MEMOIR OF WILLIAM TAGGART,
WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.
William Taggart, the elder, was a respectable citizen of Newport, Rhode Island. He held the office of President of the Town-Council; was, for several years, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Newport; and was subsequently elected a Judge of the Supreme Court. He took a very active part in our Revolutionary struggle, and suffered great loss of property, by severe depredations during the War of Independence. His eldest son, William, the writer and subject of the present short Memoir, was born in Newport, on the 7th day of May, 1755, and resided there until he was fifteen years of age, when he went on a voyage to sea, with his father.
Soon after our return, my father purchased a valuable farm in the town of Middletown, about six miles from Newport. He removed to the farm, where I resided with him, being fond of agricultural pursuits. I was the eldest of twelve children; among whom the greatest harmony prevailed, until it was unhappily interrupted by the arrival of the British troops, who landed upon Rhode Island, in December, 1776. In a few days, a Hessian Colonel took possession of the best part of our commodious mansion-house; he having selected it as quarters for himself and his retinue. Although the Colonel was extremely polite, yet the mother of this numerous family was rendered very uneasy, and could not brook the idea of being
