Person:Robert May (25)

Robert May's origins have yet to be established. His first confirmed sighting is on 14th April 1794 when he was married at Cruwys Morchard in Devon to Mary Cockram, who was about nineteen years old and from the neighbouring parish of Templeton. They had three children baptised at Cruwys Morchard between 1794 and 1798 before moving to Mary's native Templeton, where they had another seven children between 1801 and 1815. Robert and Mary's eldest son John presumably died young, as they had another son named John in 1806. On the two youngest children's baptisms in 1814 and 1815 Robert is described as a farmer.

The 1841 census finds Robert and Mary and their daughter Sarah living at Partridge Farm in Templeton. Robert was described as an agricultural labourer at this point, a step down from 'farmer'. However, the following year when his daughter Sarah married he was described on her marriage certificate as 'yeoman', which is more consistent with a farmer than an agricultural labourer.

Robert died in 1842, just a few days after his daughter Sarah's marriage. Immediately before his death he was living in Tiverton, but was buried back at Templeton on 8th June 1842. He was said to be 69 when he died. He had lived to see several grandchildren. Mary survived him by nearly fifteen years.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 England. 1841 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class: HO107; Piece 261; Book 9; Folios 5-6; Pages 5-6, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Partridge Farm, Templeton, Devon
   Robert May, male, 65 [1771-6], Ag. lab, b. in county
   Mary May, female, 65 [1771-6], b. in county
   Sarah May, female, 25 [1811-6], b. in county

2.   Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   d. Robert MAY, June Quarter 1842, Tiverton &c. Registration District, Vol. 10, page 183, aged 69 [1772/3]

3. ↑ Burials register, in Church of England. Templeton Parish Registers. (Exeter: Devon Heritage Centre).

   BURIALS in the Parish of Templeton in the County of Devon, in the Year 1842
   No.	Name	Abode	When buried	Age	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   145	Robert May	Quere Hill Tiverton	June 8th	69 [1772/3]	Edward Pole