Taphophile Tragics - George and ElizaTaylor

Monument to George and Eliza Taylor, All saints Churchyard, Boyne Hill, Maidenhead, Berkshire, England.

"In Loving Memory of George Taylor who entered into rest Oct 22nd 1904 Aged 73 Years - Looking Unto Jesus - Also Eliza the beloved wife of the above Died Feby 24th 1912 Aged 84 Years."

George Taylor was born in White Waltham, Berkshire in 1931 to John Taylor and agricultural labourer and his wife Margaret, a day school mistress.

Eliza Taylor was born Eliza Duckett in 1828 in Maidenhead Berkshire to John Duckett and his wife Martha Hamilton.  I have been unable to locate Eliza on the 1841 Census, but in 1851 she is working as housemaid for Samuel Cooper and his family in Henley, Oxfordshire.

George first appears on the 1841 Census aged ten living with his parents in Waltham Lane, White Waltham.  He is still there ten years later aged twenty, now working as a carpenter.  In 1853 George marries Eliza Duckett.  Their first child, a daughter, Margaret was born in 1854 in Waltham.  Followed by Agnes in 1857, Gertrude Eliza in 1859, Augusta Eliza in 1860, George in 1862, Gertrude Alice in 1864, Kate in 1867 and John in 1868.

In 1861 George and his family are living in Victoria Street in Maidenhead, Berkshire.  Sadly Gertrude Eliza was to pass away a few months after the 1861 Census was taken.

In 1871 the family had moved to West Street in Maidenhead.  Sixteen year old Margaret has left the family to work as a nursery maid for Rev William B Hole, vicar of St Luke's church in Maidenhead, and his family.   Fourteen year old Agnes is working as a nursemaid for the Smith Family in Boyne Hill, Maidenhead.  In 1873 Margaret marries Augustus Samuel Cole, a gardener from Hurley, Berkshire.

1881 and the family is still living in West Street.  George Jr is now an apprentice carpenter, working with his father, George.  Joining the family is four year old Morris William Cole, George and Eliza's grandson, son of Margaret and her husband Augustus Samuel Cole.

Agnes has moved to Sonning in Berkshire to work as a domestic servant for the Fuller family on their farm.

In 1883 Gertrude Alice marries Herbert William Nicholls, a carpenter from Oxfordshire.

In 1891 George, Eliza, Augusta, Kate and John are still living in West Street, Maidenhead.  Eliza is taking in work as a laundress, probably to help ends meet as George is now 60 years old.  Kate is working as a dress maker and John as a groom and cab driver.  George Jr and his wife Violet have moved to 6 Arthur street in St Pancras, London.  I have been unable to find anything on George and Violet's marriage, but in 1899 George marries Annie Louisa Payne in St Pancras, London.  That same year Kate marries John William Styles, an agricultural machinist.  Later in 1891 John marries Emily Gray.

1901 and George, Eliz and Augusta are still in West Street.  Living with them at the time is their nineteen year old grand-daughter Eliza A Cole.  John and his wife Emily are living at 34 College Road, Maidenhead, where John's occupation is listed as an ironmonger's porter.

Sadly, just three years later George Snr passes away aged 73 years.  George's death was reported in the Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer on 28th October 1904 -

"Death Of An Old Cricketer

The death took place on Saturday evening last of  Mr. George Taylor, at his residence, 54, West Street, Maidenhead, where he and his family had resided some 38 years.  Mr. Taylor was 73 years of age and was born in Maidenhead (all official records state White Waltham). From his youth he proved himself a most excellent cricketer, and played in many of the best matched of the Maidenhead Cricket Club and also assisted many of the neighbouring clubs.  He was founder of the late Maidenhead Grosvenor Cricket Club, and owned several prize bats, balls and caps, awarded to him for distinguished service.  He played cricket up to within a few years ago, and at the Coronation Sports won a race for men over 60 the prize being a salad bowl. 

Mr. Taylor had been in failing health for some time and his death was no unexpected.  He was greatly respected throughout the town and district, and his demise will be heard of by many of his old cricketing friends with great regret.  He leaves a widow and a grown up family of two sons and four daughters.  The funeral took place on Thursday at 2 o'clock."


1911 and the widowed Eliza is still working as a laundress at the age of 83.  Living with and helping her is her daughter Augusta Eliza and her grand-daughters Edith Alice Cole and Kate Augusta Nicholls.  Eliza was to pass away almost a year later in 1912 aged 84.

Augusta Eliza Taylor never married and died in  Maidenhead in 1941 aged 80.


Taphophile Tragics
Tombstone Tuesday