FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
SUSANNAH MAY

Caroline May was christened on 14 October 1798 in St. John Bedwardine, the daughter of Susannah May. She is shown in the parish register as "Caroline Pearkes, daughter of Susanna May (illegitimate)". From this we can suppose that her father was Mr. Pearkes. St. John Bedwardine is a suburb of the city of Worcester.
 

Susannah was christened 5 January 1777 in Britwell Salome, Oxfordshire, the daughter of Henry and Mary May. Britwell Salome is a village in Oxfordshire, not far from Watlington. Britwell may mean a spring or stream of the Britons, from the Old English Bryt  wella. The town was known as Brutwelle in 1086. Salome is a manorial affix from the de Suleham family dating from the 13th century. It was known as Brutewell Solham by 1320, and later on as Bruttewell Sulham. (http://www.ontaworld.co.uk/england/oxfordshire/britwellsalome/)
 
 

Susannah later married William Cullis 25 May 1801 in Whittington, Worcestershire, when Caroline was three years old. The Whittington parish register reads "William Cullis of this parish, batchelor and Susanna May of the same, spinster, married in this chapel by banns this 25th day of May 1801." Whittington is also nearby the city of Worcester. This William Cullis may be the same man who acted as a witness at Caroline's wedding to William Wishaw. Susannah and William Cullis then had the following children:
 

1. Eliza, christened 10 May 1807 in St. Martin, Worcester.
 

2. Jane, christened 18 July 1809 in St. Martin, Worcester.
 

3. Maria, christened 1 July 1811 in St. Martin, Worcester.
 

4. Henry, christened 17 March 1813 in St. Martin, Worcester.
 

5. Charlotte, christened 23 Aug 1815 in St. Martin.
 

SOURCE: IGI, Claines parish register, FHL# 352033; Whittington parish register, FHL# 435353; Bedwardine parish register, FHL# 350860.
 
 

Henry May was christened 15 October 1725 in Watlington, Oxfordshire, the son of Henry May and Elizabeth Rose. (Watlington is near Britwell Salome.) He married Mary. Henry and Mary had the following children:
 

1. Mary, christened 3 October 1762 in Britwell Salome.
 

2. Jane, christened 22 January 1764 in Britwell Salome.
 

3. Ann, christened 2 February 1766 in Britwell Salome.
 

4. Sarah, christened 10 May 1768 in Britwell Salome.
 

5. John, christened 20 January 1770 in Britwell Salome; buried 7 June 1771 in Britwell Salome.
 

6. Mary, christened 2 August 1772 in Britwell Salome; may have died young.
 

7. Mary, christened 20 November 1774 in Britwell Salome.
 

8. Susannah, christened 5 January 1777 in Britwell Salome; mother of Caroline May; married William Cullis 25 May 1801 in Whittington, Worcestershire.
 

9. Frances, christened 21 Feb 1779 in Britwell Salome; married Henry Key 23 June 1801 in Whittington, Worcestershire. William Cullis and Susanna May acted as witnesses for this marriage.
 

10. Henry, privately baptized 31 December 1780, christened in the church 21 January 1781 in Britwell Salome.
 
 

SOURCE: IGI; Britwell Salome parish register, FHL# 95219; Whittington parish register, FHL# 435353; Britwell Salome parish register extracts on CD.
 
 

Henry May was christened 20 May 1700 in Watlington, Oxfordshire, the son of John May and Mary White. He married Elizabeth Rose 15 September 1723 in Watlington. Both were shown as being "of this parish". Elizabeth was christened 7 April 1700 in Watlington, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Rose. Henry's occupation was shown in the parish registers as a cooper, or a barrelmaker. Henry was buried 17 August 1768 in Watlington. Elizabeth was buried a few months later, 10 October 1768 in Watlington. Henry and Elizabeth had the following children:
 

1. Henry, christened 15 October 1725 in Watlington; buried 20 October 1725 in Watlington.
 

2. Elizabeth, christened 23 February 1726 in Watlington.
 

3. Rose, christened 10 June 1730 in Watlington; buried 30 January 1731 in Watlington.
 

4. Henry, christened 26 February 1740 in Watlington; married Mary.
 

5. Martha, christened 26 January 1742 in Watlington; buried 17 March 1742 in Watlington.
 
 

SOURCE: Watlington parish register; IGI.
 
 

John May married Mary White 4 October 1697 in Watlington. John's occupation was shown in the parish registers as a laborer. Mary was christened 30 June 1673 in Watlington, the daughter of Thomas White and Ann or Amie Woodhouse. John died and was buried 17 June 1723 in Watlington. Mary died as a widow, and was buried 24 June 1726. John and Mary had the following children:
 

1. Henry, christened 20 May 1700 in Watlington; married Elizabeth Rose 15 September 1723 in Watlington.
 

2. John, christened 21 February 1701 in Watlington.
 

3. Richard, christened 6 March 1703 in Watlington.
 

4. Mary, christened 26 January 1705 in Watlington.
 

5. William, christened 12 April 1710 in Watlington; buried 11 May 1711 in Watlington.
 

6. William, christened 3 May 1713 in Watlington.
 

SOURCE: Watlington parish register; IGI.
 
 

 
 

If you have additional information about this family, please contact me at alice@boydhouse.com.