Esther Horton was born in Kingswinford, Staffordshire, daughter of William Horton, born in Staffordshire, and Sarah (nee Shakespere), who was from Herefordshire. Esther was their first child, and she had younger sisters Mary and Jane.
In 1851 the family was living in Holbeach, Staffs., Father William then described as a Labourer. In 1861 they were living in Wednesbury in Staffordshire. William was then a Stocktaker.
In 1871, Esther, now a Dressmaker, was a Visitor and Niece, of Elizabeth Price, a Schoolmistress, born and living in Delamere, Herefordshire, a village not far from Bromyard.
Esther married William Magness in Bromyard in 1879..(William was born in Staunton-on-Wye, Herefordshire). Banns were read in both Bromyard and Christ Church, Worthing. Their first son William Wilfred, was born in 1879. Their other children were Frederick Horton, Alfred Joseph, James Henry and Edgar John, all born in Worthing.
By 1881 Esther and William were living in Park Road, with William Wilfred, and Lodgers Lewis (a Carpenter) and Ellen Johnson, plus William Watkins, Gardener, from Herefordshire.
At one time husband William was Foreman to George Beer, Grower of Goring and West Worthing.
Magness's company, in Lansdowne Road, forced strawberries on a large scale, in pots. At one time they had as many as 40,000 pots of strawberries growing.
In 1891 the family were living in Oxford Road, but by 1901 they had moved to the Nurseries in Lansdowne Road, in partnership with Henry Barnwell, until 1894.
In the 1911 census at Avenue Nurseries Lansdowne Rd., Worthing were
William Magness, Fruit Grower, Employer; wife Esther; sons Alfred Joseph Magness 27, single, fruit and flower salesman born Worthing; James Henry Magness, 25, single, Fruit grower, born Worthing; Edgar John Magness, 22, single, Carnation grower, born Worthing and niece Alice Mary Haines aged 40 and single, a Mother's help from Kings Pryor, Herefordshire
William was joined in the business by 3 of his 5 sons but when all his sons joined up in WW1 he was forced to stop growing strawberries as they were so labour intensive.
Edgar Magness packing strawberries
He made his sons promise they would restore the name of Magness as quality strawberry growers by 1927 they were back in production and continued for another 30 years.
The photo shows Edgar Magness packing strawberries.
In 1921 William and Esther were at Lansdowne Nurseries with single son Edgar, Fruit Grower, and Great-niece Alice Raines, 50, born in Herefordshire, doing Household Duties.
William died in 1925. Probate was given to his sons William Wilfred and Frederick Horton.
Esther died in 1932, living in South View Nurseries, Lansdowne Road, and is buried in the same grave as husband William. Probate was given to sons William Wilfred and Frederick Horton Magness, both Fruit Growers.