Hi All
Greetings from Australia
My ggg Grandmother was Mary Ann Taylor born C1800 in Liverpool, Lancashire, UK.
As far as I can ascertain her parents were Henry Taylor (Mariner) and Jane Kellick.
Mary married in London and migrated to Australia with her husband in 1838, on her arrival she claimed both of her parents were dead. On her death certificate her father was listed as Taylor, Master Mariner, there was no mention of her mother.
I have many dna matches with the Taylor family of Virginia going back to James Taylor (1675-1729) and Martha Thompson (1679-1762). In particular the strongest dna readings are with their grandson Richard Lee Taylor, born Rapidan,Orange, Virginia (c1742-1829) and his wife Sarah Strother.
I am working on the theory that the two families are somehow connected. Other information that makes me think this are:
Mary and her husband were associated with the Episcopalian Church in Australia, this is unusual for someone coming to Australia from Britain, particularly as her husband was of German descent. I believe that the Episcopalian Church is of USA origin.
Liverpool was a thriving port and was one of the main shipping ports for the export of tobacco from Virginia to the UK.
Records indicate that Mary Ann's father was a Mariner and there was a naval and tobacco history with the Virginian Taylor family.
I was hoping someone may know if one of the Taylor clan was a merchant seaman who travelled to the UK around 1800 and who may have had a "girl" in two ports.
As the Virginian Taylor family is quite large I am having difficulty in pinpointing any likely connection. I know that this is probable a long shot but any help or comments would be most appreciated.
buckyb