Person:William Comstock (2)

Origins

Some researchers claim that he was the "Guliel" (synonym for William) Comstock, found baptized in St. Martin in the Fields (London) 4 July 1595. But a subsquent burial date of 20 May 1598 for the same name works against this theory.

In "Comstock Hints," (TAG 30:81-85 (1954)), the author reviews "raw" data concerning British Comstock records -- none that directly tie to the New England Comstocks. He concludes that review of parish records in the vicinity of West Sedgmoore, in mid-Somersetshire in or about the parishes of Curry Rivel, Stoke St. Gregory, and Fivehead is most likely to reveal the origins of the emigrating William Comstock.

Life in New England

(unless otherwise noted, information from A Comstock Genealogy... (1907))^[1]

1633-1635: resided in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts

1635-1641: resided in Hartford, Connecticut

He served in the military as a soldier in the Pequot War (1634-1638); he was (most likely) "among the 26 from Wethersfield, Ct., in the expedition commanded by Capt. John Mason which captured the Pequot Fort at Mystic, Ct., 26 May 1637, killing about 500 Indians."^[4]

from abt 1650: resided in New London, New London, Connecticut^[5]

He was granted 20 acres at Nyantik by New London on 21 June 1647 - in a deed of 4 Dec 1694 the same land was conveyed by his grandsons William of Lyme (son of John) and Daniel of New London (son of Daniel of New London "land at Nyantik which said land was given to our grand father William Comstock deceased, by the town of New London."

He built a mill in New London that is still standing. (1907, 1949)

Legacy

Children: Samuel; William; Daniel, died in New London in 1683, aged about fifty-three; probably Christopher, of Fairfield, in 1661.^[6]

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Comstock, Cyrus Ballou. A Comstock Genealogy: Descendants of William Comstock of New London, Conn., Who Died After 1662. Ten Generations. (New York: The Knickerbocker Press, 1907)
   p. 3.

   'William Comstock, 21 June, 1647, was granted a lot (at Pequot [later New London], by the town; also 10 A of upland; also 10 A. on east side of the great river (Thames).'
   
   'Old goodman Comstock was chosen sexton to ... 25 Feb., 1662; the title "old goodman" would indicate a birth as early as 1590.'

2. ↑ Caulkins, Frances Manwaring. History of New London, Connecticut: from the first survey of the coast in 1612 to 1852. (New London Conn.: F.M. Caulkins, 1852)
   p. 305.

   'William Comstock the father of Daniel, came from Hartford in 1649 and lived to old age in his house upon Post Hill; (near north corner of Williams and Vauxhall Streets.)'

3. ↑ Caulkins, Frances Manwaring. History of New London, Connecticut: from the first survey of the coast in 1612 to 1852. (New London Conn.: F.M. Caulkins, 1852)
   p. 68.

   'Before the end of the municipal year, Feb. 25th, 1650-1, we find the names of ... William Comstock ..., all applicants for house lots.'
   'William Comstock's location was on Post Hill, near the present corner of Vauxhall and Williams Streets.'

4. ↑ Comstock, Cyrus Ballou. A Comstock Genealogy: Descendants of William Comstock of New London, Conn., Who Died After 1662. Ten Generations. (New York: The Knickerbocker Press, 1907)
   p. 2.

   'Beginning in 1635 and 1636 there was a considerable emigration from Watertown, Mass., and its vicinity to Wethersfield, Windsor, and Hartford, Ct., and William Comstock may have been among the emigrants.'
   
   'Stiles (History of Wethersfield) says we may be pretty sure that William Comstock was among the 26 from Wethersfield, Ct., in the expedition commanded by Capt. John Mason which captured the Pequot Fort at Mystic, Ct., 26 May, 1637, killing about 500 Indians.'
   
   'Old goodman Comstock was chosen sexton to ... 25 Feb., 1662; the title "old goodman" would indicate a birth as early as 1590.'

5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 Comstock, John Adams. A History and Genealogy of the Comstock Family in America. (Los Angeles: Commonwealth Press, 1949)
   p. 1.

   'About 1650 he [William Comstock] transferred to Pequot, now New London, where he had previously (1647) received a grant of land. At a town meeting held there in November, 1650, he voted to cooperate with John Winthrop to establish a corn mill, ...'

6. ↑ Cutter, William Richard. New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of the Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation. (New York, New York, United States: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913-14)
   Third Series, Volume I Page 497.
7.   Comstock Hints, in The American Genealogist (TAG). (Donald Lines Jacobus, et.al.)
   30(1954):81-85.