John Tayloe I
Encyclopedia
John Tayloe I was one of the richest plantation owners and businessmen in Virginia
for his generation. Considered to be the chief architect of the family fortune, he was known as the "Hon. Colonel of the Old House". The Tayloe family of Richmond County
, including John Tayloe I, his son, John Tayloe II
, and grandson, John Tayloe III
, exemplified gentry
entrepreneurship
.
in 1710. In 1685, William married Anne (1664–1694), daughter of Hon. Henry Corbin (ca. 1629–1676) and Alice (Eltonhead) Corbin, of "Buckingham House", of Middlesex County
. His siblings included Elizabeth (b. 1686), and William (1694–1770).
, which passed to his son, John Tayloe II
in 1747 upon his death. He was a member of Council in 1732 in Virginia. Politically, Tayloe was well-connected which he used to exploit his business interests to their full potential. In 1738, he convinced the Governor's Council of Virginia to "relieve himself and other adventurers in Iron Mines from port duties on iron ore imported from Maryland." He held over 320 slaves on the Northern Neck
and in the Rappahannock River
area, tending tobacco and other crops, toiling in ironworks, or working around the home as domestics, gardeners, or carpenters. He held large holdings in Charles County, Maryland, and in Essex and Prince William counties, Virginia.
He inherited Mount Airy
from his father. While Tayloe did not keep a diary or journal about his landscaping, much is known about the estate. There was a bowling green which had decorative borders and a variety of shrubs. A greenhouse was built ca. 1790. There was a courtyard with lawns, walks, paths, hothouses, and a tree nursery. The grounds had a kitchen garden, a deer park with cedars and locust trees, orchards, melon beds, flower plots, serpentine walks, a pine tree grove, trimmed hedges, a sunken garden, and an ice house. Tayloe owned other estates as well including "Nanjemoy," Charles Co., Maryland, "Gwynnfield," Essex Co., "Nabasco," Prince William Co., and others in Virginia.
and Elizabeth (born 28 May 1721), and a daughter named Ann Corbin Tayloe, born 25 August 1723.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
for his generation. Considered to be the chief architect of the family fortune, he was known as the "Hon. Colonel of the Old House". The Tayloe family of Richmond County
Richmond County, Virginia
Richmond County is a county located on the Northern Neck in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 9,254. Its county seat is Warsaw. The rural county should not be confused with the large city and state capital Richmond, Virginia, which is over...
, including John Tayloe I, his son, John Tayloe II
John Tayloe II
Colonel John Tayloe II was arguably the richest plantation owner in Virginia for his generation. He served in public office including the Virginia Council of State...
, and grandson, John Tayloe III
John Tayloe III
Hon. John Tayloe III , of Richmond County, Virginia, was prominent in business, government, and social circles. A highly successful plantation owner, he took an active part in public affairs and was considered the "Wealthiest man of his day". A military officer, he also served in the Virginia...
, exemplified gentry
Gentry
Gentry denotes "well-born and well-bred people" of high social class, especially in the past....
entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is the act of being an entrepreneur, which can be defined as "one who undertakes innovations, finance and business acumen in an effort to transform innovations into economic goods". This may result in new organizations or may be part of revitalizing mature organizations in response...
.
Early years
His father was the Hon. William Taylor (1645–1710) of London, England who emigrated to the Colony of Virginia in the 17th century. He took up land in Lancaster and Richmond Counties in 1650. He was the progeniator of the Tayloe's of "Mount Airy." It is not known why his orthography was changed from Taylor to Tayloe. He accumulated a vast estate, and was a liberal supporter of the Established Church. He was a BurgessHouse of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...
in 1710. In 1685, William married Anne (1664–1694), daughter of Hon. Henry Corbin (ca. 1629–1676) and Alice (Eltonhead) Corbin, of "Buckingham House", of Middlesex County
Middlesex County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,932 people, 4,253 households, and 2,913 families residing in the county. The population density was 76 people per square mile . There were 6,362 housing units at an average density of 49 per square mile...
. His siblings included Elizabeth (b. 1686), and William (1694–1770).
Career
Tayloe served as High Sheriff of Richmond Co., 1713, and was an influential member of the King's Council, 1732. A third-generation plantation owner from the Tayloe family of entrepreneurs, he operated the Neabsco Iron WorksNeabsco Iron Works
The Neabsco Iron Works were located in Woodbridge, Virginia, USA. After abandoning the Bristol Iron Works, John Tayloe I established the Neabsco Iron Foundry around 1737. The business became a multifaceted antebellum industrial plantation...
, which passed to his son, John Tayloe II
John Tayloe II
Colonel John Tayloe II was arguably the richest plantation owner in Virginia for his generation. He served in public office including the Virginia Council of State...
in 1747 upon his death. He was a member of Council in 1732 in Virginia. Politically, Tayloe was well-connected which he used to exploit his business interests to their full potential. In 1738, he convinced the Governor's Council of Virginia to "relieve himself and other adventurers in Iron Mines from port duties on iron ore imported from Maryland." He held over 320 slaves on the Northern Neck
Northern Neck
The Northern Neck is the northernmost of three peninsulas on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This peninsula is bounded by the Potomac River on the north and the Rappahannock River on the south. It encompasses the following Virginia counties: Lancaster,...
and in the Rappahannock River
Rappahannock River
The Rappahannock River is a river in eastern Virginia, in the United States, approximately in length. It traverses the entire northern part of the state, from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west, across the Piedmont, to the Chesapeake Bay, south of the Potomac River.An important river in American...
area, tending tobacco and other crops, toiling in ironworks, or working around the home as domestics, gardeners, or carpenters. He held large holdings in Charles County, Maryland, and in Essex and Prince William counties, Virginia.
He inherited Mount Airy
Mount Airy, Richmond County, Virginia
Mount Airy, near Warsaw in Richmond County, Virginia, built in 1758-62, is a mid-Georgian plantation house, the first built in the manner of a neo-Palladian villa. It was constructed for Colonel John Tayloe II, perhaps the richest Virginia planter of his generation...
from his father. While Tayloe did not keep a diary or journal about his landscaping, much is known about the estate. There was a bowling green which had decorative borders and a variety of shrubs. A greenhouse was built ca. 1790. There was a courtyard with lawns, walks, paths, hothouses, and a tree nursery. The grounds had a kitchen garden, a deer park with cedars and locust trees, orchards, melon beds, flower plots, serpentine walks, a pine tree grove, trimmed hedges, a sunken garden, and an ice house. Tayloe owned other estates as well including "Nanjemoy," Charles Co., Maryland, "Gwynnfield," Essex Co., "Nabasco," Prince William Co., and others in Virginia.
Personal life
He married the widow Elizabeth (Gwynn) Lyde (1692–1734, daughter of David Gwyn and Katherine Griffin and resided at 'The Old House' in Richmond, 2 miles from Mount Airy. The couple had four children: William Tayloe (1716–1726), who died at age 9, twins named JohnJohn Tayloe II
Colonel John Tayloe II was arguably the richest plantation owner in Virginia for his generation. He served in public office including the Virginia Council of State...
and Elizabeth (born 28 May 1721), and a daughter named Ann Corbin Tayloe, born 25 August 1723.