Rowland Webb (1841-1918)

In 1841, Rowland, aged 4 months, was living near Bournstream House, in the eastern end of the parish. His father John was a servant. Rowland was baptised at St Martins, in the village. By 1851, the family lived in Coomb, Wotton under Edge. John was now a gardener, and Rowland had three younger siblings – Silas, Rodah, and Julia. Jilia died a year later, in 1852, and Silas died in 1859. So, in 1861, John and Emma were living in Coomb with Rowland (an apprentice cabinet maker) and Rhoda (a dressmaker).

In 1871, Rowland is lodging at a coffee house in Munster Street, Marylebone, London. He is employing two apprentices.

In 1881, he had moved and was boarding at 11 Denbigh Street, near Hannover Square. I can’t find an entry for him in the next census but, in 1885, he is renting ‘one room, top floor, furnished’, at 15 Porten Road, in Kensington, for 6 shillings a week. The same year, he married Ann Harris from Charfield.

In the 1897 Directory for Gloucester, Rowland is listed as an upholsterer, at 49 Regent Street, Gloucester. He is living there in 1901 and 1911 with his wife Ann.

Rowland died in 1819, aged 77, leaving £983. An extract from the will indicates, perhaps, his personality, meticulously laying out his bequests.