Profile: Rachel Taylor 1855-1855

As I have been researching the Rothwell family, I have also come across a child in the connected Taylor family of Blackburn, Lancashire who was born and died in between the census years and therefore did not appear in any census records. I have managed to trace her birth, baptism, death and burial records. I have put together the below profile for Rachel Taylor:

Remembering Rachel Taylor (1855-1855): A Brief Life in Victorian England

In the bustling industrial town of Blackburn, Lancashire, England, in the mid-19th century, a baby girl named Rachel Taylor was born. Rachel entered the world on February 26, 1855, into a family already brimming with life and activity. Her father, John Taylor, and mother, Jane Whittle, were steadfast parents working hard to provide for their growing family. John Taylor worked as a labourer in a foundry.

Rachel was christened just a few weeks later, on March 14, 1855, in Blackburn. As her parents held her close during the baptismal ceremony, they must have been filled with hopes and dreams for their youngest daughter's future.

The Taylor family resided at 25 Daisy Street, a modest home in Blackburn. It was within these walls that Rachel spent her brief but cherished moments. Surrounded by her siblings — James, Mary Elizabeth, Ellen and John - Rachel was part of a close-knit family. Her oldest brother, James, was nearly ten years her senior, while her youngest brother, John, was just a toddler at the time.

Tragically, Rachel's life was cut short by the harsh realities of the time. On September 27, 1855, after just seven months of life, she succumbed to influenza pneumonia, a common and deadly illness in Victorian England. Rachel's passing left a void in the Taylor family, who mourned the loss of their precious daughter and sister.

Rachel was laid to rest on September 30, 1855, in Blackburn. Her brief presence, though fleeting, was deeply felt by those who knew and loved her. The Taylor family's story continued, marked by both the joys and sorrows that characterized life during that era.

As we remember Rachel Taylor, we honor her short but meaningful journey and the love that surrounded her. Her story is a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring bonds of family.

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Sources:
[D09238] (Blackburn, Lancashire, England), Lancashire, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials 1813-1986, "Burial Record - Rachel Taylor," 3212; digital images, ancestry.ca, ancestry.ca.

[D09242] (Blackburn, Lancashire, England), Lancashire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1911, "Baptism Record - Rachel Taylor," 1098; digital images, ancestry.ca, ancestry.ca.

[D09247] England and Wales, birth certificate, born 26 February 1855; citing 08E/284/158, Q1 quarter 1855, Blackburn registration district, Blackburn sub-district; General Register Office, Southport.

[D09249] England and Wales, death certificate for Rachel Taylor, died 27 September 1855; citing 08e/169/132, Q3 quarter 1855, Blackburn registration district, Blackburn sub-district; General Register Office, Southport.