James Taylor, born 1854 in Ramsbury, Wiltshire, was my maternal great-grandfather. He was a gardener by occupation by the 1881 Census and living in Kingston, Surrey. In 1882 he married Sarah Thompson in St. Pancras, London. Between 1882 and 1884 they lived in Storrington, Sussex. By 1886 they were in Hunstanton, Norfolk. By 1890 they were in Barrington, Cambridgeshire. By 1891 they are in Enfield, Middlesex. James and Sarah had eight children: Alice (born 1884 in Storrington, Sussex), Beatrice Hilda (born 1886, Hunstanton, Norfolk), Constance Edith (born 1889, Hunstanton, Norfolk), Frederick J. (born 1890, Barrington, Cambridgeshire), Ada Florence and Reginald John (aka Jack) (born 1891, Barrington, Cambridgeshire), Benjamin Nelson (born 1893, Barrington, Cambridgeshire), Thurza Margaret (born 1897, Tottenham, Middlesex).
In the 1901 Census James was listed as a gardener at Union Schools and living in Botany Bay, Middlesex. In 1911, he is listed as head gardener and living at Ridgeway Cottages, Ridgeway Road in Enfield, Middlesex. Interestingly, James’ brother, Henry and wife Amelia (nee Lawrence) were living at Chase Farm Schools on The Ridgeway, Enfield where Henry was employed as a farm man. Thanks to Trevor who provided me with some details on Henry’s family and some photos of Henry’s granddaughter, Maud.
Ben and James Taylor 1912 
James and Sarah Taylor 1912
Please could you confirm William Taylor’s birthplace as I have found on the 1841 Census for Ramsbury a William Taylor born circ. 1785.
Hi Christine,
William Taylor was born in Islington in 1785. I have a copy of the baptism record, if you’d like it. His parents were James and Sarah. I don’t know Sarah’s maiden name and haven’t been able to trace their marriage or any siblings of William’s. If you click on the Pamment Branch in my top menu and go to the last entry you will see a little more about William. Feel free to email me directly at sue@suesdeadfolk.com if you have a connection to William and would like to share more information.
Thank you for leaving your question. ~ Sue
Hi Sue
James Taylor was my great grandfather too, I visited Ramsbury recently and spoke to a man who had always lived there. He was in his seventies, I guess, and was at school with some Taylors, two girls but he couldn’t remember much else. It’s got a micro brewery now 🙂
Hi Sue, I just emailed you. Looking forward to exploring our connection. It’s always fun to find new relatives. 🙂
Hi! I don’t know if you are still active here (as this post was from 14 years ago) but I hope you are.
I am a descendant of William TAYLOR, Sawyer of Islington (b.c.1785) – grandfather of your James – the same who took part in the Swing Riots in Wiltshire in 1831 and was transported to Victoria for saying “we’ll have blood for supper!” and that being taken as a death threat, although when arrested and tried he claimed “I said bread!”
His daughter Sarah married first William BRACKSTONE or BRAIXTON in 1830, they had a daughter Martha. After his death she married Charles COOK on 20th June 1839. Charles and Sarah are my 4x great grandparents.
William is presumed to have died in Australia but I have a feeling I saw somewhere that he returned to Elizabeth in Wiltshire after 1836. I need to investigate this…
Hope you’re well, it would be lovely to get in touch and share info!
Hi Robert,
Thank you for your comment. It’s nice to meet another Taylor cousin! I don’t have any sign of William after he received his pardon. But I’ll look through my notes and will email you separately if there is anything there to share. I do have some copies of documents/notices as well as some notes from his trial. Happy to share info.
kind regards, Sue