13. HEZEKIAH NEWCOMB (Simon3, Andrew2, Andrewl) b. 1693-4 in the town of Edgartown, Island of Martha's Vineyard, Dukes Co., Mass., d. 15 Aug. 1772, at Lebanon; m. first, 14 Nov. 1716, Jerusha(4) (Thomas(3), William(2), William(1)--Mayflower Line), b. 26 Nov. 1692, at Norwich, Conn., bapt. Montville, Conn., 1693, d. 4 Nov. 1739, dau. of Thomas and Anne (Smith) Bradford. He m. second, 1741 Hannah ----- b. -----, d. 1794, by whom he had no issue. Anne (Smith), mother of Jerusha (Bradford) Newcomb, was the dau. of Nehemiah Smith and his wife Anne, who was the dau. of Thomas and Elizabeth Bourn, early settlers at Marshfield, Mass.

Immediately after his marriage Hezekiah Newcomb settled in Lebanon, Conn., where his entire life was spent. As a youth he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, probably at New London, Conn., where he joined the church on profession of faith and was baptized 25 Dec. 1715. The New London church published in 1870 a catalogue of persons who had belonged to the church since its foundation in 1670 and omitted the name of Hezekiah Newcomb, as also several others. Hezekiah Newcomb and Jona Clark were agents for the 1st Society of Lebanon, relating to church matters, 4 Jan. I731-2. Mr. Newcomb was admitted to the church in Lebanon 22 Mar. 1719, and his wife 20 Nov. 1720. He took the "Freeman's Oath" in Lebanon and held various town offices there.

Mr. Newcomb made no less than twelve purchases of lands in Lebanon; the first, 16 Dec. 1717, 114 acres for 62 pounds in northern part of town; in; 1726, ten and one-half acres adjoining his brother, Obadiah(4), for 10 pounds, 10s., called the Village land. In 1743 he bought eight acres by Ten Mile River; in 1761, for 80 pounds, thirty acres at the same place; in 1745 for 105 pounds, eighty acres in the village, adjoining Gov. Trumbull His town tax in 1760 was 5 pounds 0s. 1 d., a large tax at that time. In addition to working at his trade, Mr. New- comb was largely engaged in agricultural pursuits. In some deeds he is called Joiner, in others, husbandman and yeoman. From deeds at Springfield it appears that Mr. Newcomb, bought, 27 June 1737 of William Clark of Lebanon, for 20 pounds, land in Falltown (later called Bernardston), Franklin Co., Mass., and became a proprietor there. He bought in the same place, for 27 pounds, fifty acres of Joseph Atherton, 15 June 1739, and in 1741, for 30 pounds, lots forty-nine and fifty-six, which he sold in 1770 to his "beloved grandson Hezekiah Newcomb of Lebanon," for "love goodwill and affection." At a proprietors' meeting in Falltown, 18 Oct. 1738, Mr. Newcomb drew lot ninety-eight and gave a settler's bond, of which the following is an exact copy:

Know all men by these presents that I Hezekiah Newcomb of Lebanon in the County of windham and Colony of Conneticot in New England Joyner am holden and Stand firmly bound and obliged unto Samuel Field of Deerfield in ye County of Hampshier and Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Treasurer for the proprietors of the Falls Fight Township above Deerfield aforesd So Called, or to his successor in Said Office in the full and Just Sum of one Hundred Pounds Currant Money of New England to be paid unto the Said Saml' Field in his Capacity aforesd or to his Successor in Said office or to his or their Certain Attorney for the use of Said Proprietors to the which payment well and truly to he made I bind my self my Heirs Executors and Administrators firmly by these presents Sealed with my Seal Dated the fifteenth Day of June in the twelfth year of his Majestys Reign Anno qr Domini one thousand Seven Hundred and thirty Nine The Condition of this obligation is Such that wheras the Great and General Court have Granted a tract of Land for a township to the Officers and Soldiers & their Descendants that were in the falls fight above Deerfield in the year 1676: on Condition that they Settel Sixty families in Said township Each to build a House 18 feet Square and 7 feet Stud and to Clear and bring to Six acres for plowing or for Grass Referance to Said Grant being had will more fully appear & the Said Hezekiah New- comb being a proprietor in Said township if therefore he the Sd Hezekiah Newcomb Do by himself or Some other meet person Build a house as aforesd on the Lot NO 98 in the first Division of Land in Said township or on any other part of his propriety there and Settel a Family Clear and bring to Six acres for plowing or to Grass as aforesd and Do all that is required of a Setler in Said Township in order to fulfill the terms on which Said township is Granted according to the true Intent and Meaning thereof -- within the time Limited by Said Court then the above obligation to be void and of None Effect but on Default of any part thereof to abide and remain in full force and virtue

Signed Sealed and Delivered In presents of us Silas newcomb Lydia Williams

Hez: Newcomb [SEAL]

A full right in Falltown was about 230 acres. First Division, 50 acre lot and meadow lot of 5 acres; Second Division, 50 acre lot; Third Division, 50 acre lot; Fourth Division, 50 acre lot. The first settlement began about 1738 The deeds of Bernardston, Mass., were recorded at Greenfield after 1787·

Mr. Newcomb sold, for 3 pounds, lot 98 referred to in the foregoing, and also the eighteenth lot in the first division, to his son Peter(5), on 25 Dec. 1742. Mr. Newcomb never settled in Falltown, but his sons Silas and Peter removed there from Lebanon about 1740-1, and remained four or five years. In 1744 the outbreak of the French and Indian War proved most disastrous to the settlers. So frequent were the incursions of the roving bands of Indians, and so great was the danger and alarm of the people, that about that time the settlements of Falltown were partially abandoned, a few persons only remaining, and they lived in stockades or fortified houses called forts. Sills and Peter were compelled to leave and returned to Lebanon. Subsequently, Hezekiah and William(6), sons of Peter(5), settled on adjoining farms on the "Newcomb Road" in what is now Bernardston. Lieutenant Daniel" New- comb, son of Silas, settled in that part of Falltown now Leyden; and "from these three families," wrote the late ex-lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, Henry VV. Cushman, "a host of Newcombs have descended, many of them of great intelligence, wealth and moral worth." From various sources comes the tradition that Mr. Newcomb was a deacon: he was held in high veneration by his neighbors, his children and grandchildren. Isaac Foster, of Spencerport, N. Y., states that he was told by his grandmother, Submit" (Downer) Newcomb, "that during the whole time of her having her ten children in his (Hezekiah Newcomb's) house, she never heard him speak an angry word. The whole day long he would most always have his Bible in his hands."

Mr. Newcomb was buried in Lebanon near his first wife, and but a few feet from the tomb (vault) of the Trumbull family. The following is a copy of the inscription upon the tombstones of Hezekiah Newcomb and his first wife.

(Cherub) Here lies the body of Mr Hezekiah Newcomb who after a virtuous Pious and Ex emplary life having served God in his generation Was Dismissed by a sudden and Easy Death fell asleep in Jesus Augt 15 1772 in ye 79 year of his age

(Cherub) IN MEMORY of Mrs Jerusha Ne wcomb wife of Hezekiah Newcomb who died Nov ye 5th A D 1739 in ye 47 year of her age

After Mr. Newcomb,'s death, Hannah, his second wife, resided several years with her step-son, Peter(5) Newcomb, in what is now Columbia. In the distribution of Mr. Newcomer's estate, 20 Apr. 1773, Seventeen acres, with the dwelling house, were set off to his son James(5), as a part of his share. The following is a copy of Mr. Newcomer's Will, which was approved I Sept. 1772, and admitted to probate:

In the Name of God AMEN The Thirtieth day of August 1770 I Hezekiah New- comb of Lebanon in the County of Wind ham in the Colony of Connecticut in New England. Being in a low State of Health But perfict mind and Memory. Thanks be given unto God there for, Calling to mind. The mortalitye of my Body and knowing that it is appointed to all men once to Dye. Do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament. That is to say first and principally. I Give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of God that Gave it. And for my Body I commend it to the Earth to be Buried in a Christian and Decent manner at the Discretion of my Executors nothing Doubting But at the General Resurrection I shall Receive the Same again by the Mighty Power of God. And as touching Such worldy Estate whare-with it hath Pleased God to Bless me with here in this life I Give and Devise and Dispose of the Same in the following manner and form. Viz.

IMPRIMIS I Give and Bequeath unto Hannah my Dearly Beloved wife. A good Horse and furniture for her own and the use of a Good Cow also a Bed and furniture which She Shall Choose Six pewter plaits two platers a Chest with a Draw in it, one hundred pound of pork Seventy pound of beafe yearly as long as She Remains my widow Likewise Thirty Shillings a year in money. also one Iron pot and kettle. also five bushel of Indian Corn three bushels of Rye and two bushels of wheat yearly. also two pewter Basons two porringers two knives and forks. my Sons are to keep Said horse and cow winter and Summer or pay for their keeping. also Twelve pound of Sheeps wool and Twelve pound of flax yearly.

ITEM I Give and Bequeath unto my well Beloved Son Silas and to his heirs and Assigns forever one third part of that Tract of Land I bought of William Metcalfe Esqr. Containing by estimation Thirtyone acres Likewise Eleven Acres of the South East Corner of the farm I now live: on joyning to my Said Son Land and Land Belonging the heirs of Samuel Wells Esqr. also the one halfe of all my Houseing and Lands whare I now live which Shant otherwise Dispose of in this my last Will and Testament.

ITEM I Give and Bequeath unto my well Beloved Son Peter and to his heirs and assigns forever one third part of a Tract I bought William Metcalfe Esqr. as above Said Likewise a lott of Land Lying in Crank Societie Containing about Thirty acres Called the Bill Lott. also. Two Tracts of Land one Called the lower Pausture the other the River pauster with the lands lying between sd. pasters bounds Easterly on a Stone Wall and to Continue the Course through the orchard to the heirs of Thomas Edwards land.

ITEM I Give and Bequeath unto my well Beloved Son James and to his heirs and Assigns forever one third part of a Tract of land I bought William Metcalfe Esqr. as above sd. And the other halfe of all my Housing and Land I have not disposed of in this my last Will.

ITEM I give and Bequeath unto my Grand Son Joseph Newcom Son of my Son Thomas Deceaset and To Samuel and Dan Smith Sons to my Daughter Anne Decest A Right of Land lying in Barnard Town in Massachucett bay the one halfe I Give to my Grand Son Joseph Newcom and the other halfe to my two Grandsons Samuel and Dan Smith and their heirs and Assigns forever. (A full right in Falltown was about 230 acres)

ITEM I give and Bequeath unto my three Daughters Jerusha Elizabeth and Jemima All my Moveable Estate both indoors and out viz Household Goods and utensils for House keeping with all my live Stocke Horses Cattle Sheep Swine, &c. To them and their heirs forever. Except what I have already Disposed in this my Will And it my will and I Do hereby appoint my three Sons to be my Sole Executors of this my last will and Testament and to pay Equally all my just Debts & Legacies they to have my Debts Due to me by Book Bond or notes or any other way with all my weareing Cloaths my son Peter to pay one Quarter of my Debts and Silas and James to Pay the Remainder my Husbandry tools and Carpenters and Joyners to be Equally Divided amonst my three Sons also my Military armes. also all my Rights to a farme Silas Swift lives on which I bought of the heirs of James Bill deceased. also my Saddle and Bridle I Give and Bequeath unto Charity School managed by Doct. Weallock and others Ten pound Lawfull money Including the five pound I have Subscribed to Said use. within five year after my Decase. And I do hereby Revoke make void and Disable all other Executors Wills and Legacies by me hereto fore made and Confirming this and no other to be my last will and Testament. In witness wharf I have hereunto Est my hand Seal the day year above mentioned. Signed Sealed Pronounced and Declared
by Said Hezekiah Newcom to be his last Will
and Testement in the Presance of us.

her Martha Welles mark Timothy Allen Isaiah Tiffany

(wax seal)

An inventory of Mr. Newcomb's estate was taken 25 Aug. 1772; among the articles "one pare of Gould Buttens, I 5s, worn by Mr. Newcomb at the time of his marriage went to his grandson, John(6) Newcomb, (son of Silass(5)), who transformed them a hundred years afterward into a Masonic emblem. The following is an exact copy of the inventory of his estate:

Windham Ss Lebanon the 25 of August. The Inventory of the Estate of mr Hezekiah Newcomb Late of s". Lebanon Decd. Taken By us the Subscribers under oath. --

To one hat	00	16	0
To one Brodcloth Coat	1	10	1
To one Loos Got.	0	10	0
one Blue plainclothes Coat	1	00	0
one Pare of Velvet Briches	0	12	0
one Blue Jacket	0	5	0
one Black calamuk Dito	0	7	0
one old Dito	0	2	0
one old Coat	0	3	6
one Linnig West	0	5	0
one Pare of Streeked Briches	0	3	0
one Pare of plain cloth Dito	0	1	6
one Pare of old Dito	0	1	0
Two Pare of Two Dito	0	2	6
2 Check wollen Shurts	0	6	0
2 Lining Shurts	0	10	0
e Pare of Blue Stockings	0	4	0
2 pare of old Blue Dito	0	3	0
one Silk Cap 4/ one wosted cap 6/	0	5	6
one Pare of Shues	0	1	3
one felt Hat	0	3	0
one Black Silk Hanktcff	0	5	0
a pare of Silver Shue Buckles	0	6	0
To one pare of Could Buttens	1	5	0
one Sythe	0	5	0
one pare of mittens	0	1	6
one pare of Hers chanes and harnes	0	7	0
one old ax 21 one Drawing knife /6	0	2	6
one Sythe and taklin	0	6	0
one old Dito	0	3	6
one old Sythe /6 one Stub Syth	0	2	6
one fire lock	1	0	0
one sword 4/ one Crobar 12/	0	16	0
one hers plow and Iorns	0	6	0
copes and pin I/6 Stonhamer	0	3	6
a Brod hatchet I/ one old ax I/6	0	2	6
a cart rope	0	2	6
half a grinston	0	6	0
4 old hoes 2/ plow and Irons	0	8	0
one Youk & Irons	0	2	0
Jointer 3/ hand saw r/6	0	4	6
Brest Bit 2/6 a Curry Comb	0	4	0
the Turning Chisils 4/	0	4	0
a Duxay Chizel and Gouge	0	1	0
a Tntch augor	0	1	6
one Joynter and 6 plains	0	5	0
2 Tray ades 3/ a Rasp and Squar I/6	0	4	6
one post ax I/ one Augor /6	0	1	6
one Cornish Plain	0	2	9
6 molden plains 7/ one groving plow 4/	0	11	0
one Iorn Saw Chizel and Gouge	0	1	9
one Cumpos Saw I/6 Six plains 31	0	4	6
one Iorn Doge I/6 one Draft Chain ro/	0	11	6
one old Chain 6/ Som harrow teeth 11/	0	17	0
Yoke and Irons	0	6	0
Rasor and hone	0	2	0
flems Bullet mold Cumpeses	0	2	6
Nepers penknife 3 Gimblets	0	2	0
one Cewduce (?) box	0	0	9
2 Cart Hocks	0	1	0
one Sadel and Bridle	2	0	0
To old Tron Toles	0	1	6
2 Wages and Betel Rings	0	5	0
one Sickel 1/ a Large Anger 3--	0	4	0
one ax 2/6	0	2	6
one half a Stel trap	0	5	0
one Stel trap	0	2	6
one Cart Wheels and Riging-	4	10	0
Copes and Pin	0	2	6
The Real Estate	751	10	0
2 Kubstones	0	1	0
one Joyners ads	0	4	0
	£777	18	6
The foregoing for the Sons.
One Bead, Beadsted and furniture which the wid Chous	6	8	0
To one Hors Sidsadel & bridle	7	17	0
6 Puter Plaits	0	7	6
a Puter Platters	0	4	0
2 Basons a prongers & 2 spoons	0	5	6
2 Knives & 2 forks	0	1	0
one Iron Pot and Skillet	0	6	0
	£15	9	0
The foregoing for the Widow in this Colom.
One yoke of oxen	11	10	00
Blue Cow	3	10	0
Brown Cow	3	0	0
Yale Cow	3	0	0
Sparked Cow	2	17	6
Dark Read Cow	3	0	0
Callco Cow	3	0	0
Bull at	2	15	0
wight face Heffer	2	10	0
2 wight tow yerold Steers	5	00	0
wight Heffer	2	5	0
6 yerolds	7	10	0
5 Calves	3	10	0
the Lellet (?) oxen	7	10	0
one Pare of Sters	6	10	0
one pare of two yerolds	5	10	0
10 Swine and 3 pigs	8	5	0
to about 28 Bushels of Rye	3	15	0
to about go Bushels of Oats	3	15	0
then Hay in the Barne & 5 stacks	19	15	0
Next Bead, Beadsted & furnitor	4	5	0
the Strawbunk Bead & furnteuer	3	11	0
one Pigeon net with Rope	0	6	0
27 Sheep	5	15	0
4 Carsy Towels	0	6	0
one Tablecloth	0	6	0
one Two tabel cloth	0	5	0
3 Pellor bers	0	1	0
a Lineng towel	0	0	9
to about 2 yards half hollon	0	6	3
the Round Table	1	4	0
one Desk	3	5	0
one flowered Box	0	3	0
a chest one Draw	0	8	0
one pare of Stildards	0	9	0
one warming pan	0	3	0
one foot wheel	0	6	0
fire pan and tongs	0	7	0
fire tongs and Shue	0	6	0
on pare of small handirons	0	5	6
one large Ditto	0	9	6
Sheep Bell /6 a plain chest 8/	0	8	6
one Table Cloth	0	5	0
Spone mold 6/ Butten mold 2/6	0	8	6
one Brass Ladle	0	3	0
to 8 Spones	0	1	4
to tin pint cup	0	0	6
Chappain Cup	0	1	6
Nale boor and naIes in it	0	4	0
one puter Platter & 2 plaits	0	4	0
old puter Cup bason and Plait	0	3	0
6 wooden plaits	0	1	6
one pickel pot	0	0	6
one Earthan pot	0	1	0
3 small Tables	0	8	0
Brass Kittle	0	8	0
Pare of Cards	0	3	0
one Iron Skillet	0	3	6
10 chers	1	0	0
2 puter frames	0	3	0
Box of Iorn and Neters	0	1	0
2 Cass Bottles	0	2	6
one Koand Bottle	0	0	6
two nele chests 4/ one Corn bin 3	0	7	0
one hollow tub 2/ four Barrels 21	0	4	0
one pickel tub	0	1	6
one Grate wheel 3/ two behives 1/	0	4	0
one Squar table	0	6	0
108 wt of Chees	1	7	0
3 Hollow Tubs 9/ half hogshead 2/	0	11	0
one Compounding tub	0	2	0
24 Barils	1	1	0
Nele Lathar	0	12	0
5 bushel of Corne	0	12	6
30 wt of wool	1	16	9
2 neIe bags	0	6	0
4 Bascets	0	5	6
30 wt of Tobacco	0	7	6
Grate Bible	0	3	0
one small Bible	0	1	0
Doct Dodrig Rice of Religion	0	5	0
harris medations	0	5	0
furman Real Christen	0	4	0
Brarors Life	0	3	0
Hookon 9 and 10 Book	0	3	0
Flavels Works	0	1	0
Allen Misery of the unconverted	0	1	0
2 Paper Books	0	2	0
one Nale hamer	0	0	6
3 Rakes 3/2 pitchforks 3/6	0	6	6
one old yoak and staple	0	1	6
one butter tub 2/ a half Bushel 2/	0	4	0
half peck 0/9 a Cream pott 0/10	0	1	7
a Riddleing Sive	0	2	6
one Iron Wedg 1/3	0	1	3
40 wait of pork	0	16	8
8 old Barriels	0	10	0
2 fatt tubs	0	4	0
one Bear narriel	0	1	6
one Cheas press	0	6	0
one Cheas tub	0	2	0
4 milk pails 6/ one cheas tub 2/	0	8	0
one bread tub 1/6 trays 5/	0	6	6
one pigeon /9 one Keler 1/6	0	2	9
one Cane 1/6 one Scillett 1/6	0	3	0
one flesh fork 1/ one bottle	0	1	7
a small Earthen pot	0	0	5
one tin tunniel	0	0	9
one Churne	0	1	6
four Run and half woolen yrn	0	6	5
4 Rune of Cotten yarne	0	4	0
one small Brush	0	1	6
one acre and half of Land	3	0	0
John Lyman	£ 946	1	0
Jonathan Clark appraisers

Go back to Hezekiah Newcomb