John Weller

Compiled by J.H. Weller

There is a short bio in Wikipedia, albeit written in German:

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Weller

Other sites with information on Weller Bros. and AC Motors:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_Cars

https://www.acheritage.com/about

https://accars.eu/history/

https://motor-car.net/ac/item/24909-weller-brothers

And on AC Cars in Graces Guide:
https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/AC_Cars_(Auto-Carriers)

https://motor-car.net/historic-cars

In 1891 England & Wales Census:
Residence on 5th April 1891: Miller Cottage, Selsdon Road, St Mary, London, England
Head: Harry Weller (45) Railway Book Stall & News Clerk, Wife: Sarah A Weller (38), William S Weller (16) Fitter Engineer, Harry E Weller (14) Railway Bookstall & News Asst., John Weller (13), Lily Weller (12), Thomas Weller (10), Ernest Weller (9), Marguaritte S Weller (6), Harold A Weller (3), Servant: Emily Wooton (26), Visitor: Elizabeth J Weller (31).

In 1901 England & Wales Census
Residence on 31st March 1901: Idmiston Road, Wickford, The Boy's Home Reformatory, Spanish Road Wandsworth Common London Sw, Certified Reformatory School, Lambeth, London, England
Head: Harry Weller (55) Bookseller and News Agent Manager, Wife: Sarah A Weller (48), Son: Wm S Weller (25), Son: Harry E Weller (24), Son: John Weller (23), Daughter: Lily Weller (22), Son: Thomas Weller (20), Son: Ernest Weller (19), Daughter: Marguerite Weller (16), Son: Harold A Weller (13), Son: Septimus B Weller (9), Boarder: John Edmund Bennett (17),

In 1911 England & Wales Census
Residence on Apr 2 1911: 57. Idmiston Road, Lambeth, London, England
Head: Harry Weller (65) Retired Booksellers Clerk, Married 38 years, live births: 9, still living: 9. Wife: Sarah Ann Weller (58). Son: John Weller (33) Motor Car Manufacturer. Daughter: Lily Weller (32), Son: Septimus Beresford Weller (19) Motor Car Engineer, Boarder: Emily Wooton (46).

From: Margaret Weller's "Early Weller History in China"
1919: Uncle John, Uncle Tom and Uncle Beres lived in a large house called Amberley in Brighton Rd, Surbiton.

1936: Uncle John and Aunt Olive lived at Old Vine Cottage, Silkamore Lane, West Horsley.

1941 (probably): Uncle John and Aunt Olive lived at Dorking.

In 1939 Register of England & Wales
Residence on Sep 29 1939: Erriars, Pilgrims Way,Westhumble, Dorking, Surrey, England
Head: John Weller born Nov 28 1877, Married, Automobile Engineer M, Wife (implied): Olive W Weller born Jan 7 1904, Married, Unpaid Domestic Duties, Possible relative (implied): Lily Lane (Weller) born Jan 19 1879, Single, Unpaid Domestic Duties, Possible relative (implied): Sarah A Weller, June 30 1852, Widowed, Private Means incapaci? Possible relative (implied): John B Weller, Dec 18 1915, Single, Divinity Student G? Rose E Strange: Single, State Reg Nurse, Marion M George, June 18 1915, Single Housemaid, Philip E Smith, Aug 10 1929, Single, at School.

I [J.H. Weller] once met Sarah Anne Weller and remember being introduced to her by my mother. “This is Daddy’s grandma” she said to me. The event must have made quite an impression on me as she died in January 1942, so I was not yet two years old. My memory is of a tall thin lady dressed in black, sitting in an upright chair. I think she had a gravelly voice as I have a memory of asking my mother why she had a man's voice. This was Christmas 1941, about two weeks before she died.

Sarah Ann Weller [John's mother] died at Dorking on Jan 11th, 1942, so John and Olive probably moved to Church Gates early 1942.

Bernard Finch, born on December 3rd, 1932, at Wannock, a farming village near Eastbourne, Sussex. He and his three older siblings were sent to the County Council Children’s Homes at Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex.

Just before Easter 1945, the kids were on the train coming back from a daytrip, when the social worker asked if Bernard would like to visit a family? He leapt at the chance, and this turned out to be John and Olive Weller at Church Gates, in Heathfield, Sussex. Twelve-year-old Bernard really enjoyed the visit and went back there again a week or so later, this time for a longer visit. After a few weeks they asked if they could adopt him. The adoption went through on the 3rd of October 1945, and he had a very happy family life with John and Olive.

The house at Church Gates was a pair of semidetached cottages; the Wellers lived in the eastern half of the building, beside the lane to the 13th Century Heathfield Baptist church. The other half of the building was unoccupied – almost derelict – used by John as a workshop; he was finishing a communion table for the church
and had reached the stage of carefully carving a motto around the upper part.

On 3 October, 1945, Olive and John Weller adopted Bernard John Finch (born December 03, 1932), son of Florence and Henry Finch.

From 1947-1955, John, Olive and Bernard lived at Willow Cottage.

John died at Cornford House, Tonbridge Wells, Kent in 1966. Olive and Bernard emigrated to New Zealand in 1978. Became NZ citizen in 1995.

Email from: Andrew Weller <wellera1500@gmail.com>
Sent: December 24, 2022 6:19 PM
To: Sam Weller <j_h_weller@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: John Weller 1877-1966 Cheltenham or Tonbridge?

Hi Sam

An update - I've cracked it without the cremation entry!

Probate was granted in 1967 for John. This confirms it WAS our John who died in Tunbridge Wells - as the executor was none other than our John Beresford Weller

    WELLER John of 21 Bayham Road, Tunbridge Wells died 

    31 August 1966. Probate Ipswich on 31 January to the 

    reverend John Beresford Weller clerk in holy orders. £1,000. 

Mystery solved - I'm now off to dream about mince pies and sherry....

Andrew