Joseph Bays (Bayes) was born at Irchester in 1797. In 1851 the family was living in High Street. He was a stone mason and probably employing his four older sons, Charles, William, James and George, by 1851. His younger son Joseph was still at school, but eventually became a builder too.

Son William had died aged just 22 in 1854 and was commemorated at the Old Top Meeting, along with a daughter Sarah aged 20. [see MI 76] Sarah was aged 7 when the 1841 census was taken, so perhaps she was working in another village 'in service' when the 1851 was recorded.

By 1871 James was aged 34, working as a mason, and living with his father aged 74 the "owner of cottages" in High Street.

Charles Bayes was employing 3 men and a boy, married and living at 46 Little Street.

William had died, and George is not in Rushden.

Joseph junior was living at 22 Little Street, married, working as a master bricklayer, and employing 2 men and a boy.

Charles Bayes had married Clara Knight in 1851. Clara was daughter of John and Maria Knight, and was a schoolmistress. By 1861 they had two children, Jane born 1858 and George in 1859. In 1871 Charles Bayes was employing 3 men and a boy, and they had Ebenezer born 1862, Sarah L in 1864, Charles E in 1866, and William F in 1869. A daughter Sarah R completed the family in 1872. They lived at 46 Little Street. (demolished in 1954/6)

He built 59 Little Street in 1888, as a general store and drapery. His wife Clara was the draper, and her assistant was Clara, daughter of her son George.

George was a clicker, and married Clara Jane Skinner, daughter of William and Elizabeth, of Raunds, in 1880. They lived in Crabb Street.

Early in 1891, Charles E Bayes married Lily Wing of Wellingborough, and they lived at Rosebery Villa in Victoria Road. At the time Griffith Street was under construction, and the family built several houses, and Charles and Lily soon moved moved there.

By 1901 Charles had retired and was living at 40 Griffith Street. His son Charles E was the builder and contractor, now aged 35, living close by his parents at Gladstone House. At number 24 son George, now sanitary inspector and school attendance officer, aged 41. He lived at Mansfield Villa in Griffith Street. The town surveyor and architect of many 'Civic Pride' buildings, William B Madin lived at 38, so had perhaps helped design the houses.