John Webster
John Webster was born about 1485, the eldest son of William Webster of Syston in Leicestershire, a butcher. He took up the freedom of the borough of Leicester in 1509/10, entered on the roll as "John Webster, 1st s. of William of Syston." A freeman could sell in the town market without paying the heavy toll charged to outsiders. He was probably in his early twenties. He paid the lay subsidy at Syston in 1524, and his name is on the muster roll there in 1540. Like his father he was a butcher.
About 1535 he became the tenant of a farm at Cossington, a few miles north, that belonged to the priory of Ulverscroft. When the monasteries were dissolved the priory's land passed to the Crown. On 5 May 1544 he went to law over the farm in the Court of Augmentations, the court that handled former monastic property. His opponents were Thomas and William Chamberlain. They were probably his friends, joining him in a collusive suit to make his title secure. William and Richard Chamberlain later witnessed his widow's will.
In 1554 he bought the house and farm where he had been living for some years. The Cossington churchwardens' accounts name him twice: about 1545 he paid thirteen shillings and elevenpence for a piece of land called a butt, and in 1549 he was one of the two churchwardens.
He married Emett Welle, whose brother William was a priest. Their children were William, later of Thrussington, a fishmonger; John, born about 1510; and three daughters, Alice, Ellen and Agnes, who married a Storer. He died before August 1558 and was buried in Cossington churchyard. His widow asked to be buried near him.
Parents
William Webster (b. 1460)
Children
Sources
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Cite: Heirology, "John Webster (b. 1485)", https://heirology.com/ancestors/john-webster-1485-d53602.