Charles Lambton Mays was the second child of William Mays & Elizabeth Mays born March 5th, 1863 at Markbeech, Chiddingstone, Kent & christened April 12th, 1863 at Cowden, Kent.
In 1871 Charles, his 3 brothers & his parents were living at 12 Portland Place, Cuckfield, Sussex.
In 1881 Charles was working as an assistant hairdresser living at Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. He was boarding with Mary & William Thackara, ‘an artist in hair’ (hairdresser).
Charles, a hairdresser, married Lydia Larner on June 14th, 1885 at St Mary’s, Henley-on-Thames. Witnesses at the wedding were Arthur Mays & Rose Hatcher. Lydia was born April-June 1862 at Henley, the daughter of Ann & Henry Larner, a bricklayer’s labourer.
In 1891 Charles & Lydia were living at Friday St, Henley & Charles was a hairdresser & naturalist. They had 3 children by this time – Henry William (4), George Frederick (2) & Beatrice Elizabeth (1).
Son Henry William sadly died in December 1893 at Henley, aged just 7 years.
Kelly’s 1895 directory of Oxfordshire lists Charles as a hairdresser of Friday St. The Henley Advertiser of March 18th, 1899 shows an ejectment warrant against Charles. He was described as a weekly tenant of Friday St who had been served with notice to quit in February but he had not given up his house.
In 1901 Charles & Lydia were living with Charles’ widowed mother Elizabeth who was a laundress at New England Rd, Haywards Heath, Sussex. Charles was still a hair dresser & their 2 children, George & Beatrice were with them. There was also an 8 year old boarder, Joseph W Boden from London.
In 1911 Charles & Lydia had moved to The Oaks Corner Cottage, South Leigh Rd, Emsworth, Hampshire. Charles was now a cowman & poultryman domestic & Lydia was working as a laundress. Son George was a jobbing gardener & daughter Beatrice was a general domestic servant living at home. It was noted on the census that Charles & Lydia had had 6 children, only 2 of whom were still alive.
Son George served with the Hampshire Regiment from 1913 until 1919 when he was discharged due to sickness.
Daughter Beatrice married William Penfold in 1917 at Westbourne, Sussex.
Lydia aged 61, died in 1923 & was buried January 23rd, at Westbourne, Sussex.
The 1939 register shows Charles living with daughter Beatrice & husband William Penfold, a general labourer, & family at Southview, Chichester Rd, Bognor Regis, Sussex. Charles was a retired gardener.
Charles died in 1946 at Chichester, Sussex, aged 82.
The children of Charles Lambton Mays & Lydia Larner were:
m.4.1.2.1 Henry William Mays born 1886 at Duke St, Henley, & christened June 27th, 1886 at St Marys, Henley, Oxfordshire; died at 1 Friday St & buried December 12th, 1893 at Holy Trinity, Henley
m.4.1.2.2 Florence Lydia Mays born April-June 1887 at Duke St, Henley, & christened June 25th, 1887 at St Mary’s, Henley, Oxfordshire; died at Duke St & buried June 28th, 1887 at St Mary’s, Henley
m.4.1.2.3 George Frederick Mays born July-September 1888 at Duke St, & christened October 14th, 1888 at St Mary’s, Henley, Oxfordshire
m.4.1.2.4 Beatrice Elizabeth Mays born February 2nd, 1890 at Duke St, Henley & christened April 13th 1890 at St Marys, Henley, Oxfordshire; buried August 17th, 1971 at Bognor Regis, Sussex
m.4.1.2.5 Charles Ernest Mays born Oct-December 1892 at Henley, Oxfordshire; died Jan-March 1893 at Henley