Private John Taylor, RM

PRIVATE JOHN TAYLOR, RM

Royal Marine

Private John Taylor is the eldest son of James Taylor in Holland, and his first wife, Margaret Corrigall. His baptism was registered on 24 February 1788, at Firth in Orkney, Scotland. His baptismal record reads as follows: "James Taylor's children, Holland, 1st John, lawful son of Jas Taylor & Margt Corrigal was baptized 24th February 1788" [Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Firth and Stenness Baptisms, 1732-1819, reference OPR.17/1] Image of Baptismal Record

A Letter from Canada

John Taylor's nephew, the Reverend James Taylor, identified John's father as: "The Laird o' Holland" in a letter written to one of his cousins [Orkney Library and Archives, 44 Junction Road, Kirkwall,Orkney, Letter dated 27 December 1907 which is addressed to David Rendall, Midgarth, Rendall, Orkney, and was written by his cousin, the Reverend James Taylor in Canada, reference D1/695]

The Battle of Trafalgar

According to his nephew, The Reverend James Taylor: "John Taylor, was pressed to serve under Lord Nelson, and fell at the Battle of Trafalgar. His body was brought home & buried in the Churchyard at Firth" [Orkney Library and Archives, 44 Junction Road, Kirkwall,Orkney, Letter dated 27 December 1907 which is addressed to David Rendall, Midgarth, Rendall, Orkney, and was written by his cousin, James Taylor in Canada, reference D1/695]

The Boy Marine

It cannot presently be regarded as certain but it is possible that John Taylor is the same person as Private John Taylor, a Royal Marine who was serving aboard HMS Royal Sovereign at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805. If this identification is correct then he may have survived Trafalgar and been been present at Basque Roads on 11 April 1809, when Captain Lord Cochrane led a British fireship attack against a powerful French force anchored there Trafalgar Roll

The Royal Sovereign

For the career of HMS Royal Sovereign see Wikipedia: HMS Royal Sovereign