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Hello Tom,

I can't see how this Thomas Henry FLETCHER who died in San Francisco in 1874 couldn't be related to our William Wellesley Pole FLETCHER (1836-1918).   

I can't find another person of that same age, who was living in Dublin, Ireland in 1874 and who had any connection to the Christian name of Wellesley?   I know FLETCHER is a common surname, but Wellesley is very uncommon.   The Irish probate listing also states he was the brother of Thomas Henry.    I am aware that some of these families repeatedly used a maternal surname: the surname Telford is spread right across my family, but a name such as William Wellesley Pole FLETCHER, who was an adult and living in Dublin in 1874 is not so common.

Our William Pole FLETCHER was born in approximately 1836 and his known siblings were Stephen (born 1829), Elizabeth (born 1830) and Mary (born 1832).   This leaves a four year gap between 1832 and when our William was born in 1836.   Their mother Sally Elizabeth nee TELFORD (1804-1878) was still short of the end of her child bearing years in 1836, perhaps this Thomas Henry was born in 1838?

Regards,

Geoff

Tom,

I recently obtained an Irish marriage certificate for a Thomas Henry FLETCHER dated 7 July 1854.   The certificate states this Thomas Henry FLETCHER, a merchant and widower from Newry, married a Grace Anne JOHNSTONE, the daughter of an Andrew JOHNSTONE.   Thomas' father was a William FLETCHER an upholsterer.    The couple were married in the parish of Donnybrook, Dublin.

I am unsure if this is the same Thomas Henry FLETCHER we have been talking about?

Regards,

Geoff

The surname Webb is quite common, in the 19th century it made up approx 0.1 per cent (or one in 1000) of the population.

Richard Webb who died on the 15th of October 1871 at nannella near Rochester, Victoria.  His death certificate's informant was his son in law William Alexander (1837-1904). As per the certificate it states he was married at Rahan, kings county in 1839 aged 26 yrs.  this was were his father in law William telford's property was.   

His wife Maria Webb nee Telford (1815-1901) States they were married at tella more which is the nearest major town.   

Richard webb's parents are listed as Richard Webb - farmer.  Mother unknown.   His wife is listed as kate Bloomfield.

Richard's sister Catherine finnamore (1795-1880) who died at koondrook, Victoria names her parents as John Webb - farmer & Catherine Bloomfield.  She was 35 yrs old when she married Thomas finnamore at Dublin.  Other records nominate Catherine's yr of birth as 1805.    Her certificate's informant was her grandson.

Richard and Maria webb's youngest child The Webbs finnamores and Telford were all prodestant and much of these records are lost.  Their youngest child Maria Webb (1850-1937) was baptised at gears hill. 

Mrsmaria webb's obituary states the family were from killeenmore house, killeigh.

There was Richard John Webb who was born at bloomville, kings in 1819.  This Richard Webb was part of the family who descend from George Webb (-1700) of trumping ton,Cambridge and later Ireland.   This six years later than all the other records about my Richard.  Maria's father in law William Telford (1796-1873) was only 16 yrs old when he married his wife Eliza knaggs, some of the family's men did marry young and his mother was 5 yrs older than his father.  Perhaps my Richard Webb (1813-1871) was six yrs younger and he or his family put his age up to bring it back before his wife' s yr of birth.  This was a common practice.

My second theory is my Richard Webb (1813-1871) was a us recorded illegitimite son of the same Webb family.

I really don,t except to say I don't believe he came from a poor family.  The Telford definitely had plenty and I can't see Richard Webb (1813-71) marrying too far above himself.

Regards,

Self

I think you may find that your John TELFORD could be the son Richard TELFORD (1801-1888) and his wife Mary WHITAKER (1798-1866) of Tara, Offaly.   This couple had a son Richard (1838-1923) who was born in Westmeath in 1838.   Richard TELFORD's (1801-1888) father was John TELFORD (1756-1831) of Sallybrook, Clara, Offaly.

Captain (later Major) William TELFORD (1795-1873) of Derrycooley, Offaly and later Rathmines, Dublin and his brother John TELFORD (1802-1856) of Ballyboughlin, Offaly were two of nine children born to William TEFORD (1770-1837) and Eliza FINN (1765-1854) of Greenville, Clara, Offaly.   This John TELFORD (1802-1856) did have a son John Gardener TELFORD (1842-2/12/1918) who died at West Derby, Lancs however it is my understanding that John G. TELFORD was born at Ballyboughlin and living in Toronto, Canada in 1881.   He was certainly there in Dec 1880.   His wife Eliza Jane BLUE died at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA in 1888.

Four of William TELFORD's (1795-1873) children migrated to Victoria, Australia in the 1850s.   One of his sons, Charles TELFORD died at Derrycooley on 29/3/1860.   William died at Rathmines, Dublin whilst living with his youngest sister Mrs Sally Elizabeth FLETCHER (1804-1878).   Sally's husband was Dublin barrister, Wellesley Pole FLETCHER (1797-1869).

The TELFORDs arrived in Ireland around 1715 from Skipton, Yorkshire.   John (1756-1831) and William TELFORD (1770-1837) were great grandsons of Michael TELFORD from Skipton.

Regards,

Self   

Benjamin WEBB (1842-94) and Caroline WEBB nee WEBB (1848-88) of Raywood and later Mologa, Victoria, Australia were my great grandparents.   They met when Benjamin selected land across the road from Caroline's brother John WEBB (1840-1918), in the land parish boundary of Hayanmi and Mologa in 1868.    Benjamin was born at Hillfoot House, Beenham, Berkshire, England and I believe Caroline was born at Killenmore House, Geashill, Offaly (Kings County) Ireland.   

Benjamin had an older brother Robert Elisha Thomas WEBB (1833-96) who migrated to Victoria, Australia in 1852/53 and Benjamin followed in 1865 on board the City of Melbourne.   Benjamin settled at Raywood in the late 1860s, working with Robert's brother in law David WOOD (1833-71) who was (one the town's first?) blacksmiths.   Robert WEBB settled at Kingower and later Rheola as a baker.   

Caroline came with her parents and five siblings on board the Great Britain in 1858/59.    Caroline's parents, Richard (1813-71) and Maria WEBB (1815-1901) first settled at Spring Hill, south of Kyneton and then between 1867 and 1871 their extended family moved to Naneella and Echuca South.

There are six registered WEBB vs WEBB marriages in Victoria, Australia prior to 1888.   These represent three ceremonies and six WEBB persons.   Their other two couples were marriages whereby a widow or widower married a brother in law or a cousin of their former spouses.   

Benjamin and Caroline's marriage certificate clearly states "of no relation".    Benjamin's family originate from Chapel Row, Bucklebury, Berkshire from the earliest parish records in 1539.

Richard WEBB (1813-71) had three siblings (or descendants there of) who migrated to Australia.   The first was niece Charlotte Elizabeth WEBB (1831-1907) who travelled via Adelaide in 1952 and married in 1854 to Thomas Thomas RUNDLE.   This family settled around Sedgwick, Victoria and later Kerang.   Charlotte's parents (Joseph Bloomfield WEBB 1808-79?) and their three sons stopped in Victoria on route to New Zealand in 1864, when they settled in Hamilton, North Island.    Their remaining sister and six nephews/nieces settled in Melbourne and around Spring Hill, Kyneton, Victoria (and later Cohuna and Sydney, NSW) shortly after 1860.

Richard WEBB's (1813-71) parents were reputedly John WEBB and Catherine BLOOMFIELD.   

I believe this Irish WEBB family has some connection to Major St Laurence WEBB who settled near Indented Head in 1840 and Richard Ponsby WEBB, who are descendants of a George WEBB (died 1800) and originally from Trumpington, England.   

Joseph Bloomfield WEBB (1808-79?) was married to a woman whose maiden name was DUDLEY.   This name appears several times in the above mentioned family and one of Benjamin and Caroline WEBB's children lived next door to a descendant of this family in Geelong around 1918, however to date I can find no defined link.   

This same family had a number of sons who were in the British Army and Richard WEBB's (1813-71) father in law was William TELFORD (1796-1973) of Clara, Offaly and later Dublin and he was also a commissioned officer (Major) in the army.   Perhaps Richard WEBB and Maria TELFORD married abroad?

Both Caroline and Benjamin WEBB's ancestors were very much protestant, but if they were connected, this connection was well prior to 1750.

Hope that clears things up.