Research Forum

John HOCKEY and Joanna TAYLOR
published by daveerasmus on Thu, 10/02/2022 - 21:21

One of my paternal 3 x Great Grandfathers was Jonas/John HOCKEY who was baptised in Horsington, Somerset on 7 January 1792. His first wife was Hannah GRILL(S) (my 3 x Great Grandmother) and they married at Bedminster St John on 18 November 1810. Hannah died in 1832. And John then married Elizabeth SAINSBURY at Bristol St Paul’s on 19 November 1934. Elizabeth died in 1836.

Following Elizabeth’s death John married (or at least formed a lasting relationship with) Joanna sometime around 1838. They had at least 6 children and I have confirmed (either through the GRO online index or through sight of the relevant birth certificate) that Joanna’s maiden name was TAYLOR in each case.

At the time of the 1841 census the family were living in the parish of St Augustine the Less. According to the census record, Joanna was born “in County”. But subsequently her place of birth was shown as

1851 - Portugal (c1812)

1861 - Portugal, British Subject (c1808)

1871 – British Colonies (c1812)

1881 – South Cheriton (c1819)

1891 – Spain (c1812).

I have struggled to find either a birth record for Joanna TAYLOR or a marriage record for Joanna TAYLOR and John HOCKEY. At the time of the censuses in 1851 (in Castle Cary) and 1861 (Ansford), there were Taylor families close by but, although I haven’t ruled out a connection with them, I haven’t found one either.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Comments ..

Submitted by Pat Hase on Fri, 11/02/2022 - 15:15

You've got a puzzle there!! You've probably thought of this but could Joanna have been widow when she met John HOCKEY and married him under a name other than TAYLOR?

Submitted by daveerasmus on Sat, 12/02/2022 - 20:46

Thanks, Pat. Yes, thought of that. Also variants of Joanna, such as Hannah, Anna etc. No joy so far.

Submitted by gricharduk on Sat, 19/02/2022 - 6:53

I also cannot find a marriage but I am wondering if Joanna might be the Joanna Taylor baptised at Castle Cary on 5 May 1816 to Thomas and Elizabeth Taylor? It looks like Thomas was a volunteer in the 82nd Foot Soldiers from 11 November 1799. The regiment was involved in the Battle of the Nive and the Battle of Orthez in 1814, during the Peninsular War, that was fought on the Iberian Peninsula.

You have probably considered this so my apologies if I am repeating what's already in your tree.

Best regards,
Richard