Robert Taylor

There is potential confusion among the several 'Robert Taylors' in the compensation awards. This entry is for the son of Robert Taylor (c. 1752-1823), and the ownership of Upper Lucky Valley and Mount Atlas is certain for the man of this entry. The ownership of Leith Hall is only tentatively ascribed to him at this point: other possible owners include Robert Taylor of Kirktonhill (q.v.), the latter's son Robert and the Robert Taylor of Broomland Dumfries who on his death in 1841 was described as formerly of Kingston Jamaica.

1. The Robert Taylor (c. 1752-1823) of Ember Court Surrey and the Robert Taylor of Robert Taylor & Co., in Kingston in the early 1800s, are implicitly identified as the same man by Higman and explicitly equated by the commentary in the Taylor papers: a significant body of correspondence between Simon Taylor and Robert Taylor (Simon’s second cousin, who after a period as a sailor in the East India Trade, set up a merchant house in London with A Renny, which became Simon Taylor’s main agents in London), December 1791-June 1813, dealing with the sugar plantations, commercial affairs, politics, health and family life, along with letters from the tutor, William McCulloch, concerning the studies and travels during the Grand Tour of Simon Richard Brissett Taylor in Europe; correspondence between Simon Taylor and John Taylor (brother of Robert Taylor and second cousin to Simon, who after a period in New York, became Simon’s agent in Kingston, Jamaica), June 1781-February 1810, including material on shipping, Bristol and Liverpool merchants, the demand for sugar and rum, the state of the plantations, the Maroon War, family news, the threat of war, business transactions and the sale of slaves; correspondence between William Sleigh (lawyer, whose daughter Margaret married Robert Taylor) and Simon Taylor, 1794-1796.

2. Boyle's 1819 shows Robert Taylor of 61 Harley Street and Amber [sic] Court. The will of Robert Taylor of Harley Street proved 21/10/1823 is the will of Robert Taylor of Ember Court, which alludes to his Harley Street dweliing house and his property in Jamaica. He left £1000 p.a. to his wife Margaret Ann, £10,000 to his son Robert, £20,000 to his son Simon; he had settled £10,000 on his daughter Jean Ann on her marriage to Sir Charles Sullivan bart. He left his coffee estates described as Lucky Valley and Mount Atlas in trust to his three children as tenants-in-common subject to the payment of his debts to Simon Taylor of Jamaica and of an annuity of £500 p.a. (in addition to the £1000 p.a. above) to his wife Margaret Ann. The second will for a Robert Taylor of Harley Street shown by TNA as proved 30/04/1825 refers to three codicils by Robert Taylor of Ember Court proved on that date. The codicils refer inter alia to Robert Taylor's counting-house at Billiter Square, which he left to his second son Simon Taylor. Robert Taylor Esq., of Ember Court, buried aged 71 years 26/08/1823 at St Mary Thames Ditton. Robert Taylor of St Georges Square Hanover had married Margaret Ann Sleigh 06/09/1789 St George Hanworth.

3. "At Ember Court Robert Taylor eldest son of Robert Taylor of Ember Court married Sophia Isabella only daughter of the late Thomas Whaley esq., of Straboe Carlow Ireland." In the register of St Marylebone he is described as Robert Taylor the Younger.  [Jean Anne, only daughter of Robert Taylor had married 21/11/1818 Charles Sullivan RN]. Children of Robert Taylor and Sophia Isabella Taylor baptised at Thames Ditton 1820-1832 were Robert Burton, Simon, Charles Edward and Annette Louisa Sophia. In 1851 Annette S. Taylor was living at Ember House, niece, with her uncle Charles Sullivan Baronet Admiral 62, and his family, including Jean Anne [nee Taylor].    

4. The will of Robert Taylor of Lucky Valley Jamaica proved 27/02/1857 is a very simple will, leaving his personal and real estate to his wife Sophia Isabella for her life and then to his children Simon, Charles Edward, Mary Anne Alicia and Annette Sophia Taylor.     

Times 15/3/1841 Deaths p. 7 at Edinburgh, Robert Taylor of Broomland near Dumfries [Scotland] and formerly of Kingston Jamaica.

1. Adam Matthew Publications 'Plantation life in the Caribbean' Part 1: Jamaica, c1765-1848: The Taylor and Vanneck-Arcedekne Papers from Cambridge University Library and the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London http://www.ampltd.co.uk/collections_az/plantation-life-1/description.aspx. [Plantation Jamaica pp. 145-6].

2. Boyle's Directory, 1819; PROB 11/1677/42; PROB 11/1698/331; Ancestry.com, London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921 [database online]; Ancestry.com, London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906 [database online].

3. New Monthly Magazine Vol 12 1819 p. 491; Ancestry.com, London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921 [database online]; Ancestry.com, London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906 [database online]; 1851 census online.

4. PROB 11/2247/144.