William Taylard (ca. 1660-ca. 1711/12)
Anne Arundel County Court Clerk, 1699-1702/3
MSA SC 3520-1230
Biography:
The following biographical information is found in Dr. Edward C. Papenfuse's A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature, 1635-1789, Vol. II, I-Z, (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1985), 802-803.
William Taylard was born in England around 1660. He immigrated to the colonies in 1680 as a free adult. He lived in St. Mary's County, but by 1699 he was living in Annapolis in Anne Arundel County. He first married the widow of William Cocks. By 1707/08 he married his second wife, Audrey. She was the widow of John Llewellin and had already had a son, Richard, with her former husband. Taylard was active in the Anglican and Episcopal Church, serving as vestryman at St. Atnne's Parish from 1704-05.
Taylard worked as an attorney. He was admitted to the Provincial
Court and the Anne Arundel County Court. In the early 1680s he help
some minor clerkshp positions. He held public office beginning in
1685, when he began service as Clerk of the Prerogative Office. He
served in that position until 1687 and then again from 1700 until 1708.
He held several other positions including Clerk of the Secretary's Office
(1689 -1694, 1699-1703), member of the Lower House (1697/98-1700), Clerk
of the Lower House (1700-1707, 1709), Clerk of St. Mary's County Court
(1689-92), and Clerk of Anne Arundel County Court (1699-1702/03).
Born: ca. 1660, in England
Immigrated: in 1680, as a free adult
Resided: in St. Mary’s County; in Annapolis, Anne
Arundel County, ca. 1699
Married: first, (first name unknown), widow of
William Cocks; second, by 1707/8, Audrey, widow of John Llewellin (?—1698)
Children: Richard Llewellin, stepson
Education: literate, had clerical skills
Religious Affiliation: Anglican
Social Status and Activities: served in a series
of minor clerkships in the early 1680s; Gent., by 1683/84; bought a printing
house in St. Mary’s City, 1694; described by Philip Clarke (?—1699) as
“being poor and Indigent and for an Imploy would doe aney thing,” 1698
Occupation: placeman; clerk-attorney, admitted
to the following courts: Provincial Court, 1695, Anne Arundel County, 1702/3;
land speculator
Public Career: Lower House, St. Mary’s City, 1697/98-1700
(Aggnevances 1; Laws 1, 3; Elections and Privileges 3; resigned during
the 4th session of the 1697/98-1700 Assembly to become clerk of the Lower
House); clerk, Prerogative Office, 1685-1687, 1700-1708; clerk, Secretary’s
Office, 1689-1694, 1699-1703; clerk, Lower House, 1700-1707, 1709
Local Offices: clerk, St. Mary’s County, 1689-1692;
clerk, Anne Arundel County, 1699-1702/3; St. Anne’s Parish Vestry, Anne
Arundel County, 1704-1705
Stands on Public/Private Issues: active support
of the Protestant Associators’ Revolution brought Taylard profitable patronage
in 1689; was an opponent and rival of Thomas Lawrence (ca. 1645-1714) in
the early 1690s; he was arrested for perjury and for withholding public
records, 1697; probably regained favor with Francis Nicholson (1655-1727/28)
by helping to expose the alleged conspiracy of John Coode (ca. 1648-1708/9)
and Philip Clarke (?-1699) in 1698
Wealth: at least 100 acres in St. Mary’s County;
acquired by patent and purchase ca. 1,000 acres in Anne Arundel, St. Mary’s,
and Baltimore counties; personal property at death TEV, at least £58.1.8
(including 4 servants and books); Land ca. 1,000 acres in Anne Arundel,
St. Mary’s, and Baltimore counties; his will mentioned property in Pennsylvania
and England
Died: between November 8, 1711, and January 26,
1711/12
Source: Papenfuse, Edward C., et al., A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature, 1635-1789, Vol. II, I-Z, (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1985), 802-803.
For a narrative version of this information, click here.
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