Webster, James

Published on: 15 Dec 2014, Updated: 4 Apr 2019

James Webster, #106 on George S. Stewart’s Captured at Dunbar list¹

IMPORTANT UPDATE! (Jul 2018)
According to, Christopher Gerrard, Pam Graves, Andrew Millard, Richard Annis, and Anwen Caffell, Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650,² (England: Oxbow Books, 2018), on page 252, James is categorized as:

Probable [that he is a Dunbar prisoner transported on the Unity]

Webster, James. Residences: Boston MA. Appears: 1658. D.aft.1688. A founder of Scot’s Charitable Society. [Exiles; DR; SPOWS; Ch.7 & 8]³⁴¹⁵⁶

For explanations of the category, abbreviations and references see List of Dunbar prisoners from Lost Lives, New Voices.

First Generation in the New World

1. JAMES¹ WEBSTER, “a Scottishman,” was born in Scotland. He married at Boston on 14 Feb 1658, MARY HAY, an Irish maid.

Biographical Notes:
WEBSTER, JAMES, admitted as a founder member of the Scot Charitable Society of Boston on 6 January 1657.[SCS] Source: Scots in New England, 1623-1873, David Dobson, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., 2002, pg 228.

“James Webster, a Scottishman was married to Mary Hay, an Irish maid, the 14^th of February, 1658″

Children of James and Mary (Hay) Webster:
2. i. JAMES² WEBSTER, (James¹), b. at Boston on 16 July 1659. Married, MARY DAWES.
2. ii. THOMAS² WEBSTER, (James¹), b. at Boston on 11 January 1661
2. iii. JOHN² WEBSTER, (James¹), born at Boston on 5 August 1664
2. iv. WILLIAM² WEBSTER, (James¹), born at Boston on 25 Mar 1667
2. v. ELIZABETH² WEBSTER, (James¹), born at Boston on 14 May 1670
2. vi. MARY² WEBSTER, (James¹), born at Boston on 9 Dec 1672

Second Generation

2. i. JAMES² WEBSTER, (James¹), b. at Boston on 16 July 1659. Married, MARY DAWES.

Children of James and Mary (Dawes) Webster:
3. i. MARY WEBSTER, (James², James¹), b.Boston in 1686.
3. ii. JAMES WEBSTER, (James², James¹), b.Boston in 1688.
3. iii. ELIZABETH WEBSTER, (James², James¹), b. Boston in 1690.
3. iv. REBECCA WEBSTER, (James², James¹), b. Boston in 1691.
3. v. SUSANNA WEBSTER, (James², James¹), b. Boston in 1693.

2. ii. THOMAS² WEBSTER, (James¹), b. at Boston on 11 January 1661
2. iii. JOHN² WEBSTER, (James¹), born at Boston on 5 August 1664
2. iv. WILLIAM² WEBSTER, (James¹), born at Boston on 25 Mar 1667
2. v. ELIZABETH² WEBSTER, (James¹), born at Boston on 14 May 1670
2. vi. MARY² WEBSTER, (James¹), born at Boston on 9 Dec 1672

SOURCES AND NOTES:

PDF Link for the following documentation: Webster, James (1)

James Webster
Name – Webster, James – Case Will – No. 1695
Source: Index to the Probate Records of the County of Suffolk, Massachusetts. From the year 1636 to and including the year 1893. ; Prepared Under the Supervision of Elijah George, Register of Probate and Insolcency for the County of Suffolk. Volume III. – P-Z.; Boston: Rockwell and Churchill City Printers.; 1895.

Names of such person who tooke the Oath of Allegiance in Boston: 11^th Novembr 1678. Administered by the Honorbe John Leverett Esqr Governor…..
Session of 29 October, 1678…..James Webster…
Source: Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, Volume XXX; Collections., Boston, Published by the Society 1933; Records of the Suffolk County Court 1671-1680 Part II; pg 964.

1681.-Division No. 4
“No. 4. Maior Sanag his company.”

James Webster
Source: First Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston, 1876, Second Edition, 1881.; Boston: Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, No. 39 Arch Street. ; 1881.;City Document No. 92; Pg. 72.
Does Jeams = James ?

Separate lists for the four companies marked with a star have been found, and are as follows:-
“Capt. Daniell Turells List of the Rate For the worke house.
W. Mr. Webster
Source: First Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston, 1876, Second Edition, 1881.; Boston: Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, No. 39 Arch Street. 1881.,City Document No. 92; Pg. 80.

Endorsed: “Capt. Sauages Comp” £ 37.10. For ye Work House”
“Persons in Capt Sauages Comp that have not payd.”
Ja. Webster senior promised
Ja. Webster junior
Source: First Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston, 1876, Second Edition, 1881.; Boston: Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, No. 39 Arch Street. 1881.;City Document No. 92; Pg. 80.

1686.- Tax List for One Division.
The following list contains the assessment for one division of the town. The amounts assessed are omitted in printing:-
“Acoppie of A towne rate Committed to Henery Emes Countstable to Collect 1686.”

1. James Webste
   Source: First Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston, 1876, Second Edition, 1881., Boston: Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, No. 39 Arch Street. 1881.,City Document No. 92; Pg.83.

Sheet No. 4

James Webster
Source: First Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston, 1876, Second Edition, 1881., Boston: Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, No. 39 Arch Street. 1881.,City Document No. 92; Pg. 106, 108.

Appendix.

1688. Sheet No. 4.

James Webster senr,
Source: First Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston, 1876, Second Edition, 1881., Boston: Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, No. 39 Arch Street. 1881.,City Document No. 92; Pg.139.

1688.- Sheet No. 1.

Appendix.
James Webster
Source: First Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston, 1876, Second Edition, 1881.; Boston: Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, No. 39 Arch Street. 1881.,City Document No. 92; Pg. 143.

City Document No. 50 pg 16
City Document No. 50., pg 25
City Document No. 50. Pg. 146
City Document No. 50. Pg 149.
City Document No. 50. Pg 164
City Document No. 50., pg 178

Source of aforementioned City Document No. 50: A Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston, containing the Boston Records from 1660 to 1701.; Boston: Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, No. 39 Arch Street., 1881.

MARRIAGE
1658.
Town.
James Webster a Scotishman and Mary Hay an Irish maid were married 14^th Feb.
Source: A Report of the Record Commissioners containing Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1630-1699.; Boston: Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, No. 39 Arch Street. 1883.; pg. 64-67.

WEBSTER, James (-1689) & Mary Hay; 14 Feb 1658; Boston
Source: Torrey, Clarence Almon; With a revised Introduction by Gary Boyd Roberts; New England Marriages Prior to 1700; Prepared for Publication by Elizabeth P. Bentley; Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.; 1992; Pg. 789.

1658 Feb 14 James Webster Scottish man married to Mary Hay Irish maiden by John Endecott Gov.
Source: Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988.; A Register of Publishments and Marriages in Boston; 1646 to 1799; Book 1646; pg. 129.

Source: Holbrook, Jay Mack; Massachusetts, Vital Records, Boston 1630-1849; Holbrook Research Institute, Oxford, Massachusetts, 1985;Marriages 1651-1662.

James Webster, a Scottishman was married to Mary Hay, an Irish maid, the 14^th of February, 1658
Source: Boston Transcript of County Records, 1643-1660, Vol 1, Contains Births, Marriages deaths from 1630-1666, Pg. 463.

14^th of Feby 1657 Webster James (a Scotish man) Mary Hay an Irish Maiden) Married by John Endecott Gov.
Source: Holbrook, Jay Mack; Massachusetts Vital Records Boston 1630-1849; Holbrook Research Institute Oxford, Massachusetts, 1984., pg 129.

James Webste, a Scotish man, was marryed to Mary Hay, an Irish maide, the 14^th of Febr. 1658
Source: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register; Volume XVIII; for the year 1864; Albany: J. Munsell, 78 State Street, 1864; pg. 333

CHILDREN

JAMES
Webster James, the son of James Webster, and of Mary, his wife born the 16^th of July 1659.
Source: Boston Transcript of County Records, 1643-1660; Vol 1; Contains Births, Marriages Deaths from 1630-1666.; Pg. 405.

1659.
Town.
James of James & Mary Webster born 16^th July.
Source: A Report of the Record Commissioners containing Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, 1630-1699,; pg. 68-69

Webster. James the sonne of James Webster & Mary his wife borne 16 July 59.

Source: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Published Quarterly, under the Patronage of the New England Historic = Genealogical Society, For the Year 1861.; Volume XV.; Boston: Samuel G. Drake, Publisher, 13 Bromfield Street.1861; Pg. 134.

Source: Holbrook, Jay Mack; Massachusetts Vital Records, Boston 1630-1849; Holbrook Research Institute, Oxford, Massachusetts, 1985; Pg. 58-59.

Webster James, Son of James Webster and Mary his Wife born 16 July 1659
Thomas, Son of James Webster and Mary his Wife born 11 Janry 1661
John, Son of James Webster and Mary his Wife born 5 August 1664
Source: Boston Births 1635-1744, Registry of Births and Deaths within ye Town of Boston in New England Beginning Anno 1630 & forward to the year 1644.

Listings are alphabetical

Source: Holbrook, Jay Mack; Massachusetts Vital Records, Boston 1630-1849; Holbrook Research Institute, Oxford Massachusetts, 1985.; Pg. 58.

THOMAS

Webster. Thomas ye sonne of Thomas Webster & of Mary his wife borne 11^th January 1661.
Source: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Published Quarterly, Under the Patronage of the New England Historic = Genealogical Society, For the Year 1862.; Volume XVI.; Albany: J. Munsell, 78 State Street. 1862; Pg. 46.

Source: Pope, Charles Henry; The Pioneers of Maine and New Hampshire 1623-1660; Boston, Mass., Published by Charles H. Pope, 221 Columbus Avenue; 1908;

Pg. 226.

JOHN
1664.
Town.
John of James & Mary Webster born Aug. 5.
Source: A Report of the Record Commissioners containing Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, 1630-1699, pg. 91-93.

WILLIAM
1667.
Town.
William of James & Mary Webster born Mar. 25.
Source: A Report of the Record Commissioners containing Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, 1630-1699; Pg.104-105.

…William Webster, son of John and Mary (Hay) Webster, a Scottish and Irish family, held the offices of constable, tithing man, viewer of shingles, and measurer of planks and timber from 1709.
Source: Hamilton, Marsha L.; “Social and Economic Networks in Early Massachusetts”; Atlantic Connections; The Pennsylvania State University Press University Park, Pennsylvania, 2009; Pg. 130.

Note: John Webster…..I believe since they named Mary Hay as William’s mother a mistake has been made and it should be James…….There is however a John Webster in Boston at the same time as James. I tried to contact the author with no reply.

WROE AND WILLIAM’S DEED.
Baker, Prout and others, select men of the Town of Boston, sell to Joshua Wroe and Jonathan Williams, executors of William Webster, shopkeeper, decd, a piece of Land at the lower end of Sudbury Stree, in Boston, March 7^th 1727. Said land bounded south east on Sudbury stree, 59 feet: north east on Mr. Burgess, 48 ft. :northwest by the Mill Pond, 52 ft. south west on the highway or vacant land, 45 ft.
Source: A Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston, containing Miscellaneous Papers.; Boston: Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, 1886.; Pg 87.

ELIZABETH
1670.
Town.
Elizabeth of James & Mary Webster born May 14.
Source: A Report of the Record Commissioners containing Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, 1630-1699; Pg.113-116.

MARY
1672.
Town.
Mary of James & Mary Webster born Dec. 9.
Source: A Report of the Record Commissioners containing Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, 1630-1699; Pg.122-125.

Webster, James (1659-1711) & Mary [DAWES] (1664-); by 1680?, b 1686: Boston
Source: Torrey, Clarence Almon; New England Marriages Prior to 1700; Prepared for Publication by Elizabeth P. Bentley; Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.; 1992; Pg. 789.

James Webster (James) and Mary Dawes children
JOHN (My branch of the family tree)

Can’t find definitive documentation he is the son of James and Mary

The following are the names of heads of families in the town of Richmond in 1774, two years previous to the declaration of independence…..James Webster, 10;…..John Webster, 9;….
Source: Cole, J.R.; History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island; New York: W.W. Preston & Co.; 1889; Pg. 705.

John Webster voted as one of 6 Town Councilmen for the remainder of the year, 1747. Richmond was made a town in 1747 and the first town meeting was held August 28, 1747.
Source: Cole, J.R.; History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island; New York: W.W. Preston & Co.; 1889; Pg. 706.

John Webster was a town clerk of Richmond from 28^th Aug 1747 to June 1751 and from June 1750-June 1751.
Source: Cole, J.R.; History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island; New York: W.W. Preston & Co.; 1889; Pg. 710.

John Webster from a list of all Freemen of Westerly RI, from the first Settlement thereof to 1727.
Source: Denison, Rev. Frederic; Westerly (Rhode Island) and its Witnesses, form Two Hundred and Fidty Years., 1626-1876.; Providence: Published by J. A. & R. A. Reid.; 1878.; Pg. 152.

MARY
1686.
Town.
Mary of James & Mary Webster born July 15.
Source: A Report of the Record Commissioners containing Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, 1630-1699; Pg.167-171.

JAMES
1688.
Town.
James of James & Mary Webster born Aug. 27.
Source: A Report of the Record Commissioners containing Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, 1630-1699; Pg.178-182.

ELIZABETH
1690.
Town.
Eliza. Of James & Mary Webster born Aug. 14.
Source: A Report of the Record Commissioners containing Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, 1630-1699; Pg.188-191.

REBECCA
1691.
Town.
Rebecca of James & Mary Webster born Dec. 3.
Source: A Report of the Record Commissioners containing Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, 1630-1699; Pg.195-198.

SUSANNA
1693.
Town.
Susanna of James & Mary Webster born June7.
Source: A Report of the Record Commissioners containing Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, 1630-1699; Pg.205-208.

The Names of such persons who tooke the Oath of Allegiance in Boston: 11^th Novembr 1678. Administred by the Honorble John Leverett Wsqr Governor

James Webster
Source: Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts; Volume XXX; Boston, Published by the Society; 1933; Records of the Suffolk County Court, 1671-1680, Part II; Pg. 962-964.
This may be James Webster Jr.

SESSION OF 27 JULY, 1675

MORPHEY SENTENCD
Brian Morphey being complained of by Mary Webster for Strikeing & abuseing of her: The Court having heard & considered of his offence, doe Sentense him to pay ten Shillings in mony as a fine to the County with charges of prosecution & fees of Court standing committed until the Sentence bee performed.
Source: Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts; Volume XXX; Boston, Published by the Society; 1933; Records of the Suffolk County Court, 1671-1680, Part II; Pg. 631-632..

This may be Mary Dawes not Mary Hay.

WEBSTER, JAMES, admitted as a founder member of the Scot Charitable Society of Boston on 6 January 1657.[SCS]
Source: Scots in New England, 1623-1873, David Dobson, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., 2002, pg 228.

Source: The Constitution and By-Laws of the Scots’ Charitable Society of Boston, with a list of members and officers, and many interesting extracts from the Original Records of the Society.; Boston: Press of Farrington Printing Co., 33 Beach St.; 1869; Pg. 10, 82.

Note: Jemes H. Webster, from Dunbar is listed as a member in 1887. (I found this interesting)

On 16 March 1676/7, “Theodore Atkinson of Boston…, feltmaker, and Mary his wife” sold to James Webster of Boston, brewer, “a piece or parcel of land…at the southward end of Boston containing forty and two foot in breadth at the front….and so running back from said street upon a straight line sixty foot in length” [SLR 10:205-6]
Source: Anderson, Robert Charles; Sanborn Jr., George F.; Sanborn, Melinde Lutz; The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England 1634-1635, Vol I, A-B; Great Migration Study Project, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston 1999; pg. 99.

Source: Sharples, Stephen; “Notes in Relation to the Webster Family.”; The Genealogical Quarterly Magazine, Vol. V., April, 1904,; Pg. 140-146 and 183-189.

This article contains other family information

The article says to be continued but I can’t find the continuing pages or article

For additional help, please go to the Facebook Group.
(Our small website team is unable to help with further research.)

1. Stewart, George Sawin. The Bartlett Collection. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts. /george-sawin-stewart-documents/ [↩] [↩]
2. Gerrard, Christopher M.., et al. Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650. Oxbow Books, 2018, p. 252. [↩]
3. Stackpole, Everett Schermerhorn. Scotch Exiles in New England. 1922. Coll. 733 & 831, Collections of the Maine Historical Society, Portland ME. [↩]
4. Rapaport, Diane. Working List of Early New England Scots. 2015. [↩]
5. “Dunbar Prisoners of War Profiles.” The Scottish Prisoners of War Society, Teresa Rust, 18 Feb. 2019, scottishprisonersofwar.com/battle_of_dunbar_pows_america/. [↩]
6. Gerrard, Christopher M.., et al. Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650. Oxbow Books, 2018. Ch. 7, 8. [↩]