Thomas John Mays was the seventh child of Thomas Mays & Mary Ann Hart born February 4th, 1881 at Stanley Rd, Croydon, & christened May 1st, 1881 at Christ Church, Surrey.
In 1891 Thomas, his parents & older sister Louisa were living at Stanley Rd, Croydon.
Thomas was still living at home in 1901 with his widowed mother & 2 older sisters – Ada & Emily – at Stanley Rd. Thomas was described as a yeoman. He enlisted with the Imperial Yoemanry Metropolitan Mounted Rifles in 1901 & after serving in South Africa he returned home in 1902 when he was discharged.
Thomas married Emma Kate Talbot on July 31st, 1910 at Croydon. Emma was born January 26th, 1884 & christened June 22nd, 1884 at South Norwood, Surrey, the daughter of Sarah Ellen & Alfred Talbot, a police constable.
In 1911 Thomas & Emma (known as Kate) were living at 24 Byron Avenue, Sutton, Epsom, Surrey. Thomas was now an engineer’s fitter for the London County Council.
It is known that Thomas received various military medals while serving during WW1.
Thomas & Kate were listed in the electoral register of 1935 as living at 31 Belmont Rd, Epsom, Surrey with their children Thomas Talbot & Phyllis Marian.
Kate died in July-September 1935, her death being registered in mid-eastern Surrey.
Son Thomas married Frances G C Coppin in 1938 in Surrey.
The 1939 register shows widowed Thomas John Mays & his daughter, Phyllis, living at 30 The Crescent, Sutton & Cheam, Surrey. Also living there was Thomas’ sisters Louisa Mays & widowed Harriett Wheeler. There was also a 9 year old Edward H Wheeler, & Harriett’s daughter May Louisa Millard & her daughter Mary Millard living with them. Thomas was an engineer in charge at Downe Hospital, Sutton.
Daughter Phyllis married Hector Fox, a post-office employee, on January 21st, 1940 at St John’s, Belmont, Sutton.
Thomas died aged 80 in Oct-December 1961, his death being registered at Surrey North East.
The children of Thomas John Mays & Emma Kate Talbot were:
m.1.6.7.1 Thomas Talbot Mays born March 16th, 1913 at Epsom, Surrey; died Jan-March 1984 at Horsham, Sussex
m.1.6.7.2 Phyllis Marian Mays born November 17th, 1914 at Epsom, Surrey; died April-June 1969 at Sutton, Surrey