Joseph Taylor was a resident of Edenton District. In 1777 James Rawlings swore both Joseph and his relative David Taylor into the Gourd Patch Conspiracy, encouraging them to prevent the pro-independence government from introducing Catholicism into the state, with violence if necessary. In June of that year Joseph and David were the first to testify about their knowledge of the plot to local officials, leading to the unraveling of the conspiracy and the arrest of its most prominent members.