Family: William James WEBB / Sarah Elizabeth STEVENSON (F57)
m. 5 Oct 1857-
Male
William James WEBB
Birth 1839 27, Austin St., Bethnal Green, Middlesex 
Death Burial Marriage 5 Oct 1857 [1] St. George in the East, Tower Hamlets [1] Father William WEBB | F9 Group Sheet Mother Mary Ann LOVELL | F9 Group Sheet
Female
Sarah Elizabeth STEVENSON
Birth Abt 1841 Shadwell, Middlesex Death Burial Father Thomas John STEVENSON | F59 Group Sheet Mother Sarah CHAMBERLAIN | F59 Group Sheet
Male
William James WEBB
Birth 1860 4, Newcastle Place, Stepney, Middlesex Baptism 19 Aug 1860 St. Thomas, West Arbour St., Stepney, Middlesex Death Burial Spouse Jane MARSHALL | F177 Marriage 13 Oct 1879 Parish Church, Bethnal Green, Middlesex
Female
Sarah Elizabeth WEBB
Birth 9 Nov 1858 4, St Annes Row, Mary St., Stepney, Middlesex Baptism 5 Dec 1858 St. Thomas, West Arbour St., Stepney, Middlesex Death Burial
Male
Leonard Richard WEBB
Birth 1863 Stepney, Middlesex Baptism 19 Apr 1863 St. Thomas, West Arbour St., Stepney, Middlesex Death 1909 London Burial 3 Jan 1910 Newham, Essex Spouse Emma SADLER | F58 Marriage 9 Jan 1881 St. Jude, Bethnal Green, Middlesex
Male
Harry Stevenson WEBB
Birth 1865 Stepney, Middlesex Baptism 19 Feb 1865 St. Thomas, West Arbour St., Stepney, Middlesex Death Burial
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Notes - After 1861 the story of William and Sarah becomes less clear. In the 1871 Census, Sarah is married to Alfred, a joiner from Suffolk, living in West Ham. This clearly is the right Sarah as her mother is there too. But in 1881 Alfred appears back in Suffolk, unmarried, with his Aunt and Uncle. There is no complete evidence for Sarah anywhere after 1871, in Census or in BMD indices, but it might be presumed that she had died and Alfred then went back to his roots. I can find no record of Sarah WEBB (or STEVENSON) marrying Alfred WEBB. Slightly less likely is that they were not living together in 1871, Alfred was just lodging, and for convenience went in as head, or that this was his property and Sarah and some of her children, and her mother, were lodging with Alfred. Robert(2), Susannah(1 wk), are also there but without the birth certificates do not know who their father is. I have not found Robert or Susannah later than this but they are with none of the possible parents in 1881. Lastly, there is a Sarah WEBB who died in Shoreditch Jan qtr 1870. This means that Alfred just reported her (by mistake, or for simplicity or public perception?), but she was not actually alive.
William meanwhile appears in 1881 and 1891 Censuses, in 1981 as widowed, with Harriet HALL (married) as a housekeeper. There are likely children, James(1y 8m) and Emma(3m), born to Harriet and William, so again they either married or were treated as such. The key indicator here is that William is a Fish Porter, so I am fairly sure we have the right person, given age, place of birth and children. Church records have John George born to William and Harriet 10/12/1882 (bapt 2/10/1888), then James Walter and Harry Charles, twins born 28/7/1879 (bapt 21/9/1879) to William and Harriet. James and John appear in School lists in 1892 (living at 24, Elstead St., father a fish porter), but there is no Harry. Then in 1891 William is married to Emma. Again there is no BMD evidence for Harriet's marriage or death (there is no Harriet Hall in death indices), nor for any marriage to Emma. Perhaps most likely is that Emma and Harriet are the same person and that one of the names (probably Harriet) was written down incorrectly. There is possible death evidence for both Emma (Lewisham Q1 1898, aged 42, which matches the Census) and William (Southwark Q4 1895 aged 55, giving DOB of 1840, which is close enough).
- After 1861 the story of William and Sarah becomes less clear. In the 1871 Census, Sarah is married to Alfred, a joiner from Suffolk, living in West Ham. This clearly is the right Sarah as her mother is there too. But in 1881 Alfred appears back in Suffolk, unmarried, with his Aunt and Uncle. There is no complete evidence for Sarah anywhere after 1871, in Census or in BMD indices, but it might be presumed that she had died and Alfred then went back to his roots. I can find no record of Sarah WEBB (or STEVENSON) marrying Alfred WEBB. Slightly less likely is that they were not living together in 1871, Alfred was just lodging, and for convenience went in as head, or that this was his property and Sarah and some of her children, and her mother, were lodging with Alfred. Robert(2), Susannah(1 wk), are also there but without the birth certificates do not know who their father is. I have not found Robert or Susannah later than this but they are with none of the possible parents in 1881. Lastly, there is a Sarah WEBB who died in Shoreditch Jan qtr 1870. This means that Alfred just reported her (by mistake, or for simplicity or public perception?), but she was not actually alive.
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