Born November 19, 1748, in Stamford, Connecticut, Jeremiah Webb's Revolutionary War service spanned two distinct theaters. He began with early tours in Fairfield County's Connecticut Militia, defending the vulnerable coast against British raids. Later, he relocated to upstate New York, where he served in the Delaware/Ulster Militia defending frontier settlements against the savage border war orchestrated by Loyalists and their Iroquois allies. He survived both wars to settle in the Catskills, dying at age 81 in 1830—buried among fellow veterans in Andes Cemetery.
Fairfield County Militia
Jeremiah's first service came in Fairfield County, Connecticut—part of the vulnerable coastline facing British-occupied Long Island across the Sound. Stamford, his hometown, lay at the far western edge of Connecticut, closest to the British strongholds and therefore most exposed to raids.
Connecticut Service (1776-1779)
- •Coastal Alarms: Responded to repeated British naval threats along Long Island Sound
- •Tryon's Raids (July 1779): Witnessed or responded to Governor Tryon's devastating burning of Fairfield and Norwalk
New York Frontier Defense
The New York frontier war was merciless—attacks on isolated settlements, families massacred or carried into captivity, entire valleys depopulated by terror. Frontier militia lived with constant danger.
Sometime around 1778-1779, Jeremiah relocated to upstate New York's frontier region—the Delaware/Ulster County area where the Catskill Mountains meet the upper Delaware River valley. This move placed him in one of the war's most dangerous theaters.
The New York frontier faced coordinated attacks by Loyalist rangers (led by brutal commanders like Walter Butler) and their Iroquois allies, primarily Mohawk and Seneca warriors still loyal to the Crown. These raids aimed to terrorize settlers, destroy crops, and depopulate the frontier—opening the region to British control and cutting off the northern agricultural base that fed Washington's army.
New York Service (1778-1781)
- •Schoharie Valley Defense (1778-1780): Protected settlements in the valley targeted by repeated Loyalist-Iroquois raids
- •Fort Garrison Duty: Maintained defensive network of forts and blockhouses across the frontier
- •Patrol & Escort Service: Scouting parties and protection of refugees fleeing from burned settlements
The worst raids came in 1780: Cherry Valley massacre (November 1778, though raids continued), and the burning of Cobleskill, Schoharie, and numerous smaller settlements. Frontier militia like Jeremiah could rarely prevent these attacks— they were outnumbered, outmaneuvered by experienced wilderness fighters, and spread too thin defending dozens of vulnerable communities. Their mission became one of resilience: evacuate civilians, fight when possible, rebuild afterward, and refuse to abandon the frontier.
Catskills Settlement
After the war, Jeremiah remained in upstate New York, settling permanently in the Catskills region near Andes. The land he helped defend during the war became his home for the next five decades. He died October 22, 1830, at age 81, having witnessed the transformation of a war-torn frontier into settled farmland.
He lies buried in Andes Cemetery alongside other Revolutionary War veterans— men who fought the frontier war and then stayed to build communities in the valleys they had defended.
Sons of the American Revolution Recognition
Jeremiah Webb's service has been verified and recognized by the Sons of the American Revolution under membership number SAR #19418. His dual service in Connecticut and New York militia units confirms his sustained commitment to defending both coastal and frontier regions throughout the war.