1. ANDREW 11 NEWCOMB1 was born Abt. 1618 in England, and died 1686 in Boston, Mass, New England. He married (1) UNKNOWN. He married (2) GRACE RICKS 1663 in Boston, Mass, New England.
Notes for ANDREW 1 NEWCOMB:
ANDREW NEWCOMB AND HIS
DESCENDANTS
Capt Andrew° Newcomb, born probably in England about I6I8; died in Boston, Mass., Nov.I686.
The name of his first wife and date of his marriage is unknown. He may have married first in England or Virginia He m. second, 1663, in Boston, Gtace [ ) Ricks, b. about 1620-I625. the widow of William Ricks who was the son of Robert Ricks of Kenninghall, Co. of Norfolk, England.
John Davys in I641 agrees to build a house in Boston, I6 x 24 ft., for this William Ricks, for the sum of f21.
John Bearse° Newcomb of Elgin, Illinois, the author and compiler of Genealogical Memoir of the Newcomb Family, 1874," says: "Of the early history of Capt. Andrew Newcomb comparatively little is known; but from the records information has been obtained by which some idea may be
formed of the man who appears to have been the progenitor of the largest branch of theNewcomb family in America. That he was born in England is quite certain; that he emigrated from the west of England, perhaps Devonshire or Wales, nearly all traditions declare. Beside tradition, however, there are other reasons that make it probable that such was the case. The date of his arrival in this country is not definitely known, but it is quite probable that he was
among the earliest settlers of New England. First mention of him is made in I663, in Boston,Mass., when and where he married his second wife, Grace; he was at that time a mariner or sea captain, and it is quite probable that this,had been his occupation from youth, although there isno record to show it.'
Later research inclines to the opinion that Capt. Newcomb came to America as captain of a sailing vessel, making his first landing perhaps at Barbados and from thence to Virginia. Absence of records in Virginia makes it impossible to verify this opinion.
Records indicate that Capt. Newcomb had not obtained a residence in Boston until after his second marriage, but that soon thereafter he, with his wife, occupied the former residence of William Ricks. The Iatter had children, born in Boston 1645-1656-Elisha,Mary,Johm,Thomas and Ezekiel.
Suffolk Deeds, Vol. 8, p. 64-5, contain a copy of Agreement, dated Feb. I4, I672, in which Andrew Newcomb and wife, Grace, are to enjoy during life the old dwelling-house, "now in the tenure and occupation of the said Newcomb," formerly of William Ricks, deceased; John and Thomas Ricks, sons of William, to have the new dwelling-house adjoining the same, etc., near the water-mill in Boston, half of land to each, they to pay Newcomb f20.
On July I3, I672, he employed Samuel Bridge, carpenter, to build him a "Leantow one foote wider than now it is and the length of his house and shingle it and the back side of his house and find shingles and shingle nayles for the work"; consideration f5: I5s: od.; work to be finished by the last of July, I672. (From Suffolk Court files No. 1157.)
Probate Files, Boston, Andrew Newcombe, boatman, slgns bond of guard- ianship of Mary Ricks, 22 May I680; John Ricks, guardian of said Mary Ricks. Suffolk Deeds, Vol. 10, page 358, Andrew Newcomb, mariner, for f67 : I6s :3d., bought of Simon Lynde, merchant, and Sarah, wife of Joseph Goodale, the administratrix of Thomas Ricks, the right to redeem an estate in Boston mortgaged to Lynde by Thomas Ricks in I677, date I3 Apr. 168I.
Again, Vol. 12, page 46, Andrew Newcomb of Boston, and wife, Grace, for f25
sold John Ricks all right in house near Mill Bridge that belonged to Thomas Ricks, then deceased, date I4 Apr. I68I.
The old dwelling-house, where Capt. Newcomb lived I663 to I68I, was built in I64I and was located upon the lot now numbered I82 Hanover street ; the new dwelling-house, where John and Thomas Ricks lived, was upon the lot which is now No. I84.; and the new house, built by Capt. Newcomb upon land which he bought I3 April I68I and where he lived from I68I till his death, I686, was located where is now No. I66 Hanover street, Boston. Hanover street in a very early day was known as the "Way to the'New Meet ing House" (2nd Church), afterwards Middle street.
(See map.) in scrapbook
The lots rharked A, B and C containing 8 1/2, rods of land, were owned by Robert Hull in I646,who sold to Josiah Atwater, who sold to Augustine Lindon in 1659. who sold to Gaudy James in 1668. Gaudy James sold the lot marked C to Richard Brooks, who sold it to Thomas Ricks in 1667-8, and Thomas Ricks sold to Capt. Andrew Newcomb, 13 Apr. I681. This lot, C, was given by him to his daughter Grace (Newcomb) Butler-Rankm, and from her it descended to her son James Butler, I715, and to his son James Butler who sold it to Harrison Gray in 1751.
Gaudy' James bought lot B 1668; his estate waa sold to Bartholamew Cheever, I687; the Cheever estate waa sold to Andrew Rankin in 1694; Rankin gave it to his widow, Grace(Newcomb) Butler-Rankin, in 1702, and she to her three children in 17I3.
William Ricks (or Rix) owned lot D, E, and died there in 1657; his widow Grace married Capt. Andrew Newcomb in I663, and they appear to have resided there until I663, when they removed to the lot marked C at what is now No. 166 Hanover St. In1662 there were two dwelling houses on lot D, E, the old house on D of William Ricks in which Andrew Newcomb lived, and the new house adjoinig on E, in which John Rix son of (William) lived. Thomas Ricks mortgaged this lot to Simon Lynde in I677-8, and failing to pay the mortgage, it was sold to Capt. Andrew Newcomb 13 Apr.1681, who sold it the following
day to John Ricks (brother of Thomas) for 25.
The old house on lot D waa built by Thomas Ricks in 1641.
MAP OF PORTION OF SALEat AND HANOVER STS.# BOSTON, MASS.
Page 28I of Charlestown, Mass., Records shows shipment of cattle, .etc., 28 Feb. I666-7 by John Page, of Boston, in Ketch (name blank), Andrew Newcome, Master, for Virgmia for account of John Ely and Eliakim Hutchinson-various horses described-avouched by Mr. Page, being bought of Capt. Hutchinson and Samuel Gough.
Capt. Andrew Newcomb was defendant in a suit for damages, held in the County Court at Boston, 25 April I676, in which he was accused of "Willfully or carelesley runinge upp on a small boat with my Shallop." The court decided against him and he appealedthe case 3I Aug. I676.
New York Col. MSS. at Albany, Vol: z9, page I3, date 28 Aug. I679, show "Andrew Newcombe" to have been "Master of y'° Sloope Edmund and Martha," then in the port of New York and bound for "Boston in New England"-probably from Virginia, a part of his lading being tobacco.
Suffolk Court files at Boston contain depositions of Philip Foxwell, in which the statement is made that Andrew Newcomb was with his ( Newcomb's) vessel in Saco River from Boston, Oct. 1684.
The signature of Andrewl Newcomb may be found upon several documents on file in Boston, and, while there is considerable difference in penmanship and also in spelling, his signature is readily distinguished from that of Andrew (2). There is a family resemblance in the formmg of letters in the word Andrew but a difference in spelling of Newcomb; Andrew (1) usually spelled the name Newcombe, but at other times he has dropped' the final e. In one document where he witnessed a deed, 2o Sept. I686, Matt Mayhew to John Boult, both of Martha's Vineyard, the name is written Andrew Nucombe. This signature is evidently that of Andrew(l), as it corresponds closely to his signatures upon other known documents He was appointed administrator of the estate of his daughter, Susannah Blague, I3 Oct. I68I, and.upon this document he wrote his name Andrew Newcombe, while`upon a bond with his daughter Susannah, in settling the estate of her first husband, Philip Blague, he wrote Andrew Newcomb. (Both bonds are on file.)
Capt. Newcomb's will is recorded upon Suffolk Probate, Vol. II, page 48, an exact copy of which is hereafter gtven. His signature to it indlcates an expert writer ; it is written with a worn quill pen, apparently with no hesitating or faltering movement, and the ink has contlnued jet black though written more than 230 years ago. (315 Years as of this writing.Ed.)
In the name of God Amen the thirty first day of January anno Domi One Thousand six hundred Eighty'and Two I682-3 Anno Regni Regis Caroli Secundi Tricessimo- Quinto I Andrew Newcombe of Boston in the County of Suffolk in the Massachusetts Colonie in New England marriner being in competent Bodily health and of Sound and perfect memory praised be Almighty god for ye same Knowing the uncertainty of this Present life and being desirous to settle that outward Estate the Lord hath Lent me Doe make and Ordain this my last will & Testament in manner and forme following (That is to say) First and principally I comend my Soule into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hopeing to Recesve full pardon and Remission of all my Sins and Salvation through the Alone meritts of Jesus Christ my Redeemer And my Body to ye Earth to be buried in such Decent manner as to my Executor hereafter named shall be thought meet and convenient and as touching such worldly Estate the Lord hath Lent me my will and meaneing is the same shall be Imployed and bestowed as hereafter in and by this my will is Exprest
Irem: I doe hereby revoake and Renounce and make void all wills by me formerly made and declare and appoint this to be my last will and Testament.
Item: I will that all the debts I Justly owe to any manner of person or persons whatsoever Shall be well and truely paid or Ordained to be paid in convenient Time after my decease by my Executor hereafter named.
Item: After all my Just debts are paid and funerall charges Satisfied I give and bequeath unto my Grand child Newcomb Blake all that which is oweing to me from his fathers Estate Either for his maintenance or otherwise and also whatever I shall disburst on him in my life Time for his maintainance and Education. Also I give unto y° said Newcombe Blake Thirty pounds in money
Item I give unto my wife Grace Newcomb the use benefitt and Improvement of my house and Land that is Scituate In Boston afforess Betweene ye house and Land of Gaudey James and the house and Land of John Jackson neare. y° Mill Bridge with,the priviledges and appurtenances thereunto belonging Dureing the tearme of her naturall life.
Item: I give and bequeath the afforesaid house and Land unto my Daughfer Grace Buttler and to the heires of her Body Lawfully begotten or to be begotten and to their heires and assignes forever. And my will is that she shall have and Enjoy the same Immediately after my said wifes decease
Item: My will is that in case she dye without Such Issue that then the sd House and Land shall be and remaine unto y° only proper use and behofe of the sd Newcomb Blake & his heirs & assignes for ever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto Each of my wifes Grand children ffive shillings apeice in money.
Item: I give & bequeath unto Sam'll Marshall of Boston afforysaid Cooper in consideration of his care and Trouble in and about the managemt of my estate Three pounds in money.
Item: I give and bequeath the ffull Remaiander of my personall Estate whatsoever ever it is or wheresoever it may be found whether in possession
or in Reversion unto my said Daughter Grace Butler & to y'° heirs of her Body lawfully begotten but If she dye without Issue my will is that the said
Remainder of my Estate shall be and Remaine unto ye only proper use and behoofe of the said Newcomb Blake and his heirs & assignes for ever.
Item: I do hereby nominate constitute & appoint my sd Grand Child Newcomb Blake the Executor of this my last will and Testament.
Item. In Regard the sd Newcomb Blake is in his nonage I do hereby appoint and authorize ye said Samuell Marshall my Execr in Trust of this my sd Last will and Testamt untill the sd Newcombe attaine y' age of Twenty one yeares.
IN TESTIMONY whereof I the said Andrew Newcombe have hereunto sett my hand and seale y° day and yeare first within written.
WAX SEAL
Children of ANDREW NEWCOMB and UNKNOWN are:
2.
i.
ANDREW(2)2 NEWCOMB, b. Abt. 1640, Unknown; d. Bef. October 22, 1708, Edgartown, Marthas Vineyard, Mass..
ii.
SUSANNAH 3 NEWCOMB, b. 1645-1650.
Child of ANDREW NEWCOMB and GRACE RICKS is:
3.
iii.
GRACE 22 NEWCOMB, b. October 20, 1664; d. August 1713.
