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I would like to establish the details of my direct ancestor, Charles May. He was a silverworker - especially in thimbles. One of his sons was Charles Croxton May (1817-1892) who carried on the business. They were descended from Huguenots but I haven't been able to trace back past Charles May.

I am in Australia, so going on site to chapels etc isn't an option unfortunately.

Just re-read that: so vague I'm sorry. What can I do to go to trace back earlier than Charles May? How can I find out what other children he had? The birthdate and birth area in the title are a guess - but a pretty good one based on other family information.

There are more, bear with me

Name:Sophia May
Record Type:Baptism
Baptism Date:25 Jul 1819
Father's name:Charles May <<Silversmith
Mother's name:Ann May
Parish or Poor Law Union:Bethnal Green St Matthew
Borough:Tower Hamlets
Register Type:Parish Registers

Name:John May
Record Type:Baptism
Baptism Date:15 Feb 1818
Father's name:Charles May
Mother's name:Ann May
Parish or Poor Law Union:Bethnal Green St Matthew
Borough:Tower Hamlets
Register Type:Parish Registers

Name:Charles Croxton May
Record Type:Baptism
Baptism Date:9 Mar 1817
Father's name:Charles May
Mother's name:Ann May
Parish or Poor Law Union:Bethnal Green St Matthew
Borough:Tower Hamlets
Register Type:Parish Registers

Name:Charlotte May
Record Type:Baptism
Baptism Date:29 Nov 1815
Father's name:Charles May
Mother's name:Ann May
Parish or Poor Law Union:Bethnal Green St Matthew
Borough:Tower Hamlets
Register Type:Parish Registers

Name:Ann May
Record Type:Baptism
Baptism Date:7 Dec 1814
Father's name:Charles May
Mother's name:Ann May
Parish or Poor Law Union:Bethnal Green St Matthew
Borough:Tower Hamlets
Register Type:Parish Registers

Charles Croxton May

in the London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906
Record Image View

Name: Charles Croxton May
Record Type: Baptism
Baptism Date: 9 Mar 1817
Father's name: Charles May
Mother's name: Ann May
Parish or Poor Law Union: Bethnal Green St Matthew
Borough: Tower Hamlets
Register Type: Parish Registers

Birthdate was 10 Jan. 1817

England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
NameCharles May
GenderMale
Birth Date05 Dec 1784
Baptism Date09 Nov 1817
Baptism PlaceSaint Anne and Saint Agnes,London,London,England

Household Members

Charles May
Ann
Daniel May




London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906
Name Charles May
Record Type Baptism
Baptism Date 9 Nov 1817
Father's Name Daniel May (Silversmith)
Mother's Name Ann May
Parish or Poor Law UnionSt Anne and St Agnes Aldersgate
BoroughCity of London
Register TypeParish Registers

Something is written at the bottom of the page regarding Charles and a family bible.

I have to pop out...so I don't have time to type it out at the moment.

This Daniel May was a silversmith and married to a Croxton. Could they be grandparents of Charles Croxton May?

Daniel May

in the London and Surrey, England, Marriage Bonds and Allegations, 1597-1921
Record Image View

Name: Daniel May
Event Date: 27 Feb 1775
Parish: St Sepulchre
County: London
Spouse's Name: Ann Croxton
Event Type: Bond
Reference Number: DL/A/D/24/MS10091E/88

There some possible marriages:


London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921

Name: Charles May
Spouse: Anne Brown
Marriage: 23 Jul 1811 - St John, Hackney

Name: Charles May
Spouse: Ann Morgan
Marriage: 2 Jul 1813 - St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney
Wintesses: Ann Morgan?, Charlotte Morgan and Henrietta ?

Banns for above marriage?

Name: Charles May
Spouse: Ann Mawzan
Marriage: 27 Jun 1813 - St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney
Banns read 13, 20 27 Jun

A tree on Ancestry says that Charles May born 1784 was the son of Daniel May & Ann Croxton. This tree has a photo of the hallmark of Daniel May and Charles Neale registered 1783

Daniel May I, London silversmith

"Daniel May, bachelor of St Sepulchre, Holborn parish, married Ann Croxton at St Giles, Cripplegate in 1775. The christening of Sophia Anne the daughter of Daniel and Ann May of Barking Dog Walk was recorded at St Leonard, Shoreditch in 1776. The christening of Daniel the son of Daniel and Ann May of Hoxton Town was recorded at St Leonard, Shoreditch in 1782 and probably relates to Daniel May II (Grimwade p.593). Henrietta born 1787 the daughter of Daniel and Ann May was christened in 1815 at St Matthew, Bethnal Green. The record shows an address at Fink Street [Ed note: this is Turk Street, not Fink] and her father as a silversmith. Charles born 1787 the son of Daniel and Ann May was christened in 1817 at St Anne and St Agnes, Aldersgate, The record shows the address as Bethnal Green and his father as a silversmith. No death or burial record has been traced."




from Grimwade's "London Goldsmiths 1697-1837: Their Marks and Lives from the Original Registers at Goldsmiths' Hall and Other Sources" p. 593 as transcribed here: http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=74&t=28006
NWIslander

Edit: I believe there's a mistake here. It says that Charles, son of Daniel & Ann born 1787 was christened 1817 but I belive that christening was of Charles Croxton May born 1817, son of the 1787 Charles.

Edit again: There is an adult baptism of Charles May in 1817, The note added says:
"I declare that previous to baptizing Charles May I saw in his family bible- Charles May born 5 December 1784 registered at ?? Lane fairly written and with no marks of interlineation. I believe the above record to be correct. Nov, 9, 1817 ?, curate,"

from a tree on ancestry

Daniel May

2 Aug
St Anne Blackfriars, London, England
Register spelled Anne not Ann
2 Sources
Baptism
1752
2 Aug
St Anne Parish, Blackfriars, London, England
"Daniel son of Daniel and Mary May"
2 Sources

Marriage Bond
1775
27 Feb
Age: 22
London, Middlesex, England
Daniel May of parish of St Sepulchre in London, silversmith, paid 200 # to Right Reverend Richard, Lord Bishop of London, for marriage bond between Daniel May, bachelor, of St Sepulchre, London; & Ann Croxton, spinster, of St Giles, Cripplegate, London
1 Source

Marriage to Ann Croxton *
1775
28 Feb
Age: 22
Saint Giles Cripplegate,London,London,England
"Appeared personally Daniel May & made oath that he is of the parish of St Sepulchre London aged upwards of 22 years & a bachelor & intendeth to marry Ann Croxton of the parish of St Giles Cripplegate London & aged upwards of 22 yrs & a spinster"

1 Source
Marriage to Ann Croxton *
1775
28 Feb
Age: 22
St Giles without Cripplegate, England
"Daniel May a batchelor of St Sepulchre and Ann Croxton of this parish spinster were married in this church by license..." signed by both and witnessed by Sarah Shackleton* and Arthur Birch [* could she be a relation of Sarah Shackleton m H Haughton?]
Photos (1)
2 Sources

Residence
1775
Age: 23
St Sepulchre Parish, London, England

Occupation
1775
Age: 23
London, Middlesex, England
silversmith (per baptismal records of children Henrietta and Charles, as well as published information (Grimwade's Biographies))
Photos (1)
Residence
1776
Age: 24
Barking Dog Walk (Hoxton), Shoreditch, Middlesex, England
per baptismal record of daughter Sophia Ann

Residence
1782
Age: 30
Hoxton Town, Shoreditch, Middlesex, England
per baptismal record of son Daniel
Residence
1789
Age: 37
Hare Street, Shoreditch, Middlesex, England
per baptismal record of daughter Charlotte

Residence
1815
Age: 63
Turk Street, Bethnal Green, Middlesex, England
per (adult) baptismal record of daughter Henrietta, at St Matthew's, Bethnal Green: "Daniel and Ann May of Turk Street, father's occup silversmith" [Daniel & 2+ subseq generations of Mays were recognized silversmiths & recorded as such in Grimwade's Biog]

Residence
1817
Age: 65
Bethnal Green, Middlesex, England
per (adult) baptismal record of son Charles at St Anne and Agnes of Aldersgate: "son of Daniel and Ann May of Bethnal Green; father's occup silversmith"
[Ann had died by now so unclear if Daniel still living--not noted as deceased]

Ann
Birth
1753
Abt.
England
2 Sources
Civil
1775
27 Feb
Age: 22
Surrey, England
Age: 21

1 Source
Marriage to Daniel May *
1775
28 Feb
Age: 22
St Giles without Cripplegate, England
"Daniel May a batchelor of St Sepulchre and Ann Croxton of this parish spinster were married in this church by license..." signed by both and witnessed by Sarah Shackleton* and Arthur Birch [* could she be a relation of Sarah Shackleton m H Haughton?]
Photos (1)
1 Source
Marriage to Daniel May *
1775
28 Feb
Age: 22
Saint Giles Cripplegate,London,London,England
"Appeared personally Daniel May & made oath that he is of the parish of St Sepulchre London aged upwards of 22 years & a bachelor & intendeth to marry Ann Croxton of the parish of St Giles Cripplegate London & aged upwards of 22 yrs & a spinster"
1 Source
Residence
1775
Feb
Age: 22
St Giles Cripplegate, London, England
Residence
1789
Sep
Age: 36
Hare Street, Shoreditch, Middlesex, England
per birthplace of daughter Charlotte

children


Sophia Ann May *
1776 – 1861

Daniel May
1779 – 1779

Daniel May
1782 – 1846

Charles May
1784 –

Henrietta May
1787 – 1858

Charlotte May
1789 –

son Charles

1784
5 Dec
London, England
Registered at "St Ann Friars Lane", as per later baptismal record
Marriage to Ann May nee Unknown
1817
before
Age: 33
England
Possibly Ann Brown (1811, Hackney St John)
2 Sources

Baptism
1817
9 Nov
Age: 32
St Anne and St Agnes Aldersgate, England
"I declare that previous to baptizing Charles May-I saw in his family Bible "Charles May b. Dec 5 1784. Registered St Ann Friar's, written, & w no marks of interlineation-& I believe the above record to be correct". Residence B Green, occup silversmith
Occupation
1817
Age: 33
Tyssen Street, Bethnal Green, Middlesex, England
Silversmith, per baptismal record of son Charles
Freedom of the City papers
1817
-1818
Age: 33
London, Middlesex, England
father Daniel May; not sure this is correct as I believe it says he is a "taylor" or M Taylor" (master taylor?)
Residence
1817
Age: 33
Tyssen Street, Bethnal Green, Middlesex, England
per baptismal record of son Charles Croxton May; father's occup silversmith

grandparent

Daniel May

about
England
Several Daniel Mays in London at appropriate time: a clothworker, a baker (who was also a victualler and willed his effects to sons Daniel and John), and a "taylor".
Marriage to Mary May nee Unknown *
1739
Age: 18
London, England
Possible: Danl May, carpenter of St Geo, Southwark m Mary Pratton, 17 Jan 1739 [Mayfair clandestine marriage register]
Residence
1741
Age: 20
Blackfriars, Middlesex, England
per baptismal record of daughter Mary
Residence
1745
Age: 24
Blackfriars, Middlesex, England
per baptismal record of Daniel May
Residence
1746
Age: 25
Blackfriars, Middlesex, England
per baptismal record of daughter Susanna
1 Source
Residence
1749
Age: 28
St Ann's, Blackfriars, Farringdon Within, England
Residence
1749
Age: 28
Blackfriars, Middlesex, England
per baptismal record of son Richard
1 Source
Residence
1752
Age: 31
St Ann's, Blackfriars, Farringdon Within, England
Residence
1752
Age: 31
Blackfriars, Middlesex, England
per baptismal record of son Daniel
1 Source
Residence
1754
Age: 33
St Ann's, Blackfriars, Farringdon Within, England
Residence
1754
Age: 33
Blackfriars, Middlesex, England
per baptismal record of daughter Hester
Residence
1756
Age: 35
Blackfriars, Middlesex, England
per baptismal record of daughter Anne
Juror
1768
14 Jan
Age: 47
Old Bailey Criminal Court, London, Middlesex, England
Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 7.0, 14 August 2014), January 1768 (f17680114-1). {NOTE: I do not have confirmation that this record pertains to this Daniel May; putative only]
Stories (1)
1 Source
Residence
1768
Age: 47
Holy Trinity of Minories parish, London, England
"Poll of the livery of London for 4 citizens to represent said City in Parliament"; occup baker; Minories (Holy Trinity of Minories was a parish which eventually merged with St Botolph's, Bishopsgate) [? another Daniel May lived St Botolph's, m Eliz?]

This baptism has a note after it:


Name:Charles May; b 5th Dec 1784
Record Type:Baptism
Baptism Date:9 Nov 1817
Father's name:Daniel May - silversmith
Mother's name:Ann May
Parish or Poor Law Union:
St Anne and St Agnes Aldersgate
Borough:City of London

Note: "I declare that previous to baptizing Charles May I saw in his family bible - Charles May born December 5th 1874. Registered at St Ann (the next word has blot on it) Lane - fairly written and with no marks of interlineation & I believe the above record to be correct. Nov 9 1817 J Hubbins Rector"

London, England, Freedom of the City Admission Papers, 1681-1925

Name:Charles May
Birth Date:1784
Admission Date:1817-1818
Father's name:Daniel May

Says he is a Mt (Merchant?) Taylor and that he was granted the Freedom "by patrimony" as his father had also been granted the Freedom.

London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906
NameHenrietta May
Record TypeBaptism
Baptism Date17 May 1815
Father's NameDaniel May (Silversmith) Fink Street
Mother's NameAnn May
Parish or Poor Law UnionBethnal Green St Matthew
BoroughTower Hamlets
Register TypeParish Registers


England, Pallot's Marriage Index, 1780 - 1837
Name Henrietta May
Spouse Wm Vanderstein
Marriage Date1812
ParishStepney St Dunstan

1841 England Census
NameHenrietta Vandersteen
Age50
Estimated Birth Yearabt 1791
GenderFemale
Where bornMiddlesex, England
Civil parishBethnal Green
HundredOssulstone (Tower Division)
County/IslandMiddlesex
CountryEngland
Registration districtBethnal Green
Sub-registration districtChurch

Family Members

William Vandersteen 55
Henrietta Vandersteen 50
William Vandersteen 30
Charles Vandersteen 25
George Vandersteen 15



1851 England Census

Name
Henrietta Vandersteen
Age 64
Estimated Birth Year abt 1787
Relation Head
Gender Female
Where born Bethnal Green
Civil parish Bethnal Green
Ecclesiastical parish St Andrew
County/Island Middlesex
Country England
Registration district Bethnal Green
Sub-registration district Church



Household Members

Henrietta Vandersteen 64 (Widow) Needlewoman
William Vandersteen 40

(Res: 48 Seabright Street)

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
NameHenriatta Vandersteen
Probate Date18 Mar 1858
RegistryPrincipal Registry
Death Date10 Feb 1858
Death PlaceMiddlesex, England


Formerly of Seabright Street, Bethnal Green and late of Abernant Place. Died at Abernant Place 10th Feb 1858.

To William John Vandersteen of Abernant Place aforesaid House Agent one of the children of the said deceased.

Effects: Under £200.


Wlliam John Vandersteen
in the London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812
Name:Wlliam John Vandersteen
Baptism Date:28 Apr 1811
Parish:St Matthew, Bethnal Green
County:Middlesex
Borough:Tower Hamlets
Parent(s):
William Vandersteen,
Henretta Vandersteen

The Henrietta, witness, on the 1813 marriage could very well be Vandersteen.

Wow! Thank you SO SO Much! You guys are amazing!
The information you have here all fits and rings true. My brick wall is gone for a bit.
I'll take the time to sift through all of this now and enter it in.

From what I can see, you have got some information from Ancestry.com? Should I be joining it as well for the cross over of trees there? Are there other sources where I should be researching? The silvermarks website is interesting. Charles May's mark was CM and Charles Croxton used that though seemed to also use CC. http://www.thimbleselect.com/#!charles-may/c1u4h


I am especially seeking, possibly one sibling of Charles Croxton May, described in family writings as "an old French aunt" that was an inmate of a Huguenot hospital in that area. It seems like Charlotte or Sophia could be it? Again family writings lead me to wonder if the original surname was Mayern or Macon (with the c having that funny french thing on it.)

I'm so excited to have this new information! I'm greatly indebted to you all!

Warmest regards from Australia!

Jonathan May

:-D

Maçon?

Name:Sophia May

Spouse: Edward Stillwell

Record Type:Marriage

Event Date:20 Aug 1844

Parish:St Stephen Coleman Street

Borough:City of London

Father Name:Charles May <<Silversmith

Spouse Father:James Stillwell

Register Type:Parish Register

------------------------------------------------------------------
1861 census showing Ann with husband (married 1840) her niece (Charlotte's daughter) and her mother


Ann Pask[Ann May]

Age:46

Estimated birth year:1815

Relation:Wife

Spouse's Name:Oliver Pask

Mother's name:Ann May

Gender:Female

Where born:Bethnal Green

Civil Parish:St Luke

County/Island:Middlesex

Registration district:St Luke

Sub-registration district:City Road

ED, institution, or vessel:9
Household schedule number:61
Piece:203
Folio:36
Page Number:11

Oliver Pask 45
Ann Pask 46
Ann May 68
Ann Stillwell 8

1851 census

Charles May Pask
[Charles May]
[Charles May May]

Age:67

Estimated birth year:abt 1784

Relation:Father-in-law

Spouse's Name:Amsehia Pask

Gender:Male

Where born:London, Middlesex, England

Civil Parish:St Luke Old Street

Ecclesiastical parish:St Luke

County/Island:Middlesex

Registration district:St Luke
Sub-registration district:City Road

ED, institution, or vessel:12
Household schedule number:228
Piece:1521
Folio:283
Page Number:52


Oliver Pask 35
Anne Pask 36
Charles May Pask 67 <<Land proprietor
Amsehia Pask 59 <<<Ann
Emmal Pask 23

I'm pretty sure that this is the family in 1841. It's really hard to read



Name:Charles Bay <<Silversmith?

Age:55

Estimated birth year:abt 1786

Gender:Male

Where born:Middlesex, England

Civil Parish:St Leonard Shoreditch

Hundred:Ossulstone (Tower Division)

County/Island:Middlesex
Registration district:Shoreditch

Sub-registration district:St Leonard

Piece:709
Book:6
Folio:5
Page Number:2

Charles Bay 55
Henry John 45 <<<Probable wife as age entered is in the 'female' column
Charlotte Bay 25
Mack Bay 20 <<Thimble?
Thomas Bay 10

Well I have stayed up all night getting my head around all this and entering it into my tree. I could never have done it without you all. Thank you so much.