William Vigneron Taylor was the son of James Taylor (1738 - 1826) and Mary Vigneron (1744 – 1835). He worked as a sailing master, mate, and eventually as a captain in the merchant service. When the War of 1812 broke out, Oliver Hazard Perry obtained for him a warrant as a sailing master in the flotilla under his command in early 1813. Exhibiting his abilities, he was brought that spring by Perry to Erie, PA to assist with rigging and fitting out the vessels being constructed there.
During the Battle of Lake Erie (fought Sept. 10, 1813) William V. Taylor served aboard Commodore Perry's flagship, the US Brig Lawrence, in the capacity of sailing master. He brought that vessel into action, successfully engaging the British squadron, and prevented her from sinking, although seriously damaged. During the battle, he received a slight wound to the thigh, but refused to quit the deck until after the battle was won.
He was sent back to Erie with the sick and wounded aboard the Lawrence ten days after the battle, but continued to Lake Ontario with dispatches for Commodore Chauncey.
William V. Taylor was promoted to lieutenant on Dec. 9, 1814 and was selected by Commodore Perry as one of his lieutenants aboard the US Frigate Java (44 guns) which sailed to the Mediterranean in 1815. Afterwards, he served as first lieutenant aboard the Ontario and the Hudson. He was promoted to master commander on March 3, 1831 and was in command of the Warren and the Erie in the Gulf of Mexico. On September 8, 1841, he was promoted to post captain. He was then placed in command of the Ship-of-the-Line Ohio and sailed her around Cape Horn. Illness compelled him to return home early. In his retirement from the Navy, he made a profession as a vestryman at the Protestant Episcopal Church. On Feb. 9, 1858, after suffering for a year with heart disease, he was struck with apoplexy and passed away two days later. Elizabeth Perry, widow of the late Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, died a few hours later. Both were resident's of Newport, had their funerals held at Trinity Church, and were buried at Island Cemetery.
Captain Taylor was married to Abigail (Abby) White on December 31, 1810. They had seven children, three of whom died in childhood. His youngest son, Capt. Oliver Hazard Perry Taylor, was killed in battle three months after his father's passing.
According to an article that appeared in the Newport Mercury on Saturday, February 20, 1858: "On Monday, which was clear but very cold, the remains of Capt. Taylor were deposited in the family vault in the Island Cemetery, having first been taken to Trinity Church, which was densely crowded on the occasion, where the services of the church were read by the officiating clergymen.
Looking back, his long time friend, Dr. Usher Parsons, remembered him thus: "Capt. William V. Taylor was a prompt and vigilant officer, and very active in carrying on any duties assigned him, and was a thoroughly bred mariner."
During the Battle of Lake Erie (fought Sept. 10, 1813) William V. Taylor served aboard Commodore Perry's flagship, the US Brig Lawrence, in the capacity of sailing master. He brought that vessel into action, successfully engaging the British squadron, and prevented her from sinking, although seriously damaged. During the battle, he received a slight wound to the thigh, but refused to quit the deck until after the battle was won.
He was sent back to Erie with the sick and wounded aboard the Lawrence ten days after the battle, but continued to Lake Ontario with dispatches for Commodore Chauncey.
William V. Taylor was promoted to lieutenant on Dec. 9, 1814 and was selected by Commodore Perry as one of his lieutenants aboard the US Frigate Java (44 guns) which sailed to the Mediterranean in 1815. Afterwards, he served as first lieutenant aboard the Ontario and the Hudson. He was promoted to master commander on March 3, 1831 and was in command of the Warren and the Erie in the Gulf of Mexico. On September 8, 1841, he was promoted to post captain. He was then placed in command of the Ship-of-the-Line Ohio and sailed her around Cape Horn. Illness compelled him to return home early. In his retirement from the Navy, he made a profession as a vestryman at the Protestant Episcopal Church. On Feb. 9, 1858, after suffering for a year with heart disease, he was struck with apoplexy and passed away two days later. Elizabeth Perry, widow of the late Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, died a few hours later. Both were resident's of Newport, had their funerals held at Trinity Church, and were buried at Island Cemetery.
Captain Taylor was married to Abigail (Abby) White on December 31, 1810. They had seven children, three of whom died in childhood. His youngest son, Capt. Oliver Hazard Perry Taylor, was killed in battle three months after his father's passing.
According to an article that appeared in the Newport Mercury on Saturday, February 20, 1858: "On Monday, which was clear but very cold, the remains of Capt. Taylor were deposited in the family vault in the Island Cemetery, having first been taken to Trinity Church, which was densely crowded on the occasion, where the services of the church were read by the officiating clergymen.
Looking back, his long time friend, Dr. Usher Parsons, remembered him thus: "Capt. William V. Taylor was a prompt and vigilant officer, and very active in carrying on any duties assigned him, and was a thoroughly bred mariner."
William Vigneron Taylor was the son of James Taylor (1738 - 1826) and Mary Vigneron (1744 – 1835). He worked as a sailing master, mate, and eventually as a captain in the merchant service. When the War of 1812 broke out, Oliver Hazard Perry obtained for him a warrant as a sailing master in the flotilla under his command in early 1813. Exhibiting his abilities, he was brought that spring by Perry to Erie, PA to assist with rigging and fitting out the vessels being constructed there.
During the Battle of Lake Erie (fought Sept. 10, 1813) William V. Taylor served aboard Commodore Perry's flagship, the US Brig Lawrence, in the capacity of sailing master. He brought that vessel into action, successfully engaging the British squadron, and prevented her from sinking, although seriously damaged. During the battle, he received a slight wound to the thigh, but refused to quit the deck until after the battle was won.
He was sent back to Erie with the sick and wounded aboard the Lawrence ten days after the battle, but continued to Lake Ontario with dispatches for Commodore Chauncey.
William V. Taylor was promoted to lieutenant on Dec. 9, 1814 and was selected by Commodore Perry as one of his lieutenants aboard the US Frigate Java (44 guns) which sailed to the Mediterranean in 1815. Afterwards, he served as first lieutenant aboard the Ontario and the Hudson. He was promoted to master commander on March 3, 1831 and was in command of the Warren and the Erie in the Gulf of Mexico. On September 8, 1841, he was promoted to post captain. He was then placed in command of the Ship-of-the-Line Ohio and sailed her around Cape Horn. Illness compelled him to return home early. In his retirement from the Navy, he made a profession as a vestryman at the Protestant Episcopal Church. On Feb. 9, 1858, after suffering for a year with heart disease, he was struck with apoplexy and passed away two days later. Elizabeth Perry, widow of the late Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, died a few hours later. Both were resident's of Newport, had their funerals held at Trinity Church, and were buried at Island Cemetery.
Captain Taylor was married to Abigail (Abby) White on December 31, 1810. They had seven children, three of whom died in childhood. His youngest son, Capt. Oliver Hazard Perry Taylor, was killed in battle three months after his father's passing.
According to an article that appeared in the Newport Mercury on Saturday, February 20, 1858: "On Monday, which was clear but very cold, the remains of Capt. Taylor were deposited in the family vault in the Island Cemetery, having first been taken to Trinity Church, which was densely crowded on the occasion, where the services of the church were read by the officiating clergymen.
Looking back, his long time friend, Dr. Usher Parsons, remembered him thus: "Capt. William V. Taylor was a prompt and vigilant officer, and very active in carrying on any duties assigned him, and was a thoroughly bred mariner."
During the Battle of Lake Erie (fought Sept. 10, 1813) William V. Taylor served aboard Commodore Perry's flagship, the US Brig Lawrence, in the capacity of sailing master. He brought that vessel into action, successfully engaging the British squadron, and prevented her from sinking, although seriously damaged. During the battle, he received a slight wound to the thigh, but refused to quit the deck until after the battle was won.
He was sent back to Erie with the sick and wounded aboard the Lawrence ten days after the battle, but continued to Lake Ontario with dispatches for Commodore Chauncey.
William V. Taylor was promoted to lieutenant on Dec. 9, 1814 and was selected by Commodore Perry as one of his lieutenants aboard the US Frigate Java (44 guns) which sailed to the Mediterranean in 1815. Afterwards, he served as first lieutenant aboard the Ontario and the Hudson. He was promoted to master commander on March 3, 1831 and was in command of the Warren and the Erie in the Gulf of Mexico. On September 8, 1841, he was promoted to post captain. He was then placed in command of the Ship-of-the-Line Ohio and sailed her around Cape Horn. Illness compelled him to return home early. In his retirement from the Navy, he made a profession as a vestryman at the Protestant Episcopal Church. On Feb. 9, 1858, after suffering for a year with heart disease, he was struck with apoplexy and passed away two days later. Elizabeth Perry, widow of the late Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, died a few hours later. Both were resident's of Newport, had their funerals held at Trinity Church, and were buried at Island Cemetery.
Captain Taylor was married to Abigail (Abby) White on December 31, 1810. They had seven children, three of whom died in childhood. His youngest son, Capt. Oliver Hazard Perry Taylor, was killed in battle three months after his father's passing.
According to an article that appeared in the Newport Mercury on Saturday, February 20, 1858: "On Monday, which was clear but very cold, the remains of Capt. Taylor were deposited in the family vault in the Island Cemetery, having first been taken to Trinity Church, which was densely crowded on the occasion, where the services of the church were read by the officiating clergymen.
Looking back, his long time friend, Dr. Usher Parsons, remembered him thus: "Capt. William V. Taylor was a prompt and vigilant officer, and very active in carrying on any duties assigned him, and was a thoroughly bred mariner."
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