William Swift, Mary Fogg (Baker or Thursby) and Maria Taylor

Sewer Lane, Kingston upon Hull
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Bernard Sharp - geograph.org.uk/p/3344828

William Swift (b. 1824 in Leeds), son of William Swift and Mary Ann Lister married Mary Fogg, on 20 Nov 1847, at St. Paul's Church, Hull. This church was newly consecrated that year, built to serve a district of Sculcoates parish in 1844. On the record of their marriage, William Swift, Engineer, and the widowed Mary Fogg, were both listed as resident at the Old Foundry [1]. Witnesses to the marriage were William's younger brother, Zachariah Swift and Charlotte Baker. [2]

Apparently born Mary Baker, it seems she was baptised on 10 Mar 1823 at All Saints Church, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, the daughter of John and Anne Baker. Mary was 17 when she married the 45 year old, John Fogg as Mary Thursby, on 1 Jan 1841, in Tuxford, Nottinghamshire. How Mary Baker became Mary Thursby I cannot yet explain, but this sequence does show that this is the same person. 

In 1841, John Fog (sic) (45) Pensioner and Mary Fog (15) - due to rounding down - were lodging in a large household in Lincoln Street, Tuxford. 

At this date, Pensioner, can only mean military and I've found a John Fogg, born 1796 in Weston, Nottinghamshire (only 3 miles from Tuxford), who joined the 19th Foot (Yorkshire Regiment / Green Howards), at 17, on 2 Apr 1813, at Hull. He was discharged from the 41st Regt Of Foot and granted a pension due to disability with varicose veins, chronic rheumatic pains and shortness of breath on exertion, which were attributed to climate and the performance of his military duties. He appears to have been in the East Indies from 1815 to 1836. On discharge in 1840, at 44, he was 5' 4½", with brown hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion. 

John and Mary Fogg had one child:

1. Joseph Fogg b. 1844 D Quarter in SCULCOATES Volume 22 Page 523, Mother's maiden name listed as BAKER, bap. 8 Dec 1844 at St. Mark's Church, Hull. Died, aged 15, in 1860 M Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 148 and was buried on 8 Feb 1860 in Holy Trinity Parish.

John Fogg died, at 52, and was buried on 14 Feb 1847 in the parish of Hull Holy Trinity. On the burial record, his abode was given as 'Foundry' [Old Foundry].

William and Mary Swift then added eight children:

1. Zachariah Swift bap. 10 Dec 1848 at St. Paul's, Sculcoates
2. Denzil Swift bap. 22 Sep 1850 at St. James's Church, Hull
3. Georgiana Swift bap. 30 Jan 1853 at St. James's Church, Hull
4. Herbert Swift b. 1855 M Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 198, mother's maiden name listed as FOGG, bap. 26 Mar 1855 at Holy Trinity Hull
5. Estelle Swift b. 1857 S Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 210, mother's maiden name listed as HUNSBY, bap. 14 Sep 1857 at Holy Trinity Hull
6. Josephine Swift b. 1860 S Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 188, mother's maiden name listed as THURSBY, bap. 30 Jul 1860 at Holy Trinity Hull
7. Verona Swift b. 1860 S Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 188, mother's maiden name listed as THURSBY, bap. 30 Jul 1860 at Holy Trinity Hull
8. Victor Swift b. 1864 M Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 233, mother's maiden name listed as THIRSBY, bap. 25 Apr 1864 at Holy Trinity Hull

Despite all being born after 1837, I was unable to find civil registrations for Zachariah, Denzil or Georgiana. On Herbert's registration, they clearly confused former name and maiden name, but it's useful that Fogg is mentioned; I'm sure Hunsby is an error and meant to be Thursby and that the last is merely a spelling, or transcription error. The sequence of these does show that, however her name came to change, it was the same person. Josephine and Verona, clearly, were twins.

At the time of Zachariah's baptism in 1848, William and Mary were living the exotic, Sewer Lane, Hull (which, to be fair, looks a lot nicer than it sounds).

In 1851, William Swift (27) Engineer, from Leeds, Yorkshire, was living at Mill Yard, Anlaby Road, Holy Trinity, Hull with wife Mary Swift (28) from Gainsborough, Lincolnshire and Joseph Swift (6) [Joseph Fogg]; Zachariah Swift (2) and Denxill Swift (0). (Convent Lane, originally Mill Lane, and later Oil Mill Lane, was named as such because it led to Mill Yard and a large windmill situated on its west side.)

In 1861, William Swift (37) Engineer from Leeds, was living, undoubtedly in the same place at Oilmill Yard, 8, Anlaby Road, Holy Trinity, Hull with Mary Swift (36), Zachariah Swift (12), Denzil Swift (10), Georgiana Swift (8) - those three at school - Herbert Swift (6), Estelle Swift (3), Josephine Swift and Verona Swift both (0).

In 1871, at 7 Mill Yard, South Parade, Holy Trinity, Hull, were William Swift (47) Oil Mill Engine Driver, from Leeds; Mary Swift (47) from Gainsborough, Lincs; Zachariah Swift (22) Oil Miller; Denzil Swift (20) Oil Miller; Georgiana Swift (18) Dressmaker; Herbert Swift (16) Penitentiary Porter (Hull Prison opened in 1870); Estelle Swift (13), Josephine Swift (11), Verona Swift (11) and Victor Swift (7).

An Oil Miller is someone who extracted oil from seeds, particularly linseed and rapeseed grown in England. There has been a long history of oil milling in Hull, one of two industries that dominated the town's industrial history. See links here.

Mary Swift (formerly Fogg, née Baker and sometimes, as yet inexplicably, Thursby) died, age estimated as 47, in 1872 J Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 149. She was buried, on 22 May 1872, in Hull Holy Trinity parish.

In the 4th quarter of 1873, William Swift remarried Maria Taylor, eldest daughter of William Voss Taylor and Eliza Levitt. William, then 49 and Maria 40, did not have further children together, however, Maria brought with her an illegitimate daughter, Edith Maria Taylor, born 1864 S Quarter in HULL Volume 09D Page 232. Son Zachariah had married Maria's younger sister, Ann, the previous year, 1872.

In 1881, William Swift (57) Oil Mill Engine Driver was living at 6, Simons Terrace, Sutton and Stoneferry, Sculcoates with second wife Maria Swift (47), son Victor Swift (17) and Stepdaughter, Edith Taylor (16) Dressmaker (unemployed).

In 1891, still at Simons Terrace, Sutton and Stoneferry, Sculcoates, were William Swift (67) Engine Driver; Maria Swift (58) and Harry Taylor (8) Grandson - undoubtedly the 'natural' son of Maria's daughter, Edith.

Maria Swift died, aged 59, in 1895, in Hull.

William Swift died, at 73, in Hull in 1897.

[1] Rose, Downs and Thomson were much better known as world leaders in seed crushing machinery. The started out in business in 1777 at the Old Foundry and made cannons and windmill parts. As the Port of Hull the city became a centre for oil seed production and Rose, Downs and Thomson started making presses for the factories. In 1820 they had the first hydraulic press to extract oil from linseed. A Mrs C. Rose inherited the business in 1833 and took on a Mr Downs as Partner. Her grandson a Mr Thomson later joined the business and the name continued for over 100 years. Source (There are numerous images in the more recent, Allam family want to transform disused historic Hull factory into apartments.)

[2] There was a Charlotte Baker baptised also at All Saints Church, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, on 21 Aug 1824, the daughter of Isaac and Mary Baker, who this may be and, who it may speculated, could perhaps be Mary's cousin.

Adam Swift and Eliza Taylor and Jane Green

St John the Evangelist Church, Goole
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Ian S - geograph.org.uk/p/5920688

Adam Swift (b. 1838), youngest son of William Swift and Mary Ann Lister, married Eliza Taylor (b. 1841 in Southwark St Saviour), daughter of Henry Taylor and Mary Wright, on 30 Oct 1859 at the Parish church of St John the Evangelist, Goole.

Adam and Eliza had at least eight children, but only one survived: 

1. Henry Swift b. 1860 D Quarter in GOOLE UNION Volume 09C Page 495, bap. 7 Oct 1860 in Goole, Yorkshire. It appears this child died, aged 8, in 1869 M Quarter in KIRKSTALL Volume 09B Page 178.
2. William Swift b. 1864 D Quarter in BRAMLEY UNION Volume 09B Page 331, died in 1865 J Quarter in BRAMLEY UNION Volume 09B Page 228.
3. Anne Swift b. 1866 M Quarter in BRAMLEY UNION Volume 09B Page 368, died aged 6 in 1872 D Quarter in LEEDS Volume 09B Page 272
4. Mary Swift b. 1867 D Quarter in BRAMLEY Volume 09B Page 345, died aged 5 in 1872 D Quarter in LEEDS Volume 09B Page 275
5. Joseph Swift b. 1869 D Quarter in LEEDS Volume 09B Page 506, died aged 1, in 1870 D Quarter in LEEDS Volume 09B Page 375.
6. Rebecca Swift, b. 1871 M Quarter in LEEDS Volume 09B Page 544, died aged 2, in 1873 D Quarter in LEEDS Volume 09B Page 297.
7. Walter Swift, b. 1873 S Quarter in LEEDS Volume 09B Page 410
8. Alfred Swift, b. 1874 D Quarter in LEEDS Volume 09B Page 456, died before his 1st birthday, in 1875 D Quarter in LEEDS Volume 09B Page 293.

In 1861, Adam Swift (23) Cast Iron Moulder, was a lodger in Gosford Street, Stockton, County Durham, while his wife, Eliza Swift (19) was staying with her parents - her father Henry Taylor (52), was also an Iron Moulder - in Cottingham Terrace, Sculcoates. Grandson Henry Swift (0) was also listed.

In 1871, living in Aberdeen Street, Headingley cum Burley, Leeds, were Adam Swift (33) Iron Founder, were wife Eliza (29), Ann Swift (5), Mary Swift (3) and Rebecca Swift (0), as well as Adam's widowed mother, Mary Ann Swift (68).

In 1881, Adam Swift (43) Iron Moulder, Eliza Swift (39) and Walter Swift (7), were living at 70, Hodgson Street, Sutton and Stoneferry, Sculcoates.

However, they must have moved again, because Eliza Swift died the following year, aged 41, in 1882 D Quarter in WANDSWORTH Volume 01D Page 424.

Two years later, in 1884, Adam Swift remarried, in Wandsworth, to Jane Green.

In 1891, Adam Swift (53) Iron Moulder, wife Jane Swift (49) and son Walter Swift (17) were living in Chesney Street, Battersea / Wandsworth.

Then, shortly afterwards, Adam Swift died, aged 53, in 1891 J Quarter in LAMBETH Volume 01D  Page 268. Adam Swift was buried, on 3 Jun 1891, at Brompton Cemetery (Plot: B, 84.0, 154.0) in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Adam's second wife, Jane, lists herself as born in Chelsea, which would appear to the the link that brought him to such a resting place.

In 1911, Jane Swift (70) Widow, was living in the household of Walter Kempsell (53) Carpenter. (Her daughter, Jane Green, was Walter Kempsell' wife.)

In 1921, Jane Swift (80) was still living in Walter Kempsell's household, this time correctly listed as the mother-in-law.

Jane Swift died, aged 83, in 1924 S Qtr in CROYDON Vol 02A Page 306.

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.

William Taylor, widower, son of Thomas Taylor, married Mary Smith, in Kendal, Westmorland on 1 Jun 1856. 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.