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JAMES WHITCOMB (c. 1668–1728), son of ROBERT WHITCOMB and MARY CUDWORTH

MARY PARKER (c. 1667–1729), daughter of WILLIAM PARKER and MARY TURNER

James Whitcomb was the son of Robert Whitcomb and Mary Cudworth.1 He was born about 1668. He died on 26 June 1728, age 60, in Rochester.2 He married Mary Parker on 22 November 1694 in Scituate.3,4

Mary Parker was the daughter of William Parker and his second wife Mary Turner.5 She was born about 1666/7. She died on 30 November 1729, age 62 in Rochester.2

James Whitcomb is mentioned in the will of his grandfather General James Cudworth.

A 20 May 1694 Plymouth county deed says, "I Mary Parker, daughter of William deceased upon consideration and permission of my mother sold to my brother William Parker all my right in the estate of my father." Mary Parker, otherwise Whitcomb, acknowledged this deed on 1 February 1703/4.5

James Whitcomb, setwork cooper of Rochester, made his will on 22 September 1727. He left bequests to his wife Mary, his daughter Mary Davis, the two daughters of his deceased daughter Joanna Chapman and his sons Nathaniel, James and Robert Whitcomb. He named his sons Nathaniel and James his executors. His witnesses deposed on 16 and 18 September 1729 and Nathaniel and James were granted administration on 5 December 1730.6

Children of James Whitcomb and Mary Parker: Births of first five recorded in Scituate.4

i. James Whitcomb was born on 31 August 1695. He died on 22 October 1696 in Scituate.4

ii. Nathaniel Whitcomb (twin) was born on 19 August 1697 in Scituate. He died on 18 March 1722. He married first Rosilla Coombs. He married second Phebe Blackmer.

iii. James Whitcomb (twin) was born 21 August 1697 in Scituate.1,7 He married first Mercy Winslow on 15 August 1721 in Rochester.2,7 Mercy, the daughter of Samuel (Kenelm, Kenelm) Winslow and Mercy King, was born on 16 August 1705.8 Mercy, the wife of James died on 20 September 1726, age 21, in Rochester.2,8 James married second Jean Spooner of Dartmouth on 12 July 1727 in Darthmouth or Rochester.2,7 She was born on 12 May 1703 in Dartmouth.7 He married third Mercy [Mary] Winslow after 15 December 1728 (intention).7 Mary, the wife of James and daughter of Josiah Winslow died on 20 April 1729, age 28, in Rochester,2 He married fourth Sarah (Winslow) Lincoln on 31 May 1731.2,7,9

The recorder of the town records commented on the peculiarity of Nathaniel being born on 19 August and his twin two days later.9

James and Sarah had seven children.7

iv. Joanna Whitcomb (twin) was born on 22 March 1699/70. She died before 22 September 1727. She married Unknown Chapman.

v. Mary Whitcomb (twin) was born on 22 March 1699/70. She married Robert Davis.9

vi. Robert Whitcomb married Joanna Lawrence on 13 January 1731/2 in Rochester.2

References:

1. Samuel Deane, History of Scituate, Massachusetts: From its First Settlement to 1831 (Boston: James Loring, 1831), 382.

2. Vital Records of Rochester: To the Year 1850, 2 vols. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1914), vol. 2: 311, 316, 443–4.

3. "Marriages at Scituate, Massachusetts," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 18 (1864): 286.

4. Vital Records of Scituate, Massachusetts: To the Year 1850, 2 vols. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1909), vol. 1: 407 (births), vol. 2: 323 (marriage), vol. 2: 467 (death).

5. Mrs. John E. Barclay, "William Parker of Scituate, Mass.," The American Genealogist 41 (1965), 102–6.

6. "Plymouth County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1686–1881," database with images, AmericanAncestors, case 22489 (https://www.americanancestors.org/DB1558/i/20959/22489-co1/426524306), citing records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.

7. "Mayflower Families Fifth Generation Descendants, 1700–1880," online database, AmericanAncestors, vol. 18, part 3, p. 78, citing Mayflower Families Through Five Generations: Descendants of the Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth, Mass., December 1620 (Plymouth, MA: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1975–2015).

8. Lucius R. Paige, "Winslow Family," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 26 (1872), 70–71.

9. Mary Lovering Holman, The Scott Genealogy (Boston: n.p., 1919), 254–5.

Last revised: 06-May-2021