Daniel Comstock (bef. 1624 - abt. 1683)

Born before 21 Jul 1624 in Uxbridge, Middlesex, England

Ancestors

Husband of Paltiah (Elderkin) Comstock — married 1653 in Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died about 1683 after about age 58 in New London, New London, Connecticut

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lamar Ross [send private message]

Biography

Daniel Comstock immigrated to New England as a child during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640).

Name

The name Daniel is clear from the baptism, marriage, certain children's birth, and oher records cited in this profile. Some earlier record-keepers and researchers^[1] confused him with a mythical Gideon, a speculation grounded on a mysterious G____(for the honorific 'Goodman'?) in the damaged New London baptismal records of a group of Daniel's children and on the appearance of actual Gideon Comstocks in the family beginning two generations later. That false early Gideon appears in some other genealogies as a result. The derivation of the Comstock name is discussed in the profile of Daniel's father William

Birth and Baptism

Daniel Comstock was born perhaps a few days before 21 July 1624, the date of his baptism at St. Margaret's in Uxbridge, Hillingdon, Middlesex, England, where that event was recorded as 'Daniell, sonne of Wilm Coombstonk and Elizabeth his wife' as two of us interpreted the handwriting on p. 28 of 98 of the church record^[2]. See image copy to the right. That primary source seems superior to the different date given in two family histories.^[3][4]

Emigration to New England

Daniel emigrated to New England, with or following his parents and siblings, by 1640, perhaps settling initially with them in Wethersfield. He later removed to Providence, then Norwich, and eventually settled in New London.

Marriage

Daniel married Paltiah Elderkin, daughter of John Elderkin 1st and Abigail Kingsland, circa 1652/53.^[3] Location not yet established; candidates (none with persuasive evidence) include Providence, Lynn, and Hartford.

Children

Note that birth dates for this family are not as well sourced as is usual in this era, when the 'birth' dates in vital records are usually baptismal dates a few days after birth. In this family, the first nine children were baptized belatedly, all at the same ceremony, on 9 April 1671 in New London. For them, the birth dates given are estimates lacking a primary source. ^[5] The estimates given in the cited text have been further revised (by Halsey Bullen) to space them by the two-year interval between children common for families in this period, maintaining the sequence cited; they are still merely estimates.

Child: Daniel Comstock, 1654?

Child: Mary Comstock 1656?

Child: Sarah Comstock 1658?

Child: Elizabeth Comstock 1660? m. Samuel Strickland

Child: Bethiah Comstock, 1662? m. Daniel Stebbins

Child: Hannah Comstock , 1664? m. John Forsyth

Child: Ann Comstock 1666? m. Ebenezer Billings

Child: Hope Comstock 1668?

Child: Zipporah Comstock 1671?

Child: Patience Comstock bp. 6 Nov 1671

Child: Kinsley Kingsland? Comstock bp. 2 Nov 1673

Child: Samuel Comstock bbp. 15 Jul 1677

the following profiles are thought by some to be of children of Daniel and Peltiah Comstock, but proof is lacking. Evidence for Rebecca is limited. The other four appear to be belong to the family of John Comstock--research needed.

Child: Rebecca Comstock

Child: Abigail Comstock

Child: James Comstock

Child: Peter Comstock

Child: John Comstock

Notes on Marriage and Children

History of New London, Quintin Publication, found online at WorldVitalRecords, states that "[Daniel Comstock] as appears from statements of his age, was born about 1630. [An inexact assumption, as the English records cited above indicate he was born in 1624] His wife, whose name was Paltiah, was a daughter, or step-daughter, of John Elderkin.

They had a son Daniel and eight daughters, whose births were not recorded, but they were all baptized in New London by Mr. Bradstreet in April and November, 1671 [I find no son Daniel, unless there was an infant who died - I have not seen these baptisms, presumable they were at New London.]. After this two other sons were baptized: Kingland in 1673 and Samuel in 1677." [Daughter Patience was also baptized in 1673 according to "Comstock Family in America".]

Troubles and Land Transactions in Providence, from 1645 to 1656 and Beyond

From The Early Records of the Town of Providence, Rhode Island.

Vol. XV Preface: The name Danl. Comestock is included in the list of men of Providence (#0227) that is the Preface of this volume. The purpose of this list has not been determined.

Vol II, p.29 (also copy of actual document in front of book) 19th of Eleventh Month 1645. "Wee whose Names are heere after Subscribed, having obteyned a free Grante of Twenty five Akers of Land a peece with Right of Commoning...." This list includes the name of Daniel (his mark) Cumstocke. [Names could have been added to this list at any time as some were marked out. Daniel was 21 and therefore old enough to hold land in 1645.]

Vol XV, p.16-17 24 Jun 1648. Daniel Cumstock was fined 10 lb for a false Indian alarm.

Vol. XV, p.21 1648, probably Dec. Robert Williams was drunk and John Olderkin left him to Daniell Comstocke "to looke to him" [John Olderkin likely John Elderkin, Daniel's father-in-law to be)

Vol.XV, p.33 2 Sep 1650 The town tax list did not include any Comstocks. Not clear why not, as Daniel was then 26, old enough to be taxed.

Vol XV, p.46 1 Jun 1651 Request of James Bradish for a fair trial concerning the differences between he and danill Cumstucke.

Vol XV, p.63 Tax list Jun 1652. daniell Comstocke 4s.

Vol II, p.83 2 Jun (1655) "Benjamine Smith & Dan. Cumbstock propounded theire houses with thir land to ye towne for sale."

Vol II, p.96 27 Aug 1656 "Ordered yt Dan: Cumbstock, Ste: Northup & Edw: Smith be received into Voat with ye Inhabitants of ye Towne & yt they have Common equall with any one Townseman" and "Ordered yt Dan: C[omsto]ck his bill is answered a graun ( ) parcell of land adjoineing to his land in ye great Swamp & so to goe to ye upper end of ye Swamp."

Vol II, p.110 27 Oct 1657 Ordered that Henry Neal have a 7 acre lot laid out adjoining his meadow he bought of Dan. Combstock.

Vol I, p.57 23 Nov 1660 Henry Neale of Braintree sold to Roger Mawrey of Providence his house and land in Providence that he purchased of Daniel Comstock.

Vol III, p.72 Division of land on the East Side of the Seven mile line 19 Feb 1665. Daniell Comstock was #40.

Vol. III:206-7 7 Mar 1671 Deed of sale. Stephen Paine of Rehoboth sold to Samuel Whipple three house lots, with a dwelling house, and all of the out housing standing upon the lots, which Stephen Paine purchased from Mary Mowry, executor of the estate of her deceased husband Roger Mowry. One lot originally belonged to Daniel Comstock, one to John Smith, and one to Richard Prey, all of Providence. Also one right of commoning, one 25 acre right of commoning both reaching westward as the seven mile line. [Rec. 21 Sep 1671]

Vol IV, p.45 Division of land beyond or on the West side of the Seven mile Line 12 Apr 1675. Dan Comstock #71.

p.47 24 May 1674. Division of Land between Seven mile Line and Four mile Line on the East side of the Seven mile Line: Dan Comstock #71 [even tho Daniel no longer lived in Providence, he was apparently still entitled as one of the early purchasers]

p.64 17 Mar 1684. Division of Lands on West side of Seven mile Line. Essentially the same list as in 1675. Daniell Comstock #23. Does come out to an even 100 men this time.

Vol XVII p.30-34 Here followeth the List of the draught which was made the: 17th of March: 1684 for the division of the Lands on the west side of Seven Mile line. [there follows a list of 100 names - at the end it says "A list of ye Original Purchasers". I believe this to be a copy of the orginal list made 17 Mar 1684. Included as #23 is Daniel Comstock. The list appears to have been presented by John Smith, son of John Smith known as Jameco as his petition for his right of inheritance follows.]

Vol XIV Deed Book 1, p.154 "Upon ye 5th day of September in ye yeare 1685. Layd out unto Samuell Whipple in ye Right of Roger Mawry & of Daniell Comstock 13 acres of land leiing in ye neck.....two percells." One parcel of 10 acres on West side of the great Swamp; the other parcel of 3 acres between the head of Benjamin Hearnton Senr's house lot and the Swamp, bounded on the East by Daniel Browne and Samuel Whipple, on the South by Samuel Whipple and land of John Smith the Mason, on the north by the Comon. Thomas Olney, Surveior.

Vol XIV Deed Book 1 p.155 "Upon ye 11th day of November in ye yeare 1685. In ye Right of Daniell Comstock in a five & twenty acre Right with a full Right of Comon as by Record appears. Layd out unto Samuell Whipple 23 acres of land"

Vol XVII p.258-259; 280-281 Nathaniel, Ebenezer, and William Jenckes petition the Proprietors concerning land their father bought of the widow Morey who could not furnish him with clear title - she sold him two Rights she thought belonged to Daniel Comstock and Henry Neal. Later it was determined that Neal's Right had been sold to William Carpenter by Roger Morey in his lifetime. Samuel Whipple laid out both Daniel's and Morey's Rights. The widow may have also sold the Rights to Stephen Paine. For about 30 years, the Jenckes have paid all taxes on this land. Petition dated 29 Aug 1709. Settled 25 Feb 1712. ( The deed from Roger Mawry to Wm Carpenter re the Right of Henry Neale is in Vol. 1, p. 85 dated 3 Feb 1661,)

Removal to New London

Daniel Comstock, Sen'r was presented for a freeman of New London CT in Oct of 1669. "Connecticut Puritan Settlers" by Royal R. Hinman

Death

No actual record found as yet. Presumably Daniel died in New London in 1683, shortly before the inventory taken there.

New London CT Probate Records:

Comstock,Daniel, of New London. File #1392. Inventory taken 13 Nov 1683 by Daniel Witherell and Charles Hill, Townsmen. Proved and administration granted his widow Paltiel, she to improve the whole estate for the bringing up of the children.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ For example, Baker, Henry Augustus, History of Montville, Connecticut, formerly the North parish of New London from 1640 to 1896, (Hartford, Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company), p. 134
2. ↑ digital images, ancestry.com [1] : accessed 13 December 2016).
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} John A. Comstock. A history and genealogy of the Comstock family in America. Published: Los Angeles, Priv. print. for the author by the Commonwealth Press, 1949. p. 6. A HathiTrust e-book. JAComstock
4. ↑ Mary Jane Comstock, Compiler. Comstock-Haggard and Allied Families. (Chicago: Adams Press, 1973)
5. ↑ | www.genealogy.com/forum/regional/states/topics/vt/18117/
6. ↑ The American Genealogist, 1933, Vol. 10, p.169

• Comstock, Cyrus B., 1907. A Comstock Genealogy: Descendants of William Comstock of New London, Conn., who died after 1662. The Knickerbocker Press, New York, NY. pages 4, 6-7 (#4)
• Source: S115 Title: The Early Records of the Town of Providence. 21 Volumes commissioned by the City Council to be collected and printed from the early records of the town. (Snow & Farnham City Printers)
• Baptism of G Comstock's children, First Church of Christ, New London, Connecticut, Vol. II. page 57, 9 April 1671. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99V3-GSQN. [image]

Acknowledgements

• WFT- Volume 3 Title: Family Tree Maker CD-ROM, WFT- Volume 3 Pedigree 4060
• WikiTree profile Comstock-308 created through the import of Comstock for Wiki.ged on Jul 27, 2011 by Kay Haden.
• WikiTree profile Comstock-189 created through the import of ross20genancestors-children6-22-2011.ged on Jun 22, 2011 by Lamar Ross.
• Entered by Blisse Comstock
• WikiTree profile Comstock-406 created through the import of Kimpton Paternal Oct 2012.ged on Oct 2, 2012 by Jim Kimpton.
• Redundancies removed and errors corrected Dec. 17, 2016 by Halsey Bullen