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Worcestershire / What conclusions can be made from this mid-1800s book inscription?
« on: Wednesday 08 November 17 04:29 GMT (UK) »
This old book is about the only keepsake that has passed down in this branch of my family. In the early 1900s it found its way to Toronto. It carries these two inscriptions:
Presented by her Father to/ Mary Ann Taylor/ July 15th 1838/ Hanbury Worcestershire
Presented by his Sister/ Ann Knott / to William Taylor / as a token of love / and true friendship / Feb 24th 1852/ Good by and / God bless you for / ever / 94 Sherlock St / Pershore Road / Birmingham
My findings so far:
I checked the 1851 census years ago. My notes from then: "House called Peel Cottage between 108 and 90 Sherlock St. Many houses uninhabited including probably 94".
A poster at the Birmingham History Forum shared this info: The building at 94, seems to have been a shop. The 1855 Post Office directory has Mrs Jane Taylor, greengrocer. The 1855 Whites directory has William Taylor, shopkeeper. The Slaters 1852 directory also lists William as shopkeeper. The 1858 directory lists Charles Horton, shopkeeper. However the Post Office directory for 1849 does not list no 94 and there are no Taylors in Sherlock St.
In the 1851 census, 108 Sherlock is occupied by William Taylor, his wife Harriet J. and a new unnamed infant son. Occupation of William is Porter (then something difficult to read). William's birthplace is Droitwich.
An Ann Taylor married William Mayne Knott in Aston juxta Birmingham, 1842.
In the 1851 census, William M Knott with wife Ann is farming in Stoke Prior on Sharpway Gate. William Gardner, an uncle is also in the household. Charlotte Elizabeth Knott is a child in the household. An earlier christening in Stoke Prior states that her father is William Mayne Knott. Ann's birthplace is Droitwich.
In the 1841 census, Ann Taylor is living in the household of William Gardner, Sharpway Gate, Stoke Prior.
Today there is a property along Hanbury Rd towards Stokes Prior named "Knotts Farm". Appears to be occupied by a man named John Birch in the 1870s.
Can't find any sign of William Mayne Knott after 1851. Can't identify more about the Taylors until the census 1881, when William Taylor, age 30, is living at 4 Court Gooch St, around the corner from Sherlock St. This is my earliest definite identification of my family, tied down with a 1882 birth certificate of my gr-gr-grandfather.
Given this evidence, how confident would you be to say that the Ann Knott at Stoke Prior is the brother of William Taylor, 108 Sherlock St. Birmingham, children of a Taylor family likely from somewhere in the Droitwich-Hanbury-Stoke Prior area? That they're the William and Mary Ann Taylor from the book inscription?
Where could I look further to either prove or disprove the possibility?
I believe that I looked at the Hanbury parish microfilm years ago, but didn't find any leads. The connections to Droitwich and Stoke Prior are new discoveries.
Presented by her Father to/ Mary Ann Taylor/ July 15th 1838/ Hanbury Worcestershire
Presented by his Sister/ Ann Knott / to William Taylor / as a token of love / and true friendship / Feb 24th 1852/ Good by and / God bless you for / ever / 94 Sherlock St / Pershore Road / Birmingham
My findings so far:
I checked the 1851 census years ago. My notes from then: "House called Peel Cottage between 108 and 90 Sherlock St. Many houses uninhabited including probably 94".
A poster at the Birmingham History Forum shared this info: The building at 94, seems to have been a shop. The 1855 Post Office directory has Mrs Jane Taylor, greengrocer. The 1855 Whites directory has William Taylor, shopkeeper. The Slaters 1852 directory also lists William as shopkeeper. The 1858 directory lists Charles Horton, shopkeeper. However the Post Office directory for 1849 does not list no 94 and there are no Taylors in Sherlock St.
In the 1851 census, 108 Sherlock is occupied by William Taylor, his wife Harriet J. and a new unnamed infant son. Occupation of William is Porter (then something difficult to read). William's birthplace is Droitwich.
An Ann Taylor married William Mayne Knott in Aston juxta Birmingham, 1842.
In the 1851 census, William M Knott with wife Ann is farming in Stoke Prior on Sharpway Gate. William Gardner, an uncle is also in the household. Charlotte Elizabeth Knott is a child in the household. An earlier christening in Stoke Prior states that her father is William Mayne Knott. Ann's birthplace is Droitwich.
In the 1841 census, Ann Taylor is living in the household of William Gardner, Sharpway Gate, Stoke Prior.
Today there is a property along Hanbury Rd towards Stokes Prior named "Knotts Farm". Appears to be occupied by a man named John Birch in the 1870s.
Can't find any sign of William Mayne Knott after 1851. Can't identify more about the Taylors until the census 1881, when William Taylor, age 30, is living at 4 Court Gooch St, around the corner from Sherlock St. This is my earliest definite identification of my family, tied down with a 1882 birth certificate of my gr-gr-grandfather.
Given this evidence, how confident would you be to say that the Ann Knott at Stoke Prior is the brother of William Taylor, 108 Sherlock St. Birmingham, children of a Taylor family likely from somewhere in the Droitwich-Hanbury-Stoke Prior area? That they're the William and Mary Ann Taylor from the book inscription?
Where could I look further to either prove or disprove the possibility?
I believe that I looked at the Hanbury parish microfilm years ago, but didn't find any leads. The connections to Droitwich and Stoke Prior are new discoveries.