Charles "Charlie" Webb-Wagg (1862 to 1938) - The fifth child of William (Bill) and Sarah Webb
In April 1862, after nine years of marriage, Sarah Jane was Bill and Sarah Wagg's only surviving child. Their other three children, William George, Mary Ann and Adelaide, had died as infants. On 23 June 1862, their second son Charles was born at Table Bay on the North Shore of Sydney - probably at the same location as Mary Ann and Adelaide. We now know the area as Wollstonecraft Bay. Charles was baptised on 21 September 1862 at St Thomas Church of England, North Sydney.
We've read about Charles in previous posts-
- The Webb's, the Foy's and the Sydney Flying Squadron
- Charles Webb-Wagg - 23 June 1862 to 08 May 1939
Charles worked for Sydney Ferries all his working life ending his career around the age of 70 as a master of the vehicular ferry service between Dawes Port and Blue's Point. The service was discontinued when the Harbour Bridge opened in 1932.
On 30 January 1893, Charles married Amy Agnes Clancy at St David's Church of England, Surry Hills. Their marriage registration shows that Charles was a 28 year old master mariner living at Ben Boyd Road North Sydney. Amy was an 18 year old spinster living at Princes Street Sydney. Her father, John Clancy, gave permission for her marriage as she was under 21. John was a draper and lived with his wife Catherine (Kate) Flaven and their children at May Cottage, 104 Princes Street. You'll recall that 2 years later, Charles' younger brother, Albert Hayden (Hayden), married Amy's younger sister, Josephine.
Charles and Amy had one son, Claude William Webb Wagg, on 06 August 1893. Charles married Leonie Hazel (Hazel) Foy in 1919 and they went on to have four children - Mavis, Claudia, Charles Francis (Frank) and Leonie (Dolly). Hazel Foy was born in 1895 in London and was the daughter of Francis Foy and Mary Maud Flanagan. She was the niece of Mark Foy who was the promoter of the 18 foot sailing boats that the Webb's sailed to so much acclaim.
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| Family of Charles and Amy Webb-Wagg |
Claude and Hazel settled in Adelaide where Claude ran a music store until shortly after Hazels' untimely death on 18 April 1927, aged 32. The family retuned to Sydney and lived with Charles and Amy.
Charles Webb-Wagg died on 08 May 1939 at this home in Chatswood.
Claude and his children continued to live with Amy after Charles's death. However, Claude was in poor health after the death of Hazel and he died on 27 February 1945, aged 51, when Dolly was almost 18.
Charles Webb-Wagg died on 08 May 1939 at this home in Chatswood.
Claude and his children continued to live with Amy after Charles's death. However, Claude was in poor health after the death of Hazel and he died on 27 February 1945, aged 51, when Dolly was almost 18.
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| Three Clancy sisters - Eva, Jo and Amy Hayden (son of Hayden and Josephine) and Claude (son of Charles and Amy) Circa 1896 at Fairy Bower near Manly (From Claudia's daughter, Therese's collection) |
Amy died on 26 April 1961 when she was holidaying with her sister, Josephine, in the Blue Mountains.
While the Webb-Wagg's were people of the sea, Claude and Hazel's son Francis's life took a different path. He became an acclaimed Australian poet. You can read more about Francis's life here.
While the Webb-Wagg's were people of the sea, Claude and Hazel's son Francis's life took a different path. He became an acclaimed Australian poet. You can read more about Francis's life here.
On Saturday 26 August 2017 at 2pm, the annual event to recognise Francis's work is being held at Chatswood Library. This is a free event. You can book here.
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| Claudia Snell (nee Webb-Wagg) and Francis Webb (From Claudia's daughter, Therese's collection) |
