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Webley Family of Webley Scott gun manufacturers...help

W

Wendy

Guest
Michael is starting to improve so am trying to get back in the saddle so to speak.

I am trying to find information on the Webley family of Webley Scott. I know the company was taken over by Phillip Webley from his father in law William Davies in 1834. Phillip was joined by his brother James. These are the only names I have no wives children etc. I would assume they lived near the factory but as yet I have found nothing any help would be great. Thanks Wendy.
 
I am cooking on gas tonight and think I have found Phillip and his wife Caroline Webley in Weaman Street in 1851...watch this space!!
 
My old nan said that she was related to the Webley gun manufacture, I have yet to make that connection, her grandmother on her mothers side was Eliza Webley, they were poor nail makers from the Bromsgrove area .......just wishful thinking I expect, due to sharing the same surname......
 
Wendy
I presume you know that no 84 Weaman st was the address listed for the factory. One other thing. In 1855 Phillip is listed as at that address , gun implement and bullet mold manufacturer, but James is listed as at 14 St Marys Row, gun & pistol maker
 
I have only just started with this tree but it seems they were from Birmingham. Phillip was born in 1812 and christened in St Phillips. I found a cousin staying with them in 1851 named Sarah Haywood from Ludlow. You never know Aston Lad....

Mike thank you I did assume it was the factory by the address but thanks for confirming it. James was at a different address. So the brothers had two different factories. Now it's getting interesting. Thanks again Mike..x
 
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Hi Wendy, I am glad to hear Michael is starting to get better.

I found the marriage between Phillip Webley and Caroline Davis
March quarter 1838 Ref volume 16 Page 245
 
Thanks Di will check it on the IGI for more info hopefully...
 
Here are the family in 1861 living at 386 Bristol Road The writing is hard to read so I'll put a ? if I can't read something. Sorry it is so long I used to be able to edit Census results but I can't now.

Philip Webley
48
abt 1813
Head
Male
Born Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
Address 386 Bristol Road Edgbaston
Birmingham
Occupation Gun Pistol ? Maker

Philip Webley
48 Head Born Birminhgham
Caroline Webley
43 Wife
Born Birmingham
Thomas W Webley
22 Son
Born Birmingham
Philip Webley
19 Son
Born Birmingham
James Webley
18 Son
Born Birmngham Merchant Clerk
Caroline Webley
6 dau
Born Birmingham
Mary Draper
3 niece
Born Warwickshire ?
Eliza Holland
28 Serv
Born Staffs ?
 
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1861,1871 and 1881 living at 386 Bristol Rd,Edgbaston.
1891,Caroline is now a widow and at the time of the census appears to be staying at a
boarding house in Hastings.
 
At the time of his death,March 24 1888,Philip was living at 64 Bristol Rd (possibly same house as before,but Bristol Rd may have been renumbered?).
The will was proved by Caroline and his son Thomas Wiliam.
Total amount left was £13,609 7s 10 1/2d
 
Wow thank you all for your help, what a great bunch! I can now confirm as this is the right family, I have located the family grave at Key Hill cemetery. The only problem is that the memorial is buried like my own family grave was. I now only hope the stone is in tact and money can be raised to lift the stone. I think this is an important find for Birmingham as the company of Webley Scott is known throughout the world. First we need permission from Handsworth. I now need help from our Key Hill Brian.

I am now going on the search for James. The only info I have is his wife Harriet died aged 37 in 1847.

Wow this is so rewarding!
 
Looks like he remarried?
Marriages Dec 1849
Louisa Green Birmingham 16 478
James Webley Birmingham 16 478
By 1861 James appears to have died and 2nd wife Louisa is described as Gunmaker employer.
There are daughters Louisa aged 9 and Hannah aged 5.
Address was 14 St Mary's Row.
Deaths Jun 1856
James Webley Birmingham 6d 76
Deaths Sep 1868
Louisa Webley aged 53 Aston 6d 283
Louisa Webley formerley of 14 St Mary's Row,died on 28th August 1868 at Potters Hill.
Her will was proved by Philip Webley ,Gun Implement Manufacturer and one of the executors.
She left effects of under £1,500.
 
Thank you Linda I must collate all this info now, the best bit is from this is I now have James and Louisa's grave at Key Hill. I need to visit to find if it's visible. I wish I had done some searching earlier. We now have the two men who started Webley Scott in Key Hill this is very exciting! I wonder where Scott is...lol...Thanks again for all your help..x
 
Hi Wendy, just wondering if you have a library card for Birmingham, I've had a quick look on the online newspaper site, just with the search term "Philip Webley" and there are about 57 articles for the name..havent checked them all but many I think, refer to your Philip

Additional Info there is also a "Prospectus" for the amalgamation of the companies which made up Webley & Scott, printed in 1897 which has great detail in it. (under the search term Webley Scott)
 
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The Webley company was founded in the early 18th century by William Davies, who made bullet moulds.
It was taken over in 1834 by his son-in-law, Philip Webley, who began producing percussion sporting guns.
The manufacture of revolvers, for which the firm became famous. At that time the company was named P. Webley & Son.
In 1897 Webley amalgamated with W & C Scott and Sons to become The Webley and Scott Revolver and Arms Company Ltd of Birmingham.
In 1861 William Middleditch Scott and wife Caroline lived in Victoria Rd Aston and he was described as a gun finisher.
By 1871 William Middleditch Scott and wife Caroline lived in Sharmans Cross Solihull.
His occupation was Gun Manufacturer.
In 1881,William Scott lived at 14 Greenfield Crescent,Edgbaston, with wife Caroline.
William Scott lived at 2 Augustus Rd Edgbaston,in 1891 with wife Caroline.
By this time he was described as a retired gun manufacturer.
Marriages Mar 1859
Caroline Ann Osborne Aston 6d 273
William Middleditch Scott Aston 6d 273
William died on 4th February 1916.
Probate was granted to Richard Burton Earle,chartered accountant and James Charles Scott gentleman.
Effects of £33,283 13s were left.
 
I don't have a library card I must get to Brum and get one have been a bit tied up this year. Thank you for the information.

Linda this is just what I need to go further thank you so much you have saved me a lot of time which I don't have much of at the moment.
 
Deaths Mar 1916
William M Scott aged 80 Kings N. 6d 112
Deaths Jun 1912
Caroline A Scott aged 76 King's N 6c 432
Caroline died on 20th May 1912.
Probate was granted to Richard Burton Earle,chartered accountant.
Effects of £2,302 17s 5d were left.
 
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