Taylor, Edward

Taylor, Edward a Congregational minister, was born (according to president Stiles) at Coventry, England, in 1642, and received an excellent education in his native country. Upon the restoration of Charles, he resolved not to conform, and sailed for the United States April 22, 1668, arriving at Boston July 5. On July 23 he entered Cambridge University, from which he graduated in 1671. Invited to preach at Westfield, he consented, and arrived there Dec. 3,1671. The paucity of population and the insecurity of person and property delayed for a long time the formation of a Church; but this was done Aug. 27,1679, O. S., and Mr. Taylor was ordained as its pastor. He continued to labor here until his death, June 29,1729. He left in manuscript, A Commentary on the Four Gospels, theological treatises, sermons, and poems, none of which have been published. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 1, 177.