Did John Webb, born 1841 Twerton, marry Elizabeth Parfitt?

Question

I thought I had it all correct:

John Webb was born second quarter 1841 in Twerton, Somerset. He's with his family for the 1841 and 1851 census, he moves to Bedwellty by the 1861 census, marries Elizabeth Parfitt in 1863, emigrates to Pennsylvania in 1870, returns to his brother's house for the 1871 census, appears in the 1880 US Census with his family in Pennsylvania.

Simple.

Then I find the FindAGrave record which gives him a middle name and a birth in September 1838. How could I  (or the headstone) be so wrong?

I'm looking specifically for his passage to and from the US (1870 - 1880) and his presence in US Census after 1880. Any info on the John W. Webb born 24 Sept 1838 would also be of use.

Can anyone help? Thanks!

Comments

Given the information from Laura below I have split the John that married Elizabeth from the John from Twerton - I now have to find the fate of the John from Twerton.

Answer 1

There are two different John Webb's and it appears they have been conflated. One was baptized on 9 May 1841 in Twerton, Somerset, England. His parents were John Webb and Harriet. The other was born on 24 September 1838 in Nailsea, Somerset, England. His parents were John Webb and Matilda Wilcox. He is the one that migrated and died 18 August 1909 in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. There are censuses for both. There is also a death record with an image. I have added a couple of transcriptions with sources to show they are two different men.

Comments

Thanks Laura,

There certainly seem to be a lot of John, son of John ,Webbs. How does this explain the marriage record and 1880 US census both stating that John is born 1841?

Event: Marriage
Record set: Monmouthshire Marriages And Banns
First name(s): John
Last name: Webb
Event year: 1863
Birth year: 1841
Marriage year: 1863
Spouse's first name(s): Elizabeth
Spouse's last name: Parfitt
County: Monmouthshire
Country: Wales
Marriage place: Bedwellty
Page: 125
Age: 22
Banns year: -
Marriage date: 20 Dec 1863
Father's first name(s): John
Father's last name: Webb
Spouse's age: 21
Spouse's birth year: 1842
Category: Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory: Parish Marriages
Collections from: Wales, Great Britain

---

I looked for the person on the profile that you linked. You wanted to know how the headstone could say he was born in 1838 when you had 1841. The John Webb that died in 1909 in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania has a death record. It has the birth 24 September 1838 in England and he was born to John Webb and Matilda Wilcox. Both of these John's have censuses.

It doesn't explain the Wales marriage record. I was just trying to figure out the two death dates. Then noticed that they were two different men. The attached parents appear to be incorrect because that profile's parents' were John Webb and Matilda Wilcox. Both families originated in Somerset. I was only able to locate the Wales marriage record and nothing more about the Webb's in Wales.

---

OK, thanks.

I will create the Nailsea John and move the marriage and US emigration to that.

The Twerton John is my GGG grand-uncle and will leave his fate unknown.

Regards,
Chris.

---

I have created John William Webb for the profile from Nailsea.

It is odd, though, that the death record says he is "single" not "widowed" and yet he is buried with his wife.

---

I agree, about his death record. I have seen others with mistakes. One of my more recent ancestor grandmothers was named Sarah Matilda and her death record has Martha. All the other information is correct and we know it is her. We have no idea why they listed her name as Martha since she was always called Matilda and sometimes Sarah.