Richars "Chief Fox" Taylor - birth dates and Anna Mcjiinney Townson

Richard Taylor was never known as "Chief Fox" and was probably never called "Chief." He was elected Assistant Chief in 1851, not long before he died.

This prominent Cherokee man has nothing to do with the woman known as "Anna Townsend." That is a complete myth. His birthdate of 1788 is correct.

Richard Taylor was born about 1788 in the -Cherokee Nation, the son of Jennie (Walker) Taylor and Thomas Fox Taylor. He was the great-grandson of Nan-ye-hi "Nancy" Ward. His first wife was a woman named Ellen or Nellie McDaniel. She was born about 1793 and died about 1819. They were the parents of three children, Thomas Fox Taylor, Elizabeth "Betsy" Taylor, and Samuel McDaniel Taylor.

Richard's second wife was Susan Fields, born 6 July 1803, the daughter of George Fields and Jennie Brown. The marriage of Richard Taylor and Susan Fields was performed by Brother Daniel S. Butrick in February 1820 at Major Brown's as noted The Brainerd Journal, (missionary records)

"[Feb] 9: A respectable Cherokee called to invite one of the missionaries to ride out tomorrow about 10 miles & officiate at his weding. He, & also the intended bride, have both been taught to read —are very decent & respectable in their moral deportment, & at times manifest a serious attention to the things of religion. We readily accepted the invitation."
Entry "[Feb] 10: Br. Butrick, accompanied by some young people of the mission family & school, went out & attended the wedding."
Richard and Susan were the parents of six children, Ann Rose, Mary Jane, Eliza Christine, Frances Harvey, Nellie (died young) and Lucinda.

Richard was a prominent Cherokee citizen and Assistant Chief. He served with Gideon Morgan and the Cherokee Volunteers in the War of 1812. He was a signer of the Treaties of 1817 and 1819 and took a reservation of 640 acres under the treaty. He was a wealthy farmer and the settlement which grew around his property is now the town of Ringgold, Georgia. In the winter of 1838-39 he led a detachment on the Trail of Tears to Indian Territory. A record of this detachment can be found in the Journal of the Rev. Daniel Butrick who went west with this group. Richard was a signer of the Constitution of 1839, was a delegate to Washington, and was elected Assistant Chief in 1851. He died in the Delaware District, Cherokee Nation, on 15 June, 1853. He is buried in the Tahlequah Cemetery, Tahlequah, OK.