Tracking Charles Taylor

Charles Taylor filed his application for pension on 14 Aug 1832 in Bedford County, Tennessee. He claimed to be 79 years and 9 days old, born in Fairfax County, Virginia on the 5th day of August 1753, having the record of his age recorded in a prayer book at his home. 

When first called into service in Dec 1772 (date not possible - Rev War dates: April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783; he later states that due to age he cannot recall the exact date) he was living in Chesterfield (Cheraw) District, South Carolina where he served under Captain Blakely's Company as a drummer. His company was ordered to subdue a party of Tories who were on the Saluda River in South Carolina. After marching about 50 miles, they met the Americans marching to Charleston with Colonel Thomas Fletcher and about a half dozen of his prisoners. His major was named Hicks. He was marched back home and discharged in Jan 1773.

In the year 1776 he was drafted in Chesterfield, South Carolina and served again as a drummer in Captain John (?) company and was stationed at the ten-mile house for two months or more. He received a discharge in writing by Colonel Culp the head commander of that place.

About 10-Mile House, South Carolina

July 11, 1781
Col. Wade Hampton was ordered by Brigadier General Thomas Sumter to ride towards Biggin Creek Bridge and harass any British posts in the area. He attacked 15-Mile House, so named because it was 15 miles from Charleston. Col. Hampton continued to the Goose Creek Bridge, raided the next post at the 10-Mile House (so named because it was 10 miles from Charleston). William Brotherton wrote in his pension that "no person was killed."
Conclusion: American Victory

Charles’ next service was under Captain McManus but before he had orders to march, he was taken sick and shortly after that taken prisoner by the Tories and marched to their encampment below Camden, South Carolina on the Wateree River where he was held captive about one month. He was able to escape and fled to Wilkes County, Georgia to the home of Benjamin Moseley, his brother-in-law, where he remained until Colonel Clark marched into the state of Georgia and he again volunteered with Captain George Dooley whose company was attached to Colonel Clark's troops in May 1781. 

Charles was in the Battle of Augusta and states he saw Colonels Washington and Lee at the siege of Augusta. He remained serving under Captain Dooley until the close of the war when he returned to South Carolina and moved from there to Rowan County, North Carolina and from there to Smith County, Tennessee and then to Bedford County, Tennessee where he has since resided.

He named Reverend William Jinkins, Michael Fisher Esquire, Benjamin Reavis, and William Carter as persons in his present neighborhood who knew him and would testify to his character and their belief of his service as a soldier of the Revolution.  

Charles's application for pension was approved for 18 months and 15 days service in the troops of South Carolina and Georgia.

Charles evidently was living in Rowan County, North Carolina by 1798 as on 5 Jan (1798) John Morris Senior of Montgomery County, North Carolina sold to Charles Taylor, of Rowan County, North Carolina, for 30 pounds lawful money, a 100-acre tract of land in Rowan County on the waters of Garr Creek, on the county line. Witnessed by George Fisher Esquire (son of Frederick Fisher of Rowan, NC, d. 1846, Marshall County, Tennessee).

On 1 Feb 1800 Joshua Carter and Ann Morris, executors of the last will and testament of John Morris deceased sold to Michael Fisher Esquire of Rowan County, North Carolina for 25 pounds a 100-acre tract of land in Rowan County on the Northeast side of the Yadkin River on the waters of Garr Creek, on the county line, joining Charles Taylor. Witnessed by George Fisher Esquire and Charles Taylor.

In 1801, Michael Fisher sold to Charles Taylor a 100-acre tract of land on the county line joining Morris’s old corner and Epps’s line.  

In 1805, Charles Taylor sold to Luke Raper 100 acres of land lying on the waters of Garr Creek in Rowan County, North Carolina.

I believe Charles Taylor left Rowan after 1805 and even though he stated in his Revolutionary War pension file that he moved from Rowan County, North Carolina to Smith County, Tennessee I am not able to find him there although I believe he probably moved there with Cannon Taylor, perhaps a brother or cousin, and lived in that area from about 1805 to 1813 when he is found in Bedford County, Tennessee with a land grant for 18 ¾ acres on Fall Creek a north branch of the Duck River joining John Mason and crossing the river and bounded by Benjamin McCoustian and Richard Trotter. 

The only Census I can confidently find Charles Taylor on is 1830, Bedford County, Tennessee. While I can find other Census information in the areas he claimed to live, none of the ages on those Census’s match up to the age Charles claimed (born 1753). In 1830, Charles Taylor, age between 70 and 80 years is found living with his wife, also age 70-80 years. Next door lives James Taylor age between 50 and 60 who I believe is most likely his son.

In November 1830, Charles Taylor, assignee of James Taylor, both of Bedford County, Tennessee purchased of John Burns a tract of land on the Hurricane fork of Fall Creek in Blagg’s line.

Charles Taylor died about 1839/40 in Bedford County, Tennessee. While I am not able to find his estate file or will, I did find a deed where his executor John Eakin sold to Alfred Mallard two tracts of land on the waters of Falling Creek being the land that Charles Taylor deceased lived on during his lifetime.

First tract being land granted to Charles Taylor in November 1833 joining John Mason and McQuiston’s and his own line and Richard Trotter containing 18 ¾ acres.

The second tract deeded to Charles Taylor by John Burns on 1 Nov 1830 lying on the north branch of Fall Creek in Blagg’s line, containing 5 acres.