Webbs of Painswick
Rupert Peploe Added

I was very interested to read the article on the Webb Family by David Rawlings in your last issue. I have done a considerable amount of research into the Webbs of Gloucester-Painswick who used the coat of arms depicting an eagle with black and red cross. They are by tradition descended from a master Flemish Weaver who was given the name Webb and the coat of arms by Edward lll in 1320 in recognition of his great skill. It is likely his original name was Richard Volvert and his descendants the Wolworth alias Webbs were living in the Dursley area of Gloucestershire by 1380.

I am descended from a John Webbe of Frocester, nearby, whose descendants also used this coat of arms so we may well be related. Some of them became Members of Parliament for Gloucester and their memorials can still be seen in the Cathedral. My great great great grandfather changed the family name from Webb to Peploe in 1866.

The Richmond Webbs were only Webbs in the female line so it is interesting that the Webbs of Box continued to use the eagle coat of arms rather than the Richmond version. I suppose only DNA testing would really sort out which branch was related to whom.

Left: Coat of arms of the Webbs of Painswick