Tall Family
Elijah Tall born in 1786, lived on Taylors Island. On 18 January 1808, Elijah married Susan Aaron, daughter of John and Mary Aaron. Elijah was a Private in the 48th Reg’t (Jones) Maryland Militia during the War of 1812. During this war pilfering by the British in Dorchester County was common and quickly defended. "On one occasion British invaders from Admiral Cockburn's fleet anchored in the bay off the mouth of Punch Island Creek to procure food wherever they could find it and without cost. Mr. Tall, a resident, when he saw what they were after and unable to find help, loaded his gun with buckshot, barricaded himself between two ranks of wood on the Creek and waited for them to come down. In a short time they appeared with a supply of sheep and pigs and as the boat passed he stuck the muzzle of his gun through an opening in the wood and blazed away. The British thinking they were outnumbered rowed for dear life. After reaching the ship they got underway never to return to that part of the island again." On 8 August 1862 Elijah died suddenly. He is buried on Robinson’s Neck, Taylors Island.
One of Elijah’s children was Samuel A Tall who was born in 1824. In 1856, Samuel married Ann Lavinia Kirwan, daughter of Solomon F Kirwan and Susan Ann Travers. To the union of Samuel and Lavinia were born 4 boys Wilbur, Guy, Louis and Charles.
Another of Elijah’s children Christopher C. Tall married Mary Meekins in 1862. To this union twin boys Herbert and Raymond were born in 1866.
Samuel and his brother Christopher lived on Taylors Island is the vicinity of Punch Island and very close to the residence of Judge Kirwan, who lived across the creek (see the image below).
Samuel and his wife Lavinia both died on the same day 29 September 1868, and are buried at the Solomon F Kirwan residence in the Kirwan-Tall graveyard. The orphaned boys of Samuel and Lavinia were raised by their grandfather Solomon Kirwan.
The 6 Tall cousins were very close in age, so it is fair to assume they grew up together. 4 of the cousins Wilbur, Guy, Louis and Raymond followed the sea in adulthood. Wilbur K. Tall, was the Captain of the ship B B Roukes, his brother Guy Tall was mate and his cousin Raymond Tall was second mate. The Roukes sailed from Fernandina, Florida to Baltimore when it apparently encountered a storm in April 1889. All hope for survivors was given up after a search and the Captain and crew were deemed ‘Lost at Sea’. In October of the same year, Louis Tall was aboard the schooner Frances E. Waters when the ship encountered a storm. All of the crew was ‘lost at sea’ and the schooner washed ashore at Nags Head North Carolina.
The names, Wilbur Tall, Guy Tall and Louis Tall are listed on the monument to their mother Ann Lavinia Kirwan Tall along with the words “Lost at Sea”.
One of Elijah’s children was Samuel A Tall who was born in 1824. In 1856, Samuel married Ann Lavinia Kirwan, daughter of Solomon F Kirwan and Susan Ann Travers. To the union of Samuel and Lavinia were born 4 boys Wilbur, Guy, Louis and Charles.
Another of Elijah’s children Christopher C. Tall married Mary Meekins in 1862. To this union twin boys Herbert and Raymond were born in 1866.
Samuel and his brother Christopher lived on Taylors Island is the vicinity of Punch Island and very close to the residence of Judge Kirwan, who lived across the creek (see the image below).
Samuel and his wife Lavinia both died on the same day 29 September 1868, and are buried at the Solomon F Kirwan residence in the Kirwan-Tall graveyard. The orphaned boys of Samuel and Lavinia were raised by their grandfather Solomon Kirwan.
The 6 Tall cousins were very close in age, so it is fair to assume they grew up together. 4 of the cousins Wilbur, Guy, Louis and Raymond followed the sea in adulthood. Wilbur K. Tall, was the Captain of the ship B B Roukes, his brother Guy Tall was mate and his cousin Raymond Tall was second mate. The Roukes sailed from Fernandina, Florida to Baltimore when it apparently encountered a storm in April 1889. All hope for survivors was given up after a search and the Captain and crew were deemed ‘Lost at Sea’. In October of the same year, Louis Tall was aboard the schooner Frances E. Waters when the ship encountered a storm. All of the crew was ‘lost at sea’ and the schooner washed ashore at Nags Head North Carolina.
The names, Wilbur Tall, Guy Tall and Louis Tall are listed on the monument to their mother Ann Lavinia Kirwan Tall along with the words “Lost at Sea”.
1877 Atlas Dorchester and Talbot Counties
