An American Family History

Rebecca Waters Whitcomb was born in February, 1643/44 in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Her parents were Lawrence Waters and Ann Linton.

She married Josiah Whitcomb on November 4, 1664 in Lancaster. Josiah was the son of John Whitcomb. He was born in 1638 in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Josiah's father was drowned on April 7, 1683.

Upon y 7th of April 1683 Lancaster.A Jury of Inquest was Caled to giue in their virdict concerning ye untimely death of John Whitcomb, we whose names are underwriten doe by what we understand by ye brother of ye deceased by name Jonathan Whitcomb and one more by name George huse who was standing on ye shore and saw how ye said John Whitcomb felle into ye water, do here unanimously give in our virdict thus, that ye sd John Whitcomb and Jonathan Whitcomb being bringing some hay ouer ye river upon two canooes indeavoring to pull them over by a rope which was fastned to a bough at ye riuer side, but ye cannooes sinking ye said John Whitcomh falling into ye river was by a providence of god drownded in pennecuk river this instant Aprill.

Rebecca and Josiah's children were Josiah Whitcomb (1665), Josiah Whitcomb (1666), David Whitcomb (1668), Rebecca Whitcomb Houghton (1671),  Johanna Whitcomb Joslin (1674), Hezekiah Whitcomb (1681), Deborah Whitcomb (1683), Damaris Whitcomb Walder, Mary Whitcomb, and Abigail Whitcomb White.

During Queen Anne’s war they had a garrison in southeast Bolton.

Josiah died in 1718. Rebecca died in 1726.

Josiah Whitcomb, son of John Whitcomb (i). was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, in 1638, and is believed to be the youngest son. He accompanied his father's family from Scituate to Lancaster in 1654, and his name appears variously in the records of Lancaster. In 1688 he received a bounty for killing a wolf. He was named in an action for damages for killing swine belonging to Stephen Gates.

He married January 4, 1664, in Lancaster. Rebecca Waters, daughter of Lawrence and Ann (Linton) Waters, of Watertown, Lancaster and Charlestown. She was born February, 1640.

During Queen Anne's war (1702-17) he was allowed a garrison for protection against the Indians. This garrison was situated in what is now called Bolton, set off from Lancaster in 1738. He lived in the southeastern part of Bolton. He was commander of the garrison.

In 1705 he was selectman and in 1708 he and twenty-nine others signed the church covenant. In 1710 he was elected deputy to the general court. He died in 1718. In his will made March 20, 1718. he gave to each of his children one-eighth part of his right to land in Littleton. His widow died in 1726. His posterity is very numerous, thought to be the most numerous of the sons of John Whitcomb. There is a gravestone in the Bolton graveyard marking his burial place.

His children were:
1. Josiah. born November 12, 1665; died same day.
2. Josiah. born January 7, 1667; married (first) 1690. Mary -; second Elizabeth; he died April 12, 7718; widow married (second), March 25, 1719, Jabez Fairbanks, of Lancaster, Massachusetts.
3. David
4. Rebecca, born November 12. 7671; married Jacob Houghton, 1704.
5. Johannah. born March 8, 1674: married, December 26, 1708, Peter Joslin; died September 24,. 1717.
6. Hezekiah. born September 14, 1681; married Hannah ; lived in Bolton, where he was prominent in the church, died previous to June 20, 1732; had eight children.
7. Deborah, born December 26. 1683; probably died young.
8. Damaris; married, in Marlboro, Nathaniel Wilder.
9. Mary, named in father's will.
10. Abigail, born March 13, 1687-8; married Josiah White, June 26, 1706. rt. Eunice.