Nathan Webb (Massachusetts legislator)
Encyclopedia
Nathan Webb was a teacher, fireman, and public official in Boston
, Massachusetts
, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
around 1783, when he was 16 years old. In 1783, he began work as a teaching assistant (or "Usher") at the North Writing School, a public school under the direction of schoolmaster John Tileston, on Love Lane (later Tileston Street) in the North End. Webb continued teaching through 1789. According to his diary (1788-1791), in his young adult years he was active in the Independent Musical Club, a private music club with both male and female members founded in 1789. When George Washington
visited Boston in 1789, Webb attended the parade that took place by the triumphal arch on Washington Street.
Webb belonged to the New North
congregation, when it was overseen by John Eliot.
Around 1792, he was founding member of the Massachusetts Charitable Fire Society, and remained active for some years. He served as a Fireward in 1810.
He was chosen Secretary of the Boston Library Society
in 1794, when the Society first began, until 1826. The Society conducted its business from offices in the newly built Tontine Crescent, designed by Charles Bulfinch
.
Webb married Sally Leach on July 16, 1794. Together they had 6 children:
Webb served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives
, 1810-1812. He was also a Selectman of Boston (1809-1814), as well as an Assessor (1822-1826). In his role as a city official, for instance, he was appointed an agent for Boston in the matter of the estate of Thomas Boylston; others on the committee were James T. Austin, Samuel Swett, Stephen Codman, and Arnold Welles.
In 1814, he was a manager of the Boston Asylum for Indigent Boys. He was also a member of the Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Webb moved to Charlestown, Massachusetts
, in 1827, into the former house of Francis Hyde. He lived there until his death on February 25, 1853.
A miniature ivory portrait of Webb is in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
.
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Biography
Webb arrived in Boston from Windham, ConnecticutWindham, Connecticut
Windham is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. It contains the city of Willimantic and the villages of Windham Center, North Windham, and South Windham. The city of Willimantic was consolidated with the town in 1983...
around 1783, when he was 16 years old. In 1783, he began work as a teaching assistant (or "Usher") at the North Writing School, a public school under the direction of schoolmaster John Tileston, on Love Lane (later Tileston Street) in the North End. Webb continued teaching through 1789. According to his diary (1788-1791), in his young adult years he was active in the Independent Musical Club, a private music club with both male and female members founded in 1789. When George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
visited Boston in 1789, Webb attended the parade that took place by the triumphal arch on Washington Street.
Webb belonged to the New North
St. Stephen's Church, Boston
St. Stephen's Church , formerly New North Church, is located at 401 Hanover Street in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts. It is the last remaining church in Boston designed by Charles Bulfinch.-Design and construction:...
congregation, when it was overseen by John Eliot.
Around 1792, he was founding member of the Massachusetts Charitable Fire Society, and remained active for some years. He served as a Fireward in 1810.
Boston Library Society
The Boston Library Society was a subscription library established in 1792 in Boston, Massachusetts. Incorporated in 1794, it was open to anyone able to pay the fee...
in 1794, when the Society first began, until 1826. The Society conducted its business from offices in the newly built Tontine Crescent, designed by Charles Bulfinch
Charles Bulfinch
Charles Bulfinch was an early American architect, and has been regarded by many as the first native-born American to practice architecture as a profession....
.
Webb married Sally Leach on July 16, 1794. Together they had 6 children:
- Nathan Webb, 1796-1797.
- Sally Webb, b.1798; married Hawkes Lincoln.
- Lydia Webb, 1801-1827; married Charles Forster.
- Mary Hewit Webb, b.1802.
- Louisa Webb, b.1804; married Jacob Forster.
- Caroline Matilda Webb, b.1812; married Edwin Forster Adams.
Webb served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
, 1810-1812. He was also a Selectman of Boston (1809-1814), as well as an Assessor (1822-1826). In his role as a city official, for instance, he was appointed an agent for Boston in the matter of the estate of Thomas Boylston; others on the committee were James T. Austin, Samuel Swett, Stephen Codman, and Arnold Welles.
In 1814, he was a manager of the Boston Asylum for Indigent Boys. He was also a member of the Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Webb moved to Charlestown, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, in 1827, into the former house of Francis Hyde. He lived there until his death on February 25, 1853.
A miniature ivory portrait of Webb is in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the largest museums in the United States, attracting over one million visitors a year. It contains over 450,000 works of art, making it one of the most comprehensive collections in the Americas...
.