Arthur Mays was the third child of Thomas May & Mary Hart christened May 21st, 1837 at Madehurst, Sussex.
In 1841 Arthur, his parents & 2 brothers were living at Holt Lane, Madehurst, Sussex & his father was a gamekeeper.
At the time of the 1851 census Arthur was visiting Maria Leggett, a 53 year old school mistress at Orchard St, Chichester. Arthur was a cabinet maker’s apprentice.
Arthur married Mary Ann Bragg on May 8th, 1870 at the Parish Church of St George, Bloomsbury, London. Arthur was a builder at the time of the marriage & witnesses were John Mays & Rose Bragg. Mary Anna & her twin sister were born December 16th, 1844 & christened January 9th, 1845 at Wellington, Somerset, the daughters of Jane, a milliner, & Thomas Bragg, a postboy.
In 1871 Arthur could not be found on the census but his wife Mary was visiting her widowed mother Jane Bragg at 39 Bloomsbury, St George Bloomsbury, London with their 10 month old daughter Florence Mary.
In 1874 the family were living at Carlton Square, Tower Hamlets, London when their daughter Margaret was born who sadly only lived for 3 weeks.
In 1881 Arthur & Mary were living at 1 Sidmouth St, Grays Inn Lane, Pancras, London & Arthur’s occupation was given as ‘licensed victualler out of business’. In addition to daughter Florence they had Arthur T (8), Edith M (2) & George (6 months). Sadly Edith & George both died in 1882.
By 1891 the family had moved to 8 Great Coram St, Bloomsbury St George, & Arthur had returned to being a carpenter. They had just 2 children at home – Florence, a warehouse woman, & Arthur, a clerk. Arthur’s cousin John Mays (m.2.4), a publican, & his wife Emily were living with them at the time of the census.
Daughter Florence married Thomas William McDonald, an accountant on August 31st, in 1895 at St John's, Holborn.
In 1901 Arthur & Mary were living at 426 Liverpool Rd, Lower Holloway, Islington & Arthur was now described as living on his own means, & Mary was working as a milliner. Son Arthur was living at home & was a clerk in a hospital.
Arthur died on November 13th, 1908, aged 71, at 28 Cranbrook Park, Wood Green, Middlesex. Probate was granted on December 17th, 1908 to son Arthur Thomas Mays, secretary & his effects were £1,887.8s.5d.
In 1911 daughter Florence & husband Thomas McDonald were living at 98 Palmerston Rd, Wood Green, London where Thomas was an incorporated accountant. They had a 13 year old son, Thomas John Mays McDonald & with them was Florence’s brother Arthur Thomas who was a hospital secretary. Sadly Florence & Thomas' son Thomas died in WW1 on May 7th, 1918, aged 20. He served as a corporal in 14th Battalion London Regiment & is buried in Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension.
The children of Arthur Mays & Mary Ann Bragg were:
m.3.3.1 Florence Mary Mays born July-September 1870 at Bloomsbury, London; died December 27th, 1957 at 98 Palmerston Rd, London (probate to cousins Mary Elizabeth Mays & Margery Hannah Mays, spinsters)
m.3.3.2 Arthur Thomas Mays born January 16th at Marylebone & christened April 13th 1873 at St Mary, Marylebone, London; died December 20th, 1933 (of 98 Palmerston Rd, Wood Green, Middlesex) at Royal Northern Hospital, Upper Holloway, Middlesex
m.3.3.3 Margaret Mays born June 1874 at Carlton Square, London; buried June 23rd, 1874 at City of London Tower Hamlets Cemetery
m.3.3.4 Edith Maud Mays born Jan-March 1879 at St Giles, London; died Oct-December 1882 at Holborn
m.3.3.5 George Frederick Mays born Oct-December 1880 at Holborn, London; died April-June 1882 at Holborn