The Taylor Family – Longton
Henry Taylor
Henry eventually settled in Heapey, Wheelton working as a farmer and beer seller. In his earlier years Henry spent time in Lancaster castle for debt.
Elizabeth Taylor
Before the ‘Black Bull’ was put up for auction in 1861, Elizabeth’s occupation was described as ‘Dairymaid’. An auctioneer’s newspaper clipping described that the Taylor family owned several cows. After the sale of the family home, Elizabeth moved to the village of Tockholes where she lived the remainder of her life as a spinster and farmer on Bethesda Row, now Victoria Terrace. In 1868 Elizabeth, or Betty as she was known died of Bronchitis aged forty-eight.
Thomas Taylor
Thomas presided over the Black Bull and the family’s farmland following his mother Mary’s death. Thomas was known to be “a very dissipated man” who liked a drink. In June of 1864 aged forty-two, Thomas died suddenly at the home of a relative living in Leyland. Thomas had been drinking heavily for three months prior to his sudden death. The official cause of death was given as Epilepsy.
Mary Taylor
After just four years of marriage to Robert Moss Esq, Mary was left widowed when he died aged forty-four in May of 1846. Mary remained a widow for seven years, living on Chapel Lane as a ‘landed proprietor’ with her house servant Ann Wilding. In the year 1853, Mary re-married Mr Henry Taylor, a farmer of Longton Hall. Mary and Henry lived out the rest of their lives at Marsh Villa on Marsh Lane. The couple had three children. Their son John George attended Preston Grammer School, however this did nothing to tame his disorderly behaviour later in life, which resulted in him being sent to the gaol on a number of occasions.
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Dinah Taylor
Just two years after Dinah’s marriage to Joseph Moss, Dinah died from Typhus aged twenty three. Place of death was Liverpool where the couple had relocated.
Alice Taylor
Alice aged seventeen, married William Wright a farmer with land from Tarleton. The couple went on to have eight children. Alice lived separately from her husband for many years and was employed as a housekeeper in Chorley. In the year 1876 Alice was living with her daughter on Eaves Lane, Chorley. At around midnight one night Alice awoke feeling lightheaded but managed to go back to bed. The next morning, she was reported missing and was later found in the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The jury returned a verdict of “found drowned”. Alice was fifty years old.
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Catherine Taylor
Catherine aged eighteen married William Mcnish, a ‘draper’ living in Blackburn who was originally from Dumfries in Scotland. Catherine and William remain elusive in records until October of 1884, when Catherine McNish then widowed, re-married Thomas Birchall a farmer of Heath Charnock. Father of the bride John Taylor was described as a ‘Gentleman‘ on the marriage record, revealing Catherine’s perception of her late fathers social status. Catherine passed away in 1906 aged seventy-eight years.
John Taylor Jnr
John in his early years made the arduous journey to California seeking to make his fortune during the gold rush. It is not known how long John was in California, but upon returning home he didn’t do so empty handed. John died aged seventy seven and is buried at St Barnabas, Heapey.
See Loss of Gold. A Great Analogy
Hannah Taylor
Hannah passed away aged two in 1834.