d.16/02/1897
Born in Winslow, established tailoring business in Berkhamsted, father of five, worked into his 80s
Relatives
Research:
John Mayne died 16th February 1897 aged 87. Maria, his wife, died 15th February 1901 aged 81.
John Mayne was born on 29th November 1809 in the small market town of Winslow in Buckinghamshire. He was baptised on 26th December 1809, the son of Oliver and Rosemond Mayne.
His father Oliver was a butcher who, in 1841, lived in Great Horn Street, Winslow. Great Horn Street was part of the east-west axis along which Winslow was originally developed. This would have been an ideal location for any tradesman in the town.
Oliver Mayne and Rosemond Seaton were married at St Lawrence’s Church, Winslow, by licence on 13th September 1797. They had six children, five of whom, including John, were baptised at St Lawrence’s church. John was the youngest in the family and his siblings were:
Richard Mayne, baptised on 22nd July 1798
Anne Mayne, baptised on 20th August 1800
Charles Mayne, baptised on 2nd August 1803
Harriet Mayne, baptised on 14th October 1805
Samuel Mayne, born circa 1807
John Mayne’s mother, Rosemond Seaton, was the daughter of a local gentleman, Richard Seaton. When John’s grandfather died in 1824, he made the following bequest:
I give and devise unto my Daughter Rosamond Mayne Wife of Oliver Mayne of Winslow aforesaid Butcher all that copyhold Messuage or tenement called or known by the name of the Sign of the Crooked Billett situate in Great Horn Street in Winslow aforesaid now in the occupation of George Carpenter .. for and during the term of her natural life … and from immediately after her decease … I give and devise the said Messuage or Tenement … unto my Grandson Richard Mayne, Son of the said Rosamond Mayne.
Many land transactions were recorded in the local Court Records. The Manor Court recorded in 1825 the Admission of Rosamond Mayne, wife of Oliver Mayne and daughter & devisee of Richard Seaton, late of Winslow, gent. deceased to: All that messuage or tenement known by the name or sign of the Crooked Billet….with the Butcher’s shop buildings & appurtenances formerly in the occupation of John Mayne since of Oliver Mayne.
As well as the property John’s grandfather also took care of his grandchildren – I give and bequeath unto my Grandchildren Richard Gibbs (Son of my said Daughter Ann Gibbs) Richard Mayne, Ann Mayne, Charles Mayne, Harriott Mayne, Samuel Mayne and John Mayne (the children of my said Daughter Rosamond Mayne) the said principal Sum of Seven hundred Pounds with all interest that shall be then due thereon equally to be divided amongst them share and share alike.
John’s eldest brother never got to see his inheritance as he predeceased his mother, dying in 1829. Richard Mayne instructed that his trustees sell “All that my reversion or remainder expectant and to take effect on the decease of my Mother Rosamond Mayne … in All that copyhold Messuage or Tenement called or known by the name or sign of the Crooked Billet situate in Great Horn Street in Winslow aforesaid now in the occupation of Joseph Hinton“.
Additionally Richard gave “to the said John Mayne my watch, to the said Harriet Mayne my chest of drawers; to the said Samuel Mayne my looking glass, to the said Samuel Mayne, John Mayne, Ann Weston and Harriet Mayne a silk handkerchief each and to the said Samuel Mayne and John Mayne my wearing apparel and other ornaments of my person equally . . . All which said effects I direct may be delivered to my said Brothers and Sisters accordingly as soon as conveniently may be after my decease Also I give . . .unto my said Brothers and Sisters . . . the legacy . . .of four pounds each to buy mourning”.
John Mayne married his wife Maria Mayne on 29th April 1839 at Tottenham in North London. He appears to have already been established in his trade as Robson’s Commercial Directory of 1839 lists John as a Tailor of Winslow, as does the Pigot’s Directory of 1842.
In 1841 John and his wife Maria were living on the Market Square, where John was a Tailor, with an apprentice, Christopher Payne. Before the end of the year their first child, Matilda Maria was born. John and Maria had just five children:
Maria Matilda born in 1841 in Winslow and buried at St Peter’s Berkhamsted on 24th September 1855.
Charles Thomas Mayne, baptised on 17 Mar 1843 at Winslow.
George Frederick Mayne, born at Winslow in 1844. He served in the 102nd Regiment of Foot, where he attained the rank of corporal.
John Oliver Mayne born in Winslow in 1847
Robert Samuel Mayne, baptised on 3rd August 1854 at St Peter’s Berkhamsted, as the 4th son of his parents.
John Mayne’s mother, Rosemond, died at Winslow in 1850, followed shortly after by her husband, Oliver Mayne in 1851. The timing of these family events seems to coincide with John’s departure from Winslow and his move to Berkhamsted, as he was already set-up in business in Berkhamsted High Street by March 1851, and was in the trade directory of 1855. In 1861 John stated that he was a Tailor and Draper, and with the death of his teenage daughter in 1856, he and Maria had just two sons living with them, George and Robert.
On 7th April 1861 John’s eldest son, Charles Mayne, was a servant living with James Lucas, tailor, at Charmdys Place in the St Ebbe’s district of Oxford, probably gaining more experience in the tailoring trade.
John’s third son, John Oliver travelled even further in search of a trade as he was living in as an apprentice jeweller, with Henry Neal, who had a jeweller’s shop in Bold Street, Liverpool. Henry’s father had run The Bell Inn in the Market Square, Winslow, so was probably a friend or business acquaintance of John Mayne’s.
On 4th November 1869 Mary Ann Geary Andrews gave birth to John and Maria Mayne’s first grandchild, Florence Mayne Geary Andrews, who was born in Berkhamsted High Street. Her birth certificate states that she was the child of Mary Ann Geary Andrews and Charles Mayne, tailor. With Mary Ann Geary Andrews being a dressmaker and living in Berkhamsted High Street, and Charles’ father, John, being a draper in the High Street, it is very likely that Charles and Mary Anne’s relationship blossomed from a professional association.
The strange part of the story is that although both Charles Mayne and Mary Ann Geary Andrews were single and both were living in the High Street, Berkhamsted in 1871, they never married. Their relationship appears to have spanned a number of years as Mary Ann had a second daughter, Rosetta Mayne Geary Andrews in 1872. After 1872 there is no mention of Charles Mayne in any census, although he was mentioned in his father’s will dated 1st April 1885.
In 1871 John and Maria only had their son Charles living with them. They also had a visitor, Janet Ross, a housekeeper from Scotland. Their next-door neighbours at this time were a family called Painter. The head of the family was Alexander Painter a civil engineer from Wiltshire. He had with him a sister Frances Louisa Painter, who in 1875 married John’s youngest son Robert Samuel. John and Maria’s third grand-daughter, the child of Robert Samuel and Frances Louisa was baptised at St Peter’s on 24th February 1878. But Robert didn’t make Berkhamsted his home, instead he moved to Greenwich, becoming an accountant and commercial clerk in business with his brother-in-law, Edwin Painter.
Having celebrated the marriage of their youngest son in 1875, John and Maria had less to celebrate in 1876. All of John’s sons had entered different trades, Charles was a tailor, John was a jeweller and optician, Robert became an accountant, but what happened to George Richard?
In 1862 George Richard joined the 102nd Foot Regiment of the British Army. He served for 9 years and 16 days, which included 6 years and 8 months in the East Indies. On 15th July 1872 Corporal George Richard Mayne was discharged “in consequence of being found unfit for further service”. It is possible that whatever made him unfit for service was the eventual cause of his death four years later.
In 1881 John was employing two men in his tailoring business, as well as having a live-in domestic servant, Kate Waterton from Northchurch.
In 1891 at the age of 80 John still appears to be working in the High Street as a tailor as the census does not refer to him as being retired.
John Mayne died on 16th February 1897 at no 182 High Street, Berkhamsted. His will was proved by “Maria Mayne of No 182 High Street aforesaid widow the relict and John Oliver Mayne of No 7 St Michaels Rise, Bournemouth in the County of Southampton Jeweller’s Assistant and Robert Samuel Mayne of no 156 Larkshall Rise, Clapham in the County of Surrey, the sons of the deceased”. John’s will effectively left everything to his wife during her life, except the Tailor business which was to be offered to his son Charles Thomas at the amount of a current market valuation. If Charles declined the offer then all stock and goods were to be sold and the proceeds given to Maria.
There is no trace of Charles ever returning to Berkhamsted either for illegitimate daughters, or his father’s business.
Maria survived her husband by four years and is buried with him at Rectory Lane.
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