MATTHEW TAYLOR, who in his lifetime was a representative of one of the oldest and most prominent families in the county, was born March 5, 1817, in South Strabane township, Washington Co., Penn. His grandfather, Henry Taylor, was a native of Wales, and about the year 1770 took a "tomahawk right" of 1,200 acres of land in this county, and added thereto until the amount aggregated some 1,700 acres, all lying in what is now South Strabane township. He was a member of the M. E. Church, a Whig in politics, and was the first judge of the courts. He married Jane White, and by her had seven sons and six daughters, of whom Matthew (the eldest) was the first white male child born west of the Alleghanies, his birth occuring on the property above referred to. Matthew married Nancy, daughter of Thomas Hutchinson, on February 14, 1803, and settled on part of his father's tract. The children born of this union were Henry, born March 6, 1804; Jane, born August 12, 1807, married Oliver Lindsey; Thomas, born September 21, 1805, married Susan Donington; Mary, born April 8, 1809, married John McFarland; James, born April 11, 1811; Julia, born April 4, 1814, married Hugh Reynolds; Eliza, born March 12, 1805, married Andrew VanEman; Matthew and George (twins) born March 5, 1817, the former of whom is the subject of this sketch, the latter married to Jane Munnell; Rachel, born March 28, 1824, married Workman Hughes; and William, born April 3, 1830. These were all born where the family now reside. Mr. Taylor died June 19, 1852. By profession he was a civil engineer. He was a consistent member of the M. E. Church, and in politics was a Whig. Mrs. Taylor died March 19, 1877. Matthew Taylor, whose name appears at the opening of this biographical aketch, was educated at the subscription schools in his locality, and was brought up to farm life from early boyhood. On May 26, 1864, he married Jane, daughter of George Forrest, a native of Edinburg, Scotland, who when but a boy moved with his parents to Penrith, Cumberland, England, and when eighteen years of age he moved to London, where he married Miss Alice Rhodes, of that city. The children born to this union were Alice (Mrs. Hugh W. Boyle), Emma (Mrs. John B. Hallam), George, Jane (Mrs. Matthew Taylor), Robert R., Mary (Mrs. John Munce), Richard R. and J. R. To Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were born three children, viz.: George Forrest, Rachel Mary and John Richard. Mr. Taylor passed from earth October 15, 1889, and was buried in Washington. For many years he was connected with the M. E. Church, of which he was a trustee. In politics he was an Abolitionist, later a Republican, and held many offices of trust in the township. The fine farm, whereon his widow continues to reside was improved by Mr. Taylor himself, and he built the commodions and elegant brick family residence.

Text taken from page 396 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed May 1997 by Marilyn K. MacKendrick of N. Charleston, SC as part of the Beers Project. Published May 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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