Mary Ann (Brown) Newcomb
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Mary Ann (Brown) Newcomb (1817 - 1892)

Mary Ann Newcomb formerly Brown
Born in Scipio, Cayuga, New York, United Statesmap
Daughter of and
[sibling(s) unknown]
Wife of — married [date unknown] [location unknown]
Died at age 75 in Effingham, Effingham, Illinois, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 15 Sep 2021
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Biography

'New York state flag'
Mary Ann (Brown) Newcomb was born in New York.
Mary Ann took care of the boys in the Civil War for four years, as her husband's dying words urged; attended to the sick, wounded and dying on the battlefield, in hospitals and on transports; referred to as "Mother Newcomb".
Mary Ann (Brown) Newcomb was interred in Illinois.

Mary Ann was born 5 Jan 1817 in Scipio, Cayuga, New York. Her parents were Russell Brown and Ann Tockwood Brown.

Mary married Hiram Andrew Ward Newcomb on 8 Sep 1833 in Brockport, New York. They had seven children:

  1. Walter T, born 18 Jul 1834, died 18 Oct 1834
  2. Sidney Algernon, born 6 Oct 1835
  3. Sarah Ann, born 2 May 1838, died 6 Sep 1838
  4. Christopher C, born 9 Oct 1839, died 18 Jul 1842
  5. Sarah T, born 30 Apr 1842
  6. George, born 3 Apr 1845, died 6 Feb 1848
  7. Georgiana, born 3 Apr 1845 (twin of George)
1850 United States Federal Census: Toledo, Lucas, Ohio, United States[1]
Name Sex Age Occupation Birth Place
Hiram Newcomb M 42 years carpenter
Mary Ann Newcomb F 38 years
Sidney A Newcomb M 14 years New York
Sarah Newcomb F 9 years Ohio
Georginia Newcomb F 5 years Ohio

The family lived in Ohio and Indiana for several years, then moved to Illinois - first to Kankakee City and then Effingham.

Mary's husband Hiram enlisted in the Union Army as a Corporal in 11th Regiment, Company G, Illinois Infantry on 20 Apr 1861. He was wounded at the battle of Fort Donelson on 16 Feb 1862. She left home to search and care for him. When she found him, he appeared to be recovering and the couple focused their efforts on helping the ill and wounded soldiers. Hiram took a turn for the worse and died a short en days after being wounded. His dying words were "Mary, go back and take care of the boys, they need you." That's exactly what she did.

Mary became known as "Mother Newcomb" attending to the soldiers at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth and Vicksburg on the battle field, in hospitals and on transports. Her duties including nursing, accompanying bodies home, and raising money for supplies. "Mother Newcomb" served the soldiers for four years.

1870 United States Federal Census: Douglas Township, Effingham, Illinois, United States[2]
Name Sex Age Occupation Birth Place
Mary Newcomb F 52 years New York

Mary received a military pension as her husband's widow in 1862[3] and for her own service in 1890.[4]

1880 United States Federal Census: Effingham, Effingham, Illinois, United States[5]
Name Sex Age Status Relation Occupation Birth Place
Mary A. Newcomb F 63 Widowed Head Keeping House New York
Mahala V. Newcomb F 38 Widowed Daughter-in-law Keeping House Illinois
Brownie Newcomb F 6 Single Granddaughter At Home Illinois

Mary was well known in Illinois and was fondly referred to as "Grandma" by both Civil War veterans and friends.

Just prior to her passing, she wrote about her time in the Civil War. The book, "Four Years of Personal Reminiscences of the War", was published after her death.

She passed away 23 Dec 1892 in Effingham, Illinois at age 76 and is buried in Oakridge Cemetery in Effingham.[6]

Sources

  1. 1850 Census "United States Census, 1850", citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M432; Line: 19; Digital film/folder number: 004204492_001_M9C6-48R; FHL microfilm: 444699; Image number: 119; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01132-8, FamilySearch Record: MXQ2-NGQ (accessed 20 October 2023) FamilySearch Image: S3HT-6QLK-3D, Mary Ann Newcomb (38) in Toledo, Lucas, Ohio, United States.
  2. 1870 Census "United States Census, 1870", citing Page: 21; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M593; Line: 38; Digital film/folder number: 004262972_002_M9CX-5VZ; FHL microfilm: 000545718; Image number: 38; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01415-8, FamilySearch Record: M67T-C9C (accessed 20 October 2023) FamilySearch Image: S3HT-DCQ5-4T, Mary Newcomb (52) head of household in Douglas Township, Effingham, Illinois, United States. Born in New York.
  3. Widows Pension "United States General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934", citing Affiliate Publication Title: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934; Affiliate Publication Number: T288; Affiliate Film Number: 347; Digital film/folder number: 005081358; FHL microfilm: 000541103, FamilySearch Record: QJDG-NCPP (accessed 20 October 2023) FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9T15-JMD Image number 02485, Name: Mary A Newcomb.
  4. Pension "United States General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934", citing Affiliate Publication Title: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934; Affiliate Publication Number: T288; Affiliate Film Number: 347; Digital film/folder number: 005081358; FHL microfilm: 000541103, FamilySearch Record: QJDG-NJLR (accessed 20 October 2023) FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GT15-NF6 Image number 02577, Name: Mary A Newcomb; Pension Date: 1890; Pension Place: Illinois, United States.
  5. 1880 Census "United States Census, 1880", citing Volume: 1; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T9; Affiliate Line Number: 00043; Digital film/folder number: 005157424; FHL microfilm: 1254205; Image number: 422; Sheet number: 329; Sheet letter: C, FamilySearch Record: MXJ6-RHM (accessed 20 October 2023) FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYB8-XC2, Mary A Newcomb (63), widowed, Keeping House, head of household in Effingham, Effingham, Illinois, United States. Born in New York, United States.
  6. Memorial Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25449664/mary-ann-newcomb : accessed 15 September 2021), memorial page for Mary Ann Brown Newcomb (5 Jan 1817–23 Dec 1892), Find a Grave Memorial ID 25449664, citing Oakridge Cemetery, Effingham, Effingham County, Illinois, USA ; Maintained by Missouri Duv (contributor 46828721) .
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