Taylor versus Taylor

Quarrelsome Taylor Cousins

The surname Taylor is common in Dore and many Taylors were stone masons going back to the mid 19th century. Farewell Taylor was a monumental stone mason who worked in Dore graveyard, signing a good number of the memorial stones with an FT at the base. When researching the various jobs that people had in the 19th and early 20th centuries Dore Archives Research Team came across this colourful character.

Farewell Taylor

Farewell was born in Dore to William and Hannah in 1860. William was a farmer of 13 acres and scythe maker. Farewell came to our attention by way of a newspaper article in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph in 1883 when he was 22 years of age and living at Green Lane (subsequently Gillifield) Farm. The article notes that two youths were apprehended for taking game: Farewell Taylor and John Coates, on the land of Mr F Mappin. They were found by a gamekeeper, Charles Wilson, in Ecclesall Woods beating the wood accompanied by a lurcher dog and had a net fixed at a rabbit run.

When caught they did not run away and gave their names and addresses. They had previously been similarly cautioned about this behaviour and this time they were fined 10s each and had to pay costs. The magistrate said they were being dealt with leniently.

Farewell remained single working as a stone mason and lived with his parents on Green Lane Farm according to census data in 1881 and 1891. In 1898 Sheffield Corporation papers show that he was commissioned to build a wall of rubble along Bushey Wood.

Altercation in the Graveyard

There was much local interest after Newspapers in Sheffield and further afield reported a court case in 1899.

At Sheffield County Court, Judge Waddy presiding, the Sheffield Daily Telegraph report in the 28/11/1899 edition states that he appeared in court yesterday i.e. 27/11/1899. An action was brought by William Taylor, stone mason of Dore, against another stone mason of Dore named Farewell Taylor to recover £30 damages for assault and the pain it had caused. Mr Frank E Eaton appeared for the plaintiff, Mr Muir Wilson for the defendant.

William Taylor, plaintiff, claimed the cost of medical expenses and the loss of work along with the pain he suffered. The case for the plaintiff was that some trade jealously had arisen between the two, who were cousins, on the morning of September 7th, 1899. A quarrel ensued.

Then on the Saturday morning, September 9th the defendant was at work on a stone in Dore Churchyard when the plaintiff stood near watching him at work. The defendant without provocation struck William, the plaintiff, on the head with a hammer causing a deep wound which had to be stitched by Dr Aldred and incapacitated him for three weeks. The defendant said that William had pushed against him knocking his hat off and pushing his pipe from his mouth. It was in a fit of temper that he struck William.

Damages Reduced

Farewell was found guilty. However, it was proven that William could perform some of his work after this injury and therefore the lower sum of £10 damages was awarded to William.

After this Farewell settled down and continued to live in the Green Lane Farm until after his parents died. He remained single for the rest of his life, but Sarah Keeton accompanied him, as his housekeeper, until she died. They are both buried in Dore graveyard; Sarah died in 1927 aged 69 years and Farewell in 1932 aged 71 years. Farewell died at home at Green Lane Farm of chronic nephritis and kidney failure. He is described as a master monumental stone mason on his death certificate and his nephew was present at his death. His contribution to the memorial stones in Dore graveyard is to this day considerable.