Elisabeth May was the eighth child of Elizabeth Agent & John May christened June 30th, 1822 at East Grinstead, Sussex.
In 1841 Elizabeth was working as a servant & living at Kidbrook House, East Grinstead. With her was her sister Sarah, also a servant. Head of the household was Mary Middleton, also a servant.
Elizabeth married John Tester on August 7th, 1841 at East Grinstead, Sussex. Witnesses at the wedding were James Cox & Sarah Mays, Elizabeth’s sister. John was christened March 14th, 1819 at St Swithin Parish Church, East Grinstead, the son of Jane Winn & George Tester, an agricultural labourer.
In 1851 Elizabeth & John were living at Stone Quarry, Wych Cross, East Grinstead with their 4 children – Luezer (sic) (7), Ebenezer (5), Joseph (2) & an unnamed infant just 2 weeks old. Living next door were John’s parents, Jane & George Tester.
Elizabeth & John were still living at East Grinstead in 1861, at Kidbrooke Drive, with children Louisa, Ebenezer, Fanny (10), Mary Ann (8), George (3) & Elizabeth (5 months). John was now a gardener & Ebenezer was an errand boy.
Elizabeth aged 44, died at Forest Row in 1864 & was buried August 1st at Forest Row.
The children of Elizabeth May & John Tester were:
m.8.1 John Tester born Jan-March 1842 at East Grinstead, Sussex; died Jan-March 1842 at East Grinstead
m.8.2 Louisa Tester christened August 27th, 1843 at East Grinstead, Sussex; died Jan-March 1898 at Steyning, Sussex
m.8.3 Ebenezer Tester born Jan-March 1846 at East Grinstead, Sussex; buried October 17th, 1922 in Seal, Sevenoaks, Kent
m.8.4 Joseph Tester christened November 12th, 1848 at East Grinstead, Sussex
m.8.5 Fanny Tester born Jan-March 1851 & christened June 1st, 1851 at
Forest Row, Sussex; died Oct-December 1936 in Haywards Heath
m.8.6 Mary Ann Tester christened March 20th, 1853 at Forest Row, Sussex; died March 1931 in Wandsworth, London
m.8.7 George Tester born Jan-March 1858 at East Grinstead, Sussex; died April-June 1932 in Brighton, Sussex
m.8.8 Elizabeth Jane Tester christened August 4th, 1861 at Forest Row, Sussex
Daughter Louisa married James Cook, a blacksmith, on July 21st, 1866 at St Bride, Fleet St, London
In 1871 widower John, a gardener, was living at Gardeners House, East Grinstead with daughter Fanny, house keeper, son George, a post boy & Elizabeth. There was a 2 year old 'daughter' also listed, called Minnie Tester, born at Hartfield. This could be John’s granddaughter, the child of daughter Louisa & husband James Cook, but she was also listed on the census with her parents at Hartfield Rd, Forest Row as Minnie E Cook, aged 2, born at Hartfield. Perhaps Minnie was visiting her grandfather as Louisa had recently had a new baby.
Son Ebenezer was working as a groom for the Vicar of Tandridge, Surrey in 1871. He was to marry Charlotte Edwards in 1875 in Seal, Kent.
Son John, a butler, married Martha Annie Butler Summers in 1868 in Paddington, Westminster. The marriage certificate shows Joseph as Joseph Edward. Martha, known as Annie, died in 1875 in Kingston, Surrey. Son John married again, his second wife was Florence Jane Young who he married in 1877 in Kingston-upon-Thames. Joseph became a railway ticket collector & by 1911 he & his family were living in Suburton, Surrey.
Daughter Fanny married Samuel Putland, a gardener, in 1872 in Forest Row but in 1883 she was widowed with 6 children.
John remarried in April-June 1879 at St Margaret’s Westminster, St George Hanover Square, London. His new wife was Laura Tuckey born c1835 at Brixton, Surrey.
In 1881 John & Laura were living at Kidbrook Garden Cottage, East Grinstead where John was a gardener. John’s son George was with them & working as a carpenter.
Son George, a carpenter & joiner, married Henrietta Dawe in 1887 in Wellington, Soerset & in 1891 they were living in Forest Row with 2 year old daughter Hettie. By 1911 they were living in Brighton with 3 daughters at home.
Daughter Elizabeth married George Payne, a carpenter, in 1889 in Forest Row & in 1901 they were living in Brighton.
They were still at Kidbrook Garden Cottage in 1891 but John & Laura were on their own.
Daughter Mary Ann married widower George William Upton Thompson in 1891 at East Grinstead. By 1911 widowed Mary Ann was living in Wandsworth, London with 2 of George’s grown up children & 2 of her own.
John died on January 1st, 1894, aged 74, at Forest Row, & was buried January 6th at Forest Row, East Grinstead. Administration of his will was granted on January 27th, 1894 to his widow Laura. His effects were £194. An obituary in the Sussex Agricultural Express of January 9th, 1894 states that John was born & brought up on the Kidbrooke Estate & began service there under Lord Colchester. He was much respected by his employers & the villagers.
In 1901 widow Laura was living at 2 Parkside Cottages, East Grinstead with her widowed sister Mary Burdon (65). Laura was described as a retired housekeeper.
Laura was lodging at 144 St Awdrys Rd, Barking, Essex in 1911 & described as living on her own means.
Laura died in April-June 1922, aged 88, her death being registered at Wandsworth.