Annie Abbott - my Nan - was a remarkable woman, a survivor, which her story as follows will reveal.

 

 1879

Annie Abbott was born on the 23rd of February 1879 at Farnworth Street, registered in Farnworth Church records on the 22nd of March 1879. The entry of birth gives Mary Ellen Abbott a weaver, as the mother, but the columns for the father’s name and occupation are crossed over. She was baptised on the 6th of March 1879 at St, Wilfrids, The record states that Annie Abbott is the daughter of Mary Ellen Abbott, a single woman. Annie was baptised by George Holloway, Vicar.

 

1881

Mary Ellen age 22, unmarried and working as a canvas weaver, lived with her parents, father John age 52 yrs and mother Martha age 53 at 33 Church Street, Farnworth, Widnes. John was still occupied as a watchmaker. In the household were also younger also sisters Martha age 20 yrs, also a canvas weaver, and Isabella age 14 yrs. Here we also find granddaughter Annie, two years old, and grandson James just 8 months old. Annie and James were the children of Mary Ellen, born out of wedlock, father(s) unknown.

 

1891

By1891 Mary Ellen’s parents John and Martha Abbott have moved to 74 Church Street, Farnworth, with granddaughter Annie Abbott age 12 and grandson James age 10 yrs. When their mother Mary Ellen moved to Newcastle and married in 1886, Annie was seven years old and James 5 years old. Grandparents John and Martha had become their parents.

 

In 1891 grandfather John Abbott’s occupation was given as market gardener. He had a smallholding on the fields behind Farnworth Church, where he grew vegetables. These he sold on a small market stall at St. John’s Market, Liverpool and grandmother (Nan) Annie Abbott told us how she sat on the cart behind the horse with her granddad all the way to market – a round trip of 24 miles. In 1891 Annie was 12 and James 10 yrs old
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1901

Grandfather John Abbott was still living at 74 Farnworth Street, but now a widower age 73 yrs after the death of his wife Martha in 1896,. He was still working as a market gardener. Youngest daughter Isabella and her husband Robert McKie plus their five children made up the household.

 

By 1901 Annie Abbott had moved away from home. At age 22 yrs she was a domestic servant in the household of widow and pub/innkeeper Sarah E Morris at 3 Witt Road, Widnes. The pub still exists and is now called The Doctors - photo.

 

1902

Annie Abbott married Walter Taylor on May 19th 1902 at St. Paul’s Church Widnes. On the marriage certificate her address is given as 31 Luton Street Widnes and her father as John Ward, labourer.

 

Read more about Nan's husband (my grandfather) Walter Taylor to the right.

 

On Annie’s marriage certificate from 1902 her father is given as John Ward, labourer. She was brought up by her grandparents John and Martha Abbott, and John Abbott was probably her ward of court. Perhaps John Ward is a euphemism. I have found no evidence that Annie and James were adopted by their grandparents, and also no trace of anyone living in Farnworth of the name John Ward. 

 

Annie and Walter had five children: Helen (Nellie) born in 1903, William (Bill) born in 1905, Isaac (Ike) born 1907, Minnie born 1909 and Dorothy born 1911. All were baptised at St Paul's Church. During these years the Taylors moved around: in 1903-05 they lived at 6 Bradshaw Street, Widnes, in 1907 at 47 Moor Lane and in 1909-11 at 9 Esther Street.

 

 1908

Nan's grandfather John Abbott died in december 1908, age 80 years. He lived to see her married and raising a family.

Walter's younger brother Alfred, engineer, died in an accident in 1908, age 28.