Webster Family

Peter Webster born 2nd June 1860; died 21st may 1941 in Prescot, Lancashire

Rachel and Ernest Webster

Jack and Gwen

Ernest Webster married Rachel Cunliffe in York, Toronto, Ontario, Canada on 8th July 1909. the Canadian marriage certificate gives Ernest as 23 and a carpenter, Church of England. Parents Peter Webster and Sarah Smith. Rachel is also 23 and her parents are Thomas Cunliffe and Jane Kilshaw. Witnesses to the marriage were Fred and Henry Brooks of Toronto.

Gwendoline Webster's birth appears on the Ontario Birth Records but they just stop at 1911! She was born on 27th January 1911 at 411 Church Street in the county of York, Division of Toronto and it gives her father as Ernest Webster Carpenter and Rachel Cunliffe as her mother [married on 8th July 1909]. The physician attending was C.J. Wagner and E Webster certified the birth on 24th February 1911. These records from Ontario are very good.

Where is this family's whereabouts in 1911? - they don't seem to be in Canada!

Charlie Webster

Fred Webster son of Peter Webster and Sarah Smith. Born 4 May 1888.

Frederick Webster's Army Service Records in WW1 shows he was in the Royal Engineers who used Dispatch Riders to send messages when telephones etc., were out of action. He married in 1914 to Margaret Jane Saggerson and she is given as his next of kin in his records.

On Fred's shoulder are the initials RFA which is the Royal Field Artillery: the little pockets [5 on his chest and 4 on his back are a bandolier for ammunition: His badge and cap badge are correct for the WW1 Uniform; the stick that he is carrying is a riding crop; he wears gloves and would also have worn boots and puttees. Therefore, he was part of the Army who rode the horses which pulled the enormous guns which they fired at the German soldiers - he would have been riding one of about 6 horses which pulled the huge guns. There are many photo's of RFA Drivers or Riders which are exactly the same. Not sure about the sleeve insignia but think that it may have been that of a Signaller. I can understand that Thomas or Maude would have thought that he was a Dispatch Rider

Three Generations of women!

Sarah Smith Webster, Maude Webster Critchley and Kathleen Marjorie Critchley

Taken in England in 1922 when the Critchley family were visiting from American as well as looking for work.

Clara, Grace and Charlie Webster

Originally thought to have been taken in 1912 on Maude's visit to Canada on her way to America, however Grace was not born until 1918.

Maude Webster

This photo is marked with the photographer's signature and place as St Helen's so it must have been taken sometime before Maude left for America in 1912

My sister now owns the locket that is around Maude's neck.

Maude Webster Critchley 1931

Peter Webster and Sarah Smith Webster

Boat to Isle of Man, England

"Our" Nellie (? not sure who she is) and Sarah Smith Webster

1933 or 34
Early 1930's: Unknown, Sarah Smith Webster, Alexandra May Webster

Bill Crichley, Ernest Webster, Jack??

Maude Webster, Rachel (Ernest's wife), Mary (Critchley Maybe?-Bill and Tom's sister)

Alexandra May Webster Critchley on the left

Not yet sure who she is with.

Sister's Maude and May Webster 1902

Maude married Thomas Critchley and had 4 children. She died young in 1934 of Renal failure (kidney's shut down) possibly a result of the heart medication she was taking. This left Thomas to raise the children. 5 years later, he sent for Maude's sister May from England.

He married her and lived the rest of his life with her.

Maude and May's brother Peter Webster (named after his father)



Letter from Maude and May's sister Esther Webster (aka: Tessie)

136 Korte Boomer Street   
                                Schoten
                                9-10-34
Dear Maude & Tom,
    Thank you much for letters received O.K. one I got while I was home John sent it on, & the other came home after I was gone so May sent it over here to me, you’ll think it’s taking me a long time to answer but really I’ve tried many a time but had to give it up, it was just like opening a wound that was justll healing!  ???? with it as I’m sure you are anxious to know how things went on, well, the best way to explain everything is to give a relas of my holidays (sorrowful ones in deed) you see I’ve felt this coming on long enough as soon as she give over writing herself I had my suspictions, therefore then John spoke about holidays, & where were we going, I said ‘You can please yourself where you go but I’m going home, & then with constantly speaking of it, he also felt a desire to see all the old friends and relations again as he said when once the home is broke up we won’t feel like going so often & it might be the last time, so ever since last Xmas we had made arrangements to go in Aug. now when it had got near to Aug. we found the date for Aug. 10th & John would go with me for one week & then return for work, I should stay 3 weeks well the week before Aug. Monday I got a letter from May to say that May’s legs were so bad that she was staying in bed a couple of days to rest herself thoughly for when we came, & then a few days after that another letter to say they had called in doctor & got her examined as it seemed to be something different to rhumatics & that she’d got an abcess on her seat that was giving her terrible pains & as soon as the Dr had examined her, he said that it was sugar diabetes & that to give her the best attention it would be better to take her to Whisbon but Ma didn’t like the idea of it & said if you take me away they’ll bring me back a dead woman so they put it off a bit, but a couple of days after that when the Dr came, a while still downstairs he asked how she was they said she was much better as she slept most of the time, but he said, why that’s just what she must not do, as for that sickness if they sleep a lot it’s a sign that the sickness is getting a better grip on them & he flew upstairs & as soon as he saw her, he said goodness she’s going in a sleeping coma & if we don’t mind she’ll never come out, she must go at once to the hospital so as to be injected in & the abcess must be dressed regular, so they took her on Friday night Aug. 3rd & on Saturday they sent a telegram to me to come at once as she was not expected to last long, well I think I live a long way from home but it doesn’t seem like it as they wired from Widnes at 2 o’clock & I got it at 3 o’clock (sharp work eh) but of course the passport office was shut owing to it being Saturday afternoon & wouldn’t be open till  Monday morning so I had to wait till then, but you can guess I sat on hot coals all the time, & on Monday after getting all papers in order, I sailed away from Antwerp at 8 o’clock at night (arrived in England 6 o’clock in the morning & then a express train ride to Widnes & got in at 2 o’clock May met me at the station as all the rest had gone to Whiston as it was visiting day & it closed at ??? so they couldn’t wait for me so they didn’t know whether I’d be on it or not, but they brought a special permit for me, to allow me to go & see her that same evening & so I went with our Peter, & when I got to her she was asleep & goodness I got a shock, she was as pale as death & so old looking, & when I woke her she said, “Oh leave me alone & let me sleep I’m done up, & you know it’s the end of me I’ll never get better, I’m a goner.” but when I said, Here don’t you know me I’m Tessie from Belgium, goodness you should have seen her wake up, & she said, “My word how the time flies & me lazing about like this, I’ll get up & get you something, but I said never you mind tell me all news & leave the food getting ready to the others & after she’s been talking a bit she was quite her old self again I stayed quite an hour with her, as after that I would have to wait till Sunday the foll. visiting day, well the following Saturday John came & of course he went with us to Whiston on the Sunday, & Ma was still her old self & she knew John quite well, & it was quite like old times us all sitting round her, there were 11 of us, Flossie Wilson was among us telling us all about her illness for you know she has the same sickness & last Xmas, she was so bad that the Dr told her husband that it was impossible for her to get through the night, & well she got over it alright & when she came to see Ma she was as well as any of us but of course she has to be careful & twice a day she injects herself with insiline & she’s also on diet, & so with her getting over it alright we all thought my mom would get over it too & all our hearts were as light as a feather, Oh & ma said to me, Our Maude hasn’t come yet, but she will do, you see she has to come much farther than you, but I said, Yes she might turn up yet but don’t be disappointed if she doesn’t come, as she has had a lot of expense this year, but she said, Oh but you forgot she has two houses & one of them will be going flop one of these days & then she’ll be coming to say goodbye to me, it’s quite a long time since I seen her, but should she come too late tell her I was thinking about her & also tell her while I’m been here I’ve seen her good friend (La hem) Sister Perrin”, well we all went home then with a promise to come on the following Tues but what shock awaited us when we got there the nurse said don’t be upset but your mother has gone in a coma but we are doing our best to get her out,& as she isn’t as well as she should be, I’ll sign a paper to allow any of you to come at any time, so that in itself was a bad sign & when we got to her we found her fast asleep and nothing would wake her we stayed 2 hrs with her & tried to get a word out of her, but she did nothing but sleep & sometimes when she came half conscious she seemed to be pointing to something & muttering to herself, it was just as if she could see something that we couldn’t it did make me feel awful because that was a sure sign that it was the last, well we went to see her everyday but she was just the same till Friday & as soon as I saw her I said to May, I can see a difference in her to-day, her eyes are shut much tighter to-day than they were yesterday but there was another sister on duty than the usual one & I didn’t like asking her what she thought & that same evening she passes away without waking up, the nurse seen it coming on as soon as she was back on duty, & went to look at all her patients & she said the death struggle only lasted for a quarter of an hour or she would have sent for us, so you see Maude although I was so near to her, I wasn’t with her at her last moment, but the nurse explained all when we saw her again at Auntie Bessie for you see she is courting Willie Webster, Bessie’s boy, & she said she passed quite peacefully no one could wish for a better death.  Well Sat morning Papa & our Fred went & arranged everything & she would have been buried on the following Tuesday only Fred’s workmate was on his holiday so he had double work, & he asked the Dr if she would keep till Wed. & he said, yes a week if you like as there was practically no food in her to go bad as she’s been on diet.  Do you know Maude what I found funny about that coma, that she could hear what we were saying but couldn’t open her eyes and answer us, because one day she put her tongue out & it was as dry as a bone & I looked around for water but a woman that was minding the ward said she wasn’t allowed to drink water so I dipped my hankie in the water & washed her tongue with it & it seemed to do her good & so before I went home I said, “Ma pull your tongue out” & right away her tongue came out isn’t that surprising. Well they brought her home on Tuesday morn & she was lovely just her own self her face was just as if it was carved out in marble & her fingers didn’t stiffen at all, that’s a sign they say of ‘one to follow’ so I wonder who it is (I guess Papa as he felt it, I found him crying many a time & when he saw me he said ‘Oh Tessie don’t mind me I can’t help it, I miss my sweetheart now”) & do you know I wasn’t a bit easy as I thought she was in a trance but on Wed morning I was put at rest by seeing a trickle of blood running out of her ears & when the undertaker came to screw her down he said when he saw the blood its high time she was shut up.
On the Monday Auntie Esther & cousin May came to visit us, they thought to be able to see her but they didn’t like to go to Whiston, so they said they will remember her like we saw her last & she left money to May for wreath she ordered, I was expected to find on old woman when they told me Auntie Esther was in the parlour, but her daughter looked older than she did,  because she hasn’t altered at all.  Well the funeral  went off splendid, the brothers & sisters of mother didn’t come on account of being ill themselves, but the children came in their place, but we sent a weekly news to you so you will have read who came & we got so many wreathes from friends & neighbors that Pa wouldn’t let me buy a wreath he said we’ll buy one altogether a family wreath & then those that are away can think theres one in their name too, we spared no expense, as it was the last we could give her, her coffin was the most loviest I’ve ever seen, the  handles on the side were worked in purple silk & the shroud in white satin, embroidered in silk she looked lovely, we went to church in ??? coaches & just as she was put in the grave it started to rain & you know they say they’ve gone to heaven if it rains on the coffin. 
When we got back we sat down to tea with 26 of us, & they all wished to be remembered to you all & that’s all that there is to tell only that your money came a few days after & because they couldn’t give her any of it, I said perhaps Maude would like flowers put on her, with it, so May & I arranged like this, I drew a plan of the grave & shown her how she must plant the bulbs, & we choose daffodils tulips, crocus, white lily & narcissen, all those bulbs can stay in the ground from year to year then there’s flowers on the grave almost always how does this suit you.  Well I mean’t to tell you all about my holidays where I’d been & who I’d seen but I’m afraid I’ll have to wait till next letter as I think my letter will be heavy enough as it is.  This last 2 months Georgie has been ill with Rhumatic Fever that the 1st time the Dr had had to come in out house & & I hope it’s the last (the dear boggers) much love to all xxx Tessie