An American Family History

Nathan Webb

East Tennessee is part of Appalachia. At the end of the French and Indian War, colonists began drifting into the area. In 1769, they first settled along the Watauga River. During the Revolution, the Overmountain Men defeated British loyalists at the Battle of Kings Mountain. The State of Franklin was formed in the 1780s, but never admitted to the Union.

Nathan Webb was born in 1784 in Sullivan County, Tennessee. He was the son of David and Elizabeth Webb.

Nathan married Catherine E. Miller who was the daughter of John Miller and Malinda Royston.

On October 4, 1825 Elisha Cole sold land to Nathan Webb and Jacob Emmert.

Nathan and Catherine's children included:
James Webb (1807, married Polly Elizabeth Smith),
Ruth Webb (1808, married John Emmert),
Deborah Webb (1811, married Felty Devault Massengill),
Priscilla Webb (1813, married John D. Wolfe),
David Webb (1818),
Elizabeth Webb (1819, married Jacob Malone),
Benjamin Webb (1822, married Elizabeth), and
Rachel Webb (1823, married Joseph Massengill).

At the time of the 1830 census the household was in Sullivan County, Tennessee. The household consisted of family members:

a man between 70 & 79
a woman between 50 & 59
a woman and a man between 40 & 49
a man and 2 women between 20 & 29
a boy and 2 girls beween 15 & 19
a boy and a girl between 10 & 14
a boy and a girl between 5 & 9
a girl under 5

and people they enslaved.

a woman between 36 & 54
a man between 25 & 35
a young woman between 10 & 23
2 boys under 10

Nathan died in 1850 in Sullivan County, Tennessee.

divider

The Holston River flows from Kingsport to Knoxville.

map by Kmusser

Sullivan Co., Tennessee Deed Book 10, p. 198:
Elisha Cole to Nathan Webb and Jacob Emmert
Transcribed by Robert W. Keyes Jan 15, 2005
Source: FHL Film #972708

This Indenture made this 4th day of October 1825 between Elisha Cole on the one part and Nathan Webb and Jacob Emmert on the other part

Witnesseth that said Elisha Cole for a valuable consideration to him in hand paid by the said Nathan Webb & Jacob Emmert the [receipt] of which is hereby acknowledged has bargained sold and confermed unto the said Nathan Webb & Jacob Emmert and their heirs &c forever the following described tract of land

to wit Beginning at a forked poplar near the River Holston South 29 West 152 poles to a Pine tree thence North 80 West 70 poles
to a Poplar South six poles
to Benjamin Webbs corner White Oak thence with his line South 70 West 84 poles
to his corner Spanish Oak then with his line South sixty six degrees ??? 178 poles to a forked Poplar thence with Joseph Greenways line North one hundred & sixty? poles
to a stake on the River thence up said said River the several courses
to the Beginning containing four hundred acres except what two Lots are heretofore sold to have and hold. . .

The rod or perch or pole is a surveyor's tool equal to 5 1⁄2 yards.

An indenture is a legal contract for labor or land. Two copies on the same sheet were separated with a jagged edge so that the two parts could be refitted to confirm authenticity. An indentured servant worked without wages for a specified time to pay a debt and was bound to the employer. In the 17th century, nearly two-thirds of settlers came as indentured servants to pay for their passage.

The American folk hero, David "Davy" Crockett (1786 – 1836), grew up in East Tennessee.

Slavery is an immoral system of forced labor where people are treated as property to be bought and sold. It was legal in the American Colonies and the United States until the Civil War.

Sullivan Co., Tennessee Deed Book 10, p. 436-437:
James Webb, John Webb, & Nathan Webb to Benjamin Webb
Transcribed by Robert W. Keyes Jan 16, 2005
Source: FHL Film# 972708

This Indenture made this 25th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight [1828] by and between James Webb [son of Nathan] John Webb [son of George] and Nathan Webb for himself and his two minor sons David and Benjamin of the one part and Benjamin Webb and Mima his wife of the other part all of the County of Sullivan and State of Tennessee

Witnesseth that the said James Webb John Webb & Nathan Webb [for] and in consideration of the sum three? thousand three hundred dollars in hand paid the receipt whereof is [hereby] acknowledged have given granted and [confirmed] & by these presents do give grant and confirm unto the said Benjamin Webb and Mima his wife one anuity of one hundred and ???? dollars to be received taken had and to be issuing out of all that tract of land whereon the said Benjamin & wife now live

and all that tract of land adjoining the land of George Webb it being the said Benjamins part or one half of six hundred and thirteen acres survey divided by George Webb deceased to his sons Benjamin and George Webb

and also to be issuing out of the proffits and labors of the following Negroes sold by the said Benjamin Webb to James Webb John Webb &c to wit
Phebe
Bill
Crill
Robbin
John
Jobe
Alse
Jim
Natt
Darky
Jorden

& with all and singular the appurtenances belonging to the said tracts of land and every part and parcel thereof unto the said Benjamin Webb and Mima his wife for and during their natural lives payable and to be paid at and upon the 1st day of May yearly by even and equal portions the first payment to be made on or before the first day of May next and to the Survivor of them the sum of seventy five dollars annually

And it is the express agreement of the contracting parties that should the said James Webb John Webb and Nathan Webb comfortably and decently support and maintain the said Benjamin Webb and Mima his wife during their lives with wholsom food washing & lodging and the survivor of them in like manner then the above gant of annuity to be void and if it shall happen that the said Benjamin Webb and Mima his wife are not supported in the manner proscribed by the said party of the first part and they have good reason to be dissatisfied with their sustenance &c aforded by the said party of the first part then and in that case they may live separate to themselves in their old mansion house and demand the annual payment above named and may distain for the same and the said lands & above discribed shall remain ample and Sufficient over and above for the payment of the said Annuity

In testimony whereof the said James Webb John Webb and Nathan Webb have hereunto set their hand and seals the day and year above wirtten

Signed sealed and delivered in presence of
Jas D Rhea
James Webb [seal]
Christian Weaver
John Webb [seal]
Nathan Webb [seal]

A militia is a military unit composed of citizens who are called up in time of need.

Seals were used to authenticate documents and men were expected to have a personal die. Records in deed books are copies and signatures are usually in the clerk’s handwriting. The clerk drew a circle around the word “seal” to indicate that the original document was sealed.

Prior to the publication of Dictionary of the English Language in 1755, there were no spelling rules and even names were spelled many different ways.

Sullivan Co., Tennessee, Deed Book 11, p. 9
John Wasum to Nathan Webb
Transcribed by Robert W. Keyes Jan 16, 2005
Source: FHL Film# 972708
Articles of Agreement made and entered into this day being the 16th of August 1824 between John Wassum Junr of the one part and Nathan Webb of the other part both of the County of Sullivan and State of Tennessee

Witnesseth that the said Wassum doth this day bargain and sell unto the said Nathan Webb his part of a certain claim of Negroes which was bequeathed unto the heirs of John and Lyndia Miller dec^d by Benjamin Royston dec^d which was left in the possession of Elizabeth Royston wife of s^d Benjamin Royston dec^d for her life time for the sum of Forty dollars the receipt

whereof is hereby acknowledged where unto I have set my hand and fixed my seal the day and date above written
John John Wasum [seal]
Witness Daniel Miller
Witness Joseph Malone

I sine the within bond to Joseph Malone all my right and title interest and claim for vallue received of him as witness my hand and seal this 20 day of December 1826
Nathan Webb [seal]
Atest Amos Malone
William Smith

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©Roberta Tuller 2020
tuller.roberta@gmail.com
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