Henry Webb (1804 – 1853), brother of Jonas Webb of Babraham
Henry Webb was christened on 16 October 1804 in Great Thurlow, Suffolk, the son of Samuel Webb and Mary Jonas. He was described by Jonas Marshall Webb in his Streetly book, as being tall and dark. He farmed at Great Chishill Hall, Essex, and then at Needham Hall Gazeley. From a local directory:
“Needham Hamlet one mile N of Gazeley belonged to Charles Eaton Hammond Esq ,
had only seven cottages. Needham Hall was occupied by Mr Henry Webb. In
1844 there were 45 souls living there, and just 900 acres.”
Henry married Mary?, and they had at least one child – Henry Webb, baptized 13 January 1836. Henry Snr died in the March quarter of 1853, after which the younger Henry took over. He was present when there was an attempted murder at Needham Hall:
From the Bury and Newmarket Post
May 25th 1853.
We have received another attempt of frightful murder at Needham Street, Gazeley, on the premises of Henry Webb of Needham Hall, Gazeley. The party on whom attempted murder was made was Mary Anne Knights a cook in Mr Webb's service and the individual who attempted to murder her is James Everett a labourer residing at Gazeley and working as a navvy on the Bury-Newmarket railway. It appears that Everett about 18 months ago paid his addresses to the young woman and having learnt he was given to drink she discarded him, he was frequently insulting to her and has been harbouring intention to do her harm. While she was on her way to church, Everett suddenly came up on her and threatened to do for her, she was aware that her young master, Henry, was behind her and on hearing this he made his escape. On Sunday last, Mr Webb's family went to church, while the Mary Knights was in the kitchen, she saw Everett in the garden, she ran upstairs and told Miss Cooke, a lady staying at the Hall and told her she believed he had come to murder her, Miss Cooke ran downstairs and spoke to Everett and told him to go away, he came into the house and attacked Miss Knights in a violent manner, knocked her down and attempted to draw a knife, but being a robust woman of about 30 years was able to struggle and prevented him, at length he incapacitated her and stabbed her in the neck and other places, at this time, a man named Wright, Mr Webb's bailiff, saw what was going on and reached the spot, Everett ran off but was caught by Wright, Miss Cooke entreated Wright to return to the young woman, thinking he would be able to identify Everett who ran off. It is supposed he has secreted himself in the numerous plantations that surround the neighbourhood. Tuesday morning, up to this time Everett has not been discovered.
June 7th 1853.
The attempted murder at Gazeley. Everett has not yet been detained, the poor girl continues to go favourably.
This would have happened between 3 – 6 months after the death of Henry Webb Snr.
We don’t know when his mother, Mary Webb died.
On 25 June 1862, Henry married Elizabeth Mary Green in Fingringhoe, Essex. At the time of his marriage, he described himself as a merchant of Melbourn, Cambs. However, he does not appear in the 1861 census in Melbourn. He was still a merchant in 1864, when his first child, Mary Louisa (ch 14 August 1864 in Fingringhoe). In 1869 he was a farmer in Fingringhoe; in 1871 and 73, he is a farmer’s bailiff. In 1881 he is living in Colchester as a gardener (non domestic) – therefore a market gardener. In 1891, he is living in Horsford, Norfolk with his daughter, Emily, and he is a farm steward.
Elizabeth Mary Green was the daughter of Daniel Abbott Green (1800 – 1858). In 1839, Daniel Green had hired one of Jonas Webb’s valuable rams; and it was stolen from Wick Farm, Fingringhoe, where is was put into a boat and taken away. These two newspaper items show that the ability of the press to get information wrong was ever thus. The Ipswich Journal wrongly gives the farm as being in Fordham.
Jonas Webb’s Ram Stolen at Wick Farm Fingringhoe
14th November 1839
The Champion and Weekly Herald Sun 24 Nov 1839
The Ipswich Journal Sat 30 Nov 1839
Henry and Elizabeth had the following children:
Henry Harding chr 14 June 1863, Melbourn, Cambs. He married Alice Nisbet in 1894. In 1901, he was an estate agent living in Richmond, Surrey
Mary Laura chr 14 Aug 1864, Fingringhoe, Essex
Lucy E born c 1867, Plaistow, Essex
Anna Louisa chr 24 Jan 1869, Fingringhoe
Thomas Saul, chr 2 April 1871, Fingringhoe, born Abberton, Essex. In 1901, he was a wine merchant living in Clapham in the
Emily Jane chr 20 April 1873
John Jonas born c 1875 Abberton