Taylor Family
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The first member of the Taylor family connected to the Cowper family is Martha Taylor (1836-1917), who married Thomas Ellis in about 1862.    Martha's parents were John and Elizabeth Watkin Taylor.

John Taylor (1812-1904)

Until recently, we had little information about John Taylor's childhood. John is enumerated in the 1841 through 1891 English census enumerations—always an Shropshire County, and always a shoe/boot maker. The County of Shropshire is in Western England bordering Wales.¹  

The earliest census enumeration in which we find John is the 1841 census, where he is already 30 years old and married. This census is in the parish of St. Chad²  and the borough of Shrewsbury. Shrewsbury is located near the center of the County and St. Chad just to the southeast of the city.

1841 England census; Shropshire, England

Highlights: John Taylor 30, Elizh Taylor 30, Martha Taylor 5, Sarah Taylor 5 Wks

1851 England census; Oswestry, Shropshire, England

John Taylor 41
Elizh Taylor 49
Martha Taylor 15
Mary Taylor 12
Sarah Taylor 10
Alfred Taylor 7

1861 England Census; District 13, Oswestry, Shropshire, England

1861 Cross Street
John Saylor 49 abt 1812 Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England Head, shoe manufacturer
Elizabeth Saylor 50 abt 1811 Welshpool Wife
Marth Saylor 25 abt 1836 Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England Daughter
Mary Saylor 23 abt 1838 Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England Daughter
Sarah Saylor 20 abt 1841 Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England Daughter
Alfred Saylor 16 abt 1845 Oswestry, Shropshire, England Son
Mary Elliot 50 abt 1811 Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England Visitor
Robert Elliot 12 abt 1849 Oswestry, Shropshire, England Visitor

1871 Cross Street
John, 59, Boot & Shoe maker, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England
Elizabeth, 48, Buttington, Montgomeryshire, Wales

Line drawing of the Shoe Shop owned by John Taylor, his Son & a Partner in the Llywd's Mansion Oswestry showing the building circa 1875. This is taken from the book "Oswestry" by Isaac Watkin, published in 1920 by T Owen & Son
copied from "40me7," owner of the Thorne Family Tree on Ancestry.com

1881 Lower Brook St.
John, 69, Boot & Shoe Maker, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England
Elizabeth, 69, Llangadfan, Montgomeryshire, Wales

1891 Lower Brook St.
John, 79, Retired Boot Maker, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England
Elizabeth, 78, Llangadfan, Montgomeryshire, Wales

copied from "40me7,"
owner of the Thorne Family Tree on Ancestry.com

1901 In Liverpool at son in law's home
John Taylor, father in law, widower, 89, retired shoemaker, Shrewsbury, Shropshire

William Taylor

I've recently (July 2013) found an online family tree, which indicates that William Taylor and his wife Sarah were the parents of our John Taylor. This is due primarily to baptismal records from the parish of Hughley, near Shrewsbury in Shropshire County. The Parish of St. Chad is located just to the Southeast of Shrewsbury. However, the baptismal records are from the parish of Hughley³ , which is much further to the Southeast of the city of Shrewsbury.

I'm still waiting to confirm this family connection.

Notes

 General Notes

"BUTTINGTON, (or Tal-y-bont), a parish in the borough and hundred of Pool, in the county of Montgomery, North Wales, 2 miles to the N.E. of Welshpool. It is situated in a fertile and partially hilly district on the borders of Shropshire, on the E. bank of the river Severn, over which is a very ancient wooden bridge, and contains the townships of Cletterwood, Hope, and Trewern. This place was called by the Saxons Butdigingtun, or Buttingdun, and was the scene, about the end of the 9th century, of a great defeat of the Danes, who had encamped here, by the Saxons. The Breidden hills extend into this parish, and on Craig Vreddin, one of their principal peaks, stands the pillar erected in honour of Admiral Lord Rodney in 1781. The prospect from this hill is extensive and richly diversified. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of St. Asaph, value £107, in the gift of the Vicar of Welshpool. The church, which is in the early English style, is dedicated to All Saints. Offa's Dyke crosses part of this parish, and traces of ancient camps are found on the neighbouring hills.

"LLANGADFAN, a parish in the hundred of Mathrafel, county Montgomery, 7 miles N.W. of Llanfair, its post town, and 10 S.W. of Llanfyllin. It is situated on the rivers Banw and Vyrnwy, and includes seven townships, the principal being Cyffin and Moelfeliarth. There was founded here a religious house in connection with the abbey of Strata Florida. A riot took place here in 1645, when Vavasour Powell came to sequester the benefices of the Montgomeryshire clergy. The Eira, a considerable stream, flows from the hills on the S. Copper, lead, and other ores, are found here. The living is a rectory* in the diocese of St. Asaph, value £299, in the patronage of the bishop. The church is dedicated to St. Cadvan, the patron saint of Towyn. The parochial charities produce about £7 per annum. Here are a great many ancient remains, consisting of entrenchments, burial-places, a cromlech, &c. Llwydiarth Hall is the seat of Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart."

Footnotes

1. For more detailed map—including explanations of the various political and religious administrative boundaries/areas, the Mormon Church's website has some excellent maps: http://maps.familysearch.org/
2. Interestingly, Charles Darwin was baptized at St. Chad's Church in 1806. Click here for more information about the church.
3. The Registers of Hughley, Shropshire.  1576-1812