James Taylor (Virginia politician)

James Taylor II
Member of the Virginia House of Burgesses
In office
1702–1714
Personal details
Born(1670-03-14)March 14, 1670
DiedJune 23, 1729(1729-06-23) (aged 59)
SpouseMary Thompson
Children9
RelativesGeorge Taylor (son)
Richard Taylor (grandson)
James Madison (great-grandson)
Zachary Taylor (great-grandson)
James Taylor V (great-grandson)
Edmund H. Taylor Jr. (great-great-great-grandson)
Occupation
  • Politician
  • surveyor
  • militia officer

James Taylor II (March 14, 1670 – June 23, 1729) was an American politician and surveyor from Virginia. He served as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses.

Early life

James Taylor II was born on March 14, 1670, as the oldest son of Frances and James Taylor. His father emigrated from England and settled on 1,000 acres (400 ha) in what is now New Kent County, Virginia, in 1668.[1][2][3]

Career

Taylor surveyed land in Hanover, Spotsylvania, and Orange counties.[2] After finding a plot of 10,000 acres (4,000 ha) in Orange County, he settled there.[2] He was a colonel of the Virginia militia.[1]

Taylor served as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses from 1702 to 1714.[1]

Personal life

Taylor married Mary Thompson. They had nine children, including Frances, James, Zachary, and George.[2] His daughter Frances married Ambrose Madison and was the grandmother of James Madison. His son Zachary was the father of Richard Taylor and grandfather of U.S. president Zachary Taylor.[2] His son James was the grandfather of James Taylor V.[4] His son George also served in the House of Burgesses and was the great-great-grandfather of Kentucky politician Edmund H. Taylor Jr.[2]

Taylor died on June 23, 1729.[2][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Col. Taylor Dead Widely Known at Home and Abroad". The State Journal. January 20, 1923. p. 1. Retrieved February 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Biographical Cyclopedia of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. John M. Gresham Company. 1896. pp. 392–394. Retrieved February 8, 2026 – via Archive.org.Open access icon
  3. ^ a b National Society of Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America (1921). Lineage Book of the National Society of Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America. Vol. 10. p. 29. Retrieved February 8, 2026 – via Archive.org.Open access icon
  4. ^ Smith, Z. F. (1886). The History of Kentucky. Courier-Journal Printing Company. pp. 467–468. Retrieved February 7, 2026 – via Archive.org.Open access icon