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« on: Tuesday 19 September 17 11:15 BST (UK) »
I'm completely new to this. I've been researching John Taylor of Eriswell, my grandfather on my mother's side. He is the son of John Taylor and Rebecca Taylor (nee Rumbelow) who married on 23.07.1887. She in turn is the daughter of Richard Rumbelow and Mary Ann Rumbelow (nee Reynolds), born 14.04.1865 in West Row Mildenhall. Rebecca had two boys, John Taylor (my grandfather) and William. She died 12.06.1889 as a result of her clothes catching fire. I have found newspaper articles from the time. Her mother (Mary Ann Rumbelow) was staying with them at the time in Cemetery Road, and was just about to leave for London (Rebecca was making a cup of tea on the hearth and also attending to John), when the back of her dress caught fire.
My mother thought that John Taylor junior was born on 11.12.1888, but this doesn't look right based on census records and other information. I think that he was probably conceived before the marriage, and may well have been born before the marriage. My mother understood that he was either born or spent his early years in the East End of London. Census information of John Taylor senior shows him living alone at Cemetery Road in 1891, i.e. after Rebecca died. I assume that the two boys were at that time living with their grandmother Mary Ann Rumbelow, and that this was in the East End of London, although I have no evidence for this. John Taylor senior remarried on 05.12.1891 to Hannah Cooper and they went on to have 4 children (Frederick, Arthur, Margaret and Eric). The 1901 census shows John Taylor senior and Hannah living with the 6 children at Rakeheath Cottage, Eriswell. John Taylor junior stated age at the census date was 14, (suggesting he was born between 30.03.1886 and 31.03.1887).
I have been unable to find John Taylor junior birth records Have you any ideas on this? Also, more generally what do you know of the Rumbelow family history. I am planning to go to Mildenhall later this year to visit local churches etc. Do you know of anything I could look for?
John Taylor junior joined the army aged 15 (circa 1902). He was a farrier / horseman and fought right through the First World War on the western front (Ypres). He married Elsie May Robberts on 26.01.1916 at Ringwood parish church (Hampshire), having apparently met in Melton Mowbray. Elsie May already had two daughters (Phyllis and Ena) and John and Elsie May went on to have 5 more children (Sybil, my mother, Edwin, Hazel, Michael and Beryl). John Taylor died 31.03.1942 in Ringwood of emphesyma.