William Taylor born 1871 Sanquhar Dumfrieshire died 1952, my grandfather.

[Kerseville]

William married my grandmother Margaret McClay in 1906 in Salford. My mother and one sister  are the only surviving children of 8. William left the family in the late 1920s and my mother now 92 has only the vaguest memories of him . She has no picture of him and I would love to find one of him  to give her. No pictures of him survive on our side of the family.I am guessing that when he left his wife and children he was "expunged" from the family records!
My mum thinks that he served on the Somme in WW1 and interestingly no children were born in the family during those War years which might indicate some truth to her vague memory. Any help to this novice researcher much appreciated. Thank you

[NDRFT]

Hi

Welcome to Roots chat, there are so many helpful folks in here I am sure someone will help. A cautionary word though, we are not allowed in this open forum to enter / search living people as the 100 yr data protection applies. However after you have posted a couple more messages you will be able to send personal messages in the event your search begins to include living people.

I can see your family in the 1911 census- have you seen that?

It is interesting and probably a coincidence that your Mums, Grandmother who was Margaret McClay was also from Scotland - Paisley, Renfrewshire and she was B circa 1835. She was the head of the family in Salford in 1911
In case you haven't seen the census it also shows William Taylor B circa 1876 Dumfries and his wife Margaret B 1881 Liverpool. They had 2 daughters with them Agnes B 1905 Salford and Mary B 1907 Salford. The family were living at 8G Industrial Dwellings, Greengate, Salford.

So that's a start. You may need to go to the Scottish Records Office and in there for a fee you will be able to search and see the actual birth certificates for both Margaret Snr and William Taylor.

Now to his supposed Military service, at the time war broke out in Aug 1914 William would have been aged c 38. He was most likely living in Salford and may even have joined up as an escape - many men did expecting the war to offer excitement and a chance of travel - far from their pre war hard and often dangerous work / life?

I will have a look at Military next and see if we can pin him down.

NDRFT

[NDRFT]

Me again

Because William and Taylor are really quite common names it is going to be crucial to identify exactly who he was and to do that you may have to buy his marriage certificate if you don't already have it.

In there it may show who his father was, the address and occupation of the participants and the occupation of their fathers. The marriage was registered in Salford 4th quarter volume 8d page 210 = Q4 v8d p210.

So often this research is a process of elimination and it can become expensive!!!

[Margaret March]

The 1911 census is for the grandfather and his year of birth is given as 1876 not 1871.

Census ref RG14; Piece: 23978.

Is there any information about what regiment he might have been in during the War?
Margaret

[Margaret March]

You could get the death certificate which would give the name of the person who reported it 'the informant' who will hopefully be a relative to trace and contact.

Do you know where he died? There are several with the same name in 1952.

Margaret

[NDRFT]

To help me find any military records can you pop down the first names of William and Margarets children please?

The Agnes in the 1911 census was not registered at birth as a Taylor she was registered in 1904 as Agnes MCCLAY Q4 v8d p89 Salford - so she may have been William Taylors first child with Margaret but it is only in 1911 on the census when she has his last name and therefore he may not have been her father - I'm not casting aspersions but this hobby does unravel some surprises. You will need her birth certificate to see who if anyone was entered as her father.

The other children I have found who may be in your catchment are as follows:

Mary 1907 Salford Q1 v8d p87
William 1911 Salford Q4 v8d p91
Albert 1913 Salford Q3 v8d p139
John 1914 Salford Q4 v8d p117
Alexander 1917 Salford Q2 v8d p109
Margaret 1920 Salford Q1 v8d p115
Lilian 1923 Salford Q1 v8d p62
Mona 1923 Salford Q1 v8d p63

from 1911 the maiden name of a child's mother was entered as well in the registration. In each case above after 1910 the mothers name was McClay

See how this list compares with what you know.

As I say this is all about elimination and certainty. Get the core info accurate and from there all sorts of clues will emerge. If it were me then I would be buying up all relevant certificates but as you can see above and including my earlier posts that's almost £200 already as certificates are just under £10 each.

The next best clue is to see if the Parish Records in Salford have details of any baptisms and within those records are the names of the childs parents also entered. To do that you need to find someone on here with access to the appropriate church parish record/s.

Hope this is all making sense but eventually from this you may be able to track your William Taylor down

Nigel

[Kerseville]

To help me find any military records can you pop down the first names of William and Margarets children please?

The Agnes in the 1911 census was not registered at birth as a Taylor she was registered in 1904 as Agnes MCCLAY Q4 v8d p89 Salford - so she may have been William Taylors first child with Margaret but it is only in 1911 on the census when she has his last name and therefore he may not have been her father - I'm not casting aspersions but this hobby does unravel some surprises. You will need her birth certificate to see who if anyone was entered as her father.

The other children I have found who may be in your catchment are as follows:

Mary 1907 Salford Q1 v8d p87
William 1911 Salford Q4 v8d p91
Albert 1913 Salford Q3 v8d p139
John 1914 Salford Q4 v8d p117
Alexander 1917 Salford Q2 v8d p109
Margaret 1920 Salford Q1 v8d p115
Lilian 1923 Salford Q1 v8d p62
Mona 1923 Salford Q1 v8d p63

from 1911 the maiden name of a child's mother was entered as well in the registration. In each case above after 1910 the mothers name was McClay

See how this list compares with what you know.

As I say this is all about elimination and certainty. Get the core info accurate and from there all sorts of clues will emerge. If it were me then I would be buying up all relevant certificates but as you can see above and including my earlier posts that's almost £200 already as certificates are just under £10 each.

The next best clue is to see if the Parish Records in Salford have details of any baptisms and within those records are the names of the childs parents also entered. To do that you need to find someone on here with access to the appropriate church parish record/s.

Hope this is all making sense but eventually from this you may be able to track your William Taylor down

Nigel

tThank you Nigel. Interesting that Agnes was born before the marriage in 1906. My mum is Mona and her twin sister Lillian died soon after birth.I have never heard of a William from my mother but of all the other children only Margaret is still alive. I have the marriage certificate of William and Margaret's marriage 6th Oct 1906 and the 1911 census. I wish I had some info re William's family or his war record- if indeed there is one. Very grateful for your help- I met you at Denise Howes' garden party- Martin is my brother-in-law! Thanks again for your help Andy Cooper

[IMBER]

You can look at older Scottish BMD information online at a reasonable price rather than order up an expensive certificate:

http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/

Imber