Peter Rawson Taft I
Encyclopedia
Peter Rawson Taft was President
William Howard Taft
's paternal grandfather.
in Worcester County, Massachusetts
. The Aaron Taft House
in Uxbridge is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Aaron was a farmer, first in Uxbridge and then later in Townshend, Vermont
. Aaron Taft, Peter Rawson Taft's father (1743–1808), in turn, was the son of Peter Taft. Peter was the grandson of Robert Taft, Sr 1640-1725, the first Taft who immigrated to America
and settled at Mendon
and Uxbridge, Massachusetts. Peter Rawson Taft was then the 5th generation descendent of the first Taft in America, Robert Taft, Sr. Uxbridge and Mendon were the birthplace of the famous American
Taft family
. Rhoda Rawson, the mother of Peter Rawson Taft, was a descendant of Edward Rawson, who came from England
to New England
in 1636, and was for thirty-five years secretary of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
. Aaron Taft, the father of Peter Rawson Taft, was educated at Princeton College. Meeting with severe losses in Massachusetts, he took his family to Vermont around 1800, when Peter Rawson Taft was about 15 years of age. Peter Rawson Taft was reared a farmer, with a common-school education in Uxbridge and Townshend. A Taft family story tells of Peter Rawson Taft leading a cow all the way from Uxbridge to Townshend, Vermont when the family moved.
. She was the daughter of Levi Howard, and Bethiah Chapin of Townshend around 1810 in Townshend. Their first son was Alphonso Taft
, born on November 5, 1810 at Townsend, Vermont. They had other children who followed.
, and practiced law. He served many years in the Vermont Legislature. He was judge of the Probate and County Courts of Windham County, Vermont.". Peter Rawson Taft I's son, Alphonso, was born in Townshend, Vermont. Peter Rawson Taft I, later moved his family to Cincinnati, and the Taft Family grew to be a political dynasty in Cincinnati and Hamilton County
as well as the State of Ohio
, and the USA.
(1876), and U.S. Attorney General
(1876–1877). Alphonso Taft founded Skull and Bones
at Yale
. Peter Rawson Taft died at age 82 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Peter's grandson, William Howard Taft
became the President of the United States
from 1909-1913. He was also the only President
to serve as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Taft family continued the tradition of returning to Uxbridge for family reunions.
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
's paternal grandfather.
Early life and family
Peter was born to Aaron Taft and Rhoda Rawson on April 14, 1785 at UxbridgeUxbridge, Massachusetts
Uxbridge is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It was first settled in 1662, incorporated in 1727 at Suffolk County, and named for the Earl of Uxbridge. Uxbridge is south-southeast of Worcester, north-northwest of Providence, and southwest of Boston. It is part of...
in Worcester County, Massachusetts
Worcester County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:In 1990 Worcester County had a population of 709,705.As of the census of 2000, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 496 people per square mile . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density...
. The Aaron Taft House
Aaron Taft House
The Aaron Taft House is an historic house located on Hazel Street, in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. It was the birthplace in 1785 of Peter Rawson Taft I, the grandfather of President William Howard Taft,...
in Uxbridge is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Aaron was a farmer, first in Uxbridge and then later in Townshend, Vermont
Townshend, Vermont
Townshend is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The town was named for the Townshend family, powerful figures in British politics...
. Aaron Taft, Peter Rawson Taft's father (1743–1808), in turn, was the son of Peter Taft. Peter was the grandson of Robert Taft, Sr 1640-1725, the first Taft who immigrated to America
Colonial America
The colonial history of the United States covers the history from the start of European settlement and especially the history of the thirteen colonies of Britain until they declared independence in 1776. In the late 16th century, England, France, Spain and the Netherlands launched major...
and settled at Mendon
Mendon, Massachusetts
Mendon is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,839 at the 2010 census.Mendon is very historic and is now part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, the oldest industrialized region in the United States.- Early history :The Nipmuc people...
and Uxbridge, Massachusetts. Peter Rawson Taft was then the 5th generation descendent of the first Taft in America, Robert Taft, Sr. Uxbridge and Mendon were the birthplace of the famous American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Taft family
Taft family
The Taft family of the United States hails from Cincinnati, Ohio, with historic origins in Massachusetts; its members have served Ohio, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, Utah, and the United States in various positions, such as Governor of Ohio, Governor of Rhode Island, U.S. Senator , U.S...
. Rhoda Rawson, the mother of Peter Rawson Taft, was a descendant of Edward Rawson, who came from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
in 1636, and was for thirty-five years secretary of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
. Aaron Taft, the father of Peter Rawson Taft, was educated at Princeton College. Meeting with severe losses in Massachusetts, he took his family to Vermont around 1800, when Peter Rawson Taft was about 15 years of age. Peter Rawson Taft was reared a farmer, with a common-school education in Uxbridge and Townshend. A Taft family story tells of Peter Rawson Taft leading a cow all the way from Uxbridge to Townshend, Vermont when the family moved.
Marriage and first child
Peter Rawson Taft married Sylvia Howard of Townshend, Vermont, Windham County, VermontWindham County, Vermont
Windham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 44,513. Its shire town is Newfane.-Geography:According to the U.S...
. She was the daughter of Levi Howard, and Bethiah Chapin of Townshend around 1810 in Townshend. Their first son was Alphonso Taft
Alphonso Taft
Alphonso Taft was the Attorney General and Secretary of War under President Ulysses S. Grant and the founder of an American political dynasty. He was the father of U.S...
, born on November 5, 1810 at Townsend, Vermont. They had other children who followed.
Career as a lawyer and legislator
He was a man of intellectual tastes and capacity, and educated himself after leaving school, so that he subsequently was admitted to the Vermont Bar AssociationBar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
, and practiced law. He served many years in the Vermont Legislature. He was judge of the Probate and County Courts of Windham County, Vermont.". Peter Rawson Taft I's son, Alphonso, was born in Townshend, Vermont. Peter Rawson Taft I, later moved his family to Cincinnati, and the Taft Family grew to be a political dynasty in Cincinnati and Hamilton County
Hamilton County, Ohio
As of 2000, there were 845,303 people, 346,790 households, and 212,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,075 people per square mile . There were 373,393 housing units at an average density of 917 per square mile...
as well as the State of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, and the USA.
Afterward
Peter's son, Alphonso Taft (1810–1891), became the U.S. Secretary of WarUnited States Secretary of War
The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
(1876), and U.S. Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
(1876–1877). Alphonso Taft founded Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones is an undergraduate senior or secret society at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. It is a traditional peer society to Scroll and Key and Wolf's Head, as the three senior class 'landed societies' at Yale....
at Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
. Peter Rawson Taft died at age 82 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Peter's grandson, William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
became the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
from 1909-1913. He was also the only President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
to serve as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Taft family continued the tradition of returning to Uxbridge for family reunions.