Samuel Taggart


Samuel Taggart was a Presbyterian Minister, an American politician and a U. S. Representative from Massachusetts.

Early life

Born in Londonderry in the Province of New Hampshire on March 24, 1754, Taggart completed preparatory studies, and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1774. He studied theology and was licensed to preach.

Career

Ordained to the Presbyterian ministry on February 19, 1777, Taggart was installed as pastor of a church in Colrain, Massachusetts. He then journeyed as a missionary through western New York.
Taggart was elected as a Federalist to the Eighth and to the six succeeding Congresses, serving as a United States Representative for the sixth district of the state of Massachusetts. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1816, but continued his service as pastor of the Colrain Presbyterian Church until October 28, 1818, when he resigned.

Death

Taggart died on his farm in Colrain, Massachusetts on April 25, 1825. He is interred at Chandler Hill Cemetery.

Family life

Born son of James and Jean Anderson Taggart, he married Elizabeth Duncan in 1777 and they had twelve children: Robert, Samuel D., Daniel, Jean, Elizabeth Betsy, James, George, Mary Polly, Rufus, Esther, Lucy, and Moses. Elizabeth died on March 4, 1815 and he married Mary Ayer on March 25, 1816. They had three children: Catherine, Mary Ann, and William Ayer.