Biography

1791 - 1869

A key member of the early-American Baptist movement in Pennsylvania, Col. Joseph Taylor was born near Philadelphia in 1791, the grandnephew of Declaration of Independence signer George Taylor.  Taylor served as colonel of the 79th Pennsylvania Militia; was a member of the state House of Representatives, 1829; the state Senate, 1830-1834; member of the Philadelphia Common and Select Councils; Treasurer of the Philadelphia Baptist Association; President of the Bible Union; the first layman that ever presided over the Philadelphia Baptist Association, elected Moderator in 1849. Joseph and his brothers Shadrach and Thomas A. Taylor were active organizers of the “Hope Mission” day school of Allentown, of which Joseph served as first superintendent in 1816.  Col. Taylor died in 1869.