In the fall of 1794, plans were made for an early 1795 move to Kentucky. There was a large party consisting of families of neighbors and friends. In wagons, with oxen teams, horses and other livestock and household goods. They crossed North Carolina to Cumberland Gap, Kentucky. Daniel Boone had discovered this pass through the Cumberland Mountains some twenty years earlier. Below Cumberland Falls in Kentucky they built or brought some thirteen barges and traveled down the Cumberland River to Nashville, Tenn., Then to the Ohio River to near, what is now Evansville, Indiana, on down the Green River to the confluence of the Barren River. The river route presented many hazards. Locks or dams had not of course been built. There is no indication they had any serious misfortune during this journey. Having lived by the Neuse and Trent Rivers, they were no doubt expert river men. Because of the wilderness, an overland route through Kentucky had not been established. From this point, they proceeded to their destination being only a short distance. This is on Highway # 231, at Gasper River Bridge, some 10 miles from Bowling Green, Kentucky, on the road to Morgantown, Kentucky. Mr. Enid Howard now owns a part of the old homestead. The original log house has been moved to a new location. Two log barns are also standing. All are in excellent condition after 193 years. After their arrival most of the time was spent in cutting roads though the wilderness hunting game, building cabins and clearing land. Water was plentiful as Gasper River ran through Moses Sr. property. Warren County, Kentucky was not established until 1796, or one year after their arrival. Bowling Green, Kentucky was not incorporated until 1797. After some years the family scattered. Five of Moses Sr. children moved to the adjoining county of Butler. Others went to Indiana, Mississippi and Texas. Moses Taylor Sr. and his family were the first Taylor's in this section of Kentucky. Most of their history has been lost over the past 193 years. Unfortunately for posterity, people generally live from year to year without recording their family lineage. my father William Lee Taylor, spent his early life at the old homestead. The early Taylors were buried in the family graveyard. A flash flood around 1865, though the Gasper River section washed all head-stones away. Apparently the Taylor family were Baptist. There was only one church in New Bern, North Carolina as late as 1787. They probably worshipped in private homes. Soon after they arrival in Warren County, son Joseph Sr. was one of the organizers of the Providence Knob Baptist Church in 1804. Also three sons organized a Baptist Church near, Hadley Kentucky which faded out for lack of members. Marki, you are related, distantly, of course to many descendants in Warren and Butler Counties, Kentucky, as well as many others scattered through out the United States. George Washington was President when the Taylors came to what is now Warren County. Isaac Shelby was the first Governor of Kentucky at this time.
Your Grandfather,
L. Rhea Taylor Sr.