George Mays was the sixth child of Richard Mays & Caroline Roser christened February 15th, 1846 at East Grinstead, Sussex.
By 1851 the family were living at Box Cottage, East Grinstead & George & 3 brothers were the only children at home.
George was still living at home in 1861 at Box Cottage & he was working as an agricultural labourer , as were his 2 brothers, Charles & Henry. Younger sister Maria was also at home.
George married Mary Jane Bowrah on January 30th, 1867 at St Andrew’s, Croydon, Surrey. Witnesses at the wedding were George Arnold & Louisa Bowrah. Mary was christened February 26th, 1843 at East Grinstead, Sussex the daughter of Ann & James Bowrah, a farmer.
In 1871 George & Mary were living at Ashurstwood, East Grinstead, near George’s father & step mother Mary. George was working as a labourer & he & Mary had 3 daughters – Maria (4), Elizabeth (2) & Mary Louisa (2 months).
By 1881 George, still a labourer, & Mary had moved to Edenbridge, Kent & were living at Greybury Lane with 6 children still at home – Elizabeth, Mary (Mary Jane on census?) (10), George (8), Richard (6), Ernest (3) & William (2 weeks). Daughter Maria had left home to become a domestic servant for farmer Charles Holmden & family in Cowden, Kent. Maria was to marry Walter Boakes in 1889 in East Grinstead.
George & Mary were living at Dry Hill Cottage, Lingfield, Surrey in 1891 & George was an agricultural labourer. Sons Richard, a gardener, & Ernest, a farm labourer, were still at home. Daughter Elizabeth had left home to become a servant for governess Louisa M Kirkman & her sisters in Worthing, Sussex & she continued to work for them until at least 1911.
By 1901 George had his own farm – Cobhambury Farm, Edenbridge, Kent & with him was wife Mary & son Ernest, now a carpenter. Daughter Mary Louisa was working as a domestic servant for William Dawell & his wife in Worthing, Sussex.
In 1911 George & Mary were living at Poplars Cottage, Edenbridge & George was now described as a general labourer. It was noted on the census that they had had 7 children, only 5 of whom were still alive.
Son George who had married Harriet Hodge in 1896 was living at Blenheim Rd, Lingfield, Surrey in 1911 where he was a brick & tile burner. It was noted on the census that they had had 5 children but only son George (12) was still alive. By 1939 George & Harriet were living in Lingfield, Surrey & George was still a brick burner.
Son Ernest who had married Minnie Skinner on May 17th 1902 was living at 11 Stanhope Cottages, Lingfield in 1911 with their 2 children William Oswald Gascoigne (7) & Muriel Rose Winifred (4). Ernest was a carpenter & joiner. By 1939 Ernest was widowed & living in Croydon, Surrey with daughter Muriel who was described as housekeeper.
Mary died in July-September 1917, aged 74, & was buried at St Peter & St Paul, Edenbridge, Kent.
George died in 1930 aged 84 & was buried at St Peter & St Paul, Edenbridge, Kent. An obituary in the Westerham Herald of March 15th stated that George died in hospital & had lived for many years in Edenbridge where he was employed as gardener at the Manor House. He was actively connected with the Baptist Church.
The children of George Mays & Mary Jane Bowrah were:
m.2.6.1 Maria Mays born April-June 1867 at East Grinstead, Sussex; died Oct-December 1935 in Tonbridge, Kent
m.2.6.2 Elizabeth Mays born April-June 1869 at East Grinstead, Sussex
m.2.6.3 Mary Louisa Mays born Jan-March 1871 at East Grinstead, Sussex
m.2.6.4 George Mays born December 24th 1872 at East Grinstead, Sussex; died April 19th, 1950 at Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead
m.2.6.5 Richard Mays born July-September 1874 at East Grinstead, Sussex; died July-September 1893 at East Grinstead
m.2.6.6 Ernest Charles Mays born August 23rd 1877 at East Grinstead, Sussex; died October 24th, 1963 at 3 Rymer Rd, Croydon, Surrey
m.2.6.7 William Henry Mays born April-June 1881 at Lingfield, Surrey; buried May 25th, 1883 at Edenbridge, Kent