George May [m.7]

George May was the seventh child of Elizabeth Agent & John May christened October 10th, 1819 at East Grinstead, Sussex.

At the time of the 1841 census George was living at Woodies, East Grinstead, with his father John. Both John & George were agricultural labourers. Woodies cottage was also known as Woodags cottage according to the Sussex Weald.

George (Mays) married Phillis Wickinden on February 8th, 1842 at St Swithin's Church, East Grinstead, Sussex. Witnesses at the wedding were Edward & Sarah Wickenden, Phillis' parents. Phillis was the only person able to sign on the certificate, the others made their mark. Phillis was christened March 2nd, 1823 at East Grinstead, the daughter of Sarah & Edward Wickenden, a labourer.

Marriage certificate of George & Phillis

In 1851 George & Phillis were living at the Gate Lodge, Shovelstrode, East Grinstead. George was an agricultural labourer & he & Phillis had 3 children – Joseph (8), Phillis (5) & Elizabeth (2). There were 4 more children, an unnamed boy in 1847, another unnamed boy in 1850, Mary, born 1852 all of whom died in infancy, & Sarah, born 1856.

George died in July 1858 & was buried on July 30th at East Grinstead.

The children of George Mays & Phillis Wickenden were:

m.7.1 Joseph Mays christened April 23rd, 1843 at East Grinstead, Sussex; died November 4th, 1919 at 13 Hampden Gurney St, Hyde Park, Middlesex
m.7.2 Phillis Mays christened July 6th, 1845 at East Grinstead, Sussex; died October 5th, 1926 at Hammersmith Infirmary, London
m.7.3 Elizabeth Mays christened November 19th, 1848 at East Grinstead, Sussex; died Jan-March 1923 at East Grinstead
m.7.4 Mary Mays christened March 3rd, 1852 at East Grinstead, Sussex, died March 1852 at East Grinstead, Sussex
m.7.5 Sarah Mays christened May 25th, 1856 at East Grinstead, Sussex; died April-June 1932 at East Grinstead

In 1861 widow Phillis was living with her son Joseph & daughters Elizabeth & Sarah (5) at the Barracks, East Grinstead. Living next door was Phillis’ widowed father Edward Wickenden & her widowed brother Jesse, a bricklayer. Another Wickenden family was also living next to them at the Barracks.

Phillis remarried on September 5th, 1864 at St Swithin's Church, East Grinstead. Her second husband was Samuel Dennis. Samuel, the son of John Dennis, a tailor, was christened March 11th, 1820 at St Mary the Virgin, Malden, Essex & he worked as a bricklayer. He had previously been married to Hannah who died earlier in 1864. Witnesses at the wedding were George Wickenden & Mary Wickenden. Phillis's son Joseph married on the same day.

In 1871 Phillis & Samuel were living at West St, East Grinstead.

Samuel & Phillis had moved to Glen Vue Rd, East Grinstead by 1881 & Samuel was still a bricklayer.

Samuel died in 1886, aged 64, & was buried January 26th at St Swithins, East Grinstead, Sussex.

Widow Phillis was lodging with Harriet Izard, a laundress, at 57 West St, East Grinstead in 1891.

In 1901 Phillis was living at 51 West St, East Grinstead with her daughter Elizabeth who had married Joseph L Meadmore, a stone mason. Elizabeth & her husband & family were living close to Phillis in West St, at the time of the 1891 census.

Phillis (Phyllis on FreeBMD) died in Jan-March 1908, aged 86, at East Grinstead.