Robert Taft, 2nd, also known as Robert Taft II, 1674-1748 was born in Braintree

Braintree, Massachusetts

The Town of Braintree is a suburban city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Although officially known as a town, Braintree adopted a municipal charter, effective 2008, with a mayor-council form of government and is considered a city under Massachusetts law. The population was 35,744...

, Norfolk County, Massachusetts

Norfolk County, Massachusetts

-National protected areas:* Adams National Historical Park* Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area * Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site* John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site-Demographics:...

; he died at age 74 at Uxbridge

Uxbridge, 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...

, 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...

Birth

Robert Taft, 2nd, is an early American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 pioneer

Settler

A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...

. He was the son of Robert Taft, Sr, the first American Taft, of the famous 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...

.

Early life and marriage

Robert Taft II lived the earliest part of his life at Braintree until he was age 6, when his father moved back to the western part of Mendon, Massachusetts

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...

, following the King Phillip's War. This part of town later became the town of Uxbridge. Robert Taft II married Elizabeth Woodard of Braintree, Norfolk County.

Significance in history

Robert Taft, 2nd, was a founder and founding Selectman on the first Board of Selectmen

Board of selectmen

The board of selectmen is commonly the executive arm of the government of New England towns in the United States. The board typically consists of three or five members, with or without staggered terms.-History:...

, of the colonial town of Uxbridge, 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 town of Uxbridge was incorporated as a separate town from Mendon in 1727. Robert Taft 2nd, was the first known elected political figure in the famous Taft family, a dynasty in American politics. Robert Taft, 2nd was a prominent citizen of Mendon and Uxbridge. He died in Uxbridge, Worcester County, in 1748. His descendants number among well-known Americans and political figures, especially among the Taft family in 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...

. Robert Taft II's descendants include Royal Chapin Taft, Governor of Rhode Island, Ezra Taft Benson

Ezra Taft Benson

Ezra Taft Benson was the thirteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985 until his death and was United States Secretary of Agriculture for both terms of the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower.-Biography:Born on a farm in Whitney, Idaho, Benson was the oldest of...

, U.S Secretary of Agriculture, Ezra T. Benson

Ezra T. Benson

Ezra Taft Benson was as an apostle and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life:Benson was born in Mendon, Massachusetts, the son of John Benson and...

, Utah Territorial Legislator and Mormon Apostle, and Kingsley Arter Taft, a U.S. Senator from Ohio, and chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court among others