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Many thanks to Gins, Claire, Marie Celeste, Detective, Heyjudeb4beatles, Malyon, Gritty, ChrisHo, Flip and Londonbelle for all your help. :-) :-)

Yes, Elizabeth Webster was left with two daughters aged 2 and 3, I have a copy of Elizabeth Langford's will but have not tried to find her death. I assume my Elizabeth was able to stay as housekeeper until E Langford died although by 1841 My Elizabeth was a ladies maid in the home of William and Lady Selena Freemantle in London. By the 1851 Elizabeth and her elder daughter are ladies maids in the home of Charles and Amelia Cator (Charles is Rector of Stokesley in York) Amelia is the daughter of Elizabeth Langford. My Great Grandmother has gone back to her roots and is living with an aunt in Hampshire.

Ann, you are very lucky to have such a letter. One can only assume that Elizabeth Langford did not have to write the promised letter of 16 Mar (especially as you don't have said letter) as Elizabeth had made it down to see William...let's hope so any way

What a very kind employer Elizabeth Langford was! So often you read about the working classes ending up in the workhouse in those days when they were no longer fit or capable to work. In fact one might say she was a kinder employer then than some of the employers of today!

It does seem a very good contender doesn't it. So sad, born in Hampshire, married and lived in London and died in Brighton. And I will never know if she did go to see him, if she managed to get somebody to look after her children. She died when she was 68.

As an aside their employer, Elizabeth Langford, was from a wealthy family born Elizabeth Sainsbury, her son Rev Sainsbury Langford Sainsbury was the first vicar of Froyle (Hampshire) church.

The reason for my interest in the date is that if it was before the burial date this would give more credence to it being correct obviously if it was dated after the burial then it would not be your William Webster.

Back in those days burials tended to take place very soon after death. The fact that the letter is dated 15 Mar 1832 and the burial of the William Webster found is 19 Mar 1832 makes it an extremely good contender for your man.

It makes you wonder if William Webster knew that he was dying and that it would be last opportunity for him to see his wife, Elizabeth. The coach that William was talking about would have got Elizabeth down to Brighton on the evening of 16 Mar.

L.Belle Yes, the post mark was MR 15 1832. Why?

Transcribed Letter to Mrs Webster
At Mrs Langfords
Highgate
Middlesex

Postmarked MR 15 1832 32 Regency Square
(Brighton my guess)
Wednesday

Ann

When I wrote to you on Monday Webster was then very ill but I would not tell you of it as I had every reason to hope with the great care he had, and the good advice, that he would by this time have been better that I did not like to make you unhappy at such a distance, as of course you could not leave your children and come to him, or indeed do more for him than is now doing – but if you think it is your duty to come to him and cannot be easy without it, and can leave your children, I shall be quite satisfied with my house being left under the care of Buchers?? And his wife – at all events I will write to you again tomorrow night – and you had better prepare yourself as this attack is very severe on Webster’s chest with a violent bilious attack – I must in justice both to Simmons? And Henry? Say they have paid him as much attention as their nearest relation, more cannot probably be done for Webster than is doing. We must hope for the best. – Webster wishes very much for you to come if you can leave your children with safety. Simmons? Has just asked him the question and Webster said that there are coaches that leave London at 3 o’clock, that you can be down at Brighton tomorrow evening at 9 o’clock. Perhaps if Mrs Bucher? Cannot take care of your children Mrs Greening? Perhaps would for a short time. In case you should not be able to come away tomorrow, I will at all events write to you tomorrow night

Your Friend

Elizabeth Langford

We will pay for your journey here you had better come inside the coach you may catch cold on the outside and be laid up when you get to Brighton.



Words in italics are ones that are difficult to transcribe and/or missing

Although his wife's name was Elizabeth her Employer called her Ann, presumably to avoid confusion with her own name.

AnnG, was the letter about William being ill dated before 19 Mar 1832?
Thanks

Wow, Gritty thank you. The letter when he was very ill was written in 1832 so that does really sound like him. Thank you so much. I have asked on here before and he was not found.

Deaths Sep 1840 (>99%)
-----------------------------------------------------------
WEBSTER William St Geo Southk 4 281


London, England, Deaths and Burials, 1813-1980 (Ancestry)

All Souls, Kensal Green 1840 (13th July)


(just to add, was possibly above to match Deceased Online, address on image, 2, Blackman Street, Southwark)

Chris :)

Brighton's earliest name was Bristelmestune, recorded in the Domesday Book. Although more than 40 variations have been documented, Brighthelmstone (or Brighthelmston) was the standard rendering between the 14th and 18th centuries.[10][11].

Think you've got him Gritty - well done. Just need Ann to confirm the daye of the letter.

Think you might have cracked it, Gritty......well done if you have!

Name: William Webster
Gender: Male
Burial Date: 19 Mar 1832
Burial Place: Brighton, Sussex, England
FHL Film Number: 1067132
Reference ID: pg79 ln630

It will interesting to know what date the letter was from the employer?

Was Brighthelmston an early name for Brighton?

First name(s) William
Last name Webster
Gender Male
Event year 1832
Birth year 1793
Age at death 39y
Burial year 1832
Burial date 19 Mar 1832
Burial place Brighthelmston, Sussex, England
Place Brighthelmston
County Sussex
Country England
Record set England Deaths & Burials 1538-1991
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records

Thank you. No they were not wealthy at all.

You are right that it doesn't state status in the 1841 (it is a couple of years since I was working on this.) In the 1841 Elizabeth is living in working as a lady's maid with no mention of William, I knew he was not very strong and in the thirties was quite ill. (I have a letter from their then employer regarding him being ill in 1832) I always assumed that he probably died from that illness and then saw this one. However, it seems unlikely that it is him as it is too far from where they lived and probably too late.

I have a copy of the will of their employer who was quite wealthy and in it, written 1837 she leaves her clothes to her servant Elizabeth but no mention of william who was her coachman. I think if he was still alive she would have left him something too so, grasping at straws I think. and probably, for the same reason, the 1838 one is too late as well.

When he was so ill he was at his employers residence in Brighton, I have searched there too with no luck.

Thanks for trying anyway. :-)

And of course there IS a cemetery in Highgate (where Karl Marx is buried).....

Jude

A map says it takes 43 min from Kensal Green tube station to Highgate Tube station. It seems unlikely that he'd be buried in there.

Were they wealthy enough to own a family plot in Kensal Green?

just deleted that death

William Webster
England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007
Name: William Webster
Event Type: Death
Registration Quarter: Apr-May-Jun
Registration Year: 1838
Registration District: St. James Westminster
County: London
Event Place: St. James Westminster, London, England
Volume: 1
Page: 107
Line Number: 24

Re: the record that malyon has posted above - the image shows that it was the burial of an infant.

I think it's this one Gins


Webster, William buried on: 1840 recorded at: Kensal Green Cemetery (Kensington

Is this the record that you have?



Name:William Webster

Gender:Male

Age:48

Birth Date:1793

Burial Date:28 Feb 1841

Burial Place:Westminster, London, England

FHL Film Number:560360

Reference ID:Vol E2901, Feb 1841


Edit: Wondering how you know she is a widow as the 1841 census does not give marital status?

For a long time (years probably) I have been trying to find the death of my Great x 3 Grandfather William Webster born c1794. I know he and his family lived in Highgate London. I know his wife Elizabeth was a widow in the 1841.

In Deceased online I have found a William Webster burial date 1840 at Kensal Green Cemetery (Kensington and Chelsea) .

My question, not knowing London, is do you think that is likely knowing they lived at Highgate?