Ancestry: The first English name is said to
have been Baron Taillefer, who came over with William the Conquerer, and
led the charge at Hastings, going into battle singing the old war songs.
For his great services he was given large landed possessions in Kent County,
which descended to his posterity during the reigns of Henry III, Richard
II, and Henry IV and V (Colonial Families of the Southern States).
Hanze Taylefer (or Taylor) lived in
County Kent, England, during the time of Henry II, 1154-1189. Descendants
included William Taylor (reign of Richard II, 1377-1399), John Taylor of
Shadockhurst (reign of Henry VII, 1485-1509), John Taylor Lord of Manor
of Shadockhurst, Matthew Taylor (b. 1555) who was the ancestor of the family
which settled in America. Matthew was probably the grandfather of
James Taylor the immigrant and John Taylor (d. 1658) was probably his father.
The Crest of the Taylors of Pennington (Armstrong,
p. 163): A naked arm couped at the shoulder, embowed, holding an
arrow. Ppr. Motto: "Consequitur quod cumque petit." (He obtains whatever
he seeks). (Hardy's Colonial Families of the U. S. of America, p. 506).
Descendants: James Taylor was born at the ancestral castle "Pennington", about 20 miles from Carlisle, County Chester, England. He came to Virginia and settled on Chesapeake Bay between the York (now James) and North Rivers. He lived in Caroline County Virginia and died in King and Queen County Virginia. He first married ca. 1666 Frances Walker who died in 1680. Second, he married Mary Gregory in 1682. He had four children by his first marriage and seven children by his second. His son James Taylor II married Martha Thompson, a descendant of many of the kings of Scotland. Other descendants include at least two Presidents of the USA, James Madison, Jr. and Zachary Taylor, as well as World War II General George S. Patton, Jr.
Descent: James Taylor (1615-1698) m. Frances Walker (1640-1680)
James Taylor II (1669/70-1729) m. Martha Thompson (1679-1762)
Frances Taylor (1700-1761) m. Ambrose Madison (-1732)
James Madison Sr. (1722-1801) m. Eleanor Rose Conway (1730/31-1829)
See John Catlett