May Chanot and her Sister

The next entry is M F Chanot arrested in July 1909; her full name was May Florence. No records have been found of the charges or sentence which came about from her part in a demonstration in the environs of the Houses of Parliament.
 
May was born in 1886 in Marylebone. Her father, Frederick, founded F W Chanot, a music publisher specialising in scores for the violin while also being well-known for his skills as a luthier, a maker of violins. Frederick and his wife, Emily, had eight children; seven of whom were alive at the time of the 1911 census. Their two daughters, Emily, born in 1882, and May were both involved in the suffrage movement.

By the time of the 1901 census, the family were living on Holloway Road, north London. The two sisters are mentioned in two editions of Votes for Women during January 1910 when they helped during the general election campaign. The Liberal candidate secured a majority of thirty-one votes over the Conservative. An article in the newspaper credited this ‘very narrow margin’ as ‘striking proof of the strength of the women’s campaign.’

During the few days before the vote, the Holloway Branch held over thirty meetings and on election day a decorated wagon toured the constituency travelling from one polling station to another, each of which was manned by several women. Emily and May along with others such as Florence Spong were mentioned for their ‘most devoted help.’

No further mention has been found of either of the sisters in Votes for Women thereafter. However, neither is recorded on the 1911 census.

​May married George Saint-George in 1913. Emily went on the be involved with the Church Suffrage League serving as secretary and sub-editor of the Church Militant from 1921 to 1927.

May died in 1982 in New Zealand.