Quaker Source References for the Taylors of Ballickmoyler

Adam Taylor of Wexford and Ballickmoyler

Adam Taylor and Susannah Thacker present their intentions to marry to the Dublin Meetings in 1719

The Weekly Meeting Minutes of the Friends Meeting at Dublin shows that Adam Taylor of Wexford and Shusannah Thackra (Susanna Thacker) of Balteboyis (Baltiboys, co. Wicklow) appeared before their meeting on April 21, 1719 to declare their intention to marry. It was noted that both their parents were deceased and that Adam had brought with him a certificate of clearness (i.e. eligibility) from Scotland from whence he came 9 or 10 years before. Two elders of the Dublin meeting were instructed to contact the Wexford and Carlow meetings and another two to contact the Baltiboys meeting to confirm their clearness to marry.

The Dublin meeting minutes a week later show that the couple appeared for a second time to declare their intention of marriage having ‘done ye like in ye women’s meeting yesterday and certificate being come from Wexford and Carlow monthly meetings giving account of their clearness’. A certificate also having been received from Balteboys, Adam was instructed to publish their intentions at the public meetings at Lambstowne and Balteboys at least twice and to advise this meeting when that had been done.

The Dublin Mens Meeting minutes for May 19th confirmed that the requested notices were given at Lambstowne on May 6th and 10th and at Balteboys on May 10th and 13th and nothing of unclearness had appeared. Approval was given for them ‘to accomplish their said intentions’ at Balteboys tomorrow.

Adam Taylor Family Record (includes Adam Taylor II)

The Friend's record of Adam's line from his origin in Scotland to his death and also his grandson Adam Taylor II's line

Adam Taylor Migration from Wexford to Ballickmoyler, Queens co.

Letter of reference sent by the Cooladine Mens Meeting to the Carlow Mens Meeting:

"our friend Adam Taylor used Indeavours to have got a place to have lived here with us and no place ofered that he thought would sute him every way not that we could advise him too, his behaviour was such that he obtained the benefits of our mens meeting and so continued, he was of a good reputation in this neighbour hood, and we think he was Careful and diligent in his business, signed by appointment of our meeting held at Couledine the 5th:5th:mo:1724. To friends of ye county of Catherlough Mens Meeting"

Acknowledgement by the Carlow Mens Meeting: "at a Mens Meeting held at Carlow ye 18th of ye 6 mo 1724, a certificate being come in behalf of Adam Taylor by order of Coladine monthly meeting which is satisfactory to this meeting"

Reports of Adam Taylor Striking a Woman Lead to his Removal From Friends in 1746

In January 1746 the Carlow Mens Meeting learned that an assault had been sworn against Adam Taylor. He was invited to attend their mext meeting so they could inquire into the affair. The February 2 meeting notes show that Adam attended the meeting and admitted to striking a woman and that his landlord Edward Cooper had 'promised to use his endeavours to get ye affair settled without coming to the assizes (i.e. a court hearing). Two weeks later the meeting asked Adam to condemn his fault in writing and to submit it by their next meeting. The minutes of the April 2 meeting noted that Adam still had not submitted the letter and that he would not be admitted as a member of their meeting until the Friends were fully satisfied of his hearty sorrow for his offence. Adam attended the May 14 meeting and stated that he would never give any satisfaction in writing and then left. It was decided to draft a letter of testimony against him. The May 25 meeting discussed a draft letter of testimony against Adam as he still refused to admit his fault in writing. The June 25th meeting recorded that a Friend had offered to show the draft letter to Adam but he refused saying that there was time enough to hear it when it was signed but that Adam had submitted a few lines condemning his transgressions but they were not satisfactory. The August 6th meeting reported that a letter had been received from Adam Taylor's son John which also fell short 'of such satisfaction as Truth requires', that John had borrowed his father's earlier letter and the draft of the letter of testimony against him so that his father could examine them at home and that Adam then denied that he had ever written that letter, submitted a new one justifying his actions and refused to return the two letters. A testimony was then signed against him. There is no mention of Adam in subsequent meeting minutes.

John Taylor and Hannah Wylie's Intentions to Marry 1750

Adam was apparently still living in 1750 as these Carlow Mens Meeting minutes show that John had his parents approval to marry.

Adam's Wife Susannah and Daughter Hannah Not Attending Friend's Meetings in 1760

In 1760 the Carlow Meeting expressed concern that Adam's wife and daughter were not regularly attending meetings.

Reports of John Taylor's Lying, Drinking, Bad Behaviour, Separation From His Wife and Non-Attendance Since 1751 Lead to his Disunity in 1762

The minutes of the Carlow Mens Meeting in October 1751 noted that reports had been received to the prejudice of John Taylor's character. In Nov 1751 they decided that John Taylor could not be admitted to their meeting 'till he clears himself to us of wilfull lying wherewith he is charged' to do which he was invited to attend their next meeting. Note: that same meeting they noted that Mary Taylor had been married by a Priest (i.e. other than a Friend) and co-habits with him so a Testimony would be drafted against her. The March 1752 meeting noted that John Taylor had not attended as desired and two members were assigned to inquire into the grounds and justice of the charge against him. Note: the Testimony against Mary Taylor was signed; her married name is given as Murray. In May 1752 John Taylor told the meeting that he had not addressed the charges as a person he needed to testify on his behalf has been sick so he was invited to attend the next meeting. The July meeting noted that as John Taylor had not returned to address his charge a member would be sent to ask him to attend the next meeting. There is no further mention of any charge against him until the March 1762 meeting noted that John Taylor had not attended meetings of worship for a long time and that there 'has been some uneasiness between him and his wife' and two members were appointed to join representatives of the Women's Meeting to visit his family. The April meeting noted that the representatives had gone to meet John Taylor but found that he had for some time been living separate from his family and 'has been otherwise guilty of actions reflecting scandal on our Religious Profession besides his for many years discontinuing to attend our meetings for worship but not meeting with him had a conference with his wife and treated with her according to ability'. The June 1762 meeting noted that John Taylor had denied the charges of drunkenness which had recently been made against him 'yet owned his having been several times overtaken with liquor' but that as he had been regularly attending meetings lately two members were appointed to look into his conduct and to meet with him and his wife concerning their separation. The August meeting decided to draft a Testimony against him, the October meeting decided to show it to him before signing it and the November meeting noted that the Testimony of Disunity had been shown to him but that as his response was judged to be frivolous the Testimony was to be signed.

Adam Taylor II Marriage to Mary Devitt 1784

Adam Taylor of the Carlow Meeting and Mary Devitt of the Ballinakill Meeting appeared before the Mountmellick Mens Meeting in June and August 1784 to declare their intention to marry. Their parent's permission and letters of clearness were received from their respective meetings. The Sept. 25, 1784 Mountmellick Meeting minutes state that their marriage was orderly both at the meeting and at the house.

Adam Taylor and Mary Devitt's Marriage Certificate dated at Ballinakill Sept. 8, 1784

Adam Taylor son of John Taylor of Ballickmile in the Queen's county and Mary Devit daughter of John Devit of Ballinakill in said county ......

The witness signatures included Adam's brother John Taylor and their neighbours in Ballickmoyler Daniel and Hannah Murray.

Adam Taylor in Disunity With Friends Due to Swearing an Oath in Court 1785

In October 1784 the minutes of the Carlow Mens Meeting note that 'report is made that Adam Taylor a young man of Carlow Meeting has violated our Christian testimony by taking an Oath in a court of Justice, the Overseers of said meeting are desired to deal with him thereon; and if they find the case require, to bring to next meeting a paper of our disunity with him.' The December miinutes show that Adam 'expressed sorrow for his violation of our Christian Testimony and acknowledged the propriety of our dealing with him' but that with his admission clear, the Testimony of Disunion was approved. The minutes of the January 1785 meeting show that Adam made no objection to the letter and so it was signed and entered into their record book.

John Taylor Leaves Ballickmoyler for Mountmellick 1783 and Married by a Priest in 1796

A certificate from The Carlow Meeting to the Mountmellick Meeting dated Dec. 31, 1783 documenting John Taylor's unity with Friends and his clearness of debt and marriage engagement. The signers of the Carlow Meeting included Adam Taylor. A Testimony of Disownment with John Taylor by the Enniscorthy, Wexford Mens Meeting dated March 8, 1796 stating that he had arrived there with a recommendation from the Mountmellick Meeting but was tempted away and caused 'to trample on our Christian Testimony by having himself married by a priest to a woman not professing with us.'