Isaac Phillips and Caroline Elizabeth Taylor

St Margaret, The Broadway, Barking - Chancel
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/2974985

Isaac Phillips (bap. 26 Dec 1813 in Orsett, Essex), son of Joseph Phillips and Ann Clarke, married Caroline Elizabeth Taylor (purportedly b. ~1813 in Woolwich, Kent) on 16 Sep 1832 at St Margaret's Church, Barking.

Isaac and Caroline had 12 children:

1. Henry Phillips bap. 29 Sep 1833
2. Isaac Phillips bap. 16 Apr 1835
3. Maria Phillips b. 19 Aug 1837 (unnamed on reg 1837 S Quarter in ROMFORD UNION Volume 12 Page 153), bap. 17 Sep 1837
4. James Davis Phillips, b. 1841 M Quarter in ROMFORD UNION Volume 12 Page 223, bap. 26 Jan 1841 (Died in 1841 M Quarter in ROMFORD UNION Volume 12 Page and was buried on 31 Jan 1841)
5. Alfred Davis Phillips b. 1842 S Qtr in ROMFORD Vol 12 Page 203, bap. 14 Aug 1842 (Died in 1842 S Qtr in ROMFORD Vol 12 Page 147)
6. Jacob Phillips b. 1844 J Quarter in ROMFORD UNION Volume 12 Page 226, bap. 26 Mar 1844
7. Rebecca Phillips b. 1846 S Quarter in ROMFORD UNION Volume 12 Page 224, bap. 13 Aug 1846
8. Abraham Phillips b. 1849 M Quarter in THE ROMFORD UNION Volume 12 Page 243, bap. 23 Feb 1849
9. Anne Phillips b. 1851 S Quarter in ROMFORD Volume 12 Page 229
10. Thomas Phillips b. 1854 M Qtr in ROMFORD UNION Vol 04A Page 88, bap. 26 Mar 1854
11. Hester Phillips b. 1857 M Qtr in ROMFORD UNION Vol 04A Page 97
12. Alfred Phillips b. 1861 M Qtr in ROMFORD UNION Vol 04A Page 103

Baptisms all took place at St Helen and St Giles, Rainham.

The mother's maiden name on all of the GRO birth registrations is TAYLOR. The use of Davis as a middle name for both James and then Alfred leads me to believe that this may have been Caroline's mother's maiden name - it's a convention I've seen used frequently in this period - however, I've been unable to find Caroline's baptism, nor a marriage between a Taylor and a Davis. Rebecca's baptism in 1846 lists her father's occupation as Shepherd.

In 1841, the family, living in Rainham, consisted of Isaac Phillips (25) Ag Lab, Caroline (25), Henry (8), Isaac (6) and Maria (4). Also living with them were Elizabeth Parker (75) and Mary Taylor (60). The 1841 census doesn't give us relationships, but could this latter have been Caroline's mother?

In 1851, in the Upminster Road, Rainham, we find Isaac Phillips (38) Shepherd, Caroline Phillips (38) birthplace Woolwich, Kent; with children: Henry (17) Ag Lab, Isaac (15) Ag lab, Maria (13), Jacob (7), Rebecca (5) and Abraham (2). They also had a lodger, Henry Neville (18), also an Ag Lab.

In 1861, with their address listed as Fran House, Cottage, Rainham, there are Isaac Phillips (48) Ag Lab, Caroline (48), Jacob (17) Ag Lab, Rebecca (14), Abraham (12) Ag Lab, Thomas (7) Ag Lab, Esther (sic) (4) and Alfred (0).

In 1871, at Back Street Cottage, Rainham (Back Lane/Street becoming part of Upminster Road, these different addresses are probably all the same place), this time are Isaac Phillips (58) Ag Lab, Caroline (58), Thomas (17) Ag Lab, Hester (14) Domestic Servant and Alfred (10) Ag Lab.

Caroline Phillips died, aged 67 in 1880 D Quarter in ROMFORD Volume 04A Page 129, and was buried on 31 Oct 1880 in Rainham.

In 1881, still in the Village Back Street, Rainham, Isaac Phillips (68), widower, Ag Lab, was living with his daughter, Esther (24) listed as his housekeeper.

In 1891, Isaac Phillips (76), widower, Field Labourer, was an Inmate at the Workhouse in Romford. 

Isaac Phillips of the Romford Union House (later Oldchurch Hospital), died in 1892 D Quarter in ROMFORD Volume 04A Page 182, aged 78 and was buried, on 5 Nov 1892, in Rainham.

Oldchurch Hospital, Romford
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Winfield - geograph.org.uk/p/282543

Herbert Greey Taylor and Henrietta Staines Wilton

Holy Trinity, South Woodford
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/4815591

Herbert Greey Taylor (b. 18 Dec 1874 in Hackney), son of Robert William Taylor and Sarah Keene, married Henrietta Staines Wilton (bap. 16 Apr 1879 in Great Dunmow), daughter of Stephen Thomas Wilton and Sarah Anna Laver, at Holy Trinity South Woodford on 2 Jul 1900. 

Herbert and Henrietta had three children:

1. Herbert Leslie Taylor b. 25 Jun 1903 S Quarter in ROCHFORD Vol 04A 749, bap. 28 Aug 1903
2. Robert William Taylor b. 1907 M Quarter in ROCHFORD Vol 04A 728
3. Henrietta Thora Taylor b. 1 Dec 1909 (1910 M Quarter in ROCHFORD Vol 04A 684)

In 1901, Herbert G Taylor (26) Commercial Traveller (Cloth) and Henrietta S Taylor (22) were living at 7, Gordon Road, Wanstead, West Ham.

In 1911, at Summerfield, Burnham Road, Leigh-on-Sea, were Herbert Greey Taylor (36) Merchant Italian Cloth; Henrietta Staines Taylor (32), Herbert Leslie Taylor (7), Robert William Taylor (4), Henrietta Thora Taylor (1) & two servants: Louisa Ellen Sargent (23) and Annie Garnish Threadgold (16).

In 1921, Herbert Greey Taylor (46) Italian Cloth Merchant; Henrietta Staines Taylor (42), Herbert Leslie Taylor (18), Robert William Taylor (14), Henrietta Thora Taylor (11), Dora Ella Taylor (18) General Domestic Servant and Ethel Maud Taylor (38) Sister-in-law were living at Hurst Lodge, Hadley Road, Monken Hadley, New Barnet.

In 1939, living at "Terra Nore" Longdown Lane South, Ewell, Surrey were Herbert Greey Taylor, Textile Merchant & Agent; Henrietta Staines Taylor and Henrietta Thora Colley, Private Secretary. (Henrietta Thora Taylor had married Henry Colley, in Ewell, Surrey, on 29 Oct 1938.)

Henrietta Staines Taylor died, aged 77, in 1956 D Quarter in LEWES Volume 05H Page 433.

Herbert Greey Taylor also died in Lewes, in 1970, at 95.

John Sweney and Alice Taylor

Pentonville Prison
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © N Chadwick - geograph.org.uk/p/6643449

John Sweney (b. 12 Dec 1867) son of John Henry Charles Sweeney and Susannah Harvey married Alice Taylor (18) daughter of Frederick Taylor and Ann Elizabeth Swaden, at Saint Matthew, Salmon Lane, Limehouse Fields, on 29 Mar 1886. Witnesses were George Taylor and Annie Taylor.

John and Alice had seven children:

1. Frederic Sweney (sic) b. 1887 J Quarter in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 435. Died aged 17 in 1904 J Quarter in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 37
2. John Sweney b. 1889 M Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Vol 01C Page 554. Died age 1 in 1890 D Qtr in MILE END Vol 01C Page
3. Alice Sweney b. 1891 J Qtr in MILE END Vol 01C Page 506
4. Emma Sweney b. 1893 S Qtr in MILE END Vol 01C Page 522
5. John Sweney b. 1896 S Quarter in FULHAM Vol 01A Page 272
6. Thomas Sweney b. 1899 S Qtr in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 6
7. Rose Sweney b. 1903 M Qtr in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 35

TAYLOR is the mother's maiden name on the births of all of their children.

In 1891, at 79, St Ann's Road, Mile End Old Town we find John Sweney (24) Slater; Alice Sweney (24); Frederick Sweney (4) and Alice Sweney (3 mts).

The Globe of 29 Mar 1901 reported: ALLEGED ATTACK ON A WIFE. At the West Ham Police Court today, John Sweeney, 36, a tiler, of 3 Shaftesbury Avenue, Plaistow, was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm on his wife Alice. Mr F Stern prosecuted. The wife, who attended for the first time, said her husband came home in the small hours of the morning of March 22 and was the worse for liquor. He threw on the table 3s 6d, saying that that was all the had got left out of half a sovereign, and she would have none of it. He threw a tumbler at her, then a pair of boots and a chair, but these articles missed her. He went on to punch her about the body and hit her across the arm with a chair. He told her to "Sling her hook" and threatened to finish her. She screamed, but though other people were in the house, no one went to her help. She became dazed, and the last thing she remembered was seeing him lifting a mahogany table over his head. When she recovered she found herself half-way through the window (on the ground floor), and when she moved she fell on the pavement. At the station she was seen by the divisional surgeon. He had been convicted before for assaulting her. Prisoner, who alleged that his wife was addicted to drink and neglected the house, was remanded.

Eastern Counties Times, 30 Mar 1901: FORGIVEN HIM TOO MANY TIMES

At the West Ham Police Court on Saturday, John Sweeney, 36, a tiler, of 3 Shaftesbury Avenue, Plaistow, was charged with assaulting his wife, Alice, by kicking her, striking her with some blunt instrument, and throwing her through a window. PC Butcher 711K, was on duty in High Street, Plaistow, early on Saturday morning, when he heard screams proceeding from Shaftesbury Avenue. On the way to the house he saw a woman, bleeding, and calling for help. From what she said to him, he went into No. 3, Shaftesbury Avenue, and saw the furniture all broken up, and prisoner sitting in the room. The officer made him put on his things, and go to the station, as his wife accused him of assaulting her. When at the station he said to his wife, "Don't charge me this time, Alice, and I will never chastise you again." The woman replied that she had forgiven him too many times. She was too ill to appear that morning, and a remand was asked.

John Sweeney, who had been received into custody on 23 Mar 1901, appeared again at West Ham Police Court on 19 Apr 1901, charged with Maliciously wounding Alice Sweeney. He pleaded guilty to Common Assault and was handed a 3 Calendar Month sentence in Pentonville Prison.

At the time of the 1901 Census on 31 March 1901, therefore, John Sweeney (36) Prisoner, Married, Slater from Plaistow was clearly on remand and, confirming this, was listed on that census at His Majesty's Prison in Holloway, Islington. Nevertheless, at 3 Shaftesbury Avenue, [Plaistow], West Ham there was an entry which appears to say "family removed", but this is crossed through and the following people are said to be present: James Sweney (35) House tiler (Slater); Alice Sweney (35), Fred Sweney (14) Tiler's labourer; Alice Sweney (10), Ethel [Emma] Sweney (8), James Sweney (5) - birthplace Fulham - and Tom Sweney (2). Obviously, John (who was not called James) couldn't be in two places at once - and somehow I trust the prison to know who they had under their roof - and I can only speculate why Alice may have been trying to show that her husband was still at home, but along with the other errors, one does have to wonder who was 'on the sauce'.

In 1911, John Sweeney (41) Slater from Limehouse was living at 33 Heckfield Place, Fulham, with Alice Sweeney (41), John Sweeney (14), Thomas Sweeney (12) and Rose Sweeney (7). This census confirms that the couple had seven children, of whom five were then still living and two had died. 

In 1921, John Sweney (54) Slater was at 107, Lawrence Avenue, East Ham with Alice Sweney (54), Rose Sweney (18) and Thomas Sweney (24) Slater.

Alice Sweeney died, aged 65, in 1931 M Qtr in WEST HAM Vol 04A 233.

In 1939, at 107a Lawrence Avenue, Manor Park, Newham, East Ham, listed as Charles J Sweeney, Slater Tiler (Retired) - this is clearly John and even quotes his birthdate of 12 Dec 1867 - with a John J Watson (assume Lodger).

John Sweeney died, aged 77, in 1944 S Quarter in FULHAM Volume 01A Page 248. Interestingly, at FindMyPast this same record, with the same references, has been transcribed twice: once as Charles Sweeney and once more as John Sweeney, so I am absolutely certain this is our man. 

James Bray and Jane Taylor

Photo © John P Reeves (cc-by-sa/2.0)

St Andrew's Church in Cullompton, Friday, 11 February, 2022

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

James Bray married Jane Taylor at St Andrew's Church, Cullompton on 6 Jan 1763. It appears James was from Uffculme and Jane from Cullompton.

James and Jane Bray had nine children, baptised at St Mary's, Uffculme:

1. Mary Bray bap. 18 Feb 1766. Buried 28 Jul 1771 also in Uffculme.
2. John Bray bap. 13 Jul 1767. Buried 15 Oct 1769 also in Uffculme.
3. James Bray bap. 27 Mar 1769
4. William Bray bap. 8 Dec 1770. Buried 11 Aug 1771 in Uffculme.
5. John Bray bap. 11 Jun 1772
6. Mary Bray bap. 7 Nov 1773
7. Thomas Bray bap. 9 Apr 1776
8. Jane Bray bap. 8 Jul 1777
9. William Bray bap. 14 Apr 1780

Jane Bray, wife of James Bray was buried on 2 Apr 1788, in Uffculme.

James Bray was buried in Uffculme on 22 Dec 1799.