This site will document the Webb family, free mulattos of native American ancestry who inhabited southeastern North Carolina along the Capefear river in Brunswick, Bladen and New Hanover Counties. Much of the present day Webb’s reside in Columbus, Bladen, Richmond and Brunswick Co (near Green swamp). They have been identified as native americans and free land owners as early as 1759. Many descendents are members of the present day Waccamaw Indian tribe based in North and South Carolina. DNA samples taken of Webb relatives shows a very high percentage of native American, suggesting heavy Indian blood. Other Webb relatives show Indian/caucasian blood mixtures, suggesting intermarriage with white spouses. Interesting physical features of the Webbs show skin tones that vary from very light to dark red color. Because Webb is an English name, the origins are more likely a mixture of Indian and English. There is no proof that they are Waccamaw indians other then being “indigenous” to the local lands of the Waccamaw, based on land deeds and intermarriage with Waccamaw families. There is some speculation that the Webbs may have been migrants from VA, either as freed blacks or Mulattos, or the product of an indentured servant white women and freed slaves. VA was home to free Webb families of color as early 1600’s. There is another speculation based from Waccamaw history that there were five Webb brothers who were indian chiefs, migrated down from VA and settled with the Waccamaw in the swamps. Recent visits to Indian Wells, a spot on the map located on the Capefear river just outside of East Arcadia in Bladen Co, has been identified as an Indian settlement, belonging to John Blanks, an early Waccamaw patriarch of the Blanks families and many descendents. According to interviews with family members and Waccamaw tribal members, as well as archeologist who have had some interest there, arrow heads, indian artifacts as well as indian burial grounds have been discovered in that area, and appears to have been a settlement much before the first land deed was recorded that describes that area. It is not unto John Blanks receives a grant from an officer of the King of England in 1773 that a settlement is established on Indian Wells and begins to appear in maps and colonial records. Along with Blanks families, Graham, Young, Bowen and Lacewell families also settled at Indian wells, at least by 1800’s. Early Bladen tax records taken before the first federal censes show that the settlement was home to other “persons of color”, like Demery, Webbs, Lambert, Freemans and a few others, taken collectively, would have been a few thousand acres. Further research should be done on Indian Wells and other indian settlements in the area. These families have close ties to that land and all appear to be from the same “stock” in terms of ancestry. All these families intermarried each other for several generations. The Young’s established the settlement of Youngstown just a short distance from Indian Wells. Interviews with the Waccamaw give accounts, based on archaeological evidence, of the Tuscarora indians coming down into the Capefear river Valley and destroying Waccamaw settlements along the Capefear river. Indian burial grounds and artifacts strung up and down Lake Waccamaw, Indian Wells, Buckhead, Ricefield and other parts of the area seems to support this or at least show the existence of a large indian settlement that was once present there. Also, the names Bowen, Young and Mitchell, Demery and a few others appear to be of Tuscarora origin, based on Tuscarora records. Matter of fact, Tuscarora literature tells of Mitchellville, a large settlement, located in Bertie Co and Freeman/Mitchell settlements along the Neuse River, all within the territory of the Tuscarora. Evidence of the actual existence of these settlements are being researched. If these families are indeed descendents of Tuscarora, they appeared to have identified themselves as Waccamaw rather then Tuscarora. They are of native American ancestry tied to the land but their identity as Waccamaw is more for self survival and identity. While the origins of the Webb are purely speculative, one must take into account the large amount of native american blood and influence of the Webbs. Are they freed blacks from VA who married the local Waccamaw?, are they native Americans chiefs that came down from VA?, are they descendents of the Tuscarora who came down, or are they part of the local Waccamaw who have been present in the area forever? The Webbs neither identify with african american nor caucasian. Daniel Webb 1764 New Hanover county deed tells us that Daniel Webb acquired “100 acres on the east side of the mouth of Nichols Creek and the Sound from Joshua Peavey” An examination of an early map of New Hanover Co suggest that Nichols Creek would lie in the territory of what later was annexed to Brunswick Co. The area of Nicolas Creek today lies in Brunswick Co in the vicinity of Green Swamp, just southeast of Lake Waccamaw. Both Lumbie (Siouan cousins of the Waccamaw) and Waccamaw sources tell us that Peavy is a name documented in both these tribes and suggest that Peavy is also indigenous to the local land. In fact 1755 New Hanover tax record describes Joshua Peavy as “person of color” and listed four “black” taxable males in his household. Peavy was also part of the local militia formed up in New Hanover county around 1754, but no mention of his race is given. Daniel Webb’s land deed may suggest some kind of kinship with Joshua Peavy. While speculation, both families nevertheless shared land as neighbors on Nicolas Creek, in Green Swamp in 1764. While Daniel was recorded in NH court min as “free negro”, when his land was recorded, no mention of Peavy’s race was mention in court min. 1759 Brunswick County deed records a Jacob Webb, 100 acres “Adjoining lands of Benjamin Smith and Isaac Skipper”. This area is also located in the vicinity of Green Swamp. Isaac Skipper appears as a “black” taxable and Mulatto on later tax and censes records, living as neighbors to Skippers labeled as “white” The Skipper name itself is documented as descending from the Nottoway Indians, based on Bertie county colonial records. Benjamin Smith, however, can be presumed to be labeled as white as there is nothing in his land deeds that mentions his ethnicity. No “race” is mention for Isaac Skipper is his land deeds also. Jacob Webb is never listed on the censes, suggesting he may have died before the first censes. Colonial records of Brunswick Co tells us that Benjamin received a land grant of 100,000 acres, covering a vast range of Green swamp (much of Brunswick co at that time). Assuming that Benjamin is of white ancestry and an early settler of Brunswick, it does present an interesting observation that he received a grant in Green Swamp, which at that time was inhabited with indians. Colonial records do not tell us much of settlers acquiring land in Green swamp in early to mid 1700’s, an area that the white man apparently would not touch. Also, a 1755 state document circulated by the Arthur Dobbs, the Governor of North Carolina at that time, who was living in “province” of what would later become Brunswick Co, makes mention of a number of “indians, mixboods and runaway slaves living in the Swamps of Robeson Co and surrounding areas, and not paying taxes on their lands”. At that time Green Swamp covered several counties and was called the “Great Marsh”, according to colonial records. This information may suggest and supports the fact that Green swamp was inhabited by indians and persons of color. Court min at that time do not show or simply “exclude” settlers who took up residence in this area, as not much is recorded in terms of who settled in the “Great Marsh” area. Colonial records at that time certainly say nothing about indians inhabiting this area. It can be assumed that indians were residence in that swamp and no white man dare to venture there. Only through a censes taken around 1715 tells us of Waccamaw natives inhabiting this area. The censes interesting gives a count of number of indians present in the swamp at that time, but no names. Colonial records don’t reflect this. As with most native American settlements before the colonial times, Indians living on their lands are not mentioned in colonial records, unless they are living like their European counterpart (no more living like indians). Only then do you begin to see them in records, but not labeled as “indian”. At this time Green Swamp was inhabited by indians hidden deep in the swamp as is evidence by that early censes record. A 1778 land deed located in Bladen co, tells us that John Smith, Waccamaw, purchased 150 acres on the north side of Green Swamp. This area would later become Columbus Co and was part of Brunswick at one time. Interesting to observe here that this is one the few instances where colonial records labeled someone as Indian. In most cases indians were labeled as “black”,”negro”, “mulatto”, or mixed blood” and causes confusion in trying to identify persons of color in colonial documents. In most cases it is presumed that “person of color” or “mulatto” refers to african ancestry and does not consider native americans or other ethnic groups. No doubt this John Smith is of some kinship to this Benjamin Smith. John Smith is probably the patriarch of the native American/mulatto Smith descendents that inhabit the area of Columbus and Bladen counties today. Another deed was found in early 1800’s in Bladen on a Catharine Smith. 1830 censes describe her as “person of color” and she also owned slaves, and was a neighbor to other “persons of color” (Young’s, Freeman’s, Bowen’s) families. She was presumed a relative or descendent of John Smith, until a marriage bond was found in New Hanover county showing her to be the spouse of Robert Smith. No race was mention on Robert Smith on any documentation, but no doubt he is probably connected to John Smith. Catherine’s maiden name was listed as Freeman, the daughter of Roger Freeman, whom was a Waccamaw Indian, a son of Abraham Freeman, one of the early documented Waccamaw patriarchs of the Freeman family. With these details and the absence of direct proof, Benjamin Smith may speculatively have been a Waccamaw Indian or mix blood of Waccamaw decent, perhaps giving us clues that Jacob Webb, Isaac Skipper and Benjamin Smith have some sort of kinship by blood. No other information has been found on Jacob Webb. On October 5th 1769 Daniel Webb proved a will in New Hanover County Courthouse. The will named is sons: Isaac Webb Samuel Webb William Webb Jacob Webb Solomon Webb Two grandchildren are also named: John and Elizabeth Webb. There is nothing mentioned on Daniel’s wife. Isaac and Solomon were executors to his will. In 1784 William, Jacob and Solomon move to Bladen and acquire several tracts of land, 150 acres each from and with Waccamaw families, Abraham Freeman, Roger Freeman, John Blanks, Shadrack Jacobs and a scottish settler name Daniel Campbell. This land was acquired in the Buckhead/Ricefied and Gum swamp area (where the local Waccamaw tribal office in Buckhead is located today between Carvers Creek and East Arcadia). Isaac and Samuel Webb remain in Brunswick Co. Brunswick county court min does list Isaac, who was involved in a legal matter, as “mulatto”. A Daniel Campbell (probably part of local militia) was paid to have him “escorted into court”. Nothing has been found on Samuel Webb. These five sons including the two grandchildren are the patriarch of the Webb families that would later produce many descendents. These descendents are present today in Bladen, Columbus, and Brunswick Co and have kept a close nit ties with their native american identity and heritage. My great great grandfather David Webb was born about 1845 in Brunswick Co. Although not yet proven, It has been speculated that he was orphan boy and appears to have been raised by Benjamin Spaulding Jr. This is being investigated. There is a big gap in terms of about 40 years between the 5 patriarch Webb brothers, recorded on early censes records and David Webb. In 1850, Columbus co censes shows David Webb, 5 years old boy living in the house of Benjamin and Maria Spaulding. This could also could suggest that he may have been a nephew of Maria. What appears to be a sister of David, Lydia Webb of 9 years old, is shown living in the house of David Spaulding, a neighbor and brother of Benjamin Spaulding Jr. If David and Lydia were indeed orphans to the Spaulding’s why would this be possible since neighboring Brunswick co is full of Webbs. It is more probable that David and Lydia were nieces and nephews then orphans. I have not been able to determine parents of David. 1810 censes records a Daniel Webb of mulatto ancestry in Brunswick Co. Perhaps my David Webb descends from this man. David marries my great great grandmother Darcus Freeman, a woman about 10 years older then he, whom was first married to Hugh Campbell, the son of Samuel and Euphemia Campbell. Darcas becomes a widow of Hugh at an early age as Hugh dies at the age of 35 in 1860 of a respiratory disease, probably from the flu which was present at that time and had taken the lives of many citizens, based on local mortality records. Columbus Co marriage records record an Olive Webb married to David Freeman. This was a generation before David Webb, closing a little gap between David and the Patriarch’s. Olive was probably an aunt of David Webb, and Darcas Freeman was probably connected to David Freeman. The parents of both David Freeman and Olive have not been found. Because of the naming of Olive’s children, speculation is that William Webb was the patriarch of Olive’s line. David and Darcas produce two known children; David Albert Webb and Mahala Webb, my great grandmother born 1869. Darcus is believed to be the daughter of Stephen Freeman whom was the son of yet another Darcus Freeman, born about the early 1800. It is believed that Darcus Freeman (of 1800) is the granddaughter of Abraham Freeman, whom descends from yet another Abraham Freeman that is documented as early as 1734 according to Bladen co land deeds, in and around Friar Swamp. Historical records and deeds suggest that the Freeman family along with Jacobs, Webbs, Blanks, Moore’s were some of the oldest recorded native american families, probably Waccamaw, that inhabited the Waccamaw river Basin of this area. Anyone who has Webb connections or family information are encouraged to share what they have. If you have any information on Webb history please email me at Youngroots@gmail.com. Thank you -Derrick