John Wilder May

May was born on January 28, 1819, in Attleboro, Massachusetts to Lemuel and Esther Wilder May. His father served as a member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council and both chambers of the Massachusetts General Court.^[2] May graduated from Phillips Academy and the University of Vermont. After college, May farmed for a couple of years before returning to Attleboro to work as a school teacher.^[3]

In 1850, May married Elizabeth Thurston Farnham, a cousin from Bangor, Maine. They had four children - Henry Farnham May, Harriet Wilder May, John Lemuel May and Elizabeth Farnham May.^[2][3]

May studied law in the office of Francis Hilliard in Roxbury, Massachusetts.^[3] He was admitted to the bar on September 1, 1851, and started his own practice in Roxbury.^[3][1] He became involved in politics as well. He represented Ward 3 the Roxbury common council in 1857, was city solicitor for a time, and in 1867 represented the community in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.^[2][3][4] After Roxbury was annexed by Boston, May formed a partnership with Charles W. Story.^[2]

In 1869, May was elected District Attorney of Suffolk County.^[2] He was appointed Chief Justice of the Boston Municipal Court on October 12, 1878.^[2][1] He remained on the bench until his death on January 11, 1883.^[2]