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Stephen WELLER
Father: Stephen WELLER
Mother: Elizabeth SHACKELL
Born: 1821
Died: 1906 (aged 85 years)
Buried: High Wycombe cemetery
= Married  =
on: 1844-03-04
Sarah BRION
Born: 1826
Died: 1906 (aged 80 years)
Children:   |
Caroline Bertha
William
Ann
Andrew
Stephen
Born: 1844-12-27
Died: 1916
Sarah
Born: 1846
Died: 1921
George Brion
Born: 1848
Died: 1911
Charles
Born: 1850
Bessie
Born: 1852
Edwin
Born: 1858
Mary
Born: 1860
Rosa Jane
Born: 1861
Died: 1948
Robert Newton
Born: 1863
Died: 1880

Further information for Stephen WELLER.

Birth place: Wycombe Marsh (or Penn BT)
Profession: Chairmaker. French polisher. Varnish manufacturer
Domiciles: High Wycombe

Biography

Stephen (2nd) was born at Wycombe Marsh 1821 and baptised at High Wycombe. He married Sarah Brion on March 4th 1844. He was then a chair-maker. In 1851 they were living at 55 Newland with the first four of their children; by then he was a French polisher. In Kelly's directory 1875 their address was 17 Temple Street, and he was making varnishes and polishes. Kelly's ' 66, ' 67, ' 68 are missing, in '69 Stephen appears as a varnish maker, but not in '65; presumably he started his new business between those years, perhaps in '68 when he asked his son Stephen to join him. Kelly's '99 - "Weller, Stephen and Son, varnish and polish manufacturers. Speciality, chair manufacturer's requisites.".

I do not know when the family became Wesleyan Methodists but it is certain that Stephen 2nd. was a prominent member of the Chapel. Beside the entrance to the Chapel in West Wycombe there are several stones with names engraved upon them, including those of Mr. S. Weller snr., his daughter Sarah and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Ben North, and Mr. S. Weller jnr. The foundation stone was laid by Viscount Curzon, M.P. on Aug 8th. 1894.


Stephen Weller (1821-1906)

When a new Chapel was begun in Flackwell Heath in 1883, "the third stone was laid by Mr. S. Weller, who said it was 'most emphatically a red letter day for the good people of Flackwell Heath, and it was his earnest desire and prayer that this effort which was now put forth for the enlargement of God's House in that place might tend very materially to benefit the inhabitants' He had no doubt that it would. Each person, after laying his stone, gave £5 to the fund."


Sarah Weller nee Brion (1826-1905)
Sarah Weller nee Brion (1826-1905)

This quotation is from the local newspaper in High Wycombe library. Stephen gave an address at a Watch Night service in 1868, at a missionary meeting in 1872 and 1883, was elected Conference Representative in 1884 and was delegate to the Oxford District Meeting 1885. For some years he was a member of the School Board as Wesleyan representative, and was elected a member of the High Wycombe Council at the first election after the extension of the Borough, in 1880, also in 1881, but failed to be re-selected the following year. Also, going back to 1844, he was then Steward of the Independent Order of Rechabites, Olive Branch, tent no. 458. This, I think, was a Friendly Society whose function was to help its members in time of need.

Some time in the 1880's Stephen took his son, Stephen 3rd., my Grandfather, into partnership and a few years later retired and went to live at Lyndhurst, Priory Road, High Wycombe. He and Sarah celebrated their Golden Wedding in March 1894 and their Diamond Anniversary in 1904; I have photographs taken on the latter occasion, and some earlier ones. Both died in 1906 and were buried in High Wycombe cemetery. [Barbara Taylor nee Weller]

 


Sarah Weller nee Brion (1826-1905)

Stephen Weller (1821-1906)

Stephen and Sarah.
Taken about 1904.
This walking stick is inscribed around the collar with the words; "Presented to Mr. Stephen Weller on the occasion of his Golden Wedding 4th March 1894 by his sons & daughters". It was discovered by Denise Butler of Online Antiques and kindly presented to the family on 1-May-2020. It may be the one featured in the picture of Stephen and Sarah (left).

Sarah(North).jpg (11659 bytes)
Sarah (Weller) North
b:1846
Married Ben North, a Furniture manufacturer from West Wycombe

Sarah with her granddaughter Freda Busby
JohnBusby,Mary,Olive,Freda.jpg (11885 bytes)
John and Mary (Weller) Busby
with daughters, Olive and Freda (on Mary`s knee)
John_Busby.jpg (13231 bytes)
John Busby in Alderman`s robes.

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