Samuel Taylor
Samuel Taylor was born in Moore in 1870. His parents were James Valentine, a gardener, and Elizabeth. Samuel had four siblings – Annie b1862, Charles b1868, Henry b1873 (and also served in the war) and Elizabeth b1876. Sadly, his mother died before Samuel was nine. The family lived at Canalside Cottages, Moore.
Samuel married Helen Maud Brodie at Daresbury Church on 31 August 1899 and they lived at Milner’s Cottages, Moore. In 1901, Samuel was a labourer on the Ship Canal, but ten years later, he was working for Cheshire County Council as a roadman. Samuel and Helen had two children, Doris Maud (b1904) and Dennis (b1905).
Samuel enlisted in the Royal Engineers (regimental number 22073) on 9 August 1917. In November that year he was promoted to Corporal. His military records are difficult to read, but we know that in 1918, he became ill and was discharged from the army as permanently unfit on 26 August 1918.
Soon after that, he was looking for work in the Chester area. Just what happened to Samuel we don’t know, but he died on 27 November 1918 and was buried in Daresbury Churchyard. His death certificate tells us that he died from a ‘malignant disease of the stomach’. This must have been related to his war service because he is commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
A letter from the Ministry of Pensions to his widow dated 26 May 1919, records that she was awarded a pension for herself and her two children, amounting to 16/8 per week.
In 1939, Helen was still living in one of Milner’s Cottages, but by this time, they were called ‘Firs View’.