John Webb

John Webb was one of the longest serving Masters who worked for James Smart. In the archive we have documents dating between 1885 and 1893.

In the years 1885 - 1887 we find him trading between Birmingham, Walsall, Hednesford and Newhall, carrying mostly coal and occasionally timber. But on 7th September 1887 he returned to Gloucester and writes a postcard to James Smart saying “we are part loaded so let Roberts know we shall be there on Monday”.  Sure enough there is another postcard from him on 12th (Monday), this time a little ironic: “Thanks to your brother there is nothing for us to load.”

From 1887 to 1891 John Webb seems to have been working the eastern region of Smart’s empire. There are letters and postcards from Reading, Goring, Lechlade and even London.

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In one such from Goring dated 9th of April 1891 he writes that he bought something (the writing is illegible) that “Jerris” spoke of at Longcut and tried it on the boat down to Uffington. He also says that “He took the donkeys in exchange at 30 Shillings but one was middling and one was lame so I was glad to see the back of them.”

Longcut is almost certainly the Longcutt Wharf on the Wilts and Berks Canal.

In December of 1891 we find him on a journey back to the Midlands working between Hednesford and Birmingham.  In January 1892 he is in Stourport from where he writes: “I sent my man out yesterday but have not seen him or the horse since. I will look for him again but do not expect to find him. Please send another.” I wonder what happened to the man? As I’ve said before, it was a tough life being a boatman in winter. Did he disappear on purpose? Was he waylaid and murdered?

The following spring we find him once again out East. A postcard on 7th March 1893 from Swindon says that he will go to Cricklade with wheat and bulls small but will then have stoppage for a week. After this he returns to Gloucester where he is held until Easter (no explanation as to why).

Webb got about a lot. We know from the various documents he was in the Midlands and to the East but he was also known to come down the Severn to Bullo Pill. This was in December but there is no year evident. But as usual the winter weather is causing difficulties. He writes: ”There is plenty of Patent Fuel Co.. Joe Mabbutt thought we might get away in the morning with a lot of strength but the wind is blowing hard.” The Severn could be treacherous sailing at the best of times and so I wonder if indeed he made the attempt.

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I find it amazing how the Masters of James Smart made their ways about the country, picking up loads of diverse cargoes and transporting them to many and varied destinations. How was all this industry orchestrated. Was it really all controlled from a building in Chalford with James Smart at its centre like a spider in the middle of its web, receiving missives from all across the country and issuing resulting orders to his lieutenants? In this day and age it would be a relatively easy achievement but in the late 1800s? I find it remarkable.