Person:Louisa May (10)

Louisa May was born on 7th February 1887 in Plymouth, the daughter of a compositor printer named William May and his wife Louisa Kate Harry. Louisa grew up in Plymouth, where the family lived at Pear Tree Cottage, 21 John Street. Louisa was not baptised as a baby, but when she was fifteen years old.

In 1909, aged 22, Louisa married William Rimmer, who was a corporal in the Royal Marines Light Infantry. In the early part of their marriage William was serving away from home - the 1911 census finds Louisa still living with her parents at 21 John Street, whilst William was on board HMS Cornwallis in Malta. William left the Marines in 1912, after which Louisa and William had two sons. He rejoined the Marines on the outbreak of the First World War.

Some time between the World Wars the family moved to Southport in Lancashire, which was where William was originally from. Louisa's nephew recalled that William worked at this time as a market gardener, particularly growing vegetables.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Louisa was living with her son and daughter-in-law at 15 Cavendish Street in Southport. Despite being 53, William had rejoined the Marines just before war was declared, serving until 1944.

After the war the family moved to 42 Hampton Road in Southport. Louisa died at Fleetwood Road Hospital in Southport on 23rd August 1963, aged 76. William outlived her by nearly five years.

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

   b. Louisa MAY, March Quarter 1887, Plymouth Registration District, Vol. 5b, page 282, 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. ↑ Baptisms register, in Church of England. Parish Registers of St Simon's Church, Plymouth. (Plymouth: Plymouth and West Devon Record Office).

   BAPTISMS solemnized in the Parish of S. Simon's in the County of Devon in the Year One Thousand nine Hundred & two
   No. 42
   When Baptized: Sept. 30 - Adult
   Child's Christian Name: Louisa
   Parents' Names - Christian: William & Louisa Kate
   Parents' Names - Surname: May
   Abode: 21 John St.
   Quality, Trade, or Profession: Compositor
   By whom the Ceremony was performed: F. Wiltshire

   Baptised at same time as sister Winifred Kate.

5. ↑ 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 13001; Schedule 450, 2 Apr 1911.

   Address: 1 Pear Tree Cottages, 21 John Street, Plymouth, Devon
   4 rooms occupied
   William May, head, male, 50 [1860/1], married, Invalid, b. Devonport, Devon
   Louisa May, wife, female, 53 [1857/8], married 27 years, 8 children born to marriage, 7 children still living, b. Dartmouth, Devon
   Louisa Rimmer, daughter, female, 24 [1886/7], married 1 year, 0 children, b. Plymouth, Devon
   Alice May, daughter, female, 23 [1887/8], single, b. Plymouth, Devon
   Harry May, son, male, 20 [1890/1], single, Domestic R.N., worker, b. Plymouth, Devon
   Bertram May, son, male, 16 [1894/5], single, Errand Boy (Printer's), worker, b. Plymouth, Devon

6. ↑ ^6.0 6.1 General Register Office. 1939 Register
   Southport County Borough, 29 Sep 1939.

   Address: 15 Cavendish Street, Southport, Lancashire
   Rimmer, Louisa / female / b. 7 Feb 1887 / married / Unpaid Domestic Duties
   Rimmer, Albert / male / b. 11 Oct 1914 / married / Journeyman Plumber
   Rimmer, Clara / female / b. 6 Feb 1909 / married / Unpaid Domestic Duties

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

   d. Louisa RIMMER, September Quarter 1963, Southport Registration District, Vol. 10f, page 493, aged 76 [1886/7]

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

   1963
   RIMMER Louisa of 42 Hampton Road Southport Lancashire (wife of William Rimmer) died 23 August 1963 at Fleetwood Hospital Southport Administration Lancaster 26 September to Richard Rimmer aircraft inspector. Effects £379 9s. 3d.