From my database -
People named Newcomb (Newcombe, etc.) whose spouse was named Smith – 141
Spouse named Brown – 78
Spouse named Jones – 60
Spouse named Johnson – 57
Spouse named Williams – 47
Those who married another Newcomb – 88
B.M. Newcomb wrote that the name is usually spelled Newcombe in Canada and Newcomb in the U.S. That is largely correct, but the use of the final e occurs in the states, especially as we go further back in history. Nevertheless, both BMN and the earlier family genealogist, J.B. Newcomb, used the e-less spelling for everyone. For the most part, I have followed their example. But we should be aware that many of our Canadian ancestors and relatives did, and still do, use that final e. So when doing research, we need to look for both spellings, as well as other common variations, such as Newcome and Newcom.
Some more statistics from my Newcomb database:
Females whose maiden name was Newcomb, Newcombe, Newcom or Newcome – 9872
Elizabeth, Eliza, Lizzie, etc. – 390
Mary, Maria or Marie – 240
Ann, Annabelle, Annie, etc. – 229
Abigail, Abby, etc. – 81
We have one of the most extensive Newcomb family databases available anywhere. It includes hundreds of corrections and updates to the old genealogies by J.B. Newcomb and B.M. Newcomb, plus thousands of new entries, bringing the family history into the 21st century. Search it for free at Rootsweb’s WorldConnect project.
Here are some statistics from my current Newcomb database:
Total number of men surnamed Newcomb, Newcombe, Newcom, or Newcome – 14,939
Men whose given names are John, Jonathan, etc. – 845
James, Jim, etc. – 615
George – 580
Charles, Charlie, etc. – 577
William, Bill, etc. – 333
Thomas, Tom, etc. – 279
Frederick, Fred, etc. – 221
Cemeteries and cemetery records are great genealogical resources. But, like other resources, they are subject to error, often more so than we realize.
The information used by the cemetery is typically provided by an informant, often a close relative of the deceased person, but sometimes an acquaintance, doctor, undertaker, etc. No matter how well the informant knew the subject, there is a chance that the information provided will be incorrect. Many people think they know when and where their parents and grandparents were born, but they may be mistaken, especially when it comes to the state or city of birth. People are often upset and stressed when making funeral arrangements, and they simply make mistakes without realizing it. For example, when my grandmother’s oldest son died, she accidentally gave her current husband’s name as his father, rather than the name of his real father, her first husband. That incorrect name went on the death certificate and is now part of the “official” record, even though it is wrong.
When information is missing from the headstones, we may rely on the cemetery’s written records. Unfortunately, these are sometimes missing, incomplete, or poorly maintained. Often the date of burial appears in place of the date of death. Spelling errors and other mistakes are common. When remains are removed to a new location, sometimes the records at the old cemetery are not updated, or the old marker remains in place. I have come across several people who seem to be buried in two completely different locations because the relocation was not properly documented.
The existence of a stone is not proof that a burial took place. People sometimes place memorial markers in the family plot for relatives who were actually buried somewhere else, or for those who were cremated and the ashes scattered. Conversely, the absence of a marker is not necessarily proof that someone was not buried there. Shifting ground, earthquakes, floods, vandalism, theft, relocation and new construction can all cause a stone to be misplaced, destroyed, or planted in the wrong spot.
Cemeteries, like censuses, are valuable research tools. But it’s important to remember that they are not perfect.
The “Find A Grave” website is a great online resource. Volunteers post information about where people are buried in cemeteries around the USA and the world, sometimes with photos of the grave markers, sometimes with links to other family members or additional information such as obituaries. For the most part this is a reliable source. But remember that typos and other errors are inevitable. Also, there are some people who post information without proper verification. That is, they haven’t actually seen the cemetery, or they have made their own incorrect assumptions about the relationships between individuals in a family plot, or they have completely misread names and dates. As with all sources, proceed with caution. Overall, though, this is a good place to find information in your search. I am currently using it to update the Newcomb database. See www.findagrave.com.
If you would like to support the movement to make older Pennsylvania death certificates available online for research, please see this page: http://users.rcn.com/timarg/PaHR-Access.htm
It is not known whether the immigrant ancestors Francis Newcomb and Capt. Andrew Newcomb were related.
We do know that the two lines have come together more than once, when descendants of Francis have married descendants of Andrew.
For example, Benjamin Loring Newcomb (Benjamin, Jonathan, Samuel, John, John, John, Francis) (b. 14 Jan 1834) married Abigail Wilson Colbath (Eliza, Silas, Silas, Silas, Thomas, Thomas, Andrew, Andrew) (b. 10 Jan 1843). They had at least one child, Arthur Winthrop Newcomb b. 20 Apr 1864.
In 1924, Bethuel Newcomb wrote, “The Newcombs residing in Canada generally use the final e, while nearly all residing in the United States omit it.” His predecessor, John Bearse Newcomb, had omitted that final e from nearly all the Newcombs he documented, whether or not they used it themselves. Many U.S. Newcomb(e)s continued, and still continue to use the final e, despite BMN’s somewhat wishful writing. As a result, researching and identifying Newcomb(e)s includes the spelling challenge.