Mary Smith, William Taylor and George Archer

Cafe corner of Market Place, Kendal
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Alexander P Kapp - geograph.org.uk/p/1760160

Mary Smith was Aunt to the daughters of William Arthur Sawyer and Ann Smith, so we may reasonably assume she was Ann Smith's sister. Baptism records show that both girls are the daughters of Charles Smith and Esther Salter.

In 1841, there is a Jane Smith (37), along with a Mary Smith (34) both described as Scholastic - of or concerning schools and education - residing at St Paul Terrace, Islington, London. In the household also were Maria [surname unreadable] (35) also a Scholastic; Johanna Morgan (17) Female Servant; Mary Crafts (15), Elizabeth Bailey (11), Sarah Bailey (9), Emily Lidington (8) and Isabel Smith (7). Presumably this was a private girls' school and most of those latter girls were the pupils. If this is the right Mary Smith, it seems quite conceivable that Jane Smith, could also have been Ann and Mary's sister, but I've not found a baptism to confirm this. With a name like Smith, it's equally possible that she was no relation whatsoever.

In 1851, Mary Smith (44) School Mistress, from Bermondsey, Surrey, was living at Coathow, Kendal, Westmorland. (The Grasmere parish register has a burial for 30 May 1802, 'William Udale of Coathow Loughrigg a pauper'. Source.) So, taking a wild guess, Coathow may be a house, farm or place close to Loughrigg Fell.

On 1 Jun 1856, Mary Smith married William Taylor, widower, son of Thomas Taylor, in Kendal, Westmorland. On the record of the marriage, Mary's father is listed as Charles Smith. There was a William Taylor bap. 6 Mar 1796, whose parents were Thomas and Jane Taylor, who could possibly be the chap.

By 1861, Mary Taylor (56) Widow, Flour dealer was living at Market Place, Kendal, Westmorland, with Jane Sawyer (28) Niece (her sister Ann's daughter), Assistant and William Taylor (8) Grandson - her late husband's grandson - from Grasmere, Westmorland. This lad may provide the clue to discover more about his grandfather, however, there was a death of a William Taylor of the right age, 63, in 1860 M Quarter in KENDAL Volume 10B Page 430, which probably relates.

In the 4th quarter of 1861, Mary Taylor married George Archer, also in Kendal.

Prior to this marriage, George Archer, Widower, Brewer from Underbarrow, Westmorland, in 1851, had been a servant in the household of Innkeeper, Thomas Walne in Strickland Gate, Kendal, Westmorland, and in 1861, was Brewer in the employ of William Slee, Inn keeper at the Seven Stars Inn, Stricklandgate (since demolished to make way for a shopping centre).

So in 1871, George Archer (67) Flour dealer was living at Market Place House, Kendal, Westmorland, with Mary Archer (60) and Jane Sawyer (34) Niece.

George Archer died, at 70, in 1874 M Quarter in KENDAL Vol 10B Page 498.

In 1881, Mary Archer (74) Widow, Retired grocer, along with Jane Sawyer (48) Retired grocer, were staying with Margaret M Wall (40) School Mistress at School House, Sedgwick, Kendal, Westmorland. Mary Archer was also Margaret's aunt and Jane was Margaret's elder sister. The record states that Mary Archer was deaf.

Mary Archer died, at 78 (Volume 10B Page 415) and was buried on 17 Aug 1885.