Richard Mays was the second child of Richard Mays & Caroline Roser christened October 19th, 1834 at East Grinstead.
In 1841 Richard, his 2 sisters & 1 brother & his parents were living at East Grinstead where his father was a farmer.
By 1851 the family had moved to Box Cottage, East Grinstead & Richard & 3 younger brothers were the only children at home.
In 1861 Richard was lodging at Hatch, Chingford, Essex & described as a farmer’s son. He was lodging with Louisa Fairchild, a 45 year old widow, who was ‘formerly a licensed victualler’, & her mother, Mary Walch, a 68 year old widow.
Richard married his landlady, Louisa Fairchild, on September 26th, 1861, at Croydon. Louisa was 20 years older than Richard! Louisa was born Louisa Johnson c1816 at Colchester, Essex, the daughter of William Prior Johnson. She had married Thomas Barnard Fairchild, a licensed victualler, on August 20th, 1853 in Hackney. (It was noted on her marriage certificate that she was Louisa Johnston, a widow, so she had presumably previously been married to Mr Johnston.) Thomas Barnard Fairchild died in 1860 at Epping, Essex.
By 1871 Richard & Louisa had moved the Branksome Rd, Lambeth St Mary, Brixton & Richard was now a beer retailer. They had a young boarder, Samuel Hearne, a grocer’s assistant.
In 1881 Richard & Louisa were living at 26 High St, Stoke Newington, Hackney & Richard was now a tramcar driver.
Louisa died in Oct-December 1888, aged 75, her death being registered at Lambeth.
In 1891 Richard was living at 27 Monier Rd, Stratford Le Bow St Mary & he was now described as a chaff cutter (hay).
By 1901, 66 year old Richard had sadly entered the West Ham Union Workhouse & his occupation was given as general labourer.
There is a death for Richard Mays in April-June 1910 at West Ham.