Top Ten Things a Hamby Should Know
#6 – WE DESCEND FROM A LEGACY OF METHODIST CIRCUIT RIDERS IN MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA

The Methodist faith spread like wildfire on the frontiers of America because of faithful people ordained to be traveling preachers. Our Taylor ancestors were heavily involved in the spreading of Christian faith in our state. Shortly after the War of 1812, when North Alabama became open to white settlement, our ancestors George and Nancy Taylor migrated to the Clay area of Jefferson County. When their sons were baptized by a Methodist circuit rider, he prayed that all the boys would become Methodist preachers. Three of the four of them did: William Taylor, Harris Taylor, and Isaac Taylor (our ancestor). They responded to the call during the 1820’s and 1830’s.

William Taylor, our third great uncle, founded Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church in Chalkville as a circuit rider, preaching at the local Sweeny Hollow water hole. Our ancestor, Isaac, is buried next to him in the graveyard there. Their graves hold inspiring inscriptions that remind me of their commitment to the gospel.

The colorful part of the story is that our third great grandmother, Hannah Hopper Taylor, left Isaac and created a scandal in early Alabama Methodism. No one could imagine her leaving her kids, including a nursing child. Rumors began to spread that he had murdered her, and bones were found. Opponents of Methodism took advantage of this. Eventually, his name was cleared by a preacher named William Blackburn, who was traveling through Texas and saw Hannah in a store with her new husband she had eloped with.

I have traced some of our ancestor, Isaac’s, circuit riding career in Mississippi. Brandon Memorial United Methodist Church in Brandon, Mississippi, is the largest present church he once served. At that time, Mississippi and Alabama were in the same Annual Conference.

My mom (Betty West) wrote an extensive paper for the North Alabama Conference Historical Society on the Taylor legacy. I have published it on my blog for all to see. Simply click the link on the left side of this blog.

Attached is a picture of five generations, tracing our connection to the Taylors. Grandpa Hamby is on the top left. Moving clockwise, next is his daughter Willie, his mother Laura Clark Hamby holding Willie’s baby, and his grandmother, Louisa Taylor Clark. Louisa’s father was Rev. Isaac Taylor.