Adam Holiday Taylor Bounty Land for Margaret Dixon

The following document was an effort to get Margaret Dixon rights to Adam's pension and bounty land. It is very valuable because it contains information from Adam Taylor's bible on the births of Adam Taylor's children. It also contains Adam's birth, marriage, and death date along with Margaret Dixon's birth date. The document is signed by Adam's son, John.

State of Kentucky

County of Pendleton SS Personally appeared before the undersigned Kennady Blackburn a justice of the peace within & for the County & state aforesaid John Taylor of lawful age & good character to me well known as a resident of Kenton County Kentucky; & being first duly sworn according to law declares & says. That he is, according to the best information he has, a son of Adam Taylor, & Margaret Taylor formerly Margaret Dixon. That his father departed this life some where[sic] about the 1^st of November 1851. – That his mother has recently come to live with him.- That he has now before him the family Bible of his father the said Adam Taylor In while under the head of Family Record is to be seen the following. Adam Taylor was born in the year of our Lord 1763 or 64 October 17.—Margaret Dixon was born August 2 Anno Domino 1774. – Married May the 8^th Anno Domino 1794 Adam Taylor & Margaret Dixon. –Children being born

Joseph Taylor was born February 21, 1796.-

Thomas Taylor was born January 29, 1798.-

Adam Taylor was born Feb 18, 1800. –

William Taylor was born May 18, 1802. –

Easter Taylor was born October 9, 1804.-

John Taylor was born April 16, 1807.-

S D Taylor was born April 7, 1809. –

Jessey Taylor was born April 17 1811. –

Reuben Taylor was born May 22 1813.-

David Taylor was born July 27 1816. –

Holiday D Taylor was born July 7 1820. –

Nancy Jane Taylor was born March 1^st 1823.-

So reads the family record left by my father which I believe to be correct. It is not in my Father’s own hand writing. –a part of the word is made out as this affiant Believes in the hand writing of an Daniel Davis a school teacher; & part of it, in the hand writing of Holiday D. Taylor, Son of Adam Taylor, & brother to this affiant John Taylor.- He further states that he is fully satisfied that the entrys [sic] were made & permitted to remain on record with his the said Adam Taylor’s knowledge. –for some years previous to his death. – This affiant also further states that his father had a Bible formerly-. In which was entered of record, in his own hand writing, his family Register or records of births ??.- The other bible he had, was a smaller one, than the one now before him & was much worn & tattered.- He further states that he has no doubt that the latter records is correctly copied from the former; & that both are correct.- He further states that he himself looks up to the bible now before him, for correct information, concerning his own birth & also that of his brothers & sisters & so far as he knows or believes, they that now survive all do the same.- He further states that he is making this affidavit to enable his mother, the said Margaret Taylor formerly the wife; now the widow of Adam Taylor, a Revolutionary Pensioner, to provide from the Department of the Interior, the Bounty land & pension to which she may be entitled, under existing laws of the United States.-he also further states that he is a disinterested affiant, so far as he under the circumstances could consistently be; that he claims no exclusive interest, or control in any thing [sic] she, has or may acquire.- That

he expects in all human probability that she the affiant’s mother, will remain with him so long as they both live; & should she succeed in getting little or much; it will be his to dispose of, as she in her own good pleasure, may seem fit.- free from any claim or control of this affiant Sworn to & subscribed this 10^th day of March 1856

John Taylor

Kennedy Blackburn

State of Kentucky County of Pendleton Sit I Matthew Mullins Clark of the Court for the County & state aforesaid do hereby certify that Kennady Blackburn Esq whose genuine signature appears above is & was at the time of subscribing the same an acting Justice of the Peace within & for the County & state aforesaid duly Commissioned & sworn & that full faith & credit are due to all his official acts as such in Testimony when of I have here unto subscribed my name & affixed the seal of my said office done at Falmouth this 11 day of March 1856

M Mullins Ck

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Footnote.com, Revolutionary War Pensions, original data from the National Archives, NARA M804, Pennsylvania, Adam Taylor, documents 5-7, accessed 20 January 2011.

Adam Holiday Taylor's Revolutionary War Pension File

Adam Holiday Taylor is the grandfather of Margaret Eliza Taylor. Her father, Joseph Taylor, was his first child. Adam was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania in 1763. Because the need was so great, he began serving in the Revolutionary War when only 15 years old.

We are fortunate to have copies of the records of Adam Holiday Taylor's service in the Revolutionary War. These are kept at the National Archives in his pension file. They have become available through Footnote.com. There are 69 pages in all, giving a wide variety of information on his own life as well as his family's lives. Today I am posting the first three pages. I have included a transcription of the pages 2 and 3, for easier reading. If you see any corrections to be made in the transcriptions, please record them in the comment box.

I hope you enjoy these documents.

State of Kentucky

County of (Pendleton struck out) Kenton (written above) SS on this 17^th day of December AD 1855

Personally appeared before the undersigned a justice of the peace within & for the County and State aforesaid Margaret Taylor a resident of the County of Kenton in the state of Kentucky aged about eight one years & of good character & being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act or acts of Congress passed on the 29 day of July 1848 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war. – That she is the widow of Adam Taylor who was a private in the army of the Revolution that her said husband entered the army at on or about the (left blank)

In the company commanded by Captain (left blank) of the (left blank) Regiment commanded by Colonel (left blank) & General (left blank)

That he was discharged or disbanded at (left blank) on or about the (left blank)

That she was lawfully joined in marriage with said Adam Taylor at or in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania by one John Ponerry A Justice of the Peace on or about the 8 day of May AD 1794 and that her said

husband died in the County of Pendleton & state of Kentucky on or about the first day of November 1851 & that she is now a widow. She further states that her aforesaid husband was a Revolutionary pensioner. That his Pension Certificate now in her possession is in the words and figures as follows – to wit

War Department

Revolutionary Claim

Duplicate

I Certify that in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7^th of June 1832 Adam Taylor of the state of Kentucky who was a private in the army of the Revolution is entitled to receive Eighty Dollars & ____ Cents per annum during his natural life commencing on the 4^th of March 1831 & payable semi annually on the 4^th of March & 4^th of September in every year.

Given at the war office of the United States this 28^th day of April one Thousand eight hundred & thirty four

Levi? Cass

Secretary of ward

Examined & Countersigned, D L Edward

Commissioner of Pensions

She refers to & relies on the proof on file at the office for particulars & for proof of her sd husband’s services sworn to & subscribed the day & date first before written

Margaret Taylor (her mark)

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Footnote.com, Revolutionary War Pensions, original data from the National Archives, NARA M804, Pennsylvania, Adam Taylor, documents 1-3, accessed 20 January 2011.

Margaret Eliza Shoemaker Clement's Cupboard

As mentioned previously, Margaret Eliza Shoemaker Clement is the daughter of Margaret Taylor and the one to whom we owe much of the memories we have of Margaret Taylor. One of the treasured keepsakes of Margaret Eliza and Thomas Alma Clement is the cupboard they purchased while living in Menan, Idaho. Thankfully it survived when their Mesa home burned. Granddaughter, Alta Clement Willis, tells about this cupboard in the podcast to the left labeled "Margaret Eliza Clement's Cupboard."
Margaret Eliza Shoemaker Clement is shown with her husband, Thomas Alma Clement in the inset above.

Margaret Eliza Shoemaker and Thomas Alma Clement's home in Menan Idaho is pictured above.

The new home of Emily Maude Johnson and Lester Elden Clement is pictured above.

Granddaughter Mary Clement Johnson is shown above with her husband Tone Johnson. She was the first to store the cupboard after Maud and Lester Clement's deaths.

Grandson, Donald Clement is shown above in his younger years. Donald was the second grandchild to store the cupboard.

Granddaughter Nione Clement Larsen is shown with her husband Roger Larsen. Roger and Nione restored the cupboard to its present condition.

The restored cupboard of Margaret Eliza Shoemaker and Thomas Alma Clement.

Fire Claims Margaret Eliza Shoemaker Clement's Home

Further memories of Margaret Eliza Shoemaker Clement are shared by her granddaughter, Alta Clement Willis. [Margaret Eliza Shoemaker Clement is the daughter of Margaret Eliza Taylor Shoemaker.] You can listen to these memories through the podcast to the left labeled "Fire Claims Margaret Eliza Clement's Home." Below are photos of some of the people who are mentioned in these memories.



Lester Clement is the youngest child of Margaret Eliza Shoemaker and Thomas Alma Clement. He is also Alta's father who she fondly remembers as "Papa."

Emily Maud Johnson Clement is Alta's mother ("Mama") and wife of Lester Elden Clement.

Lester and Maud's family a few years after this incident. Margaret (sitting on your right) was a toddler at the time of the fire.

Margaret Shoemaker Clement, daughter of Margaret Taylor, was about 68 years old at the time of the fire. She is Lester's mother and Alta's grandmother.

Alex Clement was Margaret Eliza Clement's son and Lester's older brother. Margaret Eliza was visit his home (also in Mesa, Arizona) at the time of the fire.

Margaret Clement shown here as a toddler with her older sister Mary. She had followed her mother, Maud, outside and therefore escaped the fire. Margaret and Mary are Alta's older sisters.

Margaret Eliza Shoemaker Clement's home after it was rebuilt.

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Roger Larson, digitized photos.

Alta Willis Clement, Memories of My Grandmother, Margaret Eliza Shoemaker Clement, interviewed by daughter, Janet Willis.

Margaret Eliza Shoemaker Clement

Margaret Eliza Taylor's daughter, Margaret Eliza Shoemaker Clement was instrumental in the details we know about Margaret Eliza Taylor. In her later years she gave a history that included many details about her mother and father and their experiences. Alta Clement Willis is her granddaughter and a living link to her past. Alta lived near Margaret Eliza Shoemaker Clement during her final years. Although just a young girl at the time, Alta retains some memories of Margaret Eliza Shoemaker Clement, held strong through the bond of love she developed for her soft-spoken, loving grandma. A debt of gratitude is owed to Alta for sharing these memories and to Janet Willis, her daughter, for recording them. You can listen to a portion of these memories as you look through the following photographs. Just click the black button to the left labeled "Margaret Eliza Shoemaker Clement daughter of Margaret Taylor."
Margaret Eliza Shoemaker and Thomas Alma Clement family photograph. Their youngest child, Lester, is Alta's father and is sitting on Margaret Eliza's lap.

Lester Clement's home, which he moved near his mother's home to help her in her aging years.

Margaret Eliza Taylor's home in Mesa, Arizona. She moved to Mesa from Menan, Idaho in 1906.

Alta Clement (Willis) is shown here as a young girl. Her grandmother passed away on February 14, 1929 at the age of 81 years. Alta was 7 years old at the time.

Alta's sister, Dora was born in April of 1928, giving a reference to about the time the following photos were taken.

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Larson, Roger and Nione Clement Larson. Digitized Photographs.

PODCAST
Kearns, Richard. "Study 6." Studies for piano. Wikimedia Commons. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license, 2000. Posted 29 September 2009. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category: Piano_solos. Accessed 3 March 2011.

Willis, Alta Clement. Memories of Margaret Eliza Shoemaker Clement. Recorded by Janet Willis.

Unanswered Questions

Margaret Taylor and Alexander Morain Shoemaker married on 29 October 1835 in Pendleton, Kentucky. They appear on the Quincy, Adams, Illinois census in 1840.[1] Between those two dates, there is some conflicting information as to the timing and whereabouts of their moves.

[1]

On 16 July 1836 their first child, Sarah Ann was born. She died 10 months later on 24 May 1837. These are dates from New Family Search, with both Illinois and Kentucky recorded as the birthplace. I do not have documentation on these dates yet, but it is likely they were obtained from Margaret Taylor herself, as she was involved in church and temple work until she died in 1906.

Alexander Morain Shoemaker's obituary states they moved from Kentucky to Illinois "shortly after marriage...where he heard the gospel and was baptized into the Church."[2] This is likely where the birthplace of Illinois came from.

[2]

Daughter, Margaret Eliza Shoemaker, says her father told her they were in Missouri at the time the Saints were being mobbed. It was there they first heard the gospel.[3] The Taylor were in Platte County, Missouri at the time of the 1840 census. [4]

[4]

[1 male under 5 (Mark born 1837); 2 males 5 to 9 (Heber born 1832 and Samuel born 1830); 1 male 10 to 14 (John born 1826); 1 male 15 to 19 (Joseph H. born 1824); 1 male 20 to 29 (James born 1820, married in 1841 in Platte Co., MO); 1 male 40 to 49 (joseph born 1796); 1 female 30 to 39 (Nancy born about 1804). Note Margaret born 181 was married, Rebecca, born 1822, was likely married, Mary Ann died in 1838 and Nancy Jane died in 1833.]

Margaret's brother, James Taylor, was married to Martha Petty in Pettis Township, Platte County, Missouri in 18 Nov 1841.[5] Both these facts back Margaret Eliza Shoemaker's statement that Alexander and Margaret moved to Missouri before moving on to Illinois.

[5]

Taking all this into consideration, it is likely Sarah Ann was born and died in Kentucky. Another possibility is they moved to Missouri before Sarah Ann was born or perhaps before she died.

At the present time, my research is focusing on Mid-Atlantic States research with Margaret's grandfather, Adam Holiday Taylor in Pennsylvania. In April I begin a class on Midwest U.S. research. I hope to find a few more details on these and other discrepancies during that time.

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1 1840 U.S. Census, Quincy, Adams, Illinois, population schedule, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), citing NARA publication M704, record group 29, roll 54, page 52, no. 4, family 17, accessed 9 November 2009.

2 Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah), microfilm publication, 30 reels, vol. 21 (7 Feb. 1872-29 Jan. 1872), 15 May 1872, page 212, column 1, first entry, FHL US/CAN Film 26,593.

3 Margaret Eliza [Shoemaker] Clement, life history dictated to Belva Watson, sometime between 1920 and 1929; typescript privately held by Alta Clement Willis, her granddaughter, 2011.

4 1840 U.S. Census, Platte County, Missouri, population schedule, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), citing NARA microfilm publication M704, record group 29, roll 228, page 103, accessed 7 December 2009.

5 "Missouri Marriage Records," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), accessed November 2009.

Truth Over Rumor

When Margaret Eliza Taylor and Alexander Shoemaker first came to Missouri, they were not members of the church. In fact, Margaret seems to have been convinced the rumors that circulated concerning the Mormons were true. Margaret and Alexander's daughter, Margaret Shoemaker Clement, later said:

"I remember very well of hearing my parent relate the incident that brought them into the church. They were living in Missouri at the time the Saints were being mobbed and being driven from their homes, but they were known only as "desperadoes" and nearly every one joined to fight and exterminate them. A cold rainy period was on, and it had been raining for several days, when a "hello" was heard at the door. My father opened it. He was told that a whole company was coming and wanted shelter. He answered the inquiry with a strong "I will furnish shelter and protections." As the messenger turned and was gone, my mother objected to having a house full of "desperadoes" and said she could not live with them. He met her strong opposition by telling her she could stay upstairs. In spite of the fear she had for them, a large company of them came and they were made very welcome.

"My father and mother knowing the truth when they heard it was baptized six months later and my father proved a very able man to save the Saints from falling into traps the mobs or neighbors would set for them."[1]

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1 Margaret Eliza (Shoemaker) Clement, life history dictated to Belva Watson, sometime between 1920 and 1929; typescript privately held by Alta Clement Willis, her granddaughter, 2011.