Quaker Birth Records

[Mary C]

I have a Thomas Taylor, son of Thomas and Deborah Taylor whose birth record (11/9/1715) was in a register for the "Monthly Meeting of South Somerset (Piece Description Piece 1439: Monthly Meeting of South Somerset (to 1783), and Mid-Somerset (1657-1748)

Thomas Jnr's marriage and children were all born (and some died) in Bristol and those Quaker registers were from the Monthly Meetings of Bristol.

I am trying to ascertain where he was actually born. I cannot find out what areas the South Somerset meetings covered. Could he have been born in Bristol? I cannot find a marriage for his parents.

I am hoping someone might be able to help me here.

Always grateful for help I have previously received on this site.
Mary

[Peter Goodey]

I am trying to ascertain where he was actually born

Are you looking at the original manuscript record?

[emeltee]

According to the Quaker Births Transcription his birth place was Cadbury.

The entries on the page read as follows

Thomas son of Thomas Taylor and Deborah his wife was born 11 July 1715 (Transcription says September)

Thomas son of Thomas Taylor and his wife was born 18 June 1716

John son of Thomad and Deborah Taylor was born 19 March 1718

Eliz. daughter of Thomas Taylor and Deborah his wife born the 24 Nov 1720

Emeltee

[Peter Goodey]

Would someone else like to look at the original? It's on Ancestry.

The page is headed Cadbury, right enough.

But have a look at the three consecutive entries of which "Thomas son of Thomas Taylor and Deborah" is the third.

To my eyes, the first record says "of Castle Cary". The second says "of the same". The third (Mary's ancestor) says "of ditto".

My eyes are a bit wonky today so I'm prepared to be overruled but to me it looks as if the birthplace is Castle Cary.

[almach]

Would someone else like to look at the original? It's on Ancestry.

The page is headed Cadbury, right enough.

But have a look at the three consecutive entries of which "Thomas son of Thomas Taylor and Deborah" is the third.

To my eyes, the first record says "of Castle Cary". The second says "of the same". The third (Mary's ancestor) says "of ditto".

My eyes are a bit wonky today so I'm prepared to be overruled but to me it looks as if the birthplace is Castle Cary.

I've taken a look, and agree it's Castle Cary.

[emeltee]

I agree that the first Thomas would appear to be Castle Cary but unfortunately the second Thomas, John and Elizabeth don't appear to have a place name so one has to go with what it says at the top of the page which is Cadbury.

As parents don't usually give the same name to two children, it looks as though the Thomas born Castle Cary died and the next born son was given the same name.

Emeltee

[almach]

Sorry Emeltee, we must agree to disagree. I don't think there's little doubt that the batch of births at the bottom of the page in different handwriting, are for people of Castle Cary, though I'm prepared to be shot down in flames! :)

[Peter Goodey]

Mary is specifically asking about the Thomas born 11 Sep 1715. he was born in Castle Cary.

[Mary C]

Many thanks to you all. It looks as though Thomas was definitely not born in Bristol. Castle Cary is about 30 miles from Bristol (and Cadbury even further) and I wonder why he ended up in Bristol where he was married in 1736.
I'm now wondering if the Quaker Thomas Taylor family of Bristol is in fact connected to the Castle Cary one. Not conclusive I know but he didn't name any of his daughters Deborah.
More research required!

[grisel]

Do you have his marriage certificate? A Quaker marriage cert usually gives the names , occupations and abode of parents I think.

[Mary C]

I have the scanned record on Ancestry. it doesn't give the Groom's father's name, only the Bride's. It states the Groom is of Bristol and a Plumber. There is a list of witnesses at the marriage, quite a few Taylors but no Thomas or Deborah Taylor so I now think I have the wrong parents. I will follow up on the other Taylors.
Many thanks.

[janbooth]

Perhaps this might help, Mary. There is a burial at Castle Cary on 29 December 1782 of a Thomas TAYLOR, aged 66, so he could be one or other of the Thomas's baptised at Castle Cary.

Ah, just found Quaker record at the Monthly Meeting of Bristol, via Ancestry, for a Thomas son of Nicholas TAYLER & Mary his wife who was born at their dwelling house in Marchant Street the parish of James on 24th day of 11th month 1713, which I think means 24 January 1713/14. Is this within the timescale of your Thomas? There is a Quaker marriage record at the Monthly Meeting of Bristol, again via Ancestry, on 17th of 4th month 1700 their intention to marry on 12th day of 5th month, Nicholas TAYLOUR of this city, Carpenter, son of Nicholas, Carpenter, & Mary HOLLISTER, daughter of Samuel late of the same city, Grocer. Any good?

Janet

[grisel]

I have the scanned record on Ancestry. it doesn't give the Groom's father's name, only the Bride's. It states the Groom is of Bristol and a Plumber. There is a list of witnesses at the marriage, quite a few Taylors but no Thomas or Deborah Taylor so I now think I have the wrong parents. I will follow up on the other Taylors.
Many thanks.
That is a pity. I have Quaker records from a slightly later date which are quite informative. Following up on the other Taylors is a good idea. You may find siblings or parents.

Our ancestor came from a Somerset village.He was baptised in an Anglican church but moved to Bristol as a young man. He joined Society of Friends(Quakers) and started a business in the city.

In your case Thomas may have been born in Bristol or elsewhere, and may or may not have been born a Quaker! Bristol archives have some Quaker records, could be worth checking.Best of luck!

[grisel]

Perhaps this might help, Mary. There is a burial at Castle Cary on 29 December 1782 of a Thomas TAYLOR, aged 66, so he could be one or other of the Thomas's baptised at Castle Cary.

Ah, just found Quaker record at the Monthly Meeting of Bristol, via Ancestry, for a Thomas son of Nicholas TAYLER & Mary his wife who was born at their dwelling house in Marchant Street the parish of James on 24th day of 11th month 1713, which I think means 24 January 1713/14. Is this within the timescale of your Thomas? There is a Quaker marriage record at the Monthly Meeting of Bristol, again via Ancestry, on 17th of 4th month 1700 their intention to marry on 12th day of 5th month, Nicholas TAYLOUR of this city, Carpenter, son of Nicholas, Carpenter, & Mary HOLLISTER, daughter of Samuel late of the same city, Grocer. Any good?

Janet

That is interesting Janet and may be a possibility. My only concern is that Nicholas is not mentioned on Thomas's marriage cert , quite a surprising omission. I guess Mary would need to follow up on Nicholas's Thomas to see if they are one and the same....

[Mary C]

Many thanks Jan. I have actually been collating information about Nicholas Taylor as he appeared as a Witness in several marriages and I thought there might be a connection. I did have Elizabeth (1701) and William (1702) with parents Nicholas Jnr & Mary at Marchant Street, also a Rebecca (1712) at St. James but I had not come across the Thomas birth which does fit in with his marriage date of 1736. The name Hollister is given as a first name to the child of Nicholas Jnr & Sarah in 1738.
I don't know how I missed those other records and why the marriage ones I have looked at did not have the Groom's father's name. I will go back and have another look.
I think the death of the Castle Cary Thomas Taylor at 66 would be a very good fit for the son of Thomas & Deborah. I have now discounted them.
Mary

[grisel]

http://
archives.bristol.gov.uk/Willsindex.aspx

You may already have seen these - but if not, Bristol Archives have a number of Taylor wills including Nicholas Taylor the elder , house carpenter 1739 . Also a Thomas Taylor plumber 1754 who could be yours. The archives will copy for you for a fee.

[janbooth]

Those Wills could be very interesting, couldn't they Grisel and hopefully give Mary some clues.

Janet

[Mary C]

http://
archives.bristol.gov.uk/Willsindex.aspx

You may already have seen these - but if not, Bristol Archives have a number of Taylor wills including Nicholas Taylor the elder , house carpenter 1739 . Also a Thomas Taylor plumber 1754 who could be yours. The archives will copy for you for a fee.

Many thanks Grisel. These two are definitely mine. I have ordered the Nicholas Will from the National Archives but as they didn't have Thomas' I have ordered that through Bristol Archives, which will take longer! Wills are always such good sources.
Mary

[grisel]

Many thanks Grisel. These two are definitely mine. I have ordered the Nicholas Will from the National Archives but as they didn't have Thomas' I have ordered that through Bristol Archives, which will take longer! Wills are always such good sources.
Mary

Hi Mary, I can only see a Nicholas Taylor Will of 1704 in the Nat Archives, poss father of the Nicholas Taylor 1739 Will at Bristol? But prob part of the same family so all of interest.

[janbooth]

Do let us know how you get on when the Wills arrive, Mary. Hopefully they will point the way to the parentage of your Thomas.

Janet

[Mary C]

I thought the Will on the National Archives for Nicholas was for 1739 and ordered it, but it turned out to be the 1704 one. This is fine as I am pretty sure he was the father of the later Nicholas. At this stage it has given me the names of his children and three grandchildren, and that he was a Carpenter. All very useful information.
I sent an email to Bristol Archives asking what I needed to do to order the Thomas Taylor Will of 1754 but will now also order the 1739 Nicholas Will. I received a reply from Bristol Archives that they would get back to me within two weeks! I'm not sure if there is a quicker way of ordering. I haven't ordered anything from them before. Hopefully these Wills will confirm the parents of Thomas Taylor (1713) and indeed if the 1754 Will is his.
I haven't yet got round to transcribing the Will I have received but when I do I am happy to share it with anyone who might have an interest.
Thanks for your help Janet
Mary

[janbooth]

Fingers crossed for you Mary.

Janet

[Mary C]

I am now impatiently waiting to hear back from Bristol Archives!

[Mary C]

Hi Everyone - just to keep you up to date. I eventually received the two Wills from Bristol. The 1739 Will was a poor copy and difficult to read but I was able to ascertain names and relationships which was great. From there I discovered a whole world of my 'Quaker Family' in Bristol which has been a very interesting exercise. I have discovered that the brother of my 7 x great Grandfather Samuel Hollister, was Dennis Hollister, a leading light in Quakers in Bristol. He had also been an MP in Cromwell's 'Barebones' Parliament. His granddaughter, Hannah Callowhill was William Penn's second wife. She was obviously a very intelligent woman and effectively administered the Province of Pennsylvania for six years after her husband suffered a serious of strokes. One hundred and twenty five Quakers were imprisoned in Bristol, including Dennis I haven't researched that part properly yet. So many thanks to everyone for their help in my search.
Mary

[janbooth]

Great result for you, Mary, and thank you for letting us know the outcome. Now you have a whole new "world" to discover as you say.

Janet

[JLouiseP]

Funnily, I have found just the opposite and it gave me some confusion until I saw the pattern. Certainly, within my family tree, I see the use of the same name frequently where an earlier child has died and a subsequent child has received the same name.