JOSEPH TAYLOR, my great, great grandfather was born March 13th 1838 in Harcombe Farm
Sidbury, Devon. Baptised April 1st 1838 at Sidbury Parish Church, Devon. According to the family
Bible (now belonging to the Yeo family). In the 1901 Census he gives Buckton (Farm), Sidbury, Devon
as his place of birth. Son of ROBERT TAYLOR (1810 -1862) and ELIZABETH TAYLOR (nee CLAPP)
1813 -1857 of Sidbury, Devon and later of Sidmouth, Devon. Joseph was the grandson of UNKNOWN TAYLOR
and UNKNOWN TAYLOR (nee UNKNOWN) There are several possible sets of parents but no conclusive
evidence to date to link him to any of them. Joseph's maternal grandparents were JOHN CLAPP
and MARY CLAPP (nee IRISH) of Sidbury, Devon.

Joseph married ELIZABETH FARRANT daughter of JOHN FARRANT .of Devon and LYDIA FARRANT
(nee REED) of Clifton Wood, Bristol. June 30th 1861 in St George’s, Brandon Hill, Bristol. Elizabeth was
born in 1833 at Rockbeare, Devon where her parents were lving at that time. The Farrants seemed to move
about the area quite a bit a fact shown in the different places where their various children were born. Elizabeth
was the granddaughter of JAMES FARRANT and JANE FARRANT (nee TUCK) of Roebuck Farm, Honiton,
Devon. The parents of her mother Lydia Reed remains a mystery. Presumably she is related to the Reed families
from Upottery?

...........1 JOSEPH TAYLOR b: 13 Mar 1838 Harcombe, Sidbury, Devon
............. +ELIZABETH FARRANT b: 17 Jul 1833 Rockebeare, Devon
............... 2 ROBERT GEORGE TAYLOR b:1863 Bristol.
.................... +MATILDA LUKE b: 1862 Clifton, Bristol
.................... 3 SIDNEY GEORGE TAYLOR b: 14 Feb 1895 Bristol
......................... +LILIAN GIBBONS b: 07 Mar 1897 Bristol
.......................4 NORMAN SIDNEY TAYLOR b: 30 Dec 1926 Bristol
............................. +JOAN MARGARET CREESE b: 1931 Bristol
............................. 5 PAUL b: 1963 Bristol

Looking from the docks up to Clifton Wood, Bristol where the Taylors lived

The Farrants were originally from Honiton, Devon and pre-1800 from Colaton Raleigh, Devon.

I remember a wooden chest which was made by gt, gt grandfather Joseph Taylor at my gt aunt's home in
Bishopston, Bristol. This and the Taylor family Bible were left by my gt aunts to a cousin.
A bit annoying that the Taylors don't have their own family Bible!. But such was the intention of the great aunts.
Infact Elsie Taylor used to tell me frequently that the chest made by Joseph was being left to the cousins
Possibly as the result of some family squabble or another. Probably with my father!

1841 Census Buckton (Farm?) Sidbury, Devon Robert Taylor 31 Ag Lab ---------------------------- Born in County Elizabeth Taylor 28 ------------------------------------- Born in County Mary Ann Taylor 5 -------------------------------------- Born in County JOSEPH TAYLOR 2 ------------------------------------- Born in County ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ HO107; Civil Parish: Sidbury; County: Devon; Enumeration District: 22; Page: 9; Line: 19; GSU roll: 241304.

1841 also living at Buckton, Sidbury are James and Mary Irish who are aunt and uncle of Elizabeth's.
Joseph's maternal grandparents John and Mary Clapp (nee Irish) both who give their age as 50 are living at
Sidbury, Devon with his aunt Susan Clapp age given as 20.

1851 Census Old Fore Street Sidmouth, Devonshire : Robert Taylor Head M 40 M Parish Labourer .............................. Sidmouth, Devon Elizabeth Taylor Wife M 37 F Lace Maker ........................................ Sidbury, Devon JOSEPH TAYLOR Son - 13 M Errand Boy ....................................... Sidbury, Devon ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRO Reference: HO/107/1864 Folio: 433 Page: 14 FHL Film: 0221012

By 1851 Joseph's maternal grandfather John Clapp, Carpenter of Sidbury, Devon is dead and his grandmother
Mary Clapp (nee Irish) (Pauper School Mistress) is living at Harcombe, Sidbury aged 66

1861 Census New Street, Weston Super Mare, Somerset James Fisher Head M 75 Owner of Cottages ............ Somerset, Wick St Lawrence Mary Elizabeth Fisher Wife Married 64 ........................................... Essex, Colchester JOSEPH TAYLOR 24 Lodger Unm Carpenter................................ Devon, Sidmouth Levi Gibbs 24 ...... Lodger Unm Carpenter....................................... Devon, Sidmouth ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ RG9; Piece: 1673; Folio: 25; Page: 44; GSU roll: 542849.

Levi Gibbs is presumably a friend (a relation?) of Joseph's as they both give Sidmouth, Devon as their birthplaces.
Levi stays in Weston into old age. At the same time Joseph's bride to be Elizabeth is also staying in Weston as
a visitor with Ezra and Henrietta Shepperd. Henrietta gives her place of birth as Salcombe Regis and Ezra
gives his as Sidmouth, Devon. See further details below on this couple under Elizabeth Farrant 1861 census.

1861 the marriage certificate states that Joseph Taylor is living at Woodwell Crescent, Hotwells, Bristol which is where Elizabeth's mother Lydia Farrant was living and Elizabeth Farrant gives her abode as Limekiln Lane, Bristol. It appears they married in a slight hurry! as their
daughter Elizabeth Ann Farrant Taylor was born soon after. They moved from Weston to live in Bristol in 1861 just after the census.

Ezra Sheppard = Henrietta Bartlett in the Honiton district October/November/December Quarter 1856

1871 Census 3 Ellenborough Place, Cliftonwood, Bristol JOSEPH TAYLOR 33 H Carpenter ............................................ Sidbury, Devon Elizabeth Taylor 38 W.............................................................. Rockbeare, Devon Robert G Taylor 8 S........................................................................... Clifton, Bristol Frederick W Taylor 4 S .................................................................... Clifton, Bristol ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RG10; Piece: 2539; Folio: 44; Page: 7; GSU roll: 835261

1871 Two other households are also living at 3 Ellenborough Place, Clifton Wood, Bristol

1872-1875 the Taylor family are living at 3 Ambra Vale, Cliftonwood, Bristol according to the Street Directory.

1881 Census 4 Ambra Vale South, Cliftonwood, Bristol JOSEPH TAYLOR Head M 45 Carpenter Joiner .... Sidbury, Devon Elizabeth Taylor Wife 48 ......................................... Rockbeare, Devon Robert G Taylor Son 18 Printer ..................................... Clifton, Bristol Frederick W Taylor Son 14 Photographer ................. Clifton, Bristol Lilian E Taylor Dau 5 ........................................................ Clifton, Bristol -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RG11; Piece: 2479; Folio: 66; Page: 52; Line: ; GSU roll: 1341597

1883 of 4 Ambra Vale Road South, Cliftonwood, Bristol

1891 Census 1 Argyll Place, Cliftonwood, Bristol Joseph Taylor Head M 54 Carpenter and Joiner ................. Devon, Harcombe Elizabeth Taylor Wife M 58 ........................................................ Devon, Rockbeare Lilian Taylor Dau S 15 ......................................................................... Bristol, Clifton ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ RG12; Piece: 1966; Folio 39; Page 8; GSU roll: 6097076.

1901 Census 5 Southernhay Crescent, Cliftonwood, Bristol JOSEPH TAYLOR 63 H Carpenter and Joiner .......... Buckton, Sidbury, Devon Elizabeth Taylor 68 W ............................................... Rockbeare, nr Exeter, Devon Lillian Emily Taylor 25 D Dressmaker ................................... Cliftonwood, Bristol Mary ann Herbert 65 Sr ................................. Greenhead, Sidbury, Devon (Blind) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ RG13; Piece: 2366; Folio: 79; Page: 4

5 Southernhay Crescent was owned by Frederick Cornish who was a Grocer and let to the Taylor family. The Cornish family
lived at 15 St Vincents Parade Clifton, Bristol (near Granby Hill) in 1901. Frederick had been born in London in 1855 his
wife Emily was born about 1858 at Exeter, Devon.

ELIZABETH FARRANT, my great, great grandmother was born July 17th 1833 in Rockbeare, Devon; died in St Joseph’s Home,
Cotham Hill, Bristol about 1917?. She was the daughter of JOHN FARRANT and LYDIA FARRANT (nee REED)
she married JOSEPH TAYLOR June 30th , 1861 at St George’s, Brandon Hill, Bristol.

1841 Census? Hayne, Colyton, Devon John Farrant 35 Dairyman........................ Born County Lydia Farrant 35.......................................... Born County Ann Farrant 2............................................... Born County ELIZABETH FARRANT 9........................... Born County George Farrant 7......................................... Born County James Farrant 4.......................................... Born County Jane Farrant 5.............................................. Born County Hermina Farrant 10..................................... Born County John Farrant 12........................................... Born County ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ HO107; Civil Parish: Colyton; County: Devon; Enumeration District: 3; Page: 11; Line: 14; GSU roll: 241307

Roebuck Farm, Weston, Honiton

1851 Census Roebuck Farm Honiton Devon JAMES FARRANT 76 (Wid) FARMER OF 80 ACRES Employing Two Lab...... Colaton Raleigh JOHN FARRANT son 48 Assistant ............................................................................ Colaton Raleigh Lydia Farrant D in L 50 Assistants Wife................................................................... Upottery, Devon John Farrant grd son 21 works on farm........................................................................ Ottery, Devon ELIZABETH FARRANT grd daughter ... 16 at home.......................................... Rockbeare, Devon Jane Farrant grd daughter ........ 15 at home ....................................................... Rockbeare, Devon Ann Farrant ..grd daughter........... 10 at home........................................................... Colyton, Devon Harriett Farrant grd daughter............ 8 at home........................................................ Colyton, Devon William Farrant grd daughter........... 6 at home...................................................... Stockland, Devon ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HO107 1863 223 p 16 film o221011

1861 Census Cottage and Stables, Coombe Bank, Church Road, Weston Super Mare Ezra Shepperd Head M 24 Gardener Domestic ...................................... Devon, Sidmouth Henrietta Shepperd Wife M 24 ........................................................................ Salcombe Regis Samuel Shepperd brother unm 15 ... Gardener Domestic.............. Wiltshire, Warminster ELIZABETH FARRANT Visitor Unm 28 Domestic Servant.................... Devon Rockbeare Ellen Smith Visitor unmarried 19 Domestic Servant ........................ Devon Ottery St Mary --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RG9; Piece: 1672; Folio: 75; Page: 19; GSU roll: 542849

Ezra Sheppard = Henrietta Bartlett in the Honiton District October/November/December Quarter 1856

Ezra Sheppard was the son of James and Mary Ann Sheppard (nee Prangley) of Sidmouth, Devon. His father
was a gardener and in 1851 they were living at Callington, somewhere near Temple Street, Sidmouth. In 1841
the family were living in Corsley, Warminster, Wiltshire. Ezra's mother's family were from Wiltshire.
Henrietta Sheppard (nee Bartlett) was living in 1851 with her parents and siblings at Sidbury.
John and Susan Bartlett (nee Gosling)

Children of JOSEPH TAYLOR and ELIZABETH TAYLOR (nee FARRANT) are:

(1) Elizabeth Ann Farrant Taylor, born September 2nd 1861 in Cliftonwood Bristol; died May 13, 1866
Cliftonwood, Bristol aged 5 years

(2) ROBERT GEORGE TAYLOR, born March 17th 1863 in Cliftonwood, Bristol.; Died November 23rd 1936
in Bristol Royal Infirmary. He was buried at Greenbank Cemetery, Greenbank, Bristol aged 73 years
(the grave stone has since been removed in the 1980's);

married MATILDA LUKE April 25, 1889 in Clifton Parish
Church, Clifton, Bristol. Daughter of JACOB and ELIZABETH LUKE (nee UREN) of Bristol, formerly of Copperhouse, Hayle, Cornwall

 

(3) Frederick William Taylor, born February 11th 1867 at 2 Ellenborough Place, Cliftonwood, Bristol; Died 1927 Bristol.
Frederick was at one time a photographer and quite an accomplished artist (according to Auntie Winnie) He married
Ellen Pricilla Ball (Nellie). Ellen was the daughter of John and Hannah Ball. In 1871 the Ball family are living at Court Hill, Potterne.
her father is working as a coachman for Eliza Jane Salmon of the Manor House, Potterne, Wiltshire.By 1881 Ellen is a servant
(nurse) working for Mr (and Mrs) Albert Bulteel Fisher (died 1906 aged 71 and buried at Potterne, Wiltshire) at Court Hill House,
Potterne, Wiltshire.

The man second from front left is a Yeo who was uncle of Philip Yeo who married Frederick's
niece Gwen Stones about 30 years later.

1891 Census Bellvue Cottages, Cliftonwood, Bristol Frederick W Taylor Head M 24 Photographer....................... Bristol Ellen P Taylor Wife Married 24 ............................................. Corsham Archie F Taylor son Single 3 months ..................................... Bristol ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ RG12/1967

1901 Census 11 Cornwallis Avenue, Clifton, Bristol Frederick William Taylor Head M 34 Photographer Artist .......................... Bristol, Clifton Ellen P Taylor Wife M 34 ....................................................... Wiltshire, Bathwick? Corsham Archie F Taylor Son 10 ......................................................................................... Bristol, Clifton -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RG13; Piece: 2366; Folio: 22; Page: 35

1904 -1908 of 11 Cornwallis Avenue, Clifton, Bristol
1908 1 Normanton Road, Clifton, Bristol
1910 Last entry in directory for Bristol Photographers. U.K. (1852 1972) Extracted from Annual Trade Directories
1931 Mrs Ellen Taylor of 3 Normanton Road, Clifton, Bristol.

Ellen was known in the family as "Nellie" both of Frederick and Ellen's sons died of TB.They were called Frederick and Archibald Taylor. I remember gt aunt Elsie Taylor (1891-1987) telling me how her cousin Archie had come round to Gatton Road, in his early 20's and had told her that it was all up with him. Meaning he had TB. Aunt Ellen Taylor would often visit Gatton Road, St Werburgh's and whenever the subject got onto her sons an argument would start because she would say that there was no TB in her family and that it was from the Taylors and Robert George my gt grandfather would deny this. I'm not sure when Frederick William Taylor died. But Ellen moved to Bath in the 1950's and would come over to visit her sister in law Lillian Emily Stones (nee Taylor) once a week. My father visited his gt aunt Nellie on her 100th birthday at the old peoples home in Bath in which she lived. She was watching a western on TV and was the only old person awake. She was delighted because she thought the Queen had visited her. In fact it had been the lady Mayoress of Bath (?) Ellen I am told lived to be 104?. Frederick William Taylor her husband had been a very talented watercolour artist, as well as being secretary to "George's Brewery" Bristol and a Bristol Photographer. He was on the Redland Reading Rooms (Hampton Road ?) Draughts Team for the season 1908-9. Interestingly W.J.Yeo was also on the team was uncle of Philip Yeo who later married Gwendoline Stones, daughter of Frederick's sister Lilian Emily Stones (neeTaylor)

(4) Herbert Joseph Taylor, born May 24, 1872 at 3 Ambra Vale, Cliftonwood, Bristol;
died April 2, 1873 at 3 Ambra Vale, Clifton Wood, Bristol.

(5) Lilian Emily Taylor, born May 6, 1875 at 3 Ambra Vale, Cliftonwood, Bristol;
died 1970 at Lodway Road, Knowle, Bristol; married William Stones; born abt 1874 at Chapmanslade, Wiltshire son of
John Stone (1813 - 1916) and Caroline Stone (nee White) (1831 - 1894) . William's father was a Master Mason and
Plasterer in 1861 employing five men and two boys. They had one daughter Gwen Stones (later Yeo) who we knew well.
Lovely lady!

I think we must have known gt, gt, aunt Lilian as children although I have no memory of her. She and William (Will) Stones were parents of Gwendoline Stones, born 24 February 1910 Sandy Park, Bristol , who later married Phillip Yeo (whose father, Ernest Joseph Yeo B.E.M. had been Chief Inspector of Bristol Tramways) Lilian Stones (nee Taylor) was a court dressmaker (according to the aunts) not sure what this means. I assume it meant she made dresses for posh people). As birthday and Christmas presents for her nieces my gt aunts she would give beautiful dresses she had made her self. Auntie Winnie Taylor was a bridesmaid at their wedding.

Gt gt aunt Lillian Emily Stones (nee Taylor) 1875-1970 (I probably met her) and husband William Stones.

Gwen Yeo (nee Stones) with her 1st cousin twice removed Samantha born 1987 and in the other picture with her grandmother
Elizabeth Taylor (nee Farrant) born 1833



Gwen Yeo daughter of Lilian Stones (nee Taylor) and her 1st cousins Winnie Younghusband (nee Taylor) and Elsie Taylor

Taylor Family Stories

I was lucky that my paternal great aunts were alive until I was in my early twenties. They had known their grandparents,
my gt gt grandparents Joseph and Elizabeth Taylor, who had been born in the 1830's in Devonshire. So I already could trace
back six generations just from their memories.

Amongst some papers they gave me were their father Robert George Taylor's indentures for his training as a printing compositor
in the 1880's in Bristol. A copy of the baptism of their grandfather Joseph Taylor in Sidbury, in 1838, and their parents original
marriage certificate from 1889.

During our visits to the aunts, most Saturdays during my mothers life time, I often heard them talking of the past and of their childhoods
in Cliftonwood in the late 1890's. It was only as I got older that particularly Auntie Elsie stopped relating stories from their past.
Perhaps they were worried certain skeletons might fall out of the wardrobe? In her late 90s on a visit to gt aunt Elsie she told me she
had had a very disturbed night thinking about the past. She nearly opened up and then at the last moment the shutters came down.
I noticed however that there was a picture of Mr Gibbs out on display. It wasn't there the next time I visited.

Every Sunday morning Auntie Gertie and Auntie Elsie with my grandfather Sidney who lived in Cliftonwood Bristol would put
on their best clothes and go to the service at Clifton Parish Church. This church is now a garden as it was destroyed in the Bristol Blitz.
Sometimes the sombre atmosphere of the church would get too much for the aunts and the children would be sent from the church in disgrace
for laughing.

In the afternoons after church the aunts would go to their paternal grandparents Taylor, who lived at 5 Southernhay Crescent, Cliftonwood, Bristol.

With their grandparents lived their great aunt, Joseph Taylor's sister, Mary Ann Herbert (they called her Mary Ann Wise for some reason,
this was not correct.) (There was an old bible they owned which had been given to a Mary Ann Wise in the 1850's by a Mr Robinson in Bristol.
This is most likely a connection of their other great aunt Elizabeth Wise nee Taylor)

(1) (2) (3)

(1) Standing gt gt grandmother Elizabeth Taylor (nee Farrant) with her two sisters in law (Joseph Taylors sisters) my gt gt gt aunts.
Mary Ann Herbert (nee Taylor) the blind gt aunt whom my gt aunts knew so well and who could identify people by the sound of their
footstepsas they entered the house in the 1890's-early 1900's in Cliftonwood, when they visited every Sunday. Bristol Right is Elizabeth Jane Wise (nee Taylor) who died in 1920 in Bexley, Kent(2) (middle) Joseph Taylors sitting room in Clifton, Bristol, who are the people on the walls ? they are my gt gt grandparents parents perhaps.
These pictures of forgoten Taylors and Farrant ancestors have sadly been lost.(3) Joseph Taylor in the garden of 5 Southernhay Crescent, Cliftonwood, Bristol

Mary Ann Herbert (nee Taylor) (front left) was blind, she had been blinded whilst helping a neighbour put out her
washing on a brilliantly bright sunny day in London, she glanced at the sun, suffered damage to her eyes and
also suffering sunstroke, from that time onward she was blind. At some point she had left London,
perhaps after widowhood and lived with her brother and sister in law my gt gt grandparents.

When the aunts arrived at their grandparents house Aunt Mary Ann would hold out her hand and feel the hand placed in hers and she knew who the person was by the feel of their hand. She also could identify people by the sound of their footsteps. When she had felt the hand she would say "Its Gertie" or whoever.

The Taylor grandparents were it seems very good to their grandchildren and the aunts had a very happy childhood in Cliftonwood. They were appalled when their father informed them that to help the health of their mother, the family were moving to St Werburghs.

"Grandpa Taylor was a dear, but Grandma Taylor, she was a so in so", this is what Auntie Gertie said to me, on several occasions about my gt gt grandparents, Joseph and Elizabeth Taylor (nee Farrant) her own grandparents.Grandma Taylor was occasionally seen to flick her husband Joseph with a dish cloth when she was very annoyed with him.

Grandma and Grandpa Taylor moved to a flat in Sandy Park to be near their daughter Lillian Emily Stones(nee Taylor).
Gwen Yeo (nee Stones) told me how her grandmother had lifted her up onto a shop counter (at Sandy Park, Bristol)
and bought her some sweets. Gwen had much kinder memories of Grandma Taylor than those of her elder (by 20 years) cousins the aunts.

As Grandma Taylor became more elderly the family got together and had a meeting to work out what was to become of her.
None of them could cope with having her live with them.She ended up going to St Joseph's Home on Cotham Hill (off Whiteladies Road.)
I once wrote (circa 1979) and asked if they had any records for the residents who had lived there. I had a letter back from a "Sister Stainslaws"
who said that their records didn't go back that far, but that, "she is a long time in heaven now" I told this to the aunts and they said, "yes, we've often wondered if she did make it to heaven!" "Gertie, Im a catholic!" Grandma Taylor would say to her granddaughter when she visited her

The grandparents house had been packed full of Victoriana in Cliftonwood. There is a photograph of a room in their house, as well
as a picture of Grandma Taylor with Josephs two sisters (see above). The walls of the room are filled in the photograph with long lost
pictures of parents and family of my gt gt grandparents perhaps.

An abiding memory of Grandpa Taylor for the aunts was of seeing him walking up the very steep Constitution Hill
in Cliftonwood, Bristol, with wood slung over his back in a sack. He would always have a good kind word for his
grandchildren and was very fondly remembered.

It was from the Taylor grandparents house that the aunts (and my grandfather) saw the launching of the ship called
H.M.S Bristol.Their grandparents garden looked down from the steep hill of Cliftonwood onto the docks and Hotwell Road below.The houses
which the aunts and their family lived in, in Cliftonwood were not owned but rented as was common for working class folk in those days.

ST JOSEPHS HOME, COTHAM HILL

Grandma Taylor went to live in St Josephs Home on Cotham Hill, Bristol which was run by catholic nuns. Grandma Taylor was C of E.
Eventually Grandma Taylor said to Gertie one day. Gertie, Im a Catholic, Gertie replied "No you're not Grandma, your C of E !"
Gertie at one time worked in a fish shop on Cotham Hill and often when the fish was past its prime she would take it from
the manager and donate it to the home who were very pleased to receive the gift.

QUEEN VICTORIA

In 1899? Queen Victoria came to Bristol and the aunts were in the crowd down by the centre and College Green to take a
look at the old lady. Their greatest impression was how small she was.

SCHOOL DAYS AND CHILDHOOD

School was in Clifton for the aunts Auntie Gertie was especially always getting into trouble with the teacher. One time
she was sent behind the blackboard by the teacher whilst the lesson continued. The teacher couldn't understand why
everyone in the class kept laughing. The cause being Gertie making face at everyone from behind the blackboard.

On the Clifton Downs to this day, by the Suspension Bridge is a sliding rock which has been used by generation
after generation of children from Clifton. The aunts were no exception, after school they would go to the rock and slide
down it having great fun (as indeed I did as a child) they used to get in terrible trouble with their mother because they
used to return home with holes in their knickers

MATILDA TAYLOR (LUKE)

The aunts mother, my gt grandmother Matilda a very attractive young woman became secretly engaged to a man
called Bellamy from a wealthy Clifton family. She was walking along Hotwell Road with Bellamy one day when she saw
her father across Hotwell Road, she shouted out "Hello Father" and Jacob Luke replied in his broad Cornish accent
"Ay up Tilly", Bellamy was horrified at Matilda's father and his broad Cornish accent and said, "I thought your father was
a store owner?" Matilda was utterly insulted by Bellamy's reaction to her father, she slipped off her engagement ring
there and then and handed it back to him. (To me it seems strange that she could have been engaged and Bellamy
have not met her father, but I think I am putting present day values on Victorian working class people)

Matilda worked at Fry's Chocolate Factory in central Bristol, as did some of her sisters. The girls employed in the factory
were known locally as The Fry's Angels. Matilda worked there for about eight years. The hours were very long.
Her employment ended I imagine when she married Robert Taylor. In 1888 her father Jacob Luke was very ill
and Matilda put off her wedding to Robert for a year to nurse him.

As Matilda and Roberts family grew, Gertie, Elsie, Sidney, Lillian they had to move to bigger houses, they often found it hard to find the rent money. They used to take lodgers (one of whom was eventually to marry Matilda sister)
Auntie Gertie remembered well playing with a toy in the garden, sometime in the 1890's amusing herself when the top window of the house opened and the lodger who was very pleasant said, "Here you are kid" and threw a toy watch out the window for her.

FAMILY IN THE CLIFTONWOOD AREA

All around Cliftonwood the aunts had family. Gt Uncle James Farrant and his wife the unapproachable Emma Farrant lived
in Bellvue Crescent. "It was worth a pound to talk to Aunt Emma" according to Auntie Gertie. James Farrant was a successful
builder with his own business. Aunt Emma had been born in Sidbury, as had Grandpa Taylor, so it seems they would have known
each other as children way back in Devon in the 1830's and 1840's