Robert Barraud TAYLOR^[1]

1774 - 1834  (60 years)

• Name	Robert Barraud TAYLOR
  Birth	20 Mar 1774	Virginia Colony   [1]
  Gender	Male
  birth2 (conflicting)	24 Mar 1774	Smithfield, Isle of Wight Co, Virginia Colony   [2]
  Education	1792-1793	Williamsburg City, VA & Richmond City, VA   [2, 3, 4]
  	Robert entered the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia c.1792-1793. In 1793, Robert fought a duel with John Randolph of Roanoke, Virginia over the pronunciation of a word during a debate. Robert was wounded by Randolph and carried the ball for the rest of his life. Both young men were expelled from the college. Robert decided to read for the law. He learned his profession at the law office of John Marshall in Richmond, Virginia.
  Occupation	1793	Norfolk, Norfolk Co, VA
  	Robert practiced law in Norfolk, Virginia for many years.
  War of 1812 service (1812 - 1815)	Jun 1813	Norfolk Co, VA   [4, 5]
  	Although personally opposed to the War of 1812, as Brigadier General of the Ninth Brigade of Virginia Militia, Robert organized the successful defense of Norfolk, Portsmouth and the Gosport Shipyard against the British. Placed under Robert's command were militia companies from Richmond, Henrico, Albemarle and Petersburg in addition to the local Norfolk militia and volunteers and the sailors and marines from the frigate USS Constellation, that had been caught inside the British blockade of the Chesapeake. The British lost about 200 men at the Battle of Craney Island in their attempt to gain control of the Elizabeth River. General Taylor did not lose a single man.
  comment	1819-1822	Charlottsville, Albemarle Co, VA   [3]
  	Robert was a member of the first Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia, serving from 1819 through 1822. Among this initial board were Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe.
  OFFH	1799, 1800, 1826, 1829	Richmond City, VA   [6]
  	Robert served in the House of Delegates of the Virginia General Assembly as the representative from the Borough of Norfolk during the sessions that met from 2 December 1799 - 28 January 1800 and 1 December 1800 - 23 January 1801. Twenty-five years later he returned to the House of Delegates for the 4 December 1826 - 9 March 1827 session, this time as one of the two Norfolk County representatives. Though elected as a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional convention of 1829 - 1830, he resigned on 7 November 1829 because "he could not, in good faith, comply the wishes of the constituency that he represented."
  Occupation	1831 - 1834	Virginia   [7]
  	From 25 April 1831, until his death in 1834, Robert served as Judge of the Circuit and Superior Court of Law and Chancery of the First Circuit and First District of Virginia. Included in this jurisdiction were Princess Anne, Nansemond, Southampton, Greensville, Surrry, Isle of Wight and Norfolk Counties and the Borough of Norfolk.
  Death	13 Apr 1834	Norfolk, Norfolk Co, VA   [1, 2, 8]
  	Robert died of pneumonia at his home in Norfolk, Virginia on 13 April 1834. He was 60 years old at the time of his death.
  Person ID	I62509	mason
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2026

  
  

  Father	Robert TAYLOR,   b. 8 May 1749   d. 10 Oct 1826 (Age 77 years)
  Mother	Sarah Curle BARRAUD,   b. c. 1755, Virginia Colony d. 15 Jan 1787 (Age 32 years)
  Marriage	26 Sep 1771	Norfolk Co, Virginia Colony   [1, 9]
  	The couple was married later that same day. The wedding announcement noted that Sally was the eldest daughter of Mr. Daniel Barraud, a local merchant.
  Family ID	F5335	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Ann RITSON   d. 14 Jan 1862
  Marriage	28 Jul 1796  [1, 10]
  	The couple was married on 28 July 1796.
  Children	1. Catherine TAYLOR,   b. 17 Mar 1798   d. 29 Oct 1800 (Age 2 years)   2. Thomas Ritson TAYLOR,   b. 10 Jun 1799   d. 26 Oct 1800 (Age 1 year)   3. Martha Ann TAYLOR,   b. 1 Feb 1802   d. 5 Oct 1802 (Age 0 years)   4. Robert Eyre TAYLOR,   b. 29 Apr 1805   d. 5 Apr 1854 (Age 48 years)   5. William Eyre TAYLOR,   b. 18 Feb 1809   d. 11 Sep 1870 (Age 61 years)   6. Jane Sarah TAYLOR,   b. 5 Feb 1815   d. 8 Jul 1815 (Age 0 years)
  Photos		Robert Barraud Taylor house. Built in 1816, the house stood at the corner of Granby and Market Streets. It was demolished in early 1900.
  Family ID	F7030	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2026

  
  

• Notes

  SUPPOSE TO BE BURIED AT CEDAR GROVE, NOT IN ONLINE INDEX 1807: juror issuing bill of indictment against Aaron Burr for treason. defense counsel for Comm. James Barron @ his court martial

  
  

• Sources

  [S5065] "Taylor family Bible record, 1749 - 1953", 31980 MBRC 26. [S2907] Elliott, "Robert Barraud Taylor", pp. 145 - 169. [S2466] Lyon Gardiner Tyler, editor, Tyler, Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Volume II, ((New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co, 1915)), pp. 188-189. [S2906] Virginia Historical Society, online (http://www.vahistorical.org/). Robert Barraud Taylor (1774 - 1834). [S2003] Rogers Dey Whichard, Ph.D. (author & editor), Whichard, The History Of Lower Tidewater Virginia, ((New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co, 1959) ). Vol. 1, p. 6 and Vol. 2, pp. 306-307, 454. [S323] Cynthia Miller Leonard, compiler, Leonard, The General Assembly of Virginia, July 30 1619 - January 11, 1978., ((Richmond: Virginia State Library, 1978)), pp. 216, 220, 335 & 354., ISBN 0-88490-008-8. [S2003] Rogers Dey Whichard, Ph.D. (author & editor), Whichard, The History Of Lower Tidewater Virginia, ((New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co, 1959) ), Vol. 1. p. 454. [S4968] Bernard J. Henley, compiler, Henley Marriage & Obituary Database. Virginia Free Press, obituary, (24 April 1834), p. 3, c. 4. [S4968] Bernard J. Henley, compiler, Henley Marriage & Obituary Database. Virginia Gazette (3 Oct 1771) p. 3, c. 1. [S4968] Bernard J. Henley, compiler, Henley Marriage & Obituary Database. American Gazette & General Advertiser, Taylor - Ritson marriage (29 July 1796), p. 3, c. 3.