Taylor-Bray Farm

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name = Taylor-Bray Farm
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location = Jct. of Bray Farm Rd. N. and Nottingham Rd.
Yarmouth, Massachusetts
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added =September 29, 1993
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governing_body = The Taylor-Bray Farm is a farm in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, and was originally owned and settled by Richard "of the Rock" Taylor in 1639 while it was still part of Plymouth colony.

Through many generations, it remained in the Taylor family, until 1896 when Lucy W. Taylor sold the farm to George and William Bray, two brothers who had worked for the Taylors, and who were probably distant relatives. The property that Lucy sold for $400 included 50 acres (20 hectares) of uplands and adjacent marshlands which were capable of producing six tons of a combination of salt and fresh hay a year. The deed described the property as being in that part of Yarmouth known as Hockanom. It was sustained as a prosperous working farm by the Bray family until 1941. They continued to harvest salt marsh hay from Black Flat Marsh to feed their farm animals. The Brays often sold their strawberry and blueberry crops from a wheelbarrow on Old Kings Highway. Between then and the late 1980s ownership changed hands a number of times.

Lucy White Taylor (b. October 3,1828 in Yarmouth) was the daughter of Prentiss White and Nancy Eldridge and had been a widow for some time when she sold the farm in 1896; her husband Luther Taylor (b. August 26, 1830) had died November 1, 1887 of consumption, after returning to his Yarmouth home from a job in Boston two weeks before. Lucy married Luther T. October 11, 1858 and died October 12, 1906 in Yarmouth. Luther T. was the son of James Taylor (b. July 29, 1791 in Yarmouth), who died October 9, 1879 in Yarmouth, and (married July 5, 1812) Mercy Bray Taylor (b. January 5, 1791 in Yarmouthport), the daughter of John Bray; she died September 12, 1875 in Yarmouthport). So when Lucy sold the farm to the Bray brothers it may well have stayed in the family, only changing hands to more remote nonTaylor surnamed relatives. (sources: death certificates from Town Clerk, Town of Yarmouth, and the Cape Cod Library of Local History and genealogy's "The Taylor Family of Yarmouth")

In 1987, the prospect of losing the farm to development prompted the Town of Yarmouth to purchase the property. The specific intent --"to maintain the farm for historic preservation and conservation". Tenant/managers have lived in the farmhouse, welcoming the public and educating many schoolgroups about the farm's history and ecologically rich natural beauty.

The farm, a rare survivor of a type of property that once characterized north side agricultural development, was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1993. The farm consists of approximately 22 acres (8 hectares) bordering Chase Garden Creek and the Black Flats marsh and includes four fixed structures including a ½ Cape farmhouse, a barn, a caretaker’s cottage, and a small storage building. A small flock of sheep is still kept at the farm.

The non-profit Taylor-Bray Farm Preservation Association (TBFPA) and the Yarmouth Historical Commission began an active collaboration in 2001 aimed at fixing up the property for greater public enjoyment. Extensive work remains to further restore the late eighteenth century farmhouse and barn.

Visiting the Farm

There is a Children's Taylor-Bray Farm Workbook available from TBFPA [http://www.taylorbrayfarm.org/secondregister.htm]

Various events are held at the Taylor-Bray Farm, such as the Annual Sheep Festival each June (with sheep shearing and wool spinning demonstrations), and its Fall Festival and Antique Tractor Show. Both events have haywagon rides.

Listings of other nearby things to see, nearby beaches, accommodations, restaurants, and other attractions can be found on [http://wikitravel.org/en/Yarmouth_(Massachusetts)] . Especially note [http://www.hsoy.org/historic/baxtermill.htm Baxter Grist Mill] , the [http://www.hsoy.org/historic/judahbaker.htm Judah Baker Windmill] (milled grain), and [http://www.hsoy.org/historic/gorey.htm Edward Gorey House] .

History of Richard "Rock" Taylor

Richard sailed to North America on June 10, 1635 aboard the British Ship "Truelove". The "Truelove" departed London for Bermuda. The manifest, examined by the Minister of Gravesend, lists Robert Dennis as ships Master and lists 105 Passengers. The Truelove sailed from London for Bermuda and then to Boston. It was customary for a ship to clear for the first port of call. During the colonial period it was very common for ships to make a triangular voyage, calling first at the West Indies with trade goods, then to New England with molasses and finally back to England with rum and other New England produce. The "Truelove’s" prompt appearance in New England proves beyond question that many, if not all, of the passengers on this trip stayed with the "Truelove" until it reached Boston.

Among the listed passengers were: Tayler, James 28, Tayler, Richard 16, Tayler, William 17, Taylor, Ann 24. It should note that this June journey is often confused with a return trip in which the "Truelove" sailed from London to New England in September of that same year.

There is also confusion over this Richard Taylor, called "The Rock" and another Richard Taylor that was a Tailor by trade, both of Yarmouth. Not only that, each man married a woman named Ruth. One can only imagine how often people of Yarmouth confused one Richard Taylor with the other! Eventually, one came to be known as Richard Tailor Taylor, based on his profession, and the other became known as Richard "Rock" Taylor. Richard "Rock" Taylor was Constable in 1656 and 1668, Surveyor of Highway in 1657, Excise Officer in 1664, and on the Grand Jury in 1685.

However, both Richard Taylor lines were united by one couple, Elisha Taylor II and his wife Sarah Davis, and their descendants; (see below).

Richard "The Rock" built his house near or against a large rock on the line between the Indian lands of Hockanom and Nobscusset, the location of today's Yarmouth-Dennis town line. Hence his nickname to distinguish the two Richards. One source on the World Family Tree actually names him Rock Richard Taylor.

The house that Richard built and lived in was not where the present house stands. It was on the south side of today's Hockanom Road , across the street from the present house and next to the root shed, and its location is marked by the large rock inscribed by the Bray brothers with the inscription:

:Ye Old Taylor Rock Near this rock:about the year 1639:Richard Taylor built His House:Erected by George F.:and William F. Bray.

The original house, which burned in the 1700s, was replaced by the house which can still be visited today on the north side of Hockanom Road. A partly-buried root shed is across from the barn. The barn, located near the new house on the site of today's barn, once served as a stagecoach stop and turn-around for horses. Drivers spent the night at the farm and changed horses before continuing on their journey.

A Line of Descent from Richard "Rock" Taylor

The source of this information is almost entirely from "A Taylor Family: One Line of Descendants of both Richard Taylor "the tailor" and Richard Taylor "of the Rock", of Yarmouth MA" This document is available at the Minnesota Historical Society (St Paul) and at the Latter Day Saints Genealogical Library (SLC).

"Richard "Rock" Taylor", also called Richard Taylor of the Rock, was born in 1619 in England, married Ruth Burgess (b. 1620 E, d. VI-22-1693 Y) in 1646 in Yarmouth, and died VIII-1-1703 in Yarmouth.

*Elisha Taylor (b. II-10-1664 Y, d. II-3-1740/41 Y), their son, willed "the house and orchard" by father
*Rebecca (Wheeler?) (b. unknown, d. XI-20-1730 Y, Elisha's wife (m. unknown)
**Elisha Taylor II (b. IV-23-1694 Y, d. II-10-1778 M), their son, moved to Falmouth, then Lebanon CT
**Sarah Davis (b. II-1696 Y, d. XI-17-1774 M) Elisha II's wife (m. X-24-1717; see `A Line of Descent from Richard Taylor "the tailor"' below)
***Josiah Taylor (b. ? 1731 F, d. XI-10-1807 M), ET II-SD son
***Abigail Dennison (b. ? 1736 CT, d. XII-13-1816 M), JsT wife (m. XI-24-1757 L)
***Prince Taylor (b. ? 1725 F, d. III 1798 Hr) ET II-SD son
***Hannah Childs (b. VII-29-1720 B, d. XI-7-1806 Hr), PrT wife (m. III-6-1747/48 )
****Jonathan Taylor (b. VI-21-1770 M, d. XII-3-1816 M), JsT-AD son
****Ruth Edgerton (b. X-25-1771 Fr, d. X-5-1860 M), JonT wife (m. I-12-1795 Fr)
****Childs Taylor (b. IX-5-1760 Hr, d. IV-15-1829 Hr) PrT-HC son
****Rhoda Bates (b. IX-1-1760 D, d. XII-11-1845 Cl) ChT wife (m. XI-11-1779 Hr)
*****Alpheus Edgerton Taylor (b. III-24-1802 M, d. IX-24-1892 CR), JonT-RE son; born on the Atlantic and died on the Pacific
*****Lester Taylor (b. VIII-5-1798 Hr, d. IV-24-1899 Cl), ChT-RB son; Ohio Gen. Assembly 1832-35, 1854-56, Geauga Co. Judge 1846-52, Ohio State Senator 1856-60

Key

E=England,Y=Yarmouth MA,B=Barnstable MAF=Falmouth MA,P=Plymouth MA,H=Hingham MA,K=Kingston MA,Eh=Eastham MA,L=Lebanon CT,M=Mansfield CT,Hr=Hartland CT,Fr=Franklin CT,N=Norwich CT,W=Windham CT,C=Canterbury CT,D=Durham CT,CR=Castle Rock WA,Cl=Claridon OH,prob.=probably,

A Line of Descent from Richard Taylor "the tailor"

* "Richard Taylor "the tailor"" (b. ? 1619 E, d. XII-13-1673 Y)
* Ruth Whelden (b. ? 1625 E, d. XII-4-1673 Y), his wife (m. X-27-1646)
** Ann Taylor (b. ? 1659 Y, d. 1705 B), their daughter
** Josiah Davis (b. ? 1656 Y, d. ?1709 B), her husband (m. VI-25-1679 Y)
*** Sarah Davis, their daughter (see wife of Elisha Taylor, Jr, above)

Richard "Rock" Taylor Descendants' Connection to the Mayflower

"William Bradford", was baptised in III-19-1589 in England, married Alice (Carpenter) Southworth (bap. VIII-3-1590 E, d. III-20-1670 P) in VIII-14-1623 in Plymouth ( second marriage ), and died V-9-1657 in Plymouth.

*(Maj.) William Bradford (1624-1703) (b. VI-17-1624,d. II-20-1703 P),their son, commander forces, second Gov. Plymouth
*Alice Richards (b. VI-16-1627 E, d. XII-12-1671 P), Maj. William's wife (m. before I-28-1651)
**Hannah Bradford (b. V-9-1662 K, d. V-28-1738 W), their daughter
**Joshua Ripley (b. V-8-1658 H, d. V-8-1739 W), her husband (m. XI-28-1682 P or H)
***Alice Ripley (b. IX-17-1683 H, d. XII-18-1768 N), their daughter
***Samuel Edgerton (b. V-?-1670 N, d. VI-1748 N), her husband (m. IV-18-1703 N)
****Joshua Edgerton (b. II-26-1707/8 Fr, d. III-6-1779 Fr), their son
****Ruth Kingsbury (b. II-24-1712/3 Fr., d. XI-13-1769 Fr), his wife (m. I-28-1734/5 Fr)
*****Samuel Edgerton (b. V-9-1742 Fr, d. ??), their son
*****Elizabeth Paine (b. VII-25-1752 C, d. ??), his wife (m. X-15-1770 Fr)
******Ruth Edgerton (b. X-25-1771 Fr, d. X-5-1860 M), their daughter; see wife of Jonathan Taylor, above

"Stephen Hopkins (settler)", Asst. Governor of Plymouth, was born in 1583 in England, married Constance Dudley (name now questioned; no birth or death information) probably in England, and died either June 6 or July 17, 1644.

*Constance Hopkins (b. 1605 or 1608 in England, d. X-?-1677 Eh), their daughter, a Mayflower pilgrim
*Nicholas Snow (b. 1605 E, d. XI-15-1676 Eh), her husband
**Mary Snow (b. about 1630, d. IV-28-1704 prob Eh), their daughter
**Thomas Paine (b. 1610/2 E, d. VIII-16-1706 Eh), her husband (m. 1649/50 ?)
***Elisha Paine (b. III-10-1658 prob. Eh, d. II-7-1735/6 C), their son
***Rebecca Doane (b. V-12-1668 prob Eh, d. XII-19-1758 C), his wife (m. I-5-1685 prob. Eh)
****Rev. Solomon Paine (b. V-16-1698 Eh, d. X-25-1754 ?), their son
****Sarah Carver (b. XII-14-1701 ?, d. VIII-9-1731 ?), his wife (m. III-2-1720 ?)
*****Elihu Paine (b. VIII-5-1725 C, d. II-27-1752 C), their son
*****Elizabeth Cleveland (bap. I-4-1731 C, d. ??), his wife (m. XI-24-1748 C)
******Elizabeth Paine (b. VII-25-1752 C, d. ??), their daughter; see wife of Samuel Edgerton, above

Migration of family members

Elisha Taylor II, his wife Sarah Davis, and their children began the migration by moving to Falmouth MA, spending about five years there before moving to Lebanon CT in 1735. He moved to nearby Mansfield CT with his son Josiah a few decades later. His other children scattered to nearby towns too; Prince Taylor to Hartland CT, Lemuel Taylor I to Canaan CT, and Stephen Taylor to Coventry CT. Josiah and his son Jonathan stayed in Mansfield all their lives, but Alpheus, Jonathan's son, left Mansfield in 1817 to spend about 17 years around Rome NY, then wound up in Berlin WI until 1859. From there he moved to the Blue Earth MN area, remaining there until 1892 when he moved to Castle Rock WA a few months before he died. Prince Taylor's descendants moved to Claridon OH around 1820.

See also

*Plymouth colony
*Constance Hopkins Children of Constance and Nicholas Snow

References and external links

* [http://www.taylorbrayfarm.org/secondregister.htm Taylor-Bray Farm Preservation Association]
* [http://www.hsoy.org/historic/bray.htm Historical Society of Old Yarmouth]
*Smith, Leonard H., Jr. "The Taylor Family of Yarmouth", Cape Cod Library of Local History and Genealogy, Volume 2 (Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc.) 1914 ISBN 0-806313-26-9
* [http://www.theharmons.us/harmon_t/b941.htm#P31911 The Harmon and Perry Genealogy]
*Hawes, James W. "Richard Taylor "tailor" and Some of His Descendents" Cape Cod Library of Local History and Genealogy, Volume 1 (Yarmouthport MA, The "Register" Press) 1914 ISBN 0-806313-25-0
*"Mayflower Families Through Five Generations", Volume Six, Third Edition, Stephen Hopkins ISBN 0-930270-03-7