1705 - 1763

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• Birth	Abt 1705	Richmond Co., VA
  Gender	Female
  Died	10 Jan 1763	Pineville, Mecklenburg Co, NC
  Buried	Polk/Alexander Cemetery, Pineville, Mecklinburg Co., NC
  Person ID	I965	Master
  Last Modified	14 Jul 2008 13:54:28
  Father	James Taylor, II, b. 14 Mar 1674, New Kent Co., VA, or Accoma, Accomack Co., VA
  Mother	Martha Thompson, b. 27 Jan 1679, New Kent, VA
  Family ID	F727	Group Sheet
  Family	William J. Polk, II, b. Abt 1700, White Hall, Sommerset Co., MD
  Married	Abt 1718	Carlisle, PA
  Children	> 1. Susannah Ruth Polk, b. 8 Jun 1719, Carlisle, Chester Co., PA (became Cumberland Co. in 1750 > 2. William III Polk, b. Abt 1728, Near Carlisle, Chester Co., PA (became Cumberland Co. in 1750 > 3. Thomas Polk, b. Abt 1730, Carlisle, Chester Co., PA (became Cumberland Co. in 1750 > 4. Margaret Polk, b. Abt 1729, Near Carlisle, Chester Co., PA (became Cumberland Co. in 1750 > 5. Charles A. Polk, b. 9 Jul 1732, Near Carlisle, Chester Co., PA (became Cumberland Co. in 1750   6. Deborah Polk, b. 9 Jul 1732, Near Carlisle, Chester Co., PA (became Cumberland Co. in 1750 > 7. John Polk, Sr., b. Abt 1739, Near Carlisle, Chester Co., PA (became Cumberland Co. in 1750 > 8. Ezekiel Franklin Polk, b. 7 Dec 1747, Near Carlisle, Chester Co., PA (became Cumberland Co. in 1750   9. Mary Polk, b. Abt 1745, Carlisle, Chester Co., PA (became Cumberland Co. in 1750
  Family ID	F236	Group Sheet

• Notes

  Margaret Taylor, wife of William Polk II and mother of Susannah Polk is of, at this time, unproven ancestry. Detroit Society for Genealogical Research Magazine, vol. 39, no. 3, Spring 1976, pp. 173-174---Wm. Polk married Margaret Taylor in PA. Wm. Polk died c1753. Margaret Taylor Polk lived for a good while after her husband's death, at least till after 1765, the writer (Harriette M. Wheeler of Grosse Point, MI.) refers here to having seen among Captain Charles Polk's private papers a receipt to him from her for a sum of money dated in the year 1765. The Lookout, a periodical of Chattanooga, TN., vol. 26, April 30, 1921, pgs. 284-285---Wm. Polk married Margaret Taylor in PA. wm. died "West of the Yadkin" 1753-1754; his wife survived him as mention is made of her in 1765. DAR Magazine, August 1915, pgs 76-79---Wm. and Margaret both died in NC. Our Heritage, a genealogy column from the Monroe, NC., Inquirer; issue of August 6, 1959 (IRN = P-180): It states "A certain James Taylor, of which is now Cumberland Co., Penn. His wife Hannah Williams Taylor was reputed to have had five sisters. Margaret married William Polk"---"there were frequent intermarriages between the early Polks, Reeses, Alexanders and Taylors." referring to Taylor sisters---"three sisters married Alexanders and an unnamed sister married a son of Rev. David Reese, Chas. Guillet Reese." In "Notable Southern Families," the Shelby line, page 329 , Zella Armstrong states that three of the Taylor sisters of Carlisle PA. married Alexanders, ancestors of the NC Alexanders. See page 328-329 for Adam Alexander marriage to Mary Shelby and their children; Adam Alexander was born 28 Sep 1728 (per this ref) and thus would have been a contemporary of Margaret and her husband William Polk. John Springs is also mentioned in this ref. as having married the oldest Taylor girl. Our Heritage, issue of Thursday, July 9, 1959 (IRN = P-180): Sussanna Polk, wife of Benjamin Alexander, was born in Cumberland County, Penna., and died in Mecklenburg Co., NC. in 1813." "Sussanna was the daughter of William (Wm., Robt.) Polk and Margaret Taylor, who, it appears, was the sister of James and Hannah (Williams) Taylor of what was Lancaster Co., PA. and later became Cumberland Co., in 1750. PA. Archives, vol. 30, pg. 458, shows James Taylor and also Hannah Taylor. PA. Archives, III series, vol. 24, Chester Co., 1733-1858, pg. 101 (land records), there shows a James Taylor and a John Taylor and in Philadelphia Co., there is a James Taylor.; page 664 of the above, there are many Taylor marriages, but none to a James or any others that seem to fit. Margaret Taylor Polk lived with her daughter Debora McCleary after the death of her (Margaret's) husband William according to "Bulletin," Spring 1994 Issue No. XXX, 4 (a publication of the Carolinas Genealogical Society, Monron, NC.). On page 96 of this issue, there is reference to a very old pamphlet which was used to compile information about three cemeteries in Mecklenburg County, one of which was the Polk Cemetery (sometimes referred to as the Polk/Alexander Cemetery). This pamphlet shows a grave of Polk, Margaret, died 1763. The directions to this cemetery are probably obsolete, but are repeated here for those interested: "Go Old Pineville Road beyond Negro school, Sterling High, turn to right into Old Speedway on water line from Shell Plant to Pineville." Bill Polk tried to find this cemetery in 1992, but was unsuccessful. Evidence suggests the cemetery is near the current location of the James K. Polk birth memorial in Pineville, NC. "Our Heritage" columns of June 8, 1961 and March 5, 1964 and Oct 8, 1959. Taylor and Swearingen and Shanklin family possible connections; good history of Taylor family, possibly the right one (James Taylor of Caroline Co., VA. b. 1616, near Carlisle, England, came to America 1635...more). An article in The Charlotte Observer, a newspaper of Charlotte NC., said article in the issue of 10 April 1955, and entitled "Society Marking Route To Historic Cemetery," reads as follows: "Members of the Mecklenburg Historical Association, under the direction of Dr. Calvin Rea and Mrs. George H. Petteway, are preparing signs leading to the historic Polk-Alexander Cemetery near Pineville. The cemetery was found a few years ago when bulldozers, clearing way for a water line, uncovered tombstones. Among the tombstones is that of Ezra Alexander, signer of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence on May 20, 1775. There are approximately 20 legibly marked stones in the graveyard. Persons interested in seeing the old cemetery may take U. S. Highway 21 South leading into Pineville. One mile before entering the town they will note the marker pointing the way to the cemetery."The circa date of 1725 for the marriage of William Polk and Margaret Taylor is based on the approximate birth of their oldest child, William Polk III. Many published PA. church records as well as the published Pennsylvania Archives have been searched and as of early 1997, no marriage record has been located. Even some Maryland records have been searched, to no avail. Title: The Polks of North Carolina and Tennessee Author: Mrs. Frank M. Angellotti Publication: Originally published by the New England Historical and Genealogical Soc., 1923-1924; republished for the James K. Polk Memorial Association, Columbia, TN., 1984, by Southern Historical Press, Easley, SC.Call Number: ISBN 0-89308-543-X Page: pg. 4 Text: referring to William Polk, son of William Polk, and grandson of Robert Pollok/Polk, he "married Margaret Taylor, who survived him." Title: Pedigree of the Pollok or Polk Family From Fulbert the Saxon (A. D. 1075) to the Present Time Author: Miss Mary Winder Garrett of Williamsburg, VA. Publication: The American Historical Magazine,The University Press, 208 N. College St., Nashville, TN. April 1896 issue begins the series and concludes with Vol. 4, 1899 Page: October 1897 issue, Vol. II, No. 4, pg. 383 Text: "William Polk, only son of John Polk, married twice---first wife Priscilla Roberts; second wife Margaret Taylor of Pennsylvania (Priscilla Roberts was sister of Edward Roberts, who married Nancy, the sister of William Polk." This is incorrect in that William Polk, son of William Polk, son of Robert Bruce Polk married Margaret Taylor. The writer confused William Polk, son of John Polk, son of Robert Bruce Polk, with William Polk, son of William Polk, son of Robert Bruce Polk. It was this latter William who married Margaret Taylor. A footnote at the bottom of page 383 shows the confusion about William Polk's wife. It reads, "From the information that I have been able to procure I would be inclined to think that Margaret Taylor was mother of all the children, she was certainly mother of the two last children, but the family claim descent from Priscilla Roberts in all eight branches." Later found records substantiated that William Polk, son of William Polk, son of Robert Bruce Polk, married Margaret Taylor and all the children were of this couple and that the William Polk who married Priscilla Roberts was the son of John Polk, (see Angellotti, pp. 2-3). 3. Note: William Harrison Polk, Polk Family and Kinsmen, (1912, by Bradley and Gilbert Inc. of Louisville, KY.), pp.191-194, Pages 191-192 show a letter dated 17 Jan 1849 from Bishop Leonidas Polk to James K . Polk, President, which states, in part, "William Polk.....married a Miss Taylor, who was the mother of our grandfathers. She was one of five sisters; one other of the five married a Mr Ruse and was the mother of Rev. David Ruse. The other three married Alexanders, who were the progenitors of all those of that name in Mecklenburg." On page 193, the letter continues and states, "Since beginning this letter I remembered having on my estate an old and highly intelligent negress, who belonged in early life to my grandfather, General Thomas Polk, and upon sending for her and questioning her, she promptly informed me that she well remembered our great grandmother, Miss Taylor, that was the wife of William Polk of Maryland. She was very often at her master's, General Thomas Polk's; was a small woman and lived to a great age. Upon asking if he had a daughter named Debora, she replied in the affirmative and added that she married Sam McLeary, confirming your impression. She also stated there were two other sisters: Margurette, who married David McRee, and Mary, who married John Barnett. She does not know whether the two former had children, but knows that the latter was the mother of Mrs. Smart, the old lady I have mentioned having written to, and also of Col. Jack Barnett, a very noted man in Mecklenburg, of his day, and father of Susan Barnett, whom you may remember having seen while you were at Chapel Hill at my father's in Raleigh. She also mentioned the names of four of her master's brothers, whom she often saw with their sisters, the ladies mentioned, at her master viz: Charles, James, William, and Ezekiel. She knew them all perfectly well, as servants are in the habit of knowing the members of their master's families. She states that she remembered perfectly well the night that master Sam. Polk was married to Miss Jinny Knox. As to whether there was a brother of her master's named John, she does not know, but 'the others she knew as well as she knows me." NOTE: No brother by the name of James has surfaced in any writings, genealogies or documents; perhaps the lady was mistaken in this part of her recollection and actually meant John, the only missing male sibling in her recollection of the children of William and Margaret (Taylor) Polk. Also, the servant lady mentions a daughter Mary who married John Barnett. Mary was not the daughter of William and Margaret Taylor Polk. Mary was the daughter of Margaret Polk and Robert McRea and thus was the granddaughter of William and Margaret Taylor Polk. This Mary did marry a Barnett. Susan Smart was the eldest child of Susan Barnett, daughter of Margaret Polk and Robert McRea. It was Susan McRea who married John Barnett and their daughter Susan Barnett married Mr. Smart. Title: Burke's Presidential Families of the United States Author: Burke's Peerage Publication: Burke's Peerage Limited, 1975, London; distributed in America by Arco Publishing Co., Inc., NY, NY. Call Number: Unknown Page: pg. 243 Text: name given as "Margaret Taylor." Title: The Polk Family Supplement One Author: Compiled by Emory Murphy, Moreland, GA. Publication: November 1981 Page: pg. II-8 Text: name shown is "Margaret Taylor," daughter of "James Taylor" and his wife "Hannah Williams." James Taylor and Hannah appear to be the brother of and sister-in-law of Margaret Taylor, NOT her parents Title: Ancestors of American Presidents Author: Compiled by Gary Boyd Roberts, Santa Clara, CA. Publication: 1989 Page: pg. 18 Text: "Margaret Taylor," is shown as the mother of "Ezekiel Polk," who is shown as the father of " Samuel Polk," who is shown as the father of "James Knox Polk." "William Polk, Jr.," is shown as the husband of Margaret Taylor." Title: Our Heritage, a genealogy and history column published in the Monroe Enquirer, Monroe, NC. Author: Compiled by the John Foster Chapter of the DAR Page: paper dated Thursday, June 8, 1961; letter dated 19 Sep 1871, from Joseph Taylor to Mrs. Virginia Taylor, Mobile, AL. Text: column entitled "Taylor Family," referring to siblings of James Taylor: "James Taylor of Philadelphia had one brother in America and five sisters. The brother, Charles Taylor, never married -- he was a cripple, I believe. His sisters were married and settled in S. C. One married a Polk (Margaret md. Wm. Polk) one a Reese, one to an Alexander." See notes under James Taylor (Husband of Hannah Williams) for full text of "Our Heritage" column of 8 June 1961. Title: Bulletin, a periodical of the Carolinas Genealogical Society, Monroe, NC. Publication: published quarterly Page: Spring 1994, Vol. XXX, No. 4, pp. 95-96, Polk Cemetery burials Text: "Polk, Margaret Died 1763 (Probably the mother of Ezekiel Polk & the wife of Wm. Polk II, who made her home with her dau. Debora McLeary after her husband's death)." Also, "In Memory of Deborah McCleary Who died Sept. 21, 1811 Age 78 yrs. .. "The following cemetery records taken from the pamphlet EARLY FAMILY BURIAL GROUNDS OF MECKLENBURG COUNTY NC." Obviously, there is a discrepancy in the above for the death year of Margaret Polk. Since the tombstone date is 1763, that date is being accepted as correct, rather than 1765. Title: Col'nl Tom Polk First Owner of Polk Mountain Publication: Monroe Journal, 19 Dec 1952 (Monroe, Union Co., NC.) Text: from the accompaning article by Mrs. Bonnie Austin Petteway: "Col. Thomas Polk, owner of Polk Mountain in Union County in the late 1780's and early 1800's was the son of Capt. Wm. Polk III and his first wife (unknown), some say she was a Spratt, but this has not been definitely established as yet. Capt. Wm. Polk III was the eldest son of Wm. Polk II and Margaret Taylor of Carlisle PA., who came South in 1750, along with the Spratts, settling in Mecklenburg County, not too far from what is now Pineville." Source: Bill Polk) Having taken a trip to Pineville, NC in Mecklenburg Co., NC this last March, and having visited the James K. Polk History Center, I found that the old Polk Cemetery had been vandalized and the headstones were moved to the James Knox Polk Historical Center. Some have been placed in a warehouse for repair. The headstone of Margaret Taylor Polk is one of those so broken up that it is in need of repair. The headstone of her daughter Deborah McCleary is still in good shape and is at the Historic Center. The headstone of President Polk's grandmother Maria Wilson Polk is also there along with a number of other Polk and Alexander headstones. They are laid out in an area where they may be photographed. (Martha Cross Mordecai, Apr 2003)

• Sources

  [S2] Imported GEDCOM file. [S1] Imported GEDCOM file.