Thanks for all your help. I am still missing some details, but unless there are any other tricks to try for the missing census records, I think I have exhausted all avenues. Here is what I have about the troubled life of Emmanuel Joseph Taylor.
Emmanuel Joseph Taylor (Senior) was born 1853 Tynemouth, North Shields. He is present in 1861 with mother, father and siblings. In 1871 it is just himself and widowed mother Margaret at Wesleyan Chapel Chirton as an apprentice shoemaker.
In 1876 he marries his first wife Emily Wagner. Tragically, several months later she commits suicide through poisoning October 1876. This was reported in a lot of newspapers from Dundee to Leeds.
In 1878 he marries his second wife Sarah Jane Wales and have their first son Emanuel Jospeh Taylor (Junior) shortly after in 1879.
In 1881 his mum Margaret dies shortly before the 1881 census was taken.
In 1882, his second son William Redford Taylor was born.
In 1883, he is arrested and sentenced to 3 months for stealing boots at the shoe shop where he worked as referenced in several newspaper articles.
What I cannot find is ...Emmanuel Snr
1881 census onwards
death record
Sarah Jane Taylor
1881 census
1891 census
Emmanuel Jnr
1881 census
NotesEmmanuel Jnr and William are present in 1891 as nephews in the Craig household. Thanks to Trish (see below) we find that Jane Craig was born Redford. Her sister Mary Ann Redford married Robert Wales and they had a daughter Sarah Jane Wales - Emmanuel 2nd wife. (Where are Emmanuel Snr and Sarah Jane in 1891?)
Sarah Jane Taylor is listed as widowed in 1901 living with son William.
I have done street searches to see if missing persons are present at the same address 10 before or after, but no luck.
One curious point to note is that the Craig household in 1891 are living at 43 Northumberland Street, South Shields with the nephews. The article in 1883 about Emmauels arrest references North Street South Shields. Also, 10 years previously the Craig household are living at 23 Hudson Street North Shields in 1881. The article about the suicide of Emily Taylor mentions 15 Hudson Street. So it appears the Craigs and Taylors moved around with each other. Alexander Craig was a mariner and missing on some census's, presumably on voyages, so the thought crossed my mind that perhaps Emmanuel joined him and thats why he is missing on some census's too. Though I couldn't find any records and it would be quite a leap from a shoemaker.
WALES, SARAH JANE mmn REDFORD*****
GRO Reference: 1856 J Quarter in NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Volume 10B Page 8
1901 Census
South Shields, Durham
Sarah Jane Taylor 44 Head Widow Charwoman born Newcastle, Northumberland
William M Taylor 17 Son Unm Occp Rivet Heater/Bolier born South Shields, Durham
Jonathan D Wills 48 Boarder