BORN:

1890 in Manchester

MARRIED:

To Rebecca Oleesky in Manchester

KNOWN CHILDREN:

Kenneth Duncan (1916)

Pamela Mary (1918)

Veronica Marjorie (1920)

Christopher Colin (1922)

DIED:

21st October 1947 at Caernarvon, North Wales.

Profession on death certificate - "Glass manufacturer (retired)"

Biography

Duncan Webb Junior was the last family member to run the firm of Molineaux & Webb. The only son of Duncan Webb, he took over the company some time around the end of World War 1, and led it into liquidation in 1929.

Duncan married Rebecca Oleesky, the daughter of a Russian Jewish butcher from the Cheetham Hill area of north Manchester. For the most part they lived in Ormskirk and then Southport, in Lancashire. It is notable that over the years, the owners of Molineaux & Webb lived further and further away from the factory.

Balfour Road, Southport, Lancashire

Duncan Webb Junior lived at this property whilst company chairman of Molineaux & Webb

Young Duncan in the 1890s

Duncan is known to have made two trips to north America on passenger ships. In 1920 he went on a tour of British glass manufacturers to the Libbey-Owens glass plant. He returned in September 1920 sailing from Quebec to Liverpool with Charles W. Burtles, of Burtles & Tate. In 1930 he sailed to New York to visit his cousin Miriam Dolores Webb, the daughter of his father's brother, Colin Webb. He stayed in America for six months, hinting that he may have considered staying there to escape the debts of the now defunct Molineaux & Webb. However he returned to England in 1931, giving his profession on the ship passenger list as "salesman."

The 1930s were a sorry time for Duncan. He spent most of the decade under a financial cloud.

July 1931

In the Matter of a Deed of Assignment for the benefit of creditors, executed on the 7th April, 1931, by DUNCAN WEBB, the Younger, of 74, Park Road, Southport, in the county of Lancaster, Glass Manufacturer. The creditors of the above named Duncan Webb, the Younger, who have not already sent in their claims and assented to the deed, are required, on or before Tuesday, the 11th day of August, 1931, to assent as aforesaid, and to send in the names and addresses, and the particulars of their debts or claims to James Buck, c/o Messrs. Pilling & Co., 30, Brown Street, Manchester, Accountant, the Trustee under the said deed, otherwise they will be excluded from the benefit of any dividend which may be declared.

August 1932 - Petition for Bankruptcy

WEBB, Duncan, Green Bank, Roebuck Lane, Sale, in the county of Chester, GLASS MANUFACTURER, lately residing at 71 Park Road, Southport, in the county of Lancaster.

Duncan had now moved from Southport to Sale in Cheshire, but his troubles were not over.

October 1933

WEBB Duncan, Green Bank, Roebuck Lane, Sale, in the county of Chester, GLASS MANUFACTURER, lately residing at 71 Park Road Southport.

Nature of Order made - Bankrupt's discharge suspended for one year, and that he be discharged as from Sept 15, 1934.

Grounds named in Order for refusing an absolute Order of Discharge - Proofs of facts mentioned in Section 26, sub-section 3 (A, F and K) Bankruptcy Act 1914

The note of 1933 shows that he remained a bankrupt due to breaching some conditions of the Bankruptcy Act. The most notable condition he breached was section F:

That the bankrupt has brought on, or contributed to, his bankruptcy by rash and hazardous speculations, or by unjustifiable extravagance in living, or by gambling, or by culpable neglect of his business affairs.

In 1936, Duncan's father died, leaving around £60,000 after tax. Duncan received half of this estate, but his debts must have been considerable because even this sum did not end his money problems.

In 1939 the Webb family, who had now moved to Knutsford in Cheshire, were taken to court. Duncan had borrowed money and failed to repay a loan of £236. As a bankrupt, the obligation to pay fell upon his wife and son, the guarantors of the loan. The case was reported in the local paper after it became apparent the Webbs were unable to pay their solicitor's legal costs. The solicitor had not made proper arrangement for payment and found himself liable for some of his own costs!

After this somewhat messy situation, the Webbs moved to north Wales and settled in the Caernarvon area. Some photos survive which suggest Duncan was active in the Home Guard during the war. Duncan lost his youngest son, Christopher Colin Webb, in 1943, due to the war, and the husband of his daughter Pamela Webb died in 1944 during the D-Day landings.

Duncan died in 1947 in north Wales and his surviving children continued to live quietly in the same area of Wales. His daughter Pamela Webb inherited the family heirlooms from their time in the glass industry.

Duncan and his sisters

Duncan's wife, Rebecca Oleesky

Duncan with daughter Pamela in 1940

1891 CENSUS:

Address: 11 Leven Terrace, Droylsden, Manchester

Others: Living with parents, two siblings and two servants

1901 CENSUS:

Address: "Morningside", Droylsden, Manchester

Others: Living with parents, two siblings and two servants