Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. The singular term is a taphophile.
Angel monument to Frederick Wolff May and Ida May, Bray Parish Cemetery, Holyport Berkshire.
"In affectionate rememberance 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 Wolff May and his twin sister Clara Fanny May were born on 10th October 1872 in Hanburg 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 is now living at 10 The Boltons, Kensington London along with Frederick Jr, now a steamship manager with his uncle Gustav Wilhelm Wolff's shipbuilding company Harland and Wolff (manufactorers 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 Dorest.
I am unable to find a marriage for Frederick or Ida, or indeed any information on Ida's birth other than 1879 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
In 1911 Frederick and Ida have moved to Woodmancote, Cliveden near Maidenhead. The census retur states that Frederick and Ida have had one child, but they're not living with them at the time the census was taken and I have been unable to trace a birth.
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.
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Hello, may name is Martin Humphreys, I think Frederick and Ida Mays child was my Grandfather. His name was Cecil Gelindes/z May. He was born in 1897 ( before Frederick and Ida were married ) Ida May was an actress - ( a role in 'The medal and the Maid' in the early 1900s ). Cecil was brought up by an Uncle by the name of Patrickson. Do you have any more detail as to Idas birth in Newcastle 1879, I have also been trying to find this. My internet address is humphrm@btconnect.com, or phone 07810830754
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