John Taneyhill was born in Calvert, Maryland in about 1687. He moved to Isle of Wright County, Virginia at a young age before moving to Pasquotank Precinct, North Carolina as an adult. In 1715 a relative named James Tookes hired Taneyhill to help apprehend a group of enslaved and free people of color who had stolen from him. Taneyhill later resided in Craven Precinct, North Carolina by 1723. He died sometime prior to 1735.