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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