This name is of Saxon origin, "combe" signifying "a low situation, a vale, a place between two hills." It is also defined as "stranger newly arrived." The American ancestor spelled his name Newcombe, as do most of his descendants. The Albany family, however, dropped the final "e." His nativity is believed to be English, probably the west of England, or Wales, having been his birthplace. He was among the early settlers of New England. Andrew Newcombe is first mentioned in New England records in Boston, 1663, when he married his second wife Grace, widow of William Rix (or Ricks). He was known as Captain Andrew, being a sea captain. Several records are found of his sailings from different ports on the Atlantic coast. His papers show him to have been a man of education. The name of his first wife is not known, although she bore him two children. He left a will in which no mention is made of his son, Lieutenant Andrew Newcombe. Children:
- Lieutenant Andrew, see forward;
- Susannah, married Philip Blague, of Boston;
- Grace, married James, son of Stephen and Jane Butler, of Boston, (second) Andrew Rankin.
(II) Lieutenant Andrew (2), son of Captain Andrew (1) Newcombe and his first wife, is mentioned in July, 1666, as attending a meeting at the Isles of Shoals, near Portsmouth, New Hampshire, held by men engaged in the fisheries, for the purpose of fixing the price of fish. He was born about 1640, and was doubtless living near the Isles of Shoals in 1666. He was living there in 1671, and held the office of constable in 1671. About 1676 he removed to Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, where he died. Here he was granted and bought land. He was a man of prominence and was chosen lieutenant April 13, 1691. He engaged in merchandising and is often mentioned in the records. He married (first) Sarah ————, about 1661, who died in 1674; (second), in Edgartown, 1676, Anna, daughter of Captain Thomas and Anna (Baker) Bayes, who was born 1658, and died 1731, surviving her husband twenty-five years. Children by first wife:
- Simeon (also written Simon), of Eastham, now Truro, Cape Cod, Massachusetts; married and had issue.
- Andrew (3), born about 1664; unmarried.
- Simon, see forward.
- Thomas, born about 1668, at Kittery, Maine; married Elizabeth Cook.
- Sarah, born 1670; married (second wife) Joshua Conant.
- Mary, born 1672; married Captain Thomas Lambert.
- Peter, born 1674; married Mercy Smith.
Children by second wife:
- Anna, born 1677; married Lieutenant Matthew Mayhew.
- Elizabeth, born 1681; married Captain John Atkins.
- Joseph, married Joyce Butler.
- Emblem, born 1685; married Samuel Atkins.
- Tabitha, born 1688; married Peter Ray.
- Hannah, married by Rev. Cotton Mather to Thomas Drumary.
- Zerviah, born 1698-99; married Josiah Bearse.
- Mary, born 1700; married Jonathan Pease.
(III) Simon, son of Lieutenant Andrew (2) and Sarah Newcombe, was born in 1666, it is supposed at Kittery, Maine, as the first four years of his life were spent there; the next four on Hog Island, or Appledore, one of the most picturesque of the Isles of Shoals. About 1674 his parents removed to Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, where they lived until 1713, when the family removed to Lebanon, Connecticut, where the town records state: "Mr. Simon Newcomb died January 20, 1744-45, and in the 79th year of his age." He owned a large farm at Edgartown, granted and purchased. He sold this on his removal to Connecticut, where he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres at Lebanon, New London county. He held many town offices, and was quite prosperous. He married, about 1687, Deborah ————, with whom he lived fifty-eight years, she dying June 17, 1756, in her ninety-second year. They are buried in the old cemetery at Lebanon, where their tombstones about one-third of a century ago could scarcely be deciphered. Children:
- Deacon John, born 1688-89, died in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, February 22, 1765; married Alice Lambert; eight children.
- Thomas, see forward.
- Hezekiah, married Jerusha Bradford; married (second) Hannah ————. His first wife was a descendant of Governor William Bradford, of the "Mayflower" and Plymouth colony.
- Obadiah (captain), a deacon of the church, and a man of great piety; married Mrs. Mary Post: seven children.
- Deborah, married Captain Timothy Hatch; he laid out the town of Kent, Kent county, Connecticut, and owned much property there; was justice of the peace: seven children.
- Sarah, married Ebenezer Nye, one of the first settlers of Tolland, Connecticut; member of house of representatives one term; selectman thirteen terms.
- Benjamin, married Hannah Clark; removed to Cornwallis, Nova Scotia; later to Sunbury county, New Brunswick; twelve children.
- Elizabeth, married Ebenezer Wright; three children.
- Simon (2), married Jerusha Lathrop; (second) Jane Worth; removed to Cornwallis, Nova Scotia; seven children.
(IV) Thomas, son of Simon and Deborah Newcombe, was born in Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, 1691-92. He was a cordwainer by trade, but after his removal to Lebanon, New London county, Connecticut, became a merchant with large interests. He continued there for twenty years. He closed an account with one of his customers, James Tuttel, thus: "Then Reckned and Ballanced all Books, Debts, Deues and demands By giving each other Aquittances from everything that ever concerned either of us from the Beginning of the World to this day." He was a large landowner, the records showing twenty purchases of real estate, including one of two hundred acres for three hundred pounds. He removed to Salisbury, Connecticut, in 1739, and became one of the original proprietors of that town. He was moderator of the first town meeting and the first chosen selectman. In the fall of 1746 he removed to "Crum Elbow Precinct," or "Little Nine Partners," Dutchess county, New York. He was one of the "Little Nine Partners" to a large tract of land granted by the government. He gave to each of his sons a farm. He resided in the town of Pleasant Valley. He is buried in the Washington Hollow churchyard, where his gravestone reads: "T. N., 1761." He was a member of the church in both Lebanon and Salisbury. He married (first), at Nantucket, Massachusetts, "28th day, 10th month, 1712," Eunice, daughter of Catherine (Innes) Manning. She died December 7, 1715. He married (second), January 17, 1720, Judith, daughter of Benjamin Woodworth, of Lebanon. There is no record of her death. Children, all by second wife, born in Lebanon, Connecticut (the family Bible is in the possession of the descendants of his grandson, Dr. Simon Newcomb, of Lansingburg, New York, long deceased):
- Cyrenius, died in Oswego, New York; tanner, currier and shoemaker; served as an officer in French and Indian war; six children.
- Azariah, lived in Poughkeepsie; owned a merchant vessel and engaged in Hudson river trade; married Deborah Buell; eight children.
- Keziah, born November 14, 1723.
- Zaccheus, see forward.
- Adonijah, removed to Pittstown, Rensselaer county, New York, where he died about 1795; married (first) Ruth Mead; (second) a widow, Ruth Marshall; three children.
- Thomas, resided in North East, Dutchess county, New York; married Bridget Gardner, of Rhode Island, who survived him; four children.
- Judith, married James Livingston, a minister to England, son of Gilbert L. Livingston; four children.
- Simon, removed to Pittstown, Rensselaer county, New York, where he died. He married Sarah Mead, sister of Ruth, wife of his brother Adonijah; seven children.
- Deborah, died in infancy.
(V) Zaccheus, son of Thomas and Judith (Woodworth) Newcombe, was born on his father's estate on "Chestnut Hill," Lebanon, Connecticut, February 19, 1724-25. He was fourteen years old when his parents removed to Salisbury, Connecticut. In 1746 they removed to Dutchess county, New York. He was a farmer and a miller. His home was in Pleasant Valley. He served in the revolution, and while absent on service his wife built "the Old Brick House" from the profits of a large dairy. This was a notable building, the first and only brick dwelling in the vicinity for along time after the revolution, and was for many generations the home of his descendants. October 7, 1783, he was commissioned assistant justice of the inferior court of common pleas for Dutchess county. He died about 1790, at the home of his son-in-law, Dr. Daniel Tobias, in the village of Kalina Kill. He married Sarah Tobias, of Nine Partners, New York, born February 28, 1737, who died January 29, 1799. Children, born in Pleasant Valley, New York:
- Daniel, see forward.
- Christian, born 1759; settled on a farm near Poughkeepsie, New York, where he died July, 1812; married Hannah, daughter of William Fowler, of Dutchess county; she died July, 1834; six children.
- Thomas, inherited the old family mansion and homestead of five hundred acres, where he died, May 3, 1812; married Rachel, daughter of Andrew and Catherine Hopper, of Bloomingdale, New York;, eight children.
- Dr. Zaccheus, physician and farmer; resided upon his farm in Pleasant Valley until his death, August 30, 1831; married Mary, daughter of Isaac and Mary Mead, of New York City; she was killed September 24, 1830, by being thrown from her carriage; four children.
- John, a large land and mill owner, of Pleasant Valley; married Ruth, daughter of Judge Isaac Bloom, of Dutchess county; thirteen children.
- Mary, born April 13, 1773; married Thomas Wallace, a merchant of Dutchess county; child, Mary.
- Ruth, married Dr. Daniel Tobias, of Rensselaer county, New York; children: Henry and Sarah.
- Sarah, married Solomon Hitchcock, of Amenia, Dutchess county; child: Sarah.
- Charlotte, married Jasper Hopper, of New York City; department secretary of state, and superintendent of salt works; four children.
(VI) Daniel, eldest son of Zaccheus and Sarah (Tobias) Newcombe, was born in Pleasant Valley, Dutchess county, New York, in 1756, and died in Shaftsbury, Vermont, March 10, 1832. He inherited a large property from his father, one thousand acres of land in "Platts Borough," one and one-third township of land in Totten and Crossfield's Indian Purchase, five hundred pounds, and one hundred pounds in stock, farming implements, etc. In 1791 he removed to Pittstown, Rensselaer county, New York, where he purchased a large farm. He also owned a farm in Shaftsbury, Vermont, where he died. He was commissioned January 1, 1789, Elizabeth Wallace, born in Dutchess county, died in Pittstown, September 13, 1802. He married (second) Lucina Woolman, born September 1, 1786, died in Munson, Ohio, March 11, 1861. Children by first marriage:
- Harriet Elizabeth, born in Pleasant Valley, New York, February 28, 1790; married, 1819, George Hopkins, of Hopkinton, St. Lawrence county, New York, graduate of Union College; lawyer; died at Columbus, Ohio. She married (second) Eliphalet Wells; two children by second marriage.
- Robert Alexander, born in Pittstown, New York, 1792; graduate Union College, studied law; died 1819, unmarried, at Lansingburg, New York.
- Daniel Tobias, born in Pittstown, New York, 1792; served in war of 1812; located in Essex county, New York, later in Iowa, November 10, 1837. His farm was fifteen miles below Rock Island. In 1853 he removed to Davenport, Iowa, where he built a spacious mansion, where he died, December 22, 1870. He married, July 13, 1825, Patience, eldest daughter of Abraham L. and Hannah (Douglass) Viele, of Pittstown, New York.
- Thomas Wallace, see forward.
- John, died in infancy.
- Pitt, died in infancy.
Children of second marriage, all born in Shaftsbury, Vermont:
- Charles, married Jane Green; removed to Munson, Ohio.
- Pitt, killed by an ox, October, 1831.
- Sarah, married Peleg Stone; removed to Ohio.
- Jane, married (first) Otis H. B. Howard; (second) ———— Culver; removed to Ohio.
(VII) Thomas Wallace, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Wallace) Newcomb, was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer county, New York, February 5, 1797, and died in Albany, New York, June 4, 1870. He inherited the home farm, which he later sold, and settled in Troy, in 1840. Here he engaged in the drug trade until 1842, when he removed to Lansingburg, and in 1848 to Albany, New York, where he retired from active business with a competence. He continued to reside in Albany until his death. He was a man of education, energetic, accurate and progressive in business, of unswerving integrity and thoroughly respected by all. He was of firm religious and political views, but ever considerate of the opinions and rights of others who might differ with him. He married, December 17, 1823, Nomina Newcomb, a kinswoman and direct descendant of Andrew, the emigrant (through Simon VI, Simon V, Thomas IV, Simon III, Andrew II, Andrew I). She was born in Pittstown, January 16, 1805. Children:
- George Hopkins, born December 3, 1825, at Pittstown, New York; graduate Albany Medical College, M. D., class 1855; enlisted, August 15, 1862, in 113th New York Volunteer Infantry, as assistant surgeon (afterward 7th New York Heavy Infantry). He came out as surgeon, having served as such most of the time; was fifteen months at Fort Reno; in active service from battle of the Wilderness; was at Spottsylvania and siege of Petersburg; discharged July 3, 1865; returned to Albany and practiced his profession; unmarried.
- Nomina, born February 14, 1828; married, June 19, 1851, Dr. Daniel D. Bucklin; children:
- Charles Aubrey,
- Jennie Newcomb,
- Helen Mary, and
- Nomina Newcomb.
- Thomas Daniel, born January 16, 1830, died September 8, 1873; engaged in book trade with brother William as Newcomb & Company, 524 Broadway, Albany, New York; married, October 14, 1868, Mary E. Briggs, born at Green Point, Selena, New York, October 15, 1844; child: Charlotte Briggs.
- William Wallace, born February 5, 1832; partner of Newcomb & Company, Albany; married, October 17, 1860, Magdalena Gansevoort, daughter of Harmon G. and Catherine (Britton) Ten Eyck, of Little Falls, New York; children:
- Magdalena Gansevoort,
- Catherine Nomina,
- Helen Georgia,
- William Wallace (2).
- Augustus, born May 15, 1834; died in infancy.
- Augustus (2), died in infancy.
- Edward, see forward.
- Charles Wesley, born April 26, 1840; stock broker of New York City; married, March 21, 1868, Ruth M., daughter of Joseph A. and Sarah (Adams) Andrews; children:
- Eddy Adams, died at birth;
- Ruth Andrews.
- Helen Mary, born February 7, 1843; married, October 25, 1865, William James Carlton, a newspaper and advertising agent; resided in Elizabeth, New Jersey; business in New York City; children:
- Helen Jennie,
- William Newcomb,
- Mae Newcomb,
- Edward Wallace,
- Mildred Turner.
- Henry Chalmers, born December 15, 1845; died in childhood.
- Simon Mead, died in infancy.
- Irving, born July 30, 1850; located in New York City.
(VIII) Edward, son of Thomas Wallace and Nomina (Newcomb) Newcomb, was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer county, New York, April 25, 1838, and died in Albany, New York, after several years of failing health, February 11, 1890. He was educated in the public schools and the academies at Lansingburg and Albany, New York. He decided on the profession of law, studied in the office of Warren S. Kelly, and attended Albany Law School. He remained with Mr. Kelly until he was admitted to the bar. He began practice in Albany, having formed a partnership with Henry Smith. In 1869 Mr. Newcomb became a law partner of Hon. John M. Bailey, and later Myer Nussbaum was admited, the firm being Newcomb, Bailey & Nussbaum. This connection existed until 1888, when the senior partner was compelled to retire on account of ill health. He retired for a time from all active effort, then re-entered practice, but was not equal to the strain. He died February 11, 1890. He was a successful lawyer, perhaps stronger as an adviser than as a pleader, yet a most forcible and pleasing speaker. He was appointed April 6, 1877, by the supreme court, receiver of the Atlantic Mutual Life Insurance Company. He wound up the affairs of this company, and was discharged after a final accounting January 3, 1888. The New York State Insurance Department termed him: "A model, conscientious receiver." The Albany County Bar Association in a special meeting passed resolutions of respect and sympathy, after which they attended the funeral of their brother in a body. From the resolutions the following is taken:
"Edward Newcomb, an honored and respected member of the Albany county bar, is dead. In his intercourse with his fellow men he was always honest, cheerful and obliging, and as a lawyer strictly conscientious in the discharge of every duty to his client. His relations with the members of our profession were at all times pleasant, of such a character as to render it a pleasure to have legal transaction with him. Always maintaining the strictest integrity and probity, he earned for himself a distinction worthy of emulation."
Mr. Newcomb was a Democrat in politics, and a personal friend of President Grover Cleveland. He was an active worker for his party's interests, but beyond holding that of excise commissioner, never held public office. He was a trusted friend, and enjoyed the respect of a large circle of influential men, both within and without his profession. He married, October 16, 1866, Emma, born in Springfield, Massachusetts, daughter of ex-Lieutenant-Governor Eliphalet Trask, of Springfield, Massachusetts, and granddaughter of Josiah Trask, a Massachusetts farmer. Governor Trask was an honored citizen of Springfield for a great many years, and devoted much time to the public service. He was a member of the last board of selectmen of that village ere it became a city, in 1851, and afterward alderman under the first city charter. He was elected to the upper body of common council, 1852-53-54, and 1870. In 1855 he was elected mayor. In 1857-1863 he was a member of the Massachusetts legislature, and in 1858 was elected lieutenant-governor, serving two years. For fifteen years he held the office of county coroner, and filled many positions of trust. He was president of the Hampden Savings Bank, director of the First National Bank, both of Springfield, trustee of state institutions, and a strong advocate of the cause of temperance, openly espousing the principle of legal prohibition. He was an active, useful member of the Universalist church, contributing greatly to its successful upbuilding in Springfield. He was a Democrat in politics. He married, March 3, 1829, in Monson, Massachusetts (the birthplace of both), Ruby, youngest of fifteen children of Solomon Squier, of Monson, and was the last survivor. They were the parents of ten children. On March 3, 1879, they celebrated their golden anniversary, and received the hearty congratulations from friends living in every part of Massachusetts. Governor Trask died December 28, 1890, his wife, November 26, 1890, so in their lives they were not long separated. Their married life covered a period of sixty-one years.
Edward and Emma (Trask) Newcomb were the parents of five children:
- Nellie Trask, born July 13, 1867, in Springfield, Massachusetts, died July 29, 1868, in Albany, New York.
- Emma Trask, born November 12, 1868, died February 21, 1869.
- Leila Trask, born September 17, 1870.
- Edward T., see forward.
- Ruby Emma, born April 9, 1878.
(IX) Edward Thomas, only son of Edward and Emma (Trask) Newcomb, was born in Albany, New York, March 31, 1874. He was educated at the Boys' Academy and Dr. Holbrook's military school at Ossining, New York. His office preparation for the profession of law was with his father's old partner, Myer Nussbaum, after which he entered Albany Law School, where he was graduated LL.B., class of 1895. At the outbreak of the Spanish war he enlisted, May 2, 1898 as first sergeant of Company A, First New York Volunteer Infantry. July 7, 1898, he was commissioned second lieutenant by Governor Black and assigned to duty with the 202nd New York Volunteer Infantry. In this capacity he saw four months' active service in Cuba, and was mustered out April 15, 1899. From May 24, 1900, to December of that year, he was touring Europe, after which he returned to Albany and began the practice of his profession, having been admitted to the Albany county bar the previous May. He is engaged in general legal practice in Albany, occupying the offices formerly used by Newcomb, Bailey & Nussbaum, his father's old firm. He has always practiced alone, and is a successful lawyer. He is a member of the Albany County Bar Association, and of Albany Law School Alumni. He is a member of All Saints' Episcopal church, and in politics a Republican. He married, January 25, 1896, Adella C., daughter of William Sumner Waterbury, of Ballston Spa, New York. Children:
- Edward Waterbury, born January 18, 1907;
- Elizabeth Webb, January 17, 1908.