William Taylor was the son of John Taylor, born in England in 1755. John Taylor had been a British soldier. He left that service and eventually joined the oppressed colonists, and fought in the Revolution for this country's freedom from England.

Tired of war, he left the Atlantic seaboard with this flourishing family and headed for the frontier of western Pennsylvania; likely, largely by river travel. Sometime prior to 1800, the Taylor family, now 5 children under 16 and 1 above, along with the parents, were ensconced in Whiteley, Greene, Pennsylvania. In 1806, John Taylor purchased the plot of land originally called "Hubely's Delight".

Whiteley breathed rich farm land. Water abounded. Whiteley Creek had navigable waters to the Monongahela River. The settlers had access to markets for their bounty of wheat, corn, rye. Mills, wheat and timber, sprang up along the riverbanks. The Indians had left Pennsylvania some years earlier. There were 8 schools by 1854. All was well with the Taylor clan.

Little is really known about William Taylor. He and his family of 2 children only appeared in 1 major census, the 1860; post office, Jollytown. William and Lydia likely had more than the 5 progeny I have tracked. However, they might not have made it to adulthood. Titus, 23, was not listed. He died of pneumonia in 1860. Elizabeth married John T. Pogue. Hester Ann, was born about 1831. Her sister, Elizabeth, named a daughter for her. Thomas made his appearance about 1833 and passed about 1892. Jesse, born about 1838, was the youngest.

The Civil War broke out in April, 1861. This incident brought immense sorrow to this small family. Like most young men eager to serve their county, many enlisted from the town. Among those were Elizabeth's husband, John Pogue, and her brothers, Thomas and Jesse Taylor. All were members of the Union force of soldiers; Company F, 7th Regiment West Virginia Volunteers. Jesse, was just 23 years old, 6'6", blue eyes and brown hair, when he became the first individual killed from Greene County, less than 2 months after he enlisted. Years later, memorials were erected by his comrades, and he was laid to rest on the property his grandfather had bought over a half century earlier. The village of Hero, near the Taylor Cemetery was named for him.

William Taylor passed on before 1870. His wife, Lydia Fox? The name Elis appears in the 1860 census. Could have been written in error? Yes, the ages correspond . Likely, both parents were buried in the Taylor Cemetery, among William's parents, brothers, sisters, and children. *M.Bell - relative