William Harry Taylor

William Taylor was born on January 5, 1899, in Bolton, Lancashire, England. He was the second of four children; an older brother, George, and two younger sisters, Mary and Doris. His parents were William Taylor and Elisabeth Bamford Whittle. Very little is known about William’s childhood. Although William was his birth name, most knew him as Harold. He grew up in Bolton and his family had a bakery, which he would work in.

In his youth William (Harold) learned to play the mandolin without ever having any formal lessons. He excelled at playing this instrument. His brother George used to say that William (Harold) was so good he could make the mandolin “talk.” He once explained how William (Harold) used to run the streets at night dragging his fingers tips along the rough rock walls to build up the thick calluses needed for playing the mandolin.

W. Harry as a Young Man

William was described by those who knew him as a tall, slender, handsome man who was very personable. He had many friends. At some point between 1917 and 1921 he served in a branch of the army.

Photo of William Harry Taylor in army uniform sitting on the right.
Close up up William Harry Taylor in army uniform.

W. Harry and Doris Wed

It is unknown how William (Harold) Taylor met his wife Doris Barton; possibly while has older brother George and Doris’ sister Mabel were courting. They both enjoyed dancing and were remarkable dance partners. On December 28, 1921 William (Harold) Taylor and Doris Ada Barton were married in St. Thomas, the Church of England, by the local minister. Doris and William (Harold) would be married a total of 12 years. William (Harold) would pass away on December 28, 1933, at the age of 34.

William Taylor's Baptism

This picture is of the Bolton branch taken in 1930. A few years after William Taylor's baptism; William is standing on the far left, he has glasses and a mustache. Standing in the middle back row, in a light suit, is William Barton; his daugther Doris Barton Taylor is sitting to the right, with her son, George, on her lap. Son Eric is sitting in front on the right.

William (Harold) was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 7, 1927. About a year later on October 28, 1928 he was ordained to the office of a priest. He and Doris often performed musical numbers together for ward socials. His baptism was a happy day for Doris, as well as the small branch.

Sunday School Poem

W. Harry Taylor wrote this poem about the building they used for church meetings he titled this poem “Sunday School.”

Sunday School

There’s a four story building I know of

In the heart of a quite busy street

There’s a small room right at the top

Where on Sundays a few people meet

To discover the room is not easy

There are stairs and steps and still

More steps and they twist and twine always.

The people who meet there most love it

‘Cause I’ve never heard and complaints.

To climb may take the breath –

But then it puts heart in the

Latter Day Saint.

For these are the people who use it

At present it is their Sunday school

Where they meet together to worship God

And to learn from his golden rule.

A piano takes the place of an organ

Its tune getting weak – for ‘tis old

But the singing is sweet

To hear it a treat

Because the harmony comes from the souls.

One sees not alter or pews there

Just a table and forms that all

Yet the sacrament is served just as

Sacredly – as in any great cathedral

It might not look all a Sunday

School should – but it’s always

Kept clean and fair

Once wise men worshipped Christ

In a stable – so I know

He’ll take worship for there.

Perhaps what I’ve said makes

You curious – and maybe you

Feel you’d like to call

So come to Corporation Street

Botlon – The saints have a

Welcome for all.

Harold Taylor

Bolton 1923

The Pie King

After he was married, William (Harold) started a small bakery business baking and selling confectionaries from a shop on Cannon Street. This shop was a grocery-bakery shop with the family living quarters in the back of the shop. During this time some members of his family were preparing to emigrate to Canada and Australia, they sold their homes and belongings for the trip and while they were waiting for visas to be approved they lived with Doris and William (Harold). While living there the relatives freely ate out of the shop, and ate quite heartily; eating almost all the shop’s profits. Later William (Harold) opened a bakery on Claughten Street. This shop had a big front window to display all the cakes, confections and pies he made. It was from this shop that William (Harold) made his name as “Pie King of Daubhill” this being the area surrounding Claughten Street. William (Harold) had no car, so with a huge basket on his arm, he would walk to all the local pubs and hostelries (inns) in the area. This involved several trips; he kept the pies hot by having a jug of hot gravy to “top” them up with. Later the family, which consisted of William (Harold), his wife Doris; son Eric, who was born on July 13, 1921, and son George, born on December 8, 1926, moved into a nicer three bedroom house, they lived here for only a short while.

Typical Shops

This photo was taken in the 1940's in Bolton. It show a typical store front, possibility similar to W. Harry Taylor's shop.
This photo is of a section of Cannon St. in Bolton, also taken in the 1940's. Cannon St. was the first place Doris and Harry lived.

A Sad Death

Early in 1932, William (Harold) Taylor left his family, and a yet to be born daughter, Grace Alma, who would arrive on October 25, 1932. His reasons for leaving his family are unclear. He left one evening to get something from the store and never returned.

Two years later he died of Pulmonary Tuberculosis. He was brought to a hospital in Manchester for infectious diseases by a man named John Hill some little time before he passed away. Shortly before he died his wife Doris received a message from a man telling her where he was and that if she wanted to see “Harry” before he died she needed to come quick to the hospital. Doris and her father went to see William in Manchester, unfortunately, before Doris had a chance to return he died. She received a telegram informing her of his death. Aunt Doll recalled that it was the saddest funeral she had ever been to. It was a drizzling cold day, father Barton, Doris, and Dorothy waited outside the hospital gates in the rain. They brought the coffin out and walked across the street to a little cemetery where he was buried. Much later his daughter Grace would discover that William’s burial place was not an actual cemetery, rather a small plot of ground between the hospital and an old folk’s home. Having died of an infectious disease, William (Harold) by law should have been cremated. However, due to his death occurring over the Christmas holiday the crematorium was shut down; William (Harold) along with a few others was immediately buried in this unmarked area.

I Never Knew My Father

This is a tribute titled "I Never Knew My Father" written by daughter, Grace Taylor O'Dair, about her father William Taylor.

Unlike some of my friends, I cannot pull from my own memory stories of my father, for he died when I was little more than a year old. So, I never knew him...yet, I do. For with aid of pictures, writings, conversations with relatives, and brief memories my brothers have, I have put together an image of the parent I never saw. I would like to share that image, and my father with you...

I never knew my father, and yet I do. For I have your pictured likeness that shows fair, slightly wavy hair, high cheek bones, the somewhat classic features, the pensive smile. I can see that you were tall and of slender build.

My uncle has told me that you loved to dance, and of the prizes you won. On Saturday nights, the local dance place would hold a contest where couples were invited to preform the intricate steps of the Viennese waltz, and other dances, within the "silver ring". This was a six foot wooden circle laid on the floor, and the feet of the dancers must never step outside the ring. What a picture you must have made, you and me diminutive dark-haired mother, turning and stepping in that silver circle...and often, you brought home the prize. I wish I could have seen you. I love to dance. If you had lived, would you have danced with me, when I grew up?

And you could play! Your brother has told me how you used to run up and down the dark English streets, dragging your fingers over the rough bricks of the houses until they bled - to make calluses you said, so you could pluck the mandolin strings better. People would crowd the local public house on Friday nights to hear you, and the local talent theatre. I wish I could have heard you play. Perhaps, if you had been here, I might have learned to play.

You wrote too, poetry. Oh, you were ne Shakespeare, but you cared for things. I know for a have read your thoughts. I wish I could have talked with you about them. Did you know that I write poetry too? I wish you could have reads some of mine.

I know too that you were no angel. Never mind how I know, I just do. You were not always as you should be. You had no business head; you gave to much away. You caused grief and pain and heart-ache...Somehow, I wish I could have known that too.

No, I never knew you, father, but I do. For I know my son, and he is much like you; the height, the slender build, the strong yet sensitive hands. Within him too is the love of music and beautiful words. And he too is a showman in his own right, although not in your field.

I look at your picture, and your features are his; the slightly wavy hair, the high cheek bones, the somewhat classic features, the pensive smile, and the eyes, oh yes! the eyes...You dreamed too, didn't you?

William Harry Taylor's Ancestors

William Harry Taylor's father was William Taylor, he was born on November 26, 1863, in Chorley, Lancashire, England. He died in February of 1936, in Farnsworth, Lancashire, England. W. Harry Taylor's mother was Elisabeth Whittle, she was born on September 27, 1863, in Croston, Lancashire, England. She died on April 6, 1926, in Bolton, England. William and Elizabeth were married on the 15th of August 1896. They had four children:

George Taylor, born June 15, 1897, in Bolton,England--Married Mabel Barton, Doris' older sister
William Taylor, born January 5, 1899, in Bolton, England
Mary Taylor, born May 25, 1901, in Bolton, England
Doris Taylor, born July 13, 1904 in Bolton, England

William Taylor's father was Joseph Taylor, he as born on December 31, 1838, in Chorley, Lancashire, England. William's mother was Margaret Watson, she was born on June 10, 1843, in Mawdsley, Lancashire, England. Joseph and Margaret were married March 14, 1835, in Chorley. They had nine children, all born in Chorley:

William
Mary
James
Thomas
Elizabeth
George
Mary Alice
Lawrence
Joseph

Joseph's father was William Taylor, was born January 1, 1802, in Heath Charnock, Lancashire, England. He was a cotton weaver. His mother was Mary Cropper, she was born in 1802, in Preston, Lancashire, England. They were married in about 1824. The 1851 census lists ten children all born in Chorley:

Ann b. about 1829
Issac b. about 1831
Betty b. about 1834
George b. about 1836
Joseph b. about 18439
Margaret b. about 1842
Thomas b. about 1845
Lawrence b. about 1847
George b. about 1848