Page updated 20th August 2003

JOHN PESTER

My thanks to John & Doris Pester for the information about James Pester and for adding more information about John Pester.

JOHN PESTER 1829 -

John was the 10th child of George Pester and Ann Splatt, he was born at Whitstone and baptised 2nd May 1829. John became a Shoemaker and when he was 25 he married Mary Ann Ekers 21 year old servant, daughter of Thomas Ekers at St Thomas Registry Office on 17th September 1854.

In 1861 John and Mary Ann were living at Church Lane, St Thomas, Exeter. The census shows John Pester age 31, Tea Dealer's Porter, born at Whitestone, Mary Ann,  wife, age 27, born at Whitestone, George H, son, age 6, born at Exeter, Simon, son, age 3, born at Exeter, James, son, age 9 months, born at St Thomas, John, son, age 5, born at St Thomas, and Charlotte Ekers, visitor, age 14, Servant, born at Whitestone.

I found John on the 1881 census living at Nadder Bottom, Whitstone. John Pester, age 51, Shoemaker. Mary Ann, his wife, aged 47, Simon R. son, aged 23, Sawyer, Emily E. aged 10, Scholar, Peter, son, aged 7, Scholar (born 17th June 1873). All were born at Whitstone. James was Apprenticed to William Miller a Blacksmith at Lower Folley,  John was working at Willmington Baxter's Farm, Spring Farm, Whitestone.

JAMES PESTER 1860 - 1932

James was the third son of John Pester and Mary Ann, he was born 15th June 1860 at Church Lane, St Thomas. James became an apprentice Blacksmith to Richard Miller of Whitestone the indenture was dated 17th January 1878. The 1881 census shows  he was still an apprentice Blacksmith to William R Miller at Lower Folley, Whitestone. James was now 20 years old.

Six years later James married Rhoda Jane Beedle on 31st January 1886. James and Rhoda had 3 children,  Ernest James born about 1886, Lily Jane born about 1894 and Dorothy May born about 1899.

James died aged 71 on 30th January 1932, Rhoda Jane died aged 77 on 12th August 1945, they are both buried in Kenton churchyard.

ERNEST JAMES PESTER 1886 - 1960

Ernest James was the first child of James Pester and Rhoda Jane Beedle, he was born about 1886. He married Elizabeth Mary Chudley, born 13th April 1890.  They had 3 boys, Ernest James born 28th July 1914, Sidney Horrace born 1917 who died 1980 and Leslie John born 1921 and died 2002, he married Dorothy Ellen, born 1923. Elizabeth Mary died aged 65 in 1955. Ernest James died in 1960.

ERNEST JAMES PESTER 1914 -1981

Ernest James was the first child of Ernest James Pester and Elizabeth Mary Chudley, he was born 28th July 1914. Ernest James married Bessie Marks on 27th April 1940 at Exmouth. Bessie Marks was born 24th May 1911. They had 2 boys John Ernest and Malcolm Keith. Ernest James died in 1981 and Bessie passed away on 25th May 1991.

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