Taylor Family Slander Dispute in 1648

Minutes of the Manchester Presbyterian Classis

Edited by William A. Shaw
Part I, Chetham Society, 1890

The 17th MEETING at Manchester, March 8, 1847/8

[p79] 3. Samuel Taylor brought an appeale from the elder at Chollerton to the classis, in a difference betwixt him and his brother Nathaniel Taylor, accusing the said Nathaniel to have wrongfully slandered him.  The said Nathaniel to be sumon'd to the next classis.  The sd Samuel to have warrant for witnesses.

The 18th MEETING at Manchester, April 5th, 1648

[pp80-82] 5. The businesse of Samuel Taylor was examined, who being playntiffe agt his brother Nathaniel Taylor, brought witnes as followeth:

James Chorlton, elder at Chorlton, aged about 50 years, deposed, saith that Nathaniel Taylor said before the jury at Chorlton that Samuel Taylor, his brother, was a forsworne man, and that at another time, as he was comeing to Manchester hee, the said Nathaniel, sayd in presence of James Hopwood and a shoemakter that his brother Samuel was forsworne in three particulars, and this deponent doth not remember that hee made any explication or distinction of his charge of prejury when hee first charged him before the jury; and the jury fined him, the said Nathaniel, in a noble for rayling at the jury; and the said Nathaniel further said before the court that the Devill was as good a professor as his brother Samuel; and that hee also said, that the meeting of Samuel Taylor and his friends was for bad and base ends, and fro to conspire again his brothers, or words to that effect.

Josuah Taylor of Marsledge [Marsleache]. aged about 26 yeares, deposed, saith that Nathaniel, his uncle, hearing some inquite after Samuel Taylor, this deponent's father, the said Nathaniel answered, here hee is like a forsworne man as hee is, Samuel Taylor, once my name; being asked who that man was wch enquired after the said Samuel, the said Josuah, this deponent, answers hee doth not remember who hee was, there being several in his master's court (?) wch he knowes not.

Zachary Taylor of Rushome, aged 42 yeares, deposed, said that hee, the said deponent, being sent by Samuel his brother, to the said Nathaniel his brother, the said Nathaniel, after some other discourses, payled [sic] his hands and sayd that hee had called his brother Samuel a perjured man, and that he would make it out, and that hee instanced in this paricular that Samuel, being a juror, was bound to present himselfe and his sonne about the brawle, as well as Nathaniel, & hee did it not.

6- Warrant to bee sent for Mr. John Shelmerdine of Rushulme, to give evidence in the forsaid businesse.

7. Nathaniel Taylor informed that James Cholton spoke some words about the classe; hee being called denyed.