John Tayloe I

John Tayloe I
Portrait of John Tayloe I of the Old House
Born	(1688-02-15)February 15, 1688 Richmond Co, Virginia
Died	November 15, 1747(1747-11-15) (aged 59) Old House, Richmond County, Virginia
Resting place	Mount Airy, Richmond County, Virginia
Nationality	British/American
Occupation	Planter, Agent
Known for	Virginia Planter, Progenitor of the Tayloe's of Mount Airy

John Tayloe I (February 15, 1688 – November 15, 1747) was one of the richest plantation owners and businessmen in Virginia for his generation. Considered to be the chief architect of the family fortune, he was known as the "Hon. Colonel of the Old House". The Tayloe family of Richmond County, including John Tayloe I, his son, John Tayloe II, and grandson, John Tayloe III, exemplified gentry entrepreneurship.

His father was the Hon. William Taylor (1645–1710) of London, England who emigrated to the Colony of Virginia in the 17th century. He took up land in Lancaster and Richmond Counties in 1650. He was the progenitor of the Tayloe's of "Mount Airy." It is not known why his orthography was changed from Taylor to Tayloe. He accumulated a vast estate, and was a liberal supporter of the Established Church. He was a Burgess in 1710, 1728 and 1730. In 1685, William married Anne (1664–1694), daughter of Hon. Henry Corbin (ca. 1629–1676) and Alice (Eltonhead) Corbin, of "Buckingham House", of Middlesex County. His siblings included Elizabeth (b. 1686), and William (1694–1770) and inherited "Tayloe's Quarters," also known as "Mount Airy," from his father. The plantation home was known as the "Old House."

On February 7, 1710, Mr. John Tayloe was granted administration of the estate of his father, Col. William Tayloe, late of Richmond Co., VA., deceased. In 1711 Francis Yeates, of Richmond Co., was allowed by Act of Assembly to convey certain lands to John Tayloe, Gent. Tayloe served as High Sheriff of Richmond County and was in command of the county militia in 1713 at age 26, he was an influential member of the King's Council in 1732. By April 6 1715, John Tarpley, Edward Barrow, Nicholas Smith, William Thoornton son of the immigrant, John Tayloe and Richard Taliaferro were justices, Richmond Co., VA. A third-generation plantation owner from the Tayloe family of entrepreneurs. He acquired large holdings, 3,000 acres, known as Nanjemoy in Charles Co., MD, in Essex Co., VA Gwynnfield and in Prince William Co., VA, in 1734 5,000 acres called Neabsco, not far from the present day Quantico or Dumfries, where he operated the Neabsco Iron Works, which passed to his son, John Tayloe II in 1747 upon his death. In 1730 he was a member of the House of Burgesses, became a member of Colonial Council in 1732 and later the King's Council. In 1740 the Old House built by his father was destroyed by fire. He built a larger house at Mt. Airy which was destroyed by fire in 1758, after which the neo-Palladian Villa which still stands was built.