Frederick Albert Wolff May, Steamship Owner and Business Manager, and Ida May his wife

Angel monument to Frederick Wolff May and Ida May, Bray Parish Cemetery, Holyport Berkshire.

"In affectionate remembrance of my dear husband Frederick Wolff May died 16 August 1924 aged 51 - Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

Also in memory of Ida his wife died ? December ?"

Frederick Albert Wolff May and his twin sister Clara Fanny May were born on 10th October 1872 in Hamburg Germany to Frederick Albert May, a colonial merchant, and his wife Clara Matilda Wolff.

Frederick first appears aged 8 on the 1881 Census living with his sister and parents at The Birches, Lawrie Park Gardens, Lewisham London.  I cannot find the family on the 1891 Census, and I can only imagine that they were out of the country due to Fredrick's work as a colonial merchant.

Clara Mathilda May passes away in Kensington on 25th March 1896 aged only 47 years.  She is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London.  In 1901 the widowed Frederick Snr is now living at 10 The Boltons, Kensington London along with Frederick Jr, now a steamship manager in his uncle Gustav Wilhelm Wolff's shipbuilding company Harland and Wolff (manufacturers of the Titanic), and Clara.  In 1903 Frederick Snr marries Louise Spencer Smith, however five years later in 1908 Fredrick Snr dies of typhoid fever and heart disease in Dorset.

Ida May was born Ida Elizabeth Agnes Patrickson in 1878 in Newcastle, Northumberland to Anthony Patrickson, a saddler, and his wife Elizabeth.  Ida first appears on the 1881 Census as Lizzie, aged 3, living with her parents and elder sister Margaret, at 100 Gloucester Road, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Northumberland. In 1891 the family had moved to 73 Maple Street, Elswick, Northumberland. In 1897 Ida gave birth to a son, Cecil Galandez Patrickson, no father was given when Cecil was christened on 19th December 1902 in Westminster, London. However, Cecil was to later adopt the surname May.

 

In 1911 Frederick and Ida are living together as man and wife at Woodmancote, Cliveden, near Maidenhead. Living with them at the time is Ida's younger sister Florence Patrickson.  Cecil, aged 15, is possibly working as a domestic footman in Hampshire, for the Sandford family. In 1913 Frederick married Ida in St George Hanover Square, London. Frederick Wolff May was to pass away on 16th August 1924 at the relatively young age of 51 in Maidenhead, Berkshire.

I have been unable to locate a death for Ida, unfortunately the details on the monument we illegible.  

Clara, Frederick's twin sister never married and died aged 76 in September 1949, leaving large sums of money to those who had been in service at her home.  To view some of Clara's family pictures, please click here.