Richard Webster [we.9.1]

Richard Webster was the first child of Richard Webster & Mary Ann Cross born July-September 1842 at Hitcham, Bucks.

In 1851 & 1861 Richard was living with his parents & family at Hill Farm, Hitcham.

Richard married Emily Dinah Headington April-June1865 at Cookham, Berks. Emily was born July-September 1842 at White Waltham, Berks, daughter of Eleanor & William Headington, a farmer of Paley St Farm, White Waltham. Richard’s sister Emily Ann Webster was to marry Charles Headington, Emily's brother 3 years later!

By 1871 Richard & Emily were living at Shoppenhangers Farm, Bray, Berks with 2 sons – Richard W (5), George A (2) & a daughter Emeline Gertrude (1). Richard was a farmer of 375 acres employing 10 labourers & 5 boys. The following reminiscences were discovered in the December 1937 edition of the Maidenhead Advertiser & included in an article written by Jack Saunders in May 1990 for the ‘Briginshaw One-Name Study’:

THE OLD FARM-HOUSE
A VICTORIAN FARMER WINS VICTORIAN CUP

When most of us old stagers over 65 years of age first remember the farm Mr Richard Webster was the farmer. Then the old farm house had much the same appearance it has in the illustration herewith and which it retained until after the Great War.

Earlier in the Reign of Queen Victoria the farm was in the hands of a Mr John Brigenshaw, who besides being a farmer had a Butcher's business in the Maidenhead High Street.

Mr Webster did not follow his (Mr Brigenshaw's) lead in a town business, but he did a little business in retail farm produce at certain times of the year with some of his town associates or customers. To the writers knowledge and youthful pleasure as a lad, on several occasions, both at Michaelmas and Christmas, my elder brother and myself would be sent up to 'Shoppenhangers Farm' to fetch the seasonable goose.

Whilst Mr R Webster was at 'Shoppenhangers' he was twice awarded the Prince Consort's Silver Challenge Cup, namely in 1869 and 1873 for the best cultivated farm within the area covered by the Royal East Berks Agricultural Association. This cup was presented by the late Queen Victoria. Those of us who remember the acres and acres of golden corn and the fresh and healthy looking root crops will agree that the late Mr Webster deserved his award....

In 1881 they were living at Chambers Farm, Shottesbrook, Berks where Richard was a farmer of 1450 acres employing 10 men, 4 boys & also a brewer employing 10 men & also a coal merchant! Living at home were children Emeline (11) & John Percy (6). George was a pupil at Abingdon House School, Clewer, Berks at this time & Frederic Charles (9) was a pupil at Greys Green Boarding School, Rotherfield Greys, Oxon.

According to the London Gazette Richard went into business partnership with Robert Edwin Plummer, trading as Coal, Coke, and Salt Factors, and General Forage Merchants, at Bray, Cookham, and Maidenhead. They had taken over the business of John Smith & Co., corn merchants, Maidenhead in December 1890. They traded under the name of 'WEBSTER AND PLUMMER' & the partnership lasted until 1st March 1902 when it was dissolved – see notice in The London Gazette of March 21st, 1902.

NOTICE is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore
subsisting between us the undersigned,
Richard Webster and Robert Edwin Plummer, carrying
on business as Coal, Coke, and Salt Factors, and General
Forage Merchants, at Bray, Cookham, and Maidenhead,
all in the county of Berks, under the style or firm of
"WEBSTER AND PLUMMER," has been dissolved by
mutual consent as and from the first day of March, 1902.
All debts due to and owing by the said late firm will
be received and paid by the said Richard Webster.—
Dated 18th day of March, 1902.
ROBERT EDWIN PLUMMER.
RICHD. WEBSTER.

By 1891 Richard had become a corn & coal merchant & he & Emily were living at Heathside, White Waltham, Berks. Living with them were sons Richard (poultry fancier), George (agricultural chemist), Frederic (19) a bank clerk & daughter Emeline.

In 1901 they were still living at Heathside, now called Maidenhead Thicket, & Richard was described as a coal & corn factor. Still at home were Richard (35) now a farmer & George (32) described as a merchant. Son John had married Lucy Jane Bertram earlier that year at Croydon & he was a seed merchant living at Maidenhead, Berks. Son Frederic was also married (to Edith Maud Wilbey, Fulham July-Sept 1896) & living in Maidenhead, his occupation was given as a bank clerk. Daughter Emeline had not married & was visiting Sarah Blakemore & family, a 63 year old widow, at 8 Augustus Rd, Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Emily died April-June 1906 aged 63, her death being registered at Maidenhead, Berks.

According to Ian Pope (author of several books on the Forest of Dean Railway system) Richard Webster had dealings with the Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Co. Ltd for the purchase & repair of wagons until at least April 1918. Kelly’s directory of Berkshire in 1915 lists Richard Webster’s address as All Saints Avenue, Maidenhead. Webster R. & sons were also listed at 124 High St & 85 King St, Maidenhead & Station Front, Cookham Rise, Berks.

One of Richard Webster's coal wagons (courtesy of Ian Pope)

An entry in the London Gazette of January 31st, 1919 reveals that Richard was an executor of the will of Frances Charles Longford, a farmer of Alveston, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire who had died on February 16th 1916.

The children of Richard Webster & Emily Dinah Headington were:

we.9.1.1 Richard W Webster born Jan-March 1866 at Bray, Berks
we.9.1.2 George Augustus Webster born July-September 1868 at Bray, Berks
we.9.1.3 Emmeline Gertrude Webster born Oct-December 1869 at Bray, Berks
we.9.1.4 Frederic Charles Webster born July-September 1871 at Bray, Berks
we.9.1.5 John Percy Webster born Jan-March 1875 at Bray, Berks