John Webster [we]

Tree showing lineage from John Webster to grand daughter Kate Webster

John Webster was born March 1st, 1763, & christened March 6th, 1763 at Burnham.

John was the son of John Webster & Mary Mason who married on November 27th, 1760 at Burnham, Bucks. John senior was a gardner of Hedsor, Burnham & Mary was a widow from Burnham. John & Mary had 2 other known children – Elizabeth, born c1761 & Mary born c1766. John senior died March 3rd, 1794.

John married Frances (or Fanny) Bayley on August 29th, 1796 at St Clement Danes, Westminster. Fanny was born c1756. She had previously married Thomas Bayley on May 7th, 1776 at St Martins in the Fields, London, & they had 3 children – Thomas, William & Anne Bayley. Thomas Bayley died May 14th, 1787. In 1790 Fanny became the domestic partner of John Edgson (a neighbour) but according to a diary written by him, he & Fanny never married due to ‘family complications’ (ref. Esther Byrt). John Edgson & Fanny had a daughter – Emma Bayley c1790.

John Webster & Fanny had 4 children before her death on October 10th, 1801.

The known children of John Webster & Frances Bayley (nee Hoare) were:

we.1. Joanna Webster born c1791
we.2. Charles Webster born March 27th, 1796 at Burnham, died August 19th, 1881
we.3. Henry Webster born October 30th, 1799, died 1889
we.4. Laura Webster born August 13th, 1801, died November 19th, 1821.

John married Elizabeth Compton Hearne by licence on October 5th, 1802 at Ealing, Middlesex. The fact that John had previously been married was confirmed by the letter ‘w’ shown after his name on the parish register. Elizabeth was christened January 18th, 1775 at St Nicholas, Chiswick, London, the daughter of Elizabeth & Thomas Hearne.

In Pigot’s directory of 1830-31 of Buckinghamshire John was recorded as a corn dealer of Burnham.

John was recorded in Robson’s 1839 Directory of Bucks as a grass seedsman of Burnham.

In 1841 John was still working as a corn dealer at the age of 75 & living with wife Elizabeth & son William (20) at High St, Burnham. They had a female servant, Mary Nichols (15).

The following passage is taken from a collection of anecdotes about the Websters of Burnham prepared by Frederick W Deane (http://www.hups.net/~lwuth/brangwin/2002_08_newsletter.html)

His (John Webster's) great village crony was Dr. Roberts, their houses were opposite but they never went into each other’s houses. Every day they began chatting, each at his own gate across the street, involuntarily moving nearer until they button-holed each other and so continued until some engagement hurried one off. He (John) always wore a full swallowtailed coat with large brass buttons, large buff waistcoat, buff breeches, stockings or gaiters and low shoes. He was quite bald but always wore a plain brown wig. A decidedly good-looking man and the dress suited him.

Elizabeth died, aged 72, on June 18th, 1847 at Burnham, & was buried on June 25th, 1847 at Burnham.

John died on January 2nd, 1850, aged 86 & was buried January 8th, 1850 at Burnham, his age listed as 87 in the burial register.

John left a lengthy (7 pages) will written on September 20th, 1848. He nominated as his executors his 3 sons –Charles, Richard & William. It is clear from the will that John was a wealthy land owner. The major points of the will were as follows:
Mary Ann & William were to share the household furniture, beds, bed linen, china & glass.
Charles, Henry, & John Hearne were each to receive £300, Thomas & Mary Ann each to receive £500.
The executors were given £500 to invest in securities for the benefit of daughter Sophia, married to Robert Style, & likewise £500 for the benefit of daughter Maria, married to Thomas Johnson.
The remainder of his personal estate was divided into 9 parts & given to Charles, Henry, John Hearne, Richard, Thomas, William, Mary Ann & to the trustees to invest for Sophia & Maria.
As regards John’s remaining estate & property this was to be distributed as follows:

‘Also I give & devise unto my son Richard Webster (in addition to the advancements of money already made to him in my lifetime & to the bequests contained in this my will) all that piece or parcel of meadow or pasture land situated lying & being in Foulton Head in the parish of Cookham in the county of Berks now in the occupation of him my said son & containing by estimation one acre (be the same more or less) to hold the same to him my said son Richard Webster & his heirs & assigns for ever. Also I give & devise unto my said son William Webster (in addition to my old established business as a corn dealer with my stock & utensils in trade which I have already relinquished in his favour besides the advancements of money which I have made to him & the bequests contained in this my will) all that my messuage or tenement with the yard garden warehouse granaries stables & other erections & buildings & about 2 acres of land situated at Burnham aforesaid now in my own occupation & on part of which premises my said son William now carries on the said trade or business to hold the same unto him my said son William Webster his sons & assigns forever to & for his & their own proper use thereof & benefit upon condition that he my said son so & shall within 12 calendar months after my decease well & truly pay or caused to be paid unto my trustees hereinafter named the sum of seven hundred pounds of lawful money of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland present in England & of the trust fund hereinafter directed to be raised by them by the sale of the residue of my real estates. Also I give & divise unto my 3 sons Charles Webster Richard Webster & William Webster all the rest residue & remainder of my messuages lands tenements hereditaments & real estate at Cippenham in the parish of Burnham aforesaid or elsewhere which I shall be possessed of or interested in at the time of my decease including my said messuage or tenement & buildings lands hereditaments & premises at Burnham aforesaid now in my own occupation in case my said son William shall refuse or neglect to pay the said sum of seven hundred pounds to my trustees within the period hereinsofar prescribed for that purpose..’

John wrote detailed instructions to his trustees to be followed if the lands were sold. The will was proved in London on January 30th, 1850 & admon granted to Charles, Richard & William Webster.

The known children of John Webster & Elizabeth Compton Hearne were:

we.5. Elizabeth Feesey Webster born July 4th, 1803 at Burnham; died September 12th, 1817
we.6. Mary Ann Webster born September 18th, 1804 at Burnham
we.7. John Hearne Webster born December 12th, 1805 at Burnham; died October 25th 1882
we.8. Sophia Webster born May 10th, 1807 at Burnham, died <1881
we.9. Richard Webster born June 30th, 1809 at Burnham; died July-September 1894 at Eton
we.10. Thomas Webster born c1811 at Burnham
we.11. Maria Webster christened January 24th, 1813 at Burnham, died December 28th, 1872
we.12. William Webster born c1817 at Burnham; died March 15th, 1904 at Burnham