Comstock John b. 20 OCT 1722 New London, Connecticut, USA d. BEF 1787

1722 - 1787

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Birth 20 Oct 1722 New London, Connecticut, USA [1, 2, 3]

Gender Male

_UPD 16 AUG 2009 23:15:07 GMT-5

Died Bef 1787 [1]

Person ID I3921 Alan Donald Vibber

Last Modified 08 Dec 2009

Father Comstock Kingsland, d. Bef 1753

Mother Crocker Rachel

Married 18 Sep 1717

Family ID F1601 Group Sheet

Family Vibber Margaret "Peggy", b. 20 Nov 1726, North Parish, New London, Connecticut , d. Abt 1810

Married Norwich, New London, Connecticut, USA [1]

Children

	1. Comstock Kingsley, d. 03 Jul 1778
	2. Comstock Robert, d. 03 Jul 1778
	3. Comstock Eleanor, b. 1763
	4. Comstock Peleg
	5. Comstock Elijah
	6. Comstock Crasy, d. Bef 1793

Family ID F1610 Group Sheet

Notes	FAMILY 93. 219. John Comstock [Kingsland4]. He came from Norwich West Farms to Wyoming, Pa. He was one of the "Forty" or first settlers at Kingston, as was also Peter Comstock. Both were on the roll of 2d June, 1769, of the 200 first settlers at Wyoming. Children: 609, Kingsley, and 610, Robert, were killed in Lt.-Col. Dorrance's regiment at the Wyoming massacre, 3 July, 1778; 611. Eleanor, b. 1763, m. Ambrose Gaylord; 612. Peleg, Family 3253.; 613. Elijah. JOHN COMSTOCK was a native of Norwich (West Farms), New London County, Connecticut. He early became a member of The Susquehanna Company; was one of the original Wyoming settlers under the auspices ofthat company in 1762 (see page 403< Vol. I), and presumably was here also in 1763 at the time of the massacre of the settlers at Mill Creek by the Indians. He was also one of the "First Forty" settlers of 1789 (see page 473), and thereby became entitled to a share of the lands in Kingston Township—which in due time he received. He was at Fort Durkee, Wilkes-Barre, during the Summer and Autumn of 1709 (see pages 497 and 609), and was one of the company of New Knglanders occupying the fort when it was surrendered to the Pennamites. He was on the ground again in June, 1770 (see page 658), and was one of those who marched to the Valley in July, 1771, under the command of Capt. Zebulon Butler to besiege the Pennamites. During the Spring and Summer of 1772 he seems to have been absent from the Valley, but in September of that year he returned (see page 750 and 751), and shortly afterwards established himself on his lands in Kingston. In May, 1773, as one of the agents for a number of proprietors in the Susquehanna Purchase, he aided in laying out the township of Newport (see page 770, and the map facing page 408), and became one of the original proprietors in the town. Shortly afterwards Mr. Comstock returned to Connecticut where his family was still residing, and subsequently his elder son, Kingsley Comstock, came to Kingston and took up his residence on his father's lands there. His name appears in the Kingston tax-list for 1776, but in that year his father and the other members of the latter's family came to Kingston, and Kingsley Comstock removed to his father's lands in Newport—which lay within the bounds of "Hanover District" of Westmoreland. Kingsley Comstock's name appears, therefore, in the tax-lists of Hanover for the years 1777 and 1778: and JohnComstock's name appears in the lists of Kingston for 1777, 1778, 1780 and 1781 (the only lists now in existence). Kingsley Comstock was a private in the 5th (or Hanover) Company of the 24th Regiment,and according to Miner ("History of Wyoming", Appendix, page 60) fell in the battle of Wyoming. Letters of administration upon his estate were granted to his father by the Probate Court of Westmoreland, November 30, 1780. John Comstock was established and commissioned Ensign of the 1st Alarm List Company in October, 1777. On the 1st or 2d of July, 1778, he removed his family from their home to Forty Fort, and on the .Id of July he and his younger son, Robert, marched out with the other patriots to the battle-field on Abraham s Plains. The son fell early in the battle, but the father escaped from the field when therout began. Becoming exhausted in his flight, he flung himself down behind a fallen tree. Presently two Indians sprang upon it, intent on something in the distance, and as they jumped to the ground to go on their way they brushed aside the bushes under which Comstock lay concealed; but they did not see him. When night came on he made his way to Forty Fort. Later he fled from the Valley with the members of his family who were in Fortv Fort, but on the 4th of the following August he returned to Wilkes-Barre in the body of militia under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Butler, and was in service here until at least the 1st of October. Later he returned, with his family, to his home in Kingston, where he continued to live until his death in the Spring of 1783. The children of John Comstock were as follows: Kingsley, Robert, Rachel (who became the wife of Isaac Parker prior to August, 1787), Margaret (who became the wife of William Stager prior to August, 1787), Elizabeth, Prudence, Mary and Eleanor. The last named (born in 1763) became the wife of Ambrose Gaylord (born in November, 1749), eldest child of Justus Gaylord, Sr., an early settler in Wyoming. Ambrose Gaylord and his brother, Justus Gaylord, Jr., were members of Captain Ransom's Westmoreland Independent Company, and later were members of Captain Spalding's company—serving therein until the close of the war. Ambrose Gaylord was in Wilkes-Barre in 1781, shortly after which he was married to Eleanor Comstock. About 1787 they settled in what is now Braintrim, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania,where they lived the remainder of their years. In 17S8 Mr. Gaylord was elected and commissioned Lieutenant of the 1st Company, 2d Battalion, Luzerne County Militia, and this office he held for several years. He died at Braintrim June 12, 1844, and was survived by his wife Eleanor (who was still living in June, 1845) and several children. * See a subsequent chapter for a sketch of his life. See page 1067 for a sketch of his life. * See Chapter XXX for a sketch of the Dorrance family. Family 107 250. JOHN COMSTOCK (Kingsland, Kingsland, Daniel, William) born New London, Conn., Oct. 20, 1722; died prior to Oct. 1787; married Norwich, Conn., March 23, 1737? Margaret (Peggy) Vibber, b. No. Parish, New London, Nov. 20, 1728, dau. of John and Johannah (Williams) Vibber. If the dates are correct she married at 11 years of age. Margaret Vibber Comstock was living in Exeter Township, Pa., Dec., 1810. The record that John married Sarah Crasy, who d. Chesire, Conn., Jan. 28, 1779, cannot be correct, as Margaret and her son Peleg Comstock sold lands after John's death. John Comstock came from Norwich, West Farms, Conn., to Wyoming, Pa. He was an Ensign in the First Alarm Company and was engaged in the "Wyoming Massacre." He escaped by concealing himself behind a fallen log. (Brewster History, Kingston, Pa., p. 46.) He was one of the "Forty," or first settlers at Kingston and was on the roll June 2, 1769. They "Harvey Book," p. 33, states that John Comstock, Cyprian Lothrop and Captain Alden, representing a number of Connecticut proprietors in the Susquehanna purchase, located and laid out the town ofNewport, west of and adjoing Hanover (Pa.). Muster-roll of Westmoreland Militia belonging to Col. Nathan Denison's 24th Regiment in a detachment commanded by Col. Zebulon Butler .... John Comstock, Ensign, 3 months, 6 days; Peleg Comstock, Private, 2 months, 5 days. Will of John Comstock of Dec. 17, 1782, probated at Wilkes-Barre, Oct. 1, 1787, refers to his wife as living, but not by name; son Peleg executor; names son Kingsley and carries a bequest to Kingsley's daughter; names dau. Elizabeth and refers to other daughters not names. Children 710. Kingsley, reported killed in Lt. Col. Dorrance's regiment at the "Wyoming Massacre" July 2, 1778. 711. Robert, reported killed in Lt. Col. Dorrance's regiment at the "Wyoming Massacre" July 2, 1778. 712. Crasy, d. before 1793; m. Ambrose Gaylord (his first wife). 713. Eleanor, b. 1763; m. Sept. 9 1793, Ambrose Gaylord. (The "Harvey Book," p.346.) 714. Peleg, b. about 1764; m. Mary Merritt. Family 284 715. Elijah 716. Russell, b. near Norwich, Conn., July 4, 1766 (1777?); d. about 1850; m. (1st) _____ Vaughn; m. (2nd) Rachel McLane. Family 285 717. Alexander, He is placed here on the basis of a correct sequence of dates, and origin. He named a son Ambrose Lewis. Samuel W. Comstock says he may have been a son of John. Family 286. 718. Rachel, m. Isaac Turner 719. Margaret, m. William Stiger 720. Elizabeth, b. 1806; d. Aug. 15, 1834; m. Jonathan Bodle. 721. Prudence, m. _____ Bunnell? 722. Mary (Mercy), b. 1759; d. Nov. 23, 1829; m. John McMillian, a surgeon in the Revolutionary army. Gt. granddau. Dr. Emily J. Heisz. 723. Nathan, Said to have been carried away by Indians while working in the field. 724. John? (Alexander was said to have had a brother John.)

Sources

[S204] A history and genealogy of the Comstock family in America, 36 (Reliability: 3).
[S183] A Comstock Genealogy, Cyrus Ballou Comstock, (Name: 1907;), 25 (Reliability: 3).
[S10] New London Vital Records, Barbour Collection, NEH&GS, 105 (Reliability: 3).