Webber Family of Devon and Gloucester

Edith Ethel Webber, standing, was born in Cardiff on 14th August 1885, and with her family moved back to Gloucester where her Mother, who was by now a widow, re-married on 7th January 1899 becaming the wife of William Maurice Byard.

She thus became the step-sister of William (Bill) James Byard and had, by him, an illegitimate son whom she named Edward Buller, but known as Jack, who was born on 24th April 1902 at 29 Park Street, Gloucester. She took little part in his upbringing, instead he was initially brought up as the only child of Amelia and William Maurice Byard, until in his early teens when his real Father brought him up.

She later married Isaac Newton, a soldier, in the Garrison Church, Standerton, Transvaal,South Africa, on 12th October 1907,eventually moving to Canada in the early 1920s. She had three children by him: Prudence, who married Leslie(?) Young and had Stuart Ferguson Young and Christopher Newton Young; Leslie, an academic, believed murdered by a mad gunman in Hollywood; Frederick, born circa 1927, died at sea in a shipping accident of the coast of Canada circa 1962, married but left no issue.

Edward visited his Mother in 1928, with the idea of possibly migrating to Canada, and it was during this time that she informed him who his real father was, which was further confirmed on his return to Gloucester later that year by Bill Byard who, although he married, had no children.

The Webber Family are my late Father's Maternal line and, to date, research confirms that they are a Devon family originating from Chulmleigh. The line evolves from John Webber, born about 1630 who married Joane Bidgood (or Bradgood) on 6th July 1654 at Chulmleigh. The 3rd generation John Webber married Grace Cock on 8th May 1748 and moved to St. Columb, Cornwall. His Grandson, George Webber, married Eliza Mintern and they settled in Maldon, Essex however his youngest son George moved to Gloucester and married Amelia Ann Corlette at St. Marks Church, Kingsholm, on 4th May 1879 and eventually moved to Cardiff for a few years.
Amelia Ann Byard (nee Corlette and second wife of William Maurice Byard), (seated left) Widow of George Webber, late of Gloucester, with her Children - Edith Webber, George Webber ( see panel right), Elsie Webber and Annie Webber. Circa 1914	Private George G. Webber, Regimental No. 17887, 10th Bn. Worcestershire Regiment was killed in action on Monday, 3rd July 1916 on the Somme, in France. He was one of 2,477 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-18 war, at Ovillers Military Cemetery, Somme, who are unidentified. His name is recorded on panel number: XIII.L.8. The cemetery lies off the D20 road to Aveluy, some 500 metres from the village of Ovillers. (Information obtained from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

Amelia Ann Byard (sitting) with her youngest daughter Edith Ethel Webber, mother of Edward (Jack) Buller Byard and Grandmother of Michael Ian Byard. Amelia died on 9th October, 1929 in Gloucester, and William Maurice Byard died at Gloucester on 6th July 1933. Edith Ethel Newton died in Canada on 21st November 1959, one year and ten months after her illegitimate son, my Father, who died on 24th January 1958, when I was 18 years of age.	Edith Ethel Webber, standing, was born in Cardiff on 14th August 1885, and with her family moved back to Gloucester where her Mother, who was by now a widow, re-married on 7th January 1899 becaming the wife of William Maurice Byard. She thus became the step-sister of William (Bill) James Byard and had, by him, an illegitimate son whom she named Edward Buller, but known as Jack, who was born on 24th April 1902 at 29 Park Street, Gloucester. She took little part in his upbringing, instead he was initially brought up as the only child of Amelia and William Maurice Byard, until in his early teens when his real Father brought him up. She later married Isaac Newton, a soldier, in the Garrison Church, Standerton, Transvaal,South Africa, on 12th October 1907,eventually moving to Canada in the early 1920s. She had three children by him: Prudence, who married Leslie(?) Young and had Stuart Ferguson Young and Christopher Newton Young; Leslie, an academic, believed murdered by a mad gunman in Hollywood; Frederick, born circa 1927, died at sea in a shipping accident of the coast of Canada circa 1962, married but left no issue. Edward visited his Mother in 1928, with the idea of possibly migrating to Canada, and it was during this time that she informed him who his real father was, which was further confirmed on his return to Gloucester later that year by Bill Byard who, although he married, had no children.
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Amelia Ann Byard (nee Corlette and second wife of William Maurice Byard), (seated left) Widow of George Webber, late of Gloucester, with her Children - Edith Webber, George Webber ( see panel right), Elsie Webber and Annie Webber. Circa 1914

Amelia Ann Byard (sitting) with her youngest daughter Edith Ethel Webber, mother of Edward (Jack) Buller Byard and Grandmother of Michael Ian Byard.

Amelia died on 9th October, 1929 in Gloucester, and William Maurice Byard died at Gloucester on 6th July 1933.

Edith Ethel Newton died in Canada on 21st November 1959, one year and ten months after her illegitimate son, my Father, who died on 24th January 1958, when I was 18 years of age.

Amelia Ann Byard
(sitting) with her youngest
daughter Edith Ethel Webber, mother of
Edward (Jack) Buller Byard and Grandmother
of Michael Ian Byard.

Amelia died on 9th October, 1929
in Gloucester, and William Maurice Byard died
at Gloucester on 6th July 1933.

Edith Ethel Newton died in
Canada on 21st November 1959, one year and ten months after her illegitimate son, my Father, who died on 24th January 1958, when I was 18 years of age.