Josiah H. Webb Mail Carrier 1805.

Josiah H. Webb, in August of 1805, was employed as a mail carrier for the United States, from Athens In Georgia to New Orleans. While riding through the Creek Nation he was shot by some unknown persons ( supposed to be Indians ) and was very severely wounded. He was taken to Fort Stoddert, where humane attention was given him. He partially recovered from the wound but was left in a crippled state.

On examination by Doctor O. B. Heaton, it was found that a ball had entered the upper edge of his left hip fracturing the hip, then passed out the right lumbar region of his body. This wound would be a source of much irritation at the slightest exposures, and well incapacitate him from any active duty’s necessary to support maintenance of lively hood.

Mr. Webb had been receiving 50, dollars a year as a pension, but it is stated the Mr. Webb is a poor man and his pension now is inadequate to provide him with the necessaries of life. A petition had been sent on his behalf asking for 8, dollars per month, which is what a common solider would receive when totally disabled.

Here is the report that was read before Congress.

Josiah H. Webb, the petitioner, while employed in carrying the mail of the United States in August last, from Coweta to Fort Stoddert, was shot through the body by some person unknown. He is now in a languishing condition, under the care of the commanding officer at Fort Stoddert, destitute of the means of present subsistence; and, from the nature of the wound, it is not probable he will be able to provide for his future support.

A letter from the Postmaster General addressed to the Committee, and accompanying this report, confirms the foregoing statement, and recommends the petitioner’s case to the humane provision of Congress. And when it is considered that the petitioner is now within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Government of the United States, in a part of the country where no regulations are yet adopted for the support of the poor; that he is under the immediate charge of an officer of the Government, who must either permit the petitioner to suffer for want of the necessaries of life, or maintain him at his own private expense, there can be little doubt that it is the duty of the National Legislature to extend its aid to an individual thus circumstanced. Of the nature and extent of the relief which ought to be afforded to the petitioner, your Committee are not yet fully advised; at present they respectfully submit the House the following general resolution;

Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioner is reasonable, and ought to he granted.

Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in, pursuant to the said resolution, and that the Committee of Claims do prepare and bring in the same.

Here is the Bill that was printed FEBRUARY 10, 1830, and sent Before Congress.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Josiah H. Webb, who was wounded in the Creek’ nation of
Indians, while employed in carrying the mail of the United States from Athens, in Georgia, to New Orleans, be, and he is hereby, allowed the sum of ninety-six dollars per annum, in lieu of fifty dollars allowed him by act of twelfth December, one thousand eight hundred and eleven, to be paid semiannually, out of the Treasury of the United States, to commence on the fourth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and thirty, and to continue during his natural life.

Note. This author found his pension Bill for his 50, dollar pension that passed in 1811, but was unable to find if the Bill of 1830, ever passed.