13 December 2004

To "e" or not to "e"

In 1924, Bethuel Newcomb wrote, "The Newcombs residing in Canada generally use the final e, while nearly all residing in the United States omit it." His predecessor, John Bearse Newcomb, had omitted that final e from nearly all the Newcombs he documented, whether or not they used it themselves. Many U.S. Newcomb(e)s continued, and still continue to use the final e, despite BMN's somewhat wishful writing. As a result, researching and identifying Newcomb(e)s includes the spelling challenge.

20 October 2004

Capt. Andrew Newcomb

Captain Andrew is believed to be the progenitor of the largest branch of the Newcomb family in America, through his son, Lieut. Andrew. This is based largely on the research of John Bearse Newcomb, whose 1874 Genealogical Memoir of the Newcomb Family in America is an important reference. Many modern researchers question whether Captain Andrew was, indeed, the father of Lieutenant Andrew. The two men were living in America at the same time, but there is no primary documentation to indicate what, if any, their relationship was.

03 October 2004

Baptist Newcomb

Baptist Newcomb was born in England around 1640 and came to America with William Penn. He owned land in Lewes, Delaware, where many of his descendants were born. His wife's name was Ann.

28 August 2004

Ye Olde Newcombes

This catgegory is for discussion of our Newcombe family lines in Great Britain.

01 August 2004

Reviews

Tell us about genealogy books and software.

03 July 2004

Fame and Fortune

This section is for discussion of Newcombs whose achievements (or misdeeds) made them notable.

02 July 2004

Early Newcombs

This category is for the discussion of our immigrant ancestors and other Newcombs in America prior to the 1850s.

02 June 2004

Newcombs in the American Revolution

Kinner Newcomb (17 Aug 1756 - 6 Feb 1840)

From B.M. Newcomb's book:

A patriot soldier, Kinner Newcomb served during the War of the Revolution. He enlisted from Nine Partners in June 1776, in the Co. of Capt. Melancton Smith's Rangers, Stephen Haight, Lieut-Col.; rendered nearly five months' service there, and at Verplanks Point, Poughkeepsie, and on the Peekskill Mountains, in apprehending and guarding Tories. In Aug. 1777 he enlisted at Nine Partners in Capt. John Rouse's Co., joined the regiments of Col. Graham in Gen. Glover's brigade at Lansingburgh, marched to Stillwater, encamped on Bemis Heights until 16 Oct., then pursued the retreating army of Gen. Burgoyne, which surrendered on the 19th. Soon afterwards he returned to Albany, then Esopus, a part of the time having only roasted apples for food; was discharged at the end of three months. He was also in the Co. of Capt. Wanderburgh, Second N.Y. Regt.; served in Col. Philip Courtlandt's regiment, a portion of the time as orderly sergt.; was named Col. Marinus Willett; was a private in the Fifth Regt., Rosecranse Co. Jan 1778 to Jan 1782.

He afterward drew 600 acres of land for his services; was a pensioner under Act of 1828, and his widow Olive under Act of 1853.


Luther Newcomb (12 Jun 1762 - 8 Jun 1834) who married Pamelia Larrabee.

From B.M. Newcomb's book:

Luther Newcomb volunteered as a private, June or July 1778, for six months, while residing with his brother Daniel at Bernardston, later Leyden, Mass. There being no captain, the company was commanded by Lieut. Amasa Camp, afterward by Capt. E. Chapin. He was required to guard munitions and stores at Springfield, Mass., etc.; as guard, he accompanies the conveyance of stores to Boston, then to Brookfield, Mass., and remained, as guard to the magazine, until ordered to Rutland, Mass., to perform the same duty to prisoners from the army of Gen. Burgoyne; returned to Brookfield and was discharged at the end of six months. In the summer of 1779 he went back to Lebanon and became a substitute for his brother in Capt. Elias Bliss' Co., Col. Ledyard's Regt.; marched to Groton Fort, opposite New London, Conn., discharged at end of two months. In the summer of 1780 he rendered service on board the privateer sloop Randolph, Capt. Nicholas Bostwick of New London; crept out in defiance of several British frigates off Stonington blockading both harbors; passed outside of Long Island to Sandy Hook; captured the British privateer Hibernia, and re-captured a French vessel taken by the British; safely returned, after an absence of one month, with these and two small schooners, to New London. He was a pensioner under Act of 1832.

Obadiah Newcomb (27 Mar 1765 - 23 Apr 1850), who married Abitha Post.

He was probably not in the Revolution!

Evander Berry Newcomb, the grandson of Obadiah Newcomb gave the following account, which B.M. Newcomb indicated may have referred to Daniel (presumably he meant Obadiah's father) although Daniel died before Evander was born.

"I was only seven years old, but I remember going to his funeral with my father and mother.

"The old man was in the battle of Brandywine and served under General Green. He was chased through the swamps by Cornwallis and he told me many stories... interesting to boys of my age. He told me about the suffering at Valley Forge and how Washington used to come and cheer up the poor suffering soldiers or ragamuffins, as the redcoats used to call them when they camped through the cold winter of 1778. He got his pay in Shinplasters but they would no buy him a cracker, and he pasted them all over his kitchen all. My father had his old flint lock musket and powder horn and the family has these old relics as treasures."


If Obadiah Newcomb was born in 1765, he would have been only 13 years old in 1778. Although not impossible, it seems unlikely he was at Valley Forge. Evander's memory about the stories he heard when he was a very little boy were probably inaccurate; more likely they were told by, or about, someone other than Obadiah.

Robert Newcomb (b. 25 Sept 1759), son of Robert Newcomb and Mary Young.

From B.M. Newcomb's book:

He served in the Revolutionary War. "Robert, private, Captain John Lane's Company, Col. Foster's Regiment, enlisted 12 Jan. 1776, discharged 15 Feb. 1776, service 1 mo. 3 days, Company stationed at Cape Ann for defense of seacoast." In the casualties of the Battle of Long Island, 28 Aug. 1776, reported missing, Robert Newcomb, drummer, Col. Huntington's Regiment, 17th Continental, 1776; he was taken prisoner and never heard from afterwards; he was unmarried and perhaps died while a prisoner. "Robert, private, Captain Daniel Gidding's Company, Col. Foster's Regiments, service from 29 Feb. 1776 to date of discharge, 18 Nov. 1776, 8 mo. 18 da., Company stationed at Gloucester for defense of seacoast."

23 May 2004

More Newcombs in the Revolution

Ebenezer Newcomb, son of Ebenezer Newcomb (1712-1782 ) and Thankful Freeman (b. 1714).

From John Bearse Newcomb's book: A sailing master and officer in the Revolutionary War; served in 1777 under Capt. J. Trow and Col. Joseph Whitney; afterward went out as a privateer and was never heard from.

From Bethuel Merritt Newcomb's book: Ebenezer was a minor in 1760; later, a sailing master. There is record as follows "Ebenezer, Private, Capt. Israel Trow's Co. Col. John Hathaway's regt. service 20 d. in April and May 1777, at R.I., said Newcomb reported as among those who agreed to tarry for 2 mo." He also appears in "the list of fourteen men (he P.M. Mate) of a prize of the Ship Reprizal - Continental - committed August ye 9th 1777 to Forton Prison, England." Probably died in prison.

Eleazer Newcomb (4 May 1755 - 22 Aug 1823), who married Anna McGuire.

From B.M. Newcomb's book:

Eleazer performed important service in the War of the Revolution. He enlisted at Horse Neck, from Wethersfield, Conn.,, 6 Feb. 1777, for three years in the Co. of Capt. Childs, 5th Connecticut Regt., Col. Philip B. Bradley; served as corporal to 1 Jan. 1780; was discharged at Bearskin Ridge, N.J., 6 Feb. 1780; was in battles of Germantown and Monmouth; received a pension under Act of 1818.

Ethan Newcomb (1 Jan 1763 - 19 Nov 1849).

From B.M. Newcomb's book:

A hero in the War of the Revolution, he volunteered at the age of 16 in the militia service, and served at various periods nearly 2 years. the militia were often called out for emergencies and for guard duty. He served one tour of 10 months and another of 2 months in the Co. of Capt. William Low, Lieut. Reuben Cheeseman, most of the time under his uncle, Gen. Silas Newcomb, guarding the banks of the Delaware River 60 miles below Philadelphia and near its mouth, the object being to prevent the landing of refugees to plunder the inhabitants. Mr. N. received no compensation from the State, but had his share of prize money in capturing a boat. He was a pensioner under Act of Congress, 1832. He signed his application for a pension with a cross.

Jacob Newcomb (10 Oct 1724 - 1777). He married Elizabeth Hamilton.

From the DAR lineage books:

Joined the patriot army and died in the service.

From B.M. Newcomb's book:

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.

James Newcomb (11 Nov 1754 - 2 Jan 1843).

From 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.


James Newcomb (28 Dec 1755 - 19 Nov 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 April 2004

Civil War Stats

I recently came across an article that mentioned, in passing, that over 200 members of the Newcomb family fought for the Union in the Civil War. (There were also those who fought for the Confederacy, but their names are harder to come by.) I am in the process of compiling this, and other, information from B.M. Newcomb's book, and will be posting it online soon.

12 March 2004

Newcombs in the American Revolution

Andrew Newcomb (1750 - 1781), who married Sarah Daggett 4 Dec. 1770. According to B.M. Newcomb:

That he served in the Revolutionary War is shown in the following: "A roll of Capt. Mathew Smith's co. stationed on the Isle of M.V. for the defence of the sea coast. Made up from the 15 of Jan. to the last of Feb. 1776. Andrew Newcomb private." "Said to have been Capt. of N.J. Regt. from Cumberland Co. Rev. War. Mar 1, 1776 to Jan 3, 1777." He served from 30 Sept. to 22 Nov. 1776, in John Russell's co., Maj. Bassett, guarding the seacoast of Martha's Vineyard; he also served on board a vessel of war as lieutenant. In Court of Sessions, Duke's County, May 1779, "Ordered that Andrew Newcomb receive an order on the Treasurer of the County for a cedar boat, which the British forces deprived him of, in Sept., last."

Andrew Newcomb and John Newcomb are included in the list of prisoners taken on the British vessel "Old Jersey", and church records say that Andrew died "returning from captivity". "About 8,000 names have been copied from an incomplete list of English War Records, of men confined as prisoners on board the Old Jersey Prison Ship, moored in Wallabout Bay, New York, during the Revolutionary War. It has been estimated that more than 11,000 of 11,644 persons perished on board during a period of three and a half years."


Azariah Newcomb (14 Aug 1762 - 2 Aug 1843-44) who married Rebecca Bradley 1781.

According to B.M. Newcomb:

In August 1778, at the age of fifteen or sixteen, Azariah Newcomb served six weeks as a substitute for Isaac Pardee in guarding the public stores at Sharon, Conn. He volunteered for three months in August 1780 at Salisbury, Conn., in the Company of Capt. John Perier, regiment commanded by Col. Canfield in Gen. Willis' or Wells' brigade; marched to Horse Neck, N.Y., white Plains and Bedford Hill, where he was discharged in November. In an action at Stamford, Conn., when the British forces landed from boats to burn the town, he received a sword cut on the head and a bayonet wound in the arm.

Bethuel Newcomb (17 Dec 1751 - 2 Feb 1826) who married Mabel Thomas 16 Apr 1778. He was at the battle of Bunker Hill and is listed in the DAR lineage books.

According to B.M. Newcomb:

Mr. Newcomb was a soldier in the patriot army of the Revolution. He entered the service 15 May 1775, in the Company of Capt. James Clark of Lebanon, 6th Co., Col. Israel Putnam, Third Conn. Regt., and was in the battle of Bunker Hill. He was discharged 15 Dec. 1775.

Bethuel Newcomb's account of the Battle of Bunker Hill: "I fired my gun until it became so hot I couldn't hold it; stepped past where a soldier had fallen-- caught his gun. We kept hearing someone calling 'Retreat!', but thought it was someone running away. Soon Gen. Israel Putnam came on horseback-- on a dead run, bareheaded, calling out: 'God curse you why don't you retreat. The British have almost surrounded you.' Then we turned and ran up Bunker Hill-- the grapeshot cutting down the grass between our legs as we ran. I was never wounded."

In 1776 he volunteered for three months in the Company of James Pineo, to go to New York. After leaving the service he went in search of his father, who disappeared during the war.


Bradford Newcomb (9 Nov 1747 - 1822) who married Azuba Phelps in 1769.

According to B.M. Newcomb:

Mr. Newcomb was a patriot soldier in the War of the Revolution. His sword, a very neat one, is remembered by some of his descendants now living. (This is a quote from J.B. Newcomb who wrote it around 1873.)

Daniel Newcomb (18 Nov 1741 - 9 Sep 1794) who married Irene Field in 1769. He is listed in the DAR lineage books.

According to B.B. Newcomb:

"Daniel Lieutenant, Capt. Amasa Sheldon's (4th) Co. Col. David Field's (5th Hampshire Co.) regt. of Mass. militia; list of officers chosen in said regt., dated Deerfield, April 22, 1776; Ordered in council May 3, 1776, that said officers be commissioned; reported commissioned May 3, 1776.: He also served in the same Co. "July 10, 1777 to July 20, 1777... £1: 11: 4 rec'd pay." On 27 July 1778, he was in command of a Company at Boston. He was Chairman of the Committee of Safety; in 1778 was Committee of Correspondence for Bernardston; was Collector, 1775 and 1785.

Dayton Newcomb (1762 - 1753) who married Abigail.

According to B.M. Newcomb:

Col. Dayton Newcomb served in the War of the Revolution as Second Lieutenant in Capt. Page's co., Col. Enos Seely's Battalion; also as lieutenant in First Battalion; later as captain; then as colonel. "Auditor Book B, page 1 - Lieut Daton Newcomb Regt 1 Cumberland under Brig Newcomb." "MSS. No. 3896 Cumberland Militia Daton Lieut." "Auditor Acct C... Paid to Daten Newcomb April 24, 1778 £120: 0: 0... page 154 (Book B) Officers name, Lieut Datton Newcomb, Amt. £141:7:6." "Inv. 4660 - Name - Dayton Newcomb Residence - County of Cumberland Capt. 1st Regt. Cum. Co. Militia immediately after May 1, 1776. Sergeant Richard Sayres & others of Capt Azel Pierson's company detailed to serve under him at Tindal's Island near mouth Cohansey Creek & served on guard until the end of Aug 4 mo."

American Revolution: Bethuel Newcomb, 1751-1826

From B.M. Newcomb's book:

Mr. Newcomb was a soldier in the patriot army of the Revolution. He entered the service 15 May 1775, in the Company of Capt. James Clark of Lebanon, 6th Co., Col. Israel Putnam, Third conn. Regt., and was in the battle of Bunker Hill. He was discharged 15 Dec. 1775.

Bethuel Newcomb's account of the Battle of Bunker Hill: "I fired my gun until it became so hot I couldn't hold it; stepped past where a soldier had fallen-- caught his gun. We kept hearing someone calling 'Retreat!', but thought it was someone running away. Soon Gen. Israel Putnam came on horseback-- on a dead run, bareheaded, calling out: 'God curse you why don't you retreat. The British have almost surrounded you.' Then we turned and ran up Bunker Hill-- the grapeshot cutting down the grass between our legs as we ran. I was never wounded."

In 1776 he volunteered for three months in the Company of James Pineo, to go to New York. After leaving the service he went in search of his father [Jacob Newcomb 1724-1777], who disappeared during the war.

05 February 2004

American Revolution: Jacob Newcomb, 1724-1777

From B.M. Newcomb's book:

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.

15 January 2004

Anita Rosalie (Newcomb) McGee, 1864-1940

In 1898 at the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, she organized volunteer nurses for the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was appointed Assistant Acting Surgeon General in the Army of the United States, and placed in charge of the army's nurses. She pursued the establishment of a permanent corp of army nurses, and is known as the founder of the Army Nurse Corps. She left her position in 1900, but continued with the Society of Spanish-American War Nurses. In 1904 she led a group of volunteer nurses to Japan.

She was the daughter of Prof. Simon Newcomb (1835-1909).

04 January 2004

Francis Newcomb

Francis Newcomb is the ancestor of another large branch of the Newcomb family. Born in England around 1605, he came to America in 1635 on the ship "Planter", with his wife, Rachel (Brackett), and two children. He owned land in Braintree, Massachusetts, where many of his descendants were born.