Newcomb Genealogy Forums

From B.M. Newcomb’s book:

Simon Newcomb enlisted in the Revolutionary War from Nine Partners, Jun 1776, in Capt. Melancton Smith’s Co. of Rangers, Stephen Haight, Lieut., Holmes, Ensign, no Colonel; was engaged for five months at Nine Partners, Fishkill, Peekskill, and Verplanks Point in arresting and guarding Tories. While at the latter place the British ship Asia, seventy-four guns, and other smaller vessels, came up the North River and anchored opposite. His duties were transferred to watching and preventing the landing of the army until September, when ordered to White Plains, and he was employed until October in traversing the foregoing names places and on the Peekskill mountains; returned to Fishkill, thence to Poughkeepsie, to guard prisoners until the end of the month, when he was discharged at Nine Partners.

On 10 Dec. 1776 he volunteered in the same company; was discharged in February following. On 10 Aug. 1777, he volunteered in Capt. John Rouse’s Co., Ingals, Lieut, Col. Graham’s Regt, Gen. Glover’s Brigade; marched to Stillwater and encamped on Bemis Heights; was present at the capture of the army of Gen. Burgoyne, during the battle being en Gen. Gates’ Division; after Burgoyne’s surrender he was ordered to Albany, then to Esopus, etc., and was discharged 10 Nov. In June and July 1778, he served under Capt. Elijah Herrick, Col. Frazer’s Regt.; in 1779 in Capt. Ostram’s Co., same regiment.

As a result of his services during the war he was a pensioner.

From B.M. Newcomb’s book: American Revolution: He was one of the Nova Scotia patriots in 1776, who advocated joining the revolted provinces.

From B.M. Newcomb’s book:

“Simon, Private Capt. Joseph Smith’s Co. enlisted Feb 17, 1776 service to Feb. 19, 1776 in defense of seacoast; roll dated Truro and sworn to at Eastham, also same Co. service from May 31, 1776 to Nov. 22, 1776. 5 mo. 22 days Co. sta. at Truro for defense of seacoast.” He served under Washington in battle with Cornwallis.

From biographical sources:

Silas Newcomb served as Lieutenant in the Quebec Campaign of the French War, 1758-1759. He was appointed by the governor as one of the officers to command a regiment at Perth Amboy, N.J., on 28 Mar. 1759. Silas Newcomb was Colonel of the First Battalion of Cumberland Co., New Jersey Militia, 14 Jun 1776. He commanded a battalion of General Heard’s Brigade, New Jersey Militia, at the Battle of Long Island, 28 Aug. 1776. He was promoted to Colonel of the First Battalion, Second Establishment, New Jersey Continental Line, 28 Nov. 1776, and was commissioned Brigadier-General of the New Jersey Militia, 15 Mar. 1777.

On 10 Aug 1777, Brigadier-General Silas Newcomb writes General Washington at Neshaminy Camp, Penn., that he is assembling his militia. On 11 Aug. 1777, General Washington, then near the Cross Roads, writes Brigadier-General Newcomb, New Jersey, requesting militia for Red Bank.

On 20 Aug. 1777, Brigadier-General Silas Newcomb writes General George Washington at Neshaminy Camp, requesting permission to march his detachment home; he at that time was at Woodbury, N.J.

On 10 Oct. 1777, Alexander Hamilton writes to Brigadier-General Silas Newcomb, requesting militia for Red Bank. On 15 Oct. 1777, General Washington write Brigadier-General Newcomb and orders him to reinforce Red Bank and hold the place to the last extremity. On 22 Oct. 1777, General Washington writes Brigadier-General Silas Newcomb regarding operations against Fort Mifflin and Red Bank, reinforcements of militia, supplies, etc. On 29 Oct. 1777, David Forman, near Red Bank, N.J., writes General Washington at Whiteplain of his attempt to assemble militia, “weather and Brigadier-General Silas Newcomb’s obstinacy retarding.”

General Silas Newcomb was in command of a force detailed to guard Delaware Bay and to prevent any landing of English forces there. Their services were commemorated and their names perpetuated by the state of New Jersey through the efforts of the Daughters of the American Revolution. A beautiful granite and marble tablet, with the names of Brigadier-General Silas Newcomb, Colonel Isaac Preston, and other officers that were in command of the colonial forces, marks the historic spot.

On 4 Dec. 1777, General Newcomb resigned his commission.

From B.M. Newcomb’s book:

He served in the Revolutionary War. “Robert, private, Captain John Lane’s Company, Col. Foster’s Regiment, enlisted 12 Jan. 1776, discharged 15 Feb. 1776, service 1 mo. 3 days, Company stationed at Cape Ann for defense of seacoast.” In the casualties of the Battle of Long Island, 28 Aug. 1776, reported missing, Robert Newcomb, drummer, Col. Huntington’s Regiment, 17th Continental, 1776; he was taken prisoner and never heard from afterwards; he was unmarried and perhaps died while a prisoner. “Robert, private, Captain Daniel Gidding’s Company, Col. Foster’s Regiments, service from 29 Feb. 1776 to date of discharge, 18 Nov. 1776, 8 mo. 18 da., Company stationed at Gloucester for defense of seacoast.”

From B.M. Newcomb’s book:

Reuben Newcomb served in the Revolutionary War as Private in the Second Battalion of New Jersey. He was wounded 18 Dec. 1776, in the Continental Army from Cumberland Co., and pensioned, 28 Dec. 1776, as “private, Militia, Col. Potter’s Regiment, invalid, aged thirty-six, residing Hopewell, Cumberland Co. N.J.”

From Sons of the American Revolution: He served in the Quartermaster’s Department from Lebanon CT.

From B.M. Newcomb’s book: He was a pay sergeant in the British army in the Revolutionary War.

From B.M. Newcomb’s book:

Luther Newcomb volunteered as a private, June or July 1778, for six months, while residing with his brother Daniel at Bernardston, later Leyden, Mass. There being no captain, the company was commanded by Lieut. Amasa Camp, afterward by Capt. E. Chapin. He was required to guard munitions and stores at Springfield, Mass., etc.; as guard, he accompanies the conveyance of stores to Boston, then to Brookfield, Mass., and remained, as guard to the magazine, until ordered to Rutland, Mass., to perform the same duty to prisoners from the army of Gen. Burgoyne; returned to Brookfield and was discharged at the end of six months. In the summer of 1779 he went back to Lebanon and became a substitute for his brother in Capt. Elias Bliss’ Co., Col. Ledyard’s Regt.; marched to Groton Fort, opposite New London, Conn., discharged at end of two months. In the summer of 1780 he rendered service on board the privateer sloop Randolph, Capt. Nicholas Bostwick of New London; crept out in defiance of several British frigates off Stonington blockading both harbors; passed outside of Long Island to Sandy Hook; captured the British privateer Hibernia, and re-captured a French vessel taken by the British; safely returned, after an absence of one month, with these and two small schooners, to New London. He was a pensioner under Act of 1832.

Lemuel Newcomb was in the Revolutionary War in 1776. “Lemuel, Wellfleet. Private Capt. Winslow Lewis’s Co., pay abstract for mileage to and from camp at Cambridge dated Jan. 13, 1776. Mileage for 218 mailes allowed said n. also Capt. Nathaniel Winslow’s Co. Col. Whitney’s regt.company receipt for advance pay for 1 mo. travel, allowance from home to Boston, etc. dated Point Shirley June 13, 1776. Also petition dated Camp at Hull Sept. 17, 1776, signed by said N. and others belonging to battalion stationed at Hull, asking for increase and payment of wages.”

About 15 Mar. 1776, he was in service under Capt. John Gill of Wllefleet, serving until 1 May. He sailed from Wellfleet to Plymouth, thence marched to Boston, and was stationed on Noddles Island in the harbor, arriving a short time after the evacuation of Boston. He again entered the service: “Lemuel, Private Capt. Nathaniel Winslow’s (Capt. Winslow of Scituate) Co., Col. Josiah Whitney’s regt. Service from April 29, 1776, four days preceeding march, to August 1, 1776. 3 mo. 2 d. Service from Aug. 1, 1776 to Nov. 1, 1776, 3. mo.”, assisted in building a fort on Noddles Island; then marched to Nantucket, where he labored in erecting forst and digging a deep well.

About 1 Jan. 1779, he shipped on a schooner, 140 tons, fitted out under direction of the Board of War and commanded by Capt. Moses Lewis, to bring cargo of flour from Alexandria, Va. After having been blockaded by the enemy two or three months in Potomoc River, they sailed for Boston, but were captured by the English ship Unicorn and set on shore on Block Island, 25 June 1779.