Florence Webster [we.12.7]

Florence Webster was the seventh child of William Webster & Elizabeth Winder born September 2nd, 1865 at Dorney & christened October 29th, 1865 at Burnham.

In 1871 & 1881 she was living with her parents & sisters at Dorney Wood Farm.

Florence married Alfred Bayley on May 29th, 1890 in Burnham Church. Alfred was born February 21st, 1865 at Britwell Farm, Burnham, Bucks, the son of Sarah Mills & William Bayley. He was christened March 11th, 1865 at Burnham.
The South Bucks Standard of June 6th, 1890 reported on the wedding. It stated that both Florence & Alfred were very popular & hence there were a large number of people at the wedding. Florence wore a dress of ivory white silk, trimmed with applique embroidery & sprays of orange blossom tied with ribbon. She carried a magnificent bouquet given by her brother-in-law George Webster. Bridesmaids were her sisters Nellie (Ellinor) & Daisy, her cousin Emiline Gertrude Webster & Alfred’s sister, Miss E.S Bayley. They wore white embroidered muslin with primrose sashes & flowers & each wore a horseshoe & hunting crop brooch given by the bridegroom. Alfred’s brother William was best man. The bride & groom honeymooned in South Devon & Cornwall.

In 1891 Florence & Alfred were living at Britwell Farm, Burnham with Alfred’s brother William (Bagley in Ancestry.co.uk index). Both Alfred & his brother were farmers. Later that year William was to marry Florence's sister Ellinor Webster [we.12.8].

At the time of the birth of their daughter in 1895 they were living at Burnham. It was during the 1890s that Alfred cycled to Lands End on his penny farthing cycle.

Alfred & his Penny Farthing

Photograph courtesy of Michael H H Bayley & reproduced from the book 'Around Burnham' by Dorothy Blackman & Daphne Chevous (first published 1993), with kind permission of Amberley Publishing, Stroud, Gloucestershire

In 1901 Florence & Alfred were living at Manor Farm, Slough, Bucks where Alfred was a farmer & dairyman. They had a 5 year old daughter Barbara.

According to Michael Bayley, the grandson of Alfred’s brother Fred Bayley, Alfred joined in the diamond rush in South Africa. He achieved some success working at the Big Hole, Kimberley but eventually sold up to Barney Bonato & bought an orange farm in South Africa. When the orange farm was wrecked in a storm, he returned to the UK. He subsequently set up the Slough Electric Light Works & grew oranges under glass alongside his apple orchards. Alfred was known as ‘Tiggy’ Bayley by the boys who raided his orchards.

The 1939 register shows Alfred & Florence living at Orchard Bungalow, Eton & Alfred was described as a fruit grower & poulterer. With them was daughter Barbara who was their housekeeper.

Daughter Barbara was granted probate of her aunt Alice Marion Bradford’s will in September 1941. Barbara was noted as being a spinster at that time.

Alfred was mentioned in the Sunderland Daily Echo & Shipping Gazette of January 18th, 1943 as a producer of oranges, lemons & tangerines. He was donating a basket of these attractive fruits to be disposed of in Maidenhead in aid of the local prisoner of war parcels fund.

Florence, of Orchard Bungalow, Lent Rise, Burnham died aged 79 on November 18th,1944. Probate was granted on March 10th, 1945 to daughter Barbara Bayley. Her effects were £1966.3s.2d.

Daughter Barbara (of Orchard Bungalow) died October 10th, 1946 at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital, St. Pancras, London. Administration of her estate was granted to her father Alfred Bayley on March 31st 1947, but sadly Alfred himself died a few days later. Administration was finally granted on December 31st, 1947 to Westminster Bank Ltd and Thomas Alan Stuchbery, solicitor. Barbara’s effects were £3564.7s.8d.

Alfred, still living at Orchard Bungalow, Lent Rise, Burnham, died aged 82 on April 10th 1947. Probate was granted at Oxford on September 25th, 1947 to Westminster Bank Ltd and Thomas Alan Stuchbery, solicitor. His effects were £33,585.8s.7d.

The children of Florence Webster & Alfred Bayley were:

we.12.7.1 Barbara Bayley born April 3rd, 1895 & christened May 24th, 1895 at Burnham, died October 10th 1946 at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital, St. Pancras, London..