Captain Jacob Taylor (1729-1788) of Plymouth, Massachusetts, served as master of several merchant vessels throughout the second half of the 18th century, including the Lemuel, Little Betsey, Willingmind, Salley, Polly, and Mars . He made voyages to Gibraltar and to the Caribbean. He and his wife, Jemima Sampson, had at least one son, Edward (1765-1798), who also became a sea captain. Edward served as master of the Betsy, Swallow, and Caroline on voyages to the Caribbean in the 1790s. Edward and his wife Mary had at least four children: Jemima, Jacob, Abner, and Edward.
From the guide to the Jacob and Edward Taylor papers, Taylor, Jacob and Edward papers, 1759-1828, 1759-1798, (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)