Hubbard Taylor papers

Abstract

The Hubbard Taylor papers are comprised primarily of correspondence concerning Kentucky land transactions, as well as some personal and political correspondence, as are numerous financial records and a few memorandum books.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Hubbard Taylor papers
Date
1772-1858 (inclusive)
Bulk, 1780-1838 (bulk)
Creator
Taylor, Hubbard, 1760-1840
Extent
0.68 Cubic feet
Subjects
Debts, Public--Kentucky.
Elections--Kentucky.
Land titles--Registration and transfer--Kentucky.
Land use surveys.
Stock certificates.
Surveying--Kentucky--Lincoln County.
Surveyors.
United States--History--War of 1812
Arrangement
Collection is arranged by format.
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid prepared by Amanda M. Reeve
Preferred Citation
61M139 : [Identification of item], Hubbard Taylor papers, 1772-1858, University of Kentucky Special Collections.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Hubbard Taylor, a member of a distinguished Virginia family who counted James Madison (1750/51-1836), Martha Wagles Shelton Jefferson (1748-1782) and Zachary Taylor (1784-1850) among its kin, came to Kentucky as a surveyor in 1780. After serving several years as deputy surveyor of Lincoln County, Taylor moved to what is now Clark County. A member of the first State Constitutional Convention, he served in the State Senate (1796-1800, 1815-1819) and was five times a presidential elector.
Scope and Content
The Hubbard Taylor papers are comprised primarily of correspondence concerning Kentucky land transactions, as well as some personal and political correspondence, and numerous financial records and a few memorandum books. Letters, survey reports, deeds, bills of sale, manuscript maps, tax receipts, powers of attorney, and other materials related to land surveys and transfers compose the bulk of the collection. Other financial records include stock subscriptions in and checks from the Winchester branch of the Bank of Kentucky, and stock certificates in the Covington and Lexington and Maysville and Lexington Railroads.
Several of the letters concern personal and family affairs and are written by Taylor, his father James Taylor IV, and his brother, General James Taylor, the founder of Newport, Kentucky. Numerous letters are related to politics, including relations with France and England in the early years of the Republic, the War of 1812, and Kentucky politics. Several of the latter include correspondence from Kentucky Senator George M. Bibb (1776-1859) and unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate Anthony Butler, concerning the gubernatorial election of 1820 (won by John Adair, 1757-1840) and the controversy about debt relief, which was the primary issue in the campaign.

Restrictions on Access and Use

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Use Restrictions
The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections.

Contents of the Collection

Account records, 1790-1809

  • Box 1, Folder 4
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Account records, 1810-1814

  • Box 1, Folder 5
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Account records, 1812-1817

  • Box 1, Folder 6
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Account records, 1818

  • Box 1, Folder 7
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Account records, 1819

  • Box 1, Folder 8
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Account records, 1830-1837

  • Box 2, Folder 3
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Account records, 1841-1843

  • Box 2, Folder 4
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Account records, 1850-1858

  • Box 2, Folder 5
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Account records, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 6
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Autobiography, undated

  • Box 1, Folder 1
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Correspondence, 1820-1829

  • Box 1, Folder 9
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Correspondence, 1830-1838

  • Box 2, Folder 2
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Correspondence from James Madison, 1791-1796

  • Box 2, Folder 7
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Land records, 1772-1790

  • Box 1, Folder 2
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Legal records, 1822-1829

  • Box 2, Folder 1
To top

Notebooks, 1780-1886

  • Box 1, Folder 3
To top

Special Collections Research Center - Closed

The Breckinridge Research Room will be closed starting May 11, 2026, and anticipates re-opening Fall semester 2026 in an alternate location for the duration of the King Library renovation.

Reproduction requests will still be available during the closure.

Contact SCRC with questions.

You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.

If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.

Special Collections Research Center - Closed

The Breckinridge Research Room will be closed starting May 11, 2026, and anticipates re-opening Fall semester 2026 in an alternate location for the duration of the King Library renovation.

Reproduction requests will still be available during the closure.

Contact SCRC with questions.

Requests

No items have been requested.



Submit a request for SCRC materials.




You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.

If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.