FAMILY HISTORY OF EAST OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA PIONEERS
Small archive of genealogical material associated with Archibald Leard Taylor (1853-1946), largely compiled by his wife, Fannie Elizabeth Taylor (née Hawley, 1855-1936). An announcement in the Oakland Tribune on June 29, 1917 concerning the marriage of their daughter, Elva, notes, “Until a few years ago the Taylors made their home in the East Oakland district, where they were numbered with the earlier pioneers.”
Born in Salzburg, Pennsylvania, Archibald Leard Taylor travelled to California around 1878 with his brother, Dr. William Stewart Taylor (1847-1931). According to a manuscript biography in Fannie Taylor’s hand, he was employed as a salesman “in the country districts” while also studying theology with an interest in pursuing missionary work in China. This passage is followed by a lively account of his pursuit of permanent work in San Francisco, which resulted in a position with W.J. Garrett’s Machine Works, Brass and Bell Foundry at the corner of Fremont and Natoma streets. While he remained active in the Presbyterian Church, the field of engineering provided him with steady employment, including as the secretary and treasurer of a crane foundry and as an agent for a high temperature supplies company.
Alexander and Fannie were married in San Francisco on May 4, 1882. Their union resulted in six children, including a daughter who died at age two. The couple resided in Oakland Ward 7 until around 1920, when they moved to Mokelumne Hill in Calaveras County to pursue stock farming with Alexander’s sister, Mary Margaret Taylor (1852-1925). No account of the success of this endeavor could be found and by 1930, Alexander and Fannie had established a retirement home in San Leandro, California.
Compiled by Fannie with the assistance of relatives, genealogical societies, and other sources, this collection of material includes documentation that establishes a connection with Zachary Taylor, the 12th president of the United States. Notably, it also includes a family hair album with 37 locks of hair from various individuals in the Taylor and Hawley families. All the locks are stitched in place and labeled with the contributor’s name. A few are described as being collected on the day of or after the individual’s death.
This archive includes:
"Taylor Ancestry of Archibald Leard Taylor. Giving Family Records to John and Elizabeth Rhea Taylor, Genealogy from Zachary I to James Taylor (I) and Traditions of English Ancestry together with Origin and Tracings down to the 17th Century. Traced to France 866 A.D. Compiled by Mrs. Archibald Leard Taylor, 1921." 14 pp. Manuscript and typed, accompanied by notes and clippings.
"Stewart Ancestry of Archibald Leard Taylor. Giving Immediate Ancestry to William and Margaret Getty Stewart and Traced back through English and Scotch History and through Early Irish History, Tradition, Poetry and Song. Compiled by Mrs. Archibald L. Taylor, 1921 A.D." 14 pp. Manuscript and typed, accompanied by a Scottish tartan sample, notes, and clippings.
“Ascendants + Descendants in the Gettys, Leard and Elliott Families to 1749. Compiled by Mrs. Archibald Leard Taylor, 1921.” 6 pp. Manuscript, accompanied by notes.
"Ancestry of A.L. Taylor’s Sons-in-law and Daughters-in-law. Kept for their Children. As far as Secured by Mrs. A.L. Taylor, 1921.” 14 pp. Manuscript and typed, accompanied by notes.
“Hawley Ancestry of Mrs. Archibald Leard Taylor, née Fannie Elizabeth Hawley. Traced to England 1603 and Through Gov. Welles Family to France, 794 A.D. and the Boyds to 1105 A.D. Compiled by Mrs. Archibald L. Taylor, 1921.” 10 pp. Manuscript and typed, accompanied by notes.
“The Bigham Family and Its Ancestry. In Mrs. Archibald Leard Taylor’s Line. Traced through the Ludlows to England 13th Century. Through the Runyons (Rognions) and [illegible] to Huguenots of France and Holland. Compiled by Mrs. Archibald Leard Taylor, 1921.” 30 pp. Manuscript and typed, accompanied by notes.
“Concerning the Taylor Genealogy.” 5 pp. Typed and manuscript, prepared by F.E. Taylor for Ralph Taylor, “as per Angeles University Report.”
“Derivation of Names.” 5 pp. Manuscript and typed, accompanied by notes.
“Taylor” [and] “Taylor Genealogy”. 18 pp. Manuscript and typed, accompanied by notes and a folding genealogical chart. Includes documentation tracing Zachary Taylor’s genealogy.
All the above are bound with paperclips or staples, which are a little rusted. In addition, there is a large group of correspondence, notes, newspaper clippings, and related ephemera, including the aforementioned manuscript biography of Alexander Laird Taylor, a typed letter letter signed by Ralph Hawley Taylor (1884-1979), a tintype photograph of Fannie’s grandmother, Elizabeth Vincent Thomas-Hawley (1794-1880). The materials are laid into a repurposed two-part box with Fannie’s holographic label on the lid, which is now housed in an archival box.
A remarkable family record with connections to the San Francisco Bay Area, Pennsylvania, Ohio, an American President, and more. Item #77937
Price: $750.00