Who is the father of Jacob Loomis of Colchester Connecticut?

Question

I was working on sourcing for Jacob Loomis of Colchester, Connecticut. His profile gives a birth date of 24 May 1752, and parents Caleb Loomis (Loomis-84) and Joanah (Skinner) Loomis (Skinner-258). Descendants of Joseph Loomis in America pages 150, 151 agrees with the date and parents. Loomis-84 and Skinner were married in Colchester (Barboiur).

The Barbour Collection for Colchester (Page 108) [americanancestors.org] has only two Jacob Loomises born in Colchester at the relevant times, and none in 1752. One, born in 1761 name John and Rachel as parents, so not our Jacob. The other was born 1 June 1756, and names Caleb Loomis Jr. as his father. Caleb Jr. (Loomis-883), is the son of Loomis-84.

Our profile is unsourced, the source in Descendants appears to be unsourced, unpublished family genealogies. So the only record I can find gives a different birth date and parents. Caleb Jr was born in 1729; Caleb in 1693 and his wife Joannah in 1707 - so their ages would allow them to be parents of Jacob. Caleb Jr. and his wife could also be the parents of Jacob. Who to choose? Sr, Jr, or none? Because of Barbour I'm leaning toward Caleb Jr.

Perhaps one of you who is more knowledgeable in 18th century Connecticut can shed some light on the correct choice. I'm sitting at the feet of the masters. <grin>

Answer 1

I think there are probably two Jacobs. I tried checking wills, but that was unfruitful. But if you go to p. 173 of the Loomis Gen, it has the 1756 Jacob b. to Caleb Jr., as well as the 1752 jacob son of Caleb Sr on p. 151. It is not unusual for vital records to go unrecorded.

Answer 2

I've found a few Connecticut baptisms for children that were not also in Barbour in transcriptions of Connecticut church registries that are available online at Ancestry.com. The unpublished books of church records apparently are said to be in the state library. I've not looked in Ancestry today to see if these exist for Colchester (a town I've never researched).

Comments

And a belated thanks to you, Ellen. I've run across those baptismal records in ancestry before, and often wondered about them. The ones I've seen appear to have been transcribed by hand, and the writing appears to be 19th century style, perhaps even pre-fountain pen.