General James Taylor
History of
Kentucky, by Lewis Collins, and J. A. & U. P. James, published
1847. Reprinted by Henry Clay Press, Lexington, Ky., 1968, pp. 227-228
(Campbell county)
General James Taylor, one of the pioneers of Kentucky, resides in Newport.
He has attained his seventy-eighth year, and is remarkably active and sprightly
for a man of his age. His venerable consort, to whom he has been united
for upwards of half a century, and who came to
Kentucky in the midst of Indian troubles, still retains much of the vigor of her
youth, and attends strictly to her household affairs. The mansion of these
venerable pioneers, "Belleview," one of the most beautiful and costly in
Kentucky, has long been distinguished for elegant hospitality.
Mrs. Taylor removed to Kentucky in 1784, in company with a large party of
emigrants, among them the Rev. Augustine Eastin, of Bourbon county, who married
an elder sister. In their progress through the wilderness, and after they
had made their encampment for the night, the party of Mr. Eastin was overtaken
about night-fall by a large body of
emigrants, who were seeking new homes in Kentucky.
Mr. Eastin advised the party to encamp with him, as Indian signs had been discovered through the day, and there were strong reasons to apprehend an attack. The party, however, disregarded the warning, and having traveled about a mile farther, made their encampment. From some unexplained cause, probably incredulous of danger, they retired to rest without stationing a single sentinel to guard their camp, or warn them of the approach of an enemy.
In the midst of the
night, when the fatigued and jaded travelers were wrapped in the most profound
sleep, the savages attacked them, and killed and scalped more than half the
company, numbering altogether about forty persons. A man, his wife, and
two children, of
this company, became separated at the instant of alarm. The mother, with
her youngest child, effected her escape to the woods, and made her way back to
the camp of Mr. Eastin. The father also escaped, and in a short time
afterwards reached the settlements; the eldest child was slain.
Two weeks after the arrival of Mr. Eastin's party in Kentucky, the husband and
wife were re-united, each supposing, up to the period of their meeting, the
other to be dead.
Gen. James Taylor is a native of Virginia, having been born at Midway, in
Caroline county, on the 19th day of April, 1769. He was a quarter-master
general of the north-western army in the late war, and was active in the
discharge of the important duties which devolved upon him. When Gen. Hull
surrendered Detroit to the British forces under
General Brock, in August, 1812, General Taylor and Major (now General) Jesup,
with other officers, were called upon to assist in drawing up the articles of
capitulation; but they all indignantly refused any participation in an act so
disgraceful to the American arms.
General Taylor had previously taken an active part in the plan concerted by the field officers to displace General Hull, and confer the command of the fortress on General McArthur. Had the latter, with his command, reached Detroit in time, the plan would have been consummated.
In the course of a
long life, General Taylor has accumulated a very large estate, and is
probably one of the most extensive landed proprietors of the west.
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