Mary Alexander Taylor was born in Edinburgh on 6 October 1827. Her father William had been a clothier and master tailor who died in 1833. Her mother Jean Trotter was trying to support a family of five.

Circumstances inferring that the Child is a proper object of Charity, and falls under the description of a Destitute child,

The child’s father after several years of bad health died in the beginning of this year, not leaving sufficient funds to liquidate his debts, so that the mother, after paying a compensation to the creditors is left with 5 children to be supported upon a small annuity of £14 payable by the Corporation of Tailors. Two of the elder girls were at the time of their father’s death learning dressmaking and Straw plaiting, but that event has almost entirely destroyed their hopes of getting employment, and the Third is only 12 years old. The mother from the respectable Situation in life to which she was brought up have never been accustomed to any employment which might now assist her in earning bread for herself and orphan family. As an Additional burden upon the Poor Woman there is an old relative of her father who always lived in the house and is now unprovided for.

The 1851 Census found Mary living 40 Dalrymple Place with her husband John Thom, a ‘shopman’. The 1871 Census found the couple living at 9 High Street, Portobello. John was then a ‘Spirit Dealer’ and they were joined by his sister Janet Taylor and a servant called Harriet Wilson.

Mary died at 9 High Street, Portobello on 19 November 1875, survived by her husband.

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