Person Page - 48

     Ensign Noah Cooley was born on 11 January 1744 at Springfield, Hampden Co., MA.³ He was the son of Daniel Cooley III and Frances McIntyre. Ensign Noah Cooley married Lois Holcombe, daughter of Deacon Azariah Holcombe and Hannah Loomis, in July 1772 at Granby, Hartford Co., CT.⁴ Ensign Noah Cooley died on 18 September 1830 at Granby, Hartford Co., CT, at age 86.³ He was buried on 20 September 1830 at Cooley Cemetery, Granby, Hartford Co., CT.³

Noah's birth was also recorded in Westfield. Both Noah and Lois are buried in a private cemetery in Granby.

     McCracken gives a completely different date of 11 Jan. 1751/2. Eunice Holcombe was born on 11 June 1751 at Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT.¹ She was the daughter of Deacon Azariah Holcombe and Hannah Loomis. Eunice Holcombe married Michael Hayes, son of Asahel Hayes and Martha Holcombe.

     Dr. Abner G. Holcombe was born on 16 September 1752 at Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT.^4,5 He was the son of Abner Holcombe and Lucinda Willcockson. Dr. Abner G. Holcombe married Mindwell Mincy Buel in 1773. Dr. Abner G. Holcombe died on 14 October 1839 at Westport, Essex Co., NY, at age 87. He was buried at Hillside Cemetery, Westport, Essex Co., NY.⁶

Abner served as a private in Lt. Joel hayes' command, arriving New York, Aug, 22, discharged there Sept 6, 1776 for which service he was placed on US pension rolls as a resident of Essex Co., NY in 1832. In the Spring of 1788 he moved from Granby or Danbury, Ct., to a house he had built in Panton, Addison Co., Vt, accompanied by his uncle, Benjamin Holcombe, who with Phineas Holcombe were among those early settlers in Panton whose descendants have constituted a large proportion of its population.. He moved in 1802 to Westport, NY where church records show him as a deacon in 1812; took a deed for 3/4 of an acre in the village of North-West Bay in the town of Elizabethtown (now Westport), Essex Co., NY. He died there where he had long been a physician.

     Mindwell Mincy Buel was born on 21 August 1753 at Enfield, Hartford Co., CT.¹ She married Dr. Abner G. Holcombe, son of Abner Holcombe and Lucinda Willcockson, in 1773. Mindwell Mincy Buel died on 21 February 1835 at Essex Co., NY, at age 81.¹ She was buried at Hillside Cemetery, Westport, Essex Co., NY.¹

     Mindwell Holcombe was born on 21 June 1774 at Granby, Hartford Co., CT.² She was the daughter of Dr. Abner G. Holcombe and Mindwell Mincy Buel. Mindwell Holcombe married William Everest. Mindwell Holcombe died on 18 April 1861 at Northfield, Summit Co., OH, at age 86.³ She was buried at Northfield Macedonia Cemetery, Northfield, Summit Co., OH.³

     Abner Green Holcombe was born on 25 February 1777 at Granby, Hartford Co., CT.^2,3 He was the son of Dr. Abner G. Holcombe and Mindwell Mincy Buel. Abner Green Holcombe married Orpha Chamberlain, daughter of Rev. Abel Chamberlain, on 6 June 1804. Abner Green Holcombe died on 9 November 1863 at Rutland, Rutland Co., VT, at age 86. He was buried at Kent Cemetery, Panton, Addison Co., VT.⁴

Abner was "a fine man", became one of the oldest citizens and preserved much of the early history of the town and its settlers.

Abner and Orpha were enumerated in the 1850 Panton, Addison Co., VT, federal census. He was a farmer age 73, she was 62. Also in the household was Charity 42, and Fred 18. The 1850 census did not list relationships.

     William was from Addison, VT. William Everest married Mindwell Holcombe, daughter of Dr. Abner G. Holcombe and Mindwell Mincy Buel.

     Orpha Chamberlain was born on 12 May 1781 at Westmoreland, Cheshire Co., NH.^1,2 She was the daughter of Rev. Abel Chamberlain. Orpha Chamberlain married Abner Green Holcombe, son of Dr. Abner G. Holcombe and Mindwell Mincy Buel, on 6 June 1804. Orpha Chamberlain died on 21 October 1859 at Panton, Addison Co., VT, at age 78.² She was buried at Kent Cemetery, Panton, Addison Co., VT.²

Thirteen children:
1. Truxton Holcomb: Born 1804
2. Hiram Holcomb: Born: 1805
3. Sophronia Holcomb: Born 1806
4. Julia Holcomb: Born 1807
5. Charity Holcomb: Born 1808
6. Luther Holcomb: Born 1809
7. Henry Harrison Holcomb: Born 1810
8. Abigail Holcomb: Born 1811
9. Lusinia Holcomb: Born 1812
10. Jonathan Holcomb: Born 1813
11. Charles Green Holcomb: Born 1813
12. Susan Holcomb: Born 1814
13. Henry Clinton Holcomb: Born 1815.

     Charity Holcombe was born on 29 December 1756 at Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT.¹ She was the daughter of Abner Holcombe and Lucinda Willcockson.

     Jonathan Holcombe was born on 24 February 1760 at Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT.¹ He was the son of Abner Holcombe and Lucinda Willcockson.

     Bethia Holcombe was born on 3 March 1765 at Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT.¹ She was the daughter of Abner Holcombe and Lucinda Willcockson.

     Hannah Holcombe was born in January 1764. She was the daughter of Abner Holcombe and Lucinda Willcockson.

     Hannah Carrington was born in 1675. She was the daughter of John Carrington. Hannah Carrington married Ensign Joshua Holcombe, son of Joshua Holcombe and Ruth Sherwood, in 1694. Hannah Carrington died on 13 May 1708. Death date according to the Rev. Dudley Woodbridge.

     Mary Hoskins was born on 3 September 1689. She was the daughter of Robert Hoskins and Mary Gillett. Mary Hoskins married Ensign Joshua Holcombe, son of Joshua Holcombe and Ruth Sherwood, in 1709.¹ Mary Hoskins died after 1740.

     Phineas Holcombe was born on 4 February 1726 at Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT.⁵ He was the son of Ensign Joshua Holcombe and Mary Hoskins.⁶ Phineas Holcombe married Sarah Tuller, daughter of Jacob Tuller and Mary Moses, in 1745. Phineas Holcombe died in September 1781 at Québec, Ontario, Canada, at age 55.

Phineas moved from Canaan, Litchfield Co., CT, To Duchess Co., NY, in 1752.⁷

Phineas Holcomb came to Panton, Vt., in 1774, with a large family, and settled on land owned by Edict Adams. On the morning of Nov 5, 1778, his son Joseph, then 16 years old, was cutting fire wood under an elm tree at the door of his brother-in-law, Spaulding, who was away from home at the time, and was captured by the Indians. Then on the morning of November 11, Phineas and other sons, Joshua, Samuel and Elisha were surprised and captured by the Indians while working at home in the morning, and their house was burned. The Indians took them to a vessel in the lake.

There is a tradition that the Indians were assisted in this by Tories who together were looting and burning homes, and that the wife of one of these captured Holcombes put a feather bed on an old horse; put her 2 youngest children on the horse and leading the horse and her older children, escaped to relatives by a long trip. Descendants of Darius Holcombe preserve a tradition that he was among those who escaped capture when practically all shelter in the neighborhood was then burned by Indians and Tories, co-operating; and for three days and nights found shelter only in the forest, until they reached other refuge.

Phineas and his sons were all taken to Quebec where they endured great privations and suffered many hardships, which resulted in the death of the two oldest brothers, Joshua and Samuel, in prison in the summer of 1781, and the father in September, 1781, intestate. The two younger brothers, Joseph and Elisha were exchanged after three years and eight months of imprisonment. Joseph died in Panton, January 20, 1833, age 71.^8,7

According to the Probate Records of Rutland, Vt., on March 7, 1785, Appraisers were appointed for the estate of Phineas Holcomb and the inventory taken July 28, 1785, at Panton, Vt., Elisha Clark, Probate Judge. Joseph Holcomb and Hezekiah Phelps were appointed Administrators and gave bond for 200 pounds. The inventory showed Real Estate, £295/12/0; Personal,£7/4/6; Total: £301/16/6. John Strong, Elisha Grundy and Zadack Everett were appointed Committee to divide the estate. Division was made June 28, 1787 to the following heirs: (1) Sarah Holcomb, widow, land valued at £100/17/4, and £33/12/5 to ea. of the following: (2)Jos. Holcomb son and heir, (3) Heirs of Sarah Holcomb, alias Spaulding; (4) Elisha Holcomb son and heir, (5) heirs of John Holcomb, deceased, son and heir, (6) Darius Holcomb and Ruth Holcomb, alias Newell, son and daughter, heir and heiress. equal shares. In the above division is mentioned Timothy Holcomb who was an original owner of part of the above divided land. There is also the inventory of Joshua Holcomb, late of Panton, deceased, dated March 10, 1791. Joseph Holcomb was administrataor of this Joshua Holcomb. This estate inventoried £4/17/6. That amount being £2/26/0 less than the debts, hence the estate was declared insolvent. In the "Panton Vt Records", page 129, June 10, 1788, is recorded final division of property for the heirs of John Holcomb, deceased. During this period many family records were destroyed because of the families' moving from place to place and because of war with the French and Indians. It is only with great difficulty that this line has been established.

McCracken speculates that Phineas and Sarah were possibly parents of the Baptist clergyman (ordained 1800), the Rev. Phinehas Holcomb, b. July 1755, Simsbury, d. Warren NY, early August 1815 in 61st year. His parents were, however, Episcopalians. McCracken however, lists no children, while Seaver lists 8, none of them Phinehas.

The 1790 VT Census has listings for a Joseph and an Elisha.

     Sarah Tuller was born on 13 August 1727. She was the daughter of Jacob Tuller and Mary Moses. Sarah Tuller married Phineas Holcombe, son of Ensign Joshua Holcombe and Mary Hoskins, in 1745.

     John Holcombe was born in 1753 at Canaan, Litchfield Co., CT.⁴ He was the son of Phineas Holcombe and Sarah Tuller. John Holcombe was also known as John Ransom Holcombe. He married Rachel Wright, daughter of Simeon Wright and Sarah Shattuck, before 1771.⁵ John Holcombe died before 10 June 1788.

John moved with his father, Phineas' family in the spring of 1774, to Panton, VT, and later lived at Dorset, Bennington Co., VT. He was a Sgt. in Captain Daniel Smith's Company, in Col. Ira Allen's Regt., in an alarm to Castleton in the month of October, 1780, serving seven days. he was paid for 27 miles travel. He was kown as "Ranson" or "John Ranson". His estate was administered June 10, 1788, at Panton, Addison Co., VT, as a final division to his heirs of his property. If he be this decedant the John recorded in the 1790 census of VT is another John.

     John Holcombe was born circa 1771.³ He was the son of John Holcombe and Rachel Wright. John Holcombe married Mary Magdalena Shewman on 20 February 1793 at Ernestown, Lennox and Addington Co., Ontario, Canada.³ John Holcombe died on 5 March 1861 at Richmond Twp., Canada West, Canada.³ He was buried at Sexsmith Cemetery, Napanee, Lennox and Addington Co., Ontario, Canada.⁴

McPherson agrees with Jesse Seaver on who his Great Grandfather was, but gives Benjamin as John's father, making him a descendant of Nathaniel, not Joshua.

Daughters Julia and Samantha are undocumented. Perhaps the daughters of the other John.

For now, Seaver himself appears where he wanted, under the Joshua line, while further research is done. Finding birth records in CT will not be very helpful, there were apparently two Johns who went with their fathers John and Benjamin, to Panton, Vt. Perhaps wills or probate records will help.

John was a farmer, stockman, "champion" deer hunter and trapper in the Adirondack Mountains, NY. During the War of 1812, while at his hunting shanty in the mountain forest, he was captured by the Indians and sold to the British as a prisoner of war. His family considered him dead, but after a time, when it was ascertained that he was not a soldier, he was liberated and returned home. After his release he moved to Cattaragus Co., NY. During his absence, his wife "distributed" the children among relations.

Terry Windhager of St.Catharines, Ont. Can. writes : John Holcombe and his sister Rachael were believed to have travelled to theQuebec and the Fredricton areaswith United Empire Loyalists. Rachael Wright was the daughter of Simeon Wright, a British supporter who had to flee the U.S. after the Revolution. Rachael Wright later married Zenas Ross who was also a U.E.L. They settled in the area and raised a family.

     Mary Magdalena Shewman was born on 26 December 1775 at Tryon, NY.¹ She married John Holcombe, son of John Holcombe and Rachel Wright, on 20 February 1793 at Ernestown, Lennox and Addington Co., Ontario, Canada.¹ Mary Magdalena Shewman died on 10 February 1864 at Belmont Twp., Peterborough Co., Canada West, at age 88.¹ She was buried at Sexsmith Cemetery, Napanee, Lennox and Addington Co., Ontario.²

     Julia Holcombe was born on 5 November 1814 at Lake Champlain, NY. She was the daughter of John Holcombe and Mary Magdalena Shewman. Julia Holcombe married Daniel Seaver in 1832. Julia Holcombe died on 3 August 1906 at Bedford, IN, at age 91.

     Daniel Seaver married Julia Holcombe, daughter of John Holcombe and Mary Magdalena Shewman, in 1832.

     George Washington Seaver was born on 27 March 1844 at Jennings Co., IN. He was the son of Daniel Seaver and Julia Holcombe. George Washington Seaver married Rosa Ella Foster, daughter of John Foster and Sarah (?), on 19 May 1880.

George enilsted at age 17 years in Co. D. 53rd Ind. Vol. Inf. of the Union Army, served through the War Between the States; lived in Kansas, Kentucky and Wisconsin; owned market boat on the Ohio river - Madison , Ind. to Louisvile, KY - in 898 he acquired a large acreage and operated a general store and large fruit farm near Austin, Scott Co., Ind.

     Rosa Ella Foster was born on 11 February 1865. She was the daughter of John Foster and Sarah (?) Rosa Ella Foster married George Washington Seaver, son of Daniel Seaver and Julia Holcombe, on 19 May 1880.

     Jesse Montgomery Seaver was born on 30 December 1890 at Bethlehem, Clark Co., IN. He was the son of George Washington Seaver and Rosa Ella Foster.

We assume the dates and other information are correct, since he wrote the book.

Jesse attended Taylor and Moore's Hill colleges in Indiana and Temple Univeristy, Philadelphia, PA; her served as chief yeoman in the US Navy on the USS McDougal; at London and smaller stations in the 1st World War. He was the author of many genealogical books, conspicuous among which is Holcombe Genealogy by him, in two editions, 1925 and 1926.

He promoted a world Holcombe reunion at Philadelphia in September 1926, during the Sesqui-Centenial Exposition there.

     Oliver Ellsworth Holcombe was born on 9 November 1776 at Granby, Hartford Co., CT.³ He was the son of Obed Holcombe and Mercy Holcombe. Oliver Ellsworth Holcombe married Martha Barber at Granby, Hartford Co., CT.⁴ Oliver Ellsworth Holcombe died on 23 May 1851 at NY at age 74.^1,4 He died in 1861.⁵

Oliver moved from Granby to Lewis, Essex Co., NY in May 1800, where on April 16, 1815 he was appointed Ensign in the 9th Regt.

     Ishmael Hardy Holcombe was born on 3 October 1778 at Granby, Hartford Co., CT.² He was the son of Obed Holcombe and Mercy Holcombe. Ishmael Hardy Holcombe married Hannah Knowlton, daughter of Benjamin Knowlton and Phoebe Wright. Ishmael Hardy Holcombe died in 1866 at Lewis, Essex Co., NY.

Ishmael H. was enumerated in the 1850 Lewis, Essex Co., NY, federal census. He was 71. He was the head of the household. Enumerated next in the household was 41 year-old Ephraim Kile and wife Caroline, age 35.

     Luman Holcombe was born on 29 September 1780 at Granby, Hartford Co., CT.³ He was the son of Obed Holcombe and Mercy Holcombe. Luman Holcombe married Chloe Alderman, daughter of Epaphras Alderman and Chloe Hayes.

Luman served as a private at New London, CT, Aug. 2 to Sept. 16, 1813 in command of Sereno Pettibone.

Chloe was also descended from Thomas Holcombe.

Luman was old enough at the marriage to Harriet for it to have been a second marriage.

     William Ward was the son of Obadiah Ward.