ID: WIL_HJM

TitleWill of Henry John May of Stone House West Mersea 1802 - 1894
AbstractThe will is in Essex Record Office, ref. D/DMb L4.

HENRY JOHN MAY
Baptised 21 Nov 1802. West Mersea - died 31 May 1894 buried 5 June 1894 West Mersea

This is the Last Will of me Henry John May of Stone House, West Mersea in the county of Essex, Merchant. I appoint my wife Emma, my grandson Willoughby John Bean and Henry Hervey Elwes of Colchester in the County of Essex, Gentleman, Executors and Trustees of this my Will and bequeath to the said Henry Hervey Elwes. a legacy of £50 (free of legacy duty), if he shall prove my Will. I give and bequeath my wines, liquors full and other consumable household stores and provisions and any money that may be in my house at the time of my decease and also my Pony and Phaeton and any articles of furniture or household articles which may have been removed from Alexandra Cottage, Colchester to my said residence called Stone House and also any furniture or articles which may belong to me and be in Alexandra Cottage aforesaid at the time of my decease to my said wife absolutely. And I bequeath to her the use and enjoyment during her life of the rest of the household furniture, plate, linen, china, glass, books, prints, pictures and other household effects which shall be at the time of my decease in my said residence called Stone House and after the decease of my said wife, I bequeath the said furniture and effects in Stone House (except as aforesaid) to my said Grandson, Willoughby John Bean for his own use and benefit absolutely. I devise all that my aforesaid, messuage and dwelling house called Stone House now in my own occupation with the appurtenances there to belonging (except the Carpenter's Shop and Coal Shed) hereinafter devised to my said Grandson Willoughby John Bean. Also all that my messuage or tenement called Elm Cottage situate in West Mersea aforesaid and late in the occupation of Mrs. Dames, Widow, with the appurtenances, thereto and any furniture and effects belonging to me that maybe thereon at the home of my decease. To hold the same unto and to the use of my said wife during her life, she keeping the same in tenantable repair and insured against loss or damage by fire and upon her decease, I give and devise the same messuages, Dwelling houses, cottages and hereditaments Unto and to the use of my said Grandson Willoughby John Bean, his heirs and assigns absolutely. And I devise to my said Grandson Willoughby John Bean, my said carpenters shop, Coal Shed and premises near to and adjoining my said residence called Stone House with a right of way to the same, so now used for all business purposes.

Also all those my cottages and land situate purposes near 'Banfield' now or late in the occupation of John Edwards
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and others containing about 5 acres of land and ten cottages with gardens. Also two cottages with gardens situate in Southfield and now or late in the occupation of Alfred Pullen and John Chatters with the piece of land adjoining thereto now in the occupation       Brand      
Also two cottages standing in the corner adjoining a field belonging to the representatives of my son in law Alexander Bean (deceased) and now or late in the occupation of James Balls and Charles Chatters.
Also three cottages standing opposite to the land mentioned, two cottages now or late in the occupation of James Edwards, Abraham Divit and Benjamin Hughes.
Also a house now used as a Public House or Beerhouse called 'The Victory Inn' now in the occupation of George Brand situate in Mersea Lane in West Mersea aforesaid. Also eight cottages now or late in the occupation of Adam Howard and others all situate on the south side of Mersea Lane in West Mersea aforesaid. Also eighteen cottages with Blacksmiths Shop and Ship Wrights Shop, Stables, Coachhouses, stone houses and premises now 'or late' in the occupation of Thomas Whyatt and others situate on the north side of West Mersea Lane aforesaid Also ten cottages situate on the West Mersea coast called 'The Cross Ten Cottages' otherwise 'The Square' now in the occupation of Mrs Cutts, James Hempstead and others. Also the cottages now in the occupation of Rudlin Junr and S. French Junr adjoining Elm Cottage aforesaid.
Also the house recently erected by me in the rear of Stone House and occupied by Policeman Fletcher and other my real estate of every description not hereinbefore devised and all other my personal Estate not hereinafter disposed of subject to the payment of my debts, funeral and testamentary expenses and the Legacy hereby bequeathed with the Legacy duly thereon and also subject to the charges hereinafter mentioned

Unto and to the use of my said grandson Willoughby John Bean his heirs, exors, admons and assignees for his and their own use and benefit absolutely And I hereby charge all the messuages, tenements, hereditaments and premises hereinbefore devised to my said Grandson Willoughby John Bean with the payment to my said wife Emma of a yearly rent charge or annuity of Two Hundred Pounds during her life to be payable quarterly on the 25th day of March, the 24th day of June, the 29th day of September and the 25th day of December, the first payment of the said yearly rent charge of £200 to be made on the first of the said quarter days happening next after my decease and a proportionate part of the said yearly rent charge to be paid
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down to the date of the death of my said wife. And I also empower my said wife by distress and also by entry upon and perception of the writs and profits of my said hereditaments so charged as aforesaid to recover payment of the said Rent Charge when in arrear for 21 days And I direct that the said Rent Charge shall be paid clear from property, tax and all other deduction whatsoever. And I declare that the provision hereinbefore made for my said wife in satisfaction of the power and thirds (if any) to which she shall be entitled out of any real estate of mine And I hereby also charge all the messuages, tenements, hereditaments and premises herein before devised to my said Grandson, Willoughby John Bean with the payment to my said Trustees of the sum of £1,200 such sum to bear interest half yearly at the rate of £4 per cent per annum until paid. The first payment of interest to be made at the expiration of Six Calendar months from my decease And I direct by said Trustees to stand possessed of the said sum of £1,200 and the interest thereof upon trust for all the children of my granddaughter Alice Maud Everett now lately deceased who being sons shall attain the age of 21 years or being daughters shall attain that age or marry under that age in equal shares. And if there shall be only one such child the whole to be in trust for that one child And I declare that my trustees may apply the income and raise any part or parts not exceeding together one moiety of the expectant share of any child of the said Alice Maria Everett deceased and apply the same for his or her maintenance, education advancement preferred or benefit as my Trustees shall think fit And I hereby bequeath any sum which may be due to me from William Rudlin of West Mersea aforesaid Carrier And the security for the same to my said wife for her sole use and benefit absolutely And I empower my Trustees at their discretion either to allow the said sum of £1,200 to remain charged as aforesaid until required to be paid or applied for the benefit of the said children or at anyhow to give 6 calendar month's notice requiring the said Willoughby John Bean to pay the whole or any part of such sum to my said Trustees to be invested and held upon trust as aforesaid and I also bequeath to Rowland Tayler of Colchester aforesaid, Vet Surgeon the sum of £200 free from legacy duty (if any) I direct that all legacies given by this my Will or by any codicil hereto (and the legacy duty thereon) shall be paid primarily so far as may be out of my personal estate in exoneration of my real Estate And I also direct that my Executors, Henry Hervey Elwes shall
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notwithstanding the acceptance of the Executorship and Trusteeship be allowed by himself or his firm all professional and other charges for his time and trouble which if employed as Solicitors to my Executors and Trustees not being himself an Executor or Trustee he would be entitled to make I hereby revoke all former Wills and Testamentary dispositions and declare this to be my Last Will. In Witness whereof, I the said Henry John May the Testator have to each sheet of this my Will contained in 5 sheets of paper set my hand this 14th day of September 1891

Henry John May       Signed and acknowledged by the said Henry John May the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us present at the same time who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have herewith subscribed our names as witnesses

H. Geoffrey Elwes         Articuled Clerk, Colchester
F. Cudmore,        Groom to Henry John May, Stone House, West Mersea

This is a Codicil of the last Will and Testament of me Henry John May of Stone House, West Mersea in the County of Essex, Merchant, which Will bears date the 14th day of September 1891.

I bequest to my wife Emma , an annuity during her life of £75 in addition to the annuity of £200 bequest to her by my said Will and to be charged and secured in like manner and to be paid at the same time as the said Annuity of £200, and in all other requests, I confirm my said Will. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 13 day of February 1893     Henry John May

Signed and acknowledged by the said Henry John May, the Testator as and for a codicil to his last Will and Testament in the presence of us both present at the same time, who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
F. Cudmore       Henry Elwes 86 East Hill, Colchester


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This is a 2nd Codicil to the last Will of me Henry John May of Stone House, West Mersea in the County of Essex which Will bears date the 14 day of September 1891. The first codicil thereto bears date the 13 day of February 1893.

I hereby revoke the legacy of £200 bequeathed by my said Will to Rowland Tayler and in all other respects I confirm my said Will and Codicil. In witness whereof I have hereunto in my hand this 18 day of April       Henry John May

Signed and acknowledged by the Testator Henry John May aforesaid, a Second Codicil in his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us, present at the time, who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
C. Jay     F. Cudmore

31 May 1894 Testator died
2 Aug 1894. Will proved in the Ipswich District Registry by all three Executors

Gross value of Estate £593. 12s. 1d

Will transcribed November 2019 by a present day descendant of Henry John May.

Read More
May Family Tree

Keywordsdanes, elmtree
Published14 September 1891
SourceMersea Museum
IDWIL_HJM
Related Images:
 Henry John May
 1802 - 1894
 Oyster Merchant
 West Mersea. Essex.
</p><p>Painting held by the descendants of Henry John May. It is 36 ins x 48 ins..
</p><p>The family says:
 We think he is wearing some special uniform for the Oyster Festivals. His obituary is in the Essex County Standard, West Suffolk Gazette and Eastern Counties Advertiser. Sat 2nd June 1894.
 He was famous for May's oysters. Even when railways were not so numerous, he sent his own oyster carts to big towns between London and Doncaster. He also introduced Norwegian ice to London. Also had a fast merchant cruiser engaged in the fruit trade between the Med and London.
</p><p>
Obituary: <a href=mmphoto.php?typ=ID&hit=1&tot=1&ba=cke&bid=HJM_101>HJM_101 </a>
</p>  HJM_001
ImageID:   HJM_001
Title: Henry John May
1802 - 1894
Oyster Merchant
West Mersea. Essex.

Painting held by the descendants of Henry John May. It is 36 ins x 48 ins..

The family says:
We think he is wearing some special uniform for the Oyster Festivals. His obituary is in the Essex County Standard, West Suffolk Gazette and Eastern Counties Advertiser. Sat 2nd June 1894.
He was famous for May's oysters. Even when railways were not so numerous, he sent his own oyster carts to big towns between London and Doncaster. He also introduced Norwegian ice to London. Also had a fast merchant cruiser engaged in the fruit trade between the Med and London.

Obituary: HJM_101

Date:c1890
Source:Mersea Museum / HJM
 West Mersea News
</p><p>The School question 
</p><p>Death of Mr H.J. May
</p><p>
By the death of Mr Henry John May of West Mersea, at the advanced age of ninety two, this district has lost one of the most remarkable men of the period. Educated for the church, his adventurous spirit would not brook the restraint necessary for that calling, and at an early age, he engaged in the cultivation of oysters, following which pursuit he visited most of 
 the 'fishing districts of Great Britain', while May's oysters were well known in many parts of the kingdom, even when railways were not so numerous, as he sent his own oyster carts to most of the big towns between London and Doncaster. Mr May was also engaged for some years in the supply of ice to London, being the first to introduce Norwegian ice into that market. He also had a fast merchant cruiser engaged in the fruit trade between the Mediterranean and London before the advent of fast fruit steamers. A keen sportsman, yet never neglecting business, Mr May combined a resolute will with a benevolent disposition, and was always ready to assist those who showed an honest endeavour to profit by his help. He was mainly instrumental in introducing a branch of the Foresters Friendly Society into Mersea, and was one of the trustees of that Branch, and we hae no doubt he will be much missed in the parish in which he had attained such a patriarchial age.
</p><p>The Essex County Standard, West Suffolk Gazette and Eastern Counties Advertiser.
</p>  HJM_101
ImageID:   HJM_101
Title: West Mersea News

The School question

Death of Mr H.J. May

By the death of Mr Henry John May of West Mersea, at the advanced age of ninety two, this district has lost one of the most remarkable men of the period. Educated for the church, his adventurous spirit would not brook the restraint necessary for that calling, and at an early age, he engaged in the cultivation of oysters, following which pursuit he visited most of the 'fishing districts of Great Britain', while "May's oysters" were well known in many parts of the kingdom, even when railways were not so numerous, as he sent his own oyster carts to most of the big towns between London and Doncaster. Mr May was also engaged for some years in the supply of ice to London, being the first to introduce Norwegian ice into that market. He also had a fast merchant cruiser engaged in the fruit trade between the Mediterranean and London before the advent of fast fruit steamers. A keen sportsman, yet never neglecting business, Mr May combined a resolute will with a benevolent disposition, and was always ready to assist those who showed an honest endeavour to profit by his help. He was mainly instrumental in introducing a branch of the Foresters Friendly Society into Mersea, and was one of the trustees of that Branch, and we hae no doubt he will be much missed in the parish in which he had attained such a patriarchial age.

The Essex County Standard, West Suffolk Gazette and Eastern Counties Advertiser.

Date:2 June 1894
Source:Mersea Museum / HJM