From what I can see, no one seems to know anything for certain about John's parents or the first 29 years of his life. Recent DNA tests show we were descended from Julius Webb, Sr. But we're not sure which of his sons bridge the gap between John and his grandfather Julius. Speculation is John's father was either James or Augustine (DNA may help but there's still alot of work to do. Webb-3680 10:29, 21 May 2013 (EDT))
From John’s headstone in Rentfro Cemetery near Shumway, Effingham County, Illinois we learn that he died on July 1, 1860 at the age of 76 years, 6 months and 9 days. Using this date we can calculate his date of birth to December 22, 1783.[2]
He most likely lived in northern Kentucky/Virginia for twenty-nine years, eight months and ten days from his birth until September 1, 1813 when find the first record of him in the Kentucky Mounted Volunteer Militia.
At the time of John's birth most of what is now the state of Kentucky was part of Virginia. He would have been 8 years, 5 months, 10 days old when Kentucky became the 15th state on June 1, 1792. So, although he is always listed as being born in Virginia, he may have been born in what is now Kentucky.[3]
The Battle of the Thames
September 1, 1813 – November 4, 1813
Accounts in two books entitled REPORT OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE STATE OF KENTUCKY (Hill, 1891, p. 163), and THE BATTLE OF THE THAMES (Young, 1903, p. 240) state that he served in the First Division, Fourth Brigade, Eighth Regiment, in Captain Samuel Kelley’s Company.[4] They rendezvoused on September 1, 1813 at Newport, Kentucky where muster-in took place.
Captain Kelley and the men of his company were from Jefferson County, Kentucky. Also present in Captain Kelley's Company were Second Sergeant James Mayfield, Third Corporal Thomas Mayfield, Private Isaac Mayfield, and Private Edward Sharpe. Further research is needed to determine if these people may have been related to John’s future wife Elizabeth "Betsy" Mayfield. Her grandfather, uncle, and two first cousins were named James; an uncle and first cousin were named Isaac; and a brother-in-law was named Edward Sharp (not spelled Sharpe). [5]
On August 15, 1853 “Warrant No. 33669 for 40 acres, issued in favor of Edward Sharp Private in Captain Kelly’s Company Kentucky Mounted Volunteers War 1812 … which has been assigned to Uriah C. Webb”.[6] This seems to be convincing evidence that the Edward Sharp who married Elizabeth’s sister, Tabitha Dorcas Mayfield, on April 29, 1810 in Shelby County, Kentucky (therefore, Uriah’s uncle) is the same person who served alongside John in Captain Kelley’s Company in 1813.
THE BATTLE OF THE THAMES gives a detailed account of the military campaign. From Newport, Kentucky they traveled north by horse to Port Clinton, Ohio. Building a fence across the pastureland of the peninsula they left their horses before traveling to Bass Island by boat. At Bass Island they boarded the ship “Amelia” commanded by Oliver Hazard Perry[7] to be transported to Middle Sister Island, then to Hartley's Point on the Canadian shore. From there they marched to Sandwich, Ontario, Canada (across the river from Detroit, Michigan) where they were joined by one thousand mounted troops under the command of William Henry Harrison.[8]
On October 2, 1813 they began the pursuit of Major General Henry Procter heading east along the shore of Lake St. Clair to the mouth of the Thames River. They Followed Procter up the Thames River for about forty miles to the site of The Battle of the Thames at several points along the way capturing prisoners and equipment. The overwhelming victory at The Battle of the Thames on October 5, 1813 was one of the most strategically important battles of the War of 1812. “It was no big thing compared to armies as now organized and brought against one another, but it was immense in its influence on the War of 1812.” (Young, 1903, p. x)
Commodore Perry’s fleet was still engaged in operations on Lake Erie, so the soldiers returned to Port Clinton on foot. “On October 20th, the day following their arrival, a general order was issued for the troops to return to Kentucky by way of Franklinton (Columbus), at which point those who had received government arms were to deposit them, and on the 4th of November, just sixty-five days from that on which the command met at Newport to be mustered in, they were discharged from further service and scattered to their homes … The mustering out was at Maysville” (Young, 1903, p. 107), about sixty miles up the Ohio River from Newport.[9]
Many years later, John received 40 acres as “bounty land” for his service.
Jefferson County, Kentucky
August 10, 1816
Recorded in Jefferson County, Kentucky Marriage Book 1, page 89 dated August 10, 1816 (Jefferson County Clerk, 1816, p. 89) is the marriage bond of John Webb and “Betsy” Mayfield. John was thirty-two years old, Betsy was nineteen. The Marriage Book Index further states the bondsman for the marriage was her father, Elijah Mayfield with Charles Dunn serving as witness. (Jefferson County Clerk, 1816)
John and Elizabeth had eleven children. The first two, both of them daughters, were born in Jefferson County, Kentucky.
Louisa Jane Webb was born October 22, 1817
Julian Ann Webb was born December 6, 1818
Hickman County, Tennessee
1819 – 1843
The family lived near the village of Palestine in Hickman County (now in Lewis County), Tennessee from about 1819 to 1853.
The rest of John and Elizabeth’s children were born in Hickman County, Tennessee.
Free White Persons - Under 16 = 5 (?, ?, ?, Louisa 3, Julian 2)
Free White Persons - Over 25 = 1 (John 37)
Total Free White Persons = 7 (John, Elizabeth, ?, ?, ?, Louisa, Julian)
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture = 1 (John)
It is unclear who the three "Free White Males - Under 10" listed in the Census are. Early census records only list the name of the head of household. The first recorded male child of John and Elizabeth was Uriah who wasn’t born until 1822. Since John was 32 years old when he married Elizabeth, could these three males be from a previous marriage? Of course there are other possibilities. For example, the three could have been extended family members or orphans.
June 10, 1821
He received a land grant of 30 acres "to John Webb, assignee of Robert Walker Jr." in the 8th District of Hickman County on Indian Creek, a branch of Big Swan Creek in Range 5, Section 5. This is part of the property referred to in the James McKeel Deed.
1830 U.S. Federal Census
Name: John Webb
Home in 1830: Hickman County, Tennessee
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9 = 3 (Uriah 7, Addison 6, John K. 5)
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5 = 1 (Elizabeth M. <1)
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored) = 9
In the 1830 U.S. Federal Census an unknown female 5-9 years old is tallied. The three unknown males from the 1820 Census are no longer living in the household. Since they were all less than ten years old in 1820 they would have been born between 1810 and 1820. If these three were from a previous marriage we can narrow the birthdates to between 1810 and 1816, when John and Elizabeth were married. If the three males were born in the early 1810s they would have been in their late teens by 1830, therefore old enough to have moved out on their own.
August 31, 1837
On August 31, 1837 he purchased 20 acres from James Mayfield as recorded in Hickman County deed book L page 119, registered December 1, 1841. The land was originally granted to James Mayfield by the State of Tennessee, grant #26087.
1840 U.S. Federal Census
Name: John Webb
County: Hickman
State: Tennessee
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5 = 2 (William <2, Francis <1)
Total - All Persons (Free White, Free Colored, Slaves): 11
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 3
No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write: 1
Free White Persons - Under 20: 9
Total Free White Persons: 11
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 11
Louisa had married Leonard Douthit Tarrant in 1834 and Julian married Robert Crissup before the 1840 U.S. Federal Census, leaving 11 family members enumerated: John, Elizabeth, Uriah, Addison, John K., Elizabeth M., Mary, James, Evaline, William and Francis. Elizabeth is mistakenly placed in the same age group as John. She was only 43 years old in 1840.
December 20, 1841
“Agreeable to the provisions of the Occupant Laws…” entry number 1012 was made in the Hickman County Survey book. On November 27, 1841 John Carroll surveyed 134 acres for John Webb in Hickman County on Big Swan Creek in Range 5, Section 5. This land is later found in Lewis County.[11]
Lewis County, Tennessee
October 15, 1848
Entry number 1012 is identical in both Hickman and Lewis Counties, presumably to accommodate the formation of Lewis County in 1843.
Entry Number 380 was recorded on October 15, 1848 in Lewis County Occupant Entry Book 2, page 174. It states that it is “part of his Occupant Entry No 1012 made on the 20th day of december [sic] 1841”.
However, a resurvey of the property by Andrew Johnston on October 15, 1848 reduced the acreage from 134 (calculated by John Carroll in 1841) to 126 acres.
1849
John and his family were members of the Ebeneezer Methodist Church which was formed near Old Palestine by Rev. James Tarrant.
In 1849 James Tarrant Sr., John Webb, William Harder, Edward Sharp and James Tarrant Jr. were appointed Trustees for the Ebeneezer Meeting House.
1850 U.S. Federal Census
John Webb 65
Elizabeth Webb 55
James E Webb 15
Eveline Webb 12
William Webb 11
Francis M Webb 10
The family was in Lewis County, Tennessee for the 1850 U.S. Federal Census. It was the first census after the formation of Lewis County. It was also the first U.S. Federal Census to list the names of all household members; previous censuses only listed the head of the household. The older children had married leaving John, Elizabeth and the four youngest children in the household.
May 15, 1852
On May 15, 1852, John sold 176 acres in Lewis County to James McKeel (registered 27 Apr 1854) prior to relocating in Effingham County, Illinois.
Property described in the Deed:
126
acres from Entry Number 380 surveyed October 15, 1848
30
acres surveyed June 10, 1821 (land from Robert Walker, Jr. grant
20
acres purchased from James Mayfield August 31, 1837
176
Total acres
September 5, 1853
John was apparently still in Lewis County until the fall of 1853 when Simeon Smith replaced him as overseer of the Centerville road.
Effingham County, Illinois
November 2, 1853
He owned property in Effingham County for at least six years from November 2, 1853 until his death on July 1, 1860. The price for public land at the time was $2.50 an acre.
His eldest son, Uriah, was the first of the immediate family to buy land in Illinois on December 17, 1852. According to Uriah’s obituary in the Effingham Democrat he arrived in Effingham County in 1840 with Newton Tarrant (he would have been about 16 years old). He owned property adjoining John’s properties, and other properties as well.
Land records indicate someone named "John Webb" purchased two 40 acre tracts of land in Township 9 North, Range 5 East, Effingham County, Illinois on October 27, 1853. The first tract (Certificate #21224) was the Southwest quarter of the Northwest quarter of Section 25, and the second tract (Certificate #21225) was the Southeast quarter of the Southwest quarter of Section 23. On February 16, 1854 someone named "John Webb" purchased the Southwest quarter of the Southwest quarter of Section 23, Township 9 North, Range 5 East (Certificate #22274).
It seems likely these three properties were owned by John’s son, John Keston Webb, since adjoining properties were also owned by “John K. Webb”.
The John Webb who is the subject of this writing however, is definitely the John Webb who on November 2, 1853 acquired two 40 acre tracts in Section 11, Township 8 North, Range 5 East in Effingham County. He purchased the Northwest quarter of the Southeast quarter (Certificate #21299) and the Northeast quarter of the Northeast quarter (Warrant #74520) was “Bounty Land” granted for his service in the War of 1812.
April 1, 1857
His last land purchase was made April 1, 1857 when he bought the Southeast quarter of the Northeast quarter of Section 11, Township 8 North, Range 5 East (Certificate #27495).
April 26, 1859
In John’s Last Will And Testament, dated April 26, 1859 he bequeathed the latter three properties in Section 11, Township 8 North, Range 5 East (120 acres) including the home place and farming equipment to his youngest son, Francis Marion Webb.
1860 U.S. Federal Census
The 1860 Census lists John and Elizabeth in Township 8 North, Range 5 East on June 28, 1860 (3 days before he died).
John Webb 75
Elizabeth Webb 63
The exact location of John’s home at his death isn't known, but it appears there are Webb's who currently own the same property once owned by John and/or Uriah.
Burial
John was buried at Rentfro Cemetery near Shumway, Effingham County, Illinois. Elizabeth was buried beside him 14 years later.
Died
01 Jul 1860.
Effingham, Effingham, Illinois, United States.
[17]
Residence
1860
Township 8 N Range 5 E, Effingham, Illinois.
[28]
1830
Hickman, Tennessee, USA.
[27]
4 Sep 1850.
District 6, Lewis, Tennessee, USA.
[24][26]
1840
Hickman, Tennessee, USA.
[25]
1820
Hickman, Tennessee, United States.
[19]
Buried
Shumway, Effingham County, Illinois, United States of America.
[17]
File
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John Webb's Mark.
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John Webb family land.
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Jefferson County, Kentucky Marriage Book 1 index.
File: http:/trees.ancestry.comrd?f=document&guid=2307ed7f-5024-4c5c-ab15-69fb8c1181cc&tid=36141749&pid=720.
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Biographical Notes for John Webb.
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JohnWebbLandGrant
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Jefferson County Marriage Book 1 Page 89.
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Elizabeth & John Webb headstone.
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oldcabinfoundation
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John Webb properties in Lewis County, Tennessee.
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US General Land Office Document #74520.
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Jefferson County, Kentucky Marriage Book 1 index.
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Jefferson County Marriage Book 1 Page 89.
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BattleOfThamesMarchRoute027
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Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kentucky. Soldiers of the War of 1812 - page 163.
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Battle of the Thames.
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JohnWebbLandEffinghampano
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Grant based on warrant to John S. Webb.
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John Webb original headstone.
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battleofthamesmedal034
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John Webb properties in Lewis County, Tennessee.
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John Webb's Last Will And Testament.
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John Webb's Last Will And Testament.
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John Webb's Mark.
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Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kentucky.
Marriage
Husband @P720@.
Wife @P2267@.
Child: @P2265@.
Child: @P2258@.
Child: @P2255@.
Child: @P2253@.
Child: @P2264@.
Child: @P2259@.
Child: @P2254@.
Child: @P2263@.
Child: @P2256@.
Child: @P2268@.
Child: @P2260@.
Child: @P2266@.
Child: @P2262@.
Child: @P2257@.
Child: @P2261@.
Marriage
10 Aug 1816.
Jefferson, Kentucky, USA.
[29][30]
Marriage
August 10, 1816.
Jefferson County, Kentucky.
↑ The cited information was sourced from a book published by E. Polk Johnson, Public Printer and Binder in Frankfort, Kentucky on August 18th, 1891 http://www.archive.org/details/kentuckysoldier00reporich (Ref: Page 163) The author/originator was Sam. E. Hill, Adjutant General of Kentucky.
↑ On December 21, 1843 “An Act to establish the county of Lewis” was passed by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee. Chapter 38 states Lewis County was “…to be composed of fractions taken from the counties of Maury, Lawrence, Wayne and Hickman…”; John and his family lived in the area previously allocated to Hickman County. See: http://books.google.com/books?id=xQA5AAAAIAAJ
General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, 1844. An Act to establish the County of Lewis. In: Acts of the State of Tennessee Passed by the General Assembly . Nashville(Tennessee): State of Tennessee.
Hill, S. E., 1891. Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kentucky. Soldiers of the War of 1812. Frankfort(Kentucky): E. Polk Johnson, Public Printer and Binder.
Jefferson County Clerk, 1816. Jefferson County, Kentucky Marriage Book 1. Louisville(Kentucky): Jefferson County Clerk's Office.
Jefferson County Clerk, 1816. Jefferson County, Kentucky Marriage Book 1 Index. Louisville(Kentucky): Jefferson County Clerk's Office.
Lossing, B. J., 1868. The Pictorial Field-book of the War of 1812. New York(New York): Harper & Brothers.
Young, C. B. H., 1903. The Battle of the Thames. Louisville(Kentucky): John P. Morton and Company.
Thanks to Jeff Webb for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Jeff and others.
Source: S-1354831321 U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.Original data - United States. Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records. Automated Records Project; Federal Land Patents, State Volumes. Springfield, Virginia: Bureau of L Note: Record Collection 1246
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Source: S-1421334257 1850 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data - Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Note: Record Collection 8054
Source: S-1421335902 1860 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data - 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Note: Record Collection 7667
Source: S-1422747770 Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Note: This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created.Ancestry Family Tree Ancestry Family Tree 36141749
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with John by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA.
However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line.
It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with John: