Biographical notes: Eldad Taylor [1708-1777]. Biographical notes: Eldad Taylor [1708-1777].. . . Eldad Taylor, according to the local historical, J. D. Bartlett, the last son and child of Minister Taylor and Ruth Wyllys, his second wife, was born in 1708. He lived to become one of the eminent men of Westfield, both in church and state. Though not himself a clergyman, he was closely related to several, as his father was a lifelong minister, and each of his five sisters married a minister. In 1741, the year of the settlement of Rev. John Ballantine, Mr. Taylor became deacon, and was prominent in caring for the interests of the church. His large family, including several sons, well sustained the honor of the name in public and private life.. Mr. Taylors name is of frequent occurrence on the town records. He held many town offices at different times. At the age of twenty-five he represented the town in the colonial legislature and many times during later years. He had a part in laying the foundations of our state government, for he, with Elisha Parks, Col. John Moseley, William Shepard and Daniel Fowler, all notable men, represented Westfield in the first Continental legislature of Massachusetts, 1775. Mr. Taylor is alluded to as a member of the council, the following year. Some selections from a long letter written to his wife from Boston, or the immediate vicinity, give some details of the evacuation of Boston by the British, which may not have been recorded elsewhere:. SUNDAY, March 18, 1776 My Dear: This morning opens with much news, no doubt it will be pleasing to you and all friends to have ye most authentic account probably. The Ministerial Vermin left Boston yesterday morning in ye utmost confusion. . . . This morning, I have been with Dr. Winthrop to get the best intelligence. They say that ever since our cannonading ye Sabbath before last, they, viz., ye Regulars have been upon ye move & designed to withdraw last Friday, but ye wind not favoring of ym were detained and left Saturday night. Our forces took possession of a small hill nearer Boston and ye shipping than ever before, on Dorchester Point (which) caused ye Regulars to fire at ym all night but without any hurt to any of our men except one a little, not much hurt by ye scattering of some gravel & we did not return one shot. In ye morning early they left in utmost haste and confusion and (are) below ye Castle and where they are destined is not known but supposed to Halifax. The tories are gone off with ye Regulars except a few . . . . The Selectmen say that ye tories were ye most dreadful again ym of any. They say that all ye sufferings of ye poor for want of provisions and necessaries of life, was not equal to ye insult, scorn & derision & contempt from them. The Ministerial Butchers have robbed the Warehouses and shops of all ye best goods they could carry away and destroyed what they could in their hurry. . . . In their hurry on purposely they scattered numbers of good blankets. It is said that in one of them was wrapped up a child that had died of Small Pox. We are more in danger in that quarter now than from the Enemie. . . . The poor distressed captives from Boston come with a most pleasing aspect in their faces rejoicing at so great deliverance. . . . They say that ye tories about a fortnet ago was in high spirits encouraging ye troops that they should be soon masters of America but--when ye orders were given to prepare to sail, they were struck with paleness & astonishment. . . . Mortifying indeed. They, ye Selectmen, say ye town is in a most dreadful condition, houses torn, streets nasty, town empty. They carried away our prisoners taken at Bunker hill fight in irons, also Master Lovewell. They left some of their draft horses and about 1000 bushels of wheat. The Bells and organs are not hurt. From as always your consort, ELDAD TAYLOR In the old burying ground is a tablet to Mr. Taylors first wife, who died in 1740, in the twenty-ninth year of her age.. A second tablet bears his name and that of his second wife, to whom the letter was addressed. The inscription is:. . In memory of the HONORABLE ELDAD TAYLOR Esq. who died in Boston the 21st of May, 1777, AEt. 69, and lies interred in the Tomb of the Hon. John Wendell Esq. ALSO MRS. THANKFUL TAYLOR his relic died Aug. 12th 1803 aged 82 years . Kind reader this stone Informs you who we are, What we were we tell you not, What we ought to have been that be thou, Where we are now ye will know hereafter. REMEMBER THAT CHRIST IS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. SOURCE: A History of Hampden County, Massachusetts; Alfred Minot Copeland; Volume Two, 1902; Pages 417-420.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 20:32:02 +0000
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