Genealogy Chat

Need help determining a surname.

My grandmother, originally from England, was married twice in Canada.

On one marriage registration her mother’s maiden name is recorded as Timbrew and on the other as Turnbill.

I am not sure if the clerk recording this information was recording what they heard or if they were copying it from a handwritten application.

If it is the former, I assume a clerk would have recorded what they thought she said and may have misheard due to her Birmingham accent. If it is the latter, poor penmanship may be the culprit. Also muddying the waters is a very poor copy of the first marriage registration and the Ancestry transcription may be incorrect as well.

Both these names seem unusual to me and Turnbull may be a more likely surname.

Looking for suggestions – thanks.

Name: Edith Taylor
Birth Place: Birmingham, England
Age: 28
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1885
Father Name: Henry Taylor
Mother Name: Mary Ann Turnbill Taylor
Spouse Name: George Bennett
Spouse's Age: 36
Spouse Birth Year: abt 1877
Spouse Birth Place: Dublin, Ireland
Spouse Father Name: John Bennett
Spouse Mother Name: Annie Cleary
Marriage Date: 15 Nov 1913
Marriage County or District: York

Name: Edith Bennett
Birth Place: England
Age: 39
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1882
Father Name: Henry Taylor
Mother Name: Mary Timbrew
Spouse Name: Ethelbert Smith
Spouse's Age: 45
Spouse Birth Year: abt 1876
Spouse Birth Place: England
Spouse Father Name: Edwin Smith
Spouse Mother Name: Jane Backett
Marriage Date: 10 Dec 1921
Marriage County or District: York

Have you found her in censuses in England?
Thanks

Looking at the actual marriage record her mother's name looks like Mary Ann Turnbull.

????

Marriages Sep 1871 (>99%)
McEWING Gilbert Aston 6d 376
Millichamp Celia Ancock Aston 6d 376
Taylor Henry Aston 6d 376 xxxx
Timbrell Mary Ann Aston 6d 376 xxxxx

groom's name: Henry Taylor
groom's birth date:
groom's birthplace:
groom's age:
bride's name: Mary Ann Timbrell
bride's birth date:
bride's birthplace:
bride's age:
marriage date: 19 Sep 1871
marriage place: Aston Juxta Birmingham,Warwick,England
groom's father's name:
groom's mother's name:
bride's father's name:
bride's mother's name:
groom's race:
groom's marital status:
groom's previous wife's name:
bride's race:
bride's marital status:
bride's previous husband's name:
indexing project (batch) number: M01168-5
system origin: England-ODM
source film number: 0918846-848, 0918849-851
reference number:

This is from 1881 census - looks like it could be Taylor/Timbrell.


Name: Edith Taylor
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: Henry Taylor
Mother's Name: Mary A. Taylor
Gender: Female
Where born: Birmingham
Civil parish: Aston
County/Island: Warwickshire
Country: England
Street Address: 128 High St Bordesley
Education:
Registration district: Aston
Sub-registration district: Deritend
ED, institution, or vessel: 33
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 3018
Folio: 28
Page Number: 9

My ancestors records have been spelled in different ways, Turnbull, Turnball, Trimble etc. Remember that most people couldn't read or write so didn't know that their name had been spelled wrong.

If it is her in the 1881 census - her age is wrong on both marriage registrations. Imagine lying about one's age!!

You're right about the accent. Somebody had to translate for me at Toronto airport last year when I tried to buy a baguette!! From a Hispanic lady admittedly.
Jan :-D

1891

Name: Edith Taylor
Age: 10
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1881
Relation: Daughter
Mother's Name: Mary A Taylor
Gender: Female
Where born: Birmingham, Warwickshire, England

Civil parish: Aston
Ecclesiastical parish: St Andrew
Town: Bordesley
County/Island: Warwickshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View image

Registration district: Aston
Sub-registration district: Deritend
ED, institution, or vessel: 69
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 2413
Folio: 37
Page Number: 8
Household Members: Name Age
Mary A Taylor 43 Widow, b. Yorkshire
Harry Taylor 19
Edith Taylor 10
William Taylor 8
Eva Taylor 4
Mary Gornell 66


1881

Name: Henry Taylor
Age: 29
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1852
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Mary A. Taylor
Gender: Male
Where born: Birmingham

Civil parish: Aston
County/Island: Warwickshire
Country: England

Street Address: 128 High St Bordesley
Condition as to marriage: Married
Education:

Employment status: View image
Occupation: Master Butcher

Registration district: Aston
Sub-registration district: Deritend
ED, institution, or vessel: 33
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 3018
Folio: 28
Page Number: 9
Household Members: Name Age
Henry Taylor 29
Mary A. Taylor 35 Yorkshire
Harry Taylor 8
Mary Louise Taylor 7
Ellen Taylor 4
Edith Taylor >>>>(?) months
Frederick W. Frith 17

????

Births Mar 1881 TAYLOR Edith Aston 6d 243

Looks promising - the problem is the absence of any other data to corroborate it.

I was predeceased by just about everyone on this side of the family and there are no family documents or oral history not to mention having very common names.

brummiejan - in a pub in Brighton in April I had to repeat "prawns" 4 times before I was understood. I remember spending some time in London in the mid-sixties thinking everyone had an accent but me.

If you have no family documents or oral history (which is highly suspect anyway), then you need to buy any certificates that are available for the other information that is contained within them.
You have not said when she left Britain, and whether any family travelled with her.
Do you know?
Thanks

Added:
I am assuming 'York' is in Ontario.
As she married in 1913, she could be in Ontario in 1911 (she has got to be somewhere). This is probably not her as the brother does not fit, but the sister does. Have you found her in any country in 1910 or 1911 census?

1911 Census of Canada
Edith Taylor Gender: Female Marital Status: Single
Age: 27 Birth Date: May 1884
Birthplace: England Relation to Head of House: Sister
Immigration Year: 1911
Tribal: English
Province: Ontario District: Wentworth District Number: 135 Sub-District: Barton Township, Part of Ward 7, Hamilton Sub-District Number: 12
Place of Habitation: 33 Rosemon
Frederick Taylor 28
Kathryn Taylor 27
Mary Taylor 34
xxxxEdith Taylor 27
Source Citation: Year: 1911; Census Place: Barton Township, Part of Ward 7, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario; Page: 4; Family No: 29.

York County - now York Region includes Toronto and a large surrounding area. The marriage actually took place in Toronto.

Unfortunately I don't know when she left England or if she came alone. Can't remember any mention of old aunts or uncles. I am trying to find out from an older cousin if she recalls anything. A less common name would have been so helpful. There are Edith Taylors on passenger lists but I have no way to confirm if any of them are her.

I have looked through some city directories from around that time but have not had any luck.

The above census result is from Hamilton and my gut feeling is that she must have been in Toronto for them to have met.

Think I'll leave this one for a while and chase down other parts of the family that have more promising clues.