Hon. Bezaleel Taft Jr. was born in Uxbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts on September 8, 1780 and died in Uxbridge, at age 65 on July 16, 1846. He was a State Senator and Massachusetts politician.
Bazaleel Taft Jr. was the son of Bezaleel Taft Sr. and Sarah Richardson Taft. His father had served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was educated at Harvard, and was married twice. He was married to Margaret Stoddard Spring and then to Hannah Spring. [1]
Bezaleel Taft Jr. was a graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Law School in Cambridge. He returned to Uxbridge to practice law next door to his father Bezaleel Taft Sr. [2] He followed his father's footsteps, [2] and his grandfather Josiah by serving as a legislator. Hon. Bezaleel Taft Jr. had a long and distinguished career of public service as a state legislator, having served in the Massachusetts General Court and in the state Senate in the 1800s. [3]
In 1807, Bezaleel Taft Sr. built the "Elmshade" home at 195 South Main Street as a gift for Bezaleel Taft Jr after his son graduated from Harvard Law School. [2] The son was practicing law, so a brick law office was also built. [2] Bezaleel Taft Jr. was elected multiple times as a State Senator and a representative to the Massachusetts General Court, and served on the State Executive Council. [2] He was President of the Blackstone National Bank for nearly 20 years and was a bank founder. Five generations of Taft's lived in "Elmshade". [2] A number of them had powerful political and legal careers, including George S. Taft. [2] George was Bezaleel Jr's son, a lawyer, District Attorney, and private secretary to U.S. Senator George Hoar. [2] George's influence may have led to the Lincoln Square, Worcester Court House being erected. [2] A family reunion at "Elmshade", in 1874, was likely attended by a young future US President, William Howard Taft. [2] The historic home is listed under the List of Registered Historic Places in Uxbridge.
Bezaleel Taft Jr. and his father were descendants of Robert Taft Sr, the first American Taft, who homesteaded in this town in 1680. [3] Bezaleel Taft Jr. was the great great grandson of Robert Taft Sr. His grandmother, Lydia Chapin Taft, was America's First Woman Voter. His grandfather, Captain Josiah Taft, had fought in the French and Indian War. His father was a soldier and a Captain in the Worcester 9th Company, in the American Revolutionary War. The famous Taft family in the USA, began here with Robert Taft Sr. and among its descendants includes President Taft. [3] Many members of the Taft family have been prominent in State and national politics, having served as judges, legislators, and in Federal Executive and Judicial positions. [3] Bezaleel Taft's grandfather and father also served in the Massachusetts General Court, his grandfather under Colonial rule, and his father, under the new United States.
Elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1820. [4]
Bezaleel Taft Jr. died 16 Jul 1846 at Uxbridge, at age 65, just seven years after his father died. His cause of death is listed as "Consumption" in the Uxbridge vital records. [5] His many children carried on the honorable family name. Five generations of this branch of the Taft family served in the Massachusetts legislature, executive branch and government service including his son George Spring Taft, who served as a secretary to United States Senator George Frisbie Hoar from Massachusetts. [3] A young William Howard Taft may have heard his father, Alphonso Taft, deliver a passionate oratory on this history of the Taft family and its roots in Uxbridge, at Bazaleel Taft Jr's "Elmshade" during one of the famous Taft family reunions. [3] "Bazaleel Taft Jr. House and Law Office" is today listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)Samuel Taft of Uxbridge.
Uxbridge is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts first colonized in 1662 and incorporated in 1727. It was originally part of the town of Mendon, and named for the Earl of Uxbridge. The town is located 36 mi (58 km) southwest of Boston and 15 mi (24 km) south-southeast of Worcester, at the midpoint of the Blackstone Valley National Historic Park. The historical society notes that Uxbridge is the "Heart of The Blackstone Valley" and is also known as "the Cradle of the Industrial Revolution". Uxbridge was a prominent Textile center in the American Industrial Revolution. Two Quakers served as national leaders in the American anti-slavery movement. Uxbridge "weaves a tapestry of early America".
Lydia Taft was the first woman known to legally vote in colonial America. This occurred at a town meeting in the New England town of Uxbridge in Massachusetts Colony, on October 30, 1756.
Peter Rawson Taft was an American politician. He was President William Howard Taft's paternal grandfather.
Josiah Taft was a wealthy landowner in Uxbridge, Massachusetts best known as the husband of Lydia Taft, the first woman to vote in America.
Robert Taft Sr. was the first Taft in the United States and the founder of the American Taft family.
Daniel Day was an American pioneer in woolen manufacturing.
John Willard Capron was an American military officer in the infantry, state legislator, and textile manufacturer. Famous for being a military uniforms manufacturer, he became Colonel in the army and Chairman of the Board of Selectmen.
Bezaleel Taft Sr. was an American Revolutionary War soldier, Captain and American legislator from Uxbridge, Massachusetts.
Moses Taft 2nd was born at Uxbridge, Massachusetts. He was significant as an early American Industrialist and financier in the historic Blackstone Valley, and a member of the famous Taft family.
Robert Taft Jr. (1674–1748), also known as Robert Taft II, was a Massachusetts politician. He was born in Braintree, Massachusetts Bay Colony. He died at age 74 at Uxbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
Wheelockville is a village in the town (township) of Uxbridge, Massachusetts, United States. Part of the village centering on Mendon and Henry streets is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Wheelockville Historic District. Wheelockville appears on the Blackstone U.S. Geological Survey Map. The Village receives municipal services from Uxbridge, for fire, police, EMS, School district, public works, and other services. Worcester's Judicial District includes Uxbridge District Court. The geography of Wheelockville includes several other distinct mill villages, including: Hecla and Elmdale.
Ironstone is an historic village,, in the township of Uxbridge, Massachusetts, United States. It derived its name from plentiful bog iron found here which helped Uxbridge to become a center for three iron forges in the town's earliest settlement. South Uxbridge has historic sites, picturesque weddings, hospitality, industrial and distribution centers, and the new Uxbridge High School. This community borders North Smithfield, and Burrillville, Rhode Island, and Millville, Massachusetts. South Uxbridge receives municipal services from Uxbridge, for fire, police, EMS, School district, public works, and other services. There is a South Uxbridge fire station of the Uxbridge fire department. Worcester's Judicial District includes Uxbridge District Court. Ironstone appears on the Blackstone U.S. Geological Survey Map. Worcester County is in the Eastern time zone and observes DST.
The Hon. Bazaleel Taft House is a historic house at 240 South Main Street in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The oldest portion of this now-large house was built c. 1780-90 by Bazaleel Taft, and is a fine regional example of late Georgian architecture. The house was adapted for use as a restaurant in the 1960s, which has since closed. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
The Bazaleel Taft Jr. House and Law Office are a historic house and law office building at 195 South Main Street in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. On November 7, 1983, they were listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The House and Law office reflect the Georgian Architecture Style.
The Taft family of the United States has historic origins in Massachusetts; its members have served Ohio, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, Utah, and the United States in various positions such as U.S. Representative (two), Governor of Ohio, Governor of Rhode Island, U.S. Senator (three), U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Attorney General, U.S. Secretary of War (two), President of the United States, and Chief Justice of the United States.
The history of Uxbridge, Massachusetts, founded in 1727, may be divided into its prehistory, its colonial history and its modern industrial history. Uxbridge is located on the Massachusetts-Rhode Island state line, and became a center of the earliest industrialized region in the United States.
Taft House may refer to:
Stanley Woolen Mill is the common historic name applied to a defunct company based in southeastern Massachusetts and to the company's buildings which stand at the southern entrance to the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park. The mill is an important footnote in the history of the textile industry in America. Stanley Woolen Mill is the centerpiece of the Central Woolen Mills District which is part of the National Historic Register.
Taft is an English surname. Notable people with the surname include: