Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 1.djvu/147

 COLONIAL COUNCILLORS OF STATE

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mention of Lee as holding a public place is in the official records under date of Feb., 1641, when he was appointed clerk of the council. On Oct. 12, 1643, he was made attorney-gen- eral, in 1646 he was a magistrate for York and the year following represented that county in the house of burgesses. He seems to have moved away from York in or before 1651, a> in that year he was paid for services as a burgess of Northumberland. On Sept. 9, of the same year, he was present in the council as a member. He owned three plantations, one in York county, on the York river, and two in Northumberland on Dividing creeks, where necks of land afford such a good harbor that it is used to this day as a landing place for Baltimore steamers. In addition to these places grants of land in Lancaster, Westmore- land and Gloucester were made to him. He was a staunch Royalist and made many trips to England and on to Holland, the latter for the express purpose of seeing the exciled King, Charles II. According to John Gibbons, Lee intended to end his days in England, and with this in view, employed him. Gibbons, to oversee his estate in the colony. It happens, however, that his will arranges for the dis- posal of his English property and the settle- ment of his children in the colony, "all except Francis if he be pleased," so that it seems probable that Gibbons was in error. This will was executed in London on Feb. 6, 1663-64, while Col. Lee was in England. He must have returned to Virginia shortly after this and died almost upon arrival, as he is men- tioned under date of April 20, 1664, as "Colo- nel Richard Lee Esq., who is now deceased."

Taylor or Tayloe, William, was an early settler in York county. In or before 1640, he purchased from John LTtie the estate called

"I'tiemaria" in that county, but, it seems, did not long hold it. I5y a deed dated Dec. 25, 1640, "William Taylor of Utiemaria in the County of Charles River, in Virginia, mer- chant," sold to William Blackley, 100 acres of land which he had bought from John Utie, and on Jan. 7, 1641, he sold to Henry Corbell 1250 acres also purchased from Utie. Col. William Tayloe, as he ultimately became, was a bur- gess for York in March, 1642-43, and Nov., 1647. As Maj. William Taylor, he was pres- ent as a member of the council, Nov. 6, 165 1, but lost his seat on the surrender of Virginia to the parliament. He w^as, however, again elected a councillor, April 30, 1652, and once more on March 31, 1654-55. He had been a justice of York since 1647. Col. Tayloe mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Kings- mill, of Virginia, and died without issue. His widow married secondly Nathaniel Bacon. The tomb of Mrs. Elizabeth P)acon, now in St. Paul's Churchyard, Norfolk, bears the Kingsmill and Tayloe arms. Through his nephew, however, Col. William Tayloe, of Richmond county, he has numerous represent- atives in Virginia.

Bernard, William, was born about 1598, and came to the colony in 1625, in the ship "America." He was the son of Francis Ber- nard, Esq., of Kingsthorpe, Northampton- shire, and brother of Sir Robert Bernard, Bart., of Brampton, Huntingdonshire. He settled first in Isle of Wight county and prob- ably continued to make his home there. He was certainly living there in 1639, when the assembly appointed him a tobacco inspector for the district extending from Laune's creek to Casstra ( ?) creek. The act styles him "Mr. William Barnett." Bernard first appears as a member of the council in March, 1642-43, and