According to the anonymous editor of her poems, Taylor's father was an "indigent cottager," in Queen’s County (now County Laois) in the north-west part of Ireland and the source of the River Barrow, referred to in her poem "Written by the Barrow side.

[1] In "Written by the Barrow side, where she was sent to wash Linen," the poet laments that in having to endure "Servitude" (l. 7) but having learnt "the pleasing sense" (l. 30) from reading, she lives in the worst of both worlds.

Of books, the poet writes: I can but from them learn to know What misery's complete, And feel more sensibly each blow Dealt by relentless fate.

Taylor published some of her poetry in newspapers[4] though the collection for which she is known was arranged by an anonymous editor, according to them without her knowledge, in an effort to "assist Genius when sinking under poverty and distress.

"[3] Poems was published by George Draper in Dublin in 1792, and while the list of subscribers contained only forty names, among them were "two countesses, three viscountesses, an archbishop and the Solicitor General.