Sarah Jane Williams was born at Stroud on 24 August 1828, the daughter of the Rev. John Williams, DD, rector of Woodchester, Glos., from 1833 to his death in 1857. She married Edward Housman, a solicitor, at Woodchester, on 17 June 1858. She died at Bromsgrove on 26 March 1871, and was buried at Colshill.
Created a baronet, 2 Jan. 1813
Edwards became a Fellow of the Linnean Society in 1811 (DBIBH). DBIBH identifies him as the writer (with George Don) of the article on Botany in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, published in 1844, but it seems possible that this may have been Thomas Edwards of Banff (1814-1886).
James Webb was a wealthy eccentric, famous for his donations to the poor throughout the country. His income was said to be £75,000 a year (Goding).
On a letter received from him in 1812 Dawson Turner noted, 'From Webb, miscalled the Philanthropist, really a madman.' (O.13.10, No. 112.)
In June 1813 Webb visited Chester, leaving some small donations to be distributed by a Dr Thackeray (J. Hemingway, History of the City of Chester (1831), p. 260).
In 1814 he met Miles Watkins (1770/1-1844), an eccentric of Cheltenham, known as the King of the Cheltenham Royal Family. Watkins was a shoemaker by trade, but he accumulated a fortune in property, which he afterwards lost and was imprisoned from debt. Webb released Watkins from prison, and thereafter Watkins travelled with him as his secretary. During their travels in England the pair are said to have distributed upwards of £100,000 (Goding).