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 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 ...
Cat1 Families-->Bean / May Cat2 Mersea-->Schools-->Documents Cat3 Oysters-->Documents and Papers

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      

Photo: HJM
Image ID HJM_101
Category 1 Families-->Bean / May
Category 3 Oysters


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This image is part of the Mersea Museum Collection.