"Ma" and "Pa" Taylor

     

George W. Taylor

Sidney Ann Bragg

Nelson Whitford "Pa" Taylor was born September 7, 1856 on Front Street, the son of George Washington Taylor and Sidney Ann Bragg. His father owned "Ocean House" hotel. The 1860 Beaufort Census noted the family in the hotel, including 4-year-old Nelson. 

     On April 25, 1862, they were among others watching the siege of Fort Macon. The hotel was located in the general area of the current day Maritime Museum and Watercraft Center.

      The future "Ma" Taylor, Mary Catherine Buckman, was born November 9, 1860, in the 1845 Buckman House at 114 Ann Street; she was the daughter of Edward S. Buckman and Elizabeth Ward Phelps. In Mary's early years, the first oyster factory was located just beyond their home at the west end of Ann Street. 

     On February 24, 1881, Nelson Whitford Taylor and Mary Catherine Buckman were married . (Minister E.M. Forbes, witnesses A.C. Davis Jr. and W.C. Manson)

     In 1894, the couple purchased the Leecraft House at 305 Ann Street, built circa 1856 by William Leecraft. Mary "Ma" Taylor occupied the home until her death on March 22, 1965, at 104.

      "Ma" and "Pa" Taylor's children included: Cecil Buckman Taylor, who married Margaret C. Arrington; Bayard Taylor, who married Jean Thackston; Elizabeth S. Taylor, who married Allen Darlington O’Bryan; Nannie Davis Taylor, who married William King Hinnant; Nelson Whitford Taylor, who married Caroline Kingman Cumbow; and George Edward Taylor, who married Eileen St. George Gardner.

Nelson Whitford Taylor 1856-1948

Nelson Whitford Taylor's obituary
The Carteret News-Times, September 17, 1948: 

      Beaufort paid solemn tribute to its oldest native Wednesday at 5p.m. when funeral services were held for Nelson Whitford "Pa" Taylor, 92, in St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The Rev. William Martin, rector, conducted the service and interment followed in St. Paul's Cemetery.

      The vestry of St. Paul's were honorary pall bearers, and the grandsons and grandsons-in-law. They were Allen O'Bryan, Nelson W. Taylor III, Clifford Fleet, Dave Mosier, Dave Winegar, and Wiley Taylor Jr. 

      Ninety-two years of fruitful living and 67½ years of happy married life were ended when "Pa" died quietly at his home on Ann Street, Beaufort, Monday [September 13] night at 8:15.

      His physician, Dr. Laurie Moore, had pronounced "nothing organically wrong" with him one week before his 92^nd birthday. Those at his bedside said his mind was clear one hour before death, due to old age, claimed him.

      "Pa"  Taylor operated the only wholesale grocery store this side of New Bern for 25‒30 years, and it was said of him that "anyone who needed anything got it whether they had the money to pay or not." People from Beaufort to Cedar Island thought of him as their benefactor.

      His sons recalled that he refused to sell a barrel of flour which cost him $4 for more than $4.25, allowing himself only 25 cents for profit and overhead deductions. Twenty-five cents profit was all he asked on a pair of shoes.

      He was in the mercantile business from the age of 9, when he began helping in his father's store, until he retired at 70.

      Shortly after 1888, Mr. Taylor partitioned off one of his store buildings and started the first bank in Carteret County. It was called the Bank of Beaufort. "Pa" was the banker. The bank moved after one year to the building now occupied by Rumley's Feed Store on Front Street, and "Pa" was president. He later formed, and was president of the Beaufort Banking and Trust Co., the predecessor of the First Citizens Bank and Trust Co. 

      He started out as a merchant, operating his father's old store at the present location of Davis Bros. After the big fire in 1888, he built two brick buildings across the street, forming the Beaufort Grocery Co. in one and a general store in the other. One of these buildings is now occupied by the Beaufort Hardware Co., the other by Jeff's Barber Shop.

      In addition to his Beaufort mercantile interests, "Pa" Taylor owned the oyster factory, shipped clams and mullets, and was president of the Armstrong Grocery Co. in New Bern. He formed the first mail boat line from Beaufort to Ocracoke.

      "Pa's" active life included service in political office. At one time he was mayor of Beaufort and was treasurer of Beaufort and Carteret County for years. In 1901 he was elected to the state legislature for one term.

      The church, St. Paul's Episcopal, where he was a lifelong member, claimed much of "Pa's" energies. He was superintendent of the Sunday school for 35 years. Whenever the church was without a minister, he acted as lay reader, refusing to let the doors be closed. He was vestryman for more than 60 years and honorary senior warden for life.

      Young Nelson Whitford Taylor married Mary Catherine Buckman, now affectionately known as "Ma" on February 24, 1881. Both "Pa" and "Ma" were born in Beaufort, and their forebears lived here for generations.

       "Pa" is survived by his widow, four sons, one daughter, 12 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and one great-great grandson. The latter is Richard Taylor Downes Jr., 1½, of Providence, R.I.

      Sons are Cecil B. Taylor, Boston, Mass; Bayard Taylor, Beaufort; N.W. Taylor Jr., Santa Monica, Cal.; and George E. Taylor, New York City. Mrs. Nannie Hinnant, of Beaufort, is his living daughter, and another daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth O'Bryan, is deceased.

      "Ma" will be 88 in November.

      "Pa" was born on overlooking the waterfront, on Sept. 7, 1856, the son of George W. Taylor and Sidney Ann Taylor. His mother was a Bragg and a cousin of Gen. Braxton Bragg and Gov. Thomas Bragg, of North Carolina. "Pa" was also related to Zachary Taylor, president of the United States.

      "Pa" attended the Newport Academy and the Beaufort school, and was chairman of the town school board for years. While a young man, he was a member of the Beaufort home guard. He walked down Front Street his last time on April 1.

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     In Historic Beaufort, North Carolina, A Unique Coastal Village Preserved, by Mary Warshaw, Francis Borden Mace wrote, "Ma and P' Taylor were like second parents to many of the children of Beaufort and the area around it. Once, a letter from Europe addressed only to 'Ma and Pa Taylor, North Carolina, USA,' was safely delivered! I was especially close to them because Ma was my Sunday school teacher and I played with her many grandchildren in the neighborhood."