Introduction

After losing his father at a young age, Samuel Mairs was raised by his mother at Winkleigh in Devon. He initially worked as a gamekeeper for a brief period before joining the London and South Western Railway Company. Throughout his long career, he served as a signalman at Hardington and various other locations.

Childhood

Samuel was born on 18 August 1860 at Ashreigney, Devon, the youngest of ten children born to George and Susanna Mair. While his parents and siblings used the name “Mair,” and his name was registered under that name, he began using the name “Mairs” after he left home.

Samuel’s father, George, was a thatcher who died when Samuel was just three years old. His death left Susanna to care for six children under the age of 14. She moved the family five miles to Winkleigh, where she partially supported them by working as a glover, although she probably also received outdoor relief.

A gamekeeper in Hampshire

By April 1881, Samuel’s brothers were employed in a variety of jobs: two were thatchers, one was a farm labourer, one a railway platelayer and one a gardener. Samuel chose a different path, becoming a gamekeeper at Hurstbourne Priors, a village near Andover.

Marriage

In 1889, Samuel married Elizabeth Driver near Axminster. Elizabeth was the daughter of David and Susan Driver of Chesterton, Cambridgeshire, where her father worked as a labourer.

Early railway career

By April 1891, Samuel held the position of railway gatekeeper at Axminster, where he lived with his family in a four-room house in Membury Road.

After two or three years at Axminster, the family moved to Hardington, where Samuel worked as a signalman. Their third child was born at Hardington on 13 August 1894.

Return to Devon

Samuel later returned to Devon, where he continued working as a signalman. By April 1897, he and his family were living at Great Torrington. By June 1900, they had moved to 1 South Lea Cottages, Pinhoe. By January 1902, they had moved into one of the railway cottages at Bow, where Samuel worked as a signalman for twenty years or more.

In August 1906, Samuel was fined 10s and costs for carrying a gun at Bow without a licence.[1]

Retirement

By September 1939, Samuel had retired from the railway, and he and his wife were living at 2 Tozers, Bow.

Death

Samuel died in 1941 at the age of 80, while Elizabeth died in 1951 at the age of 87.

Children

Samuel and Elizabeth had four sons and two daughters, although one of the daughters died in infancy. Their son, Frederick Richard Mairs, born at Hardington, became a Police Sergeant. Two of their sons became railway employees, while the youngest son became a schoolmaster. Their daughter, Dorothy Elizabeth, emigrated to Canada.

References

[1] Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 23 August 1906, p. 3.