[2931.ftw]
[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 27, Ed. 1, Tree #2931, Date of Import: Jan 2, 2000]
Ref: Whitcomb Family- New England Gen.-- Cutter
John Whitcomb, the immigrant ancestor was undoubtedly of English birth and the name was originally spelled Whetcombe.
John Whitcomb settled in Dirchester, MA and was a Church member there in 1635. This and the birth of his youngest son Josiah, which occurred in 1638 are the only events of his family life recorded during the years he lived in Dorchester. Later evidence shows him to have been well-to-do for the times, a man of intelligence and enterprise, much given to buying and selling land.
In 1640 he removed to Scituate and acquired much land. He was made Constable and admitted a freeman 6-3-1652. In 1654, having sold some of his land, and giving the rest to son Robert, he moved to Lancaster where he had made a land purchase 2 years before when the town was laid out.
Not all his children accompanied him to Lancester. Catherine married and settled in Scituate. Robert remained in Scituate and later settled in Boston. He was not mentioned in either his father's or Mother's wills. His father had given him land in Scituate when he moved to Lancaster, and there may have been some estrangement because of religion, for he was in sympathy with the Quakers, and his father and brothers were Puritans. Robert m. Mary Cudworth, b. 7-23-1637, d. of General James Cudworth, who were Quakers- and they were married by the Quaker form. not then accepted as legal by the Puritan authorities. After prosecution, he was obliged to have a civil ceremony performed 3-9-1660. The Quaker minister also was prosecuted as well as Ezekiel Main, the witness.
Jonathan and Job settled in Wethersfield, CT. and James in Boston.
John Whitcomb 
