This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/BVB.2ACI/1058.1.1 Message Board Post: William Wilkins Taylor did not marry Elizabeth Shepard before 1772 or 1773. The David Taylor mentioned in the Will of David Shepard in 1774 was the first child William Wilkins Taylor had by her. He had others by her such as Jacob Shepard Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor. Most likely more. However, William Wilkins Taylor was married at least by 1760. Elizabeth Shepard Taylor was still alive as late as 1787 as she appeared in court with him in Onslow County, NC in that year. The first wife was the mother of Abigail Taylor born about 1761 and married Zebedee Hancock in Onslow County, NC. Then came William Wilkins Taylor, Jr. born about 1763 and married Magdalina Hancock, the sister of Zebedee, on Nov. 3, 1801 in Onslow County, NC. I beleive there was also an Isaac Taylor and an Elijah Taylor born after these two and perhaps some girls we don't have any names for. About 1770 Joshua Taylor, Sr. was born and may have been the last of the children William Wilkins Taylor had by h! is first wife. As to Samuel Whitehurst's reference to William Wilkins Taylor as a son-in-law rather than a step-son we must remember the only positive proof that we have of this is that in Deed Book F, Page 330, Ann Wilkins deeds to her "son-in-law", Samuel Whitehurst, the property he later wills to William Wilkins Taylor. If it were not for this deed in 1753, we would not have solid proof that the Abigail mentioned in Samuel Whitehust's Will in 1757 was the daughter of William Wilkins and his wife, Ann. And that William Wilkins Taylor was his step-son. Thus thus the term son-in-law was not unknown to Samuel Whitehusrt when he wrote his will. It is possible the William Willins Taylor was both, step-son and son-in-law. The problem here is that Samuel Whitehurst did not mention the daughter's name, thus throwing some doubt on the latter. William Wilkins Taylor, Sr. was born in Carteret County, NC about 1735, the son of William Taylor and Abigail Wilkins and died in Onslow County, NC in 1802 as per the minutes of pleas & quarter sessions for Onslow County in it's first quarter. At the time of his death his second wife, Elizabeth Shepard had died and he had remarried a widow, Mary Simmons. Who was William Wilkins Taylor's first wife and how can it be proven? I am open to any and all suggestions. I just want to know.