The last will and testament of John R. Taylor.

On 2 November 1917, John Richard Taylor scrawled an X on a will he dictated in the presence of F.D. Swindell and David Dupree. Taylor’s bequests included:

  • to his mother, Mary Taylor, all the cash not needed to pay his debts;
  • to his sister, Missouri Moore, a portion of a lot at the corner of East and Atlantic Streets containing his dwelling house;
  • to wife Bettie Taylor, “in lieu of her dower,” all the balance of his real estate;
  • also to wife Bettie, three bed quilts, a dining room table, three stool chairs, one rocking chair, and one small single bedstead, with the remainder of his personal property to sister Missouri Moore;
  • Redmond White was to be executor.

Taylor died days later, and his estate entered probate on 12 November 1917. The following day, Bettie Taylor filed her dissent to the terms of Taylor’s will.

Oddly, nine months later, Camillus L. Darden successfully filed an application for letters of administration for John Richard Taylor, who Darden asserted died without a will. Charles H. Darden posted bond with his son. C.L. Darden estimated the value of Taylor’s estate at $2501 in real estate (“no personalty” worth valuing), and named Taylor’s heirs as Herbert Taylor, Jessie Taylor, Eddie Taylor, Missouri Moore, and “Brantley, a baby.” Neither Taylor’s wife nor mother are listed, but these are clearly his siblings — and a mystery child.

I have found nothing further about John R. Taylor’s estate.

——

In the 1900 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: farmer John Taylor, 50; wife Mary, 45; and children Jessie, 19, Hubard, 14, John R., 13, Eddie, 10, and Addie, 6.

In the 1910 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: farmer Mary Taylor, 55, widow; children George, 31, Jesse, 29, John R., 23, Eddie, 20, and Addie, 17; and brother Allison Howard, 34.

John Richard Taylor died 7 November 1917 in Wilson township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 2 March 1884 in Wilson County to John Taylor and Mary Howard; was married; and was buried in Wilson County. Eddie Taylor was informant.

Leave a Reply