[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Tree #5641, Date of Import: Jan 19, 1999]
Francis' father died when he was 14 and when he was 16 he left home
and went on board a private armed vessel. With only 2 exceptions,
everyone on their craft was either killed or wounded. Francis was shot
in the ankle which caused one of his legs to be shorter than the other.
Even though they were disabled, they managed to save their vessel. For
his gallantry, he received the appointment of midshipman in the Virginia
Navy and was stationed on board the Ship "Dragon", where he served the
principal part of the Revolutionary War.
After the war he married Frances Belfield Walker, and in 1810
relocated to Hancock County, Georgia. He and Frances had 8 children.
******** MSS. of John Webb (son of Francis) ********
"My father, Francis Webb, was the eldest son of
James and Mary Webb. He was born in Essex County in
1759, on the place my grandfather first settled. My grand-
father having died about 1772, my father took it in his head
to become a sailor and actually had his chest put on board
a vessel, but from the entreaties of his mother, he had it
brought home. In a short time he again left her and went on
board a private armed vessel (a privateer ?). This was about
the commencement of the Revolutionary War. He was only
about 16. Every one on their little craft was either killed or
wounded but their Captain John Travis and a negro boy. My
father was shot in the ankle, which caused one of his legs to
be shorter than the other. Although they were all so disabled,
they managed to save their vessel. For his gallantry he
received the appointment of midshipman in the Virginia Navy,
and was stationed on board the Ship "Dragon", where he
served the principal part of the Revolutionary War. At the
close of the war he returned home. But it was not long before
he entered a new field. He took his waiting man and several
fine horses and came to Georgia and purchased a large quantity
of land at a very low price. He again returned home to Virginia.
About this time grandmother died, and the children began to
scatter."
In the American Revolution, Francis was a midshipman on the
"Dragon", one of the State Navy. During Arnold's invasion, the
Virginia's fleet, with the exception of the "Liberty", commanded by James
Barron, was caught at Osborne's on James River and destroyed. The
"Dragon" was one of those vessels destroyed.
In 1795, Francis applied to Virginia Legislature for pay from 1779
to the close of the war:
To the honble the Speaker & Members of the House
of Delegates. The petition of Francis Webb humbly showeth:
That your petitioner was a midshipman on board the Ship
"Dragon", and continued in her until she was destroyed by
the British in the Month of April 1781, having been left in her
for the purpose of taking care of her, and having been appoint-
ed to be turned over to the frigate "Thetis" as an officer, as
soon as she should be completed; -- that your petitioner was
discharged, at the time the said ship was destroyed as afore-
mentioned, by his Commander Capt. Travis, until such time
as he should be required to return to his duty, which never
happened; that your petitioner has never received any of the
wages he was entitled to, since the first of April 1779 to which
time he was paid off -- nor has he received a warrant for the
land he was entitled to as a midshipman; that the Causes why
your petitioner never obtained those Rights, were the death of
Capt. Travis, his last Commander, and the only Officer on
board at the time , older in command than himself, and also his
inability to produce a certificate how long he continued in the
Navy, until about twelve months ago, he found a Mr. Thomas
Grant who had also been an officer in the Navy. Therefore,
your petitioner prays that upon his producing such Vouchers of
his Service as were required by the Act of Assembly providing
fo