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Thank,s ArgyllGran, as you say, a pity I can't find a birth cert. as that would answer why he born in Dublin, or if he was born in Dublin. .

I had looked at Mary Ann Gillam, but had discounted her because her husband Edward was a boat builder in 1841.

He obviously had a major change of occupation to a tailor by 1851. I thought at first that perhaps it actually said "sailor" in 1851, but later censuses confirm "tailor".

A pity we couldn't have found any record of John's birth.

Perhaps boat building was the reason they went to Dublin - seems more likely than tailoring.

Good morning all, re.John May b.1841 in Dublin. " It is said that John came from Ireland, that he was one of three brothers who came to England during the Irish potato famine" This is from the info that I was given last week but, his parents Edward & Mary Ann Gillians were born & living in Brighton. That's why I was trying to find a birth cert. of John as that might give me info to say who his parents were if Edward & Mary was wrong. Many thanks for all your time & interest

Baptism for Edward born 1847 shows mother as Mary Ann:-

Name: Edward May
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 25 Apr 1847
Christening Place: Brighton, Sussex, England
Phillimore Ecclesiastical Parish Map:
View this parish
Father: Edward May
Mother: Mary Ann May

as there was another child born in 1848 then this could be a possible death for the mother?
MAY, MARY ANN 28 Order
GRO Reference: 1850 S Quarter in BRIGHTHELMSTON Volume 07 Page 214
(makes dob 1822)

i think you need this marriage cert

What is his father's name per his marriage cert ? and occupation etc

and his address

Marriages Jun 1863 (>99%)
Boxall Caroline Ann Steyning 2b 422
May John Steyning 2b 422

i can't find him 1861

I've been looking into the family in 1851 census and I don't think that Edward's wife died.
This is my theory, and of course it is only that.

Birth of a first child:-
MAY, MARY ANN ELIZABETH - Order
GRO Reference: 1838 S Quarter in BRIGHTHELMSTON Volume 07 Page 225
(no mmn)

Baptism shows parents were:-
Name Mary Ann Elizabeth May
Gender Female
Christening Date 23 Sep 1838
Christening Date (Original) 23 SEP 1838
Christening Place St Nicholas, Brighton, Sussex, England
Father's Name Edward May
Mother's Name Mary Ann

The couple married:-
Marriages Sep 1838 (>99%)
GILLAM Mary Ann Brighton 7 310
MAY Edward Brighton 7 310

1841
The couple are living with Edward's mother, with their daughter:-

Name: Edward Mory
[Edward May]
Age: 20
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1821
Gender: Male
Where born: Sussex, England
Civil Parish: Brighthelmstone
Hundred: Brighthelmstone
County/Island: Sussex
Country: England
Street address:
Registration district: Brighthelmstone
Sub-registration district: Palace
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 1122
Book: 4
Folio: 38
Page Number: 27
Household Members:
Name Age
Barbary Mory 60
**** Edward Mory 20
**** Mary Mory 20
William Mory 15
**** Mary Mory 2
Ann Mory 7
Charlott Marsh 8

As already posted, in 1851 Edward is noted as widow but I believe that Mary Ann didn't die but went on to marry someone else:-

Name: Mary Ann May
[Mary Ann Gillam]
Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 31 Aug 1845
Marriage Place: Saint Nicholas,Brighton,Sussex,England
Father: Gabriel Gillam
Spouse: Samuel Bashford
FHL Film Number: 1067119

the couple in 1851 are with Mary Ann's dughter Mary Ann

Name: Mary A Bashford
Age: 33
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1818
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: Samuel Bashford
Gender: Female
Where born: Brighton, Sussex, England
Civil Parish: Lancing
Phillimore Ecclesiastical Parish Maps:
View related Ecclesiastical Parish
County/Island: Sussex
Country: England
Street address:
View image
Registration district: Worthing
Sub-registration district: Broadwater
ED, institution, or vessel: 1a
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 64
Piece: 1651
Folio: 13
Page Number: 19
Household Members:
Name Age
Samuel Bashford 25
Mary A Bashford 33
Samuel G Bashford 5
Jane G Bashford 5
Henry G Bashford 10 Mo
**** Mary Anne May 12 ****

Births for children in this census show mmn Gillam:-
BASHFORD, SAMUEL GABRIEL GILLAM Order
GRO Reference: 1845 D Quarter in BRIGHTHELMSTON Volume 07 Page 267
BASHFORD, JANE GILLAM Order
GRO Reference: 1848 M Quarter in STEYNING UNION Volume 07 Page 480
Name: Henry Gilham Bashford
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 11 May 1850
Baptism Date: 7 Jul 1850
Baptism Place: Lancing,Sussex,England
Father: Samuel Bashford
Mother: Mary Ann Gilham

As the youngest child was born in 1845 then the children in the May household in 1851 could not be Edward's wife Mary Ann's children, hence their mother was someone else with the surname Dixon.
...............................................................

Edward went on to marry someone else in 1852

Marriages Jun 1852 (>99%)
MAY Edward Brighton 2b 299
Tourle Maria Brighton 2b 299

1861

Name: Edward May
Age: 43
Estimated Birth Year: 1818
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Maria May
Gender: Male
Where born: Brighton, Sussex, England
Civil Parish: Brighton
County/Island: Sussex
Country: England
Street address:
Registration district: Brighton
Sub-registration district: The Palace
ED, institution, or vessel: 6
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 188
Piece: 599
Folio: 150
Page Number: 29
Household Members:
Name Age
Edward May 43
Maria May 39 born: Falmer, Sussex
Edward May 14
Maria May 11 born: London, Middlesex,
Thomas May 7
Mary A May 2
Adam May 11/12
................................................

Maria had also been married before
Marriages Jun 1846
Juniper Maria Lambeth 4 328
Tourle Thomas Lambeth 4 328

as the children in 1861 census have mmn Juniper:-
TOURLE, MARIA JUMPER Order
GRO Reference: 1849 D Quarter in SAINT GEORGE THE MARTYR
SOUTHWARK Volume 04 Page 467

MAY, THOMAS JUNIPER Order
GRO Reference: 1853 J Quarter in BRIGHTHELMSTON Volume 02B Page 207

MAY, MARY ANN JUNIPER Order
GRO Reference: 1858 J Quarter in BRIGHTON Volume 02B Page 199

MAY, ADAM JUNIPER Order
GRO Reference: 1860 J Quarter in BRIGHTON Volume 02B Page 201
..........................................

To find out the name of the mystery Dixon lady you would have to buy a copy of the birth cirtificate of one of the children in 1851 census.

It could be that John was not born with the name May, at all. Maybe his mother was Irish, from Dublin, and she had John whilst still living there and then came over to England and met Edward May and went on to have two children with him and Edward brought John up as his own child?

Edward May
mentioned in the record of Edward May and Mary Anne Gillam
Name Edward May
Spouse's Name Mary Anne Gillam
Event Date 30 Jul 1838
Event Place Saint Nicholas, Brighton, Sussex, England

????

Edward May
England Births and Christenings
Name Edward May
Gender Male
Christening Date 25 Apr 1847
Christening Date (Original) 25 APR 1847
Christening Place SAINT NICHOLAS, BRIGHTON, SUSSEX, ENGLAND
Father's Name Edward May
Mother's Name Mary Ann

Hi ArgyllGran, thanks for your info but, not what I looking for. I have my May tree going back to Edward May b. 1780. In 1842 JOHN MAY (MY GR-GRAND FATHER ) was born in Dublin, where as l his parents siblings wife & children were all born in BRIGHTON. I an trying to find out why he was born in Dublin hoeing to get his birth cert that might give me a clue. Many thanks

This is the only female May who died in Brighthelmstone 1848-1851, who's of a feasible age to have been Edward's wife.
A bit old to be having a child, but not impossible.

MAY, HANNAH 55
GRO Reference: 1849 D Quarter in BRIGHTHELMSTON Volume 07 Page 227

Another child, who died:

MAY, SUSAN mms DIXON
GRO Reference: 1848 D Quarter in BRIGHTHELMSTON Volume 07 Page 316

MAY, SUSAN 0 Order
GRO Reference: 1849 J Quarter in BRIGHTHELMSTON Volume 07 Page 230

1871, 1881, and 1891 also say he was born in Dublin:

John May
in the 1891 England Census
Name: John May
Gender: Male
Age: 50
Relationship: Head
Birth Year: 1841
Spouse: Caroline Ann May
Child: Frederick James May
Edward T M A May
Eliza Mary May
Birth Place: Dublin, Ireland
Civil Parish: Brighton
Residence Place: Brighton, Sussex, England
Sub registration district: St Peter
ED, Institution or Vessel: 16
Neighbors:
Piece: 806
Folio: 42
Household Members:
Name Age
John May 50
Caroline Ann May 52
Frederick James May 17
Edward T M A May 11
Eliza Mary May 8

What facts do you know definitely?

What is his father's name per his marriage cert ?

Marriages Jun 1863 (>99%)
Boxall Caroline Ann Steyning 2b 422
May John Steyning 2b 422

Hi Catherine, just been looking at the 1851 census, it could be the wrong family or there is something very wrong with it. I can't understand why JOHN MAY was born in Dublin while twenty four other family members were all born in Brighton.

is the 1851 census the correct family?

John had a printing busness & his wife Caroline owned Horse stables , the printing came to an end so John became a Cabdriver for his wife's stable. This was in Brighton.

Birth record for Agnes gives mothers maiden name as Dixon

MAY, AGNES DIXON Order
GRO Reference: 1845 J Quarter in ISLE OF WIGHT Volume 08 Page 229

also Edwards

MAY, EDWARD DIXSON Order
GRO Reference: 1847 M Quarter in BRIGHTHELMSTON Volume 07 Page 302

Thanks SAFC I've got all his tree. In the last few days I have been given the history of his life but... some things in it don't match-up. It said,s he came it England with two of his brothers but their names don't match the names in his tree & census. Many thanks

for info:-

This looks to be him in 1851

Name: John May
Age: 9
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1842
Relation: Son
Father's name: Edward May
Gender: Male
Where born: Dublin, Ireland
Civil Parish: Brighton
Phillimore Ecclesiastical Parish Maps:
View related Ecclesiastical Parish
Town: Brighton
County/Island: Sussex
Country: England
Street address:
Condition as to marriage:
Registration district: Brighton
Sub-registration district: St Peter
ED, institution, or vessel: 1x
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 137
Piece: 1645
Folio: 535
Page Number: 34
Household Members:
Name Age
Edward May 32 - born: Brighton, Sussex 1819 occ. Tailor (widow)
John May 9
Agnes May 5
Edward May 4

interesting to note that Agnes was born: 1846 Isle of White, Ninfield

so maybe Edward travelled with his occupation which also took him to Ireland??

????

Record Transcription:
1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census

New Dorset Street, Brighton, Sussex, England

John May's Household Members
Members that resided in the household at the time of the census.
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Edward May Head Widower Male 32 1819 Tailor Brighton, Sussex, England
John May Son - Male 9 1842 Scholar Dublin, Ireland
Agnes May Daughter - Female 5 1846 Scholar -
Edward May Son - Male 4 1847 At Home Brighton, Sussex, England