John Webb

  General Notes:

Lt. John Webb served in the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

John Webb was a Captain of the 4th Company of the 7th Virginia Regiment, raised March 5, 1776. Muster rolls exist from Dec. 1776 to Nov. 1779 (National Archives) which chart his career. His company was originally commanded by Col. Alexander McClenahan, under Gen. William Woodford, in George Washington's army. The 7th Regiment joined Washington at Morristown in January, 1777,where they suffered due to a lack of tents. They were nearly destroyed at Brandywine in September, 1777. John Webb was promoted to Major on Jan 26, 1778. He was at Valley Forge until March, 1778 when all the officers of the 7th went on furlough to Virginia. There are pay warrants from the Board of War to Capt. Webb of the 7th Regiment, dated March 27 and 28, 1778, for recruiting services and travel/mileage. It is presumed the officers of the 7th were recruiting in Virginia. He had returned by July when the musters were taken at WhitePlains. At the Arrangement at White Plains, Sept. 14, 1778, the 7th Virginia Regiment was renamed the 5th, and John Webb was thus transferred to the 5th Regiment. Muster rolls "of the Field Officers of the 5th Virginia Regiment", written by Maj. John Webb, exist for Nov 1778 through Nov 1779. A"Return of the 5th and 11th Virginia Regiments, commanded by Col., as reviewed by the Inspector General May 25, 1779", written by Baron Von Steuben, states, "All the Field Officers Except Major Webb are in Virginia....This regiment is in great disorder, and if more Officers are not put to it, will be entirely ruined." Various muster rolls place him at Smith's Clove, Ramapough, Haverstraw, and Morristown. July 4, 1779 he was made Lt. Colonel. After Nov 1779, the 5th Regiment was combined with the 1st Regiment and sent south. Many of its officers were captured at Charlestown, South Carolina, in May 1780. Feb12, 1781, the 5th VA became a "paper regiment" as a result of the Chesterfield Court House arrangement and remained so until it was dissolved in Jan 1783.

Thus, John Webb was "retired" as of Feb 12, 1781. When on Jan 27, 1783 a certificate for his final pay was given, it was received by a family friend, Capt. Henry Young. By this time, John had moved his family to Granville Co., North Carolina. On Jan. 1, 1782, John Webb purchased 316 acres in Granville Co. from his brother-in-law, Philip Vass. His home was two miles north of Oak Hill (a photo of this house can be seen in Our Webb Kin of Dixie). When he left Virginia, he broke with the Anglican Church and became an elder in the Grassy Creek Presbyterian Congregation [in Granville Co., NC]. In 1822 he was one of the founders of a new congregation nearer his home, Spring Grove Church. John died Aug 29, 1826. At his widow's memorial service, Rev. Rankin said of John Webb, "The venerable child of God (John) was wont to go up with the people of God here to the house of worship. Then this neighborhood felt the healthful influence of his candid, honest intercourse, of his firm uncompromising adherence to fixed principles of action." A granddaughter of John and Amy Webb, Frances M. Bumpas, remembered, "He was a man of the strictest integrity; plain in his manners; he thought and acted candidly, was remarkable for his firmness of character. His actions were governed by fixed principles. Though his heart was sympathetic, he never permitted feeling to interfere with duty." (Our Webb Kin, p.43)

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: purchased land in Granville/Vance Co., N.C in 1772.

John married Amy Booker, daughter of James Booker Jr. and Elisabeth Howlett, on 20 Feb 1772 in Essex Co., VA. (Amy Booker was born on 27 Aug 1752 in S. Farnham Parrish, Essex Co., VA, died on 25 Mar 1835 in Oak Hill, Granville Co., NC and was buried in Oak Hill, Granville Co., NC.)