Before the Journey
George May and Hannah Hobson were both born in Curridge, a village in the parish of Chieveley, Berkshire, England, in 1809. George was a shepherd. He became a Methodist in about 1844, but was persuaded by a man named Allen to become a member of the relatively recently formed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormons in 1848.
George and Hannah had 9 children, 2 of whom died before the family left England. Henry Ballard accompanied the Mays on their migration to America.
Late in 1851 Elder Eli. B. Kelsey visited the Mays and offered them the chance to emigrate to America in return for 3½ years labour, all food and clothing supplied.
What happened to the Mays on their journey to what presumably they must have hoped was a better life and a better future for their children was by no means unique. Thousands, of all religious persuasions, or none, suffered a similar fate as they struggled to a new life in the West.
I am extremely grateful to Seth May for making his family records available. To view them, click the James May's story button.
This family of Mays may or may not be related to my May ancestors, some of whom lived a few miles from Chieveley, in Stratfield Mortimer.
This map shows the area. Chieveley is centre left, Stratfield Mortimer is bottom right. The distance between them is about 12 miles. The arrow indicates the position of Oare. Curridge is a little below Oare.
For my known May ancestors, visit my Family History http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.boon/Index.html
The
May party
who left England
in 1852
George
May born 1809
Hannah May born 1809
Elizabeth May born 1830
James May born 1832
Harriet May born 1838
Thomas May born 1840
Richard May born 1843
William May born 1846
Emily May born 1850
Henry
Ballard born 1832
This narrative gives only the known experiences of the May family, together with brief details of the conditions they are likely to have experienced on their journey. There are many more detailed accounts of such journeys, and these can be accessed through the 'Sources' button on the left.
This web site is a work in progress which I have put 'on-the-air' in the hope of making contact with those who know more than I about the subject.
I will be adding to the narrative and the data as I learn more.
There are many links to external web sites on these pages, and I check from time to time that the links still work. I endeavor to find a new address for any link which ceases to work or to delete the link if the site has been removed from the internet.