Person Page

     Joseph Billings was born on 28 January 1691/92.¹ He was baptized on 29 May 1692 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.¹ He married first Comfort Denison in 1711.¹ He married second Sarah Larrabee, daughter of Nathaniel Larrabee, after 1716.¹ He died on 9 April 1763 at age 71.¹
     Joseph Billings was an ensign in the Second Preston Company in New London Co., Connecticut, on 8 May 1729.¹ On 9 October 1729 he served as a deputy from Preston.¹ He was justice of the peace for New London Co. in May 1740.¹ His will was dated 23 June 1762 and proved 10 May 1763. His son Joseph was named executor.¹
     He and his first wife Comfort had the following known children, all born in Preston, New London Co., Connecticut: Amy (b 18 December 1712, d abt January 1787), Sarah (b 27 December 1714, d 25 February 1794), Joseph (b 17 December 1716, d bet 10 November and 11 December 1797).¹ He and his second wife Sarah had one known child, Samuel (b abt 1718, d 6 September 1781), according to Somerby.¹

     Prudence Billing was born on 12 June 1694.¹ She was baptized on 9 December 1694 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.¹
     She was living, unmarried, in 1737.¹

     William Billings was born on 5 February 1697 in Preston, New London Co., Connecticut.¹ He married Bethia Otis, daughter of Joseph Otis.¹ He died on 20 May 1733 at age 36.¹
     He was the first pastor of the church at Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut.¹ He and Bethia had the following known children: William (b 18 March 1725, d 28 November 1813), Bethia (b 4 November 1727), Hannah (b 8 November 1729), Patience (b 3 June 1731).¹

     Samuel Billings was born on 18 August 1699.¹ He married Hannah Williams on 6 January 1726.¹ He died on 21 September 1727 at age 28.¹
     He lived in Preston, New London Co., Connecticut.¹ He and Hannah had one known child, Hannah (b 6 January 1727).¹

     Dorothy Billing was born on 5 February 1702.¹ She married Thomas Edwards in 1720.¹
     She and Thomas had two known children, Dorothy and William.¹

     Thomas Edwards married Dorothy Billing, daughter of William Billing and Hannah Sterry, in 1720.¹
     He and Dorothy had two known children, Dorothy and William.¹

     Rachel Billing was born on 25 March 1704.¹ She married (?) Kennedy.¹

     (?) Kennedy married Rachel Billing, daughter of William Billing and Hannah Sterry.¹

     Sarah Billing was born on 16 September 1705.¹

     Hannah Billing was baptized on 9 June 1706 in Preston, New London Co., Connecticut.¹ She married (?) Clarke.¹

     (?) Clarke married Hannah Billing, daughter of William Billing and Hannah Sterry.¹

     Roger Billings was born on 9 March 1707/8 (or 19 March 1707/08) in Preston, New London Co., Connecticut.¹ He was baptized on 6 June 1708 in Preston, New London Co., Connecticut.¹ He married Abigail Denison, daughter of William Denison, on 20 July 1729.¹
     Roger Billings served as a second lieutenant in Capt. Denison's company in the expedition against Canada in June 1746, and as a captain in the 8th Connecticut Regiment in May 1751.¹ In May 1747, and later, he served as deputy from Preston, New London Co., Connecticut.¹
     He and Abigail had the following known children: Abigail (b February 1730, d 27 January 1760), John (b 15 December 1732), William (b 8 May 1734, d early January 1774), Roger (bap 14 November 1736, d young), Peleg (b 26 June 1738), Dorothy (b 18 April 1740), Benjamin (b 10 October 1743), Henry (b 9 April 1746, d 1797), Roger (bap 8 April 1750), Sabra (b 21 January 1751, d 2 November 1820), Mary (b 24 May 1755, d 15 June 1823).¹

     Ichabod Billing was born on 5 September 1710.¹ He was baptized on 5 November 1710 in Preston, New London Co., Connecticut.¹

     Elizabeth Billing was born on 5 January 1713.¹ She was baptized on 31 May 1713 in Preston, New London Co., Connecticut.¹ She married Theophilus Avery, son of Edward Avery, on 16 July 1733.¹ She died on 25 August 1791 at age 78.¹
     She and Theophilus had the following known children: Elizabeth (b 22 December 1733), Deborah (b 27 May 1735), James (b 28 February 1737, d 22 February 1822), Content (b 24 January 1739, d 16 November 1760), Desire (b 15 May 1741, d 16 April 1748), Edward (b 23 December 1743, d 1764), William (b 7 May 1746, d 28 January 1773), Abigail (b 11 October 1748), Sarah (b 2 December 1750, d 13 June 1773), Theophilus (b 22 June 1753, d 10 February 1839).¹

     Theophilus Avery was born on 6 September 1708.¹ He married Elizabeth Billing, daughter of William Billing and Hannah Sterry, on 16 July 1733.¹ He died on 30 September 1799 at age 91.¹
     He and Elizabeth had the following known children: Elizabeth (b 22 December 1733), Deborah (b 27 May 1735), James (b 28 February 1737, d 22 February 1822), Content (b 24 January 1739, d 16 November 1760), Desire (b 15 May 1741, d 16 April 1748), Edward (b 23 December 1743, d 1764), William (b 7 May 1746, d 28 January 1773), Abigail (b 11 October 1748), Sarah (b 2 December 1750, d 13 June 1773), Theophilus (b 22 June 1753, d 10 February 1839).¹

     Anne Comstock was baptized, along with seven of her siblings, on 9 April 1671 in New London, New London Co., Connecticut.^2,1 She married Ebenezer Billing, son of William Billing and Mary (?), on 28 February 1680/81 or 1 March 1680/81.^1,2 She died after October 1727.³

     Daniel Comstock was born in 1630.³ He married Paltiah Elderkin, daughter of John Elderkin and Abigail Kingsland, about 1653.^1,3 He died about 1683 in New London, New London Co., Connecticut.^1,3
     He was granted 25 acres of land in Providence, Rhode Island, on 19 February 1645.⁴ On 24 June 1648 he was arrested in Providence, along with other young men, for falsely reporting an Indian alarm.¹
     He moved to New London, Connecticut, probably about 1655. On 2 June 1655 both he and Benjamin Smith propounded (i.e., offered) their houses and land to the town of Providence for sale, and on 27 January 1657 Henry Neale was granted a six-acre lot in Providence next to meadow land that he had purchased from Daniel Comstock.¹ On 19 December 1658 Daniel was granted 100 acres of upland near the Sawmill brook in New London.¹ In 1664 he bought a farm at Oxoboro, near Uncasville.³
     He served as a volunteer during the Narragansett (i.e., King Philip's) War.³
     The inventory of his estate, dated 13 November 1683, included 150 acres purchased from a Mr. Loveland, and a total of 200 acres above Sawmill brook. The estate was valued at £221 17s 6d. His widow Paltiah was appointed administrator.¹

More Information / Background

• King Philip's War.
  

     William Comstock was born say 1595 in England.³ He married Elizabeth (?). She was probably his second (or later) wife, based on the record of a land sale in 1659 made with the consent of "Elizabeth my now wife."⁴ He died say 1683.³
     He was probably one of the 26 men from Wethersfield, Connecticut, in the expedition led by Capt. John Mason that captured the Pequot Indian fort at Mystic, Connecticut, on 26 May 1637, killing as many as 500 Indians.⁵
     On 28 April 1641 ("2d month & 28 day 1641"), he was listed as owning two acres or more of land on the Connecticut River in Wethersfield, Connecticut, with a barn, two cellars, and other buildings, that he had purchased from Rich. Milles.⁴ He also sold land in Wethersfield totaling about three acres, with a house, to Andrew Langdon by 10 February 1643/44 ("12th month 10th day 1643").⁴
     On 1 August 1644 he appeared before the Court of Elections in Hartford, Connecticut, to answer a charge of slander brought against him and John Sadler by Richard Mylls (presumably the "Rich. Milles" he had previously purchased land from), "to the damage of 200 pounds."⁴
     He eventually moved to Pequot (now New London), Connecticut, where on 21 June 1647 he was granted a lot, plus ten acres of upland and ten acres of land on the east side of the Thames River.⁴ On 2 December 1651 the town also granted to him 20 acres at Nahantic (now Niantic), two tracts of upland of 8 and 100 acres, and 100 acres "upon a high hill up Mohegan."⁴ On 25 January 1659 he sold eight acres in New London to Will Houge.⁴
     At a town meeting in New London on 10 November 1650 he voted to help erect a corn mill⁴, and in July 1651 was listed among those working on the dam for the mill.⁴ On 25 February 1662, as "old goodman Comstock," he was chosen as sexton, for which he was paid 40s/year. As sexton he was to "order youth in the meeting house, sweep the meeting house and beat out dogs." He was also responsible for digging graves, for which 4s was to be paid by the supervisors for an adult's grave, and 2s for a child's grave.^4,6
     The fact that John and Daniel were sons of William Comstock is proven by the sale on 4 December 1694 by William Comstock (son of John) and Daniel Comstock (son of Daniel) of 20 acres of land at Niantic "which was given to our grandfather William Comstock." The listing of Samuel and Christopher as sons of William is based on the proximity of their property to each other, and the fact that John, Daniel, Samuel, and Christopher all named children after their (assumed) siblings. The listing of Elizabeth as William's daughter is less certain. The genealogy by Cyrus Comstock only says that she "is supposed to be" his daughter.⁴
     It should also be noted that William Comstock was apparently married at least twice, but the dates are unknown. Thus, which of his wives was (or were) the mother of his children is also unknown.⁴

More Information / Background

• Puritan migration to New England (1620–1640)
  
• New England's Great Migration
  
• Pequot War
  
• Mystic massacre.
  

     Anna Billing was born on 7 October 1681.¹ She was baptized as Hannah on 11 May 1690 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.¹ She married Solomon Hakes on 16 January 1718.¹ She died about 1752.¹

     Solomon Hakes married Anna Billing, daughter of Ebenezer Billing and Anne Comstock, on 16 January 1718.¹ He died about 1752.¹

     George Hakes married first Joanna Jones on 15 May 1739.¹ He married second Sarah (?) on 10 October 1779.¹ He died about 1793.¹

     Joanna Jones married George Hakes, son of Solomon Hakes and Anna Billing, on 15 May 1739.¹

     Sarah (?) married first (?) Coy.¹ She married second George Hakes, son of Solomon Hakes and Anna Billing, on 10 October 1779.¹

     Mary Hakes married Ebenezer Darling on 25 February 1745.¹

     Ebenezer Darling married Mary Hakes, daughter of Solomon Hakes and Anna Billing, on 25 February 1745.¹

     Jonathan Hakes married Hannah Brown, daughter of Jonathan Brown, on 23 November 1752.¹

     Hannah Brown married Jonathan Hakes, son of Solomon Hakes and Anna Billing, on 23 November 1752.¹