An American Family History

Ann Taylor Dill was born on March 5, 1829 in Fairfield, Bath Township, Greene County, Ohio. Her parents were David Taylor and Mary Bolin.

She moved with her family to Shelby County, Ohio as a child where her father died in 1834.

According to the Shelby County, Ohio Probate Court guardianship records, Ann was six years old on October 28, 1834. John Staley was chosen as her guardian and the guardian of her sisters, Margaret and Nancy. On August 4, 1836, William J. Martin was appointed guardian to the Taylor children.

Ann married Espy C. Dill on October 7, 1860. Espy was born on August 30 1824 in Hamilton County, Ohio. He was the son of Richard Crane Dill and Hannah Burch. The Anna Methodist Episcopal Church, originally known as Mt. Gilead Methodist Episcopal church, was organized at the home of Richard C. Dill, in 1833.

Espy was a widower. His first wife was Achsah Nichols. Espy and Achsah married on November 2, 1848. Espy and Achsah had a son named Joseph Dill.

Ann and Espy had at least one son, Harrison W. Dill, who was born on December 5, 1861 in Shelby county. He married Eliza Lovina Fridley. Harrison died on March 20, 1950.

Espy enlisted as a private in the Union Army on August 13 1862 at the age of 38. He enlisted in Company H, 99th Infantry Regiment Ohio on 26 August 1862. He became a prisoner of war on September 20,1863 at Chickamauga, Georgia. He transferred to Company H, 99th, 50th Infantry Regiment Ohio on December 31, 1864. Ann Dill filed for a Civil War widow’s pension on October 27, 1865.

Washington D.C. June 15th 1866
I John E. Cummins do hereby certify that I was Lt Col of the 99 Regt Ohio Vol Infantry and was present with the Regt at the battle of Chickamauga, that the Regt was driven back Several times during the engagement by the enemy and on one of those occasions Espy C. Dill who was a private of Co “H" 99th OVI was missing since which time he has not been heard of. I am not atty for the applicant or in any wise interested in this claim. It is my belief that he was killed on the field or left the field in hands of the enemy.
John E. Cummins
Formerly Lt Col 99th Ohio

Ann appeared in the 1870 census in Dinsmore Township. The household consisted of Anne who was age 39 and a farmer, Joseph who was 20 and an invalid, and Harison who was age 8. As a widow, Ann became a feme sole and could own and operate her own farm.

In 1880 she was still living in Dinsmore Township. She was 50 years old and living with her 18 year old son Harison. She was a widow.

Children of David Taylor and Anna Bolen Taylor John Taylor Abraham Taylor Richard Taylor David Taylor Jacob Taylor Mary Ann Taylor Barr Elizabeth Taylor and Mary Bolen Ann Taylor Dill Margaret Taylor Winget Nancy Taylor Cox

During the 17th and 18th centuries an adult unmarried woman was considered to have the legal status of feme sole, while a married woman had the status of feme covert. A feme sole could own property and sign contracts. A feme covert was not recognized as having legal rights and obligations distinct from those of her husband and could not own any property. When a woman became a widow she became a feme sole again.