Although earlier Webb information is available, we will start the Webb story in the late 1400s in villages near Stratford, Warwickshire, England. If Stratford sounds familiar, it's because of William Shakespeare. He was born in Stratford-Upon-Avon and that's the same town. In fact, there are some very interesting family connections between the Webbs and the Shakespeares. The picture below is the birthplace of William Shakespeare. His grandmother was named Abigail Webb, and she is an ancestor of the American Webbs.
Sir John Alexander Webb, born January 11, 1484, and served in the armies of both Henry VII and Henry VIII. Later in life, he was an usher in the Privy court of Catherine Parr, Henry VIII's last wife and the only one who survived the dark hand of Henry. It appears that while he was born in Warwickshire (the county of Warwick), he did live for some time at Hampton Court, one of the palaces of Henry VIII. Sir John's first son, Henry--wonder where that name came from!--was born at Hampton 'Courts'. Actual construction of the Hampton Court palace did not begin until 1514, so it is unclear if the birthplace of Henry was a general location or if the birthplace is inaccurate. The title 'Sir' is the result of serving in the military as a knight and indicates the family was part of the nobility. Nobles were usually granted land in return for their military service and had the right to keep and bear arms. Nobility was hereditary and passed through male offspring, often first-born males.
Sir John had four children: Henry, Abigail, Mary, and William. Not much is known about William, but the other three children are very significant. Henry is a direct ancestor to the American Webbs. Abigail and Mary have some very complicated marriages and relationships, all due to the decree from Henry VIII that first cousins could marry. Abigail marries into the Shakespeare family and an eventual product of that marriage is William Shakespeare. Mary married into the prominent Arden family. The Arden's were wealthy landowners in Warwickshire. The interconnections between the Webb, Arden and Shakespeare families are too complicated for words, so the diagram below explains it all...
Sir John Alexander Webb, born January 11, 1484, and served in the armies of both Henry VII and Henry VIII. Later in life, he was an usher in the Privy court of Catherine Parr, Henry VIII's last wife and the only one who survived the dark hand of Henry. It appears that while he was born in Warwickshire (the county of Warwick), he did live for some time at Hampton Court, one of the palaces of Henry VIII. Sir John's first son, Henry--wonder where that name came from!--was born at Hampton 'Courts'. Actual construction of the Hampton Court palace did not begin until 1514, so it is unclear if the birthplace of Henry was a general location or if the birthplace is inaccurate. The title 'Sir' is the result of serving in the military as a knight and indicates the family was part of the nobility. Nobles were usually granted land in return for their military service and had the right to keep and bear arms. Nobility was hereditary and passed through male offspring, often first-born males.
Sir John had four children: Henry, Abigail, Mary, and William. Not much is known about William, but the other three children are very significant. Henry is a direct ancestor to the American Webbs. Abigail and Mary have some very complicated marriages and relationships, all due to the decree from Henry VIII that first cousins could marry. Abigail marries into the Shakespeare family and an eventual product of that marriage is William Shakespeare. Mary married into the prominent Arden family. The Arden's were wealthy landowners in Warwickshire. The interconnections between the Webb, Arden and Shakespeare families are too complicated for words, so the diagram below explains it all...
