William is thought to have grown up on his father's farm, but little is known about his childhood. His Father dued when he was between 6 and 10 years old. He endlisted in the Confederate Army on Sep 12, 1862 at Fort Drewry. He was a private in Capt. Wiley G. Coleman's company, Neblett's Heavy Artillery, Unassigned Virginia Troops. Union prisoner of war records indicate William was captured at Fords Depot on Apr. 09, 1865 and was imprisioned in Newport News, Virginia. His oath of allegiance to the United States wa signed on Jul 01, 1865 and indicated he was a member of the Virginia 18th Regiment, CSA. He was of dark complexion, dark hair and eyes and 5ft 7 in tall. After the war he settled in Dinwiddie County, Virginia.

William married twice, 1st to Sarah E. Smith of Dinwiddie County. She died two days after the birth of their only son, Willie T. Webb b. Aug 1, 1870. Second to Mary Elizabeth Williams by whom he had 10 more children.

After Sarah died, William attended Richmond College between 1872-1874 and it is also believed he attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. After graduation he came to the lower penninsula of Virginia, now Newport News/Hampton. He established the 3rd Grafton Baptist Church in 1877 and the Emmaus Church of Poquoson, Va in 1878. He ministered in Williamsburg Va and was the Pastor of Big Bethel Church (now Bethel Church) in 1875-1881 and 1882-1892. In the late 1880's he purchased the old Matthew Jones house on Mulberry Island (now Ft. Eustis, Va) and accomplished extensive renovations in 1893. William died on Jun 15, 1909 and is buried in the old Cemetery at the original Big Bethel Church site located on Bethel Road on the left after it crosses Big Bethel Reservoir. The property is now owned by the U.S. Gov. The grave is unmarked. (per notes of Carl Anderson, Dec 1997).601