Seth Webb (abt. 1732 - bef. 1787)

Born about 2 Jan 1732 in Freetown, Bristol, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah (Winship) Webb — married Dec 1759 (to 1785) in Falmouth, Cumberland, Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died before 10 Jan 1787 before about age 55 in Isle au Haut, Lincoln, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

Seth Webb was born in Freeman, Bristol, Massachusetts Bay on January 2, 1731. He was the son of Samuel and Bethiah (Farrow) Webb.

As a young man, Seth moved with his father to "New Marblehead Plantation" (now Windham), Maine from Massachusetts Bay sometime before 1750. "New Marblehead Plantation" was given its name because in 1734 this new township was granted to about 60 settlers from Marblehead, Massachusetts Bay, by the Massachusetts General Court. In 1762, "New Marblehead Plantation" was incorporated as Windham.

On August 22, 1750, Abenaki Indians made a surprise attack on the new township, captured Seth as a prisoner, and carried him to Canada. The report of his capture written on the same day as the incident was reprinted in Dole's "Windham in the Past": "Major Freeman, Sir: This comes to inform you that this morning about nine o'clock Mr. Webb and his son Seth was making a Fence in his Field by his house & having left an axe a few Rodds out of the Field in the woods; the said Webb sent his Son alone to fetch it...before he gott into the Field [returning with the axe] ye Indians fiered two guns at him and his father '...heard him scream out for help.' The Indians yelled and in a few minutes eight or ten men came out of the Garrison--which was about half a mile away--and went after, but couldn't find the Indians nor the young man. They found the axe. Fourteen men were still after them. The Indians fired on the cattle and 'Several of them is come in as if they were very much Frighted,' so I thought it my Duty to let you know what loss we have met with, that we might have some Care taken of us; if you look on us as King's Subjects; for every man does what is right in his own eyes. From your Humble Servant, Thomas Chute."

Seth returned home after about one year and after payment of ransom. He returned before the breakout of the next Indian War. In 1756, Seth was involved in another Indian fight at Windham. An old paper still exists that was written by Seth and Elish Webb presumably to Col. Enoch Freeman of the Eastern Regiment. Seth wrote:

"Falmouth, March 2, 1758. Sir:--We do hereby signify that we are bound out in quest of the Indian Enemy, on the Province Encouragement for Captives and Scalps. Your humble servants, Seth Webb, Elish Webb"

Seth and Hannah Winship filed their marriage intentions on November 12, 1759 in Falmouth. Seth and Hannah married in Gorham, Cumberland, Maine, in December 1759. They were married by Solomon Lombard, Justice of the Peace.

Hannah and Seth may have settled for a short time in Windham before they removed to Deer Isle, Hancock County, and by 1770 had settled in Isle Au Haut. Hannah and Seth had 9 children: Susannah b. 1763; Josiah b. 1765; Hannah b. 1767; Bethiah b. 1769; Samuel b. 1772; Mehitable b. 1771; Mary b. 1774; William b. 1778; and Sarah "Sally" b. 1783.

Seth was appointed as postmaster of the North Gorham postoffice and his service continued with his appointment in Deer Isle, Hancock County, as postmaster. At some point during his career he was also first school master at New Marblehead Plantation (now Windham), Maine. Phineas Stevens commented on Seth's writing skills on July 5, 1752 reporting, "it is pleasant to note that Seth Webb's spelling if, indeed he wrote the letter, is much above average, for he was the first schoolmaster of New Marblehead."

Seth died in 1785 at age 53 by accidental shooting when his loaded hunting gun went off when either he was launching his canoe or pulling it onto the shore of Little Isle au Haut (now Kimball's Island). He was killed instantly and found lying on the shore.

On January 10, 1787, an administrator was appointed to assess his estate. As "Reported in the Settlement of Estates in Lincoln County 1773-1778," p. 38: "Seth Webb, late of Holt's Island [Isle au Haut]. Solomon Kimball of Bagaduce, trader, appointed administrator, January 10, 1787. "Lincoln Record," Vol. 11, p. 214. March 17, 1787, Richard Honnewell, Jona Lowder and Thomas Phillips were appointed appraisers of the estate of Seth Webb, late of Little Isle au Haut and made their return March 28, 1787; whole estate, 73 pounds. including one hundred acres of land on said island valued at 30 pounds. "Lincoln Records, Vol. III, p. 238. William D. Patterson, of Wiscasset." During settlement of Seth's estate, wife Hannah, now widow, wanted to gain title to their family homestead on Little Isle au Haut, but an administrator of the estate overrode her wishes and procured it for himself.

Per the 1790 U.S. Federal Census, Hannah as widow, appeared as Head of Household and continued raising their children in their 2nd homestead in Deer Isle, Hancock County, Maine. Hannah continued living at their Deer Isle Home until her death in 1815.

Sources

• Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records (orig. hand-scribed registry, p. 68), 1620-1988 for Seth Webb, Freetown, Freetown Birth, Marriages, and Deaths Index - 1686-1844: Book 16. [Repository: Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 (database on-line, Frame #36 of 83). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook).] (birth record, list of siblings with birth dates, and parents)

• Varney, George J. History of Windham, Maine (Boston: B.B. Russell publisher), 1886.

• Maine, Marriage Records, 1713-1922. [Repository: Maine State Archives; Cultural Building, 84 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0084; Pre 1892 Delayed Returns; Roll Number: 102, Source Information: Ancestry.com. Maine, Marriage Records, 1713-1922 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: Maine Marriage Records, 1713-1922. Augusta, Maine: Maine State Archives.] (marriage)

• U.S., Appointments of U.S. Postmasters, 1832-1971, Maine, Androscoggin-Lincoln. [Repository: Ancestry.com. U.S., Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832-1971 (database on-line, Frame #104 of 421). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors. Original data: Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-1971. NARA Microfilm Publication, M841, 145 rolls. Records of the Post Office Department, Record Group Number 28. Washington, D.C.: National Archives.] (Postmaster appointment in North Gorham)

• U.S., Appointments of U.S. Postmasters, 1832-1971, Maine Androscoggin - Lincoln. [Repository: Ancestry.com. U.S., Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832-1971 (database on-line, Frame #222 of 421). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors. Original data: Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-1971. NARA Microfilm Publication, M841, 145 rolls. Records of the Post Office Department, Record Group Number 28. Washington, D.C.: National Archives.] (Postmaster appointment in Hancock County)

• 1790 United States Federal Census Record, Maine, Hancock, Deer Isle. [Repository: Ancestry.com. 1790 United States Federal Census (database on-line, Frame #2 of 3). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: First Census of the United States, 1790 (NARA microfilm publication M637, 12 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.] (family members and residence)

• Hosmer, George, "Historical Sketch of the Town of Deer Isle, Maine, with Notices Its Settlers and Early Inhabitants" (302 pp.), Boston: Press of Stanley and Usher, 1886, pp. 122-125: https://archive.org/details/historicalsketch00hosm/page/n6/mode/2up

• Maine, Hancock County, Vital records 1781-1940; Film # 004255379; Births listed in families prior to 1891; deaths 1781-1891; intentions of marriage 1793-1852; marriage records 1796-1849. Children's Births: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99L1-Q9W1-X?i=210