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. 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 died in July-September 1864 at East Grinstead.
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.
The children of Elizabeth May & John Tester were:
m.8.1 Louisa Tester christened August 27th, 1843 at East Grinstead, Sussex
m.8.2 Ebenezer Tester born Jan-March 1846 at East Grinstead, Sussex
m.8.3 Joseph Tester christened November 12th, 1848 at East Grinstead, Sussex
m.8.4 Fanny Tester born Jan-March 1851 & christened June 1st, 1851 at
Forest Row, Sussex
m.8.5 Mary Ann Tester christened March 20th, 1853 at Forest Row, Sussex
m.8.6 George Tester born Jan-March 1858 at East Grinstead, Sussex
m.8.7 Elizabeth Jane Tester christened August 4th, 1861 at Forest Row, Sussex
m.8.8 Minnie Elizabeth Tester born Oct-December 1868 at East Grinstead, Sussex
John remarried in April-June 1879 at 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.
They were still at Kidbrook Garden Cottage in 1891 but John & Laura were on their own.
John died in Jan-March 1894, aged 74, at East Grinstead.
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.