Toxteth Park Cemetery

I found something today...

Toxteth Park Cemetery burials. I wondered about it. There is a great history listed there that references many cemeteries in Liverpool. The basic premise is that as people moved out of the squalor of the inner city, the churches' congregations in that area decreased. Eventually many churches were closed, and pulled down because the value of the land in central Liverpool was so high. Those buried in these church yards were exhumed and moved to centralized locations...Toxteth Park Cemetery was one of these.

And reading all of this made me realize that I have almost no records of burials for the Taylor family living in Liverpool. Hmm...

So, searching for the surname "Taylor." There are quite a few. But one jumped out at me: Samuel Taylor, address 7 Seddon St, buried 1 Oct 1875... Seddon St...that's the family address again (#10 Cleveland Square is on the corner of Cleveland Square and Seddon Street...the Paint & Varnish side of the business is usually listed on Seddon Street, while the Pharmacy is Cleveland Square) Well, yes, that was Samuel Taylor, Charles' next older brother, who died "suddenly" 28 September 1875 . There was a link for the grave itself and I found that both Samuel and his widow, Eliza were buried in that grave. And, oh joy! Eliza's burial date and address!

I'm loving this site already! Now to see who else is buried there...and where they are buried (did I mention the grave maps?)

Eugenie Wright

So another puzzle we have had is who Eugenie Wright is. Eugenie shows up in 1881 with Josiah Taylor, Charles [Sr]'s brother. Listed as his niece. Eugenie isn't particularly common so, finally I sent for her birth certificate and she turns out to be the daughter of Thomas Wright & Elizabeth Wright late Goodsir formerly Coffee...

Hmmm.....

So FreeBMD had a marriage between an Elizabeth Goodsir and a Thomas Roper Wright married Dec Qtr 1855. Also a marriage for Elizabeth Coffee and George Goodsir in Jun 1839. George died Dec 1852.

Funny thing, I already had four Goodsir children...William b. 1840 married Sophia Elizabeth Taylor, Josiah Taylor's eldest daughter. Also George Frederick b. Sep 1844, Robert Stebbings b. Mar 1847, & Isabella b. Sep 1851.

So what if Eugenie Wright's mother was also William Goodsir's mother? Let's see....

Jun 1839 George Goodsir & Elizabeth Coffee married
Jun 1840 William Goodsir born
Sep 1844 George Frederick Goodsir born
Mar 1847 Robert Stebbings Goodsir born
Sep 1851 Isabella born
Dec 1852 George Goodsir died
Dec 1855 Elizabeth Coffee Goodsir married Thomas Roper Wright
Feb 1857 Eugenie Wright born

Proof? 1851 Census St Thomas District, Liverpool:
George Goodsir 42y, Publican
Elizabeth Goodsir 34y, wife
William Goodsir son 9y

But where were George & Robert?

In Scotland with an aunt...probably George's as he was born in Scotland.
Sibby Dietrickson 48y
George Goodsir 7y nephew b. Liverpool
Robert Goodsir 3y nephew b. Liverpool

Makes sense when you realize that Isabella was born Sep 1851, just a few months after the census was taken.

Charles Taylor in 1841 Census

He's with Anthony Thomas Morgan in Llangelynnin Parish, Merioneth, Wales!

Now, he isn't listed as a druggist, but as "independent." I guess that means he's got money and doesn't need to work. I wonder if he's through with his schooling and taking a trip before settling down to work at the family business in Cleveland Square? Well, at least it explains how Charles and Anne Clarke Morgan met.

Another researcher has contacted me through the Merioneth Message board who is related to the Morgan family and has considerable research on them. He's found a Quaker connection which also links them to John Bright, a reformer who was raised in Rochdale. Sounds to me as if somehow John Bright introduced Charles Taylor to Anthony Thomas Morgan (whom he met at a Quaker school) which eventually led to Charles and Anne's marriage in 1844.

I need to go through the history of Rochdale some more to find out what else is going on. I did see reference to the Corn Laws and the buying and redistribution of land in relation to John Bright. There is considerable information on John Bright, perhaps it will give us some clues on the Morgans, Taylors and perhaps how in the world Charles met Mary Ann Moore (Marian Debarcy)

Anne Clarke Morgan IS Mary Collis Taylor's mother

So today's mail was a really large bundle. The internet is a wonderful thing...a week and a half ago I ordered the certificates and they were in the mail today!

To start with:

Mary Collis Taylor was born 17 June 1846 at 13 Wilton St, Liverpool. Her father was Charles Taylor, Chemist and Druggist. Her mother was Ann Clarke Taylor formerly Morgan.

Next:

14 Feb 1844 married by license in the parish church of Llangelynin, county of Merioneth by Thos. Jones, Curate

Charles Taylor, gentleman, full age, bachelor, residing in Liverpool, Father: John Taylor (no occupation) and
Anne Clarke Morgan, full age, spinster, residing in Hendre, Father: Anthony Morgan, gentleman

Witnesses: Anthony Thomas Morgan & Jane Lewis

Third:

Anne Clarke Taylor died 14 Apr 1856 Sidney Rd, Tranmere, female, 36 years, wife of Charles Taylor, Chemist, of Chronic Headache & Apoplectic fit - certified

So we have clearly found Charles' first marriage.

I searched on Llangelynin and found the correct spelling is Langelynnin. The other spelling is located in Caernarvonshire. In searching for this I found a new resource: A Vision of Britain Through Time. It is a comprehensive gazetteer and mapping system about all places in Britain. You gotta try it!

Musings on Marian DeBarcy

I can't find anything in Barcy, France (north-east of Paris). But there's a Burcy a little south of Paris and a Bussy, all three are still in Marne-et-Seine. I also found a Burcy in Normandie...which is another possibility, because that is much closer to the coast and England.

How long would it take to get from Paris to the coast if you were escaping and hiding? It's roughly 100 miles. The pioneers walked on average of 10 miles a day. That would make it about 10 days from Paris to Le Havre. One to cross the channel and then how to get from southern England to Liverpool? And why would her brother and sister die? Was it winter? Did they travel at night? If it was a local dispute, once they were a couple days away from the area, it shouldn't have mattered. So if they were followed and George and Sylvia killed, then it must have been a bigger issue. Or maybe they died in the initial escape from their home, at the beginning of the event.

What about their parents? Their parents have never been mentioned. Were they killed outright? Were the children given instructions to leave if the parents were arrested? Were they orphans already?

We have no idea whether they were upper- or lower-class. I'd have to assume for something of this sort they must have been fairly well-to-do. It doesn't make sense that poor farmers would be chased out of the area. That would also make more sense if she truly was a "companion" to a wealthy woman--"Lady" Goodall. A poor farm-girl would not have had the training to be a companion in a wealthy social class. But it doesn't explain the "servant" occupation in the 1861 Census with Charles Taylor. That can only be explained as covering up for their relationship. I'd think that "servant" must have been accompanied by a wink and a knowing grin when the census-taker wrote it down.

So how did she escape anyway? And what exactly was she escaping from? Did she have help? Was there someone who took care of her or did she have to find her own way?

So, supposing Marian was hiding all the way across the channel. What next? Did she have any money to live on? Did she have any idea of a job? How did she get the job of being companion to Lady Goodall in the first place? Did she have the position promised to her before she left France? Did she have a safe place to go to in England? If she was well-to-do, were they able to bring anything with them? If as it says, she came as a young woman, [one document says sixteen] then what would she have done to make ends meet until she got the position as companion? I wonder if she was turned away from her position with Lady Goodall because of her interest in (or assignations with) Charles Taylor. It is easy to believe that in that position she met Charles Taylor and "changed jobs".

Okay, here's an awful thought...what if she wasn't companion to LADY Goodall but a Mr. Goodall? What if William is truly William Goodall? Don't know. Never thought of this possibility before and truly, I never would have dared write it down if all the closer relatives weren't already gone. But what if Mr. Goodall picked her up in France and brought her to England and then for some reason they split up and she found Charles Taylor? However, I don't think she would have left one safe position without expectation or knowledge of another. On the other hand, She had to have been of at least a middle-class social status or she couldn't possibly have retained Charles' interest long enough for the births of all their children...although I am leaning to the belief that Alice Jane was the product of a last-ditch effort to retain his attention.

Was she really born in France?

Was Marian DeBarcy really born in France?

It is possible that the whole story is a hoax to cover the children's illegitimacy. In all the censuses Mary Ann Moore is born in Liverpool. But, looking up all the Mary Ann Moores of approximately the same age, born in Liverpool, listed in the 1851 and 1841 censuses doesn't show a family with Mary Ann, George & Sylvia as children's names. Maybe she borrowed a story from an ancestor?

Does she really have a brother, George and sister, Sylvia? George is a common name in Charles Taylor, Sr.'s family and so is Sophia, which is awfully close to Sylvia. Hmmm....

Why do we have a picture of Mary Collis Taylor Dickins?

When do you think this picture was taken of Mary Collis? My first guess was that it was taken when Mary Ann Moore [Marian DeBarcy] married Charles, Sr. That must have been around 1859. (William was born in 1860.) Mary would have been 13. Did girls put their hair up that early? I wish I could see her pendant better. It looks totally flat. I wonder if it got turned around and what we are looking at is the back of the pendant?

Why would Mary Ann keep this picture of Mary Collis even after she split up with Charles Sr.? The fact that she kept it must mean that it was hers to begin with, which is one reason why I think she commissioned the sitting. Was her early picture (see sidebar) taken at the same time? A girl's day out? Trying to make friends with a [future?] step-child?

Mary Collis Taylor bounced around living with different uncles at different times. In 1851, she lived with her father, Charles & mother, Ann Clarke in Tranmere, Cheshire. In 1861, she lived with Uncle Samuel Taylor at 162 Olive Park in Wavertree. In 1871 she lived with Uncle John Taylor at 51 Hope Street in Everton. In 1881, she was married to Edward Francis Dickins. They are together in 1891 & 1901. Of course we have to take this with a little salt, since the censuses are only a single day's snapsnot in a 10-year period. But, Charles Jr.'s notes say that she lived with Uncle Samuel, so that sounds as if she never did live regularly with Mary Ann & Charles Sr. I wonder why, especially if Mary Ann tried to make friends with Mary Collis as this picture might suggest.

Who has the original photograph? This copy was given me by my cousin. It doesn't have the photographer's stamp on it, so I have no idea whether it was taken in Liverpool, or on a trip they all might have taken together. I might even be able to date it somewhat by the photographer's listing in the directories. If only we knew.

Mary's middle name came from her grandmother, Sophia Collis, who married John Taylor, Esq. A cousin contacted us who had a old transcription of an even older family bible record. His record corroborated what we had researched through wills and censuses and gave us a few more details.

But we still can't locate a marriage record for Charles Taylor and Ann Clarke.

What is it with middle names in this family? In Mary Collis's christening record her mother's name of Anne Clarke appears. In the 1851 census, she has the name Annie Clerk Taylor. In both of these Mary has the middle name"Collis." Why is this so important? In every record we have found Mary shows up as "Mary C." or "Mary Collis" and yet Charles Jr. did not record her middle initial in the family story he provided us.

So it all comes back to the same question; Why do we have a picture of Mary Collis Taylor?

Moore?

So their surname on the ship's list was "Moore." Why Moore? Where did Moore come from? And if their name was Moore, why did they say their father's name was Taylor and use the Taylor surname in the United States? Did someone make a mistake?

Okay, so searching for all of these people with the surname of Moore turned up christening records for William, Annie & Charles, all in St Peter's Church, Liverpool. All with a father of Charles Moore and mother Mary Ann. 1861, 1871, 1881 censuses stating Mary Ann Moore. In 1861, she is a servant to Charles Taylor, living at Cleveland Square. But no baby William (he was born in 1860). In 1871, the family was William Moore, druggist, Mary Ann, William, George, Annie, & Charles. But Charles Taylor was listed living at the Cleveland Square address with a servant, Margaret Rooney. Is William Moore, druggist the same as Charles Taylor, druggist? In 1881, the household consisted of Mary Ann Moore, widow, machinist (I think this refers to sewing machine), George, Charles & Jennie. Charles Taylor is listed as retired druggist, with a wife, Margaret & daughter Nellie, 1 year old!!!!!!

So clearly, by 1881 Charles and Mary Ann have split up. Apparently she claimed to be a widow to explain all the children she had. Were they divorced? Were they ever married?

In 1871, even though Charles has a new servant, he appears to be supporting Mary Ann and the children, since none of them have occupations then but they do by 1881.

Mary Ann's death certificate states she died 31 Dec 1882, Annie was the informant. Moore was both their surnames. In 1881, there is an Annie Moore who matches our Annie's age, a servant in a wealthy household.


















In May 1885, Annie, Charles & Jennie are aboard the ship The City of Chester, emigrating to the United States and their brother, William, who reportedly left in 1876....hmmm, the same year Jennie was born....was he protesting something? Was Jennie really Charles' daughter? Was William known in the United States by the surname Moore or the surname Taylor? Did it take more than two years to make contact and arrangements for the younger children to go to William? Who paid for the crossing? Where were the younger kids, from the time their mother died until they left England?

More and more questions. More and more mysteries.