When Alfred Whitney Webb was born on July 3, 1813, in Unity, Maine, his father, John, was 27 and his mother, Abigail, was 33. He married Mercy Susan Hodsdon, Webb on April 15, 1834, in Castine, Maine. They had nine children in 26 years. He died on October 31, 1893, in San Francisco, California, having lived a long life of 80 years.
HISTORICAL INSIGHTSEstablishment of County Poorhouses
Establishment of County Poorhouses
Alfred Whitney Webb, 1813–1893, 3rd great grandfather
Alfred Whitney Webb may have lived near a state-run “poorhouse” and witnessed what it was like to slip into poverty during the 19th century.
OTHER RELATIVES
15 lived near a poorhouse, or almshouse, in New England or the Mid-Atlantic states during the second half of the 19th century.
Margaret V. Webb may have lived near a state-run “poorhouse” and witnessed what it was like to slip into poverty during the 19th century.
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- Margaret V. Webb,1837–, 2nd great grand aunt
Fannie W. Webb, Sanderson, Day, Harrison may have lived near a state-run “poorhouse” and witnessed what it was like to slip into poverty during the 19th century.
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- Fannie W Webb, Sanderson, Day, Harrison,1851–1925, 2nd great grand aunt
Mercy Susan Hodsdon, Webb may have lived near a state-run “poorhouse” and witnessed what it was like to slip into poverty during the 19th century.
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- Mercy Susan Hodsdon, Webb,1815–1887,3rd great grandmother
Arthur Edwin Webb may have lived near a state-run “poorhouse” and witnessed what it was like to slip into poverty during the 19th century.
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- Arthur Edwin Webb,1851–1930, 2nd great grand uncle
Abigail Rich, Webb may have lived near a state-run “poorhouse” and witnessed what it was like to slip into poverty during the 19th century.
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- Abigail Rich, Webb,1780–1868, 4th great grandmother
Amelia A. Webb, Conner may have lived near a state-run “poorhouse” and witnessed what it was like to slip into poverty during the 19th century.
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- Amelia A. Webb, Conner,1835–1897, 2nd great grand aunt
Francette H. “Frances” WEBB, Leveridge may have lived near a state-run “poorhouse” and witnessed what it was like to slip into poverty during the 19th century.
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- Francette H “Frances” WEBB, Leveridge,1840–1930,2nd great grand aunt
Lucien Bonepart (Capt.) Webb may have lived near a state-run “poorhouse” and witnessed what it was like to slip into poverty during the 19th century.
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- Lucien Bonaparte (Capt.) Webb,1843–1872, 2nd great grand uncle
Barbara Webb, Whitaker may have lived near a state-run “poorhouse” and witnessed what it was like to slip into poverty during the 19th century.
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- Barbara Webb, Whitaker,1809–1895,3rd great grand aunt
Joel Rich may have lived near a state-run “poorhouse” and witnessed what it was like to slip into poverty during the 19th century.
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- Joel Rich,1747–1838, 5th great grandfather
Frank Eugene Foss may have lived near a state-run “poorhouse” and witnessed what it was like to slip into poverty during the 19th century.
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- Frank Eugene Foss,1853–1905, husband of the 2nd great grandmother
Deborah B. Webb, gross may have lived near a state-run “poorhouse” and witnessed what it was like to slip into poverty during the 19th century.
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- Deborah B Webb, gross,1884–1936,1st cousin 3x removed
Ruth Goodwin BLAKE, Hodsdon may have lived near a state-run “poorhouse” and witnessed what it was like to slip into poverty during the 19th century.
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- Ruth Goodwin BLAKE, Hodsdon,1791–1849,4th great grandmother
Lucy Saunders Hatch, Gallagher, Webb may have lived near a state-run “poorhouse” and witnessed what it was like to slip into poverty during the 19th century.
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- Lucy Saunders Hatch, Gallagher, Webb,1859–1964, wife of 2nd great grand uncle
Harold Arthur Webb may have lived near a state-run “poorhouse” and witnessed what it was like to slip into poverty during the 19th century.
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- Harold Arthur Webb, 1888–1936,1st cousin 3x removed
America was not the land of milk and honey for everyone during the Industrial Revolution. Countless thousands of people were forced into poverty and homelessness. Such unfortunates could even be sold at public auction to provide labor in exchange for room and board, a system called “outdoor relief.” Often, homeless Americans suffered from mental illnesses or disabilities that prevented them from working. With no public support, they relied on charity. Officials hoped that the creation of a tax-supported poorhouse, also known as almshouses or “poor farms,” would be a more humane—and cheaper—alternative. Most New England towns had at least one poorhouse, while cities such as Boston had several. The Massachusetts state almshouse sheltered almost one thousand people. One report found that the residences “are not at present well adapted to modern ideas of comfort and convenience,” and reports of meager food and conditions were not uncommon.
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The Oregon Trail
Alfred Whitney Webb
1813–1893, 3rd great grandfather
Alfred Whitney Webb moved from Maine to California along with thousands of pioneers who were heading west along the Oregon Trail.
Blazed by fur-trappers and traders in the early 1800s, the Oregon Trail became the most popular route to the western United States. Between 1846 and 1869, upwards of 270,000 attempted this 2,000-mile trek by foot and wagon across the Great Plains to claim the ultimate prize: land in Oregon. Local laws in the state offered married couples up to 640 acres at no cost other than living on it. “Uncle Sam is rich enough to give us all a farm,” went the poem by Jesse Hutchinson, Jr., written to inspire hopefuls. Nevertheless, surviving the journey on the trail was no easy feat. Disease, attacks by Native Americans, and freezing temperatures claimed the lives of thousands. In 1862 the Homestead Act would open up more land to settlers, and once the Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869, the trip became far less treacherous.
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