Metta Taylor (1884-1907)

On this day in 1907, Martha Metta Taylor died, age 22.

Metta Taylor. Photo courtesy of Dorothy (Kerslake) Coolman.

Metta was born 1 July 1884 in Usborne Township, Huron County, Ontario, Canada. She was the fifth of six children of William "Bill" Taylor (1850-1918) and Mary Elizabeth Bennett (1851-1925).

Metta Taylor, c1899

Metta was training as a nurse in Stratford General Hospital when she contracted typhoid fever and died in Stratford, Ontario on 29 January 1907. 

Her obituary states that she was in a rather run down condition when she came home for Christmas after a hard year's work, and that shortly after her return to Stratford she was taken ill of fever. Her condition was not considered serious but death came very suddenly. 

It was late January and the body was taken by train from Stratford to St. Marys. There it was met by Metta's brother, Hector Taylor, accompanied by a good friend and neighbour, Milton Brock. They brought the body by a team of horses and bobsled back to her father's house -- a round trip of over 30 miles (48 km) in the winter cold.

Image courtesy of Dorothy (Kerslake) Coolman

The funeral took place at her parents' house on February 1st. Friends and family then proceeded to her final resting place at the nearby Zion cemetery.
 

Metta Taylor's headstone to the right of her parents' headstone in Zion Cemetery, Huron County, southeast of Exeter. The cemetery address is ​41587 Park Road, and it's located near the intersection of Park Road and the Hern Line. Photo by Mary Jane Culbert

Metta was single and left no dependents. She was loved by her parents, Bill Taylor & Mary Elizabeth (Bennett) Taylor; her brother, Hector Taylor; and by her sisters: Addie (Taylor) Hern, Mary Taylor and Effie Taylor.

Metta Taylor's Family Tree:
Ancestors:
John Taylor & Mary Clarke (great-grandparents)
John Taylor & Margaret Jane Mason (grandparents)
William Taylor & Mary Elizabeth Bennett (parents)

The John Taylor - Mary Clarke Property in Pickering Township

Following an ocean crossing of more than six weeks, our ancestors, John Taylor and Mary Clarke arrived in Quebec on 2 July 1836. They spent several months in Toronto where John Taylor teamed grain and flour to and from the mill on the Humber River, now the site of the Old Mill Inn. In the spring of 1837, they moved to and settled in Pickering Township in what is now the Province of Ontario but was then known as Upper Canada. In Pickering Township, they settled on the north half of Lot 32, Concession 1. The nearest hamlet was Cherrywood.

At the time, it was a wilderness of pines and hardwood trees. The appearance of the area has changed dramatically since the family settled. Thankfully, in the midst of today's urban landscape there remains an area of natural beauty: the Altona Forest. The Altona Forest has been designated an environmentally significant area due to its ecological and historical importance.

An 1860 landowner's map shows that the north section of Lot 32, Concession 1 had been further subdivided and that half was owned by John Taylor and half by S. Hollinger. 

Here is an approximate outline of the Taylor property if go looking for it today. You can see that the modern boundaries are Finch Avenue and Altona Road in Pickering...

2018 map showing location of John Taylor's property.

The History of Cherrywood by George Cober contains an error on page 7, saying that the Taylors settled on Concession 2 when in fact it was Concession 1. Page 4 of a monograph entitled, History of Pickering lists the correct information for Taylor's property as Lot 32, Concession 1...

Thanks to Becky George, Local History & Genealogy Librarian at the Pickering Library for her assistance in locating John Taylor's property.

Taylor Descendants of the First World War

The following list represents just a few of the descendants of John Taylor and Mary Clarke who served during the First World War.

Cecil Pugh Annis

Service number: 404007

Lance Corporal Cecil Pugh Annis was born 24 June 1897 in Scarboro, York County, Ontario to Levi Garry Annis and Sarah "Annie" Pugh. Cecil was an 18-year-old farmer when he enlisted on  5 April 1915 at the recruiting office in Toronto. In July, he arrived in France and joined the 3rd Battalion (the Toronto Regiment). 

 

In the battle for Mount Sorrel (1916), he was wounded in his forehead and his back, and he spent the next few months in hospital in England. He returned to the trenches on the Somme and was wounded again a few weeks later, more seriously this time. With his right eye gone and other eye damaged, he spent the next year and a half recuperating from his injuries.

 

In December, 1917 he was finally well enough to go home and he was discharged from the army as medically unfit for duty.

 

Death Due to Service

 

He hoped to return to his studies at Malvern Avenue Collegiate where he had been a star player on their rugby team. However, Cecil developed heart disease in addition to his other health issues. 

 

Lance Corporal Cecil Pugh Annis died at home in Scarborough on 20 September 1918, a result of his injuries and heart disease, less than two months before the war ended. He was 21. 

 

His funeral was with full military honors. He is buried in Washington United Church Cemetery, Scarborough, Grave C1344. This cemetery was used by the Annis pioneers as a burial ground and was donated to the church. Washington United Church Cemetery is located at 7 Scarborough Golf Club Road in Scarborough Village, a suburb of Scarborough in Toronto, Ontario.   

Annis family headstone. Photo by Annis Family Association.

Inscription on headstone: "Cecil Annis son of Levi G. & Annie Annis died of war wounds Sep. 20 1918 in his 22nd year. He saved others. Himself he could not save." Photo by Islington at Find-A-Grave.

Cecil Pugh Annis was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.

Cecil Pugh Annis' Family Tree:
John Taylor & Mary Clarke (great-grandparents)
Sarah Taylor & Andrew Annis (grandparents)
Levi Garry Annis & Sarah Anne "Annie" Pugh (parents)

Frank Lankin

Frank Lankin was born 18 Jun 1892 in the small community of Woodham in Blanshard Township, Perth County, Ontario to Samuel Lankin and Martha Faircloth. He was a 24-year-old married bookkeeper when he enlisted in Chicago on 5 June 1917 and served with the U.S. Army. He and Mattie Hanson married in Chicago in 1916 and had a daughter, Lois Frances Lankin in 1921. Frank and Mattie later divorced. In 1942 at age 50, he enlisted for World War Two. Frank Lankin died 4 July 1955, age 63.

Frank Lankin's Family Tree:

John Taylor & Mary Clarke (great-grandparents)

Emily Taylor & James Lankin (grandparents)

Samuel Lankin & Martha Faircloth (parents)

Robert Gordon Taylor, Sr. 

Private Gordon Taylor of Exeter. Photo courtesy of Barbara Dawn (Agnew) Miller.

Collar badge from the Royal School of Infantry, like the badge worn in the photo of Private Gordon Taylor.

Private Gordon Taylor was born 11 December 1893 in Exeter, Ontario to John W. Taylor and Charlotte H.B. "Lottie" Shinner. Gordon's father was the Reeve of Exeter.

Gordon's father in 1914.

The newspaper reports that Private Gordon Taylor passed the examination of the mechanical transportation branch of the British army with a score of 95 per cent, and will leave in a few weeks for the front. Source: The Exeter Advocate, 16 December 1915, page 8.

Gordon Taylor was a single, 21-year-old mechanic when he enlisted on 12 October 1915. He was a transport driver during his time overseas.

The Exeter papers reported about him throughout the war years.

Private Gordon Taylor thanks the citizens of Exeter for a military wristwatch. Source: Exeter Times, 23 December 1915, page 1.

Private Gordon Taylor (on active service in France) sent relics from the Hindenburg Line to his father, John W. Taylor. The relics were placed on exhibition in the window of B.W.F. Beaver's dry goods store in Exeter. Relics included a German helmet, a rifle grenade, several pieces of shells, etc. Source: Exeter Times, 24 May 1917, page 8.

Gordon Taylor arrived home on leave "looking well, but thin." Source: Exeter Advocate, 19 Jul 1917, page 1.

Private Gordon Taylor returning to the front. Source: Exeter Times, 16 August 1917, page 1.

The paper reports good news as five Exeter boys including Gordon Taylor are expected home from overseas on the evening of Wednesday, June 4th, 1919. Source: Exeter Times, 29 May 1919, page 1.

At some point, Gordon moved to the United States. In 1925, he married Norine Adeline Galbraith and in 1926 they had a son, Robert Gordon Taylor, Jr. In 1942, Gordon enlisted again, this time in WWII, age 48. Gordon Taylor died age 59 in Los Angeles, California in 1953. He is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale.)

Robert Gordon Taylor's Family Tree:
John Taylor & Mary Clarke (great-grandparents)
John Taylor & Margaret Jane Mason (grandparents)
John W. Taylor & Charlotte H.B. "Lottie" Shinner (parents)


John Franklin Taylor
 

Frank Taylor. Photo courtesy of Barbara Dawn (Agnew) Miller.

John Franklin "Frank" Taylor was born 7 March 1882 in Exeter, Ontario to John W. Taylor and Charlotte H.B. "Lottie" Shinner. Frank was Private Gordon Taylor's older brother. Frank moved to the United States for awhile and served with the U.S. Navy although I haven't been able to find his service records. He was a carpenter. Frank suffered ill health and had both legs amputated. Frank Taylor died age 80 in Exeter, on 10 March 1962. He is buried in Exeter Cemetery.

John Franklin "Frank" Taylor's Family Tree:
John Taylor & Mary Clarke (great-grandparents)
John Taylor & Margaret Jane Mason (grandparents)
John W. Taylor & Charlotte H.B. "Lottie" Shinner (parents)

John Taylor's Will - 1847

John Taylor died on 18 Aug 1847, age 51.  Nine days earlier on 9 Aug 1847, he had made the following will.[1]

"In the name of God, Amen, I John Taylor, Yeoman, do hereby give, grant, alein, convey and bequeath at my decease to William and Robert Taylor, my sons, all the right title and interest that I have to the north half of that lot of land, number Thirty-two in the first Concession of Pickering Township, and likewise all my stock and other goods, who are to manage and farm the said property for the space of five years after my decease, under my Executors, Thomas and Andrew Peat, his son, Yeomen in the Township of Pickering, and Mary Taylor, my lawful wife, for the support of my family not herein yet particularly named, and also are hereby appointed to carry my will into effect.  That said William and Robert Taylor to pay  from my estate hereby conveyed to them, the following Legacies.  John Taylor, my oldest son, to be paid fifty pounds lawful money of Canada, first thereof to be paid on the first day of January one thousand eight hundred and fifty three years, and the remaining installment of twelve pounds, ten shillings cash annually on the same day of the month of the following years till the whole be paid.  James Taylor, my youngest son, to be paid Fifty pounds lawful money of Canada West on attaining the full age of twenty-one years.  Sarah Taylor to be paid five pounds when she arrives at the ate of Twenty-one years and another five pounds three years thereafter, making a total thereof of the sum of Ten pounds.  My other daughters, Emily, Fanny and Mary Ann Taylor to be paid ten pounds each on arriving at the full age of twenty-one years, all lawful money of Canada West.

In witness whereof these presents written on this and the preceding page of paper by George Taitt, Yeoman of the Township of Pickering and inscribed with my hand and my seal affixed hereto in the First Concession, Township of Pickering and lot aforesaid this Ninth day of August one thousand eight hundred and forty seven years, before these witnesses, the said George Taitt and George Brown, Yeoman, in the said township, Mary Taylor, my wife, being hereby understood to retain her right of maintenance as according to law."     

"John Taylor"

Geo. Taitt - Witness
Geo. Brown - Witness

The following passage is taken from Grant W. Taylor's book, "A History of of the John Taylor-Mary Clark Family and Their Descendants 1836-1987, v.1"

It is clear from the Land Records of Pickering Twp. held at the Registry Office in Oshawa, that John Taylor did not own N /2 Lot 32, Con 1 at the time of his death.  All 200 acres of Lot 32 had been purchased for 200 pounds by a Henry Cowan on 24 Dec. 1832 and it appears he had been leasing the north half to John.  Apparently the lease gave John the right to purchase, and that he had been building some equity with his payments.  Nevertheless, it is not until 15 Oct 1849 - over two years after John's death - that William and Robert were able to purchase the 100 acre property from Henry Cowen for 300 pounds.  It has taken the family 13 years to acquire title to the homestead.

The only one of the Taylor children who was married when their father died was John.  In 1846, he had married Margaret Jane Mason, an Irish girl who had been born in Londonderry, Ireland.  The second child to marry was Robert who married Frances (Fanny) Dixon, an American-born girl, on 8 Mar. 1849.  The following year there were two marriages.  On 29 Oct. 1850, William married Helen Peat, a Scottish girl who had been born at Largo, Fifeshire, Scotland, and whose parents farmed on Lot 29, Con 2, Pickering.  Two weeks later on 12 Nov. 1850, Emily married James Lankin, a labourer who had been born in Pickering and whose parents farmed in that township.

Although the terms of their father's will called for William and Robert to manage and farm N 1/2 Lot 32, Con 1 for five years after his death, evidently they modified this requirement to include their older brother John.  In the 1851 personal census of Pickering Twp. shows that John, his wife Jane and two children were living in one log house; Mary (Clark) Taylor, Sarah, Mary Ann and James were living in another; and Robert with his wife Fanny were living in a log shanty -- all on Lot 32, Con 1.  No mention was made of 13 year old Fanny Taylor.  Possibly she was living with some other family -- perhaps was a maid.  John's occupation was shown as farmer and Robert's as labourer.

William, along with his wife Helen and their infant daughter, were living with Helen's parents on Lot 29, Con 2.  Emily, her husband James Lankin (whose occupation was given in the census as carpenter) and their infant son were living near Dunbarton.

Footnotes:
[1] REGISTRY OFFICE RECORDS - Pickering Township, Concession 1, Lot 32, N 1/2, Will by John Taylor, 9 Aug 1847 - Oshawa, Ontario.

The 8 Branches of the John Taylor–Mary Clarke Family

This mural depicts the construction of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in 1867. It's located at the Wesleyan Cemetery at Highland Creek, Scarborough Township where John Taylor and Mary (Clarke) Taylor are buried.

Each branch of the John Taylor-Mary Clarke family represents one of John and Mary’s children and their descendants.

The 8 branches of the John Taylor-Mary Clarke family are as follows:

Branch 1: The John Taylor-Margaret Jane Mason branch.

Branch 2: The William Taylor-Helen Peat branch.

Branch 3: The Robert Taylor-Frances Dixon branch.

Branch 4. The Sarah Taylor-Andrew Annis branch.

Branch 5. The Emily Taylor-James Lankin branch.

Branch 6. The James Taylor-Eleanor Fawcett branch.

Branch 7. The Fanny Taylor-Jabez Collins branch.

Branch 8. The Mary Taylor-James Brander branch.

For detailed information on the 8 branches of the John Taylor-Mary Clarke family, consult the three volumes written by Grant W. Taylor, “A History of the John Taylor-Mary Clark Family and their descendants 1836-1987.”

Grant W. Taylor’s book is divided into three volumes as follows:

V. 1. Branch 1, The John Taylor-Margaret Jane Mason branch and Branch 5, the Emily Taylor-James Lankin branch. v. 2. Branch 3, the Robert Taylor-Frances Dixon branch. v. 3. Branch 2, the William Taylor-Helen Peat branch; Branch 4, The Sarah Taylor-Andrew Annis branch; Branch 6, the James Taylor-Eleanor Fawcett branch; Branch 7, the Fanny Taylor-Jabez Collins branch; and Branch 8, the Mary Taylor-James Brander branch. Note: Branches 1 and 5 are grouped together in the same volume because these are the two branches that left Pickering Township in the mid-1850s and moved to Usborne Township in Huron County, Ontario. Copies of Taylor’s book can be found at the following locations: Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa, Ontario. Western University in London, Ontario. Vaughan Memorial Library at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. If you’re interested in consulting these books, call ahead as they may be housed off-site or in storage. Some locations may house reference copies only that cannot be borrowed.