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James Whitcomb |
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Sarah Winslow |
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James Whitcomb (James, Mary) was
born as James “Whetcombe”, the son of James, two days
after his twin, Nathanaell, on August 21, 1697 in
Scituate, Plymouth County, Massachusetts VI37. James
was mentioned in the will of his father, which was dated September 22, 1727,
and the will of his mother, dated November 28, 1729 MA23. He married four times in rapid succession, and three of his wives
were his cousins HO14, WH5, SH3.
First, he married Mercy Winslow in Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts on
August 15, 1721 VI8, HO14, WH5, SH3.
Mercy, the daughter of Samuel and Mercy (King) Winslow, was born on August 16,
1705, and she died on September 20, 1726 at age twenty-one HO14, WH5, SH3, VI8. “James Whitcom,
Jr.” then married Joanna (Joan or Jean) Spooner in Dartmouth on July 12, 1727 VI8, MA26, HO14, WH5. Joanna, the daughter of
William and Alice (Black or Blackwell) Spooner, was born on May 12, 1703, and
while she died at an unknown age HO14, WH5, SH3, she
must have been about age twenty-five, because she probably died in 1728. James
next married Mercy Winslow on December 15, 1728 HO14, WH5, SH3. The record of their intent
to marry stated, “november ye 15
day 1728 James Whitcom of Rochester and Mercy
Winslow of this town of freetown entred
there purport of marriage hear in sd town” MA26. This particular Mercy was born on the
same day as her wedding, on December 15, 1700, and she was the daughter of
Captain Josiah Winslow and Margaret (Tisdale) Winslow, and died on April 20,
1729 at age twenty-eight HO14, WH5, SH3. Her
birth record stated, “Marcy win Slow the dafter of leut
Josiah winslow born 15 of December… 1700” MA26. Lastly, he married Sarah (Winslow) Lincoln on May 31, 1731 MA27, VI8, HO14, WH5 in Rochester, Plymouth
County, Massachusetts MA27, WH5, VI8.
Aside for what appears to be a solitary
record, the first volume of Rochester town records, which spanned the years
1673 through 1732, did not distinguish between James Whitcomb, Jr. and James
Whitcomb, Sr., meaning those suffixes were absent on records which referred to
James Whitcomb MA27. The entries from March 1713/4 through
March 1726/7 which recorded the various offices to which James was elected have
been discussed in the biographical sketch of his father, but because his father
wrote his will in September 1727 and died in June 1728, the records from March
1726/7 through December 1730 have been noted here.
On March 22, 1726/7, Experianc(e)
Johnson, “James Whictcomb jun”,
Ebenezer Barlow, and William Raymond were elected as “hogg Reives
or feild Drivers” MA27.
This was the only noticed record which not only added the suffix of “jun” but included both father and son in the same entry.
His father was named the sealer of measures on that date MA27. James, the younger, was probably the
James “Whictcomb” who was appointed to serve as clerk
of the market for Rochester on March 28, 1728 MA27. The remaining records undoubtedly refer
to James Whitcomb, the subject of this sketch, because their dates occurred
after his father’s death. On May 19, 1729 he was chosen to serve on the jury of
trials during the upcoming lower court, and he was a constable of Rochester in
1730, as noticed on records dated April 15, May 9, December 4, 1730, and March
21, 1731/2, which referred to him as a constable MA27.
The
agenda for the town meeting which transpired on March 6, 1732/3 included a
discussion “to know the town mind Whether
they Be willing to Repay Jame Whitcumb
former Constable What mony he paid of his own for
parsons [persons] that went out of town Before he had opertunity
to get what they were Rated” MA27. As a constable, James was responsible for collecting
the tax money, and in this instance, he had personally paid the taxes on behalf
of three men, John Doty, Stephen Andrews, and Robert Jones MA27. On July
2, 1733, the Rochester voters chose to pay James eighteen shillings and six
pence “for 3 parsons that went out of town before the Rates ware
made when sd Whitcumb was Constable”,
but the final portion of this entry was somewhat cryptic, as it concluded with
the remark, “provided he Ever git the mony of sd parsons to pay it to the town again” MA27.
He and Cornelius Clark were granted permission on July
16, 1733 to construct two seats on the beams over the gallery of the meeting
house MA27.
Benjamin Hammond, Jr., John Winslow, and James Whitcumb
were elected as selectmen and assessors for Rochester on March 1, 1736/7 for
the ensuing year MA27. James Whitcum and Rodger Haskel were appointed as jurors on February 21, 1739/40 for
the petit jury of the upcoming March court, and he served as the town clerk on
April 23, 1742, because the regular town clerk was absent on that date MA27. This was the last entry in which James Whitcomb was noticed in
the Rochester town record books, and he probably relocated to Western,
Massachusetts after April 1742.
He wrote his will on August 30, 1763 which
was witnessed by Abner Brown, Asa Whitcomb, and Content Whitcumb
and which was recorded at the Worcester Probate Court on December 16, 1763 by
Justice John Chandler WO5. James Whitcomb, the husband of Sarah,
died on November 16, 1763 in Warren (formerly Western), Worcester County,
Massachusetts VI40,
MA26. A transcription of
his will follow WO5:
In The Name of God Amen I James Whitcomb
of Western in the county of Worcester beemg [being]
weak in body but of sound mind do make this my Last will and Testament and
first of all I Recomend my Soul into the hands of
almighty God that Gave it hoping for a glorias Reserection
to Eternal Life upon the terms of his Sons Gospel: and my body to a Christian
burial at the Deserction [possibly direction] of my
Executor: and as to my worldly Estate
first I Give unto Sarah my Beloved wife the Improvement of
one half of my homestead farm in western during her life in
stead of her dower and one bed and furniture at her choice and two cows
to be at her despose and the use of all my household
furniture dureing her natrel
Life and at her Decease to be Equelly Divided to my
three Daughters
also
I give to my Son Thomas his heirs and assigns forever all my homested farm afore [said] but he is not to Desturb his mother in her improvement of the one half as
afore [said] he paying to my three daughters (viz) to Sarah the sum of ten
Pounds in two years after my Decease to my Daughter marcy
twenty three Pounds six shillings and Eight pence: ten pounds there of in one year after my Decease and the rest in two
years after my Decease To my Daughter Mary twenty three pounds six shillings
and Eight pence when she shall arrive to the age of Eighteen years or at the
Day of her Marrage as shee
shall chuse
also
I Give to my Son Scottoway his heirs and assigns
forever one hundred Acres of Land in Greenwich fifty-one acres of which is of
the Original Lot No 20: fifteen there of is ajoyning and thirty four acres Lying south of the whole
tract Joyning on Swift river and is known by the
bounds there set up and is the Land I have heretofore given him a Deed of which
is Neither acknowledgd nor Recorded and is to be
canceled by my Son Scottoway
also I Give unto my Son Robert his heirs and Assigns forever
all my Land adjoyning to that I have Given to my son Scottoway which is about one hundred and thirty acres
also I Give to my Son Nathan his heirs and Assigns forever
all the rest of my Lands in Greenwich not before desposd
of and I Give him my Croscut Saw and Coopper tools and Iron Drag
also
I give unto my son Edward his heirs and assigns for Ever all my Land in Chester
field and my will is that my three Sons: viz: Thomas Scottoway
and Robert have all the Lands heretofore willed to them provided they purches for my Son Nathan twenty five acres of Land which belongd to the origenal Lot No 61
lying in Greenwhich which their honoured
Grandfather Edward Winslow willed to those three children their mother had by
Lincoln or other Lands adjoyning Equivelent
therto: and my will is that my Just Debts Shall be
paid out of my out doars Personal Estate Except those
Articles Perticulerly Given away and the remainder I
Give to my Son Thomas: and my will is that John Partrick
[Patrick] James Brown and Samuel Bascom all of Western be appointed to Settle
the bounds between my Son Thomas his half of my homested
afore [said] and his mother
and I do appoint my Son Thomas Whitcomb to
be Sole Executor of this my Last will and testament hereby Revoking all other
and former wills and Testaments in Confermation of
which I do hereto set my hand and seal this thirtyth
Day of August 1763
Signed Sealed Published and Pronounced by
ye s[ai]d James Whitcomb as his Last will
and Testament…
Sarah Winslow (Edward, Sarah),
the daughter of Edward, was probably born between May 6, 1705 and September 8,
1709 in Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts VI7. The record of her birth, while lacking a date, was positioned
between her sisters Mehitabell, who was born on May
6, 1705, and Lydia, who was born on September 8, 1709 VI7. She may have been called “Sary” VI7. She first married Thomas Lincoln sometime before 1725, but he
died in 1730 HO14, PA5. The
gravestone of Thomas Lincoln, located at Center Cemetery in Rochester, Plymouth
County, Massachusetts states that he died at age thirty-one on June 15, 1730; a
photo of this gravestone can be located on the Find a Grave website.
Seth Linkhorn, the son
of Thomas and Sary Linkhorn, was born on February 10, 1725 in Rochester,
Plymouth County, Massachusetts VI7. Seth Lincholn was named in the will of
his maternal grandfather, Edward Winslow, which was dated October 2, 1758, in
which he and his sisters were given equal partnership in ¼ of Edward’s lot
number 61 in Greenwich MA23. Seth
Lincoln was said to have married Lucy Paige of Hardwick on October 19, 1751,
with whom he was the father of Thomas Lincoln KE11. A marriage record for Seth “Linclon”
indicated that he married Luce Paige on October 10, 1751 in Hardwick, Worcester
County, Massachusetts MA26. Seth
and Lucy Lincoln were the parents of two children whose births were recorded in
Warren (formerly called Western), Worcester County, Massachusetts VI40. These were Seth, born on March 23, 1754, and Asa, born on
January 31, 1759 VI40. The vital records
transcript for Warren states that Lieutenant Seth Lincoln died at age
sixty-seven on May 6, 1793 in Warren, Worcester County, Massachusetts VI40. This contradicts the death record of Reverend Stephen Baxter,
who kept chronological records of the funerals he attended which were arranged
by year and which had brief notes regarding the circumstances of the death MA26. The death record for Seth Lincoln was dated May 8, 1792, and
states “Seth Lincoln aged 64… insonitoh” MA26.
Samuel Blair petitioned the Judge of
Probate for Worcester County to appoint a guardian for Seth Lincoln of Western,
Worcester County, Massachusetts, who he said was “a person Non Compos Mentis”
(a person who is not sane or not in their right mind) “& so disordered in
his mind as not to be capable of takeing care Either
of his person or Estate” on November 30, 1789 AM1. The probate judge then ordered the
Selectmen of Western to enquire, examine, and make a
determination about whether Seth Lincoln was disordered in his mind,
incapable of caring for himself, and required a guardian AM1. That same day, a written notice was addressed
to Seth or his next of kin which accused him of being non compos mentis and
informed him that he was ordered to appear in person to the Probate Office on
“on the first Tuesday in January next at two of the clock after noon… to offer
your objections if any you have” AM1.
Seth Lincoln, Jr. was appointed as Seth Lincoln’s guardian on January 12, 1790;
sureties were Doctor William Cutler and Eleazar Cooke AM1. The personal and real estate of “Seth
Lincoln, a Non Compos Mentis” of Western, was inventoried
and appraised by Jason Wright, Edward Brigham, and Eleazar Cooke on March 29,
1790 and included one hundred acres of land AM1. He was called deceased in another
order to inventory and appraise his estate which was dated June 2, 1792 AM1. A note written at the bottom of this
inventory stated that thirty pounds of Seth’s personal estate was to be set
aside for “the widow of the within named Seth Lincoln decd… to
enable her to support Life” AM1. A
probate document dated June 5, 1792 regarding the widow’s thirds, or dower,
named his widow as Lucy Lincoln AM1.
She was also given seventeen acres of land, half of the dwelling house, half of
the cellar, half of the well, and one third of the barn AM1. Subscribers to this division of his
estate included Lucy, Seth, Thomas, and Polly Lincoln AM1. The administrator of Seth Lincoln’s
estate, who was Seth Lincoln (likely his son), had a license to sell the
residue of his estate on October 16, 1792; this document stated that he was the
guardian of Olive, Levi, and Sally Lincoln, who were minor heirs at law of Seth
Lincoln, deceased AM1.
Mehetabell Linkhorn, the
daughter of Thomas and Sary Linkhorn, was born on June 30, 1727 in Rochester,
Plymouth County, Massachusetts VI7. A marriage intention for Mehetable Lincoln and John Rusell
was published in Western and recorded by James Whitcomb, the Town Clerk for
Warren, Worcester County, Massachusetts on April 10, 1746 MA26. Mehitable and John Russell were the parents of
four children whose births were recorded in Brimfield, Hampden County
Massachusetts MA26. These were John,
born on April 20, 1747, Solomon, born on March 22, 1749, Mary, born on July 28,
1751, and Absalom, born on February 25, 1754 MA26. John Russell, Jr. died on August 25, 1756 in Brimfield,
Hampden County, Massachusetts MA26. Mehibtable Russel was named in the will of her maternal
grandfather, Edward Winslow, which was dated October 2, 1758, in which she and
her brother and sister were given equal partnership in
¼ of Edward’s lot number 61 in Greenwich MA23. A marriage intention between Mrs. Mehetible Russell of
Western and Lieutenant Abner Brown of Brookfield was published on April 26,
1760 and recorded in the town meeting minutes of Warren, Worcester County,
Massachusetts MA26. Mehitabel and
Abner Brown were the parents of three children whose births were recorded in
Brookfield, Worcester County, Massachusetts MA26.
These were Mehitabel, born on July 27, 1761, Dorcus,
born on October 5, 1764, and Percis, born on April
21, 1767 MA26. Lieutenant Abner Brown died at age seventy-seven on June 12,
1790 in Chesterfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts MA26. She was probably the “Widow Mehetabel
Brown” who died on January 24, 1801 in Chesterfield, Hampshire County,
Massachusetts MA26.
Rachill Linkhorn, the
daughter of Thomas and Sary Linkhorn, was born on May 3, 1729 in Rochester,
Plymouth County, Massachusetts VI7. Rachel Phips was named in the will of her maternal grandfather,
Edward Winslow, which was dated October 2, 1758, in which she and her brother and sister were given equal partnership in ¼ of
Edward’s lot number 61 in Greenwich MA23. Rachel and John Phipps were the parents of seven
children whose births or baptisms were recorded in Brookfield, Worcester
County, Massachusetts MA26. These were Hannah, born on September 17, 1754, Sarah, born
on March 14, 1757, Marcy, born on June 4, 1760, Charlotte, born on September 3,
1763, an unnamed son who was born on February 10, 1768 (this was probably John
Phips, who was baptized on June 12, 1768), Samuel, born on March 18, 1771, and
Rachel, born on November 4, 1773 MA26. Lieutenant John Phipps died at age eighty-six on January
10, 1809, and Rachel Phipps, the widow of Lieutenant John Phipps, died at age
eighty-four on May 24, 1813 in Brookfield, Worcester County, Massachusetts MA26. The
gravestone of Mrs. Rachel Phipps, located at Pine
Grove Cemetery in West Brookfield, Worcester County, Massachusetts states that
she was the wife of Lieutenant John Phipps and died at age eighty-four on May
24, 1813; a photo of this gravestone can be located on the Find a Grave
website.
Her
second marriage was to James Whitcomb in 1731 HO14, PA5, SH3, and she was called Sarah “Linkhorn” in the record of their intent to marry VI8. With James, Sarah was the mother of James, Thomas, Sarah, Mercy,
Scotaway, Robert, Nathan, Edward, Mary, and Mary VI7, MA26, MA27, SH3.
James Whitcumb was
born to James and Sarah (or Sary) Whitcomb (or Whitcumb) on March 3, 1731, as recorded in the
records of Warren (formerly called Western) in Worcester County, Massachusetts MA26, MA27, VI7, which also state that James
Whitcomb, the son of James and Sarah, died on July 24, 1755 VI40, MA26. He may have been the man referenced in
a diary entry written by John Thomas, a surgeon who participated in General
Winslow’s 1755 expedition “against the Acadians” MO16. John Thomas wrote on July 25, 1755:,
“I Lodged at Foart Lawrance
Leut: willson Came from Gauspereau Brings an account yt one of
Capt Cobb men ware Killed
Passing from ye Foart
to ye vilige on his Hors he & his Hors
ware both Killed his Name was whitcum he Came from Hardwike Colonol Munckton ordered major Brown out with 200 men to Gauspereau to Inquire Into ye Affair” MO16. Gaspereau is located in Kings
County, Nova Scotia.
Thomas Whitcumb was
born to James and Sarah or Sary Whitcumb
on December 2, 1733 MA27, VI7 or
December 3, 1733, as recorded in the records of Warren, Worcester County,
Massachusetts MA26. A marriage
intention was noted on August 20, 1763 in the records of Western, Worcester
County, Massachusetts which stated “there is a Purpose of marriage betwixt
Thomas Whitcomb & Thankful Brown of Brookfield” MA26. Thomas and Thankfull Whitcomb were
the parents of four children whose births were recorded in Warren (formerly
Western), Worcester County, Massachusetts MA26, VI40.
These were Ruth, born on June 23, 1764, and then in order as they appeared
within this family group, James, born on January 30, Thomas, born on February
27, 176?, and Sarah, born on December 21, 176? MA26, VI40. Sarah, the daughter of Thomas and Thankfull, died on April 29, 1771 MA26. Thomas Whitcomb (also called Thomas Whetcomb
VI40), yeoman of Western, died intestate MA61 at age thirty-seven on April 18, 1770 in Warren (formerly
Western), Worcester County, Massachusetts VI40.
His gravestone at Pine Grove Cemetery in Warren, Worcester County,
Massachusetts states “In Memory of Mr.
Thomas Whetcomb who died April ye 18th AD
1770 in the 37th Year of his Age”.
Sarah Whitcomb was
born to James and Sary Whitcumb
in Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts on October 26, 1735 MA27, VI7 or to James and Sarah
Whitcomb on October 25, 1735, as recorded in the records of Warren, Worcester
County, Massachusetts MA26. A Brookfield,
Worcester County marriage record dated March 1757 indicated that Sarah Whitcomb
and Phillip Rich either married or intended to marry at that time MA26. Philip Rich of Brookfield declared an intent to marry Sarah “Whitcom” on March 13, 1757 VI40. She was alive on August 30, 1763, the date her father
mentioned her in his will WO5. Philip
Rich, a housewright of Brookfield, Worcester County, Massachusetts was called
deceased on March 2, 1759 when his widow, Sarah Rich of Brookfield, was granted
the administration of his estate MA64.
Mercy Whitcomb was born to James and Sary
Whitcumb (or James and Sarah Whitcomb
MA26) in Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts on August 26, 1737 MA26, MA27, VI7. As
“Marcy”, she was alive on August 30, 1763, the date her father mentioned her in
his will WO5.
“Scotaway” or Scottaway Whitcomb was born to
James and Sary Whitcumb in
Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts on June 1, 1739 MA27, VI7 or as “Scottoway”,
he was born to James and Sarah Whitcomb on June 18, 1739, as recorded in the
records of Warren, Worcester County, Massachusetts MA26. A marriage intention was filed on April 9, 1762 in the
Springfield marriage records, which stated that Scottaway
Whitcomb of Greenwich intended to marry Mary Shelden of Springfield MA26. Scotoway and Mary Whitcomb were the
parents of three children whose births were recorded in Warren (formerly
Western), Worcester County, Massachusetts VI40.
These were Scoto, born on July 10, 1766, Zenas, born
on August 5, 1768, and Cynthia, born on February 7, 1770 VI40. A gravestone located at Hill Cemetery in South Granville,
Washington County, New York states that Scottoway
Whitcomb died at age seventy-four on July 28, 1812; a photo of the gravestone
can be found on the Find a Grave
website.
Robert Whitcomb was born on May 1, 1741 in Rochester, Plymouth County,
Massachusetts MA27, VI7, WH5, CO5.
Nathan Whitcomb, the
son of James and Sarah, was baptized on September 25, 1743 VI7 or
was born on September 25, 1743, as recorded in the records of Warren, Worcester
County, Massachusetts MA26. A record of the births and deaths of the children of
James and Sarah Whitcomb states that Nathan Whitcomb, the son of James and
Sarah, died on March 1, 1770 in Warren (formerly Western), Worcester County,
Massachusetts VI40, MA26. This date may be
incorrect. The records of Greenwich, Hampshire County, Massachusetts state
that “Nathll. & Margit” Whitcomb were the parents
of James, born on March 2, 1767 and that “Nathel.
& Marget” Whitcomb were the parents of Simon, who
was born on January 5, 1775 MA26. The
records of Hardwick, Massachusetts state that Captain Nathaniel Whitcomb of
Greenwich declared his intent to marry the widow Mary Freeman on October 17,
1779 BA46. Nathaniel Whitcombe of Greenwich, Hampshire County,
Massachusetts wrote his will on March 13, 1799 which named his wife, Lucy, and
his six children, Simon Whitcombe, who received property in both Greenwich and
Pelham, Lucy, the wife of Selah Stebbins, Margaret, the wife of Elinzar Ingersoll, Mary, the wife of Joseph Whipple,
Nathaniel Whitcombe, and James Whitcombe AM1.
His will was signed by Joseph Blodget, Abel Walker, Junr, Jerusha Blodget, and Polly Childs AM1. Nathaniel Whitcombe was called deceased on December 31, 1799
in a written consent to the administration of his estate by his widow, Mary AM1.
Edward Whitcomb,
the son of James and Sarah Whitcomb, was born on February 25, 1745 MA26. He was mentioned in the will of his maternal grandfather,
Edward Winslow, dated October 2, 1758 (“I give To my
Grandson Edward Whitcomb son of my Daughter Sarah
Whitcomb Four Spanish milld Dollurs”)
MA23.
Mary
Whitcomb, the daughter of James and Sarah Whitcomb, was born on June 1,
1749 and died on November 16, 1749 in Warren (formerly Western), Worcester
County, Massachusetts VI40. A
second daughter named Mary Whitcomb
who was the daughter of James and Sarah Whitcomb was born on October 23, 1751 MA26, VI40. This Mary was alive on August 30,
1763, the date her father mentioned her in his will WO5. A record of intent to marry between John Bullen of Ware and
Mary Whitcomb of Western was filed on July 18, 1772 with the town clerk of
Western, Massachusetts MA26.
Sarah
and James Whitcomb were mentioned in her father’s will dated October 2, 1758,
although Edward Winslow referred to them not as his daughter and son-in-law,
but as “my Son In Law James Whitcomb & Sarah his
wife” MA23. Edward Winslow gave James and Sarah Whitcomb “Three Quarters of my original Lot of Number
sixty one that I have in Greenwi ch
[Greenwich] in the County of Hampshire
and also Do confirm to them what I have already Given them by Deed also I give
them the one fifth part of that half of the Indoor movables which I have not given away that
is to say of Houshold
Stuff” MA23.
Sarah
died sometime after the date that her dower was assigned, which occurred on
February 28, 1771 WH5, PA5, WO5. Her
half of the homestead farm was plotted at forty-four acres and three quarters,
and the boundaries of her property were described in written format in a
document dated February 28, 1771, and included a map, shown below, which was
probably drawn by the surveyor, Thomas Hale WO5.
