Inventory of the Taylor-Baily family papers

Arranged and described by

Diane P. Rofini
Project Archivist
Chester County Historical Society

Outline of collection:
Gift of David Dunton 10/11/1989.
Accession # [1989.10.4].
Approximately 1 1/2 cubic feet.

The papers arrived in a liquor store box, in no particular order. A few things were put together by someone (unknown) and where this was the case that grouping has been retained (for the time being at least). A preliminary look through the papers seemed to indicate that there was no readily apparent original order to be maintained and that the papers seemed to fall into logical groups based on family surname. The bulk of the collection consists of papers belonging to the Taylor and Baily families of Chester County, Pa. In addition, there are papers of related Chester County area families, including some from Cecil County, Md .. Taylor family papers consist of 17 folders; these papers date from 1730 to 1863. Most of the pre-1800 papers belong to Abiah Taylor (.1738-1801) and consist of various business related papers, including bills, receipts for store merchandise purchased wholesale in Philadelphia as wel 1 as papers related to his own estate. Papers for other family members are primarily estate related.

The Baily family papers consist of 16 folders: these date from 1783 to 1883. Most of the earliest papers belong to Joel Baily and include account books, papers related to land and tax disputes as well as material related to his own estate. Papers for other family members are primarily estate related. Includes cipher books from early 1800s.
There are 24 additional folders of material belonging to families related (or probably related) to the Taylor and Baily families through the line of Abiah Taylor (1738-1801) and John Baily (1761- 1832) who married Abi ah’ s daughter Susan. Dates range from the 1730s to the 191 Os. Most of these are 1 and or estate related. Surnames include: Gilpin, Hibberd, Hoopes, Janney, McDonald, Mendenhall, Ogden, Pearce, Pusey, Pyle, Robinson. Scarlett, Slycer, Smith, Thomas, Trimble, Underhill and Worrall. The earliest papers date from the 1730s (Wm. Pyle’s estate settlement) and the latest from the 1910s (Norman Scarlett’s ltrs. to his mother during WWI). This group of papers (Taylor-Baily and related families) makes up the bulk of the collection.

There is also a large group of papers apparently unrelated to the first group. These consist of 17 folders ranging from 1812 to the 1890s. This group includes letters to Redwood Fisher of Philadelphia (early 1800s); letters to Edward W. Kins·ley, an attorney based 1n Mass. (1860s-1870s); letters to Vincent Roberts, an attorney based in Wisconsin ( 1860s-1880s); Bradford family papers ( genea 1 ogy and 1 et ters to S. W. Bradford, 1890s-1 900); apparently unrelated business and legal papers originating in Phila. and N.Y. City (1840s-1890s); papers that may or may not relate to the Tavlor-Baily families; some newspaper clippings from the Brandywine Hundred, De. and nearby Pa. area ( 1980s).

Saml.   Taylor ma.  1.   Mary Smedley d.1759               1719-1739

* Abiah Taylor 1738-1801

Abiah  Taylor  ma.    Ann Trimble 1738-1801      1741-1828

Mary 1763-1836 ma.   Thos. Underhill

Saml.   1764-1842 unma. Sarah ma.   John Baily Ann 1769-1828 unma.

Abiah 1772-1852 unma.

Deborah 1774-1852 unma.

George 1779-1816 unma.

James 1782-1863 unma.

2. 2. Deborah Darlington 1719-1803

children by 2nd wife Saml. 1742-1765 unma.

Deborah  1750-1781

Abraham 1744-1819 ma.

1. Hannah Woodward and
2. Sarah Trimble John 1748-1823 Isaac 1755-1825 Mary 1746-1805

Elizabeth  1753-  unma.

Rachel 1758- unma.

Joel  Baily  ma.  1.   Lydia d.       1803

John Baily

Pusey            ma.

2. Judith Pyle b. 1744

1761-1832

Hannah Baily 1766-1790

1. John  Jones

John Baily ma.   Sarah Taylor 1761-1832   1767-1845

*  Lydia ma.   Nathaniel Scarlett Abiah 1788-1868 unma.

Joel 1791-1862  unma.

Ann 1794-1794

Hannah 1797-1872 unma.

Mary 1798-1882 unma.

John 1804-1886 unma. George T.                   1806-1883 unma.

Lydia Baily ma.   Nathaniel Scarlett 1786-1850     1779-1863

Sarah 1811-1898 ma.   Wm.  Johnson
Mary 1813-1852 ma.   Ellis  P.                       Marshall Abiah 1816-1887 ma.              Sarah D.                        Hoopes Deborah ma.                       Jasper C.   Way

Annie ma.   Elias Hicks

Joel 1828-1894 ma.   Annie Chandler  and  Jane Richards

Abiah  Scarlett  ma.    Sarah D.   Hoopes

Anna Mary

Wm.  Hoopes b.1848 ma.   Mary Jane Thomas Taylor

Elizabeth   ma.   Amos Barnard

Wm.

Hoopes  Scarlett  ma.   Mary George Baily b.1879 Anna Emma b.1885 Norman Thos.                         b.1891

Jane Thomas

Walter Abiah b.1883 Robert Wm. b.1890 Joel Taylor b.1898

The bulk of the collection  consists  of  papers  of  the  Taylor  and Baily families  as  well  as  additional  related  families.  It  breaks down in the following way:

Taylor

Abiah  Taylor  (d.  ca.  1747)  1  folder  (#1)  with 1730  indenture.

Abiah Taylor (1738-1801)

4   folders    (#2-5)    consisting including              bills,          receipts wholesale   in  Phi la.,   mainly

of (for 1780s

var.     business     related     papers, store  merchandise         purchased);  some  receipts  for  estates,

debts, handled by AT, 1790s; papers his own estate in 1801.

generated by  the settlement of

Samuel Taylor  (d.1759)  and Deborah  Taylor  (1719-1803)

1 folder  (#6) with 2 papers re:   estate of Samuel in 1759.

John  Taylor  (1748-1823)

1 folder (#7)  with  1 paper (Arbitration bond,1805).

Abraham Taylor  (1744-1819)  and Sarah Taylor  (1744-1833)

1   folder     ( #8)   of   bonds,   mortgages  and  land  re 1 ated  papers    f rorn 1813-1833.

Ann  Taylor  (1769-1828)

1  folder  (#9)  of papers  related to her estate.

Samuel   Taylor  (1764-1842)

1 folder (#10) of papers related to 1 797   and   later where          he           is      the brothers’ and sisters’ names).

Abiah Taylor  (1772-1852)

his estate; family papers from first     one    named         (before his

1 folder (#11) of papers related to his estate; checks, receipts, accounts and other business papers dating from 1799-1852.

Deborah  Tailor   ( 1774-1852)

1  folder  (#12)  of  papers  related  to  her  estate,  including inventory.

George  Taylor  (1779-1816)

1 folder (#13) containing receipts for his estate 1816-1819.

James  Taylor  (1782-1863)

4  folders  (#14-17)  containing  a  receipt  book  1855-1859;  a  few letters;  some  papers  related  to  his  estate;  2  cipher  books  dated 1793 and  1799; papers found in the 1793  cipher book.

Baily

Joel Baily (d.1803)

3 folders (#18-20) containing a farming ledger 1779-1799; papers re: land, water rights, taxes and tenant disputes handled by Friends 1790s-1802; a small daybook 1799-1802; a small ledger 1792- 1795; papers related to his estate settlement 1803-1811.

John Baily (1761-1832)

1 folder (#21) of papers from 1783-1845, includes a few letters, bills and papers related to his estate (includes inventory).

Sarah (Taylor) Baily (1764-1845)

1 folder (#22) with letter to her daughter Lydia, 1803.

Abiah Baily (1788-1868)

1 folder (#23) of papers from 1835-1868, includes letter to his brother Joel written while at Westtown School. Most of papers deal with his estate settlement, includes draft of his will.

Joel Baily (1791-1862)

• folder (#24) containing his cipher book from 1807-1809.

Hannah Baily (1797-1872)

• folders (#25-26) containing four cipher books from the 1810s and papers related to her

Mary Baily (1798-1882)

2 folders (#27-28) containing six cipher books from the 1810s, a tax bill and a letter written to her sister Hannah in 1807.

John Baily (1804-1886)

1 folder (#29) containing bills, receipts, checks and letter (1863-

1 883) .

George T. Bai 1 y ( 1806-1883)

1 folder (#30) containing checks and two bankbooks ( 1832-1877).

Joel Baily (1791-1862)

1 folder (#31) of bills; letters from Wm. D. Cope, Phi la. 1813: two deeds 1820s ( deed John Walter to Joel Baily 1822 has “W. H. Scarlett” written on it in pencil); papers related to his estate.

Baily family misc.

1 folder (#32) of papers that belong with Baily family but can’t be definitely assigned to a particular person.

Baily family accounts and account book

1 fo1 der ( #33) of 1 oose accounts kept in shorthand and a 1 arge pasted over account book with “Expense Book 1851” on cover.

i folder (#34) of papers removed from pasted over account book.

Gilpin

1 folder (#35) with 2 deeds, John Bing to Capt. John Gilpin 1768 and Samuel Bond to Samuel Gilpin 1784.

Hibberd

1 folder (#36) of papers related to the estate of Christian(ia) Hibberd (1821 Abiah Taylor exec.). Includes bills, vendue book and accounts 1819-1831.

Hoopes

1 folder (#37) containing 1834 affirmation as tax assessor for E. Bradford of Isachar Hoopes.

Janney

1 folder (#38) containing 1790 contract of John Janney and 1788 survey of land of Thomas Janney (Cecil Co., Md.).

Johnson-Pusey

1 folder (#39) with 1739 deed of Benjamin Johnson to Joshua Pusey. Also receipt.

McDonald

1 folder (#40) containing 4 accounts and receipts of the estate of Jeremiah McDonald, 1747-1748 (John Pyle exec.).

Mendenhall

1 folder (#41) of estate papers for Joseph Mendenhall (d.1748) and Joseph Mendenhall (1724-1749), New Castle Co., Del ..

Ogden

1 folder (#42) of estate papers for Benanuel Ogden (Abiah Taylor exec.). Also contains papers of Thomas and Joseph Ogden.

Pearce-Baker

1 folder (#43) containing 1742 deed of Thos. Pearce to Henry Baker, Ceci 1 Co. , Md..

Pusey

1 folder (#44) containing 1760 deed of Joshua Pusey to Israel Pemberton, Chester Co..

Pyle

John Pyle (d.ca.1774-1775)

1 folder (#45) containing papers related to his estate (inventory, vendue sale); bills and receipts 1770s; marriage certificate to Sarah Temple 1761; marriage certificate to Judith Hollingsworth 1765.

John Pyle (d.1771)

1 folder (#46) containing bills and receipts 1770s: a few papers related to his estate.

John Pyle

1 folder (#47) containing a few papers (1764-1774) of John Pyle (not clear which John Pyle these belong to).

William Pyle (1685-1734)

1 folder (#48) containing bills and receipts 1730s; a few papers related to his estate.

Robinson

1 folder (#49) with 2 papers from John Robinson estate settlement, 1817-1818, in East Bradford.

Scarlett

1 folder (#50) containing various papers (1891-1916) of William Hoopes Scarlett; letters (1917-1918) from Norman T. Scarlett to his mother.

Slycer-Slicer

1 folder (#51) of papers from the estate of Thomas Slicer, 1769- 1770s, Cecil Co., Md.. Includes inventory and accounts.

Smith

1 folder (#52) containing deed of John and Dorothy Smith to Joel Baily 1786.

Thomas

1 folder (#53) containing 1 sheet with family dates.

Trimble

1 folder (#54) containing 2 papers 1780-1790 of Isaac Trimble.

Underhill

3 folders (#55-57) of accounts, business papers (shipping) of Thomas Underhill and family 1755-1796 (Cecil Co., Md); papers related to the estate of Mary Underhill (1836), also bills, receipts, accounts from 1745-1836; accounts 1750s-1760s of Thos. Underhill: receipts and bills of John Underhill estate.

Worrall

1 folder (#58) with handwritten copy of and heraldry. Inscribed                           “Copied  by Philadelphia, February 12, 1905.”

Worrall family genealogy Zelma Louisa Worrall,

The following papers do not seem to be connected to the first group. They are as follows:

Fisher

1 folder (#59) containing several letters to Redwood Fisher (Copenhagen) from his father, Meirs Fisher, Philadelphia, 1812.

Letters re: cotton

• folder (#60) of letters: 3 to Redwood Fisher, d. and 1817 and
• to Thomas Ewing, 1808, all from Great Britain; letter to F. Griffiths, Phi la., 1837 from N.Y. These letters were found together in a folder.

Bradford

1 folder (#61) of Bradford genealogy.

The following 4 folders (#62-65) contain letters that were found together in a large blue envelope:

1 folder (#62) of letters to S. W. Bradford, Esq., 1890s-1900 re: genealogy; letter to Gov. [A.W.] Bradford, 1864; letter to Mollie (in Maryland) from Cecilia A. Williams, 1855; letter from Erasmus

1862. Thayer (Ohio), 1862.

1 folder (#63) of letters to Edward W. Kinsley, Esq., 1860s, Mass., some of these Kinsley letters had been removed from a scrapbook.

1 folder (#64) of letters to Vincent Roberts, Esq., 1860s-1880s, Wisconsin.

1 folder (#65) with letter to John Baily, 1882, W.C. from D. W. McFarland.

Roberts

1 folder (#66) of letters to Vincent Roberts, Esq., 1870s-1880s, Wisconsin.

Kinsley

1 folder (#67) of letters to Edward W. Kinsley, Esq., 1860s-1870s. Mass.. Many of these had been removed from a scrapbook.

The following 3 folders (#68-70) contain material that was found together and are kept together for the time being.

1 folder (#68) containing letters found in envelope marked “Mrs.

1878. Elizabeth Beatty per Franklin T. Beatty, atty, May 15, 1878.” These are copies of letters on letter book tissue, 1862.

1 folder (#69) containing loose pages of an inventory of various collections: rocks and minerals, Indian relics (1897), bird eggs, “stock on hand” (antiques and curiosities?) and scrap book pages. These papers had been put into a folder marked “Fisher Papers.” The inventories seem to be connected with the Streeper family (who is

1. V. Streeper?)

1 folder (#70) containing the following: letters from Norman Scarlett to his mother; scrapbook page with photo, similar to scrapbook page above; J. Baily’s copy of the American Republican for April 1, 1862.; other various papers.

1 folder (#71) of misc. papers- don’t know how these relate to collection.

• folder (#72) of misc. papers-don’t know how these relate to the collection, but they probably
• folders (#73-74) containing legal papers generated in Philadelphia and New York City from the 1840s-1890s.

1 folder (#75) of newspaper clippings: one on a Connecticut book dealer 1987; several on Foulk Rd., Talley family and Brandywine Hundred area from the 1980s.