Had this charming ceramic teapot not had the note in it, we would have had no idea of its history and its connection to Millburn.

The note says: "Teapot belonged to my grandfather & mother Smith Denman Taylor and Martha Ann Doty—Taylor Rd, Short Hills, NJ  1844 (about).  Harriet Haine(s?)"

The 1870 U.S. Census seems to confirm the connection to the town as it records a Millburn family headed by Smith D. Taylor, a 61-year-old shoemaker. Living with him was his 46-year-old wife Martha A (housekeeping), 15-year-old Lewis S. Taylor (farmhand), 7-year-old Elmer E. Taylor, 68-year-old William Taylor (farmer) and 56-year-old John L. Taylor (farmer).

The 1880 U.S. Census records 68-year-old Smith D. Taylor (laborer) with a 25-year-old carpenter son named Sanders, a 17-year-old son Elmer ("at home"), a 75-year-old brother William (carpenter), a-46 year-old female named Elizabeth Wilbur and a 20-year-old daughter named Abby. There is no record of his wife Martha in the 1880 census.

Almost all of the 1890 federal census records were lost in a fire and as Smith Taylor would have been about 88 by the time of the 1900 census, it is not surprising that we do not find him in Millburn then. There is, however, a 37-year-old Elmer Taylor (salesman; groceries) still in Millburn and married to Angeline. They had a daughter Myrtle and a daughter Elizabeth.

Smith and Martha Taylor's 44-year-old son Lewis S. was also still living in Millburn in 1900, working as a carpenter. He was then married to Ida and had a daughter Nellie and a son William.

In just this quick look at this early Millburn family, which is unrelated to the Taylor Park Taylors, it seems the teapot and the family do, indeed, have a long history in this area. While without a picture of the teapot with the Taylors, we cannot absolutely confirm that this exact pot in the collection of the Millburn-Short Hills Historical Society was once in the home of the Smith Denman Taylors, the note inside of it and the family history certainly make a strong case that it likely was. It also reminds us all that without a (penciled) note on our photos or a note tucked inside our family heirloom, those heirlooms quickly lose their association with the family. Please take time to label those heirlooms that are an important part of your family's history.