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William Webster
 
Baillie records:
 
William Webster as an eminent clockmaker having been apprentice to his father, also William, who in turn was one of the last apprentices and journeyman to Thomas Tompion.  On the death of his father in 1735, William continued the business his father started in 1710.  He worked at 26 Exchange Alley and was elected to the Clockmakers Company in 1734, serving as Master in 1755.
 
Britten notes:
 
Many generations of the Webster family of clockmakers carried on business in the City of London from 1675.  Most served as Officers of the Clockmakers Company at some point in their careers including William (see note above) and his father, who was appointed Warden in 1734 and died in office.  William's own son, Richard, was appointed to the Clockmakers Company in 1771 and served as Liveryman in 1787; his son, also Richard, similarly in 1810.
 
Many commentators, including Jeremy Evans' excellent new book, has noted William Webster Snr eagerness to entice customers away from the workshops of Thomas Tompion by placing newspapers advertisements after Tompion had died but before he was buried on 26 November 1713 in Westminster Abbey.
 
Bibl:
 
Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World Vol. 1                                        G H Baillie
Old Clock & Watches & Their Makers                                                            F J Britten
Thomas Tompion (at The Dial and Three Crowns)                                 Jeremy Evans
The London Gazette 24 - 28 November 1713
 
 
 
 
 
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