tˈeɪlɚ wʌz bˈɔːɹn æt hˈæpi vˈæli ɪn kˈɑːɹɾɚ kˈaʊnti, tˌɛnəsˈiː, ðə sˈʌn ʌv dʒˈeɪmz pˈæʔn̩ tˈeɪlɚ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti tˈuː wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi θɹˈiː ænd hɪz wˈaɪf, ðə fˈɔːɹmɚ mˈɛɹi kˈɑːɹɾɚ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti nˈaɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi.
Taylor was born at Happy Valley in Carter County, Tennessee, the son of James Patton Taylor (1792–1833) and his wife, the former Mary Carter (1799–1840).