GALLIA COUNTY OHIO - ... Genealogy Notes and Queries (published 1936) *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Mary Hill hill.206@osu.edu March 23, 1999 *********************************************************************** There are 2 newspaper articles attached, with genealogical info about several Gallia County families. Both articles were printed in the Columbus Dispatch (Ohio). One was printed in 1935 and the other in 1936. Gardner, Frank W. "Central Ohio Genealogy Notes and Queries." Columbus Dispatch. October 6, 1935. Columbus: Ohio Historical Society. [Transcription Note: The spelling, grammar, and dates are copied directly from the original article. There appear to be several inaccurate dates and locations; however, this was copied exactly as printed in the newspaper. The names were capitalized during the transcription. - MKH] Surnames referenced in this article: BARBER, BISSELL, BUELL, CARRINGTON, CASE, DAVIS, ELSWORTH, ENNOS, EVANS, FERGUSON, FORWARD, GRIFFIN, GRISWOLD, HOLCOMB, MASCALIN, SHERWOOD, SMITH, THOMAS, TRYON, TULLER, WOODBRIDGE THE HOLCOMB FAMILY Simsbury, Conn., was so named in 1670, having been previously known by its Indian name of Massaco. It is quaintly described in the records of the general assembly of Connecticut as "an appendix in the towne of Windsor." In 1676 the town was burned by the Indians, but the inhabitants renewed the settlement the next year. In 1736 Simsbury was divided into four ecclesiastical divisions vis: Wintonbury, Salmon Brook, Turkey Hills, and Simsbury. Its northern part was incorporated as Granby in 1786 and its western part as Canton in 1806. Turkey Hills is now East Granby, Wintonbury is now Bloomfield and Salmon Brook is now the business center of the town of Granby. The church records of colonial New England are very complete where they have not been lost or destroyed. These records indicate the very intense religious devotion of our Puritan ancestors. The church of Simsbury during the pastorate of Rev. Dudley WOODBRIDGE extending from 1697 to 1710 had 43 members-17 women, 26 men (one Indian.) On a certain date during these years the following persons subscribed to the covenant: Thomas BARBUR. Peter BUELL, Samuel CASE, Thomas HOLCOMB, Thomas GRIFFIN, John CASE, Nathaniel HOLCOMB, MASCALIN (Indian), Ruth HOLCOMB, Elizabeth HOLCOMB, Mary BISSELL, Elizabeth TULLOR, and Hannah HOLCOMB. These HOLCOMBs were evidently the family of Joshua HOLCOMB. *** The HOLCOMB Family I. James Oscar THOMAS, born in Franklin county, Ohio, No. 1340 West Third avenue. Member Sons American Revolution, Nat. No 53832. II. Joseph THOMAS, born in Franklin county, Ohio, on Oct. 15, 1853, lived in Franklin county, Ohio, died in Franklin county, Ohio, on Aug. 21, 1890; married at Columbus, Ohio, on Dec. 17, 1874, to Irene DAVIS, born at Columbus, Ohio, in 1854, died at Columbus, Ohio, in 1914. III. Daniel THOMAS, born in Delaware county, Ohio, on Dec. 20, 1822, lived in Franklin county, Ohio, died in Franklin county, Ohio, on Aug. 3, 1903; married at Columbus, Ohio, about 1843, to Catharine EVANS, born in Wales, in 1816, died in Franklin county, Ohio, Jan.3, 1891. IV. Polly (Mary) HOLCOMB, born at Simsbury, Conn., on Jan. 19, 1788, lived in Delaware county, Ohio, died in Delaware county, Ohio, on March 30, 1885; married at Simsbury, Conn., in 1807, to David THOMAS, born at Simsbury, Conn., in 1784, died in Delaware county, Ohio, in 1826. V. Benajah HOLCOMB, Jr., born at Simsbury, Conn., on Aug. 5, 1764, lived at Simsbury, Conn., died at Simsbury, Conn., on Jan. 2, 1828: married at Simsbury, Conn., on April 19, 1784, to Mary CASE, born in Hartford county, Conn., on April 8, 1762, died at Simsbury, Conn., on Oct. 27, 1821. VI. Benajah HOLCOMB, born at Simsbury, Conn., on Sept. 9, 1737; lived at Simsbury, Conn., died at Simsbury, Conn., on Jan. 2, 1828; married at Simsbury, Conn., on Aug. 5, 1763 to Lydia FORWARD, married at Hartford county, Conn., in 1746, died at Simsbury, Conn., on 1824. VII. Joshua HOLCOMB, born at Simsbury, Conn., on Sept. 18, 1697: lived at Simsbury, Conn., died in Simsbury, Conn., in November, 1772; married about 1735 to Mary GRIFFIN. VIII. Joshua HOLCOMB, born at Simsbury, Conn., on Sept. 18, 1672; lived at Simsbury, Conn., died at Simsbury, Conn., on Feb 10, 1728: married at Simsbury, Conn., in 1694 to Mary CARRINGTON. IX. Joshua HOLCOMB, born at Windsor, Conn., on Sept. 7, 1640; lived at Simsbury, Conn., died at Simsbury, Conn., on Dec. 1, 1690; married at Simsbury, Conn., on June 4, 1663, to Ruth SHERWOOD. X. Thomas HOLCOMB, born at Wales in 1601; lived at Windsor, Conn.; died at Windsor, Conn., on Sept. 7, 1657; married at Dorcester, Mass., about 1632, to Elizabeth FERGUSON; born at Wales; died at Simsbury, Conn., in 1679. *** NOTES: Benajah HOLCOMB served in the American revolution under three enlistments: First sergeant in Capt. Hezekiah HOLCOMB's company, 18th regiment, in 1776; second, appointed May 1777, captain in Tenth company, 18th regiment; third, in July, 1779, was captain in Major SMITH's regiment in defense against TRYON's invasion. He had four children: Benajah, jr., Elihu (1766-1830), Lydia (1776-1848), married Bela TULLER, and Jemima (1777), married Titus BARBER. Joshua HOLCOMB (1672-1728), was a member of the Connecticut general assembly from Simsbury. By his first marriage, he had four children, vis: Thankful, Experience, Hannah and Eleanor. By his second marriage (Mary Carrington), he had nine children, vis: Caleb, Joshua, Matthew, Davis, Joell, Phineas, Mary, Miriam and Mercy. Joshua HOLCMB (1640-1690), was granted original tracts of land in Connecticut by King Charles II, April 23, 1687. He was elected representative to the Connecticut general assembly in 1670-1671 and in 1690. His 10 children are: Ruthborn, 1664; Thomas, 1666, Sarah, 1668; Elizabeth, 1670; Joshua, 1672, Deborah, 1674; Mary, 1676; Mindwell, 1678; Hannah, 1680, and Moses, 1686. Thomas HOLCOMB, immigrant to Massachusetts from Wales, came in the "Mary and John," a large ship of 400 tons, to Nantasket, May 30, 1630; 140 passengers. He took the Freeman's oath at Dorchester, May 14, 1634. In 1636, came to Windsor, Conn., where he died Sept. 7, 1657. He was a representative from Windsor and Hartford to the convention that framed the now famous constitution at Connecticut. He was a farmer. His brown tombstone at Poquenock has crumbled with age. His 10 children are as follows: 1. Elizabeth, born 1634; died Sept 17, 1713; married, 1654, Joseph ELSWORTH. 2. Mary, born 1635; died April 4, 1708; married, 1656, George GRISWOLD. 3. Abigail, born, 1638; died Aug. 17, 1688; married, 1658, Samuel BISSELL. 4. Joshua, born 1640; mentioned above. 5. Sarah, born, 1642; died 1654. 6. Benajah, born 1644; died 1736; married Sarah ENNOS. 7. Deborah, born 1646; died 1649. 8. Nathaniel, born 1648; died 1740; married Mary ___ (these two are the ___ of President Rutherford B. HAYES.) 9. Deborah, born 1650; died May 26, 1688; married 16__ Daniel B___. 10. Jonathan, born 1652; died 16_8.