Peter Rawson Taft (April 14, 1785 – January 1, 1867) was an American lawyer, judge, and legislator. His son Alphonso Taft served as the U.S. Secretary of War (1876), and U.S. Attorney General (1876–1877). Alphonso was the father and Peter was the grandfather of President William Howard Taft.
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Early life and family
Peter Rawson Taft was born to Aaron Taft and Rhoda (née Rawson) Taft on April 14, 1785, at Uxbridge in Worcester County, Massachusetts.
Aaron Taft was educated at Princeton College. The Taft's lived at the Aaron Taft House in Uxbridge, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Aaron was a farmer. He took his family to Vermont in 1799, when Taft was 14 years of age. Taft was reared a farmer, with a common-school education. He enjoyed reading and was studious. Taft taught at local schools for five to six years and he worked as a surveyor for several years.
Taft descended from Robert Taft Sr. (1640–1725), the first Taft who immigrated to Colonial America. His mother was a descendant of Edward Rawson, who was the secretary of the Massachusetts Bay Colony from 1650 to 1681.