David TAYLOR (1799 – 1878) and Sarah RIGDEN (1809 – 1842)
David TAYLOR was baptised on 29-Dec-1799 at Hawkinge, Kent, England. His parents are Thomas TAYLOR (1756 – 1844) and Elizabeth WHORRELL (1762 – 1853). There are spelling variations of her surname and also David’s grandmother is a HAYWOOD which as shown in the previous ancestral couple report has variants and that branch is comingled. It is likely that this line also joins in with that one.
David was the tenth of twelve children born to the couple. Although have not reviewed all his siblings it is possible that they all survived childhood which is quite unusual. Have no other documents relating to his early life and the next document found is his marriage to Sarah.
She was the third of seven born to William RIGDEN (1780 – 1852) and Sarah GILBEE (1786 – 1874). Her baptism took place on 15-Oct-1809 in Dover, Kent, England. Again no documents found until the marriage on 21-Jul-1827 at St Mary The Virgin Church in Dover, Kent, England.
All their six children were born before the 1841 Census. They appear to have moved around the area a bit during this period like their parents and grandparents appear to have done.
Sarah TAYLOR (1829 – 1881) was baptised on 22-Mar-1829 in Hawkinge, Kent, England. She was married Q4 1849 in Elham District (which at the time included Folkestone) to Robert FISHER (c1824 – 1911). She died Q3 1881 with it also registered in Elham District. I believe they had seven children.
Charlotte TAYLOR (1830 – 1897) was baptised on 14-Nov-1830 in Hawkinge, Kent, England. She married James SEAGER (1836 – 1918) Q4 1863 in Elham District and was buried on 06-Dec-1897 in Chilham, Kent, England. They also seem to have had seven offspring.
David RIGDEN TAYLOR (1833 – 1874) was baptised on 03-Feb-1833 in Hawkinge, Kent, England. He married Harriet PETTIT (1840 – 1914) in Q4 1862 again in Elham District. There does not appear to have been any progeny from this relationship. He was a publican and died on 19-Nov-1874 in the High Street, Folkestone aged 43. Cause of death appears to be Haematemesis (vomiting blood) certified by a doctor who was in attendance.
Ann Elizabeth TAYLOR (1834 – 1921) was baptised on 29-Mar-1835 in Folkestone, Kent, England. In this the surname is put as TYLER. Descendants have noted her date of birth as 26-Feb-1835 but it being the year later seems more plausible. She married George E GILLHAM (1830 – 1921) on 24-Jun-1854 in Elham District. They had nine children I believe but only the first was born in the UK as they moved to York, Ontario, Canada in about 1856. She died on 20-May-1921 about two months after having fractured her femur.
Mark TAYLOR (1837 – 1915) was baptised on 12-Nov-1837 in Folkestone, Kent, England. In this the surname is put as TAILOR. He married Sarah Ann GOODMAN (1846 – 1908) on 25-Oct-1866 at Christ Church, Folkestone, England. He died on 17-Feb-1915 at 27 East Cliff, Folkestone, Kent, England and was buried on 22-Feb-1915. They also had nine offspring with one dying in infancy.
Emma TAYLOR (1840 – Aft. 1861) was born on 13-May-1840 and baptised on 28-Jun-1840 in Folkestone, Kent, England. Have not yet confirmed her movements after 1861.
1841 Census: This finds the family living in a place called Elvington in Folkestone area as opposed to the village of Elvington 1 which is the other side of Dover. The eldest daughter is not with them at the date but aged 12 appears to be a female servant for the AMOS household who are in Newington, Kent, England. David at circa 40 is an Ag Lab but the others have no occupations.
The following year Sarah died leaving David with five children under the roof with ages from eleven down to two. She died on 05-Jun-1842 and was buried in Hawkinge on 10-Jun-1842.
1851 Census: This one has David, now 51, with four offspring still at home. Charlotte (20), Ann (16), Mark (13) and Emma (10 although transcribed as 16). No jobs are noted for his children but presumably Charlotte has been acting more as housekeeper / nanny for her younger siblings.. The location is still Elvington which is next door to Dane Farm 2.
This shows on the Historic England entry map as an area just above the Channel Tunnel terminal described as Elvington with Gibraltar and Arpinge nearby which are also noted in census returns. It is likely David, Ag Lab, worked for Edward LAWS of Dane Farm as he was a Farmer of 28 Acres. The head of the family the other side of the farm was also an Ag Lab.
1861 Census: Now there are only four of the family together and now found in the first of three noted as Gibraltar Cottages. Then next property is then Elvington Cottage before Dane Farm so presumably they have downsized to allow a larger family to have their original home. Edward LAWS is now shown as a Farmer of 33 acres and think it says in brackets ’employing 1 man’ so perhaps David, at 61, is not employed by him.
Charlotte (30) does not have an occupation whilst David (28) is a Sawyer whilst Emma (20) is a Domestic Servant. As an interesting side note the 14 year old daughter of the Grazier next door is apparently an Organist. Presumably at this time they did not have the equipment at home for her to practise.
On 05-May-1866 David remarried to the widow of John GIBBON who had died in 1850 leaving a wife and infant behind. Susanna WOORE (1814 – 1887) was therefore almost fifteen years younger than her new spouse.
1871 Census: All David’s children have moved out and he’s living at 13 Palmaston Cottages. He’s still working as an Agricultural Labourer with age given as 70. His 57 year old wife Susannah is there and a 20 year old Grandson William GIBBON (1850 – 1915) who is employed as a Solicitor’s General Clerk. Now believe this should have stated Stepson as it is Susanna’s child.
David lived until 22-May-1878 and was buried on 25-May-1878 in Hawkinge, Kent, England. Will need to undertake further investigation to find out what happened to Emma. There are many individuals called Emma TAYLOR who lived within a reasonable area to review but potentially she moved to Canada and joined her sister.
Footnotes –
References to be provided for evidence at a later date but most research has been done using Ancestry, FreeBMD and Google Maps.
- Wikipedia, Elvington – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvington,_Kent ↩︎
- Historic England, Dane Farm – https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1242016 ↩︎
