WILL OF ELISHA TAYLOR
from the collection of Elisha's fourth great-grandson.

Transcribed by: Diane Kay Gilbert Gelder

Elisha was born 19 May 1748 in Coventry, Tolland County, Connecticut, and died 26 August 1829 in Great Stockbridge, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. He is said to have been the son of Stephen Taylor, 1721-1813, and Deliverance Rust Taylor, 1729-1813. Elisha Taylor's wife, Jerusha Hutchins Taylor, was born 23 August 1752 in Bolton, Tolland County, Connecticut, and died shortly before her husband on 14 July 1829 in West Stockbridge.

"In the name of God, Amen. I Elisha Taylor of West Stockbridge in the County of Berkshire, considering the uncertainty of life, & being advanced in years & being of perfect & sound mind an memory, blessed by Almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my last will and testament, in manner & form following that is to say.

1st. I give to my beloved wife Jerusha Taylor the use and improvement of all my real estate in the town of West Stockbridge, beside what I have this day deeded to my Son Lystra Taylor, during her natural life, provided & in case a good & comfortable support shall not at all times be furnished her by my Son Lystra Taylor, & in case my said Son, his heirs or assigns shall at all times furnish her with good & sufficient & proper support & maintenance, it shall be in lieu of the use and improvement of the real estate aforesaid. And I further give & bequeath to my Wife Jerusha all my household furniture to be at her sole use and disposal.

2nd. I give to each of my sons, Hutchens Taylor & Stephen Taylor each the sum of one dollar, considering that I have heretofore made ample provision for them.

3rd. I give to my two Daughters, Clarrissa Knibloe & Jerusha Willcox, each the sum of one dollar, considering also that I have heretofore made ample provision for them.

4th. I give to my Son Lystra Taylor and to his heirs & assigns forever all the rest & residue of my Real & personal estate wheresoever the same may be situate, including all my rights and credits to have & to hold free & clear from all encumbrances, after all my just debts shall have been paid & after a good & comfortable support shall have been furnished my wife Jerusha as aforesaid, to him the said Lystra Taylor, his heirs & assigns forever, whom I hereby appoint, sole Executor of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former Wills by me made.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal, this twenty seventy day of April in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & twenty two. Elisha Taylor & Seal Signed, sealed, published & declared by the above named Elisha Taylor to be his last will & testament, in the presence of us, who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses, in the presence of the testator.

Robbins Kellog, Augustin Spencer, John Kellogg"

Will proven September 4, 1822 in Lenox, Berkshire County, under authority of William Walker.

ALSO - from the same collection, the following document, which was apparently written by the above Elisha's brother Stephen:

"There may Certify Whomsoever
it may Concern That I Stephen
Taylor Jun. have Volentarily
Inlisted and Ingaged to do Six
Months Service in the Continental
Army one half for my Hon. Fathe(r)
Taylor & the other half for my
Brother Elisha. Taylor
Stephen Taylor
Dated Tyringham June 26th 1780"

OTHER INFORMATION

Both Stephen and Elisha are named in "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution," 17 volumes.

Volume 15, page 426
"Taylor, Elisha, Tyringham. Corporal, Capt. Ezekiel Hearick's co., Col. Brown's (Berkshire Co.) regt.; entered service June 29, 1777; discharged July 26, 1777; service 28 days, in Northern department, including 5 days (112 miles) travel home; also, Private, Capt. Noah Lankton's co., Co. John Ashley's (1st Berkshire Co.) regt.; entered service Sept. 19, 1777; discharged Oct. 11, 1777; service, 23 days; company marched on expedition to Stillwater by order of Brig. Gen. John Fellows."

Volume 16, page 456
"Taylor, Stephen, Tyringham. List of men raised for the 6 months service and returned by Brig. Gen. Paterson as having passed muster in a return dated Camp Totaway, Oct. 25, 1780; also, pay roll for 6 months men raised by the town of Tyringham for service in the Continental Army during 1780; marched to camp July 1, 1780; discharged Dec. 13, 1780; service, 5 mos., 17 days, including travel (80 miles) home."