:1315, p. 220.,2101, p. 265. On 27 April 1779, order of the Court of Yohogania County, "Jas. Innis, Henry Taylor, James Scott on Millers Run, John Reed of Millers Run, Wm Campbell, Jas. Eagar, Wm. McComes, John Duglass, William Bruce, James Marshall, Wm. Parker & Hezekiah Magruder are recommended to his Excellency the Governor as Proper Persons to be added to the Commission of Peace."

1780 Peace Commission:2101, p. 347. On 23 May 1780 the court of Yohogania County "ordered that James Innis, . . . Henry Taylor . . . will be recommended to the Governor as proper persons to be added to the Commission of the Peace and that the Clerk certify to the . . . "

1781 Washington County Tax Collector:1315, p. 223-224. On 28 March 1781, Washington County was legally established as a new county within the state of Pennsylvania. In the Act passed by the State Assembly, "Sections 14, 15, and 16 appointed Henry Taylor collector of excise in Washington County, and made provisions for his duties, powers, fees, and perquisites as such collector."

1781 President Judge, Washington County:1315, p. 229-230, 866.,1677, p. 35, 215. On 24 August 1781, Henry Taylor was elected one of six Justices the Peace of the Court of Common Pleas and of the Orphan’s Court of Washington County, representing Strabane Township, "which is the place called Catfish Camp, ordered by law to be the seat of justice." Henry Taylor was named first and thus functioned as presiding justice1315, p. 240, 249. under the Constitution of 1776. John White was also elected a Justice of the Peace in the same election.

1782 Land Dispute:1315, p. 146, 192. "In 1782 suits in ejectment were brought into our Common Pleas Court by Henry Taylor, claiming under his Pennsylvania rights; and the questions at issue were, which party had made the earliest settlements." Henry Taylor retained his title to the disputed lands.

1783 Justice of the Peace, Washington County:1315, p. 240-241. "Henry Taylor continued to act as presiding justice by virtue of being the first named in the general commission. But on Oct. 6, 1783, Dorsey Pentecost resigned his seat as a member of the Supreme Executive Council, and applied to be appointed prothonotary and clerk for Washington County . . . thus displacing Henry Taylor as president of that court, although he continued to act as judge of the Quarter Sessions."

1785 Claims:1315, p. 130. The following claims against the State for losses sustained upon the Indian expedition of 1782 were approved in Philadelphia on 7 January 1785: "September 21, 1875 — Of Peter Peterson, for rations due on the Sandusky expedition. Of Henry Taylor, for thirty days’ rations furnished John Blean upon the aforesaid expedition. Note: All the (3) three persons above named are inhabitants of Washington County."

1786 Dance:1677, p. 42-43. On 18 April 1786, "It was at this same meeting that Colonel Henry Taylor, who on April 13, 1784, had brought up an appeal from the judgment of the session of the Chartiers congregation, 'with respect to his having and encouraging a promiscuous dance at his house,' was admonished, and it was ordered 'that this judgment be read before the congregation of Chartiers. To this judgment Mr. Taylor submitted and was admonished accordingly."

1788 President Judge, Washington County:1315, p. 249, 866.,1677, p. 35. Henry Taylor commissioned President Judge on 30 September 1788, appointed under the Constitution of 1776.

1789 Pennsylvania Constitutional Council:2182, p. 81, 84, and 87. Henry Taylor, representing the Washington County area, took part in the Philadelpha convention to draft a new constitution for the state of Pennsylvania from at least 3 December 1789 to 22 January 1790 and again from 14 November through 21 December 1790.

1790 U.S. Census:97, p. 245.,1934
Pennsylvania, Washington County
Head of Household •• Henry Taylor, Esqr.
Males 16 and over •• 1 << Henry, about age 51
Males under 16 •• 6 << sons Matthew, Joseph, John, Henry, James, George W.
Females •• 4 << wife Jane, daughters Mary and Ann, one other female, perhaps mother-in-law?

1790 Land Patent:1324 "Barbados," 320.75 acres patented to Henry Taylor on 20 December 1790.

1791 Associate Judge, Washington County:1315, p. 249.,1677, p. 39. Henry Taylor commissioned 17 August 1791 as Associate Judge, appointed under the Constitution of 1790.

1794 Whiskey Rebellion:1979, p. 4. "Brig. Gen. Henry Taylor of Washington Co. who as the public records show enjoyed to a high degree the confidence both of the state and general governments for we find him a member of the governor’s council in 1789-90 and in the order for his salary and mileage "docked" for six days absence, due possibly to his inability to reach Philadelphia in time for the opening of the session. At the close of the session, Gen. Taylor seems to have lingered for a time in Philadelphia having been named in a resolution passed during the closing hours of the session as the proper party with whom other members appointed for that purpose should confer in regard to providing for the defense of the western frontier. Gen. Taylor is well known to students of local history in his military capacity, as a justice of the peace and as the first presiding judge of Washington county, it is no so generally well known that he served as a collection of internal revenue in 1794, the worst of the Whiskey Insurrection years. It is a reasonable assumption that the officers appointed to command the company authorized to be enlisted at Washington in 1794 were recommended by Gen. Taylor. The Captain, Seals, Taylor may have known in Maryland before he emigrated to western Pennsylvania as the Seals came from Harford county, Md., at or very near the same time Taylor came from the adjoining county of Cecil."

1800 U.S. Census:1474
Pennsylvania, Washington County, Straban Township
Head of Family •• Henry Taylor, Esq.
Males 10-16 •• 1 << George, age 15
Males 16-26 •• 4 << James, age 17; Henry, age 19; John, age 24; Joseph or Matthew ??
Males over 45 •• 1 << Henry, age 61
Females under 10 •• 3 << Eliza, age 8; Ann; daughter of Joseph or Matthew ??
Females 10-16 •• 2 << Jane, age 12; Mary; age 10
Females 16-26 •• 1 << wife of Joseph or Matthew ??
Females 26-45 •• 1 << wife Jane

1801 Death:2034 Recorded in the Family Bible of son Matthew Taylor as "Henry Taylor Senior Departed this Life October the 8th 1801 aged 63."