Individual Details

Martin Webb

(Abt 1740 - Aft 3 Aug 1816)

Research by Winnie Whitaker shows Martin Webb being born in Virginia ca 1740. Martin's first wife is unknown, but is thought to be called Judith.

Martin is found in records in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and then Kentucky. While this may seem confusing, political boundaries where rapidly changing during that time and settlers didn't necessarily travel as far as it might seem. His father Merry Webb's plantations in Henry Co. Virginia literally extended down to the North Carolina border - that was the boundary line! In 1777 parts of Surry County and Washington District in North Carolina (now Washington County, Tennessee) were combined to form Wilkes County, North Carolina. Washington County, in eastern Tennessee, was formed in 1796 from portions of Washington County, North Carolina.

So when they were in Surry Co. NC, they were still practically home. When land became available in Washington Co for a cheap price ca 1775) they went down to Washington Co NC/TN (what was called both NC and TN - it did later become TN. Now it is Unicoi Co. Tn. It was across the mountain from where they were originally.. They settled at the foot of Buffalo Mtn at Indian Creek on the Nolichucky River in the Greasy Cove Valley.. Keep in mind this is still in the same general area. There was a lot of fighting about who actually owned the land the white men or the Indians, although thousands of acres of it had been traded to a white man for a wagon load of trinkets. Appparently the government did not recognise this and began issuing this same land! That caused a lot of confusion. We know Martin went back and brought more family and neighbors from Henry Co Va to join the family. He was still buying land there after his fathers estate was settled in 1782.. He left Tn sometime around 1783 and went back to Va before settling back in NC.

He sold some of his Tn land from what was Wilkes Co in 1784. Martin Webb bought land on the Saluda River from Robert Harrison in 1791. The Saluda River is in northwestern and central South Carolina. Its North and South forks, rising in the Blue Ridge Mountains near the North Carolina border, flow east to merge 16 km/10 mi northwest of Greenville. We know the land he owned in SC was on the Saluda River which was just across the river from NC. Part of the family was in SC and part in NC although they were just across the river. By the time the first court was held in Buncombe Co (formerly Wilkes (ca 1792) Martin was residing back on the NC side of the river. The same thing was true when they came to Ky...across the river put them in another county from other siblings!!!

We did find records where they traveled back and forth from Va to the Wilkes area during the death and settlement of his fathers estate. They were porbably trying to take care of the land etc... after the father died. I believe the reason the estate was not settled until 1782 was due to the Rev War going on.

Martin was with Phillip Jones' family in Washington Co., Tennessee and in South Carolina before these families all came to Kentucky. They removed to Kentucky prior to 1795 and settled in what was then Logan Co. This area later became Warren, then Edmonson Co. Chain carriers for his survey of 1796 were Martin Webb Jr. and Carter Harrison. In 1806 Martin married Nancy "Anny" Phelps VanZant. He died soon after making his will on Aug 3, 1815 and is believed to have been buried on his farm in Edmonson Co., Kentucky in what is now a part of Mammoth Cave National Park.

Martin Webb Washington Co., NC/ TN 1782 Deed Land Records /Grants/Patents/Deeds, TENNESSEE     Washington Co., TN Deed Book 1, p. 40:   [note in column: old Book A page 192] State of North Carolina No. 85  
To all To Whom these presents Shall come greeting   Know ye that we for and Inconsideration of the sum of fifty shillings for every hundred acres hereby Granted paid into our Treasury by Martin Webb have Given and Granted and By these presents do Give and Grant unto the said Martin Webb a Tract of Land Containing one hundred acres Lying and being in our County of Washington Joining said Webb former entry of No 516 beginning at the Lower corner thence South Sixty poles at a gum tree corner to Jacob Smith thence along his line South forty six West two hundred and sixty six poles to a Chestnut thence North sixty poles to a White oak on said Webbs line thence along his line North forty six East two hundred and sixty six poles to a white oak at the beginning Corner as By the plat hereunto annexed doth appear together with all woods waters mines minerals hereditaments and appurtenances to the said land belonging or Appertaining to hold to the said Martin Webb his heirs and assigns forever yielding and paying to us such sums of money yearly or otherwise as our General assembly from time to time may direct provided alwas that the said Martin Webb shall cause this Grant to be registered in the registers office of our said County of Washington with twelve months from the date hereof otherwise the same shall be void and of no effect   In Testimony whereof we have caused our grate seal to be hereunto affixed  
Witness Alexander Martin Esquire our Governor Captain General and Commander in Chief at Fairfield the twenty third day of October in the seventh year of our independence and in the Year of our Lord one thousand and seven Hundred and Eighty two by his Execlly's Com'd J Glasgow   Sec'y         Alex Martin


1729 - Goochand Co Va petition of Merry Webb to take up land is granted.
1732 - Goochland Co Va Land Patent for Merry Webb.
1734 - Patent for Land N. Side of Willis River for Merry Webb in Goochland County.
1744 - Goochland County Va Land Records show land surrounding Merry Webb.
1750 - Lunenburg Co Va Land Patent for Merry Webb.
1752 - List of Old Vestrymen of Antrim Parish, Halifax Co lists Merry Webb.
1753 - Halifax Co Va Pleas - Merry Webb signed report on land improvements.
1756 - Lunenburg Co Va. patent for land on Irwin River to Merry Webb.
1767 - Pittsylvania Co Va tithables for Merry Webb Sr., Merry Webb Jr., Martin Webb., Thomas Webb & William Webb.
1774 - Merry Webb writes will.
Martin Webb born Va is found in Washington Co NC by 1776.
1776 - Washington Co. North Carolina. A suit was brought in the February 1776 term of court by Martin Webb against Joseph Greer.
1779 - Will of Merry Webb Sr. probated in Henry Co Va. Mentioned in will are wife
Elizabeth, children: Merry, Martin, Martha, Millian, Mary, John, Elizabeth and Lucy.
1782 - Martin Webb was granted 400 acres by North Carolina (grant #321) in
Greasy Cove and (grant #91), 100 acres, joining Webb and Jacob Smith was
also issued to him in 1782.
1782 - Oct 24 Martin Webb obtained two grants in Washington County for
land in Greasy Cove.
1783 - Thomas Evans was granted 100 acres (N.C. grant 493) in Greasy Cove which was listed as lying between John Webb and Martin Webb.
1784 -19 April a deed was recorded in Washington County for 400 acres (grant #321) from Martin Webb and wife Judy of Wilkes County, North Carolina to Thomas Dillard (bro-in-law), the land recorded as being bounded by PHILLIP JONES (son-in-law),, Benjamin Rees and John Webb. James Stuart was attorney for Martin Webb. 
1784 - Sept 25, Martin Webb & Judy of Wilkes County, North Carolina sold 100 acres (grant #91) to Edmond Sams, witnessed by Robert Love, John Sawyer and Merry Webb. Martin Webb appears in the earliest records of Washington County, North Carolina.
1788 - Entry was made in the Washington County records where Judith Webb
relinquished her dower and acknowledged the deed to Thomas Dillard
1790 - Martin Webb on Greenville District SC census - Phillip Jones family near neighbors  
1792 - Old Buncombe Co VA., Martin Webb to serve as Juror on Jan 1793.
1794 - Martin Webb released by court from payment of two polls for 1793. He having made oath in open court they were under age.
1795 - Buncombe Co NC. Merry Webb empanneled for Jury. John Dillard resigns road dept.
1795 - Logan Co Ky Martin Webb received a land grant on So side of Green River
1796 - Ky survey of land grant on So side of Green River completed. Martin Webb Jr Chain Carrier
1797 - Warren County Ky. Tax List includes Martin Webb Sr., Martin Webb Jr., Merry Webb and John Webb.
1797/98 - Warren Co Ky Marriages John Webb to Peggy Jones, Henry Webb
to Sally F(PH)elps.
1799 - Warren Co Ky Tax List includes Martin Webb Sr., Merry Webb.
1800 - Martin Webb's two sons, John and Merry Webb, lived in Buncombe County, North Carolina until ca 1800 when both apparently moved back to
Washington Co. NC
1800 - Warren Co Ky Tax List includes Martin Webb .
1800 - Green Co Ky Marriages - Merry Webb to Martha Jones on the 16th of April.
1802 - Warren Co Ky Tax List includes Martin Webb and Lazarus Webb.
1803 - Warren Co Ky Marriages Henry Webb to Betsy Roundtree cons by father
Martin Webb.
1804 - Warren Co Ky Tax Records Martin Webb land on Green River, Merry Webb, land on Barren River.
1805 - Warren Co Ky land on Green River to Martin Webb.
1806 - Warren Co Ky Marriages Martin Webb to Amy Vincance (Anny VanZant).
1806 - Warren Co Ky Tax List Martin Webb Green River, Henry Webb Beaver Dam Creek.
1806 - Surveys of Green River Robert More bought land from Jacob Watson who bought land from Mary Webb who bought land from Merry Webb.
1810 - Barren Co Ky Census Merry Webb, Moses Webb, Richard Webb
1812 - Warren Co Ky Marriages John Jones to Eleanor Garrison her cons by parents Merry and Mary Webb. Martin Jones to Polly Garrison her cons by parents Merry Webb and Mary (late Garrison) Webb.
1813 - Warren Co Ky Power of Attny given Merry Webb to settle affairs for John Jones and Martin Jones in Pendleton Co SC
1815 - Cumberland Co Ky Deeds and abstracts Book B Merry Webb to son Henry Webb to recover for SONS John and Mary Webb a negro woman and her children..
1819 - Hart Co Ky Tax Records Martin Webb Green River John Webb
1819 - Warren Co Ky Wills probated Martin Webb Sr. Martin Webb buried in Barren County Ky.
1830 - Edmonson Co Ky Marriages Merry Webb to Polly Davis.
1842 - Edmonson Co Ky Deaths Merry Webb Sr. (1770 - 1842) buried in Grassy Knob Cemetery in Poplar Springs
Ky.
1851 - Edmonson Co Ky Marriages Alexander Merry Webb to Jane Blair
1860 - Edmonson Co Ky Marriages Alexander Merry Webb to Elizabeth Guess
(second marriage)
1918 - Alexander Merry Webb Jr.       1831-1918 dies in Grayson Co Ky. buried at Roseburg Community Cemetery in Hart Co Ky.

Winnie Whitaker relates the following:
Norman Warnell, a very knowledgeable historian and native of Edmonson County very graciously provided the pictures of the Webb homesite for us The property - over 60,000 acres was taken by the United States Government through the National Park Service ca 1929 through the power of imminent domain. There are many graves located within the park,

I hope I can answer some of your questions - The area is not fenced in. There are other graves and cemeteries within the park. To my knowledge nothing within the park boundary is allowed to be moved, taken, improved upon etc...

When the government took the property people had to walk off and leave their houses and cemeteries, their churches etc..As you can imagine most houses have fallen in - only a few chimneys remain standing. . There are some walking trails in the park and some riding trails but for the most part the park itself is isolated and deserted returning to its natural state. When the park rangers do have to go in to the remote areas such as this they wear protective gear which includes snake boots etc..

Martin Webb's original farm and those of other early landowners are shown on an old map of the park. Both his first land survey of two hundred acres and his will reflect the boundaries using the river and creeks and springs on the property and were used to locate the farm. .

The house, spring and gravesite are located on a portion of the property (50 acres) that had left to his wife, which was at her death to go to his slaves. After Nancy moved away from the place to live with her daughter, Martin's son John bought back this 50 acres to go with the rest of the property.. Martin had been among the first to choose his location (1797) and build a home in what would become the Park area. This house was some 18 by 45 feet with massive stone fireplaces on each end.

He had chosen fertile river-bottom farm land as was the custom in this particular Webb family. His son Martin Jr owned and operated a Floating Mill on the river just above the house where they ground their corn and that of others. A spring some 100 feet from the house provided fresh water. A large fishtrap on the river in front of the house supplied fish..

Martin's father had owned a gristmill back in Va Martin and his sons had continued the custom. Martin and his sons bought a large amount of land along the Green and Nolin Rivers. The land that Merry (son of Martin Sr) bought covered a vast area from the mouth of Nolin River at its confluence with the Green River known as "The Forks" all the way up to the the Second Creek area. This is where his son Martin H Webb then continued to accumulate land.

Events

BirthAbt 1740Pittsylvania, Virginia, United States
MarriageAbt 1763Judith?
Marriage1806(that part which became Edmonson Co.), Warren, Kentucky, United States - Nancy "Anny" Phelps
Will3 Aug 1816Warren, Kentucky, United States
DeathAft 3 Aug 1816Warren, Kentucky, United States
Burialnear his home in Mammoth Cave National Park, Edmonson, Kentucky, United States

Families

SpouseJudith? ( - )
ChildNancy Webb (1764 - 1825)
ChildJohn Webb (1767 - 1833)
ChildNaomi Webb (1769 - )
ChildMerry "Mel" Webb 3 (1770 - 1842)
ChildMillian Webb (1772 - 1830)
ChildJames Webb (1773 - )
ChildSarah Ann Webb (1777 - 1850)
ChildMartin Webb Jr. (1778 - )
ChildJudith Webb (1779 - 1854)
ChildHenry Martin Webb (1783 - 1850)
SpouseNancy "Anny" Phelps ( - )
FatherMerriwether "Merry" Webb Jr. 2 (1697 - 1774)
MotherElizabeth Martin? ( - )
SiblingMary Ann Webb (1729 - 1795)
SiblingElizabeth Webb (1731 - )
SiblingMillian Webb (1734 - 1803)
SiblingMartha Webb (1739 - 1796)
SiblingJohn Webb (1739 - 1785)
SiblingMerry Webb 4 (1745 - 1816)
SiblingLucy Webb (1757 - )

Notes

Endnotes