John Stewart Webster was the fifth child of John Hearne Webster & Euphemia Kay Stewart born November 10th, 1854 at Maidstone, Kent & christened March 21st, 1855 at Barming, Kent.
By 1861 he was living with the family at The Lodge, Alphington, Devon.
He was not at home at the time of the 1871 census as he was attending Woking College, Surrey.
By 1881 John was an architect’s assistant & lodging with Samuel & Jane Lowe & family at 189 Heathfield Rd, Handsworth, Staffs. Samuel was a retired draper.
John moved to Australia some time before 1890 when he married Bessie Eleanor Morris at Christ Church, South Yarra, Victoria, Australia, on 1st August 1890. Bessie was born at Kent, England, in May 1863. She was the daughter of Thomas Morris & Katherine Hannah Jackson. Bessie’s brother, Huson Morris, had married Elizabeth Webster, John’s sister, in 1875!
Son Thomas Stewart Webster died in a tragic train accident in London in June 1914. Two trains collided outside Cannon Street Station & a carriage of the train from Plumstead on which Thomas was travelling had overturned. A number of people were injured but Thomas died in the ambulance whilst being taken to Guys Hospital. (Western Times, Exeter, Devon, June 29th, 1914)
John died on 21st February 1943 at age 88. He was cremated at Springvale, Victoria,
Australia, on 23 February 1943. Notice of John's death was published in the
Argus, Melbourne, February 23, 1943:
WEBSTER - On February 21 (suddenly) at Cabrini Hospital, John Steward
the beloved husband of Bessie, and father of Montie, Effie, Katherine, Tom
(deceased), Stewart and Sybil. (No flowers by request)
The Victorian Probate Index shows the death date at Feb. 20, 1943. The date
of grant was June 14, 1948.
Bessie died on 14th September 1947 at Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia, at age 84. She was cremated at Springvale, Victoria, Australia, on 16th September 1947.
The children of John Stewart Webster & Bessie Eleanor Morris were:
we.7.5.1 Montague Allen Webster born 1891 at Prahran, Victoria, Australia,
died January 5th, 1980 at New South Wales, Australia
we.7.5.2 Effie Stewart Webster born July 19th, 1892 at Prahran, Victoria, Australia,
died August 6th, 1983 at Elsternwick, Victoria, Australia
we.7.5.3 Katherine Helen Webster born 1893 at Prahran, Victoria, Australia,
died February 28th, 1976 at Glen Iris, Victoria, Australia
we.7.5.4 Thomas Stewart Webster born July-September 1895 at Hayes, Kent, died
June 27th,1914 in London
we.7.5.5 Stewart Thornton Webster born February 28th, 1898 in Perth, Australia; died November 1st, 1978 at Mornington,
Victoria, Australia
we.7.5.6 Sybil Margaret Webster born 1900 in Perth; died c1976 in Perth, Australia