Holbrook line: Daniel Comstock abt 1624-1683

Contrary to what most websites say, Daniel Comstock was born before (probably shortly before) July 21, 1624 in Uxbridge, Middlesex, England.  His parents were William and Elizabeth Daniel Comstock. He was probably in New England by 1639, when his father has records in Wetherfield, Connecticut, but because he was underage there don't seem to be records of his arrival here.

The first we know of Daniel for sure is that he was in Providence, Rhode Island in 1645, but we don't know why he was there.  It's possible that he served as an indentured servant to one of the other families in the settlement.  He was granted 25 acres of land there in 1645, and was there in 1648 when John Elderkin, his future father in law, took Robert Williams to Daniel's home to sleep off the effects of too much alcohol.   That same year, he was fined for making a false report of an Indian attack.

John married Palthiah Elderkin probably in Providence about 1653, as their first daughter is thought to have been born in 1654.  The family stayed in Providence for a few years and then moved on to Norwich, Connecticut.  Daniel was selling land about 1657 and that may be when the family moved.

Daniel and Palthiah's family was large but there are differing opinions on just how large it was.  Most seem to agree there were at least 11 children, and some add more.  At any rate, Daniel and Palthiah were kept busy with their young brood.  We don't know what his occupation was but perhaps he worked with his father in law.  Elderkin was a ship's carpenter, and if Daniel followed the same trade, that could explain why he moved to Norwich and then on to New Haven, following the work.

He was made a freeman in New Haven, Connecticut in 1669.  If he hadn't been a freeman in the other towns, this would have been his first chance to vote.  We don't know whether he was involved in King Philip's War, or any of the earlier skirmishes between the colonists and the natives.  He would have been at least 50 years old when the war started and perhaps he was excused from duty because of his age.  Many Connecticut men were called to duty, either to fight the Indians or to stay behind and protect the families left behind, so it would not be totally unexpected if he took one of these roles.

Daniel died, probably in New Haven, in 1683.  His inventory was taken there in November, and valued at almost 222 pounds.  Most of the value appears to have been in real estate, including plots of 100 acres and 150 acres of land.  His wife was to have control of the estate to assist her in raising their younger children, at least three of whom were minors.

Many times the second and third generations of immigrants are more difficult to trace than the original settler was, so we can be grateful for the bits and pieces we have here.  We don't know whether he was a church member, nor do we know whether he was literate, nor his occupation.  But we know he adjusted to his new life and contributed to the story of our family.  Perhaps more will be found in the future, but this is at least a start.

The line of descent is:

Daniel Comstock-Palthiah Elderkin
Kingsland Comstock-Mary Atwell
Kingsland Comstock-Rachel Crocker
Rachel Comstock-John Eames
John Eames-Elizabeth Longbottom
Hannah Eames-James Lamphire
Susan Lamphire-Joseph Eddy
Susan Eddy-Hiram Stanard
Louis Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick
Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants