"Joseph Webb, Junior, was the eldest son of the Rev. Joseph Webb (Harv. 1684), the minister of Fairfield, Connecticut, and one of the original Trustees of the College, by his first marriage with Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Isaac Nichols, of Stratford, Connecticut. He was born in Fairfield, September 21, 1693.
While a Sophomore in College, October 12, 1712, he was admitted a member of his father's church, and on graduation he studied theology. In 1718, after the pulpit in Newark, New Jersey, had been vacated by Jedidiah Buckingham (Y. C. 1714), he was introduced to the people as a candidate by a letter from Rector Andrew. This being read in town-meeting, December 16, 1718, it was voted 'to agree with Mr. Webb for three quarters of a year upon trial,' with a salary at the rate of £70 a year. The trial proved acceptable, and he was ordained by the Presbytery of Philadelphia, October 22, 1719, the ministers present being Joseph Morgan (hon. Y. C.), Jonathan Dickinson (Y. C. 1706), John Pierson (Y. C. 1711), and Robert Orr.
At first his ministry was peaceful, but about 1732 a case of discipline in the church was made an occasion of grievance, and the opportunity being improved by the Church of England missionaries to divide the congregation, a violent controversy ensued. In connection with this controversy, the Rev. Jonathan Dickinson came to Newark and preached (June 2, 1736) his famous sermon on 'The Vanity of human Institutions in the Worship of God.' For these scenes of strife Mr. Webb was ill-adapted, from a certain mildness if not weakness of character, and eventually his dismission was sought by common consent. His connection with his parish ceased with the end of 1736, though he remained in Newark or the neighborhood for three or four years longer, and then removed to New Haven.
On Tuesday, October 20, 1741, while crossing in the ferry between Saybrook and Lyme, on the Connecticut River, he and his only child (an undergraduate in College) were drowned by the upsetting of the boat. Letters of administration upon his estate were taken out, at New Haven, the next week, by his brother. His wife did not survive him, and the estate (amounting to about £400) was divided between his brothers and sisters.
AUTHORITIES. Atkinson, Hist. of Newark, 54-58. Boston Gazette, October 27, 1741. N. E. Hist, and Geneal. Register, x, 30. Newark Town Records, 128, 132. Stearns, First Church of Newark, 121.”
