Robert Taft, Sr.

Robert Taft, Sr, also known as Robert Taft, or Robert Taft I; born in England, c1640-1725, was the first American Taft, and father of the American Taft Family.

Early history

Robert Taft, Sr. was first known to be in Massachusetts in 1675 in Braintree. He lived there from c. 1675-1680 before moving (probably for the second time) to Mendon. The famous Taft family in America developed its roots in Mendon and Uxbridge beginning with Robert Taft, Sr and his wife Sarah Taft. Several of their children were born at Braintree [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taft_family] cite web|title="Descendants of Robert and Sarah Taft"|accessdate=2007-10-19|publisher=Rootsweb|url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~taft/Taftdes5.htm] Robert and Sarah had five children. cite web|Title=Descendants fo Robert and Sarah Taft|publisher=Rootsweb|url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~taft/Taftdes5.htm] These are the children born to Robert and Sarah with dates of birth and known locations of their births: Robert and Sarah Thomas Taft, born 1671, at Mendon, MA, Robert Taft, born 1674 at Braintree, Ma; Daniel Taft, born 1677 at Braintree, Ma, Joseph Taft, born 1680 at Mendon, Ma; married Elizabeth Emerson, Benjamin Taft, born 31 Mar 1684 at Bristol, Ma.

First American Taft homestead

The original American Taft homestead was in the part of Mendon, which later became Uxbridge. It was built by Robert Taft (Sr), the first immigrant, in 1680.cite web |title= Early Taft Genealogy |publisher= Access Genealogy |url= http://www.accessgenealogy.com/surnames/taft.htm |accessdate= 2007-09-23] . Robert Taft Sr. had built an earlier home in 1669, but it was abandoned due to the King Phillip's War. His son, also called Robert Taft, 2nd, born 1674, was among the first Uxbridge Board of Selectmen in 1727.cite book |last= Marvin |first= AP |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= History of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Embracing a Comprehensive History of the County from its earliest beginnings to the present time; Vol. lI |publisher= CF Jewitt and Company |date= 1879 |location= Boston, MA |pages= 146 |url= |doi= |id= |isbn= ]

Famous descendants

Robert Taft's descendants are a large politically active family with descendants who are prominent in Ohio, but live throughout the U.S.A. A descendant of Robert Taft Sr, William Howard Taft, became the President of the United States, and Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Robert Taft Sr's grandson Josiah Taft died prematurely, at the age of 47, and his widow, Lydia Taft, became America's First Woman Voter.

Death and afterwards

Robert Taft, Sr died at the age of 85 in the western part of Mendon, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, on 8 February 1725, two years before the place he lived became the newly incorporated town of Uxbridge.

Notes