My Mysterious Florence Taylor

[GlitteringPrize]

Hi

I am hoping someone can give me some advice.

I have on the 1901 census Florence Taylor, born in 1888 in Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland, England. She is living in Bishopwearmouth St Thomas, Sunderland, Durham and is listed as grandaughter to Jonathan and Hannah Taylor.

Her parents are listed as William and Elizabeth Douglass (nee Taylor)

Elizabeth is Jonathan and Hannah's daughter.

I have the family through from when Jonathan and Hannah married in 1860, but it's not until the 1901 census that there is a mention of Florence.

I have the other grandchildren of Jonathan and Hannah, with the exception of their son William, b1869, but he was living at home on the 1891 census with his parents. There is no Florence I can find.

Elizabeth married William Douglass in 1892. So if Florence is hers she would have only been 17 and unmarried when she had her, and there is no Florence with her on the 1891 census.

I have tried to find Florence previous to 1901 but am not having much luck.

I am also looking for a Florence (Taylor) who would have been the daughter of Jonathan and Hannah Taylor, but she doesn't appear to be on any census with the family. All I have is Florence, listed as grandaughter.

Could this be the same Florence, listed wrongly? Jonathan and Hannah's last child I have was born 1873,  could she, or would she have gone on to have another child with a huge gap in 1888, she would have been about 45 by then, or could the year be wrong?

I have lots of questions but not many answers and there appears to be a selection of Florence Taylors who were born around the 1888 mark in Newcastle.

Would really appreciate any advice or opinions on this one as it's kinda stumping me a bit 

[MaryA]

I haven't yet looked further back at any censuses, just the 1901 and my opinion is that she is NOT the child of William and Eliza J Douglass and the enumerator hasn't written it in a way that she would be mistaken for one of their children.

I will transcribe the family and let others give an opinion also.

Nile St 29, South Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland, Durham
Jonathan Taylor Head M 60 Engines Timekeeper Northumberland Brockdaw
Hannah " Wife M 58 Durham Gateshead
Wm " Son S 33 Marine Engine Fitter " Sunderland
Wm Douglass Son in Law M 34 House Painter " "
Eliza J " daur 29                                              " "
Stanley J " Grandson 5 Stockton on Tees
Wm " Grandson 3 Durham Sunderland
James " Grandson 8 months " "
Florence Taylor G daughter 13 Newcastle on Tyne
RG13; Piece: 4712; Folio: 53; Page: 23

Then there are some boarders listed.

Florence's name including surname has been written in full so it's unlikely that it was a mistake, the change from dittoing down from Douglass is to signify a different surname, additionally she is 13 years old and has been enumerated below the young children who do belong to William and Eliza, this would indicate that she is of another family and that the enumerator is listing her so. 

Whether she is a daughter or grand-daughter of Jonathan and Hannah is a separate issue, did they have any other children she could belong to? although she could be their daughter, at their age it's a little unlikely.

Please advise the birth year for the Florence you are looking for.

[ShaunJ]

Logically she must be the daughter of one of the other children of Jonathan and Hannah.

[suey]

I agree with Mary - I think it unlikely that Florence is a daughter of Jonathan and Hannah, she should have been listed under William age 22 if she were.

Much more likely that she is the daughter of another of Jonathan and Hannah's children.

You say you are looking for another Florence Taylor, when was she born, is it possible that the Flo' in 1901 is her illegit. child?

Suey

[GlitteringPrize]

Thank you all very much for your help.

I have been told that Jonathan and Hannah had a daughter Florence who went on to raise her brother (Frederick's) children after his first wife died in 1904.

This Florence on the 1901 census is the only note of a Florence Taylor I can find with the Taylor family.

The only child of Jonathan and Hannah who I haven't found a family for so far is William, who is still at home on the 1901 census. All other of their children I can find with their families, and no sign of Florence with them in 1891.

If Florence Taylor on the 1901 census is the Florence I am looking for she would have only been 16 in 1904, so I would think it unlikely she'd have taken care of Fredericks children at that age, unless they went to Jonathan and Hannah first and then Florence later.

I thought if I could find her in 1891 that might help, but so far she seems elusive, and there is more than one possibility for her birth on the birth index on free bmd, so not easy to order a certificate to confirm ther details.

Perhaps she is William's illigetimate daughter, or perhaps he married after 1881 and had Florence and she (Florence) was with his wife for the 1891 census, and then with the Taylor family in 1901 for some reason?

[ShaunJ]

The birth index candidates for "Florence Taylor" registered in Newcastle-on-Tyne registration district between 1 Jan 1887 and 31 December 1888 appear to be just these 3, all in the 3rd quarter of 1887:

TAYLOR Florence       10b   54   
TAYLOR Florence Mary V      10b   2   
TAYLOR Florence Violetta       10b   164   

Florence Mary V died in the same quarter which leaves just 2 candidates (assuming the birthplace and age in the 1901 census are accurate, and she wasn't registered under a different name!)

[GlitteringPrize]

Thanks ShaunJ

I'd taken the search a bit wider as I'd not been able to find her on any other census, I have .......

Q3 1886   
 
TAYLOR  Florence     10b 158   

Q3 1887   

TAYLOR  Florence   10b 54   


Q4 1889   
 
Taylor  Florence       10b 37   
Taylor  Florence       10b 41   

I have ...... Born Q3 1887

TAYLOR  Florence Mary V      10b 2   
TAYLOR  Florence Violetta      10b 164 

Both look like they died in 1887

Q3 1887   
 
Taylor  Florence Mary V  0   10b 41   
Taylor  Florence Violetta  0    10b 101

[GlitteringPrize]

Just going back over it all and I dunno how I managed it but I do seem to have a child missing from Jonathan and Hannah, George b1865. Am going to check him out to see if he could be Florences father

[ShaunJ]

Is this George?

1891

21 South Durham Street Bishop Wearmouth
 
George Taylor 26   Marine engine fitter b. Gateshead
Margaret Taylor 25 b. Sunderland
Florence Taylor 2 do
Frederick Taylor 11 months    do

RG12/4138/14/ 21