Brevet Brig. General Samuel Blatchley Webb (Continental Army)

A Patriot of the American Revolution for CONNECTICUT with the rank of BRIGADIER GENERAL. DAR Ancestor # A123904

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7055040

Samuel's middle name came from his maternal grandmother, Sarah Blatchley. Samuel Blatchley's letters, military orders and other documents survive in a three volume collection covering the time period 1752-1809 and in additional volumes. Much has been written about Samuel Blatchley Webb, but here are a few highlights of this Revolutionary War hero:

Wounded at the Battle of Bunker Hill and was commended for gallantry.

Appointed Aide-de-Camp for General Israel Putnam.

On June 21, 1776, was appointed Aide-de-Camp for General George Washington.

Wrote the order for the reading of the Declaration of Independence in New York on July 9, 1776.

A few days later, refused a letter from British Lord Howe to George Washington because it improperly addressed Washington, not as General, but as "Esquire".

Crossed the Delaware with Washington on Christmas evening, 1776.

Wounded again in the Battles of Trenton and White Plains. In the Battle of White Plains, a musketball passed through his leg and killed his horse.

Raised and organized at his own expense the 9th Connecticut Regiment, known as 'Webb's Additional Regiment' which he assumed command of on January 11, 1777.

Participated in General Samuel H. Parson's expedition to Long Island where he and many others were taken prisoner by the British.

Released from British captivity as part of a prisoner exchanged at which time he assumed command of the light infantry as Brevet Brigadier General.

Arranged the meeting between General George Washington and Rochambeau on May 19, 1781 at his brother Joseph's Hospitality House in Whethersfield.

The above meeting resulted in French assistance in and the planning of the Siege of Yorktown, which resulted in Cornwallis' defeat, effectively ending the Revolutionary War.

Founder of the Society of the Cincinnati in 1783.

He was buried at the Dutch Reform Church in Claverack, NY.

Samuel was afforded many privileges while prisoner of the British. He apparently was able to travel somewhat. While technically in captivity, he married Elizabeth Bancker on October 20, 1779. At one point during his status as prisoner, due to the ill health of his new wife, he was able to return to Whethersfield for a visit in hope the visit would improve her health. The trip from Long Island to Whethersfield took a month, and toward the end of the trip, just a short distance from Whethersfield, Elizabeth died in February of 1781. An account of this trip by a son of Samuel Blatchley, says that Elizabeth died from complications from childbirth and that the child died a few days later.

The full text of an interesting book written by a son of Samuel Blatchley Webb, The Reminiscences of General Samuel B. Webb, is available online at google books.

On September 5, 1790, Samuel married his second wife, Catherine Hogeboom daughter of Judge Stephen Hogeboom. The couple had 9 children, some of whom are notable.

Jerry Francis, a Tour Guide at Shelburne Farms, provided this description of Samuel's role in the inauguration of George Washington: Samuel Blatchley was chosen by Congress to be one of the 13 Assistants for the inauguration of George Washington as the first President of our country on April 30, 1789 in New York City . General Webb accompanied his old commander’s carriage, on horseback wearing his General’s uniform, from his lodgings to the Senate room and then on to St. Paul's.

"WEBB, Samuel Blatchley, soldier, was born in Wethersfield, Conn., Dec. 15, 1753; descendant of Richard Webb, a native of Dorsetshire, England, who came to Cambridge, Mass., in 1626; was a freeman in Boston, Mass., in 1632, and a companion of the Rev. Thomas Hooker in Hartford, Conn., in 1635. His father having died when he was quite young, Samuel B. Webb became private secretary to his stepfather, Silas Deane.

He was 1st lieutenant of a company under Captain Chester; commanded a company of light infantry at Bunker Hill, where he was wounded, and was commended for his gallantry in general orders. He was appointed aide-de-camp to Gen. Israel Putnam in 1775, and in 1776 was private secretary to General Washington with the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

He wrote the order for making public the Declaration of Independence in New York city, July 9, 1776, and refused to accept despatches from Lord Howe, addressed to "Mr." George Washington. He took part in the battles of Long Island, Princeton, White Plains and Trenton; raised the 3d Connecticut regiment, and participated in Gen. Samuel H. Parsons's disastrous expedition to Long Island, where he was captured, Dec. 10, 1777, and imprisoned for three years.

He was brevetted brigadier-general in 1780 and succeeded General Steuben to the command

U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 about General Samuel B Webb Name: General Samuel B Webb SAR Membership: 80383 Birth Date: 15 Dec 1753 Birth Place: Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut Death Date: 13 Dec 1807 Death Place: Claverack, Columbia, NY, Connecticut Spouse: Catherine Hogeboom Children: Henry Livingston Webb

Gen. Samuel Blachley Webb was born in Wethersfield, Conn., 15 December 1753; died in Claverack, N. Y., 3 December I807; he was the son of Joseph Webb, whose wife, Mehitable, daughter of Capt. Gershom Nott, married, second, Silas Deane of Connecticut and died 13 October 1767. Silas Deane was the guardian of young Webb and gave him every advantage his position and fortune afforded. Upon receipt of news of the battle of Lexington, Samuel Blachley Webb hastened to Boston in command of a company and was present at the Battle of Bunker Hill where he was wounded. He was appointed aide to Gen. Israel Putnam and 21 June 1776 was appointed private secretary and aide-de-camp to General Washington with the rank of Lieutenant-colonel. He was wounded at White Plains and at Trenton. He raised, organized, and equipped at his own expense, the 3d Connecticut regiment and assumed command in 1777, but with his command was captured by the British fleet 10 December 1777, and was not exchanged until 1780 when he took command of the light infantry with brevet rank of Brigadier-general. In 1783 he was one of the founders of the Society of the Cincinnati. He married Catherine, born 1768, died 14 October 1805, daughter of Judge Stephen Hogeboom. Judge Hogeboom was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1801, and State Senator 1805-1808. He was the eldest son of Johannes and Albertie (Van Alen) Hogeboom, and grandson of Killian Hogeboom who migrated from Holland and settled in Claverack.

The life of Samuel Blachley Webb is illustrated by his Correspondence and Journal, edited by Worthington C. Ford and published in three volumes by William Seward Webb, a grandson, the son of James Watson Webb, soldier, journalist and statesman.

Revolutionary War General. The stepson of Continental Congressman and diplomat Silas Deane, Webb served as his private secretary, which exposed him to the political events immediately preceding the start of the Revolution. Webb commanded a company of light infantry and took part in the Battle of Bunker Hill, receiving a wound and earning commendations for his bravery. He then became General Israel Putnam's aide de camp, serving until June, 1776 when he joined the staff of General George Washington as his aide and private secretary with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. With Colonel Joseph Reed, Webb established an important precedent for future communications with the British by refusing to accept a letter from British Admiral Lord Richard Howe because it was addressed not to General Washington, but to "George Washington, Esquire". Webb took part in the Battle of Long Island, and was wounded again at the Battles of White Plains and Trenton. After taking part in the Battle of Princeton, Webb returned to Connecticut and used his inheritance to raise and equip a regiment at his own expense, of which he was commander with the rank of Colonel. In late 1777 Webb was taken prisoner during a raid on Long Island and remained on parole until his exchange in 1781. In 1779 he married Eliza Bancker of New York City, who died in 1782. After his exchange in 1781, Webb assumed command of one of the Continental Army's two newly organized light infantry regiments with the brevet rank of Brigadier General and served until the end of the war. After the war Webb was a founder of the Society of the Cincinnati and resided in New York City until becoming a farmer in Claverack. In 1789 Webb officiated as Grand Marshal of the Day for Washington's inauguration as the first President of the United States and held the Bible when Washington took the oath of office. In 1882 General Webb's son James Watson Webb published "The Reminiscences of Gen'l Samuel B. Webb" a compilation of Revolutionary War correspondence, military records and journal entries that is a valuable primary reference about the Revolution. Webb's second wife was Catharine (Caty) Hogeboom (1768-1805). He was the father of newspaper publisher and diplomat James Watson Webb (1802-1884).