Person Page

     John Comstock was born about 1624.² He married Abigail Chappell, daughter of George Chappell and Christian (?).³ He died in Lyme, New London Co., Connecticut, between 1 May 1680, when he and his wife Abigail deeded land to John Larrabee, and 20 September 1680, when Abigail acknowledged the deed as his late wife.³
     He was living in Weymouth, Massachusetts, in 1639³, where he was apparently an apprentice to Henry Russell. In Russell's will, dated 28 November 1639, he left his wife the remainder of the "time to be served by my servant John Comstock."³ He moved to Saybrook, east part (now Lyme), Connecticut, probably by 20 Oct 1661.³
     On 23 April 1662 he sold his house and 20-acre lot, plus 30 acres of meadow "on Island," that he had purchased from Thomas Bliss, to Amos Richerson (or Richardson) of Boston.³ On 1 May 1680 he and his wife Abigail sold 9.5 acres of upland to John Larrabee.³
     On 4 March 1655/56 (the "1st Thursday in March, 1655-56") he appeared in court in Hartford, Hartford Co., Connecticut, as the defendant in an attempt by Edward Messenger to recover a debt of £10.³ On 26 May 1663 he again appeared in court in Hartford, this time as the plaintiff in a suit against Matthew Griswold for slandering him and his wife in open court in reference to some clapboards, "to the damage of 50 pounds."³
     On 13 February 1666 he was one of those signing the Articles of Agreement for the separation of the town of Lyme from the town of Saybrook.²

     Samuel Comstock was born about 1628.² He married Anne (?).³ He died before 9 March 1660, when the Providence Town Council dealt with both his estate and that of his wife's second husband John Smith.³
     He may have been apprenticed for a time to a Mr. Robins. Court records in Hartford, Connecticut, show that on 1 March 1648 he gave recognizance (i.e., agreed) to ten days of good behavior and to satisfy what damage Robins would incur "for the want of his servant."³
     In 1653, with a possible war with the Dutch looming, he was involved in a raid against the Dutch Capt. Kempo Sybando's trading house on Block Island. On 15 October 1653 Sybando brought suit against Edward Hull, Walter Joy, and Thomas Gould for taking away all his goods. Testimony in the case indicates that Comstock and others traveled to Block Island on the frigate Swallow, Edward Hull master, and that Comstock owned a 1/8 share of the ship. He went to Sybando's house, where he found William Baker and his wife Mary, and told them that he had a warrant from Connecticut Gov. John Winthrop to remove them from the island due to the impending war. Baker testified that he cooperated, and helped carry goods from the house to the ship. Once aboard, Comstock told Baker that Sybando had been "taken in Connecticut" by Edward Hull, and that Baker and the goods were being taken as prizes. Baker begged for his life, and he and his wife were set ashore at Pequot.⁴
     On 1 March 1654 Samuel Comstock bought a house and lot in Providence, Rhode Island, from John Smith.³

     Elizabeth Comstock married Edward Shipton in January 1651.¹ She died in July 1659.¹

     Christopher Comstock was born about 1635.² He married Hannah Platt, daughter of Richard Platt and Mary (?), on 6 October 1663.³ He died on 28 December 1702 in Norwalk, Fairfield Co., Connecticut.²
     In an affidavit dated 29 May 1654, Christopher Comstock stated that he had visited the accused witch goodwife Knapp, who was later executed.³
     On 27 January 1661 he bought a tract of land from Thomas Betts. At the time he was living in Fairfield, Connecticut.³ He later lived in Norwalk, Fairfield Co., Connecticut,³ where he was nominated as a freeman on 10 October 1667.³ He served as deputy to the General Court on 14 October 1686³, on a grand jury during a witchcraft investigation on 19 September 1692³, and on a committee to find a new minister for Norwalk on 16 January 1694.³

More Information / Background

• The Hanging of Goodwife Knapp in 1653 .
  

     Edward Shipton married Elizabeth Comstock, daughter of William Comstock, in January 1651.¹
     He lived in Saybrook, Connecticut.¹

     Abigail Chappell was born on 1 September 1644.³ She married first John Comstock, son of William Comstock.² She married second Moses Huntley on 18 January 1680/81.²
     On 1 May 1680 she and her husband John Comstock sold 9.5 acres of upland to John Larrabee.²

     Abigail Comstock was born on 12 April 1662 in Lyme, Connecticut.^1,2 She married William Pike on 24 June 1676.^1,3

     Elizabeth Comstock was born on 9 June 1665 in Lyme, Connecticut.^1,2 She married Joseph Miner on 12 March 1689.^2,1 She died in 1692/93.³

     William Pike married Abigail Comstock, daughter of John Comstock and Abigail Chappell, on 24 June 1676.^1,2

     Joseph Miner married Elizabeth Comstock, daughter of John Comstock and Abigail Chappell, on 12 March 1689.^2,1

     William Comstock was born on 9 January 1669 in Lyme, New London Co., Connecticut.² He married Neomy Nyles on 10 September 1695.³ He died on 15 March 1728 at age 59.³
     On 1 March 1683, at age 14, he began an apprenticeship with John Lay until age 21. The agreement was signed by his mother and stepfather Abigail and Moses Huntley.³
     He and his wife Neomy lived in Lyme, New London Co., Connecticut.³ On 24 January 1698/99 he bought five acres of meadow land in Lyme from Benjamin Nyles.³ On 18 January 1702/3 twelve acres were laid out to him on both sides of the Beaver River.³
     His estate was inventoried on 27 April 1728, and valued at £723 1s 7d.³
     He and Neomy had the following known children: John (b 9 August 1696, d 28 March 1767), William (b 15 June 1698, d 1765), Abigail (b 1700, d 1773), Ruth, Samuel, Phebe (b abt 1705, d 1 December 1790), Mary (b aft 1706), Elizabeth. The genealogy by John Comstock adds an additional child, Naomi (b 1708, d 29 May 1743).^4,5

     Christian Comstock was born on 12 December 1671 in Lyme, New London Co., Connecticut.^1,2 She married Robert Mentor.³
     The genealogy by Cyrus Comstock says Christian's sister Hannah married Robert Mentor, while the more recently published genealogy by John Comstock says this is an error, and that Christian married Robert Mentor.^1,4

     Hannah Comstock was born on 22 February 1673 in Lyme, New London Co., Connecticut.^1,2 She married Bacus Gilliard.²
     The genealogy by Cyrus Comstock says Hannah married Robert Mentor, while the more recently published genealogy by John Comstock says this is an error, and that Hannah's sister Christian married Robert Mentor.^1,2

     Robert Mentor married Christian Comstock, daughter of John Comstock and Abigail Chappell.²
     The genealogy by Cyrus Comstock says Robert Mentor married Hannah Comstock, while the more recently published genealogy by John Comstock says this is an error, and that Robert married Hannah's sister Christian Comstock.^1,3

     John Comstock was born 31 September 1676 (sic) in Lyme, New London Co., Connecticut.² He married Mary Elizabeth Colt, daughter of John Colt and Joanna Smith, in 1712.^3,4 He died between 8 January 1747/48, when he made his will, and 16 March 1748, when his estate was inventoried.²
     He and his wife Mary lived in Lyme, New London Co., Connecticut.² He received a lot at the town meeting in Lyme on 21 April 1702², and three acres were laid out for him in Lyme on 15 December 1729.² On 17 March 1736/37 he and his wife Mary sold a tract of land to Joseph Lee.²
     His estate was valued at £3687 1s.²
     He and Mary had the following known children: Jonathan (b 4 May 1712, d bef 1747/48), John (b 5 July 1714, d 1757), Esther (b 1725, d 5 May 1807), Joseph (b 1720 or 1725, d 22 February 1791), Christopher (b abt 1726, d 30 October 1808), Jabez (b abt 1723, d 10 October 1807), Abner (b 1727, d 27 March 1811), Levi, Asa (b 1732, d 11 January 1832).^5,6

     Samuel Comstock was born on 6 July 1678 in Lyme, New London Co., Connecticut.^2,3 He married Martha Pratt on 5 July 1705.² He died between 3 August 1743, when his will was written, and 27 January 1743/44, when it was proved.²
     He and his wife Martha lived in Saybrook (now Lyme), New London Co., Connecticut.² They had the following known children: Martha (b 2 June 1706), Samuel (b 14 October 1709, d 1 December 1709), Samuel (b 4 March 1711, d October 1797), Daniel (b 20 September 1713, d 1787), Abigail (b 11 March 1718).^4,3

     Anne (?) married first Samuel Comstock, son of William Comstock.¹ She married second John Smith.¹
     On 4 May 1661 she sold to Roger Mowry the house and home share in Providence, Rhode Island, of her first husband Samuel Comstock. The property consisted of four acres in a row of houses in the north part of the town.¹

     Samuel Comstock was born in 1654 in Providence, Rhode Island.^2,3 He married Elizabeth Arnold, daughter of Thomas Arnold and Phebe Parkhurst, on 22 November 1678.² He died on 27 May 1727 in Providence, Providence Co., Rhode Island.^2,3
     He was involved in a long controversy with the town of Mendon, Suffolk Co. (now Worcester Co.), Massachusetts, over the ownership of 900 acres of land on what is now the border between Massachusetts and Rhode Island.² On 21 November 1698 the town gave him "free liberty to cut so much timber as will be necessary" for construction of a saw mill and dam.²
     On 6 May 1707 he and others, including his wife's brother Richard Arnold, were granted land at Woonsocket Hill, and were the first settlers of Woonsocket, Providence Co., Rhode Island.²
     He served as deputy in 1699, 1702, 1707, 1708, and 1711. On 6 May 1702 the Assembly appointed him to a committee to audit the General Treasurer's account and the colony's debts, and in April 1708 he was appointed to a committee to set the rates for grain and other goods brought to the treasury.²
     He also served as ensign and captain in the militia. In August 1710, during Queen Anne's War, he ordered Henry Mowry of the 2nd. Company to impress men for an expedition to Port Royal, Jamaica.²
     His will was dated 21 December 1726 and proved on 18 September 1727.² His estate was valued at £296 6s 1d.²
     He and Elizabeth had the following known children: Samuel (b 16 April 1679, d 1 April 1727), Hazadiah (b 16 April 1682, d 21 February 1764), Thomas (b 7 November 1684, d 1761), Daniel (b 19 July 1686, d 22 December 1768), Elizabeth (b 18 December 1690), John (b 26 March 1693, d 12 January 1749), Ichabod (b 9 June 1696, d 26 January 1775), Job (b 4 April 1699).^4,3

     Daniel Comstock was born on 12 May 1656 in Providence, Rhode Island.^1,2 He married first Alce DeWolf, daughter of Balthsar DeWolf.² He married second Mary Baldwin, daughter of Richard Baldwin and Elizabeth Alsop, before 22 October 1711.² He died in 1725.²
     He bound out as an apprentice to a Mr. Carpenter of Providence, Rhode Island, for a time.² He served in the militia during King Philip's War in 1675², and was granted land in Voluntown, New London Co., Connecticut, for his service.² He moved to Lyme, New London Co., Connecticut, near his uncle John Comstock.²
     He had the following known children, but it's not clear which of his two wives was their mother: Marah (b 4 April 1685), Anne (b 13 March 1686/87, d 14 April 1729), Daniel (d 15 April 1725 or 1712), Sarah.²
     The genealogy by John Comstock notes that some records of Lyme, Connecticut, refer to Daniel as John. It also notes that Vol. XXIII of The New England Historical and Genealogical Register lists the children named here as children of John Comstock, and adds an additional child William, who married Neomy (--?--) on 10 September 1695. The genealogies by Cyrus Comstock and by John Comstock list this William as the son of Daniel's uncle John Comstock.^2,3

     Paltiah Elderkin married Daniel Comstock, son of William Comstock, about 1653.^1,2 She died on 21 February 1713.²

     John Elderkin married Abigail Kingsland.²
     He came to America in 1637, settling first in Lynn, Massachusetts,¹ and later moving to Dedham, Massachusetts.¹ He was living in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1650.¹

More Information / Background

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

     Daniel Comstock was baptized, along with seven of his siblings, on 9 April 1671.¹ He married Elizabeth Prentice on 23 May 1700.² He died on 24 April 1746.²
     He and his wife Elizabeth lived in New London, New London Co., Connecticut, near Uncasville.²

     Mary Comstock was born in 1661.² She was baptized, along with seven of her siblings, on 9 April 1671.¹ She married Samuel Youngs about 1677.² She died about 1690.²

     Hope Comstock was born about 1667.² She was baptized, along with seven of her siblings, on 9 April 1671.¹ She married Thomas Hallock, son of William Hallock and Margaret Howell, about 1680 in New London, New London Co., Connecticut.³ She died in February 1732/33.³

     Elizabeth Comstock was born in 1659.² She was baptized, along with seven of her siblings, on 9 April 1671.¹ She married Peter Strickland about 1674.² She died on 9 May 1734.²

     Samuel Comstock was born in 1673.² He was baptized on 15 July 1677.³ He married first Sarah Douglas on 22 June 1699.³ He married second Martha Jones, daughter of Samuel Jones and Mary Bushnell, about 1705.³ He died on 11 April 1757 in Montville, New London Co., Connecticut.^3,2 He was buried at the "Society burying ground on Raymond Hill."²
     He lived in Montville, New London Co., Connecticut.³ He was appointed as a Lieutenant of the North Company militia in New London, New London Co., Connecticut, in May 1719³, and as Captain in 1730.³
     On 5 December 1721 he sold the upland on the west side of the Mohegan River in New London, that had been granted to his father on 19 December 1658, to Sarah Knight.³ On 17 March 1723 he and his wife Martha sold additional land to Sarah Knight.³

     Sarah Comstock was baptized, along with seven of her siblings, on 9 April 1671.¹