Author: Taylor, H.
Biography:
TAYLOR, H. (c. 1768-1837: findmypast.com)
Maria, an Elegiac Tale was published by subscription in Norwich, Norfolk, in 1790. According to the subtitle, the story is set “during the late disturbances on the continent”—probably not the recently-erupted French Revolution but perhaps the Anglo-French War of 1778-83. It is an anti-war poem about a young woman who searches for her lover on the battlefield, finds him dying, kills herself over his body, and is in turn found by her father, who expires on the spot. The longish list of subscribers contains mostly names from Norfolk and Suffolk, especially Norwich, Yarmouth, and Beccles. None of them are Taylors. There are some names of local gentry and clergy on it, and at least two baronets. The epigraphs to the volume are in Greek and Latin, indicating an author with a classical education. Prefatory text reveals that the book was “a juvenile Essay” published at the urging of friends—almost certainly Messrs P. and J. Roughsedge, students of King’s College, Aberdeen, Scotland, who subscribed for 12 copies. John and Peter Roughsedge both graduated MA from King's in Mar. 1793, in the same class with Harvey Taylor; they were Londoners, he is described simply as English. He was the son of Harvey Taylor and Ann Simpson, who had married at Beccles in 1765. No baptismal record has been found, but his date of birth can be calculated from his age at death. Taylor went into the church; when he died at Beccles on 31 Jan. 1837 he was the perpetual curate of Aldeby, Norfolk, and curate of Weston, Suffolk. On 14 Oct. 1797 he had married Mary Warne or Waters at Norfolk; no records of baptism have been found for children. No further publications are associated with his name. (findmypast.com 16 Aug. 2024; ancestry.com 16 Aug. 2024; P. J. Anderson, Officers and Graduates of King's College, Aberdeen [1893]; H. Taylor, Maria, an Elegiac Tale [1790]; Ipswich Journal 28 Oct. 1797; Suffolk Chronicle 4 Feb. 1837) HJ