Captain Thomas Webb
Thomas Webb (1725 - 1796)
You can hear an audio recording of this post on Episode 50 of the Methodical Methodist Podcast!
Soldier Preacher – Captain Thoams Webb was an unmistakable figure in Methodism. He preached in a scarlet and gold military uniform— with a green patch over his right eye and a sword brandished across the pulpit. Webb was a British Army officer turned Methodist lay preacher, who was known for his dynamic, energetic, bold, and enthusiastic personality. John Wesley once said of Webb, “The Captain is all life and fire.” Though he lacked formal ordination, Webb’s powerful testimony and commanding presence drew crowds in cities like Philadelphia and New York, where he helped establish some of the first Methodist societies on American soil. A soldier by training and an evangelist by calling, Captain Webb’s bold witness helped carry the Methodist message across the Atlantic and into the hearts of a growing nation.
Not much is known about the early life of Captain Webb. In a letter, the Captain once wrote that he was born on May 31, 1725. We have no direct information to tell us where he was born, the name of his parents, his family connections, his father’s occupation, where he went to school, or what he did before joining the army.
In his funeral address, John Pritchard did make one small mention of the earlier part of the Captain’s life simply saying, “From the earliest dawn of reason on his mind, he had frequent convictions from ‘that light which enlightened every man that cometh into this world.’” Pritchard added that the Captain was “always a man of moral character.”
Some believe that Webb originally came from Ireland, but most historians make the case that Bristol was his hometown. One reason is because when he visited England in 1765, he made his central hub in Bristol. He settled in Bristol for most of the last eighteen years of his life. And the Webb surname was familiar in the city of Bristol during his lifetime. But there is no proof to verify that he was originally from there.
The fact that he was a Quartermaster’s rank suggests that he did not come from a wealthy home. A wealthy person bought their Army Commission, but a Quartermaster was someone who had risen from the ranks. That being said, Webb’s education suggests that he did not come from an impoverished home. He could write well, he knew Latin, and he could read Greek. So, it is likely that he came from a lower middle-class home that placed importance on education.
He did not join the army immediately after finishing school. We aren’t sure what he did for employment during this time. We also do not know why he left civilian life and became a soldier in the military. Perhaps it was his adventurous spirit, perhaps he had no family around, or perhaps it was the nation need when England was in conflict with Europe in what would become the Seven Years’ War.
But at some point, in the mid 1740s, Thomas Webb enlisted in the 48th Regiment of Foot. A Regiment of Foot was a term for a group of soldiers who fought on foot rather than on horseback. One record suggests that Webb served twenty years before his retirement in 1764 which would suggest that Webb enlisted in 1744. We do know that he was commissioned as Quartermaster in his regiment on October 29, 1754. He rose from the bottom to this commissioned rank due to a new mission in North America.
In the Fall of 1754, the 48th Regiment prepared for service overseas. In the New World, England and France were at war. England had a population of two million living in the thirteen colonies along the Atlantic coast. The French were located in Canada to the north and south toward the mouth of the Mississippi River. The British had hopes of expanding inland, and the French planned to stop them by building forts between Canada and the Gulf of Mexico. Webb’s regiment was sent in to handle the conflict with the French. Because Quartermaster Girton declined to serve overseas, Webb was commissioned to fill the vacancy.
Their first experience in battle was in July 1755 when Webb’s regiment went along with other soldiers to take the French Fort Duquesne, which is where Pittsburg is located today. Seven miles from the fort, the British troops were ambushed by a smaller group which included French-led Native Americans. In only two hours, the British went into retreat. The commanding officer, General Braddock, died a few days later. George Washington was the only staff officer to escape without injury, and Webb was one of the few other officers who escaped unharmed.
Three years later, Webb was back in action. This time, the British attacked Fort Louisburg. Webb volunteered to carry ladders over along with other troops to help storm the fortress. He was wounded, but not seriously.
His third encounter in battle occurred at Montmorency on August 31, 1759. General Wolfe cleared the way up the river for the capture of Quebec. And on this day, he received several wounds, lost his right eye, and narrowly escaped death – not once but twice! The battle was so chaotic that he was listed among those killed. His first escape was when he lost his eye. The only thing he remembered was a blinding flash before he fell. His second escape was when the wounded were being transferred by boat from the battlefield. A carrier looked at him and thought he was a lost cause and said aloud, “He needs no help; He is dead enough.” Webb regained enough consciousness to understand what he had said, and he replied, “I am not dead.” And because of that, he was spared.
Then, three months later, he rejoined his regiment. His five remaining years in the army played an important part in the second half of his life. The 48th Regiment remained in Canada for eighteen months after Quebec fell, but Webb’s duties brought him to Boston and New York. When his regiment moved to Staten Island in the bitterly cold weather, he remarked that his left eye was “frosted.” Ever since the battle, his remaining eye pained him in extreme weather – hot and cold.
In 1760 Webb married Mary Arding who was a prominent member of an America family from Jamaica, Long Island. Together, they had one son whom they named Charles after his maternal grandfather.
Four years later, his marriage took a dramatic turn. In 1764, his regiment was called to service in Ireland. He had a choice. He could either accompany them to Ireland, or he could surrender his rank in the regiment and remain in America. It was a difficult decision for him to make. He had become very interested and embedded in American life. And in collaboration with other, he had worked on a plan for the foundation of a new colony that was to be called New Wales. It would house four thousand families and include a large area from Michigan, Minnesota, and southwards to Kentucky and Tennessee.
They had gone as far as to draw up plans and make applications to the authorities in London. But French and Indian War ended with the Treaty of Paris, and this derailed the plans. Ultimately, Webb made the decision to remain in America and make it his home, but his wife was the main reason for his choice.
He had been recommended for the role of Captain who would take command of a Company. But by choosing to stay in America he was also making the decision to retire from the military. So, even though this never came to fruition and he was technically a Lieutenant, out of reverence and respect, he was called Captain.
Then, on July 2, 1764, Thomas Webb was appointed Barrack Master at Albany, New York. He had been recommended by General Daniel Webb who was the Commander of the 48th Regiment. It was a civilian appointment, but he worked with the military and also involved work with the Crown.
After a few months into this appointment at Albany, Webb’s wife tragically passed away. Alone, Webb traveled back to England and was experiencing extreme grief. And it was during this time that he had a powerful conversion experience.
In March 1765, while traveling from London, Webb talked with a Moravian minister named Cary who invited him to his home in Bristol to hear him preach. On March 23, during Mr. Cary’s sermon Webb felt his burden removed, experienced a feeling of peace and joy that filled his heart.
A few days later, he was introduced to the Reverend James Rouquet who had previously served as a master at Wesley’s school at Kingswood and as the chaplain at Newgate Prison and the hospital on St. Michael’s Hill in Bristol. He introduced them to a group of Methodists at the New Room. From that moment, Captain Webb was “determined to live and die with the Methodist people.”
Shortly after this, Webb visited the town of Bath and started attending a Methodist service in Avon Street. When the preacher didn’t arrive, Webb was invited to fill in. He explained that he had never preached before, but he simply talked about his conversion experience. He preached so powerfully that John Wesley heard about it, and Webb was given the status of a local preacher. So, later that year, he returned to Albany New York as a Methodist preacher.
As the Barrack Master at Albany, Webb also went to work as a Methodist preacher. He held family prayers in his residence and preached. Soon, friends and neighbors started joining the worship services. He preached to the soldiers at Albany in the open air, and he went out into areas beyond Albany as well. Webb also preached to enslaved peoples, and he established a class on Long Island with members who were black and white.
In 1767, Webb made a visit to New York, journeying in the cold winter months. He may have made this journey to visit his son who was in the Arding home on Long Island. But while he was there, he was given the opportunity to share in a Methodist worship service in a rented loft in Barrack Street. This turned out to be a historic moment.
As the service began, Webb came forward with his sword, red coat, and patch over his eye. As you can imagine, this caused a little bit of apprehension among the congregation. Was he here to preach? Or was he here to wage war? Anxieties were soothed as Webb participated in the service, singing hymns and kneeling in prayer. At the end of the service he introduced himself as “Captain Webb, of the King’s service, a soldier of the Cross, and a spiritual son of John Wesley.” When the congregation learned that he had be given authority to preach by John Wesley himself, the New York Methodists shared Webb with the Methodists of Albany.
Webb had arrived in New York shortly after Philip Embury had held the first Methodist service in his home in 1766. Webb had arrived around a year later in February 1767. The Captain’s powerful preaching caused an increase in attendance. He became so prominent that at one point, John Adams, the second President of the United States, said that Captain Webb was “one of the most eloquent men he ever heard.” Some compared him to George Whitfield. Joseph Pilmore was critical of Webb’s sermons but said that he preached with power. Wesley also commented on the influence and power of Webb’s preaching.
There is no doubt that some of the attraction with Webb was about his wardrobe, sword, and eye patch. Still, the numbers of his worship services continued to increase, and the congregation soon moved to a rigging loft in William Street.
On April 11, 1768, Thomas Taylor wrote that the Rigging Loft “for this six weeks past would not contain the half of the people.” They secured two lots on John Street for the site of a new chapel. The first name on the deed was Philip Embury and the second was Thomas Webb. These two men worked together well to spread the gospel and expand the Methodist movement. Captain Webb had a gift in raising funds and was brilliant at garnering financial support for the building of Methodist meetinghouses.
The Chapel was open on October 30, 1768, and Philip Embury preached the first sermon standing behind the pulpit that he had made with his own hands. The Chapel was named “Wesley Chapel” which is now known as John Street United Methodist Church.
Webb and Embury were preaching before John Wesley had appointed preachers sent to America in 1769. By that time, Webb had preached in four provinces and laid the foundations for many Methodist societies and classes. Webb was hard at work, traveling as a preacher. He eventually gave up his duties as Barrack Master, spent less time in Albany, and freed himself up for more itinerant ministry.
In 1767, Captain Webb preached the first Methodist sermon in the village of Newtown on Long Island. The next year, a Class was formed. In New Jersey, he preached in Trenton and formed a class there with Joseph Toy, one of his converts, as the leader. He preached in Delaware at Robert Furness’s tavern in New Castle and was the first Methodist to preach there. He preached in Pennsylvania, spending several months in Philadelphia with a Society of seven members. Here he preached in the second story of a building to a crowd gathered in the front courtyard of the house.
And when John Wesley’s first appointed pastors arrived in America, Joesph Pilmore and Richard Boardman, Captain Webb was there to give them a hearty welcome. At this point, it was clear that American Methodism was growing and in need of more help. In 1771, Francis Asbury and Richard Right were chosen to travel from England to America to help serve the movement.
At this point in time, these figures were quite inexperienced. Asbury was not yet the giant he became. He was young and had a lot to learn. Captain Webb realized the need for more assistance, and so he made the decision to travel back to England to make a personal appeal for even more help. But before he could make arrangements to travel to England, Webb was struck with a case of gout that winter. In November he was confined to lodgings in Trenton. At Christmas gout and a sore throat kept him from visiting friends. And as late as March he was unable to keep a preaching appointment in Philadelphia because he was still ill. But all the while, Webb continued to preach from his lodgings.
When spring arrived, he was able to travel again. In early April, he visited with Asbury in Philadelphia. Then, by the end of May, Webb was on the high seas. He was on a mission to garner more support for the cause in America.
Webb arrived in time for Wesley’s Conference in Leeds on August 4th and was granted permission to make a personal appeal to the preachers for more help in America. This was a difficult request considering there were 32,000 members in British Methodism and only 125 preachers to minister to them. In proportion to membership, America already had more than its quota of preachers. But Captain Webb wanted more experienced preachers to join him. He made a strong appeal and convinced a young George Shadford and Thomas Rankin to come serve.
Webb remained in England until the next spring, but in the meantime, Wesley put him to work at the Society in Limerick where Webb grew the congregation beyond the size of the building. He also traveled to Bath to combat some of the Calvinist Methodists who were stirring up controversy. He spoke to the Methodists on Avon Street Chapel. Then, he traveled to London and preached at the Foundry where he received Wesley’s praise.
And then, in an unexpected turn of events, on February 12, 1773, Captain Webb married Miss Grace Gilbert at Whitchurch in Shropshire. Grace’s brother, Francis Gilbert, a Methodist in Shropshire, was well-connected in the movement. The ceremony was officiated by none other than John Fletcher of Madeley.
At the time of the wedding, Webb was 48 years old, and his bride was eleven years younger. She was born in Antigua, and her father had been President of the Council of that Island. After her father’s death, her brother Nathaniel, who had converted to Methodism during a visit to England, took charge of the estate. Upon returning to Antigua, Nathaniel opened their home for Methodist gatherings. By 1774, the Methodist Society there had grown to sixty members.
Then, only two months later, this newlywed couple were off together on a new adventure. On April 9, 1773, Good Friday, Captain and Mrs. Webb, Thomas Rankin, George Shadford, and additional volunteers named Joseph Yerbury and a man named Rowbotham set sail from Bristol and headed for America. On June 3, 1773, after nearly eight weeks on the high seas, they reached Philadelphia.
Rankin and Webb went to New York and shared communion with Asbury and Wright in St. Paul’s Church. Then, on July 14th, the first American Methodist Conference met in Philadelphia. Ten people attended. Nine of them were under appointment as itinerant preachers, and Captain Webb continued to preach without an official appointment.
Rankin did not enjoy being in America. He quickly became homesick and accused Webb of misleading him. America had not been this wonderful place of growth in Methodism that Webb had said it was. He wrote to Wesley with his concerns, but Wesley defended the Captain.
Meanwhile, Webb was getting settled into married life. When they arrived in America, they bought a home at New Mills in New Jersey. Grace Webb was very understanding of her husband’s ministry, and she supported him throughout more than twenty years of marriage. Then, after getting settled, Webb headed back out into the mission field.
At some point during this first year, Webb’s son Gilbert was born. Then, the Webb family received news that Grace’s brother, Nathaniel had passed away, and his finances were in a terrible state. The Captain wrote, “Mrs. Webb’s little fortune of 2,000 pounds, which she used to receive six per cent for, will in all probability be sunk, as one thousand pounds was immediately in her brother’s hands and the other upon the estate.”
To make matters worse, the country was at war with Great Britian. The American Revolution made it difficult for the British preachers serving in this country. You can imagine how Captain Webb, donned with an eye patch, sword, and military coat looked to the Americans.
Then, Washington ordered all who had taken an oath to the Crown to reverse their loyalty. Because he was a British subject, Webb didn’t think that this order applied to him. The Governor even agreed. But on his way back from a preaching tour, the Captain was arrested and imprisoned on May 7, 1777.
Webb was accused of being a British spy because of his British loyalty and military background. No charges against him were proven, and he expected to be freed to resume his journey, but Congress knew his value. Instead of giving him his freedom, Webb and his family were held as prisoners for about fifteen months.
They were only allowed to travel within a six-mile radius. Webb, his wife, and three children held their sentence in the town of Bethlehem and were in financial embarrassment. The Moravians in Bethlehem, including a relative of Peter Bohler, provided housing, furnishing, and clothing for the children. Meanwhile, Captain Webb took advantage of the opportunity to preach to his fellow prisoners of war and their guards.
At one point, arrangements were made to release Captain Webb and his family in exchange for another prisoner. However, the man went to Maryland as a free man and never arrived. So, without his physical presence, they refused to release Captain Webb and his family. Finally, Washington weighed in on the situation and agreed that the original exchange was valid. The Webbs were finally released, and they made their way back to England.
The Webbs arrived in London, England on December 1, 1778, with an estimated net worth of only 40 pounds. Grace’s brother had died, and they had no family there to take them in. They relied on the hospitality of Thomas Rankin who had become a close friend after letting their old tensions and misunderstandings fall by the wayside. They were able to get back on their feet over time.
Webb’s health, however, began to decline. He was suffering from gout and rheumatism and moved to Bath which was a popular spot for those who suffered with these conditions. In the spring of 1786 he was unable to dress himself without his wife’s help. But between his bouts of gout, he continued to travel and preach.
In the last years of his life, Webb sometimes had to use crutches. And he would even take his crutches with him to go and visit the poor and sick. He continued to work and minister even in his old age. One person wrote of him saying, “He is now in his 72nd year and as active as many who have only attained their fiftieth.” The night before Webb died he attended a Prayer Meeting at his chapel; And on the last day of his life, he traversed across the hill between his home and the city to conduct business.
Captain Thomas Webb passed away on December 20, 1796. At the end of a busy day, he conducted family prayers, retired to his room, and he collapsed as he was removing his coat. He passed without a struggle or a groan.
The Portland Chapel was packed out for his funeral which took place on December 24th. Mr. Pritchard preached his funeral sermon saying, “His life was a commentary of the truths he taught.” His wife Grace wrote to their son Charles saying, “Your father was one of the best of men.” On his memorial tablet it said that as a soldier he was “brave, active, and courageous;” as a Christian he was “exemplary for simplicity and godly sincerity;” and as a preacher he was “faithful, zealous, and successful.”
Bibliography:
Edmund Ralph Bates, Captain Thomas Webb: Anglo-American Methodist Hero (London: Pinhorns for the World Methodist Historical Society, British Section, 1975).
Al DeFilippo, “Captain Thomas Webb,” The Asbury Triptych, accessed July 22, 2025.
“Unsung Heroes of Methodism: Thomas Webb,” The United Methodist Church, accessed July 22, 2025.
John A. Vickers, “A Dictionary of Methodism in Britain and Ireland,” DMBI, accessed July 22, 2025.
