BORN:

11th November 1827 in Manchester

MARRIED:

(c1851 - possibly in Scotland)

Anne Paterson Rae of Cummertrees, Dumfrieshire, Scotland

KNOWN CHILDREN:

Baden (1852)

Duncan (1854)

Malcolm (1859)

Tom (1860)

Mary (1862)

Jessie (1863)

Jane (1866)

Colin (1867)

Norman (1869)

Gordon (1871)

Grace (1875)

All born in the Manchester area.

DIED:

24th May 1901, at Crumpsall, Manchester

Buried 27th May 1901 in Manchester General Cemetery

Biography

Thomas George Webb was born in Manchester shortly after his father moved to the town. He lived on Mill Street, Ancoats with his parents prior to marriage. He married Anne Paterson Rae, from Cummertrees in Dumfrieshire, Scotland, which led to several of his children having Scottish names. The marriage registration cannot be found, and he may have married in Scotland.

Anne Paterson Rae, wife of Thomas George Webb, in the 1860s

Thomas George Webb in the 1860s

As the only surviving son, Thomas was destined to take over the family business of Molineaux & Webb on the retirement of his father in 1859. For a few years he continued with his father's business partner, David Wilkinson, but from 1862 the company was solely in the hands of the Webb family.

There was a burst of commercial activity during his years in control of the firm. Many patents were applied for and company designs were routinely registered for the first time. He would appear to have been a canny businessman. He was active politically and supported local causes, though not to the same extent as his father. He was listed for election as a Guardian of the poor of Manchester in 1870, and also in his years in charge of the firm, Molineaux & Webb acted as an inspector of the Manchester Royal Infirmary, where his son Malcolm would work as a doctor in the 1880s.

Thomas teamed up with his cousin and fellow glass manufacturer Thomas Percival on a couple of occasions. In 1861 they both attended a national meeting of flint glass makers at Belle Vue in Manchester. In 1865 they were both Vice Chairmen on a political committee for the election of local politicians. Their group met "every evening at eight o'clock at the White Hart Inn, Great Ancoats Street." There is no further sign on Percival being active politically, but Webb went on to perform a similar role in 1867.

Whilst running the company, Thomas remained registered as a voter at the business address of 6 Kirby Street, Ancoats. His family home was located at Abbey Hey Lane, Gorton, and it must have been a substantial property as at one time it housed seventeen people, including several servants.

The house on Abbey Hey Lane is long gone, but the next property along on the 1871 census enumeration still survives (only just!)

Abbey Hey Hotel in 2008 - built 1868, neighbours to Thomas George Webb in 1871

View Google map of Abbey Hey Lane, Gorton

Thomas George Webb last appeared on the Manchester voters roll in 1886-1887, and soon after this date he must have retired and passed control of the business to his sons, Baden Webb and Duncan Webb.

Towards his retirement date he downsized from his property in Gorton. In 1885 he lived on Upper Brook Street. In 1886 he lived at a property named "The Wichnors" at Singleton Brook, Crumpsall, north Manchester. On the 1891 census he had moved to another decent sized house in Stretford, Manchester, but soon after, he returned to Crumpsall once more and lived at a house named "Roseneath."

Thomas George Webb wrote a very brief will in 1893 leaving everything to his wife, and making his son Duncan sole executor. On his death in 1901 he left a paltry £355 13s 11d. This would appear to be another sign to his commercial instincts and one has to suspect he arranged his estate to avoid death duties, especially when one considers that his father left £25,000 and his son left nearly £70,000!

Thomas' wife died in September 1905, leaving £1484 0s 6d. Probate was granted to Baden and Duncan Webb.

Anne Paterson Rae, wife of Thomas George Webb

1841 CENSUS:

Address: Mill Street, Ancoats

Others: Living with mother and two siblings

1851 CENSUS:

Job Title: Glass manufacturer

Address: 25 Mill Street, Ancoats

Others: Living with parents, two siblings and one servant

1861 CENSUS:

Job Title: Flint glass manufacturer

Address: Ardwick, Manchester

Others: Living with wife, five children and three servants

1871 CENSUS:

Job Title: Glass merchant

Address: Abbey Hey House, Gorton, Manchester

Others: Living with wife, ten children, one niece, and four servants

1881 CENSUS:

Job Title: Glass manufacturer employing 300 hands

Address: Abbey Hey House, Gorton, Manchester

Others: Living with wife, six children, one grandson, and five servants

1891 CENSUS:

Job Title: Retired glass manufacturer

Address: "South Field", Derbyshire Lane, Stretford, Manchester

Others: Living with wife and six children

1901 CENSUS:

Job Title: Retired glass manufacturer

Address: "Roseneath", Crumpsall Lane, Crumpsall, Manchester

Others: Living with wife and two children