Origin and Meaning of the name Webster
WEBSTER is an occupational name from Old English and refers to a person who was a weaver.
I am following two branches of the Webster family that were boatmen and women on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in Lancashire in the hope of finding a link between them.
On the one hand, James Webster, married my great grandfather's sister Margaret Ruddock.
On the other, my aunt's grandmother was Margaret Webster. She married Richard Cheetham.
The Websters were boatmen on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. They married into other branches of my mother's family on at least two occasions and my aim would be to find out as much as possible about them, especially my aim would be to find out the link between these two Websters and if James and Margaret (ne� Ruddock) had children and grandchildren.
James Webster m. 1908
James Wester was a boatman on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. He married my great grandfather's sister, Margaret Ruddock on 3rd August 1908.
From the wedding details, James was 25 years of age. His father's name is given as Richard Webster and witnesses at the wedding were John Wright and Jane Webster, who is probably his sister
On the 1881 census we find:
Dwelling: Haskayne
Census Place: Downholland, Lancashire, England
Source: FHL Film 1341895 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 3743 Folio 43 Page 11
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Richard WEBSTER M 36 M Downholland, Lancashire,
England
Rel: Head
Occ: Boatman
Sarah WEBSTER M 34 F Halsall, Lancashire, England
Rel: Wife
William WEBSTER 12 M Downholland, Lancashire,
England
Rel: Son
Occ: Scholar
John WEBSTER 8 M Downholland, Lancashire, England
Rel: Son
Occ: Scholar
Joseph WEBSTER 6 M Downholland, Lancashire, England
Rel: Son
Occ: Scholar
Henry WEBSTER 3 M Downholland, Lancashire, England
Rel: Son
Occ: Scholar
Jane WEBSTER 1 F Downholland, Lancashire, England
Rel: Daur
Also I have found the following wedding:
Richard Webster married Sarah Hartley on 27th August 1866 at at St. Cuthbert's Church, Halsall, Lancashire.
Thomas Webster christened on 28th April 1866 at Halsall Lancashire. Father Richard Webster. Mother Sarah
William Webster christened on 18th August 1867 in Halsall Lancashire. Father Richard Webster. Mother Sarah
William Webster christened on 25th October 1868 at Halsall, Lancashire. Father Richard Webster. Mother Sarah
John Webster christened on 23rd June 1872 at Halsall, Lancashire. Father Richard Webster. Mother Sarah.
Joseph Webster christened on 24th May 1874 at Halsall Lancashire. Father Richard Webster. Mother Sarah
Henry Webster christened on 11th November 1877 at Halsall, Lancashire. Father Richard Webster. Mother Sarah
Jane Webster christened on 9th November 1879 at Halsall, Lancashire. Father Richard Webster. Mother Sarah
James Webster christened on 5th March 1882 at Halsall, Lancashire. Father Richard Webster. Mother Sarah
Click on the photo to enlarge the family gravestone at St. Cuthbert's, Halsall.
Click above to view the first branch of my Webster Family Group Sheets
Margaret Webster (1883-1955)
Margaret Webster married Richard Cheetham in 1903. On the marriage certificate her father's name is given as Thomas Webster, boatman. And witnesses are William Webster and Jane Webster, who may be her brother and sister.
On the 1881 census we find:
Dwelling: Flats & Barges Isabella
Census Place: Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Source: FHL Film 1341864 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 3606 Folio 146 Page 23
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Thomas WEBSTER M 32 M
Rel: Head
Occ: Boatman
Alice WEBSTER M 26 F
Occ: Boatman Wife
Ellen WEBSTER 5 F Wigan, Lancashire, England
Occ: Boatmans Daur
Sarah WEBSTER 3 F Wigan, Lancashire, England
Occ: Boatmans Daur
William WEBSTER 2 M Askane, Lancashire, England
Occ: Boatmans Son
Also I have found the following wedding:
Thomas Webster married Alice Moorcroft on 1st July 1871 at St. Cuthbert's Church, Halsall, Lancashire
And the following christenings:
Ellen Webster christened on 4th January 1874 at Halsall, Lancashire. Father: Thomas Webster. Mother: Alice
Sarah Webster christened on 16th May 1875 at Halsall, Lancashire. Father: Thomas Webster. Mother: Alice.
William Webster christened on 1st April 1877 at Halsall, Lancashire. Father: Thomas Webster. Mother: Alice
Click above to view the second branch of my Webster Family Group Sheets
Webster Surname Noticeboard at Genforum
Webster Surname Noticeboard at Rootsweb.com
If you have or know of a website dedicated to the Webster Surname, please let me know so that I can include a link on this page.