Fanny Caroline Webster was the third child of Charles Webster & Caroline Bourn christened July 26th, 1850 at St Margaret's, Uxbridge.
Fanny was at home at the time of the 1861 census at Warren Farm, Hillingdon with her parents & brother.
She continued to live at Warren Farm in 1871. Her niece, Agnes Ellen Gurney (19), daughter of Fanny’s half sister Emma Wentworth Webster, was visiting at the time of the census.
Fanny married George Woodbridge on April 14th, 1875 at St Andrew’s, Hillingdon, Uxbridge. George was 37 & of East Lavant, Sussex at the time of the marriage & Fanny, just 24, of Uxbridge Common. Both their father’s were witnesses at the wedding. George was born July-September 1837 at Uxbridge, the son of Sarah & Charles Woodbridge.
By 1881 Fanny & George were living at the Manor House, Lavant, Sussex with their family – George C (5), Mabel C (3), Gertrude S (2), Walter B (1) & Nora (3 months). George was a farmer of 895 acres employing 24 men, 5 boys & 3 women. They had a cook, housemaid, nurse & under nurse.
Fanny died on August 19th, 1881, aged 31, & was buried on August 24th, 1881 at East Lavant.
By 1891 widowed George had become a banker & justice of the peace. He was living at North St, St Peter the Less, Chichester, Sussex with children Mabel, Gertrude & Nora. There was a cook, nursemaid, housemaid & parlourmaid. Son Walter was a scholar at Southey Hall, Worthing, Sussex.
George (63) was still living at North St, Chichester in 1901 & was still employed as a banker as was his son, George Charles. Also at home were Mabel & Nora. He continued to employ a cook, a parlourmaid & a housemaid.
George died on July 11th, 1905, aged 67, at Grey Friars, North St, Chichester. Probate was granted on August 26th, 1905 to Ernest Henry Blaker, solicitor & son George Charles Webster Woodbridge, banker. His effects were £15,320.0s.2d. The Chichester Observer of July 19th, 1905 carried an obituary of George. This described his earlier life when he worked as a civil engineer. After having worked on the Great Western Railway under the direction of Brunel, he travelled to India where he played a crucial role in the construction of the Eastern Bengal Railway. In 1873 he returned from India & took up residence at Manor House, Lavant which he rented from the Duke of Richmond. Until his illness George had been a church warden at St Peter the Less, North St, Chichester. He was buried alongside his wife Fanny at Lavant.
In 1911 son George (35) was living at the Haven, High St, Great Shelford, Chesterton, Cambs & was now a bank assistant inspector. He had married Julia Mildred Halsted in 1906, & with George & Julia (aged 46) at the time of the census was Julia’s younger sister Lucy Mabel Halsted.
Daughter Gertrude Sarah was visiting the Scott family in 1911 at Weybridge, Surrey.
Son Walter emigrated to the USA arriving in New York on May 6th, 1909. After a trip back to England, Walter sailed again to New York in September 1913. His occupation on the ship’s manifest was given as lawyer.
Daughter Norah married Austin Hale Woodbridge in 1918. Austin was born in 1876, the son of Elizabeth Frances Wortham & Thomas Hurry Riches Woodbridge, a solicitor. Austin’s father, Thomas, & Norah’s father, George, were brothers, therefore Norah & Austin were cousins. Austin was a stockbroker & he had previously been married to Ethel Mary Sanday for 10 years until Ethel’s death in 1915. They had a son Kenneth Austin Sanday Woodbridge in 1910. Austin had a distinguished military career during WW1 & in 1914 he was a Captain in the 8th Battalion, the Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment). He was first mobilized to Gibraltar in 1914 & then served in France. In 1915 Austin was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry at Fleurbaix on September 25th. He became Town Major of Bray-sur-Somme after his company was almost annihilated. In 1919 Austin became temporary Major & was Area Commandant at Hornoy on the Somme. There he became ill with influenza & died from pneumonia on February 28th, 1919. He was buried in March 1919 at the Pont-Remy British Cemetery, France. After a brief marriage Norah was left a widow.
The children of Fanny Caroline Webster & George Woodbridge were:
we.2.9.1 George Charles Webster Woodbridge born February 24th, 1876 at Lavant, Sussex; died July-September 1961 at Cambridge
we.2.9.2 Mabel Caroline Woodbridge born August 22nd, 1877 at Lavant, Sussex; died Oct-December 1972 at Winchester, Hampshire
we.2.9.3 Gertrude Sarah Woodbridge born July 12th, 1878 at Lavant, Sussex; died Oct-December 1968 at Hounslow, London
we.2.9.4 Walter Bourn Woodbridge born December 23rd,1879 at Lavant, Sussex; died June 19th, 1920 at Tyrone, Blair, Pennsylvania, USA
we.2.9.5 Norah Woodbridge born January 1st,1881 at Lavant, Sussex & christened February 18th, 1881 at St Andrew’s, Hillingdon;