02 March 2012

Thomas Newcomb 1761-1851

Thomas Newcomb was ordered drafted, 23 Aug. 1777, at the age of 16, as a substitute for a Mr. Thomas, and served from 25 Aug. to 8 Oct. he was in Capt. Skinner's Co., Col. Lattimore's Regt., on the march to Stillwater, Saratoga Co., N.Y., one or two days after the battle at that place, 19 Sept.; was in the reserve during the battle of 7 Oct. with Burgoyne. After Burgoyne's surrender he marched to Red Hook where he was discharged. Just prior to 1 Jan 1778, he volunteered under Capt. Joseph Hill of Lebanon for three months; marched to Providence, R.I. and in the latter part of Feb. obtained permission to serve as marine on board the U.S. ship Warren, Capt. Hogekins; ran the blockade in the night; captured at Newport, near the Bermudas, the Neptune, a merchant vessel, and returned to Boston About 1 May. In the latter part of May shipped as marine on board the frigate Dean, Capt. Hindman, at New London, with his brother, David; absent three months; returned to Boston after capturing two merchant vessels, one a very valuable prize. He served for two months in 1779; Jan 1779 was in 4th Regt., 5th Co.; on ship Vengeance to Penobscot. He did garrison duty at Ft. Griswold, Groton, Conn., under Capt. Latham and Co. Ledyard, for three months, 1781; was discharged a few days before the fort was captured by the enemy. On 5 Aug. 1781, his brother, David, having been drafted for nine months, he acted as substitute; was enrolled at White Plains, Capt. Wright's Co., Col. Swift's Regt.; rendered service near Peekskill, and in a whale-boat on Long Island Sound; captured a sloop, and, immediately after, another armed with ten guns, making her a prize, with three other sloops, loaded with wood and forage for the British army; carried them into Stamford, Conn.

No comments:

Post a Comment

PLEASE! If your comment or question is not directly related to this post, send it to me as email (see email link in the right-hand column of the blog). I can give it a separate post so people can find it in its own right.

We use comment moderation to prevent spam. This means your comment will not appear until it has been approved by an administrator. Unfortunately automated spammers have also forced us to add a verification scheme that makes just a little harder to post comments. We appreciate your patience.

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.