Jennifer Taylor Semmons and a plethora of Prudences

[zibetha]

I am looking for help finding a baptism and parents of my 4th great-grandmother, Jennifer (also known as Jane) Taylor who was the wife of mine captain William Semmons. I believe she was born in Breage 1782-1784 via records of her marriage, the Census, and her name on a land lease.

Please humor me on this one; I wish I had something more concrete from which to work rather than a lot of circumstantial information. That does seem to be my norm, though! I think she was probably the daughter of Richard Taylor and Prudence Stevens/Stephens married at ST Hilary. I have scoured record images and transcriptions and cannot find her, but she could easily fit in the gap between Sarah/Sally 1781 and Mary 1792. Mary married twice after her father was dead, and the witness both times was William Semmons, Jennifer/Jane’s husband.

I don’t find a child named Richard or Sarah, but there was a daughter Prudence born 1817. There are some age range gaps between the children. Prudence was followed by a sister, Eleanor, which would fit the naming pattern of Prudence being named after her mother’s mother and Eleanor after her father’s mother (Eleanor Reed.)

In terms of the Taylor family, ALL of the Prudences in the family fit in the branch of Richard and Prudence’s part of the tree if I “park” Jennifer there. Prudence Stephens was a daughter of Prudence Kitto which links me to both of my mother’s parents' Cornish ancestors. (I do realize how dumb that sounds/reads. I think I might be my own cousin )

Jennifer Taylor Semmens’ eldest daughter, Jennifer married John Ward and named her children as follows:
John Ward
Elizabeth Simmons Ward
Henry Ward
Mary Taylor Shug Ward (would be named after her aunt mentioned above & marriage 1)
Prudence Taylor Ward
Ann S Ward
Honor Simmons Ward
Ellen Ward (short for Eleanor?)
Emma Ward
Sarah Tailor Ward (rather obvious link!)

Jennifer and William’s other children were William, John, Henry (my ancestor) Prudence, Ann and Honor.
I have been stumped on this for a long time. I cannot find a will for Richard Taylor, and Jennifer died before her husband. Any input or suggestions appreciated!
Zib
Here is my worksheet on the Taylor family: hope the link works -- new tech for me

onedrive.live.com/redir?page=view&resid=48BAAF93E7E82ECC!135&authkey=!AAEf9UQE7enqBiE

[zibetha]

Taylor.xlsx (34.06 KB)Taylor.xlsx (34.06 KB)

Oh, let's try this instead with hope it is easier to access.

[Cornish Terrier]

Zib - I have the family of Richard Taylor in my database but, like you, have a large gap for the children between 1782 and 1792. I have had another look but been unable to find any entry that resembles a baptism for Jane/Jennifer and so far can find no other clues that might help identify her.
That she named a daughter Prudence and her projected birth fits into that 1782-1792 gap is helpful but inconclusive. You also mention that Jane's husband William Semmens was a witness to two later marriages for sister Mary so I presume you have located images and made comparisons of the signiature in each?? If those signiatures match then it does seem reasonable that Jane would belong to Richard and Prudence.

CT

[zibetha]

Excellent idea to pursue! I also did not specify that my ancestor Henry Semmons, son of Jennifer and William, named a son George Taylor Semmons, brother of my 2x great-grandmother, Mary Semmons. And why else would he have done that were he not a GT descendent?

Thanks, Z

[Cornish Terrier]

That mskes perfect sense although it would also be wise to have a check around to make sure there is no other connection to a George Taylor on either side of the family.

CT

[zibetha]

I have just identified 4 inter-related "cousins" with DNA matches (who have shared their test results on several different websites) as being descendants of Sarah/Sally Taylor and Thomas Hocking's granddaughter, Prudence Stephens Hocking. Prudence was the daughter of William Hocking and Mary Colenso. She married John Jenkin, and they went to Australia. This is the closer match I have been waiting for as my others (I hoped were true) went back through Sally's mother, Prudence, and the Kitto and Quick families. A bit too distant to be totally confident.

Prudence and John Jenkin arrived in Australia on the "Blair Athol" with children Jane R(Rodda), John and William Charles in 1879. I am now very happy that Sarah/Sally Taylor and Jennifer/Jane were sisters.

What's that Beatles' song--- Dear Prudence?!

Zib

P.S. I realized I also have a match with a descendant of Sally & Jennifer's younger brother, Edward. I hadn't colored him in as he is one of 5 children and I had yet to identify him by name.

[Cornish Terrier]

Great news Zib! Another testament to Persistence, Patience .............. and Prudence!

CT