(Sir)Robert Taylor/Michael Angelo Taylor

[sniffybun]

I am trying to identify the spouse of Robert Taylor, later Sir Robert Taylor, born in Woodford Green, Essex, living later in Spring Gardens next to what in now Trafalgar Square and buried in Saint Martin in in the Fields. He was a famous sculptor and architect but none of the well known works give any clue as to the identity of his wife. He had a son; Michel Angelo Taylor, a famous politician but that route (i.e. M Angelo's mother) has drawn blanks too so far. It maybe that Robert Taylor may also have had other children - if so it would be interesting to know.

Is anyone able to provide details ?

[CaroleW]

What years are involved here?

[sniffybun]

Thank you for your interest.

Sir Robert Taylor lived from 1714 -1788 and his son Michael Angelo from 1757 -1834.

[jorose]

Oxford DNB says that Michel Angelo was the only son of Sir Robert Taylor, and gives dates for his mother (1722/3–1803), but neither mentions her name.
The Gentleman's Magazine obituary for Michel in 1834 says he was buried in the 'family vault' in Saint Martin in the Fields.

The Times, Tuesday, Sep 30, 1788; pg. 2; Issue 1132; col C
- mentioning Sir Robert's death, also says that his son (listed as 'A M Taylor'), also is possessed of a 'liberal fortune' which came to him through 'Lady Taylor's family'.

www.familysearch.org shows the baptism of Michel Angelo Taylor in 1757 in Saint Martin in the Fields, which gives his mother's name as Elizabeth.

[sniffybun]

Thank you for your contribution.

I have a also since found a reference to Lady Taylor's death at the age of 80 at her residence in Spring Gardens, Charing Cross (Annual Register) with a date 27 December 1803 which is presumably the date of death. There is no other indication of her identity or where she is buried, though one might assume it is with her husband (and later joined by her son) in St Martin in the Fields.

As to Michael Angelo's fortune deriving from his mother (or should one read "Lady Taylor" in that context as maning his wife Frances Anne Vane m 6 August 1789) - the reference you found is indeed interesting as most references to his fortune, and to the earnings of his father, set them up very much as successful self-made men, but then that might have been the flattering "puffs" of the journalists at the time.

Nearer but still so far to discovering her identity and origins.

[jorose]

Given the date of that Times article, if he didn't marry until 1789 it must be his mother. It's interesting that there's little else on her family - presumably there's nothing mentioned in his will of them?

Interestingly enough, The Times article on his funeral describes him as 'not the most popular man in the world', and pokes a little fun at the expense of the funeral. Apparently in addition to the crowd that gathered at the church, there was a second crowd of pickpockets to take advantage of them.  It seems they were at the Spring Gardens address even at that time, as it mentions the funeral procession going from Spring Gardens to St. Martin's.

Followed by this:
The Times, Saturday, Oct 18, 1788; pg. 2; Issue 1148; col A
Had the heir of the late Sir Robert Taylor given away the money among the poor of the parish, instead of entertaining the vestrymen with a supper, it would have been more honorable, besides giving comfort to those who are in want of the common necessities of life.

The Times, Monday, Jul 21, 1834; pg. 3; Issue 15535; col E
 - describes Michael Angelo as the 'uncle of the Marchioness of Londonderry', apparently having at some point refused to give his permission (while she was still a minor) to her marriage to the Marquis of Londonderry, resulting in Chancery proceedings.

The Times, Wednesday, Jan 23, 1833; pg. 4; Issue 15069; col C
 - is the death of the Marichoness Dowager of Londonderry, relict of Robert, first Marquis, and mother of Charles William, Marquis of Londonderry. Charles William must be the one who married Michael's niece, whoever she was.

http://www.wynyardwoodlandpark.org.uk/WynyardHall.htm
 - shows that Charles William Stewart, son of Robert Stewart, first Marquis of Londonderry, married in 1819 Frances, daughter of Sir Henry Vane-Tempest.  Frances was born around 1800.  So I guess that's a dead-end - she was his wife's niece.

[timpl]

I am trying to identify the spouse of Robert Taylor, later Sir Robert Taylor, born in Woodford Green, Essex, living later in Spring Gardens next to what in now Trafalgar Square and buried in Saint Martin in in the Fields. He was a famous sculptor and architect but none of the well known works give any clue as to the identity of his wife. He had a son; Michel Angelo Taylor, a famous politician but that route (i.e. M Angelo's mother) has drawn blanks too so far. It maybe that Robert Taylor may also have had other children - if so it would be interesting to know.

Is anyone able to provide details ?

Half the details are on the FamilySearch site where you should search for the baptism of his son Michael Guido Taylor on 13 July 1757.  This shows that Michael's mother's forename was Elizabeth.

Unfortunately this does not take me any further.  Family Search has 18 marriages of a Robert Taylor to various Elizabeths between 1745 (when he might have started to earn money) and 1757 when their son was baptised and I can see nothing to identify him or her in that list.  Nor is there anything in Joseph Foster's "London Marriage Licences".  Nor in Canterbury Marriage Allegations.  There are a few other records of that era that are worth searching, not to mention the Gentleman's Magazine.

Tim Powys-Lybbe