Simon Newcomb history




4. SIMON3 NEWCOMB (Andrew(2), Andrew(l)) was b. about 1665, probably at Kittery, York Co., Maine, and d. at Lebanon, Conn., 20 Jan. 1744-5. He m. at Edgartown, Mass., about 1687, Deborah, b. about 1664 and d. in Lebanon, 17 June 1756.

It is possible that at the time of his birth his parents were residing upon one of the islands of the group called "Isles of Shoals," situated in the ocean, a few miles from Kittery and Portsmouth. It appears that the first four years of his life were spent on what was then called Hog Island or Appledore, the most picturesque of the "Shoals." The next four years were spent on the mainland, in the village of Kittery. Soon after he was eight years old the family removed to Edgartown, on the Island of Martha's Vineyard, Dukes Co., Mass., where they remained until the autumn of 1713, when his father established the family at Lebanon, New London Co., Conn.

Mr. Newcomb's name first appears upon record as owning land at Sagadahock, Me., in 1686. Under date of 26 July 1693, he bought land; recorded Salem, Me., 28 Aug. 1693, "near the mouth of Sagadahock River." On the 13th of Mar. 1693-4, he bought of Thomas Wallen, for £10, Meadow at Manado, by the beach, one share called the Purchase, 10 acres upland a half-mile from the harbor, adjoining- Mill Path, and half of Common, on Martha's Vineyard. He was named in the will of Wm. Vinson of Edgartown, 10 May 1690, as one to see that the provisions of the will were faithfully executed. He owned several shares of land upon the Island of Chappaquiddick, across the channel, and a short distance southeasterly from the village of Edgartown, where he kept large numbers of cattle and sheep--his mark a "slit on ye Right Ear."* As one of the proprietors of lands in Edgartown, Mr. Newcomb received several shares, the first in 1695. He made several purchases of lands at PohogSannut, near Job's Neck. Under date of 22 Jan. 1701-2. Simon Newcomb bought of his father, Andrew(2) Newcomb, for £50, a tract of land called Job's Neck, alias Sopotaming, situated four miles southwest from the village of Edgartown, and bounded on the south and west by what is now known as Job's Neck Pond, and two years later purchased two shares of adjoining land. In 1707 there was granted to him by the freeholders, a certain tract of land, "to extend from his corner bounds of Job's Neck, next to Pohoggannut, and so to come six rods above his house, and thence upon a straight line to the head of his corner next to Pokitipasses Neck." Upon this large farm--the result of purchases and grants as above--he lived for many years. His house must have been in full view of the blue Atlantic. In 1710-11 Mr. Newcomb bought of Susannah, widow of Wm. Vinson, for £40, shares in meadow in Sanchakantachet Neck and Commonage--later the celebrated camp-meeting- ground near Holmes Hole, in the town of Tisbury. In 1716 he bought of his stepmother, Anna Newcomb, for £20, land in Edgartown, bounded easterly by Weentucket, northerly by Mill Path to the utmost extent of town, southerly by ponds and cove. He also owned lands at Swan Neck Point, and at other places, all on Martha's Vineyard. His lands on Chappaquiddick he sold to various persons; a part of his home farm at Job's Neck he sold, 6 Mar. 1711-12, to Samuel Smith. June 1, 1713, for £27, he sold to his brother, Joseph(3) Newcomb, a half-share meadow at Felixes Neck, and 6 acres at Manado; also, 10 June 1714, for £7 : 12s : 6d., half of the 15th in Farm Neck. Joseph(3) Newcomb sold these lands in 1727 to John Worth of Edgartown for £70, and described them in his deed as lands "which I bought of my brother Simon Newcomb, late of Edgartown." In 1734 Mr. Newcomb sold to his son Thomas(4), for £70, all rights by heirship of all estate in Edgartown--doubtless as heir to his father, Andrew(2). His name appears several times in land titles of Tisbury; and a cart path--long known as "Simon Newcomb's Path"' leads to that place.

Mr. Newcomb made several purchases of land in Lebanon, Conn. He gave farms to each of his sons (except Simon, who received the homestead) the consideration being "love, goodwill and affection." Mr. Newcomb's earliest purchase of lands in Lebanon was made of Israel and Mary Phelps, 26 Sept. 1711, for £290, about 160 acres on the eastward side of town, with the "buildings, orchards, gardens, fences, fencing stuff and fruit trees thereon; also, 50 acres common right, and 30 acres common at the village." The farm, situated on the south side of Windham road, near Phelps hill, two miles and fifty-two rods northeasterly from the town of Lebanon, and about three fourths of a mile beyond the old cemetery, was described then as "butting on the highway that goeth towards Windham northwestwardly, being about one hundred and sixty rods at said highway lying against the heirs of John Hadlock's land northeastwardly and butting against land of Mr. Samuel Bliss southeastwardly and lying against Abel Janes land southwestwardly." Mr. Newcomb lived upon this farm, one of the very best in the locality, until his death, when it went by will to his son Simon, by whom it was conveyed in 1761 to Silas Sprague for £750, by whom it was sold the following year to Jabez Dean, of Norwich. Mr. Dean sold it, 1773, by one deed, the purchasers being Daniel and Joshua Lothrop, of Norwich; and Nathaniel Greene, Jonathan Simpson, Esq., John Hancock, Esq. (first President of Continental Congress), and Ebenezer Storer, all of Boston, Mass. The farm was later owned and occupied in part by Asa N. Burgess and F. H. Simpson.

Mr. Newcomb served as a member of various committees in town affairs; in. May 1693 had "full power and order for ye ordering of ye sheep & cattle"; signed a venire as Constable of Chelmark, 1699 (according to Court Record); was chosen to settle bounds of lands in 1704; viewed lands to find Thomas Peas' dividend on 28 Jan. 1705; found record of town's bounds 5 Mar. 1705-6; in 1710 he was chosen by his townsmen as "Field Driver" at Edgartown. Simon Newcomb took the Freeman's Oath at Lebanon and was elected highway surveyor in 1714. On 15 Sept. of the same year he was one of a "Comity" of three for building "meetin" house in Hebron, and reported, 5 Oct. following, a proper site for same. In 1718 he was chosen grand juryman; in 1721 he was appointed guardian to Caleb Jones and in 1741 was chosen fence viewer.

That Mr. Newcomb and his wife belonged to the churches of EdSartown and Lebanon there can be no doubt; but the loss of early records makes it impossible to give positive proof. That they had a family of about twelve children, baptized in infancy, is proven by a tradition, entitled to the very highest respect, and furnished by John Burton(7) Newcomb, in 1873, then 64 years of age, who stated that his father's mother, Mercy (Gore) Newcomb, his contemporary twenty-four years, informed him that her husband's father, Simon(4), who died when she was twenty-four years old, told her that he was the youngest (or nearly the youngest) of a large family, about twelve in number, all of whom were in their infancy presented to the Lord in baptism and prayer by their pious and truly exemplary parents. (This leaves an opening for other children, providing a record of such can be found, who perhaps died young. )

The following is a copy, verbatim et literatim., of the Will and Inventory of Simon Newcomb, from Windham Probate Records, Vol. 3, pages I69 to 172. The original will is not on file.

In the Name of God amen I Simon Newcom of lebanon In ye County of Wendham and Coloney of Connecticut In New England being In Good state of bodyly health and of sound and Disposeing memory for wch I bles God: but caling To mind my own mortality and that It Is appointed for all men once to Dye Do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament Princapaly and first of all I Recomend my Soul to God: The Giuer Theireof and my body To The Earth To be beuried In Decent Christian burial at ye Descretion of my Executor Herein Namd: Nothing Doubting but that I Shall Receive ye same again at ye General Resurrection Through ye power of almighty God From whome I lok for Redemption and Saluation Through The lord Jesus Christ and Now as toye Wordly Goods and Estate Wherewith It hath pleased God to bles me in this life
I Giue hequeath and Dispose Their In manar and form: Following (viz) after my Just Debts and Funeral Expence are all paide Imp I Glue and bequeath to my Well beloued ife debrah Newcom The Incom or use of my wholl Estate both Reall or personal during her Natural life---Item: I Giue and bequeath to my Well beloved Eldest son John Newcomb fifty pounds in Bills of Publick Credit to be Estemed by Siluer at 28s pr ounce to be paide him In manar form and at such Times as I shall hereafter ordar In this my Will and farther I glue To him all my Wareing appariel and my lomb and ye Tacklin Theireto Belonging--
Item to my beloved 2d son Tho. Newcomb I glue no legacy because I Judg he has had his full part or portion out of my Estat Heartofore
It I Giue to my 3d beloved son Hezekiah Newcomb: fifty pounds In bills of Publick Credit to be Estemed by Siluer at 28 shillings pr ounce To be paide him In manar and form and at such Time as I shall Heareafter ordar In this my Will.--
Item I Giue to my beloued 4th son Obediah Newcomb Ten Pounds In bills of Credit to be Estemed by Siluer at 28s pr ounce to be paide him In manar and Form and at such Times as heareafter I shall ordar In this my last Will and the Reason I Glue him no more Is because I Judg I haue hearetofore Giuen him The princeapal part of his portion out of my Estate
Item I Giue to my two daughters Debroah Hatch and Sarah Nye fifty Pounds Each In my house hold Goods as they shall be apprised in an Inventory To be taken of them after my Wifs Deceas: If Shee shall out liue me and what ye house hold Goods shall fall of 100 pounds in value at The apprisement as abouesd shall be paide Them In money In manar and form and at such Times as I shall heareafter ordar In this my Will
It I Giue to 5th son Benjamin Newcomb fiue pounds In bills of Credit at ye value afore sd to be paide In Manar and form: and at such Times as heareafter I shall ordar In this my Will and ye Reason Why I Glue him no more Is because I Haue already Giuen him ye Greatest Part of his portion
It I Giue to my Three Grand Children (viz) Ziruiah Debroah: and Ebenezer Wright to Each of them twenty pounds In bills of Credit to be ualued as in my other legacies to be paide In manar and form and at such Times as I shall ordar In this my Will
It I Glue to my sixth son Simon Newcomb all my wholl Estate both Reall and Personall that is not In this my last Will heareto fore Particularly Disposed of: to be to him his heirs and assigns for Euer He in no manar molesting or hindaring his mother In ye free use and Improuement of What I haue Giuen har for and Deuring hur Natural life and he paying out ye seueral legacies In money or Bills of Credit hearin before by me Giuen to my seueral Children or Grand children afore Named at or before Eight years Next after ye Death of me and my Wife or ye longest liuer of us. And I do heareby make ordain and appoint my son Simon Newcomb to be ye sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament Heareby Reuoakeing and making Null and uoid all formar or other Will or Wills by me made Ratifieing and Confirming This and no other to be my last Will and Testement In witness Whereof I have heareunto Set my hand and Seall this 23d Day of July A D. 1741.
Signed Sealed Published and
declared by ye sd Simon Newcomb:
To be his last Will and Testament
HIS
Simon S Newcomb
MARK
In Presents of us:
William Bewel
Ann Gray
Jonathan Trumble

The Inuentory of The Estate of Simon Newcom late of lebanon Deceased Taken by us ye subscribars apprisors under oath Is as followeth viz
a hat 2 15 0
a mixt Coast and Jacoat 7--10s--0d a Camblit Coat & Jacoat Coten 11 0 0
a Coat and Jacoat 3d 10s 2 Great Coatts 4-10 8 0 0
Woolen briches 4 pr 3d a pr lining briches 16s 3 16 0
a pr Coten briches 5s 3 Woolin Sharts 1d 10S 1 15 0
2 linen Shafts 1d 3 linin Caps 7s a hed Kerchif & pr Gloues 15s 2 2 0
a pr Wosted Stockins 10s 4 pr yearn Stockins 1d 12s 2 2 0
a pr of Shoes I65 Mr Shaws book 8S & M' Willards book 49 1 8 0
a Salm book 49s a Great Bible 3d 1s an old bible 10s 4 4 0
Hous on ye Sabbath 1s bed bedsted curtans 2 pillow bolster under bed and all ye beding 27d 17s 27 18 0
a bed bedsted bed Cord and beding 27 15 0
a Balster and Pillows 1d 14s bed bed Cord & beding 14d 15s 16 9 0
2 Woolin blankits 3d 5s 2 pillow Cases 12d 2 Cotton sheets 2d 5 17 0
2 linin Sharts 1d 10s 17 yds linin Cloaths 4d 13s 6d 6 3 6
3 pillo bears 10s 20 1/4£ of putar 7d 2s Quart Cup 12s 8 4 0
a large peuter basom 12s 2 Quart basons 14s 1 6 0
4 pint basons 12s 2 Small platers 12s a pint putar Cup 6s 1 10 0
2 putar Chamber pots 1--8 a Worming pan 2d 3 8 0
6 Spons 3s a Salt Selar and pepar box s5 a bras Skilit & frame 5s 0 10 0
a brass Kitle 7d an Iron Kitle & Skillet 16s 7 16 0
2 Iron potts & Pot hooks 2d 8s a Copar frying pan 1d 5s 3 13 0
3 Iron Candle Sticks 6s Shie & Tongs 15s 2 Tramils 1d 8s 2 9 0
a pr of and Irons 2d 6s a hamar 7s a box Iron and heaters 12s 3 5 0
a Gun 3d 10s a Chest with Drawers 3d 10s 7 0 0
a Small Trunk 1d a Great Table 16s Small Table 10s 2 6 0
10 Chairs a 3s 1d 10s a Great Chair 10s 2 0 0
a Grid Iron & pot hooks 6s a lomb & Tacklin belonging to it 5d 5 6 0
a Churn 12s an old hogshead & 3 barrels 7s 0 19 0
an old back Sword 5s a set of buckit hoops 12s 0 17 0
a Ridleing Slue 5s 2 bags 6s a half bushell 5s half peck 1s 6d 0 17 6
a paile & small Tub 4s a piggin & a Can 4s 6 wooden plates 2s 0 10 0
2 pails 10s 2 Kniues and 3 forks 12s a Can 2s 4 Trays 10s 1 16 0
2 Troues 10s 2 small Tubs 10s an old Seadar Tub 6s 0 6 0
a meat Tub 4s a fat Tub 3s Earthan Jarr 10s 0 17 0
a ston Jugg 14s a Earthen pot 2s a Great Wheall 17s 1 13 0
a foot Wheall 2d a little Wheall 2s a pr of Stilyards 1d 3 5 0
a mayr 20d a yearling Coalt 24d yoak of oxen 40d 83 0 0
3 yearlings 13d pr 3 year old Steers 26d 10s 3 2 year old 20d 59 10 0
3 Cows 43d 16 Sheep 20d 2 swine 7d 10s half a Cart 5d 75 10 0
a Chain Id 5s a yoak and staple & Ring 15s Cloe & Pim 6s 2 6 0
2 Wedges and a beetle Ring 12s 6d an ax 7s 0 10 0
half an Iron harrow 3d pr of fork tines & hay hook 6s 3 6 0
half a Dung fork 6s Shed Shoel 4s a hacket 12s 1 2 0
2 oald hoes 3s hors Chains and Whipletre Chain 2d 2 4 0
Half a Grind Ston 10s a pr of Plough Irons 2d 2 10 0
Half a Crow barr 1d a pigen net & Rope 10s 1 10 0
pr Shep Shears 3s a botle 8: Drinkin Glass 3s 6d 3 6 6
a pr of Spectacles 5s a Siue 4s 9 0
Sume Total £414 = 19s 0d
lebanon Febr 19th 1744-5
Jedediah Phelps
Nathll holebrook
aprisers under oath
Extracted out of the Oridgnall and Recorded March ye 17 1745
pr me John Euery Clark of pr

The graves of hlr. Newcomb and wife, as also those of all the Newcombs interred in the old cemetery at Lebanon, are but a few feet from the tomb of the Trumbull family, and in a westerly and southwesterly direction. The following are exact copies of inscriptions on their tombstones.
(Cherub)

IN MEMORY OF MR
SIMON NEWCOME
THE LOVEING AND
WELL BELOVED CON
SORT OF MRSS DEBORA
NEWCOME WHO
AFTER HE HAD
SERVED HIS JENE
RATION BY ye WILL
OF GOD DEPARTED
THIS LIFE JENUARY
02 A D 1744-5 IN
ye 78 YEAR OF
HIS AGE
(Cherub)

Here lies,the body of
MrS Deborah Newcomb
Wife of Mir Simon New
comb She was a pious
virtuous woman &
Died in hope of Eter
nal life thro re mercy
of ye Lord Jesus June
17 1756 in the 92
year of her age


* Town Records, Edgartown, p. 71. Oct. 22, 1708. Cattle entered, Simon Newcomb 5 head filled with sheep upon Mr. Mayhews right and half upon his own Right, 2 cows upon Mr. Mayhews right and half upon his own, and one for Joseph Newcomb upon his mothers right. (Joseph Newcomb's mother was Anna Newcomb, the widow of Andrew (2) N.) Same--p. 76. Oct. 31, 1710. Simon Newcomb put over cattle upon Chapoyquedeck Eight hed and half an ox a slit on ye Right ear &c, there is 3 hed and half upon Matthew Mayhews commonage 4 head upon Anne Newcomb her half commonage.

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Source: Newcomb, Bethuel M. Newcomb "Descendants of Andrew Newcomb," Revised edition. Privately printed for the author, 1923. pp. 22-26


This page was produced by Bob Newcomb in Brea, CA
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