William Augustus Weber (1863)

Born 26 Jul 1863 in Sholing Hound, Hampshire, England

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Biography

William Augustus Weber was born 26 July 1863. He is the son of Adam Weber and Celia Weber.^[1]. The address for the family home, where he was born, was Sholing Hound, South Stoneham, Southampton. His birth certificate names his mother as “Celia Weber”. She made a mark on the register indicating she was unable to write in English. She may have Anglicised her German name to Celia, or it may simply have been that the Registrar did not recognise the name Gesina and she was unable to correct the error. Interestingly, she is also described as “Celia Weber, late Cook, formerly Crop”. Krop or Kropp would, presumably, have been the German spelling.

William seems to have grown-up in Sholing Hound. His family seems to have moved there, from Mile End Old Town, London, in about 1862. At the age of five years, he was vaccinated against smallpox. Vaccination was compulsory for infants from 1853 to 1948, and certificates were given to parents. A Medical Certificate of Successful Vaccination for William Augustus Weber has survived, revealing that he was vaccinated on 22 April 1868, the same day as his older brother John Henry Weber.^[2]. Their father is named as Adam Weber, and his address is given as Weston Common in the Parish of St Mary Extra, Hants.

The 1871 Census records William living with his mother, and three siblings, in Church Road, Hound, Sholing, Hampshire.^[3] He is described as seven-years-old and a scholar.

By 19 November 1880, William was in Liverpool, when he attempted to enlist in the Royal Marine Light Infantry. William signed the attestation papers, agreeing to serve in the unit for 13 years – until the age of 30 years. He described himself as a “Clerk”, from Sholing, Southampton and gave his religion as Church of England. He was 5ft 6ins tall, with fresh complexion, brown hair and hazel eyes. However, on 22 November, the fleet surgeon decided he was unfit for service and William was medically discharged.^[4]

Three days later, on 25 November 1880, William signed another set of Attestation papers, enlisting for 12 years and 11 months. This time the medical examination was conducted by two surgeons and William was declared “fit for service”.^[5] He joined D Company on 27 November 1880.

William may have moved to Hartlepool. The only known photograph of William Augustus Weber may have been taken around 1880-1890. The photographer was Tobias Braybrooke of Church Square, West Hartlepool.^[6]

In the 1891 Census, Augustus Weber is recorded as living with his brother, John Henry Weber, and their sister Mary Louisa Weber, at 24 Oxford Road, Southampton.^[7]. He was described as a single man, and was working as a photographic printer.

Family tradition is that William Augustus Weber later emigrated to Australia.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ “Birth Certificate: William Augustus Weber,” 26 July 1863, South Stoneham, Southampton, Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth.
2. ↑ “Compulsory Vaccination Act Certificate,” 22 April 1868, Weston Common, St Mary Extra, Hampshire, Photocopy, J.P. Weber.
3. ↑ “1871 England Census: Household of Georgina Weber,” Church Road, Scholing Hound, Hampshire, England, 2 April 1871, The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1871 England Census; Class: RG10; Piece: 1196; Folio: 39; Page: 21; GSU roll: 827814, Digital scan, Ancestry.com. 1871 England Census [database on-line], 26 September 2020.
4. ↑ “Attestation Papers to serve in the Royal Marines,” 19 November 1880, Liverpool, England, ADM 157/648/470-471, Manuscript form (Digital copy), The National Archives, Kew, London, England. William Weber, born Hampshire. Attestation papers to serve in the Royal Marines at Royal Marines 1880 (when aged 17). Discharged 22 November 1880 as Rejected.
5. ↑ “Attestation Papers to serve in the Royal Marines,” 22 November 1880, Liverpool, England, ADM 157/1920/19, Folios 49-51., Manuscript form (Digital copy J.P. Weber collection), The National Archives, Kew, London, England. William Weber, born: Sholing, Southampton, Hampshire; Age at attestation: 17; Attested: Liverpool; Joined in: 1880; Discharge reason: Deserted; Discharge year: 1890. 1823. “Royal Marines, Registers of Service: William Weber,” 1876 - 1884, Register Number: ADM 159/3/1876, Digital Scan, The National Archives, Kew, England.
6. ↑ Family photograph in the possession of J.P. Weber
7. ↑ “1891 England Census: Household of John H. Weber,” Oxford Road, Southampton, Hampshire, 5 April 1891, The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 913; Folio: 19; Page: 32; GSU roll: 6096023, Digital scan, Ancestry.com. 1891 England Census [database on-line], 24 September 2020.
8. ↑ J.P. Weber recollections