The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
State of Service: MA/CT
Qualifying Service: Private
Author: VTSSAR
Luther was the last of 12 children (8 sons and 4 daughters) born of Silas Newcomb (1717-1773) and his wife Submit Pineo (1717-1804). Luther's siblings were: Jerusha (1740-1813), Daniel (1741-1794), Silas (1743-1792), Submit (1745-1814), Bradford (1747-1822), Hannah (1750-1752), Paul (1752-1794), Hannah (1754-1811), Jesse (1756-1832), Calvin (1758-1786), and John (1760-1822).
After his father died in 1773, Luther went to live with his eldest brother Daniel in Bernardson, Province of Massachusetts Bay, the part that was later incorporated as the town of Leyden, Franklin County, Massachusetts. While residing there in June or July 1778, Luther volunteered for six months and served in a Corps, commanded by Lieutenant Amasa Camp, raised under requisition of the Governor of Massachusetts to guard the munitions of war stored at nearby Springfield and other purposes. Luther marched first to Springfield where he served for a short time, thence he went as a guard of some stores being removed to Boston. After remaining in Boston about one week, he marched to Brookfield, Massachusetts where he was employed in guarding a magazine of ammunition for a short time. He then was ordered to Rutland, Worcester County, Massachusetts where he was employed in guarding the British troops taken with Burgoyne's Army in 1777. Thence he returned to Brookfield where he served the remainder of his full term of six months.
In the summer of 1779, Luther moved back to Lebanon, New London County, Connecticut where he had formerly resided and where his mother and family still resided. About the time he arrived in Lebanon, his brother was drafted for two months. Luther was induced to take his brother's place as his substitute in a Company commanded by Captain Elias Bliss, Lieutenant Colonel William Ledyard's Regiment. Luther marched to Groton Fort, opposite New London, Connecticut, where he served guarding the fort and as a sentinel guarding the sea shore for two months.
In the summer of 1780, Luther enlisted and served on board the 18 gun 90 men Privateer Sloop Randolph commanded by Captain Nicholas Bostwick of New London. They sailed out of New London and stole out between two or three British frigates which lay off of Stonington blockading both harbors. They sailed off back of Long Island and while off Sandy Hook, they captured the British Privateer Hibernia and re-captured a Franch vessel taken by the British. After being out one month, they returned to New London with their prizes. They also captured and sent in two small schooners during that cruise.
During the War Luther also studied medicine at Hartford, Connecticut. Near the War's close, in 1782-3, he married widow Pamelia (Larrabee) Kennedy by whom he had 6 children (2 sons and 4 daughters): Charlotte (1783-1800), Luther (1786-1827), Pamelia (b. 1788), Calvin (1790-1836), Roxy (1792-1800), and Laura (Lorain) (1794-1861).
In September 1783, he moved to Sunderland, Bennington County, Vermont. After staying in Sunderland 5 months, in 1784, he moved to Whitehall, Washington County, New York. In 1804, he moved on to Shoreham, Addison County, Vermont and after remaining there 7 years to Bristol, in the same county.
He was Bristol's Representative to the Vermont General Assembly, 1816.
References:
(1) "Genealogical Memoir of the Newcomb Family containing records of Nearly Every Person of the Name in America from 1635 to 1874." by John Bearse Newcomb, 1874, pages 46, 71-74 and 156-157
(2) US Federal Military Pension File No. S.18,527
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