Hello! This post is about my great great grandmother, Alice May. She was born 176 years ago today, on 8th June 1847, in Hinckley, Leicestershire.
Alice’s parents, Thomas May and Sophia Lapworth, played pivotal roles in shaping her early years. Growing up alongside her siblings, William (born in 1844), Mary (born in 1850), Louisa (born in 1854), Richard (born and sadly died in 1854), and Julia (born in 1857), Alice experienced the bonds of family and the adventures of childhood in Stockwell Head, where her father Thomas worked as a Master Hosier and publican at The Star Inn and the Grapes.
Sometime around 1857, the May family made the decision to pack up and relocate to Dale Street, Sneinton, Nottingham. It’s possible that Thomas had lost his businesses in Hinckley; in 1861 he was working as a warehouseman in the Lace Market district in Nottingham, quite a drop in status. This move opened up a world of new possibilities for young Alice and her siblings. In the 1871 census, we find Alice, Louisa, and Julia residing in the bustling High Pavement area of Nottingham, living without their parents.
Unfortunately, life took a somber turn for the May family when Alice’s mother, Sophia, passed away in January 1862 and was buried at St. Stephen’s in Sneinton. The loss of a parent is undoubtedly a profound experience, one that must have left a lasting impact on Alice and her siblings. Nevertheless, life moved forward, and Alice eventually found love and companionship in the form of William Oldknow Oldham, a lacemaker. On November 8, 1873, Alice and William tied the knot at St Mary’s in the Lace Market, Nottingham, embarking on a journey together that would shape their lives forever.
Over the course of their marriage, Alice and William welcomed three children into their loving home. William, born in 1874, was their first bundle of joy, followed by Thomas in 1875, Herbert in 1878 and Edith in 1881. As life would have it, happiness and sorrow often go hand in hand. In August 1886, tragedy struck the family when William Oldham passed away, leaving Alice to navigate the challenges of single motherhood when she was already expecting twins.
However, Alice’s resilience shone through during even the darkest of times. Just a few months after her husband’s untimely passing, she welcomed twin daughters, May and Alice, into the world in December 1886. Sadly, the joy of their arrival was short-lived, as May tragically passed away in January 1887. It’s difficult to fathom the heartache that Alice endured, losing both her husband and one of her newborn daughters within months of each other.
Life marched on for Alice, and she continued running the family’s grocer’s shop on Bloomsgrove Street in Radford. Through hard work and determination, she provided for her children, demonstrating the strength of a mother’s love. However, life continued to test her resilience when tragedy struck again. Her daughter Edith passed away aged just 15 in September 1896, followed by her daughter Alice in 1927 and her son Thomas in November 1934. The weight of these losses must have been unimaginable for Alice, yet she endured.
She was able to take pleasure in the arrival of grandchildren; William’s daughter Annie in 1903, Thomas’ son Frank in 1900, Herbert’s children William and May in 1899 and 1901 and Alice’s son Fred (my Grandfather) in 1915.
Alice May’s incredible journey eventually came to an end on 8th March, 1938 at the impressive age of 90. She is buried in the General Cemetery, Nottingham with her husband William and daughter Edith.
Caroline's Chronicles 