William was born in Staunton-on-Wye, Herefordshire, the son of Joseph Magness and Sarah (Biddlestone).
He married Esther (Horton) who was from Staffordshire, in about 1879 and they were in Worthing by 1881, with their first son, William.
At one time he 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 the early days he could realise prices as high as £2/2/- per lb at the beginning of the season. His most eminent customer was King Edward VII who had them delivered to him while visiting Ireland.
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.
London Gazette 1895
NOTICE is hereby given that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned William Magness and Henry Barnwell carrying on business as Nurserymen Florists and Fruitgrowers at Crescent-road and Lansdowne-road Worthing Sussex, under the style or firm of Barnwell and Magness, has been dissolved by mutual consent as and from the 25th day of December 1894. All debts due and owing from the said late firm will be received and paid by the said Henry Barnwell at the Nursery in Crescent-road, Worthing.”Dated this 15th day of December 1894.
WILLIAM MAGNESS.
HENRY BARNWELL.
William Magness belonged to the Primitive Methodists and briefly entered into a partnership with fellow worshipper Frederick C Linfield, coal and coke merchant, who supplied coke and cola to many of the local nurseries
From the Worthing Gazette Feb 22 1899 (page 3) A combination of the Fruit-growing business accrued by Alderman F C Linfield some time since and the older undertaking controlled by Mr W Magness, has been carried out, the capital which has been subscribed privately, being £30,000.
Edgar John Magness packing strawberries
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. 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.
Edgar John Magness is packing strawberries here.
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
In the 1925 National Probate Calendar: William Magness of The Avenue Nurseries, Lansdowne Rd. Worthing, died 18th May 1925. Probate London 22 Aug 1925 to William Wilfred Magness and Frederick Horton Magness fruitgrowers. Effects £7420/1/1d
Esther died in 1832 and is buried in the same grave.