Clayson of Elham, Kent

Clayson family of Elham, Kent

	Isaac CLAYSON was baptised on the 1st July 1810 at Elham and died there in 1895. In 1851 age 40 he was living at The Row, Elham.
	In 1871 Isaac's son also Isaac, age 32, was living at Back Street, Elham together with his wife Letita (TUCKER) , age 26, and his two sons, William age 1 and Edward age 2. Family tradition and a photograph of Elham manor signed by A J Clayson 'where my hubby was born', suggests that William was born at the Manor House, Elham. In 1880 Isaac died and by 1881Letitia, Edward and William were living at 9 Union Road, Bridge. Letitia is described as an annuitant born Middlesex. Also in the household is Clara TUCKER, her sister born at Bridge, Kent. At 5 Union Road is Zebulon and Susannah VINSON, and on 22nd June 1881 Letitia married their son, William VINSON at Bridge. Clara TUCKER was a witness
William CLAYSON and Alice Jane KNIGHT c.1893	My great Aunt , Alice Jane KNIGHT was born at Charlwood Surrey and when her mother married my great grandfather, Alfred COX at Brighton the family moved to South Malling near Lewes, Sussex. On 15th August 1893 Alice Jane KNIGHT married William CLAYSON at South Malling Church, Lewes. She was 21 and he 23, described as a grocer. Family tradition has it he worked for the Maypole. By January 1904 Alice Jane and William CLAYSON, were living at 23 York Road, Canterbury and by September 1907 at 'Oamuru', 57 Boyne Road, Lewisham. A receipt for Ł40, being 5% of the purchase price from Emily HOWELL, of the Central Hotel, is dated 10th June 1908 and adressed to 'Oamuru' and on 21st July 1908 a postcard to the Central Hotel indicates the CLAYSONS taken over.

The Central Hotel was situated at 62 - 64 Week Street, Maidstone.
A 1907 photograph published in the South Eastern Gazette sometime in the mid 1950,s describes the premises as Maidstone Coffee House and next door the Central Commercial and Temperance Hotel. A letter published in response to the photograph suggests that 'drinks could be supplied if ordered beforehand'!
By September 1928 the couple had moved to 'Wykehurst', Ashford Road, Bearsted but in a letter to the Editor, South Eastern Gazette from William CLAYSON's nephew, 'Fred' CLAYSON, William remained the owner until 1934. 'Fred' also in the same letter states he joined his uncle in 1914 and was the manager for the last 10 years.
Family tradition suggests he had more of an eye for the chambermaids than the business!

Postcript: I have a copy of the Elham parish magazine for October 1942. Marked for Mr Clayson's attention is the death of Louisa Pringle BOURNE, model for one of the figures in the light window on the south side of the chancel. As Louisa CULLEN she married Thomas BOURNE in 1876. Is there a family connection?