TAYLOR Estate

Edna OTWELL > Edwin OTWELL > Maurice OTWELL > Mary TAYLOR-OTWELL > Stark TAYLOR

 

Items listed on estate appraisals give us an idea of what life was like for our ancestors.  Stark TAYLOR specified "My wife Elizabeth Taylor is to have that portion of the estate to which she would be entitled if I had died intestate, to be held by her in the same manner as she would if I had made no will."  All of the household and farm items, crops, animals and slaves were owned by Stark and Elizabeth had to buy them back at auction.  The estate was then divided into 12 portions and inherited by their living children or the heirs of their dead children (some of the children died before producing heirs).

 

Items bought by his wife Elizabeth

Stove, all of the furniture in 7 rooms of home, silver ware, cupboard ware, watch, kitchen ware, 21 barrels of salt, 4 cows, 3 rows of apples, brown mare colt, 2 year old brown filly, 1 yoke of oxen, bay buggy mare, 3 hay stacks, 2 oat stacks, 35 acres corn, old buggy, ox cart, 2 horse wagons, box of bees

 

Household Items

Mills, cider, 21 barrels salt, sausage grinder, brooms, kettles, large tub, pots

 

Farm 

Scales, hemp hook, augers, cross cut and hand saw, corn knives, tools, sheep shears, cutter, buckles, rope, irons, drawing knife, side saddle, grind stone, barrels, scrapers, scythes, axes, cradles, nails, box glass, grease, cutting box, rope jack, thrasher, grain sheet, wheat fan, hemp break, 8 plows. 3 small plows, shingles, plank, ox tongs, barrow, forks, cultivator, maul & wedges, hay rake & crow bar, spade & digger, 4 doubletrees, 4 log chains, ox bows, boards, corn sheller, wagon, wagon bed, posts, yokes, bell

 

Crops

Hemp, shelled oats, oats in sheaf, wheat old corn, stack of hay, 27 acres corn, hemp seed, potatoes, 315 bushels of wheat, onions, 13 oats stacks, 6 hemp stacks, 43 stacks of hay, 6 rows of apples

 

Animals

Lambs, 6 hogs, 35 pigs, 6 heifers, 9 cows, 20 calves, bull, 45 sheep, 12 fat cattle, 12 cattle, 9 horses, a mule, 3 yearling steers, mule colt

 

Other

8 shares in Lexington Newtown Pike

 

Slaves

 

Those retained by Elizabeth TAYLOR: Rachel (34), David (33), Peter (36), Bill (17), Cynthia (24) & her child, Elizabeth (6).

 

Others that were sold: Henry (25), Aleck (35), Jack (30), Moses (10), Carrie (29), Aaron an old man, Celia (18), Belle (16), Hilda (16), Coraline (18) & her child, Jenni (26) & her child, Maria (8), Esther (4)

Louisville Daily Journal page 3, 10 October1859
Found on Fulton Postcards

Stark TAYLOR (1786-1859)

Pleasant Retreat, Fayette County, KY
From Kentucky Digital Library
Photo by Carolyn Murray-WOOLEY, 1975

Edna OTWELL- SIM > Edwin OTWELL > Maurice OTWELL > Mary TAYLOR-OTWELL > Stark TAYLOR

Stark TAYLOR was born 9 September 1786 in Virginia. His unique first name ties him to the GUILLIAM family and it is believed that his parents were William TAYLOR and Hannah GUILLIAM though no birth record exists.

Kentucky became a state in 1792.  Prior, it was considered to be an extension of Virginia.  Since there are no birth records, to say he was born in Virginia means he was born somewhere now known as Virginia or Kentucky.

On 22 January 1810, 24 year old Stark married 21 year old Elizabeth MCCLANE (1789-1867) in Fayette Co., Kentucky.

Stark and Elizabeth had at least 16 children: Sarah Ann MCMURTRY, James, Richardson, Harrison, Eliza J. SATTERWHITE, Julia DIXON, Mary H. OTWELL (our ancestor), Andrew, Benjamin, Martha R. WHEELER, Anna, Catherine SMITH, Susan FITZGERALD, Berlin, Frank and Frances MCCLELLAND. There may have been child #17 named William.

The earliest record we have is the 1810 census in Fayette County. The 1820 census was found in Mercer County, KY under the name Starky TAYLOR. 1830, 1840 and 1850 censuses were also found for Stark Taylor. The 1850 slave schedule showed that they owned 28 slaves ranging from age 2 to 52.

In 1813, they built a home called Pleasant Retreat (see photo) at the cross roads of streets now named Newton Pike & Iron Works Road in Lexington, Fayette Co., KY. What a beautiful home in which our ancestor Mary OTWELL grew up.  This house appears on the list of Kentucky Antebellum era homes.

Stark was a hemp farmer and rope manufacturer. Hemp was a big crop in Kentucky prior to the Civil War – with over 50% of rope manufactured in Kentucky. The large hemp barn located on Pleasant Retreat is a 2 story brick barn measuring 40 feet by 50 ft. Slave quarters were on the 2nd floor and the 1st floor was used for hemp seed storage.   During the civil war, this barn was a cannonball foundry. Melted lead was poured into molds and this is how Iron Works Road got its name.



Barn at Pleasant Retreat From Google Maps - Street View

Stark was a member of the Forks of Elkhorn Church.  According to MCADAMS’ Kentucky Pioneer and Court Records, on 9 April 1828, as a Trustee for the Baptist Church of Jesus Christ, Stark inherited ½ acre of land on the waters of Cane Run on behalf of the church from Lydia FORD of Fayette Co.

In 1838-39 Landowners list, he also owned a 320 acre farm on Henry’s Mill Road in Lexington.



21 November 1839, Kentucky Gazette

In 1839, Stark was appointed as a Delegate to the State Convention during a meeting of the Democratic Party in Lexington. Thus, he attended the Democratic Convention at Frankfort on 8 January 1840 to nominate candidates for the upcoming elections.

In March 1840, he was appointed to the Committee of Vigilance for Fayette Co. At the meeting, this committee unanimously resolved to regard General HARRISON an abolitionist and unworthy of the presidential nomination. (HARRISON was elected president in 1841, holding the position for 32 days before dying of pneumonia.)

In 1847, Stark was named one of the Justices of the Peace in Fayette Co.

In the book History of Kentucky, by Lewis and Richard H. COLLINS (page 57), Stark appears as an owner of a captured runaway slave on 5 August 1848.

Stark died of old age on 24 April 1859 at his home; age 73.  Transcriptions of his will (dated 20 Jan 1858) and estate appraisal and auction were found.  Executors of the will were wife Elizabeth and sons Richardson and Frank.  The estate was divided into 12 equal shares (for each of the living children or their heirs). "Mary OTWELL, wife of John OTWELL" received one share.

Stark was buried at Lexington Cemetery.

Pleasant Retreat was sold at auction on 8 October 1859.

Visit his on-line memorial:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSvcid=409999&GRid=98424358&

_________________________

Stark's father was William TAYLOR (1769-1819).  We found an 1810 census from Lexington, KY.  Online sources say he was born in Kentucky or Virginia.  He died in Lexington.

Stark's mother was Hannah GUILLIAM (1773-?) (or GILLIAM).  She was the daughter of William GUILLIAM (1753-?) and Elizabeth BOWLER (1753-?) and was born in Kentucky or Virginia.

We recently found a reference in a book stating that Stark's parents were one of the first settlers of Kentucky.  But, we have found little documentation on this family and have decided not to have a separate blog post for them at this time.

This ends the TAYLOR, GUILLIAM and BOWLER research.



Mary H. TAYLOR-OTWELL (1824-1890)

Edna OTWELL-SIM > Edwin OTWELL > Maurice OTWELL > Mary H. TAYLOR-OTWELL

Mary H. Taylor was born around 1824 in Fayette County, Kentucky.  Her parents were Stark Taylor and Elizabeth McClane.  She came from a large family of 16 children and lived on a hemp-growing plantation in Fayette County that also included slaves.

On December 19, 1844 she married John Franklin Otwell.  Mary had only one child, Maurice Otwell, who was born in 1845.  Mary was found on the 1850 US Census living with her husband and son.  Her father, Stark Taylor, listed Mary in his will on January 20, 1858.  From 1824-1859 Mary was in Fayette County, Kentucky.

In 1859 Mary moved with her family to West Nissouri, Ontario, Canada.  She was listed on the 1881 Canadian Census.  We found many recordings for her husband, John, who was a market gardener and owned a cannery.  However, we found very little on Mary who remained in the background of her husband's business.  Although she had only one child, her home was filled with her grandchildren.  Her son, Maurice, and his family lived with her before and after his being committed to St. Mary's Insane Asylum in 1889.

After her husband's canning business was sold, the family moved to London, Ontario in 1889.  We do not have any information on Mary's death except the date of July 21, 1890 in London, Ontario.

The Sad Case of John F. OTWELL

Edna OTWELL > Edwin OTWELL > Maurice OTWELL > John Franklin OTWELL

Here are all of the articles found on John Franklin's 1893 crime.  He was 72 years old.

Argus Newspaper items are from St. Mary's Museum.  All of the other's were found at Our Ontario Digital Newspapers at http://www.ourontario.ca/demo/News.html



28 October 1893, London Free Press





28 Oct 1893, Windsor Evening Record, page 7







2 November 1893, Argus Newspaper, page 5



8 Nov 1893, Argus Newspaper, page 7

9 Nov 1893, Argus Newspaper, page 5

16 Nov 1893, Argus Newspaper, page 7


More items for John F. OTWELL



Lexington Reporter, 18 Jul 1849
Donation to poor - from Old Fulton Postcards
John GARTH also listed was JF's cousin

Louisville Evening Bulletin, 21 September 1857
JF accused of steal horse and buggy - from Old Fulton

Louisville Evening Bulletin, 22 September 1857
Bail set at $1500 (nearly 40K in today's money) - from Old Fulton

Louisville Evening Bulletin, 12 Oct 1857
Names of people in jail or on bail - from Old Fulton

21 Jan 1869, Argus Newspaper, page 3
From St. Mary's Museum

15 Apr 1869, Argus Newspaper, page 2



1873, Canadian Farmer, page 350
From Google books



8 Oct 1874, Argus Newspaper
Western Fair



8 Oct 1874, Argus Newspaper
Western Fair winners

8 Oct 1874 Argus Newspaper
Western Fair winners



8 Oct 1874, Argus Newspaper
Western Fair winners

1876, American Agriculturalist, volume 35, page 113
From Google books

1876, American Agriculturalist, volume 35, page 115
From Google books.

11 Sep 1883 The London Advertiser
Found on google news

 

 

John Franklin OTWELL (1821-1908)

25 Mar 1885
Argus Newspaper, St. Mary's Museum

Edna OTWELL-SIM > Edwin OTWELL > Maurice OTWELL > John F. OTWELL

BORN - In Fayette County, Kentucky on April 29, 1821, John Franklin Otwell was born to William Otwell and Quintilla Garth.  On the 1830 US Census we found John's father in Fayette County.  No family member names are listed on this census, just check marks for ages of those in the household.  In 1839 after the death of his grandfather, Francis Otwell, John moved with his parents to Francis' farm in Scott, Kentucky.  We found the family on the US 1840 Census in Scott, Kentucky.

MARRIAGE - On December 19, 1844 he married Mary H. Taylor.  They had one child, Maurice Otwell, born in 1845.

TIMELINE
John Otwell was found on the 1850 US Census listed as a farmer in Fayette County.  He was also listed on the 1850 Slave Schedule with a listing of five slaves, 4 males and one female.

In 1858 he was listed in the will of his father, William, as an heir and executor.  He was also listed as the husband of Mary Taylor Otwell in the will of her father, Stark Taylor, in 1858.

In the Port Rowan News an article stated that "John Otwell came to Ontario in 1859 to escape from the mutiny and discontent between the North and South, and free his own conscience from his share of the responsibility for a system for which he had no sympathy."  John was now permanently in Ontario, Canada.

Port Rowan News, unknown date
Courtesy cousin Herb OTWELL/Arlene ROLA

Per the 1901 Canadian Census he was naturalized in 1854.

Original Label
Courtesy cousin Herb OTWELL

John was a farmer and gardener who became well-known in the community.  He grew a tremendous amount of vegetables and small fruits on about 25 acres of his farm.  In 1862 he built the first canning factory in West Nissouri.  We found many articles on the awards he won as a market gardener and also in the North Riding Show.  His business flourished.  During the growing and canning season he employed over 20 people.  He advertised for vegetable plants that would be sent by mail. He was a master of the best methods for preserving his fruits and vegetables.  Some vegetables he grew were squash, pumpkins, cabbage, onions, cucumbers, watermelon, corn, beets, carrots, parsnips and peas.  His tomatoes were rated excellent.

John Otwell had sleighs in the winter with wood-burning stoves on them.  He was the envy of many in his town.  He had an excellent reputation and was the head of a prosperous pickling company.  He led an exemplary life and was well-respected in his community.

On January 19, 1882, J. F. Otwell & Son Pickling Factory burned.  On February 22, 1882 he wrote a letter to the editor of the St. Mary's Argus thanking his insurance companies for their prompt payment.

23 Feb 1882, Argus Newspaper, page 6
St. Mary's Museum



Jar circa 1886
Maple Leaf Auctions



15 July 1886
Argus Newspaper
St. Mary's Museum

In 1886 an article stated J. F. Otwell's pickles are fast becoming famous all over the continent.  He began using a wider-neck jar with a screw top so the jars could be reused.



Can after JF sold the name
Photo courtesy St. Mary's Museum

 
In 1889 John's only child, Maurice, was committed to an insane asylum after many years of crazy behavior. The following year Mary Otwell, John's wife, died.  On the 1891 Canadian Census John is listed as 68 (he is 70), Presbyterian, and listed as a carpenter.  He had sold the farm and moved to London, Ontario.  Maurice's wife and their children are living with John.  He had previously sold his canning business.





2 Nov 1893
Argus, p 5
St. Mary's Museum

Hard times and dementia took a toll on John F. Otwell.  In November of 1893 he confessed to stealing a horse, wagon and harness that he used to steal grain from farmers in London, Ontario.  He confessed to the crimes and on November 9, 1893 he was found guilty and sentenced to two years at the Kingston Penitentiary.  He was 72-years old.  He was interviewed by Dr. Buck from the asylum his son was committed to.  Dr. Buck concluded John suffered from senile dementia and should not be responsible for his actions.  This had no effect on his sentence and John spent two years in Kingston.

We next find John on the 1901 Canadian Census.  He was 80-years old and living in St. Mary's, Ontario with his granddaughter, Mary Haley, and her family.  Some time after this he went to Detroit, Michigan where his daughter-in-law and some grandchildren were living.

DEATH - John Franklin Otwell died June 21, 1908 in Detroit.  He was 87-years old.  His cause of death was paralysis acute ascending.  His remains were returned to London, Ontario, Canada for burial.

John F. Otwell was one of the most interesting ancestors we have researched.  He was so well-respected and accomplished in his Canadian community.  His friends and neighbors signed a petition to try and stop his prison sentence.  This was unsuccessful because John had plead guilty to his crimes.  John Franklin Otwell was Mary Jane's favorite ancestor that we have researched.

Just when we thought John's stealing occurred in his old age, we found several articles in the Louisville Evening Bulletin dated around September 21, 1857.  When he was in Kentucky he stole a horse and buggy of Mr. Wilkes.  He was given bail of $1500 and remanded to jail to await trial at the next term of the criminal court.  He was also listed in a separate article as a person in jail.

21 Sep 1857
Louisville Evening Bulletin
Found on Old Fulton Postcards

Visit his on-line memorial:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=115333682
 

5 Jan 1955
Argus
St. Mary's Museum



John STOKES and Joan JARVISS –Married in 1714

Flag of England

Edna OTWELL > Edwin OTWELL > Jane ASH > Anna Maria MARKS > Uriah MARKS > Mercy STOKES > James STOKES > John STOKES and Joan JARVISS

John STOKES was likely born in North Bradley, Wiltshire, England. We do not know his parent’s names.

On 7 October 1714, he married Joan JARVISS (1696-?), daughter of Thomas Jarvis, Jr. She was christened on 26 April 1696 in North Bradley.

We found only one child, our ancestor James STOKES (1725-?).

When John and Joan were born, William and Mary were king and queen of England.  Next, Anne was queen and after her death, the crown was passed to German speaking cousin George I, King of Hanover in 1714. 

Here ends the STOKES and JARVISS research