John (MAY) May (abt. 1844 - 1935)

Born about 1844 in Liskeard, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 4 Mar 1935 at about age 91 in Devonport, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand

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Biography

John was born about 1844. He passed away in 1935. ^[1]

MR. JOHN MAY. Mr. John May, who died on March 3 at his home, Albert Road, Devonport, aged 91, was one of the early stationmasters in New Zealand. Born in Cornwall, ho landed at Lyttelton in 1874, and as he had seen service on railways, in England was soon appointed a stationmaster. For 20 years he was with the Railway Department in the South Island. He opened Lincoln station, and was later stationed at Burnham and Orari. He left the service six months before the superannuation scheme was introduced, and started farming at Eltham. After 15 years of dairying he retired and came to live at Devonport. Mr. May did not smoke, and was a total abstainer. His hobby was gardening, and he enjoyed excellent health. The following children are left: Messrs. A. J. May, Te Atatu; Mr. F. C. May, manager of the Farmers.' Co-operative Society, Timaru; Mr. R. G. May, chief postmaster, New Plymouth; and Mr. D. May, farmer, Eltham; Mrs. W. Glanville, Timaru; Mrs. A. R. Brewer, Christchurch; Mrs. J. Cappet, Otahuhu; and the Misses W. and J. May, Devonport.^[2]

VETERAN STATIONMASTER

DEATH OF MR JOHN MAY. FORMER TARANAKI RESIDENT. One of the early stationmasters in the New Zealand railway services, Mr John May, died at his residence, 16 Albert Road, Devonport, on Monday, at the age of 91. Mr May was born in Cornwall, England, in 1843 and arrived in New Zealand in the ship St. Lawrence in. 1874.

On landing at Lyttelton he secured a position as stationmaster, as he had been in railway service in England. He was with the Railway Department in the South Island for 26 years. He opened the Lincoln station and was later stationed at Burnham and Orari. In 1901 he was transferred to Hawera as stationmaster. After a year or two there he left the service and engaged in farming at Eltliam, where he resided for about 16 years. Just prior to the termination of the War he disposed of his property at Eltham and came to Devonport, where he had lived in retirement.

Mr May enjoyed art active old age and was keenly interested, in his garden. Throughout his life he was a nonsmoker and a total abstainer. Until advancing ago restricted his activities, he was prominently associated with the Masonic movement. Mrs May died about five years ago at the age of 80. Mr May is survived by nine children. There are four sons, Messrs A. J. May, of Te Atatu, Mr F. C. May, manager of the Farmers’ Co-operative Society at Timaru, Mr R, G. May, chief postmaster at New Plymouth, and Mr D. May, farmer, of Eltham. The five daughters are Mrs W. Glanville, of Timaru, Mrs A. R-. Brewer, of Christchurch, Mrs J. Capper, of Otahuhu, and the Misses W. and J. May, of Devonport.^[3]

He is buried in O’Neills Point cemetery. ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Unsourced family tree handed down to Shirley (McDermott) Walsh.
2. ↑ Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 54, 5 March 1935, Page 3
3. ↑ Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 6 March 1935, Page 8
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/223427624/john-may : accessed 02 July 2022), memorial page for John May (1844–4 Mar 1935), Find a Grave Memorial ID 223427624, citing O'Neill's Point Cemetery, Belmont, Auckland Council, Auckland, New Zealand ; Maintained by Gail Lyons (contributor 49726759) .