Family talk:Joseph Whitcomb and Damaris Priest (1)

Crane/Cutter versus the vital records [24 May 2017]

Source:Crane, Ellery Bicknell. Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Worcester County Massachusetts, p. 373 (plus several books by William R. Cutter that were published after this one), list the children of this family.

Source:The Birth, marriage, and death register, church records and epitaphs of Lancaster, Massachusetts, 1643-1850 disagrees in several facts.

Given that genealogy in the early 1900's when the Crane/Cutter books was published were probably done with filing cards, it is quite understandable that some errors could be made. Some appear clear:

• The Damaris b. 7 Jan 1737/38 was the d/o Jonathan and Damaris Carter.
• The Elisabeth b. 3 Dec 1728 was the d/o Josiah & Ruhamah Whitcomb. Abigail's birth apparently adjusted to make room.
• The birth of Benjamin in 1738 was probably an adjustment of 1737 because they erroneously included Damaris.

I cannot figure out what prompted them to identify twins Elisha and Elizabeth when the published records clearly do not mention twins nor show any birth for Elizabeth. There was a birth record for Relief Whitcomb, d/o Joseph & Elizabeth Whitcomb in 1757, which would appear to be the son Joseph and a daughter-in-law Elizabeth (Wheelock). Perhaps, Crane/Cutter mistook her for a daughter? Then if her birth was close to Elijah's they may have assumed she was a twin? Seems far-fetched...

Since Anna's birth is listed as 1755, it does not appear to come from a record of her birth, but some other source, such as her age at death, etc. So this discrepancy may be entirely justified.

--Jrich 11:28, 22 May 2009 (EDT)

Crane and Cutter appear to have simply copied from Source:Whitcomb, Charlotte. Whitcomb Family in America, p. 403.

Joseph and Damaris are admitted to the church 6 Feb 1731-2. They only baptize one child, Abigail. Then their second baptism in April is for son Joseph born recently.

Lancaster Baptisms generally support the town records. The birth of Elijah matches the baptism of Elisha (a week apart) but no signs of twins, and both called son. Only daughter Damaris is the one born 1746. No Elizabeth, but a daughter Anna of "Lieut. Joseph" is found in 1754, not 1755. --Jrich 20:14, 24 May 2017 (UTC)

The page has been changed to reflect the vital records removing the mistakes of the Whitcomb Genealogy. --Jrich 05:26, 25 May 2017 (UTC)