From Pincock Family Heritage

John E Taylor along with his mother and siblings, joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1844.  They would walk miles to hear the missionaries when the Mormon Elders would preach in a private home.  From their home in Bolton, England, they could see the ships and boats on the North Sea and in 1856, the family, except for the father, migrated to America in the sail ship "Windemier".  They spent seven weeks on the ocean.  Their food was cooked by putting it in a sack and then dipping it into a large boiler with everyone else's food.  One of John's sisters, Elizabeth, was buried at sea sometime during the trip over.  Samuel, his brother, also died at sea on August 220, 1856; he was nineteen years old and a sailor by profession.

John E Taylor was a professional musician and played in an orchestra and a band.  He would practice the violin quietly from 5:00 am to 6:00 am then at 6:00 am: "He would throw all the doors open and practice the horn" to awaken everyone.  John made two trips to England and brought back musical instruments.  He began his first band in Woodland.  

In 1860 John and Elizabeth migrated to California, staying a year in El Dorado, County (Placerville) before continuing on to Woodland in Yolo County.