Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Taylor, Robert B April 13, 1934 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Suzy Ward Fleming wardflemin@aol.com June 13, 2014, 10:26 pm American Beacon April 14, 1834 American Beacon April 14, 1834 Our columns this day wear the emblems of mourning, as a tribute of heartfelt sorrow for the heavy bereavement which our community has sustained in the death of the Hon. Robert B. Taylor, Judge of the Chancery District Court, for this, the first circuit of the first District of Virginia, composed of the Counties of Princess Anne, Nansemond, Southampton, Greensville, Surry, Isle of Wight and Norfolk, and Norfolk Borough. In the demise of this eminent citizen, Virginia, nay our common country, mourns the loss of one of the ablest jurists that adorned it judicature, a man whose moral worth was illustrated by a life of spotless purity, whose love of country and devotion to liberty was signally manifested in her public councils, and in the field, as commander-in-chief on this military station during the late war with England; whose eloquence at the Bar charmed every ear, while his highly cultivated intellect, and profound research gave him an elevated rank among the erudite scholars of his day-a man eminently qualified for the highest stations-yet so urbane, so unostentatious, so accessible to all, the he was beloved, admired and respected in every circle of society in which his public or private duties called him to act. We had progressed thus far in our offering of respect and affection for this venerated citizen, when the following handsome and just tribute to his memory was handed to us, which so cheerfully substitute for what we are about to add: It is a melancholy duty to number among those who are no more, the name of General Robert B. Taylor. He died in the 63d year of his age, at his residence in Catharine Street, at 5 o’clock on this (Sunday) morning. We can scarcely realize this solemn, and, we must add, unexpected event. We seem to behold him in all the freshness of life. - We see him moving before us with all his characteristic grace and spirit.-We mark those gray hairs, the glory of which he so nobly won.-We regard those brilliant eyes that reflected the scathless purity of the spirit that dwelt in this bosom; and we almost catch from those eloquent lips the sounds that were wont to paly about them. We see and feel those things with such distinctness, that we can scarcely realize the fact that that venerable form is about to be lain in its final resting place. That those eyes will sparkle no more-and those lips are sealed forever. But it is too true-our distinguished fellow citizen is gathered to his fathers! We said this event was unexpected. In a limited sense it was not so. All watched with thrilling anxiety the progress of his disease. Day after day passed by and the anxious inquirer was eager to seize on the slightest favorable symptoms as a prognostic of a speedy recovery. Even the thoughtless trod lightlier as they passed his dwelling; and when hope had well-nigh fled- when days rolled over him in a state of vibration between life and death, even then the flattering delusion came over us that the disease had spent its force, and the he would yet live to his county-to his family-to his friends. But death has finally dispelled the pleasing illusion of the clearest heads and purest hearts of the Commonwealth. Returning to the bar, he never afterwards left it, but on two occasions, for the more alluring pursuits of public life. We might here speak of his great abilities, which were so long exerted in our courts of justice. His eloquence is yet breathing among us. Some of his finest effusions of his genius are yet on our lips. But we must pass this subject by. Yet in speaking of his distinguished ornament of the bar, recollection of the great and worthy names of those who constituted its brightest era, crowd upon us. There was Nivison- not he who fell in the spring time of his life-but the sire, who descended to the tomb full of years and full of honors.- There was the venerable Nimmo, whose silver locks were but yesterday adjusted for the grave. There too, was Wirt, whose name has become the synonym of eloquence-and Tazewell, skilled in all the learning of the law, and invincible in its armour; and Taylor, his great compeer, whose death we now deplore-all those names constituting a galaxy of worth and talent which the bar had never before beheld, and which, it will exceed expectation, if it ever behold again. Yet all these bright spirits have passed away-all save one-may he long survive, the pride and ornament of his country. There is one incident in the life of Gen. Taylor, which, in this sketch, however hasty should not be overlooked. It will be remembered that he was a firm and fearless opponent of the Administration of Mr. Madison. Yet when war was declared-when in the language of the venerable Madison, “the die was cast,” no prayer for success of our enemies polluted his lips,-No saying like this- that it did not become a righteous people to rejoice at the successes that crowned our arms, passed from him. Far from it-He displayed the finest feeling of the patriot. He buckled on his armour, and exhorted his countrymen to rally around the banner of liberty. Yet Norfolk, who so richly honored the exertions of a Rodney in the cause of an injured, though now justly honored citizen, never conferred any public token of her regards on her gallant and generous defender! The last scene of his appearance in public life was the Convention of Virginia. The letter which he addressed to the President of the body, and which is recorded on it journals, exhibits in the strongest language the duties which a Representative owes to his constituents; and will appear to other times an eloquent memorial of the views of its distinguished author on the important subject of popular representation. On the establishment of the judiciary system, required by the adoption of the new constitution, he was elected to the Bench, and presided in those courts which his eloquence had so long adorned. We could speak of the ease and dignity with which he filled his station-the zeal with which he discharged its duties- and the ready eloquence with which he illustrated the law; but these things are fresh in the recollections of all. And we must pass to the last scene of his life. We have already alluded to the bright dawning of his fame; we have witnessed its meridian splendor; but the sunset of his well-spent life-the flattering delusion came over us that the disease had spent its force, and that he would yet live to his country-to his family –to his friends. But death has finally dispelled the pleasing illusion, and the truth, in all its melancholy sadness, can no longer be dissembled. We confess we have no disposition, at a moment when tears of a recent affliction are yet flowing, to write a deliberate essay on the life and character of the deceased. We commit such a task, with its duties and difficulties, to the skill of some intimate friend of our lamented fellow citizen, who will doubtless perform the service in a manner correspondent with the public feeling. A brief sketch of some of the prominent incidents in the life of the deceased is not inconsistent with the present occasion. Gen Taylor completed his elementary course of education at William and Mary College, where he became associated with those who were destined to act a distinguished part on the theatre of life. The late Mr. John Randolph, Mr. James Barbour of Orange, Mr. Tazewell, John Thompson of Petersburg, and others whose names were not unknown to fame, were then members of the institution. How far a generous spirit of emulation, kindled by mutual association, and burning vividly in the breasts of these gentlemen, produced such bright results in their career of life, we leave others to determine; yet it is worthy of notice, that particular periods of time, without any apparent cause, seem prolific of great and glorious names; while other periods, though attended with circumstances seemingly more congenial to the development of the human mind, pass away unilluminated by a solitary ray of genius. He quickly assumed at the bar, to which he came at an early age, a station that clearly augured the distinguished renown that awaited his name. We cannot here speak, as we would wish, of his early forensic efforts- of his glowing zeal-of his unrivalled industry-of his graceful action-of his kindling eloquence. We can only allude to these, and hasten to other topics. We have now arrived at a very interesting epoch of his life. At this time a great political contest, which had been waged for some time between two parties that, thirty odd years ago divided ever hamlet of the Union, was about to be decided in this commonwealth. The capital of Virginia was the arena on which the parties were about to marshal their forces, and each was anxious to select its ablest champion for the occasion. It is sufficiently complimentary to the object of this notice to say, that he was selected at the time to represent the Borough of Norfolk in the General Assembly. Probably at no period before or since, were a greater number of able men ever elected to the body. First was Patrick Henry, who was elected by the people of Charlotte, but who was struck by the hand of death ere he touched the floor where so many of his laurels had been won. But with him perished not all the genius of the assembly. There was James Madison from Orange, Wm. B. Giles from Amelia, John Taylor of Caroline, and George Keith Taylor- a name that claims respect of every Virginian. Among the young politicians of the body were Tazewell and Barbour, whom we have already mentioned as his associates at college; also Daniel and Stuart, who were afterwards elected to the bench-then young and glowing in the cause of their country-and many others whose names we cannot mention here, but which will occur to all who are not unacquainted with the past periods of our history. In such an assembly, Gen. Taylor, young as he was, performed his part with honor. We say nothing of the abstract propriety of the course which he pursued-this is no place for such as disquisition.-Let it suffice to observe, that, in performing the delicate and responsible political duties devolving upon him, he acted in unison with some of the Genius-Virtue-Patriotism- all reposing on the bosom of the Redeemer. But the scene is above our powers-we leave it to the imaginations of those who are not dead to the noblest feelings of our nature. We must conclude our hurried task. Our distinguished townsman has, indeed, passed from us. We will behold his face no more. He will sleep on undisturbed, till the trump of the arch-angle startle the tenants of the tomb. Yet we owe it alike to the living and the dead, not to lose ourselves in vain regrets and fruitless lamentations. We cannot revoke the decree of destiny. Let us rather remember that years rolled over him in the full enjoyment on, and in the active exercise of all his great endowments. Let us remember that he attained a period of life nearly double that of many illustrious names that will attract the admiration of future ages. Let us fondly cherish the recollection of his virtues, and let us emulate with zeal the glory of his life. Fortunate, if, when the thread of our existence is sundered-when the clods of the valley are crumbling above us-the voice of patriotism pronounce our names and piety breathe its gentle requiem at our graves. The funeral will take place from Judge Taylor’s late residence on Catharine Street, at 4 o’clock this afternoon, at which friends and acquaintances of the family are invited to attend. ************************* American Beacon April 15, 1834 Tribute to Talents and Virtue We record, with mournful satisfaction, the following affecting testimonial of respect and veneration to the character, and homage to the talents of our late distinguished Townsman, Judge Robert B. Taylor, from the members of the Bar, and officers of the Courts of Norfolk Borough and Norfolk County. We avail of the occasion to notice the strong manifestation of the affection and esteem in which he was held by his fellow citizens generally, as exhibited by the immense concourse of all classes of our population who attended his remains yesterday afternoon to their final resting place. We have, upon no similar occasion, witnessed so large an assemblage of citizens of Norfolk and Portsmouth. The procession extended through several squares and embraced the larger portion of the intelligent and respectable part of our inhabitants. ************************ American Beacon and Virginia and North Carolina Gazette Tuesday April 15, 1834 Died-On Sunday, April 13, Gen. Robert B. Taylor, in his 63rd year, at his residence in Catharine Street. He was judge of the Chancery Court of this district. 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