About three years before this boy's birth, in 1685, William had married Anne (1664–1694), daughter of merchant, planter and burgess Henry Corbin (circa 1629–1676) and his wife Alice (Eltonhead), of "Buckingham House", in nearby Middlesex County.

In 1711 Francis Yeates, of Richmond County, was allowed by Act of Assembly to convey certain lands to John Tayloe, Gent.

Located along the Rappahannock River across from Horse Head Point, the name also notes the emigrant ironworker, John King and Company from Bristol, England, and was in operation by 1729.

Situated on 5,000 acres (2,000 ha) by the Neabsco Creek,[9] it became a multifaceted antebellum industrial plantation, with farming, leatherworking, milling, shipbuilding, shoemaking, and smithing, and later supplied raw materials for weaponry during the American Revolution.

[10][8][11] John Tayloe began holding local offices in Richmond County upon reaching legal age.

John II inherited Tayloe's Quarter, what was to become Mount Airy, as well as 12,846 acres in Prince William County, all his other estates (most of which were entailed) and all of his slaves and other property not bequeathed to his wife or others (together with the reversion of what was left her).

Tayloe's will gave his widow the use of the plantation where they had lived, 1200 acres; a large number of slaves, a chariot and six horses, plate and furniture, 1000 pounds sterling, and one-fourth of his stock of horses and cattle, and also specifically stated that these bequests would not bar her from receiving her dower.

[citation needed] The inventory of his estate shows that on his plantations in Richmond, Essex, King George, Stafford and Prince William counties, Virginia, and in Maryland, he owned 279 slaves.