The Christopher Taylor House & Andrew Jackson's ghost

This post is just one stop along the way in the Hooked on Houses Fall Blog Party. So please go check out everyone else's posts - there are sure to be some good ones.

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This is the Christopher Taylor House, as found on page 16 of Sonya A. Haskins' wonderful book Jonesborough.

Christopher Taylor (1746-1833) fought in the French and Indian War and was a major in the American Revolutionary War.

Taylor came to Jonesborough, Tennessee, from North Carolina around 1774 to protect the residents from Cherokee Indian attacks.

The Taylor family settled on 205 acres on Limestone Creek in Washington County, TN.

Built circa 1777, the log home housed Captain Taylor, his wife Mary, and their 13 children (though I could only find an actual record of 8 at that time - two of them with the interesting names of Artmesia and Greenberry).

Oh and since they had two rooms, they took on boarders.

Their most famous boarder was future U.S. President Andrew Jackson, who stayed at Taylor's home for close to five months in 1788 when he was 21 years old, practicing law while waiting for a caravan to take him to what would eventually become Nashville.

In 1974, the house was moved from its original location (about 2 miles from town) to downtown Jonesborough, where it sits on Main Street today.

Some people say that they've seen Andrew Jackson's ghost at the house - that he will be seen at the back of the cabin, walk around to the front, pause at the door, and then go inside.

It's also been said that he rushes down the street toward the courthouse in broad daylight but is only visible to people on the opposite side of the street.

I walked down the opposite side of the street and then all around the house taking pictures, but I didn't see him - which is just fine with me!

If you're interested, here is the entire set of photos I took at the Christopher Taylor House a couple of weeks ago.

Comments

[Julia @ Hooked on Houses]

Oh, wow, I LOVE this post. One of my favorite things is to see a house with history--and this one even comes with a famous ghost! How cool that you found that old photograph of the house to show us, too.

Thanks for joining the blog party, Maya!

[shelli]

What a wonderful, old house. Ever since I got my camera I've been meaning to visit the William Harris Homestead, whom my cousin runs. I know I'll get some fantastic photos there if I ever get in gear.

[Jan]

Awesome old house...thanks for sharing!

[jdg]

cool!

[Elizabeth]

Your photos are beautiful, the lighting really enhances the textures; I love them! Historic homes are awesome, 15 people in 2 rooms...I don't think kids today could handle it!

[Le @ Third on the Right]

That pic of the cobble stones with moss is divine - thanks for sharing and stopping by downunder - cheers le

[Linda@lime in the coconut]

Beautiful! Full of history! Great pics also, you can practically see the hands that built it!

[Mrs. B.]

Ooooh...how neat! What a different house to tour for HOH. :) Thank you for the history. Great photos.

[sandra/tx]

What a great tour. And I really love your pics. You have a knack for catching wonderful detail in interesting light. Great post!

[Fifi Flowers]

GREAT historical home! It looks like it's held together with peanut butter! GREAT photos!

[Passion for Rugs]

We are so far removed from that way of life now, it's hard to comprehend, isn't it? Very interesting -Jane

[Amy from Texas]

I love this post. What a clever house tour to add to Julia's party. We all get a history lesson too:-) Thanks for sharing!

[Monkey's Momma]

Very cool story! Love the pictures too (as always). We will be driving through Tennessee next week on our way to visit family in North Carolina.

[Katie]

What a perfect tour for this time of year. History always captivates me when the weather starts getting brisk. Thank you! I especially like seeing the old photo to compare. This building has been so well maintained--what a treasure to have near you.
Thank you for stopping by my tour of a home in Prague earlier today, too.
Katie

[Linda Merrill from ::Surroundings::]

Loved the history post and your photos are fantastic!

[rue]

I loved this tour!! The history is amazing and your pictures of it are wonderful. You're right, those ARE interesting names!

Thank you so much for sharing it :)
rue

[Ms.Tee]

What beautiful photography this is - I love it. And I've always loved history - so this is very interesting to me. Thank you for sharing it!

[laura @ the shorehouse.]

I love this post, too! I'm totally "Hooked on Historical Houses" (hey...maybe that's Julia's next tour. :-) I just love that a little second room enabled them to take on boarders. And...I would totally be camped out there waiting for the ghost.

[Lecia]

I loved reading this post and learning this history, seeing these images. Thanks.

[Beth]

Love to see these rare old homes. Very unique tour. Beth

[Nancy]

I don't know if anyone else can see it, but
in the last picture, bottom right, I can
see an image of a man. Maybe he was there
after all.

[Robyn]

Ewww! I was thinking the same thing.....Robyn

[Pennie Mills]

Wow, what an interesting tour and awesome info you gave along with it. The pictures are wonderful, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks so much-Pennie

[Brenda Kula]

Just found you. Lovely story. And even lovelier old home. Wish I had one built that sturdily. Loved this post.
Brenda

[KayVonne]

Fantastic tour!