Samuel Taylor was born at 10 Brick Street, Bristol on 17 February 1848, and was the youngest of Mark and Charlotte Taylor’s (nee’ Lewis) nine known children1. He was baptised at St Philip and Jacob, Bristol on 5 March 18482. In 1851 he was recorded as 3 years old and still living at 10 Brick Street3. By 1861 the family had moved to 9 Bread Street, Bristol. Samuel was recorded in the census as a 14 years old scholar4.
Marriage
Samuel married Mary Evans following banns at St Mark’s Church, Gloucester on 27 June 1870. Samuel was recorded as being 20 years old and a licenced hawker whilst Mary was recorded as 16 years old, without occupation5. In April 1871 Samuel and Mary were living at 12 Guinea Street, Gloucester and are both recorded as 21 years old with Samuel’s occupation stated as Pedlar6. Living next door, at 10 Guinea Street, were Samuel’s father-in-law and mother-in-law, Philip and Elizabeth Evans (nee’ Shaw), Philip was an Earthernware Dealer and Elizabeth was born in Lane End, Stoke on Trent, these links to the potteries are a strong connection to Samuel’s occupation. Living with Samuel and Mary are Philip and Lydia Miller (nee’ Keeling) who are recorded as lodgers. Although of a similar age, Philip Miller was Mary Evans’s nephew through her older sister, Ann.
Lydia Miller appears to have had a difficult life. Philip and Lydia married at St Marks, Gloucester on 4 September 1870, but Lydia was to die young at the age of 28 on 11 August 1877. She drowned in Tabby Pits Pool, next to the railway, following a night of drinking, an inquest held at the Plasterer’s Arms, Dockham, Gloucester returned a verdict of accidental death7. In 1867 at the age of 17 Lydia Keeling had been sentenced to 14 day’s hard labour for using obscene language in a public street her occupation at the time of her conviction was recorded as prostitute8.
Children
Samuel and Mary Taylor were to have 13 children9 (2 have not been identified) the first was Sarah, who was born in 1872 in Gloucester10, she was baptised at St Mark’s on 23 January 1872. At this time Samuel and Mary were recorded as living in Foundry Street, Gloucester11.
Emma was born in 9 July 1873 in Newland, Coleford, Monmouth12. It is probable that Samuel, who’s occupation was recorded as an earthenware dealer, moved to Coleford to be near his older brother James who was running the Lamb public house in Gloucester Road.
Samuel Henry was born in 1876 in Ledbury, Herefordshire13. It is probable that Samuel was staying with his parents at that time.
Mark was born in 1878 in Barnstaple, Devon14.
Mary Elizabeth and John were twins born in 1880 in Barnstaple, Devon15.
Jane was born in 1883 in Barnstaple, Devon.
Harriett was born on 14 December 188716 in Washford, Somerset 17.
Philip Evans was born on 31 May 189118 in Washford, Somerset 19.
Elizabeth Ethel (Bessie) born in 1894 in Washford, Somerset20.
Blanche Maud was born on 2 December 189821 in Washford, Somerset 22. She was baptised on 6 January 1899 at St Andrew’s, Old Cleeve. Samuel’s occupation recorded at the baptism is hawker.
Conviction for Assault
On 23 October 1872 Samuel was sentenced to 3 month’s hard labour for assaulting and beating Elizabeth Wellington on the 20 October 1872. At this time Samuel and Mary were living in Gloucester Road, Coleford. Also convicted were Frank Holland, aged 29, who also received three months hard labour and James Wellington, aged 72, also of Gloucester Road, Coleford who was sentenced to two months hard labour. Samuel is described in the prison record of the time as 5’3” tall of fresh complexion with light hair and grey eyes. He had numerous scars on his forehead, as well as on his left eyebrow, right cheek, both shoulders and both breasts. Census records show that James Wellington and his younger wife Elizabeth, aged 46, were lodging house keepers, in Gloucester Road, Coleford.
Addresses and Death
In 1881 Samuel and Mary were living in Myrtle Place, Barnstaple23. Samuel was recorded as an earthenware dealer, all their known children were still living with them at this time.
In 1891 Samuel and Mary were living in Washford, Somerset24. Samuel was recorded as a china dealer. Sarah, Emma and John are no longer living with them at this time. They are living at the Pebbles with the Steven’s as neighbours in Jasmine Cottage, including Mary who their son Samuel was to marry in 1898.
In 1901 Samuel and Mary are living in Washford, Somerset25. Samuel was recorded as a china dealer. Sarah, Emma, Samuel, Mary and John are no longer living with them at this time.
In 1911 Samuel and Mary are living in Washford, Somerset26. Samuel was recorded as a china dealer. Sarah, Emma, Samuel, Mary, John, Harriet and Philip are no longer living with them at this time.
Samuel passed away at the age of 83 on 22 January 1932 at the home of his son Philip; 81 Sarehole Road, Hall Green, Birmingham. His effects totalled £408 12s. 11d. At the time of his death his normal residence was living at 5 May Terrace, Washford 27.
[huge_it_maps id=”5″]
Footnotes:
[1] Birth Certificate, Civil Registration Births Index, Volume 11 Page 295. Mark was recorded with occupation of smith and Charlotte, who was the informant, made a mark rather than sign.
[2] Bristol, England, Select Church of England Parish Registers, 1720-1933.
[3] 1851 England census, Class: HO107; Piece: 1954; Folio: 150; Page: 34; GSU roll: 87354.
[4] 1861 England census, Class: RG 9; Piece: 1737; Folio: 127; Page: 36; GSU roll: 542859. The surname of the family is spelt “Tailor”.
[5] Marriage certificate. The fathers are recorded as Mark Taylor, Blacksmith and Philip Evans, Licensed Hawker.
[6] 1871 England Census, Class: RG10; Piece: 2613; Folio: 66; Page: 38; GSU roll: 835314.
[7] “Death by Drowning”, The Citizen, 14 August 1877.
[8] Gloucester, England, Prison Records.
[9] 1911 England Census, Class: RG14; Piece: 14133; Schedule Number: 133.
[10]Civil Registration Births Index, Volume 6a Page 281. Gloucestershire Register 19 Page 252
[11] St Mark’s Gloucester, Parish Records. pp 72.
[12] Birth Certificate, Civil Registration Births Index, Volume 11a Page 23. Gloucestershire Register 30 Page 134
[13] Civil Registration Births Index, Volume 6a Page 502.
[14] Civil Registration Births Index, Volume 5b Page 452.
[15] Both in Civil Registration Births Index, Volume 5b Page 442.
[16] Civil Registration Death Index, Volume 7c Page 914.
[17] Civil Registration Births Index, Volume 5c Page 292.
[18] Civil Registration Death Index, Register P52a District 0611P Entry 91.
[19] Civil Registration Births Index, Volume 5c Page 275.
[20] Civil Registration Births Index, Volume 5c Page 277.
[21] Civil Registration Death Index, Volume 23 Page 1575.
[22] Civil Registration Births Index, Volume 5c Page 255.
[23] 1881 England Census, Class: RG11; Piece: 2244; Folio: 78; Page: 16; GSU roll: 1341540.
[24] 1891 England Census, Class: RG12; Piece: 1865; Folio: 101; Page: 2; GSU roll: 6096975
[25] 1901 England Census, Class: RG13; Piece: 2263; Folio: 102; Page: 2
[26] 1911 England Census, Class: RG14; Piece: 14133; Schedule Number: 133
[27] England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations)