The Christopher Taylor House & Andrew Jackson's ghost
23 October 2008
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.
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!
Posted by: Julia @ Hooked on Houses | 23 October 2008 at 02:11 PM
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.
Posted by: shelli | 23 October 2008 at 04:54 PM
Awesome old house...thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Jan | 23 October 2008 at 10:17 PM
cool!
Posted by: jdg | 23 October 2008 at 10:26 PM
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!
Posted by: Elizabeth | 23 October 2008 at 10:31 PM
That pic of the cobble stones with moss is divine - thanks for sharing and stopping by downunder - cheers le
Posted by: Le @ Third on the Right | 23 October 2008 at 11:15 PM
Beautiful! Full of history! Great pics also, you can practically see the hands that built it!
Posted by: Linda@lime in the coconut | 23 October 2008 at 11:35 PM
Ooooh...how neat! What a different house to tour for HOH. :) Thank you for the history. Great photos.
Posted by: Mrs. B. | 23 October 2008 at 11:59 PM
What a great tour. And I really love your pics. You have a knack for catching wonderful detail in interesting light. Great post!
Posted by: sandra/tx | 24 October 2008 at 12:06 AM
GREAT historical home! It looks like it's held together with peanut butter! GREAT photos!
Posted by: Fifi Flowers | 24 October 2008 at 12:45 AM
We are so far removed from that way of life now, it's hard to comprehend, isn't it? Very interesting -Jane
Posted by: Passion for Rugs | 24 October 2008 at 12:53 AM
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!
Posted by: Amy from Texas | 24 October 2008 at 01:44 AM
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.
Posted by: Monkey's Momma | 24 October 2008 at 08:51 AM
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
Posted by: Katie | 24 October 2008 at 09:23 AM
Loved the history post and your photos are fantastic!
Posted by: Linda Merrill from ::Surroundings:: | 24 October 2008 at 10:23 AM
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
Posted by: rue | 24 October 2008 at 12:47 PM
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!
Posted by: Ms.Tee | 24 October 2008 at 01:05 PM
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.
Posted by: laura @ the shorehouse. | 24 October 2008 at 01:10 PM
I loved reading this post and learning this history, seeing these images. Thanks.
Posted by: Lecia | 24 October 2008 at 02:39 PM
Love to see these rare old homes. Very unique tour. Beth
Posted by: Beth | 24 October 2008 at 04:15 PM
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.
Posted by: Nancy | 24 October 2008 at 05:27 PM
Ewww! I was thinking the same thing.....Robyn
Posted by: Robyn | 24 October 2008 at 07:05 PM
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
Posted by: Pennie Mills | 25 October 2008 at 10:04 AM
Just found you. Lovely story. And even lovelier old home. Wish I had one built that sturdily. Loved this post.
Brenda
Posted by: Brenda Kula | 25 October 2008 at 01:36 PM
Fantastic tour!
Posted by: KayVonne | 25 October 2008 at 02:58 PM