Joseph Tagert was born in Newtownstewart, County Tyrone, Ireland in 1758, and came to America in 1783. He engaged in business in New Bern, N.C., and later settled in Philadelphia in 1795. He was the head of the firm of Tagert & Smith, importers and wholesale dealers. In 1803 he was apparently in business for himself, as he advertises the sale of sugar in the Philadelphia Gazette of November 11 of that year. For many years he was President of the Farmers and Mechanics Bank, founded in 1809. Joseph Tagert was a longtime member of the Hibernian Society, serving as Secretary from 1800 to 1805, Treasurer from 1805 to 1808, Vice President from 1814 to 1818, and President from 1818 until his death on August 2, 1849. He was buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery. Joseph left five children, who were mentioned in his will: Ann Monges, widow of Aristides Monges, Maria McCauley, wife of Francis G McCauley, Sarah Tagert (later Sarah Stratton, wife of Charles Creighton Stratton), Sophia Campbell, wife of James R. Campbell, and Joseph Tagert, Jr.
Joseph Tagert was born in Newtownstewart, County Tyrone, Ireland in 1758, and came to America in 1783. He engaged in business in New Bern, N.C., and later settled in Philadelphia in 1795. He was the head of the firm of Tagert & Smith, importers and wholesale dealers. In 1803 he was apparently in business for himself, as he advertises the sale of sugar in the Philadelphia Gazette of November 11 of that year. For many years he was President of the Farmers and Mechanics Bank, founded in 1809. Joseph Tagert was a longtime member of the Hibernian Society, serving as Secretary from 1800 to 1805, Treasurer from 1805 to 1808, Vice President from 1814 to 1818, and President from 1818 until his death on August 2, 1849. He was buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery. Joseph left five children, who were mentioned in his will: Ann Monges, widow of Aristides Monges, Maria McCauley, wife of Francis G McCauley, Sarah Tagert (later Sarah Stratton, wife of Charles Creighton Stratton), Sophia Campbell, wife of James R. Campbell, and Joseph Tagert, Jr.
