Person:Frank May (8)

Frank May was born on 1st May 1889 at Plymouth in Devon, son of a domestic servant named Louisa Kate May, formerly Harry, and her husband William May, a compositor printer. He appears in the 1891 and 1901 censuses living with his parents and siblings at Pear Tree Cottages, which stood behind 21 John Street in Plymouth. His paternal grandparents lived next door at 19 John Street.

Frank joined the Royal Navy on his seventeenth birthday, 1 May 1906, although he claimed it was his eighteenth birthday. At the time he joined up he was working as an errand boy and he was described as being 5' 4¼" tall with dark hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion. He served in the Navy for thirteen years, serving continuously through the First World War. He left the Navy on 9th April 1919.

Frank returned to Plymouth. He settled down with an Elsie Norsworthy, formerly Brown, who was separated from her husband. Frank and Elsie had a daughter and a son together in the 1920s. At the outbreak of the Second World War they were living at 1 Pear Tree Cottages, where Frank had lived as a child. At this time Frank was working as a general labourer, and also serving as an Air Raid Precautions warden - a role which would be severely tested over the course of the war, with Plymouth being one of the most heavily bombed towns, especially in early 1941.

Frank and Elsie did eventually marry, in 1945. She died the following year, aged 49. Frank survived Elsie by about a year. He died on 4th June 1947, aged 58.

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

   b. Frank MAY, June Quarter 1889, Plymouth Registration District, Volume 5b, page 287, mother's maiden name Harry

2. ↑ England. 1891 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 RG12; Piece 1726; Folio 14; Page 21, 5 Apr 1891.

   Address: 11 John Street, Plymouth, Devon
   3 rooms occupied
   William May, head, married, male, 30 [1860/1], Printers Compositor, employed, b. Devonport, Devon
   Louisa May, wife, married, female, 33 [1857/8], b. Dartmouth, Devon
   Winnifred May, daughter, single, 6 [1884/5], Scholar, b. Plymouth, Devon
   Louisa May, daughter, single, female, 4 [1886/7], Scholar, b. Plymouth, Devon
   Alice May, daughter, single, female, 3 [1887/8], Scholar, b. Plymouth, Devon
   Frank May, son, single, male, 2 [1888/9], b. Plymouth, Devon
   Harry May, son, single, male, 1 [1889/90], b. Plymouth, Devon

3. ↑ 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

4. ↑ United Kingdom. UK, Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1853-1928
   Class ADM 188; Piece 411; No. 232223, 1 May 1906.

   Summary:
   Name: Frank May
   Born: 1 May 1888, Plymouth, Devon
   Occupation: Errand boy
   Enlisted 1 May 1906 for 12 years
   Height: 5' 4¼"
   Hair: Dark
   Eyes: Grey
   Complexion: Fair
   Served until 9 Apr 1919 on various ships

5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 General Register Office. 1939 Register.

   Address: 1 Pear Tree Cottages, John Street, Plymouth, Devon
   MAY Frank, male, b. 1 May 1889, married, general labourer A.R.P.
   MAY Elsie, female, b. 30 Apr 1894, married, unpaid domestic duties
   MAY [crossed out and replaced: STOREY] Ruth, female, b. 31 Dec 1922, single, tailoress
   MAY, Ronald, male, b. 1 Nov 1925, single, at school

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

   d. Frank MAY, June Quarter 1947, Plymouth Registration District, Volume 7a, page 621, aged 59 [1887/8]

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

   1947
   MAY Frank of 19 John-street Plymouth died 4 June 1947 Administration London 26 September to Ronald May labourer. Effects £2346 15s. 9d.