title: The Salem Messenger and Public Advertiser of Salem, New Jersey, Marriages & Deaths: 1819-1832
author:  Andrea E Batcho 
description: Andrea E. Batcho is an archivist, historian, researcher, and graphic designer based in Northern New Jersey. Batcho graduated in 2003 from Washington University St. Louis with a BFA in Advertising Design and obtained a MLIS degree in 2012.
zlib_text: ![](images/00001.jpg)
  
  
  # A Sketch of the Causes, Operations and Results of the San Francisco
  Vigilance Committee of 1856
  
  
  ### Stephen Palfrey Webb
  
  
  This page copyright © 2002 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com  
    
    
  
  
  
  
      
  
  This eBook was produced by David Schwan davidsch@earthlink.net.
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Written by Stephen Palfrey Webb in
  
  
  1874
  
  
  Stephen Palfrey Webb was born in Salem on March 20, 1804, the son
  
  
  of Capt. Stephen and Sarah (Putnam) Webb. He was graduated from
  
  
  Harvard in 1824, and studied law with Hon. John Glen King, after which
  
  
  he was admitted to the Essex Bar. He practiced law in Salem, served as
  
  
  Representative and Senator in the Massachusetts Legislature, and was
  
  
  elected Mayor of Salem in 1842, serving three years. He was Treasurer
  
  
  of the Essex Railroad Company in the late forties.
  
  
  About 1853, he went to San Francisco, where he resided several
  
  
  years, serving as Mayor of that city in 1854 and 1855. It was during
  
  
  this time that he witnessed th