Benjamin Taylor death

[helenw123]

Hi all

I'm wondering if anyone can help me or tell me where I can get some more information.

I have a Benjamin Taylor who died 1861-1871.  On his last census he was listed as a bootmaker but was previously a labourer, so I don't think the occupation is really relevant when looking for information.  From the censuses, he was born around 1801 and always lived in Willenhall.  He married Charlotte and their children were Elizabeth, John and Nancy.

As it is a common surname there are too many death entries to choose from.  I've applied to both Walsall and Wolverhampton, which would be the register offices closest to home, but they don't have the record I want.  So now I'm thinking he didn't die at home but I've no idea where!

Any ideas what to do or where to go next?

Hoping someone can help.

Thanks, Helen

[tina morana]

Hi for the peeps trying to help.
1851 census has Benjamin 48 occ stamper?? John St Willenhall
Charlotte 34, children
Jane Cotterill wifes daughter 8yrs
Elizabeth 5, John 3 both Taylor.
HO107/2020/234/19
Charlotte married Wm Cotterill in 1840 nee Shepherd
then Benjamin in 1847.

Tinam

[helenw123]

Hi

Yes, that's the one.  Thanks Tinam

Helen

[tina morana]

Hi Helen
He was still alive in 1861John St,  transcribed as Bigham, bootmaker 60, Charlotte 41?
Jane 18, John 15, Nancy 8.
If he died in Willenhall, I'm not sure which rego district this comes under in Staffs, sorry.

Tinam

[helenw123]

Hi Tinam

That's right.

But Charlotte is listed as a widow in 1871, so I know he died in between 1861 and 1871.  If he died at home it would have been registered in Walsall or Wolverhampton, but neither of those have the death record I want.  So now I'm guessing I need to look outside the area but I have very little information to go on.

Thanks

[tina morana]

Hi Helen, tough call as up until around 1866 no age was given in the death index.

Tinam

[helenw123]

The only thing I can think of at the moment is to write to other local offices and hope for the best!  But again, if the informant is a hospital worker for example, I still won't know if I've got the right one.

Do you know if there is anywhere else I can look apart from death records?

[tina morana]

Hi Helen, I noticed Jane is with her Mum Charlotte in 1871, wid so young.
Her little fella John Thomas Towers was born in sept qtr 1868 Walsall rego.

Tinam

[helenw123]

Yes, I wonder what happened to Jane's husband.

Just had a quick look for a marriage for Jane Taylor to her Mr Towers.  The only one that comes up is to a John Towers and they got married in Wigton in Lake District in Dec qtr 1866!  Could this really be them?

Can't find a death for him in the Walsall area but there are a few in the Lakes area.

My mind is working now...  Real long shot but what about if my Benjamin Taylor and this John Towers were working together somewhere and maybe there was some accident and they died together?  So then I would need to find both people in the same region and same date.

As you can see, I'm really stuck for ideas!