TAILFORTH OF WEETWOOD

 

Mary Tailforth married George Haist of Barwick in Elmet at Whitkirk in 1661. No baptism has been found for her[1] but the will of John Tailforth of Barwick, written in 1730, mentions George Haist senior as well as Benjamin Haist and Elizabeth Ingham (two of George and Mary’s children). John also mentions several Tailforths and others, giving clues to the family structure, although the will does not state how the legatees are related to the testator.

 

Another key document for this family is the 1667 will of James Thompson of Weetwood in the parish of Leeds, clerk. Among others, James mentions “my Sister Elizabeth Whitfeild... and... her Three daughters Bridget Watson Eliz: Tailforth and Grace Turner of Barwicke”.[2] The marriage of “William Taylford and Elizabeth Whitfeld of Weetwood” in 1639/40 is recorded in the Leeds registers. Furthermore, James Thompson leaves “to the said Elizabeth Tailforth a paire of yallow blamkets, [sic] and to her two daughters Mary & Elizabeth two duble Cov[er]lets”. This confirms that William and Elizabeth (Whitfield) Tailforth had a daughter called Mary. The explicit connection with Barwick in the will of James Thompson provides significant support for this Mary being the one who married George Haist.

 

The William who heads the account below may be the William, son of Thomas Tayleforth, who was baptised at Rylstone on 7 October 1610.

 

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TAILFORTH

 

WILLIAM TAILFORTH of Weetwood, Yorkshire,[3] married on 22 January 1639/40 at St Peter, Leeds, ELIZABETH WHITFIELD,[4] daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Thompson) Whitfield (see here). Elizabeth (Whitfield) Tailforth was baptised on 26 September 1616 at Kirkdale and buried on 9 October 1682 at St Peter, Leeds.

 

Children of William and Elizabeth (Whitfield) Tailforth:[5]

i               WILLIAM TAILFORTH, bap 27 Sep 1640, Headingley.[6]

ii             MARY TAILFORTH;[7] m 6 Oct 1661, Whitkirk, GEORGE HAIST[8] (see here).

iii            ANN TAILFORTH, bap 23 Apr 1643, Headingley.[9]

iv            ELIZABETH TAILFORTH; m 30 Jan 1669/70, St Peter, Leeds, CLEMENT MIDGLEY.[10]

v              JAMES TAILFORTH, b 5 Dec 1655, bap 15 Dec 1655, Headingley.[11]



[1] A Mary, daughter of John Tailforth, was baptised at Rylstone on 7 May 1639, but she was buried there on 20 May 1639.

[2] Will dated 1 Nov 1667 (Borthwick Institute).

[3] He may be the William Tailforth of Headingley buried at Headingley on 21 Nov 1679 (St Peter, Leeds, parish registers, online at www.ancestry.com) although that could be his namesake son.

[4] St Peter, Leeds, parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).

[5] Other possible children include the 1730 testator John Tailforth of Barwick in Elmet, Thomas Tailforth who married Elizabeth Jolly at Leeds in 1680, Samuel Tailforth of Weetwood who married Sarah Clarke at Leeds in 1680, and Henry Tailforth of Weetwood who married Alice Hulley at Leeds in 1680/81.

[6] St Peter, Leeds, parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).

[7] Mary was living in 1709 when George Haist made his will. She may be the Mary Haist buried on 18 Jan 1717/18 at Barwick in Elmet (Barwick in Elmet parish registers, online at www.ancestry.com). However, that Mary is described as “Spinster” in the Barwick in Elmet bishop’s transcripts (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).

[8] Whitkirk parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).

[9] St Peter, Leeds, parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).

[10] St Peter, Leeds, parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).

[11] St Peter, Leeds, parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).