George Webster
by
Stefan Bielinski

George Webster was born in Connecticut in September 1762. He followed his twin brother to Albany after the conclusion of the Revolutionary War. They were the last children born to the large family of Matthew and Mabel Pratt Webster of Hartford.

George Webster was in Albany in 1784 when his brother, Charles R. Webster, reestablished the Albany Gazette. He remained a printer for the remainder of his life. The Webster Brothers' printery was located at the Elm Tree Corner. George lived one door up State Street at number 81 and Charles next door at 83 State Street.

The Webster Brothers were postwar Albany's leading printers and newspaper publishers. Besides the Gazette, they participated in a number of less notable printing partnerships. Their establishment was a widely known regional landmark. Charles was more publicly visable while George tended to the printing business. Both brothers were active members of the Albany Mechanics Society. George Webster was an officer for the Great Western Turnpike and a number of benevolent organizations. In 1813 and 1818, he was elected assessor for the first ward.

In April 1799, George Webster married Massachusetts native Rachel Bush in Providence, Rhode Island and brought her to his State Street home where they raised a number of children (at least six) who were christened at the First Presbyterian Church where he was a member and trustee. Rachel died in Albany in 1808. George then married Sally Bush, his wife's younger sister, in 1810. That union produced at least three more children.

In 1820, he was listed alone at 81 State Street. Another George Webster (perhaps his son born in 1800) appeared in the city directory at 10 Fox Street.

George Webster died in February 1823 at the age of sixty-one. He was eulogized as a bookseller and one of the editors of the Albany Gazette and Daily Advertiser.

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notes

the people of colonial Albany The life of George Webster is CAP biography number 6848. This profile is derived chiefly from community-based resources. Online version of the most comprehensive family history (published 1915). Additional biographical material online. Also, an interesting sketch of the Websters' Albany.

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first posted: 7/05/02; revisited 4/10/15