Martha Steel

  General Notes:

Much of this content is based on a biographical sketch in an 1882 book, "History of Clinton County, Ohio", page 1094. Without this sketch of Thompson Douglass, connected to Martha thru a Douglass-Taylor marriage in 1795 in York County, Pennsylvania, I doubt I would even know Martha's name, much less anything about her life.

Martha Steel Taylor was born in Newark, New Jersey "of American parentage" per the 1882 book noted above. This evidently means her parents were born in America and not foreign-born as was the case of her husband whose parents were Irish immigrants. No birth date was given for Martha, but it appears she was born around 1755 based on Census records.

Martha was married to James Taylor in Chester, Pennsylvania 10 Feb 1773 and then moved to York County which is 2 counties west of Chester (Lancaster County in between).

As was the usual experience for married women of this era, Martha bore many children: 11 per the 1882 book. Her first child, in fact, was born about 9 1/2 months after her wedding day! While the 1882 book provided Mary's birth date, it gave no others.

Martha and James' children, per the Thompson Douglass bio sketch, are listed here:

--- 1. Mary Taylor: 28 Nov 1773, York County, Pennsylvania- 2 Nov 1855, Clinton County, Ohio. Married James Douglass 27 October 1795 in York County, PA.
--- 2. David Taylor: born ~ 1775, York County, Pennsylvania
--- 3. Jane Taylor: born ~ 1777, York County, Pennsylvania
--- 4. Elizabeth Taylor: born ~1780, York County, Pennsylvania
--- 5. James Steel Taylor: born ~1782, York County, Pennsylvania
--- 6. Reuben Taylor: born ~1785, York County, Pennsylvania. Co-Executor of his father's Will.
--- 7. Jemima Taylor: born ~1788, York County, Pennsylvania, died ~ 1865, Caldwell County, Missouri. Married Patrick Douglass (nephew of sister Mary's husband, James) ~ 1809, Columbiana County, Ohio.
--- 8. Deborah Taylor: born ~ 1790, York County, Pennsylvania
--- 9. Enoch Taylor: born ~ 1792, York County, Pennsylvania, died 19 Aug 1841 (or 1844 per FAG Memorial), Columbiana County, Ohio. [Note: The part of Columbiana County Enoch was likely born in became part of Mahoning County, Ohio in 1846.] Married Barbara, date unknown. Co-Executor of his father's Will.
---10. Elijah Taylor: born ~1794, York County, Pennsylvania
---11. John Taylor: born Nov 1797, York County, Pennsylvania, died 27 April 1852, Mahoning County, Ohio. Buried in Old Brunstetter Cemetery. Married Elizabeth ~1825, likely in Columbiana County, Ohio. Had at least 7 children with Elizabeth.

Martha died prior to the date her husband wrote his Will: 3 Aug 1831. Since it seems she was included in the 1830 Census, it would seem she died sometime between the date of the 1830 Census and August 1831.

I am very happy to know this much about Martha Steel Taylor, my 4X Great Grandmother, and am honored to compile here what I know of her life.

Source: Vicki Edwards, 31 March 2018
4X Great Granddaughter of Martha Steel Taylor

Martha married James Taylor on 10 Feb 1773 in Chester County, Pennsylvania. (James Taylor was born in 1745 in Chester County, Pennsylvania and died in 1831 in Springfield township, Mahoning, OH.)