Emma Wentworth Webster was the third child of Charles Webster & Elizabeth Wentworth christened March 28th, 1826 at st Margaret's, Uxbridge, Middlesex.
Emma’s mother died in 1832 & at the time of the 1841 census Emma was visiting her uncle & aunt, Richard & Mary Ann Webster at Hill Farm, Hitcham, Bucks.
Emma married John Gurney on February 24th, 1847 at the Parish Church of Hillingdon, Midlesex. John was christened July 22nd, 1821 at Northolt, Middlesex, the son of Emma & Jason Gurney, a farmer. Emma & John’s fathers were witnesses at the wedding. A marriage settlement was made to them on February 19th, 1847 by Emma’s grandfather, Philip Wentworth. The settlement was £1,500 secured on mortgages in Westerham & Hever, Kent.
In 1851 Emma & John were living at Skinner Lane, Bradford, Yorks where John was a wool stapler (someone who sorts & grades wool then sells it to manufacterers). They had 2 children – Henry W (3) & Frederick J (1). With them at the time of the census was Mary Ann Webster (45), Emma’s aunt. They had 2 servants. Later that year a daughter, Agnes Ellen was born.
Emma died aged just 27 & was buried on September 21st 1853, at St Paul’s, Manningham, W. Yorks.
The children of Emma Wentworth Webster & John Gurney were:
we.2.3.1 Henry Wentworth Gurney born February 26th, 1848 & christened March 28th, 1848 at Hounslow Heath, Middlesex; died October 1st, 1928 in Pleasantville, Marion, Iowa, USA
we.2.3.2 Frederick John Gurney christened December 18th, 1849 at Hounslow Heath, Middlesex, died February 21st, 1878 at Bradford
we.2.2.3 Agnes Ellen Gurney was born at Manningham & christened October 4th, 1851 at St Paul’s, Manningham, W. Yorks; died February 15th, 1928 at Shepperton, Middlesex
John married Harriet Bankart on April 17th, 1855 at St Peter’s Bradford Cathedral. Harriet was born October 29th, 1828 & christened March 24th, 1852 at St Peter’s Bradford Cathedral, Yorks, daughter of Mary & Charles Bankart, a wool stapler.
In 1861 John & Harriet were living at 18 Claremont, Little Horton, Bradford & John was still a wool stapler. They had 3 children at home – John’s daughter Agnes Ellen (9), & new children Walter Bankart (3) & Mary Edith (4). They employed a cook, a housemaid & a nurse. John’s 2 sons from his marriage to Emma were not at home at this time – Henry W (13) was visiting his grandfather Charles Webster at Warren Farm, Uxbridge Common, Hillingdon, & Frederick was a pupil at Newton Lodge, Roundhay Rd, Leeds.
By 1871 John had become a wool, silk & cotton merchant & he & Harriet were living at 8 Oak Well, Manningham, Bradford. Mary E was still at home & they now had new children – Kate E (9), Gertrude B (8), Effy L (7), Arthur R (5) & Hilda B (6 months). They had a governess, a nurse, 3 domestic servants & a visitor Ada M Lowenthal (13).
John’s son Henry W was living with his uncle Francis Gurney in 1871 at his farm in Norholt, Middlesex, & was listed as a brewer. His brother Frederick was a pupil civil engineer lodging in Lambeth, London. Daughter Agnes Ellen was visiting her grandparents, Charles & Elizabeth Webster at Warren Farm, Hillingdon. Shortly after the census Henry Wentworth emigrated to the USA. He came to live in Iowa where he married Mary Ella McDonald in 1873.
Daughter Agnes married Owen Lewis on April 15th, 1875 at the Parish Church, Bradford. Agnes’ address was Oakwell, Manningham, Bradford & Owen was a 29 year old tea broker from Clapham, Surrey, the son of Owen Lewis, a retired tea dealer. Agnes (known as Ellen) received an inheritance of £700 from her grandfather Charles Webster on his death in 1881. Her brother Henry also received £700.
Son Frederick of Rue de Guise, Calais, France died on February 21st, 1878 at Oakwell, Bradford. Probate of his will was granted to sister Agnes Ellen Lewis in 1917!
John was still doing well in 1881 when he was described as a wool & cotton merchant employing 4 men & 1 boy. He & Harriet were still living in Manningham, but at 10 Selbourn Terr. Children at home were Edith M, Walter, a cotton warp salesman, Kate, Gertrude, Arthur & Hilda. They had a waiting maid, a house maid & a cook.
By 1891 John was still prospering – he was now a magistrate & stockbroker! He & Harriet were living at 28 Park Drive, Heaton, Bradford. With them was son Arthur, a stockbroker’s clerk & daughter Hilda. They still had a waiting maid, housemaid & cook.
John died on July 2nd, 1898, aged 77, at Heaton. Probate was granted on July 25th, 1898 to widow Harriet, sons Walter Bankart Gurney & Arthur Roland Gurney, stock brokers. His effects were £4,144.2s.1d & resworn in October as £7,428.10s.
At the time of the 1901 census widowed Harriet & daughter Hilda were staying at a private hotel in Laura Place, Bath, Somerset.
Harriet died on September 22nd, 1916 at 5 Selborne Grove, Bradford, aged 87. Probate was granted on October 25th, 1916 in London to sons Walter Bankart & Arthur Roland Gurney, stockbrokers & daughter Hilda Bertha Gurney, spinster. Her effects were £823.6s.7d.