Richard Webber (1698 - 1791)

Born 1698 in St Kew, Cornwall, England

Husband of Jane (Warren) Webber — married 10 Nov 1727 (to before 1768) in St Kew, Cornwall, England

Descendants

Died 1791 at about age 93 in St Kew, Cornwall, England

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Biography

A Richard Webber was baptized in St Kew,^[1] in Cornwall, on 1 March 1697. His parents were named Thomas and Grace.^[2]

This baptism occurred before 1752, when England abandoned "old style" dates.^[3] Old style dates were based on the Julian calendar, which in 1697 lagged ten days behind the currently used Gregorian calendar; furthermore, new year's day was 25 March rather than 1 January. So by present day reckoning Richard's baptism took place on 11 March 1698.

The subject of the present biography is the Richard Webber who married Jane Warren in St Kew in 1727. On the evidence uncovered so far, it seems likely that he was the one baptized in 1698. The evidence is discussed below.

Richard married Jane on 30 October 1727, old style.^[4] By this time the Julian calendar was eleven days behind the Gregorian calendar; so by our present day conventions the marriage occurred on 10 November 1727.

Richard and Jane had five children, all baptized in St Kew. In the following list the baptism dates given are new style dates, converted from the old style dates originally recorded:

• Thomas Webber, baptized on 29 March 1730,^[5]
• Richard Webber, baptized on 17 June 1732,^[6]
• Jane Webber, baptized on 1 March 1735,^[7]
• John Webber, baptized on 17 April 1837,^[8]
• William Webber, baptized on 13 September 1739.^[9]

A search for St Kew Richard Webbers who might have been the one married in 1727 found only three: as well as the Richard baptized in 1698, there was a Richard Webber baptized in St Kew on 25 March 1710, the son of Mr John Webber and his wife Barbara,^[10] and there was also a Richard Webber son of John baptized in St Kew on 26 October 1687.^[11] The 1710 Richard seems a bit young to be the one who married in 1727, and the 1787 Richard seems a bit old. One can also argue that the fact that Richard and Jane named their first son Thomas supports the conjecture that Richard's father was named Thomas.

There were five Jane Webbers buried in St Kew between 1735 and 1768, and these probably included Richard's wife and the daughter baptized in 1735.

Mrs Jane Webber buried on 15 April 1735 was a widow; so she was not Richard's wife or daughter.^[12]

Jane Webber buried on 7 April 1736 could well have been the one year old daughter of Richard and Jane.^[13]

The Mrs Jane Webber buried on 15 October 1745 may or may not have been Richard's wife.^[14] The fact that she was given the title Mrs is an indication high social status, not merely a statement that she was someone's wife or widow. If she were Richard's wife then one could reasonably expect that Richard should be referred to as Mr Richard Webber, but there is no obvious evidence that he was called Mr.

The Jane Webber buried on 4 March 1761 could have been Richard's wife.^[15]

The Jane Webber buried on 29 March 1768 could have been Richard's wife.^[16]

A widower named Richard Webber married a Margaret Harry in St Kew on 20 September 1768.^[17] The marriage was witnessed by a Richard Webber and a John Webber, probably the groom's sons.

The signature of the John Webber who witnessed the marriage of Richard Webber and Margaret Harry is similar enough to the signature of the John Webber of St Kew who married Elizabeth Trebell in St Minver on 5 July 1765.^[18]

Richard Webber senior's son Richard married Ann Williams in St Kew on 27 November 1759.^[19] This Richard was not the widower married in 1768 because Richard and Ann Webber's ten children born in St Kew included five born after 1768.

Comparing Richard Webber junior's signature when he witnessed his father's second marriage with his signature at his own marriage, we see that the handwriting matches very well for the word "Richard", but at his own marriage he did not manage to write his surname very well.

Richard Webber senior was buried in St Kew on 21 May 1791.‍^[20]‍^[21] He had attained the age of 93, but the burial register does not tell us that, and the only reason we know that the man who died in 1791 was Richard senior and not Richard Junior is because his will survives.^[22] Furthermore, the will mentions a grandson William Webber, son of Richard Webber deceased.

Richard Webber Junior was buried in St Kew on 9 June 1782.^[23]

Richard senior's will mentions his daughter-in-law Ann Webber (widow of Richard Junior) and also mentions his daughter-in-law Elizabeth Webber and her son Richard Trebell Webber, but does not mention his son John. It seems clear that John died before 10 June 1785 (when Richard senior made his will), and hence was probably the John Webber buried in St Kew on 23 April 1779.^[24]

Thomas Webber, eldest son of Richard and Jane, was certainly still alive when Richard made his will. The will also tells us that Thomas had three children (at that time), and from St Kew baptism records we can deduce that Thomas's wife's name was Ann.‍^[25]‍^[26]‍^[27]‍^[28]‍^[29] Thomas Webber of St Kew had married Ann Olver in Egloshayle^[30] (adjacent to St Kew) on 11 May 1767.^[31]

Richard Webber senior's second wife was probably the Margaret Webber who was buried in St Kew on 20 November 1776.^[32]

Richard Webber's Will

The document is faded and in many places hard to decipher. Hence there are gaps in the following attempted transcription.

In the name of God Amen I Richard Webber of the Parish of St Kew in the County of Cornwall Senior being of Sound and Disposing Mind memory and understanding Dou make This my Last Will and Testemant as Folloeth

First I Recommend My Soul to God my Heavenly father and my Body to Desent Christian Buriall and for my worley Goods I Dispoces of them as Folloeth

First I Give to my Son Thomas Webber all that Tenement in Low Ambell Called and Known by Tom Webbers Tenement and all the hous all Goods in the same House and one Ginne in one year after my Decease

I give to my Daughter Law Elizabeth Webber that House and garden that Shee now Lieth in as Long as Shee Liveth and after her Decese I Give that Same House and garden unto her Son Richard Tarbell Webber as Long … …

I give to Elizabeth Webber Daughter Grace Webber five pounds on one year after my Decease to Left in my son Thomas Webber hand for Her own uise

I Give to Her other Six Cheldarn Tenn Shillings Ech in one year after my decese

I Give to Thomas Webber Three Cheldarn Tenn Shillings Ech in one year after my decese

I Give to my Daughter Law ann Webber … Tenemantt as Long as Shee Liveth and Two Pounds in … …

I Give to Her Son Richard Webber one Pound in one year after my decease
I Give to Her Daughter Ann Webber five pounds in one year after my decease
I Give to Her other three Childern Thomas John & Grace Tenn Shillings Ech in one year after my decease

I Give unto my Granson William Webber Son of Richard Webber Deceased all my other Efficet of what soever I Die possed of waring aparrell … … … I make him my Whole and Sole excesater I make his my Last Will and Tastemant in witness where of here I have Sett my hand and Sceall The Tenth Day of June 1785
                  Richard Webber

Sources

1. ↑ St Kew: Wikipedia article.
2. ↑ Baptism of Richard Webber, 1 March 1697 (old style): "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794 > image 12 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth. (See the last entry on the page.)
3. ↑ Old Style and New Style dates: Wikipedia article.
4. ↑ Richard Webber and Jane Warren, 30 October 1727 (old style): "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794 > image 118 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth. (Second to last entry on the page.)
5. ↑ Baptism of Thomas Webber, 18 March 1729 (old style): "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794 > image 39 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
6. ↑ Baptism of Richard Webber, 6 June 1732 (old style): "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794 > image 41 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
7. ↑ Baptism of Jane Webber, 18 February 1734 (old style): "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794 > image 43 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
8. ↑ Baptism of John Webber, 6 April 1837 (old style): "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794 > image 45 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
9. ↑ William Webber baptism, 2 September 1739 (old style): "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794 > image 49 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
10. ↑ Richard Webber, 14 March 1709 (old style): "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794 > image 22 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
11. ↑ Richardus Webber, 16 October 1687 (old style): "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794 > image 7 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
    Richardus filius Johannis Webber Bapt: 16^o die October [1687]
12. ↑ Burial of Mrs Jane Webber, 15 April 1735: "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794 > image 163 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
13. ↑ Burial of Jane Webber, 7 April 1736: "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794 > image 163 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
14. ↑ Burial of Mrs Jane Webber, 15 October 1745: "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794 > image 169 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
15. ↑ Burial of Jane Webber, 4 March 1761: "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794 > image 176 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
16. ↑ Burial of Jane Webber, 29 March 1768: "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794 > image 180 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
17. ↑ Richard Webber widower and Margaret Harry widow, 20 September 1768: "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Marriage banns, marriages, 1754-1890 > image 15 of 59; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
18. ↑ John Webber and Elizabeth Trebell, marriage banns and marriage: "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Minver > Marriage banns, 1754-1787 > image 19 of 59; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
19. ↑ Richard Webber and Ann Williams, 27 November 1759: "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Marriage banns, marriages, 1754-1890 > image 8 of 59; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
20. ↑ Burial of Richard Webber, 21 May 1791: "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew  Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794  image 190 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
21. ↑ Burial of Richard Webber, 21 May 1791: Bishop's Transcripts for St Kew, FamilySearch film # 005749793, image 84 of 128.
22. ↑ Richard Webber's will, 1791: Original wills, administrations and inventories for the Consistorial Court of the Archdeaconry of Cornwall, 1579–1859; wills, surnames beginning with W (numbers 2623–3101), 1758–1793. FamilySearch film # 004476856, image 1591 of 1742.
23. ↑ Burial of Richard Webber, 9 June 1782: "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794 > image 186 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth. (Seventh burial in 1782.)
24. ↑ Burial of John Webber, 23 April 1779: "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794 > image 184 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
25. ↑ John Webber, 27 March 1768: "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794 > image 73 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
26. ↑ Thomas Webber, 21 May 1769: Bishop's transcripts for St Kew, FamilySearch film # 004261786, image 174 of 329.
27. ↑ Thomas Webber, 8 July 1770: "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794 > image 76 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
28. ↑ Nicholas Webber, 27 June 1773: "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794 > image 81 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
    Nicholas the Son of Thomas Webber & Ann his Wife was baptized June the 27th.
29. ↑ Catherine Webber, 2 July 1775: "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794 > image 83 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
30. ↑ Egloshayle: Wikipedia article.
31. ↑ Thomas Webber and Ann Olver 11 May 1767: "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 2 February 2018), Cornwall > Egloshayle > Marriage banns, marriages, 1754-1783 > image 18 of 44; Kresen Kernow, Redruth.
32. ↑ Burial of Margaret Webber, 20 November 1776: "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010" database with images (FamilySearch, 14 April 2015), Cornwall > St Kew > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1680-1794 > image 183 of 200; Kresen Kernow, Redruth. (Seventh burial in 1782.)