Magdalen Polk Taylor (1890-1970) – Ancestor Sketch

52 Ancestors – Week 2018-35
Bradey-Hingston Project
By Don Taylor

Bradley-Hingston 2018 – Ancestor #5

List of Grandparents

• Grandmother: Magdalen Polk Taylor (1890-1970)
• 1^st Great-grandfather: William S. Taylor, Jr. (1859-____)
• 2^nd Great-grandfather: William S. Taylor, Sr.

Birth

Magdalen (Madeline in some records) Polk Taylor was born on 31 December 1890. She was the third child of William S. and Maria (Polk) Taylor. She was most likely born in New Jersey, but it is possible she was born in Pennsylvania. Her two older siblings were:

• Sister: Dorothy – Born January 1888.
• Brother: John – Born Jul 1889.

Childhood

Little is known about her early childhood. The 1900 Census suggests they may have had two residences, one in Philadelphia and one on the New Jersey coast, in Cape May County. She grew up in the upper middle class; her family had a housekeeper/servant throughout her childhood.

Marriage

Magdalen married Arthur Wilson Bradley on 4 April 1910 at the Church of the Transfiguration, Philadelphia, PA, in a ceremony performed by John G Hatton. She was 19-years-old; Arthur was 22.

The couple had three children:

• Christian Bradley – born 20 March 1911
• Miriam Bradley – born in 1912
• David Tasker Polk Bradley – born 10 May 1918.

All three children were born in Philadelphia.

Adulthood

The 1910 Census finds Arthur and Magdalen living with his mother, Emily at 4073 Powelton Ave. That address does not appear to exist today.  In the same household are Arthur’s brother, William, Arthur’s aunt Emma, and a 22-year-old immigrant servant girl, Mary E. Rowan.

Sometime before 1915, the couple moved across the Delaware River to Pennsauken Township, New Jersey. The couple moved back to Philadelphia before 1917 and were living on Verree Road when Arthur registered for the draft.

On 27 September 1919 eight-year-old Christian was hit by a truck while playing in the street; he died.

The 1920 Census shows the family, living on Verree Road. Residing with Arthur, Madeline, and the two children (Miriam & David) is a 17-year-old maid from Bohemia named Frances Corbel.

The 1930 Census indicates that Magdalen and Arthur in Warminster, on Davisville Road. Living with them are Mariam and David, now ages 17 and 11.

On 8 March 1937, Arthur and Magdalen divorced. Arthur remarried later that year. Magdalen never remarried.

I’ve been unsuccessful finding Magdalen in the 1940 Census. I thought she was living in the household of Herbert L Fischer. However, I now think that may be another Magdalen Bradley of the same age.

Death & Burial

Magdalen relocated to Arlington, Virginia sometime before she died on 24 November 1970. She lived at 702-N Highland Street. Interestingly enough, that address is now blurred by Google. However, Buck & Associates have a photo of the home on their website.

Magdalen was buried four days later in Plot Abington #2, Lawnview Cemetery, Rockledge, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Further Actions / Follow-up

• Further research Magdalen’s life from 1937 until her death.

————–  Disclaimer  ————–

Sources

• Bristol Daily Courier, (Bristol, PA) 09 Mar 1937, · Page 4 – Divorce – Anson W. Bradley Magdalen P. T. Bradley. Com.
• “United States Census, 1900,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9NR-RYH : accessed 23 August 2018), William S Tayler Jr., Middle Township Angelsea borough, Wildwood borough, Avalon Borough, Rio Grande Village, Cape May, New Jersey, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 107, sheet 12A, family 308, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,960.
• 1900 Census, 1900 Census – William S Taylor, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Ward 9, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 0159; FHL microfilm: 1241455. https://search.ancestry.com/collections/2442/records/25439613/.
• “United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2JN­FF1 : accessed 12 March 2018), William R Hingston in household of Annie Hingston, Peabody, Essex, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 443, sheet 30A, family 479, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 587; FHL microfilm 1,374,600.
• “United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGC6-VQ1 : accessed 30 May 2018), Emily E Bradley, Philadelphia Ward 24, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 513, sheet 6A, family 122, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1398; FHL microfilm 1,375,411. Accessed 29 May 2018
• “United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGC6-VQ1 : accessed 30 May 2018), Emily E Bradley, Philadelphia Ward 24, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 513, sheet 6A, family 122, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1398; FHL microfilm 1,375,411. Accessed 29 May 2018
• “United States Census, 1920,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFYR-CF8 : accessed 29 May 2018), Arthur W Bradley, Philadelphia Ward 35, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; citing ED 1238, sheet 1A, line 30, family 7, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1637; FHL microfilm 1,821,637. – Accessed 29 May 2018
• “United States Census, 1930,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH88-RV4 : accessed 30 May 2018), Arthur W Bradley, Warminster, Bucks, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 75, sheet 10B, line 82, family 251, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2008; FHL microfilm 2,341,742. Accessed 29 May 2018
• The Central News, (Perkasie, PA) 1938-02-17, Page 4 – In the Registers Office – 4th paragraph, Mrs. Magdalene Tasker Polk Bradley – Com.
• Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 25 August 2018), memorial page for Magdalen T. Bradley (31 Dec 1890–24 Nov 1970), Find A Grave Memorial no. 182390190, citing Lawnview Cemetery, Rockledge, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by DAO (contributor 47943782).
• Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1669-2013 – Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records; Reel: 242 Marriage – Arthur Wilson Bradley & Madeline Polk Taylor.