Pardon Tallinghast Taber

Son of Philip Taber (1682 - 1750) & Elizabeth Tillinghast (1685-???). Husband of 1) Phebe Westcote (1717 - 1744) and 2) Elizabeth Harris (ca 1731 - 1806)

Name spelled "Tabor" in period records, and "Taber" in modern ones.

Legal Issues

In February 1756, "'Ann a molatto wench' was summoned to give evidence in the case between John Huglison and Pardon Tabor" in the New London County Court. < link >

In 1772, Pardon Tabor led a mob against Rev. Stephen Gorton of New London's Baptist church, with Tabor physically beating Gorton with a large stick as he preached at the pulpit. Tabor was charged for the assault in February 1773, and Gorton fled New London. See Gorton's profile for extensive notes and sources related to this incident.

Loyalist Activities

Tabor was known to be a supporter of the British government, and was convicted of going onto a British ship. < link >

On 17 February 1777, Tabor and one of his sons were arrested by a Revolutionary militia in Great Neck (now Waterford, Connecticut). They were accused of selling goods and giving intelligence to the British, who were stationed off the coast of New London on the HMS Amazon. The Tabor men were transferred to the prison at Fort Trumbull, and on 21 February 1777, the local Connecticut Gazette wrote this:

"On Monday last a number of persons belonging to the Great Neck in this town were discovered to have been concerned in sundry transactions inimical and dangerous to the State, and were accordingly taken into custody, one of whom, viz, Pardon Tabor, is committed to goal, on the statute made for the punishment of high treason against the State. The others are now confined under a safe guard, to be dealt with according to the just demerits of their crimes."

Per historian Christian M. McBurney,

"The men were eventually released on bail, except for Pardon Taber who was sent to Norwich jail for further examination by state authorities. Taber was later tried in a court in Lebanon, convicted of carrying provisions to the enemy, and sentenced to spend one year in the Norwich jail and to pay fines and court costs. Taber apparently confessed that he went on board the Amazon. His son was sentenced to spend one month in jail and to pay fines and court costs. ... In October 1777, after complaining that the Norwich jail was 'small and full of prisoners and very unwholesome,' the General Assembly granted a petition allowing Taber to serve out the rest of his term at the house of a nearby friend." < link >

Tabor was ultimately pardoned by the State of Connecticut for his activities. < link >

• Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Aug 28 2022, 22:10:59 UTC