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- Born at Grove Cottage, Fulham.
Baptised at St. Leonard's, Shoreditch on 14/09/1829. (source, IGI)
Baptised again at Newcastle under Lyme Parish Church 25/12/1836 (source IGI)
Was said when young to have a strong constitution and a temperament brimming over with fun and mischief.
At ten years of age was sent to a bording school at Newcastle under Lyme. Then attended King's College, London as a day border.
Five children survived out of ten. There were at least two daughters and at least one son surviving.
A biography was written about him :-"A Great Heart or The life of Canon Major Lester" by Rev A H Grey-Edwards, MA, his son in law .
See Liverpool Heritage Forum web site http://www.liverpoolheritageforum.org.uk/famous.php?id=48 for potted history.
Attended Christ's College, Cambridge from summer term 1848. He graduated in 1852 with an ordinary pass degree.
The following information is taken from Crockford's and Clergy Lists:
1847-1848 King's College, London
1852 Graduated BA from Christ's College, Cambridge
1852 Appointed Deacon (ordained at Chester Cathedral 1853)
June 1852-1853 Curate of St. Barnabas, Parliament St., Liverpool
1853 Appointed priest by Bishop of Chester
1854 At St. Saviour's Chorlton on Medlock for nine months.
1855 Appointed perpetual curate of St. Mary's, Kirkdale, Liverpool (parish of Walton on the Hill), diocese of Chester (Patrons, trustees; perpetual curate's income 300l; population 14,730. Surrogate
1860 living at 1 Gecian Terrace, Everton
1866 Awarded MA
1881 living at 294 Netherfield Road North, Kirkdale
1884 Appointed Honorary Canon of Liverpool
1886 Still at St. Mary's
1889 Member of Liverpool School Board
1891 Chairman of Liverpool School Board
1891 Pluralities Act Commissioner for Archdeacon of Liverpool
1895 Living at 294 Netherfield Road North, Kirkdale
1895 Rural Dean of Liverpool
Was the author of the following:
Essays (4shs.)
Tracts
Tribulation
A word to children
A promise for the year
A word to the tried
Died of bronchitis at 294 Netherfield Road North, Everton. Death registered by son Henry F M Lester.
His great life's work was The Kirkdale Child Charity which he founded. This is claimed to have helped 10,000 children. The street in which the Ragged Schools were situated was named Major Street. He was also involved in the foundation of the Stanley Hospital and was its Chairman.
He was known as "Major Lester" and as "Old Humphrey".
A school, "The Major Lester School" was named after him.
He was buried in Anfield Cemetery on 07/11/1903. 45,000 to 50,000 including the Lord Mayor of Liverpool were reported to have been there. The grave is number 1571 in section C8.
There is a statue of him in St. John's Gardens, Liverpool.
The following is extracted from a short biography in th Liverpool Leader Album:-
"In 1855 he succeeded Rev. G. Dover at St. Mary's, Kirkdale where his philanthropic tendencies and indefatigable activities found a broad and productive field of action. An earnest pastor and popular preacher, he has specially distinguished himself as an educator of the poor and a benefactor of the outcast. In 1856 he founded the Kirkdale Industrial Ragged Schools which he has maintained ever since, with almost unequalled success by his personal efforts, He has also erected other schools in his district so that statistics recently collected show it to be as well provided for and its schools as well attended as any in Liverpool. In all public affairs, political or social, such as efforts to restrict the number of public houses in Kirkdale or o improve the condition of the poor of the district, he manifests warm interest, and his benevolent labours are limited only by the extent of his strength and opportunities".
Census reference for 1881 is (Everton) RG11/3661 folio 120, page 12. (294 Netherfield Road North)
His will was proved at Liverpool on 14/12/1903 and Elizabeth Lester, his widow, was an executor. The effects were £84 15s and were resworn at £1393 10s 10d.
Alumni Cantabrigienses From 1752 to 1900: Volume 4
Lester, Thomas Major. Adm. pens. at CHRIST'S, June 23, 1848. S. of John, of
Elstree Hall, Herts. B. Aug. 26, 1829, in London. Educated at home and at King's
College, London. Matric. Michs. 1848; B.A. 1852; M.A. 1866. Ord. deacon(Chester)
1852; priest, 1853; C. of St Barnabas's, Liverpool, 1852-3. C. of St. Mary's, Kirkdale, Lancs., 1853-4; V. of St Mary's with St Laurence's, Kirkdale, 1855-1903. Surrogate, dio. Liverpool, 1880. Hon. Canon of Liverpool, 1884-1903. Rural Dean of Liverpool North, 1896-1903. Chairman of the Liverpool School Board. Vice-President of Trinity College of Music, London, 1897-1903. Died Nov. 3, 1903. Brother of John W. (1845) and Edward (1850). (Peile, II. 505; Crockford; Who was Who, 1897-1916.)
Buried in Anfield Cemetery CE Section 8, No. 1571
Probate record: Effects worth £84 15s, re-sworn £1393 10s 10d
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1829 - 1903 (74 years)
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