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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Shropshire => Topic started by: allans on Friday 11 January 13 11:12 GMT (UK)
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Local newspaper this week carried a copy of an article originally printed in the Timaru Herald, New Zealand, 9 Apr 1883, a copy of a home newspaper article dated Feb 17.
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=THD18830409.2.16&srpos=1&e=-------10-THD-1----0double+murder+shropshire-- (http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=THD18830409.2.16&srpos=1&e=-------10-THD-1----0double+murder+shropshire--)
They editor wondered if any readers could add anything to the article - what happened, was there a trial? Now as that is just round the corner from where I live I thought I'd have a dig.
From the article the dead girl is Mary Elizabeth Mayers aged 10. - But I cant find any entry in BMD for her birth or death. I tried many variations of the name Myers, Myers, Mears, Miers, Mires etc.
The article says 'stepmother' so I figured the parents, Thomas and Eliza Mayers, married after the girls birth - so between 1873 and 1883 - again nothing found.
I also tried using Ancestry's criminal records - couldn't spot anything.
A puzzle - and I know you people out there love a puzzle.
What can anyone find?
Allan
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I read the surname as Mayos.
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Good spot - I shouldn't have taken the reprinted transcript as gospel - I'll give it a try
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There is an update:
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=NZH18830707.2.63
I took out my 1881 census findings as like you I thought it was wrong but this article confirms one of the other childrens names:
So 1881 census
Thos. Mayos - 44 - Gardener
Eliza Mayos - 37
Wm. Mayos - 11
Mary E. Mayos - 3 - Scholar - Born Grafton, Hereford
Miriam Mayos - 5
Wm. Hy. Mayos - 10 - Stepson
Living at New Street, Shrewsbury St Chad, Shropshire
Piece:2654
Folio:8
Page Number:11
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There was a trial which according to The Dundee Courier & Argus and Northern Warder (Dundee, Scotland), Friday, April 27, 1883 -
Eliza Mayos was found guilty of manslaughter sentenced to twenty years penal servitude.
Thomas mayos was found guilty of accessory to the fact and sentenced to eighteen months hard labour.
JJ
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In the 1891 census Eliza Mayos is a convict in Knaphill, Woking, Surrey womens prison.
Piece:556
Folio:138
Page Number:6
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Haha - a start
Thomas Mayos & Eliza Williams married St George, Shrewsbury Q4 1878, Atcham district
and i found them in the criminal registers Apr 1883
she got 20 years
he got 18 months
Thanks
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Could Miriam in the 1881 census be:
Mira Ann Mayos ? born 1876 in Hereford?
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Its certainly possible
and Death WIlliam Mayos, Atcham, 1890 age 20
Funny I cant see a DC reg for the murder, or when Eliza/Thomas died
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Poss death of first Wfe Mary Ann Mayos, Atcham, Q3 1877 age 35
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http://newspaperarchive.com/lloyds-weekly-newspaper/1883-02-25/page-4
Very strange quote in this article from the father Thomas Mayos in which he refers to his daughter as Polly.
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Polly was a standard nickname for Mary.
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080125103308AA1dpxk
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Thanks for the Lloyds ref - but as I dont have a subscription I cant read it.
It would be nie to know if the court hearing was reported in the staffordshire local newspapers. Ancestry Shropshire criminal records has the delivery to Shrewsbury gaol 23rd April 1883 and quotes the sentence imposed. The foillow up article in the NZ Hearald 7 July 1882 says 'Stafford Assizes' and the crime was discoverd in Feb 1883 so looking between feb and april 1883 in the Ancestry Criminal records for Staffordshire - not found.
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I don't have a subscription either but it let me view 1 page!
According to britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk it was in all the papers from february to april but I don't have a subscription and can only view one transcribed sentence from them which really doesn't help at all!
Still nothing on the dead daughter or on Thomas or Eliza's deaths?
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So the Lloyds article is Thomas telling a police constable that it was all his wifes fault. She found 'Polly' collapsed and as they didn't know if she was dead or not they left her for a day or so until they were sure! Thomas wanted to call a doctor but said Eliza wouldn't let him saying Polly would come round. Then the next day they were sure Polly was dead so they cut her up with a knife and broom hook. Eliza wanted to burn the head but Thomas wouldn't let her. Nice family!
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yes - I can see it but its too small to read and if I try to enlarge, full screen or clip I get directed to the membership page.
Thanks for the nfo on the British Newspaper site - I dont have a sub there either - I have acces to 'The Times' archive but it doesnt seem to have made it into that publication.
Cant trace Eliza after 1891 census.
Cant trace any other family members in 1891 census
Nothing in BMD Marriages or Deaths.
Poss emigrated or changed name - still find it strange no Death Cert for murder victim.
I am going to local newspaper office next week to look at edition for date of trial - April 23rd 1883.
Allan
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Ah - I see - didnt look down far enough to the typed transcript at the bottom - bit rough transcription but I get the gist of it.
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I did come across a website yesterday. Can't remember which one but I wrote down that it said it was in The Times for the 30th April 1883 on page 7.
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Thanks - I'll take a look
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Great - got lots of newspaper articles - but no luck at all tracing BMD entries
Strange no DCert found for murdered child
No DCert found for Thomas or Eliza either, and no sign of Eliza after 1891 census or Thomas after 1883 trial.
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Thomas' surname is spelled MAYES in 1871, MAYOS in 1861, and MAYAS in 1841. ::)
1871
RG10/2693/60/2
Thingehill, Withington, Herefordshire
Thomas MAYES Head 34 Groom & Gardener b. Marden, Herefordshire
Mary Ann MAYES Wife 30 b. Harrington, Montgomeryshire
William MAYES Son 1 b. Tenbury, Worcestershire
Marriages Jun 1869
MAYES Thomas
ROBERTS Mary Ann
Montgomery 11b 380
Births Dec 1872
MAYES Mary Elizabeth
Hereford 6a 475
Rambler
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Thanks for that
Its what happened to the Eliza and Thomas after the trial that I particularly want to find.
Eliza is in gaol on the 1891. She got 20 years in 1883 so may have been inside in 1901 or released early or died inside - but I cant find her. Thomas only got 18months but no sign of him on 1891,
I wonder if on release from prison Thomas and Eliza changed there names or emmigrated.
The 1881 censu has 4 children
Elizabeth was murdered and William died 1890 registered Atcham (Shrewsbury) but what happened to the other 2 children?
Allan
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Hi,
I found a couple of deaths that may be connected; since Eliza Mayes was in the Knaphill, Woking, Surrey Women's prison in 1891.
Name: Eliza May
Gender: Female
Burial Date: 14 Dec 1898
Burial Place: Kingston On Thames, Surrey
Age: 50
Birth date: 1848
Parents: None Given
Name: Thomas May
Gender: Male
Burial Date: 3 Dec 1888
Burial Place: Frimley, Surrey, England
Age: None given
Birth date: None Given
Parents: None Given
I don't know how close to the women's prison these are, but it occurred to me that if Thomas knew what prison Eliza was in he would want to be there when she was released.
I also saw this one which I thought I'd share, but not sure if it's connected.
Name: Thomas May
Gender: Male
Burial Date: 9 Jan 1886
Burial Place: St Mary's, Crewe, Cheshire, England
Age: None Given
Birth date: None Given
Parents: None Given
Maria
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thanks for that - I'll check them out. If he wanted to be there when she got out - he was 10 years unlucky - but maybe he wanted to be nearby to visit.
Alllan