Lot 3963

Description

Reference letter handwritten by Hugh Taylor, Parramatta 7 February 1896, recommending Mr Reginald Carpenter as a book keeper; also Australian Mutual Provident Society, Annual Bonus Certificate for 1933 and named to Mr R L Carpenter. Very fine. (2)

Hugh Taylor was a politician who was born at Parramatta on 19 March 1823. He cultivated an image as 'the poor man's friend'. In 1872 he was elected as the Member for Parramatta but due to the vicious sectarian violence of one of his opponents, a Protestant, Taylor, a Roman Catholic, decided to resign. However, he won the subsequent by-election and went on to be the elected representative for many years. In the House of Assembly he was a staunch ally of (Sir) Henry Parkes and in fact acted as best man at Henry's third marriage. He died on 13 December 1897 and is buried in the family vault in the Catholic section of Parramatta Cemetery.