29 May 2011

Common Names

Here are some statistics from my current Newcomb database:

Total number of men surnamed Newcomb, Newcombe, Newcom, or Newcome - 14,939

Men whose given names are John, Jonathan, etc. - 845
James, Jim, etc. - 615
George - 580
Charles, Charlie, etc. - 577
William, Bill, etc. - 333
Thomas, Tom, etc. - 279
Frederick, Fred, etc. - 221

22 May 2011

James Newcomb 1756-1838

From B.M. Newcomb's book:

James Newcomb served actively in the War of the Revolution for nearly seven years. "He served in 6th Co. Capt. James Clark, 3rd Regt.; Genl. Putnam, May 11, to Dec. 11, 1775, and was at the Battle of Bunker Hill." He served as a private, also as a corporal, in Capt. William Richard's Co., 1st Connecticut Regt. Col. Josiah Starr, from 15 May 1777, to 15 May 1780.

Near the close of the war he was captured by the Indians under Brandt, in the Genesee country, western New York; was marched with his hands tied behind him, in company with 60 other white men, under Lieut. Phelps, to the St. Lawrence River, and from there conveyed by boat to Montreal and sold to the British for blankets, guns, ammunition, tomahawks, scalping knives, whiskey, etc. He was kept in prison at Montreal for some time, during which a British officer came to the prison and called for the two strongest men among the 600 prisoners. Mr. Newcomb and an Irishman named Halstead were selected to work on the fortifications, carrying stone on a hand-barrow.

After working for a few days they broke guard and escaped south into the wilderness, eluding pursuit by the British and Indians. They traveled for 29 days as nearly south as they could, subsisting on 1 loaf of bread, 1 rabbit, 2 frogs, and what bark and roots they could find. They often became so famished and exhausted that they would lie down, believing that they must die. On the 19th day of wandering they were found by three hunters, and were so famished they could hardly crawl on their hands and knees.

The first salutation of the hunters was: "Are you for George Washington or King George?" The answered, "George Washington!" upon which the hunters approached them and, viewing their bruised, emaciated and naked condition, wept like children. Their shoes were gone, and they had torn their clothes piecemeal to wrap up and save their bleeding feet. The hunters carried them about three miles, reaching a colonial settlement at the Upper Cowas or Oxbow, near the head of the Connecticut River. They reached home about the time that peace was concluded between the Colonies and Great Britain.

21 May 2011

Newcombs on Facebook

You can post pictures and exchange information with other Newcomb descendants on our newly-updated Facebook Page.

16 May 2011

James Newcomb 1755-1824

From B.M. Newcomb's book:

In the War of the Revolution James Newcomb, a minute man, was in several expeditions in 1776; his first and second service under Captain Lothrop Allen (in whose company he enlisted for six months), Lieut-Col. John Harper, included one expedition to New York and on Long Island, building forts, breastworks, and "fighting the enemy". In 1777 he enlisted under Capt. John Rouse, and was present at the surrender of the army of Gen. Gurgoye; he served as corp. in Peyton's Co., Second N.Y. Regt., mustered in Sept. 1778; re-enlisted 12 May 1779, and continued in the same co. until 21 Apr. 1780. He further service in 1780, 1781 was as sergt. under Capt. Cornelius Wiltse or Wiltsey, Lieut-Col. Thaddeus Crane, and Col. Peter Yates. After the close of the war he was appointed captain of a light infantry company; promoted 1798 to Lieut-Col.; later. Col.

12 May 2011

James Newcomb 1754-1843

Frolm B.M. Newcomb's book:

James Newcomb entered the Revolutionary War as a private, Mar. 1775, in Co. of Capt. Joseph Smith. One record shows enlistment "July 17, 1775, discharged Dec. 31, 1775. Service 5 mo. 27 d., in defense of seacoast." He was stationed at Wellfleet until Feb 1776; then marched to Truro, and was discharged in the middle of Mar. following.

"James, Sailor, Sloop 'Martha' Nathaniel Stone Master, bound on voyage to North Carolina; portage bill dated Boston, Jan 22, 1777; shipped Dec. 25, 1776." He was afterward in command of a ship running between Charlestown, Mass., and Charleston, S.C.; was also in service with Capt. Lemuel Newcomb of Wellfleet.

He became a pensioner under Act of Congress of 1832.

08 May 2011

Jacob Newcomb 1724-1777

From B.M. Newcomb's book:

Jacob Newcomb settled at Lebanon on a farm adjoining his father's on the southwest. In addition to several purchases of lands, he received fifty acres in Lebanon as a gift from his father, for "love, good will and affection". In 1760 he sold the most of his lands, possibly intending to settle in Cornwallis, N.S., where his parents, two brothers and their families removed that year; apparently, however, he remained in Lebanon. His town tax in 1760 was 1 5s 2d. He was a farmer.

At the outbreak of the War of the Revolution, Jacob Newcomb joined the patriot army, and died a martyr in the service, according to the church records of Lebanon, 1777. It is supposed that he died and was committed to a watery grave. His son, Bethuel, after leaving the service, set out in search of his father, Jacob, and traced him to Lake Champlain, but was unable to find further positive information concerning him. He learned that his father, sick of camp disease, with two other soldiers attempted to cross the lake in an open boat, but he could ascertain nothing additional.

When he, son Bethuel, moved to Thetford, Vt., Elizabeth, widow, accompanied him, riding behind him on horseback. She died at Thetford, at the home of her son Israel.