James Taylor was first mentioned as a Newmarket medic in 1821, when he married Mary Garrard of Newmarket All Saints. Records from 1823 reveal him as part of the unusual for the time triple partnership Norton, Taylor and Kendall, which he was probably part of from his arrival in town, and where he remained up until his death in 1833, at only 40 years of age (so he must have been born about 1793, it’s not known where). He was thus part of the Edwards-Norton-Taylor-Kendall-Thomas-Bullen practice chain, in which Walter Norton his senior partner was the dominant character, and his contemporary Henry Kendall a few years younger.
James and Mary Taylor had six children baptised at Newmarket: James, Henry, Mary, Edward Garrard, Ellen, George and Elizabeth. As part of the Norton, Taylor and Kendall practice he was involved with the training of Charles Edwards and Thomas Golding Cocke.
Not much is known about James Taylor’s career except his involvement with an interesting case from 1833, a death attributed to apoplexy (stroke) brought on by excessive consumption of brandy. This happened at the King’s Head pub in Woodditton and was reported in the press (see details in references below). Interestingly he performed a post mortem examination on the case with Robert James Peck from the main rival practice (he also gave a reference for Robert James Peck’s assistant Francis Charles Pyman in 1828, alongside Walter Norton and Henry Kendall, whose comments are particularly interesting in that regard – see the page on Henry Kendall for more on that). There does appear to have been co-operation between apparent rival practices in the 19th century, the best example being that of Clement Gray’s cæsarian section case. It was normal for surgeon-apothecaries to perform their own post mortem examinations at this time, but it’s of note that later Floyd Peck was an assistant coroner – perhaps the Pecks had a special interest in post-mortems?
Sadly James Taylor died shortly after this case. He possibly never saw his daughter Elizabeth, who was baptised later that same year.
It’s not known what became of Ellen, but Henry Taylor died age 41 at Reading in 1864, Edward Garrard Taylor died aged 17 at Newmarket in 1843, and the rest of his family can be seen on the 1851 census as residents in the Newmarket All Saints’ parish (their exact location being unclear). None of James Taylor’s offspring appear to have pursued a medical career.
Aside from those he worked with, it appears the only other medics in town during James Taylor’s working life would have been Robert James Peck with Andrew Ross, except he possibly overlapped briefly with Robert Delanney mentioned on the Faint traces page.
1821, 10th January: James Taylor of Newmarket All Saints’ (bachelor) married Mary Garrard of Newmarket All Saints’ (spinster) by licence, All Saints’ church, Newmarket. Reference: Microfiche of Newmarket All Saints’ parish register (fiche 8), (Suffolk County Record Office, Bury St Edmunds). [Note: Walter Norton was a witness, as was Mary Travis (Walter Norton’s niece) the later wife of Henry Kendall.]
1821, 10th January: Under marriages, ‘On Wednesday last James Taylor, Esq. surgeon, of Newmarket, to Mary, only child of Mr. Garrard, of the same place.’ Reference: The Bury and Norwich Post. Wednesday Jan 17 1821: 2.
1822, 15th February: James son of James and Mary Taylor of Newmarket All Saints’ baptised. Reference: Microfiche of Newmarket All Saints’ parish register (fiche 6), (Suffolk County Record Office, Bury St Edmunds). [Note: James is referred to as a ‘surgeon &c’.]
1823: ‘Norton, Taylor & Kendall’ listed under ‘surgeons and apothecaries’ in Newmarket, Cambridgeshire. Reference: Pigot and Co.’s London & provincial new commercial directory, for 1823-4. London: J. Pigot; 1823, pg 172ff. [Note: Peck Robert James is listed separately.]
1823, 7th August: Henry son of James and Mary Taylor of Newmarket All Saints’ baptised. Reference: Microfiche of Newmarket All Saints’ parish register (fiche 6), (Suffolk County Record Office, Bury St Edmunds). [Note: James is referred to as a ‘surgeon’.]
1823, 20th November: ‘4 Mr. Charles Edwards 20 Novr. 1823 of full Age Baptised 6 April 1808, CANDIDATE for a CERTIFICATE to practise as an APOTHECARY in [blank] An APPRENTICE to Mr. Walter Norton of Newmarket, Cambridgeshire APOTHECARY for seven Years. INDENTURE DATED 14 January 1817 TESTIMONIAL of MORAL CHARACTER. W Norton LECTURES. 2 COURSES on ANATOMY and PHYSIOLOGY. 2 – THEORY and PRACTICE of MEDICINE. 1 – CHEMISTRY. 1 – MATERIA MEDICA. HOSPITAL ATTENDANCE. 9 MONTHS at London Dispensary as [? ].- EXAMINED by Mr. Wheeler & approved’. Reference: Court of Examiners Candidates’ Qualification Entry Book, The Society of Apothecaries Archives, Apothecaries’ Hall, Black Friars Lane, London EC4V 6EJ. [Note: see the page on Walter Norton for an image.]
1825, 19th May: Mary daughter of James and Mary Taylor of Newmarket All Saints’ baptised. Reference: Microfiche of Newmarket All Saints’ parish register (fiche 6), (Suffolk County Record Office, Bury St Edmunds). [Note: James is referred to as a ‘surgeon’.]
1826, 24th January: Under deaths, ‘On Tuesday last, at Newmarket, Charles, youngest son of Mr. Edwards, of Dullingham. In his avocation as surgeon and apothecary, he exhibited superior talent, united with tenderness and affection to the objects of his care, and no less respected by those who were his associates. He studied his profession under Messrs. Norton, Taylor, and Kendall.’ Reference: Cambridge Chronicle and Journal. Friday Jan 27 1826: 3.
1826, 13th December: Edward Garrard son of James and Mary Taylor of Newmarket All Saints’ baptised. Reference: Microfiche of Newmarket All Saints’ parish register (fiche 6), (Suffolk County Record Office, Bury St Edmunds). [Note: James is referred to as a ‘surgeon’.]
1828, October: Francis Charles Pyman’s application for the post of Apothecary and Secretary to the Suffolk General Hospital published in the Newspaper, with references, including from J Taylor. Reference: The Bury and Norwich Post. Wednesday Oct 22 1828: 3.
1830: ‘Norton,Taylor & Kendall, Newmkt’ listed under ‘surgeons & apothecaries’ in ‘Newmarket, &c.’ Cambridgeshire. Reference: Pigot and Co.’s national commercial directory. London & Manchester: J. Pigot & Co.; 1830. [Note: see the page on the Edwards–Norton–Taylor–Kendall–Thomas–Bullen practice chain for an image of this.], [Note also, Peck Robert James, Newmarket and Handcock Charles, Burwell are listed separately.]
1830, 30th December: ‘Decr. 30th 182 [2 overwritten 30] 24 MR. Thomas Golding Cocke – of full Age CANDIDATE for a CERTIFICATE to practise as an APOTHECARY in [blank] An APPRENTICE to Mr. Walter Norton James Taylor Hry Kendall of Newmarket APOTHECARY for five Years. INDENTURE DATED 3 July 1823 TESTIMONIAL of MORAL CHARACTER. Norton [& Co?] EVIDENCE of AGE. Baptised 19 Feb 1807 LECTURES. 2 COURSES on CHEMISTRY. [Tarads?] 2 – MATERIA MEDICA. Macleod 2 – ANATOMY and PHYSIOLOGY. 2 – Of ANATOMICAL DEMONSTRATIONS [bracketed together] Hawkins 2 – The PRINCIPLES and PRACTICE of MEDICINE Macleod HOSPITAL ATTENDANCE Number. 1737 12 MONTHS at St Geo & St Js Dispes 23 May 1829 2 COURSES of LECTURES on MIDWIFERY. Ley – of CLINICAL LECTURES. [blank] EXAMINED by Mr. Williams & rejected’. Reference: Court of Examiners Candidates’ Qualification Entry Book, The Society of Apothecaries Archives, Apothecaries’ Hall, Black Friars Lane, London EC4V 6EJ. [Note: see the page on the Edwards–Norton–Taylor–Kendall–Thomas–Bullen practice chain for an image of this.], [Note also, he presented again on 22nd December 1831, was examined by Mr. Ridout and rejected again, but was eventually approved at his third examination by Mr Blatch on 19th July 1832; with these re-examinations the details of apprenticeships and courses etc. are not filled in.]
1831, 10th March: Ellen daughter of James and Mary Taylor of this parish, surgeon, baptised, St Mary’s church, Newmarket. Reference: J552/9, microfilm of St Mary’s parish register, (Suffolk County Record Office, Bury St Edmunds).
1832, 22nd March: George son of James and Mary Taylor of this parish, surgeon, baptised, St Mary’s church, Newmarket. Reference: J552/9, microfilm of St Mary’s parish register, (Suffolk County Record Office, Bury St Edmunds).
1833, January: ‘Mr. Taylor, surgeon, of Newmarket’ reported attending a case in which the patient died from apoplexy following the consumption of excess brandy at the King’s Head pub in Woodditton. The case was reported in the Newspaper in March, referring to him also as ‘Mr. James Taylor, of Newmarket, who is since dead’. It reported ‘Mr. Taylor, who was a surgeon, at Newmarket, was called to attend the deceased. He appeared to be labouring under apoplexy, occasioned by the excessive drinking of brandy; and expressed an opinion that less than a pint so taken would occasion death.’ It also reports that he performed a post mortem accompanied by Robert James Peck and the opinion was ‘Witness described the appearance of the brain, which led him to the conclusion that the man died of apoplexy; it might have been brought on by excessive drinking. Has no doubt that the quantity of brandy deceased drank would produce the same effects on any other person.’ Reference: Huntingdon, Bedford, & Peterborough Gazette. Saturday Mar 16 1833: 2.
1833, 5th February: Under deaths, ‘Yesterday se’nnight… Mr. James Taylor, of the firm of Norton, Taylor, and Kendall, surgeons, of Newmarket.’ Reference: The Bury and Norwich Post. Wednesday Feb 13 1833: 2. [Note: the interesting use of the word se’nnight i.e. seven-night, meaning a week, i.e. ‘a week ago yesterday’ – hence I’ve dated this as 5th February from 13th.]
1833, 11th February: James Taylor of St Mary’s parish buried, aged 40. Reference: Microfiche of Newmarket All Saints’ parish register (fiche 9), (Suffolk County Record Office, Bury St Edmunds).
1833, 28th November: Elizabeth daughter of James and Mary Taylor of this parish, surgeon, baptised, St Mary’s church, Newmarket. Reference: J552/9, microfilm of St Mary’s parish register, (Suffolk County Record Office, Bury St Edmunds).
1843, 11th November: Edward Garrard Taylor of St Mary’s Newmarket buried, aged 17, All Saints’ church, Newmarket. Reference: FL609/4/6, Burial register of All Saints’ Newmarket 1813-1854, (Suffolk County Record Office, Bury St Edmunds). [Note: this ought to be on microfiche 10, which was missing at the time of my researching this page, so I was allowed to look at the original register.]
1851, 30th March: Apparent residue of James Taylor’s family resident in the All Saint’s parish: Head, Mary Taylor widow aged 51 annuitant, son James Taylor aged 29 draper’s assistant, daughter Mary Taylor aged 26, son George Taylor aged 19 attorney’s clerk, daughter Elizabeth Taylor aged 17, servant Mary Foreman aged 17. Reference: The National Archives, 1851 census.
1864, 18th November: Under deaths, ‘On the 18th inst., at 49, Oxford-road, Reading, aged 41, Mr. Henry Taylor, second son of the late James Taylor Esq., surgeon, Newmarket, and for 16 years a faithful assistant to Messrs. T. and W. Cooper, of Reading.’ Reference: The Bury and Norwich Post, And Suffolk herald. Tuesday Nov 22 1864: 5. [Note: the Cambridge Chronicle and University Journal has the same notice except has L and W Cooper. Reference: Cambridge Chronicle and University Journal. Saturday Nov 26 1864: 4. He doesn’t appear to have been a medic, since neither Henry Taylor nor the Coopers appear in the Medical Register for 1863.]
Suffolk Medical Biographies. Profile for Taylor, James. http://www.suffolkmedicalbiographies.co.uk/Profile.asp?Key=2819 (originally accessed pre October 2013). [Note: see comments regarding this website on the Francis Greene page.], [Note also, when originally accessed, this website had only one reference to James Taylor, the 1864 reference to the death of his son – in a different Newspaper from the one I have referenced.]
The research notes of Peter May. Reference: HD1584, (Suffolk County Record Office, Bury St Edmunds).
Note: For published material referenced on this website see the ‘Acknowledgements for resources of published material’ section on the ‘Usage &c.’ page. The sources used for original unpublished documents are noted after each individual reference. Any census records are referenced directly to The National Archives, since images of these are so ubiquitous on microfilm and as digital images that they almost function like published works. Census records are covered by the ‘Open Government Licence’ as should be other such public records (see the ‘Copyright and related issues’ section on the ‘Usage &c.’ page for which references constitute public records, and any other copyright issues more generally such as fair dealing/use etc.).