See the Potteries List section for the Brislington Pottery.
The Pottery had previously been run by Thomas Dickson, the widower of Sarah Bennett II. It is not known when Thomas Taylor I became involved in the operation of the Brislington Pottery. Between 1723 and 1729 he had three children baptised in Brislington church and the Brislington Highway Rates for 1722-23 record ‘Taylor at ye pothouse’. In the Poll Books of 1734 and 1739 he was listed as a gallypotmaker at Brislington.
| 1723-33 | Thomas Dickson and Thomas Taylor I may have been in partnership at the Brislington Pottery. However, Thomas Dickson may have retired from the Pottery by 1723 or he could have been helping to finance the operation until his death. Thomas Dickson died in 1733. |
| 1733-c47 | Thomas Taylor I ran the Brislington Pottery alone. |
Thomas Taylor became bankrupt in February 1743 (Ray 1968, 46), but he took a further apprentice in 1745 so it seems likely he was still working at that time. He was paying Highway Rates on the Pottery until at least 1746. Taylor’s apprentice was transferred in May 1747 so presumably the Pottery ceased production around that date. The Pottery was advertised for sale in 1752 (Pountney 1920, 58).
The son of John Taylor of Long Ashton, Somerset, farm worker, he was the brother of Hugh Taylor and Joseph Taylor I and the father of Thomas Taylor II.
| 1709 | 18 Mar. He was apprenticed to Thomas I and Elizabeth Frank. Friends to find apparel (A, Ao, Ar). |
| 1717 | 20 May. A potter of St Mary Redcliffe parish, he was granted a licence to marry Sarah Beachgood of Castle Precincts at St Mary Redcliffe (M). |
| 1718 | 22 Mar. He became a free gallypotmaker (F, G). |
| 1733 | 7 Apr. He was described as a gallypotmaker of Bristol when his son, Richard Taylor I, was apprenticed to Thomas I and Elizabeth Frank (A, Ao, Ar). |
| 1734 | Gallypotmaker, Brislington (P). |
| 1738 | Gallypotmaker, New Back, Bristol (Ao). |
| 1739 | Gallypotmaker, Brislington (P). |
| 1739-45 | Gallypotmaker, Back, Bristol (Ao). |
| 1743 | Feb. He was described as a gallypotmaker of Brislington when he was declared bankrupt in the ‘London Gazette’ (Ray 1968, 46). |
| 1752 | 13 Dec. Possibly the Thomas Taylor buried (RPR) |
| 1754 | 5 Jan. ‘Wednesday died in Redcliff Street, Mrs Evans, widow of Captain Evans, and sister to the late Mr Taylor, potter, in that street’ (FFJ). |
| 1765 | 2 Aug. ‘To be Lett and entered upon at Michaelmas next. A large commodius House situate in Redcliff Street, many years in possession of Mr Taylor, Potter, very convenient for business that requires Room’ (FFJ). |
| Apprentices: With his wife Sarah: John Taylor, 24 Nov 1738 (A, Ao, Ar)-23 Jul 1757 (F, G) Edward Linford, 1 Dec 1738 (A, Ao, Ar)-27 Jun 1747 (F) Thomas Rowland, 24 Nov 1739 (A, Ao, Ar)-13 Oct 1774 (F, G) Joseph Linford, 13 Oct 1741 (A, Ao, Ar)-23 Jul 1757 (F, G) Benjamin Quarman, 16 Sep 1745 (A,. Ao, Ar)-transferred 5 May 1747 (A) |
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| Rate and tax book entries: Property 1 1722-3 ‘Taylor at ye pothouse (Brislington-Highway Rates) 1733-46 Mr Taylor/Thomas Taylor (Brislington-Highway Rates) 1730 ‘Thos. Dixon or Tho. Taylor’ (Brislington-Churchwarden’s Accounts)Property 2 1730 ‘Thos. Dixon for Bisweeks or Tho. Taylor occupier’ (Brislington-Churchwarden’s Accounts) Property 3 Property 4 |
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| Children: Thomas, bapt 25 Oct 1719 (RPR), John, bapt 13 Jan 1723 (BrisPR), Mary, bapt 15 Aug 1725 (BrisPR), Hannah, bapt 31 Sep 1729 (BrisPR) |