Person:William May (80)

William Richard May was born on 26th October 1891 at Plymouth in Devon, son of Louisa Kate May, formerly Harry, and her husband William May, a compositor printer. He appears to have been named after his maternal grandfather, William Richard Harry, who had died in 1884. Young William appears in the 1901 census living with his parents and siblings at Pear Tree Cottage, 21 John Street, Plymouth.

By 1911 William had joined the army, and was serving as a private in the 1st Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment, which was stationed at barracks in Wiltshire on the night of the 1911 census.

In 1915, aged 24, William married Annie May Goslin (who thus became Annie May May). They had probably known each other since childhood; she had lived at 31 John Street at the time of the 1901 census, just a few doors down from William's family. They had one son born in 1917.

Annie died in 1918, aged just 24. Their son died later that year, aged seventeen months.

On 3rd February 1921, aged 29, William married again. His second wife was Annie Elizabeth Smallridge, from South Brent on the edge of Dartmoor. William's brother Harry had already married two of Annie's sisters - first Blanche who had died in 1919, then Lily. There is one child born in 1924 with surname May and mother's maiden name Smallridge, but the birth certificate needs to be obtained to see whether she was William and Annie's daughter or Harry and Lily's. At the time of William's second marriage he was described as a corporal in the 1st Devon Regiment.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, William and Annie were living together at 9 Prospect Place in South Brent, with William working as a watchman for Lloyds Bank.

William died on 17th December 1960, aged 69. At the time of his death they were living at 6 Prospect Place, Wellington Square, South Brent. Annie outlived him by over sixteen years and died in 1977, aged 89.

1. ↑ Births index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   b. William Richard MAY, December Quarter 1891, Plymouth Registration District, Volume 5b, page 233, mother's maiden name Harry

2. ↑ England. England. 1901 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 RG13; Piece 2103; Folio 11; Page 13, 31 Mar 1901.

   Address: Pear Tree Cott[age], 21 John Street, Plymouth, Devon
   4 rooms occupied
   William May, head, married, male, 40 [1860/1], Letterpress Printer, worker, b. Devonport, Devon
   Louisa May, wife, married, female, 43 [1857/8], Dartmouth, Devon
   Winifred May, daughter, female, 15 [1885/6], General Servant (Domestic), worker, b. Plymouth, Devon
   Louisa May, daughter, female, 14 [1886/7], General Servant Domestic, worker, b. Plymouth, Devon
   Frank May, son, male, 11 [1889/90], b. Plymouth, Devon
   Alice May, daughter, female, 13 [1887/8], b. Plymouth, Devon
   Harry May, son, male, 10 [1890/1], b. Plymouth, Devon
   William May, son, male, 9 [1891/2], b. Plymouth, Devon
   Bertram May, son, male, 6 [1894/5], b. Plymouth, Devon

3. ↑ England. 1911 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 RG14; Piece 12063, 2 Apr 1911.

   Address: Lucknow Barracks, North Tidworth, Wiltshire
   [many soldiers, including:]
   William Richard May, private, 20 [1890/1], Single, 1st B[attalio]n Devonshire Reg[imen]t, b. Plymouth, Devon

4. ↑ General Register Office. 1939 Register
   Totnes Rural District, 29 Sep 1939.

   Address: 9 Prospect Place, South Brent, Devon
   May, William R. / male / b. 26 Oct 1890 / married / Watchman Lloyds Bank
   May, Annie Elizabeth / female / b. 17 Mar 1888 / married / Unpaid domestic duties

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

   d. William R. MAY, December Quarter 1960, Totnes Registration District, Volume 7a, page 908, aged 69 [1890/1]

6. ↑ England. National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations),1858 onwards. (Ancestry.com).

   1961
   MAY William Richard of 6 Prospect Place Wellington Square South Brent Devon died 17 December 1960 Administration Bodmin 31 May to Annie May widow. Effects £177 5s.