Edward Taylor and Ann Thompson

Mile End Lock, Regent's Canal
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen McKay - geograph.org.uk/p/4514511

Edward Taylor, bricklayer, who listed his father as Thomas Taylor, Gentleman, married Ann Thompson (bap. 20 Oct 1817 at St Andrew's Church, Cransley, Northamptonshire), daughter of Solomon Thompson Jnr and Maria Willis, at Christ Church Watney Street, St George in the East (historically known as Wapping-Stepney), on 18 Nov 1847. Witnesses were Solomon Thompson, Ann's brother, and a Harriet Brown. Not found a baptism for Edward Taylor, who gives his birthplace as Newington, Surrey, however there was a marriage of a Thomas Taylor and Elizabeth Saveall on 11 Apr 1823 at St Mary's Newington, who I believe to have been his parents.

There are records for four children that I believe are of this family:

1. Thomas Saveall Taylor b. 1848 D Quarter in Stepney Volume 2 Page 495 (A transcription of this exists at FindMyPast, but not at the GRO.)
2. John Taylor b. 1853 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 489. Died 1854 M Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 388.
3. John Daniel Taylor b. 1855 M Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 525. Died, aged 2, in 1857 M Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 373
4. George Taylor b. 1858 D Qtr in MILE END OLD TOWN Vol 01C 507

The 3 GRO records confirm the mothers maiden name as THOMPSON.

In 1851 Edmond Taylor (sic) (30) Bricklayer from Newington, Surrey; wife Ann Taylor (36) from Cransley, Northamptonshre and son Thomas Taylor (2), were living at Webbs Nursery Ground, Jacksons Rent, Stepney, London. (This is the third time I've found cases, in completely different parts of the tree, where Edward and Edmond/Edmund have been used interchangeably.)

In 1861, living at Regent Cottage, Rhodeswell Rd, Limehouse, Stepney (almost parallel to the Regent's Canal), were Edmond Taylor (39) Master Bricklayer; Ann Taylor (40), Thomas Taylor (12) and George Taylor (2).

There is a death of an Ann Taylor in the 3rd quarter of 1864, in Stepney (Vol 1C Page 409), again curiously not found at the GRO, which may relate.

There are no further census listings for an Edmond/Edward Taylor, Bricklayer, anywhere so he may have died too, but I cannot yet identify a death record.

In 1871, listed as George S Taylor (12), the younger son was living with his aunt, Maria Blackett, his mother's sister, in Bermondsey. (It hasn't been possible to isolate relevant further records for Thomas S Taylor.)

In 1881, listed as George S Saville (22) Schoolmaster, was still living with his aunt, Maria Kenward (who had remarried), at 17, Douglas Street, Deptford. It is George continuing to live with his aunt that leads me to believe that his mother must have died and to consider the probable death in 1864.

Originally, I though that Saveall was a mis-transcription of Saville and it could well be, but it could equally be the other way around. However, I do think this is the clue to the continuity and that holds this family together.

Albury Street. Deptford
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Lunn - geograph.org.uk/p/2180678

George Taylor (b. 1858), son of Edward Taylor and Ann Thompson, married Julia Ellen Kemp in Hackney, London in the 4th quarter of 1888.

After his mother seemingly died in 1864, George had lived with his mother's sister, his aunt Maria Blackett (formerly Maria Thompson, later Maria Kenward), in 1871 listed as George Taylor and in 1881, listed as George Saville, both times quoting a middle initial of S, which actually he didn't have. Saveall, if not Saville, appears to have been his paternal grandmother's surname and Saveall was certainly his elder brother's middle name.

In 1891, George Taylor (32) Schoolmaster and wife Julia Taylor (33) from Lincolnshire, were living at 19, Crompton Road, Beckenham, Kent.

There appears to be no birth/baptism record of a Julia Ellen Kemp in Lincolnshire - or anywhere else for that matter - neither have I found her, anywhere, on any census, prior to 1891 - and, given that she was 30 at the time of her marriage to George, it's entirely feasible that she could have been a widow, but without further clues, she remains a complete mystery.

There are no apparent children to this couple either, but not knowing if they would be registered as Taylor or Saville, nor whether their mother's maiden name was Kemp or something else, means with all variables, it's not possible to know what to search for or how to confirm if any records relate.

There was then a death registered of George Saville, aged 36, in 1895 J Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 227.

Quite why he kept swapping from Taylor to Saville is also a mystery.

In 1901, Julia Taylor (43) Widow, was a boarder in the household of Elizabeth Burch (39) Midwife Nurse at 20, Albury Street, Deptford, who were extended family. Elizabeth Burch (née Wykes), was the  daughter of Elizabeth Thompson, another sister of George's mother and aunt Maria. 

As yet, I've found no clues to suggest what happened to Julia next.