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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Midlothian => Topic started by: Lizw on Sunday 12 August 18 01:12 BST (UK)
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Hi everyone
I have several mysteries that I'd be very grateful for some help with:
John Taylor M.A. died 1820 aged 67 in Inveresk he had been the rector at Musseburgh Grammar for 30 years. I'm assuming he was born about 1753-54 but where and to whom I don't know. Another relative had suggested he was born on 1 Jul 1756 to John Taylor and Mgt Hoggard in 1756 in Kelso Rox. but I just feel that date isn't quite as accurate as I'd like it to be. I have no idea where he gained his M.A. either. I can see that he was chosen for the position as Rector by Dr. Alexander Carlyle and replaced John Murray on his retirement.
At some stage he married Sarah Faconar who died 24 Sep 1826 still in Musselburgh. I had assumed her parents were Alexander Falconer and Margaret Elder/Alder and she was b in Lauder in 1750. They had at least 8 children between 1780 -1795. Most of their children were born in Lauder the last 2 in Musselburgh.
I have the transcript of a letter from their Grandson (also John Taylor) which states: "My Grandmother's brother, Falconer of Woodcot of the then Sir George Clerk of Pennicuike, Bart had a son also in the Scots Greys whose sister married Sir Thomas Napier K.C.B. brother of Admiral Sir Charles Napier K.C.B."
I can find an Alexander Falconer of Woodcote who had inherited a property Reidhall from his father Thomas and renamed the property Woodcote/Woodcot. However I can't find any reference to Thomas having any other children. I wonder if the Falconers of Woodcote are in fact cousins of some sort but would like to prove or disprove that theory once and for all.
Any help would be very gratefully received.
many thanks
Liz
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Hi Liz,
Done some searching, I can see the births of 6 children to John Taylor and Sarah Falconar (sic) in Lauder and Kelso and 2 children to John Taylor and Sarah Falconer at Inveresk, Musselburgh,
Margaret Taylor b 15/10/1780 Lauder
Alexander Falconar Taylor b 20/01/1782 Lauder
Jean Taylor b 21/03/1784 Lauder
Colin Taylor b 03/04/1786 Lauder
John Taylor b 29/03/1788 Lauder
George Falconar Taylor b 06/05/1790 Kelso
Matilda Taylor b 03/07/1792 Inveresk, Musselburgh
Archibald Hope Taylor b 03/08/1795 Inveresk, Musselburgh
If Scottish Naming Pattern followed, I would have expected John's parents to be Alexander and Jean, and Sarah's parents to be Colin and Margaret. You suggest names of John Taylor and Margaret Hoggard for John, and Alexander Falconer and Margaret Elder/Alder for Sarah's. Having both mother's christian names the same, had made Scottish Naming Pattern to be awkward. I wonder who Jean and Colin were to take preference over father John.
There is also a will in Edinburgh Sheriff Court for John Taylor who was rector at Musselburgh Grammar School, his will is dated in 1822.
More searching required.
Tom
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Hi Liz,
Found a possible baptism record for John Taylor on OPR's.
Taylor, John Parents - John Taylor/ Margaret Hogg 02/07/1756 at Kelso
and Sarah Falconar (sic),
Falconar, Sarah Parents - Alexander Falconar and Margaret Alder August 1750 at Lauder, Berwickshire.
Makes John a bit of a toy boy!
Tom
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Napier_(Royal_Navy_officer)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Napier_(British_Army_officer)
Thomas Erskine Napier married Margaret Falconer in Edinburgh on 18 December 1821.
Margaret Falconar, other surname Napier, died in Duddingston in 1885, aged 93.
In the 1881 census she was living in Duddingston Cottage
Margaret NAPIER W 88 F Fala, Haddington, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Widow Of Sir T Napier R C B
Georgina MC KAY U 70 F Edinburgh City, Edinburgh, Scotland
Rel: Sister
Occ: Annuitant
Alexina OGILVIE U 50 F Edinburgh City, Edinburgh, Scotland
Rel: Niece
Occ: Annuitant
Plus one visitor and several servants.
Margaret Falconor, daughter of Alexander Falconor and Matilda Clark, was baptised in Fala and Soutra on 18 February 1794.
This couple also had George Hume or Home Falconer, baptised in Edinburgh in 1791, and Alexander, baptised in Fala and Soutra in 1795.
George Home Falconer served in the Scots Greys.
See https://archive.org/stream/falaandsoutrain00huntgoog/falaandsoutrain00huntgoog_djvu.txt - you need to scroll down to No 63 and 64.
Alexina Falconer, daughter of Alexander Falconer, married William Ogilvie in Edinburgh in 1818.
Alexander Falconer married Matilda Clerk in Lanark in 1790. He apparently died in 1795.
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Hi Forfarian,
Alexander Falcon*r and Matilda Cl*rk had another son John, b 18/08/1792 at Fala and Soutra, as well.
Tom
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Alexander Falcon*r and Matilda Cl*rk had another son John, b 18/08/1792 at Fala and Soutra, as well.
Missed that one :)
Not sure how unmarried Georgina McKay can be a sister of Margaret Falconer or Napier. If she was 70 in 1881, she was born 1810/1811. But the Fala and Soutra book says Alexander Falconer died in 1795, and I have not found a second marriage of Matilda Clerk or a baptism of a Georgina McKay.
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Thank you everyone,
I've downloaded John Taylor MA s will it is 6 pages long so it will take me a while to transcribe but I can see Alexander Falconar Taylor listed as his eldest son and Sarah nee Falconar Taylor as his wife. Thank you Tom for pointing out George Taylor was born in Kelso I looked that register up on Scotland's people and it says his father was Rector of the Grammar School there too. I still can't find John and Sarah's marriage.
The Falconers of Woodcote are interesting from what I can ascertain....
Thomas Falconer inherited Woodcote (or Reidhall as it was initially known) from his wife's father: Lt Thos. Maitland. He should have been the father of Sarah if the transcription of the letter I had was correct.
Thomas' son Alexander Falconer (poss. Sarah's brother) m 1790 to Matilda Clark (dau of Capt John Clark HEICS) this should have been the brother to my Sarah Falconer if the letter had been correct.
I saw on line a reference to them having 13 children but I can only find 5:
- George Home F. b. 30 Jul 1791 m. Alex Macleod 1813 d. 15/9/1820
-John b. 5 Aug 1792
- Alexander b. 20 Mar 1795
- Margaret ch 18 Feb 1794 m. Sir Thos. Erskine Napier inherited Woodcote
- Alexina b. 10 Mar 1785 m. Mr Ogilvie of Chesters inherited Sutra Mains
Thank you all for this work I really do appreciate it.
best regards
Liz
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I saw on line a reference to them having 13 children but I can only find 5:
- George Home F. b. 30 Jul 1791 m. Alex Macleod 1813 d. 15/9/1820
-John b. 5 Aug 1792
- Alexander b. 20 Mar 1795
- Margaret ch 18 Feb 1794 m. Sir Thos. Erskine Napier inherited Woodcote
- Alexina b. 10 Mar 1785 m. Mr Ogilvie of Chesters inherited Sutra Mains
If the Fala and Soutra book is correct and Alexander died in 1795, they could not possibly have had 13 children, and John must have died young.
The book also mentions one son and three daughters. If this is correct then there must have been another daughter.
Also both John and Alexander must both have died young, as their sisters inherited .... but wait! The baptism of Alexander in 1795 shows him as female. So Alexander must be Alexina.
There should be records in the Registers of Sasines which might clarify these family relationships.
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Hi again everyone
Tom mentioned that it seemed unusual to name the children of John and Sarah Taylor in this way - I had noticed that a witness to 3 of the children's christenings (in 1784, 1786 & 1788) was Colin Cuthbert Falconar but I have no idea what his connection is.
Another witness with a possible family connection was Alexander Falconar Taylor witness to Colin Falconar Taylor's christening in 1786 - surely this wasn't his older brother of the same name as he was only about 4 years old at the time!
Thank you so much Forfarian - yes quite right re: the Falconers. I will look into the Register of Sasines I haven't used that before so thank you for referring me there.
best regards
Liz
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Liz, see http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=26232.0
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In case you don't have this, Liz:
John Taylor A.M., Rector of the Grammar School (d. before 3.2.1824; his dau. Matilda m. Alex Vernor, esq., of Holmes, 3.2.1824)
www.ancestor.abel.co.uk/Inveresk.html
Monica
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Can't easily see a ref to John Taylor graduating from Glasgow University https://archive.org/stream/rollofgraduateso00addiuoft/rollofgraduateso00addiuoft_djvu.txt
Monica
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In case you don't have this, Liz:
John Taylor A.M., Rector of the Grammar School (d. before 3.2.1824; his dau. Matilda m. Alex Vernor, esq., of Holmes, 3.2.1824)
www.ancestor.abel.co.uk/Inveresk.html
Monica
Hi Monica,
Is that a typo, should that be M.A. after John Taylor, not A.M. We have a date of death and a will for this John Taylor. I am beginning to think that we have a different John Taylor and different Sarah Falcon*r. Getting so many hits but not matching them.
Trust you and family are well, Monica.
Tom (69 and 11/12ths)
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Nearly Happy Birthday, Tom ;)
The MA sometimes shows as AM for some reason, such as here too www.rootschat.com/links/01mi0/ Don't know why.
Monica :)
Added: A Master of Arts (Latin: Magister Artium; abbreviated MA; also Latin: Artium Magister, abbreviated AM) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Arts
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Hi Liz et all,
Found the marriage of Captain John Taylor to Sarah Falconer, 17 July 1823 in Bombay.
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That was Sarah Falconer Graham, not Sarah Falconer. The full record reads, "John Taylor Esquire a Captain in the Military Service of the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies on their Bengal Establishment a Bachelor and Miss Sarah Falconer Graham of Bombay Spinster were married in this Church by Licence from the Honourable the Court of the Recorder, this seventeenth day of July in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and twenty three by Me, Thos Carr, Garrison Chaplain. This marriage was solemnized between us, J Taylor, Sarah Falconer Graham, in the presence of us, Henrietta Louiza Wedderburn, Jane Black, J Wedderburn, Chas Thomas, Wm Bruce."
The family of John Taylor and Sarah Falconer were born between 1780 and 1795. Sarah Falconer Graham, daughter of William Graham and Janet Edmonstone, was born in 1799. Her baptism is in the registers of both Dirleton and Haddington.
So this is a completely different couple.
Though her unusual given names may warrant some investigation. William Graham and Janet Edmonstone were married in Haddington in 1796. Could Janet be the daughter of Andrew Edmonstone and Mary Falconer, baptised in Lauder in 1771? Could Mary be connected to Thomas Falconer of Reidhall/Woodcote?
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Is that a typo, should that be M.A. after John Taylor, not A.M.
No.
It's the Latin version of 'Master of Arts', i.e. 'Artium Magister'.
At a guess I'd say the most likely place for him to have obtained a degree would be the University of Edinburgh. Their alumni records are much less accessible than those of the University of Glasgow (and, for that matter, the University of Aberdeen) but the University of Edinburgh Archives should be able to tell you if he was a graduate of Edinburgh, and, if so, who his father was.
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Hi Forfarian,
Just noticed the error I made, just got her birth on OPR. I am finding a lot of similar looking names but cannot find the marriage at all.
Thanks Ann for pointing it out.
Tom
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Thank you again everyone, Capt. (Later Lt. Col. )John Taylor son of John Taylor M.A. is my direct descendant my gt gt gt grandfather. There are certainly a lot of Falconars/Falconers out there and to confuse things further the family notes I have inherited say that Capt. John Taylor married a cousin Sarah Falconar Graham!
So yes there is very probably a link between them.
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Hmmm. If Mary Falconer and Sarah Falconer were sisters, that would make Capt John Taylor and Sarah Falconer Graham second cousins. so that looks promising. You now have three children of Thomas Falconer and the former Miss Maitland - Alexander, Sarah and Mary.
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Many thanks Forfarian
Yes that would definitely work but the proof is still elusive...
We're so close but it's still unproven by my reckoning.
I really do appreciate all your help thank you.
Best regards
Liz
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Hi everyone
Just wanted to say that Sarah Taylor nee Falconar's inventory and testament provided some great insights including listing George Home Falconer as her nephew. Things have fallen into place!!
Thank you all for your help - I really appreciate everything you did.
best regards
Liz
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This post is a few months old but hopefully someone will notice my post.
John and Sarah's son (William) Graham Taylor is buried at Carisbrooke Cemetery on the Isle of Wight. His regiment was at Parkhurst Barracks when he died following a riding accident. The Friends of Newport and Carisbrooke Cemeteries (www.foncc.org.uk) have two related projects. One being to tidy the cemetery and record the headstones. The second to create a database giving details of the people buried there including newspaper reports about inquests and funerals along with some basic biographical information. I am currently doing the research for Graham Taylor. There is so much information about him and his family I am going to have to do some serious editing! I already have details of his parents' marriage. Please could someone tell me where the details posted by tidyboooks comes from? You have confirmed my suspicions that John and Sarah were some how related. Thank you
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Wonderful to hear from you thank you so much for making contact!
I had drawn a complete blank with William Graham Taylor.
He had come out to New Zealand as a 19 year old with his brother arriving on the Cornwall 23 Aug 1849, listed as an agriculturist. Eventually he and his brother Charles brought sections in Martins Bay but left (as did the other settlers). His brother settled in Fiji and it was presumed that Graham went there too but from there he "disappeared".
I notice that Graham Taylor buried on the Isle of Wight had been in Peshwar in 1851-52, Indian Campaign of 1857-58, etc. This had caused me some confusion as my William Graham Taylor was mentioned in electoral rolls etc as a freeholder in Otago around these times but I suppose he could have still owned land in Otago but been elsewhere.
However he does appear in Rev Burns visitation book as William Taylor from 1849-1855 in Otago so I'm a little concerned that these dates overlap with the times he was supposed to be in India
Could I ask if you have proof that this Graham Taylor is he son of Lt Col William Taylor and Sarah nee Graham?
Thank you so much again for getting in contact.
Liz
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On the newspaper archives there are various reports of Graham Taylor's death in 1875. Most of these are for April. There is a report in the Fife Herald for 23/12/1875. This refers to the death describing him as the third son of the late Lt Col John Taylor HEIC Bengal. I cannot see all of it as my subscription does not cover it. It does go on to say resident at St Andrews, Winchester and Canterbury.
I do have some concerns as the service record for Graham Taylor states that he was born in Berbice (Guiana) 2 Aug 1830. His baptism record mentioning John and Sarah says Meerut Nov 1830. On Family Search someone has connected Graham Taylor's marriage to another officer. On the Army's marriage record it does say 53rd Regiment. So this is "my" man. I could take the easy option and produce a report showing Graham Taylor's military achievements. It would be long just with this as he joined the army in 1848 and stayed until 1875. A large part of this time he was on active service. He went to Canada as well. I wonder if anyone has a copy of the actual marriage licence? That would state the name of the groom's father. I have not been able to find a newspaper announcement for the wedding which might have helped.
Thank you for replying. As I said I do have some doubts about Major Graham Taylor's parents. When I found the New Zealand connection to his mother I did wonder.
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Sorry, me again. Did your William Graham Taylor by any chance die in NZ at the end of 1875? If so,
the extra newspaper article could refer to that. I will send you a PM with the link.
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Thanks for the link unfortunately I can only see as much as you can.
I've searched for a death in NZ for a William Graham Taylor and there is not one around that time in BMDs or in newspapers of the time.
Interesting the possible African connection because his older adopted brother (John Taylor) is mentioned in a diary travelling from Africa to India in 1827 so the family did travel (a lot!).
I cannot find evidence of William Graham Taylor in Fiji either. The 2 bothers who ended up there were Charles Metcalfe and Archibald Taylor.
His older brothers were in the army in India Alexander who died the following year 23 Sept 1876
and John in HEICS in India died after 1870
IF this is our William Graham Taylor it would explain a great deal - he and his brother were not successful in their land purchases and as discussed 2 of the brothers and a brother in law went to Fiji .
You mention his marriage - I don't have any record of a marriage could you give me the details and I can try to investigate further too?
many thanks again
Liz
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The info I have on Graham Taylor is as follows.
From Army Record. Graham Taylor b 2/8/1830 New Amersterdam, Berbice. (Guyana) Find My Past
From Army record. 53rd Reg. Married Catherine Nash London 1860. It was entered into the records in 1860. FindMyPast
Another Army record. Graham Taylor 53rd Foot m Catherine Nash 10/11/1859 London. FindMyPast
From typed record on Family Search. Same marriage names and dates. No regiment details. Also father's names John Nash and Monkhouse Graham Taylor.
There are records for an officer named Monkhouse Graham Taylor. He served in four different regiments. He was in the 78th when Graham was born in 1830. This regiment was stationed in Sri Lanka 1826 to 1838. So, could Graham have been born when his mother, Maria, was making the journey out or back?
1841 Census. Lancashire
Monkhouse G Taylor 48 Occupation Army
Maria Taylor 40
Graham Taylor 10 Born in "Foreign Parts"
Monkhouse died Kent 1860. Beneficiary Graham Taylor. Maria died Kent 1858.
10/4/1848 Graham became an ensign with the 53rd
13/12/49 to 28/5/1858 India. Served in the Second Sikh War and the Mutiny. Mentioned in Dispatches.
5/7/1861 to 26/9/1861 Served with the 47th in Canada
27/9/1861 Exchange with the 49th
1861 to 1865 49th in Uk and Dublin
1865 to Jan 1875 reg in India (1871 Graham Taylor in Poona)
There does appear to be records for Graham Taylor on Ancestry for Canada. But I cannot access them.
I am not convinced there is enough evidence to link Graham Taylor to William Graham Taylor. I am wondering if the newspaper article is a coincidence.
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The coordinator of the database for the Friends of Newport and Carisbrooke cemeteries has sent me the details of the newspaper article mentioning John Taylor
Fife Herald Thurs 23 Dec 1875
Drowned in the river Orell, New Zealand, on the 30th of last August, William Graham Taylor, 3rd son of the late Lt Col John Taylor, HEICS, Bengal at one time resident in St Andrews.
So, I think that answers the question as to what happened to William Graham Taylor. It also proves that the man who died on the Isle of Wight was the son of Monkhouse Graham Taylor.
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Many thanks again. 2 mysteries solved with one newspaper article how wonderful. Oddly enough I can't find an Orell river in New Zealand but now I have a date, a cause of death and a country. I'm so grateful for all your wonderful investigative work.
Many thanks
Liz
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Thank you for your help. I am certain that Graham Taylor was the son of Monkhouse Graham Taylor.
So, am now confident for that to go on the database.
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Thank you so much again for all your investigative work.
The river that William Graham Taylor drowned in was infact the Oreti in Southland and another article confirms this information.
Lake Wakatip Mail 16 September 1875 Page 2
We hear that a man named Taylor (one of two brothers who were till lately, Martin's Bay settlers) has been found drowned in the Oreti River. The body was lying on Saturday in an out-house near Fletcher's Accomodation house, when Mr J. M'Bride of this town identified it as that abovenamed, who, we hear, was travelling down on foot about fortnight previous to meet his brother at Invercargill.