Eliza Mays was the fifth child of John Mays & Mary Marchant christened July 24th, 1842 at St John the Baptist, Croydon.
In 1851 Eliza was living with her parents & brothers & sisters at 11 Smiths Yard, Croydon.
By 1861 Eliza was working as a housemaid for Richard Wallis, a corn & coal merchant & miller, & his family at Eastlands, London Street, Basingstoke, Hants.
Eliza married William Nicholls on August 18th, 1867 at All Saints, Upper Norwood, Surrey. William was a carpenter & one of the witnesses at the wedding was Eliza’s brother Thomas Mays. William was born c1838 in Robertsbridge, Sussex, the son of Hannah Waghorne & Levi Nicholls.
In 1871 Eliza & William were living at 4 Sarah Cottages, Croydon & William was described as a joiner. They had 2 sons, Albert (2) & Walter H (4 months).
The family were living at 7 Stanley Road, Croydon by 1881 & William was now a carpenter. They now had another son, Alfred Raymond, 8 years old. They also had a lodger, Craven Greenfield, a gardener.
Son Albert, who became a bricklayer, married Celia Ann Eldridge in 1888 in Camberwell, London.
Eliza & William were living at 23 Stanley Road in 1891 & there were no children at home. William was still a carpenter. Living nearby in 19 Stanley Rd, was Eliza’s brother Thomas & his wife Mary & their family.
William & Eliza were still living in Croydon in 1901, now at 70 Grant Road. William was still working as a carpenter.
There is a death for Eliza Nicholls in April-June 1905 in Croydon.
Son William Walter, a plumber, enlisted with the Royal Artillery & served in the South African Campaign from 1890 to 1902. He gave his father William as next of kin at 23 Stanley Rd, Croydon.
Widowed William was living alone in 1911 at 61 Shaftesbury Buildings, Elis David Rd, Croydon. He was still a carpenter.
Son Albert & wife Celia & 5 of their 6 children were still living in Croydon in 1911 & Albert continued to work as a bricklayer.
William, aged 82, of 61 Shaftesbury Buildings, Elis David Rd, Croydon died on August 21st, 1920 at Croydon Infirmary. His effects, £109.8s.4d were administered by George William Fincham, carman.
The children of Eliza Mays & William Nicholls were:
m.1.5.1 Albert Nic(h)olls born April 18th, 1868 in Robertsbridge, Sussex & christened June 21st, 1868 at St John’s, Croydon, Surrey
m.1.5.2 Walter William Nic(h)olls born Jan-March 1870 at Stanley Rd, Croydon, Surrey & christened November 16th, 1873 at Christ Church, Croydon
m.1.5.3 Alfred Raymond Nic(h)olls born at Stanley Rd, Croydon & christened November 16th, 1873 at Christ Church, Croydon; died Jan-March 1882 in Croydon