Elias and Jane Webb married in 1854 and by 1871 they were living in Alfred Street, Westbury.
They had nine children. Edward, John, James, Elias, Daniel, Mark, Albert, Frederick and Annie. By 1911 their family had spread around the country, but four of the children were still living in Westbury. In the two articles we learnt what happened to John’s and Daniel’s sons.
Now we look at the youngest member of the family. Annie was born in 1878. In 1911 she was living with Elias at 61 Brook Street. Her mother Jane had died in 1907. Jane is described as a housekeeper and glover. In April 1912 Annie married Robert William James Savory, a leather worker who was born in Liverpool. When Robert enlisted in January 1917 they had two children, Olive and Albert.
Robert’s service records still survives and shows him as serving with the Royal Garrison Artillery.
His son Albert James [better known as ‘Bob’] tells us in his book ‘Little Lane and Beyond’ that his father served in Ireland during the Sinn Fein uprising and was stationed in Newtownard. He also tells us his father worked in Jefferies glove factory.
To date this is all we have found out about the Webb family. We know that one other brother, Mark, was still living in Westbury. The 1911 Census shows him living in Westbury Leigh, married to Annie, with four children. He was employed as a glove cutter and their son Reginald Mark, born in 1896, was a glove worker. It is possible that Reginald served in the war but we have found no records to date.
The Westbury branch of the Wiltshire Family History Society are undertaking a project to find the names of the men from Westbury and the surrounding villages who joined up and served in WW1. Do you know anyone who served in WW1 if so the Westbury Family History Group would like to hear from you. They can be contacted on westbury@wiltshirefhs.co.uk
