Story
Between 1620 and 1676
William Titcomb came from Newbury, Berkshire, England, in 1634. According to Savage, he had taken passage in the Mary and John, from London, on the 24th of March, 1634, but was casually deprived of the opportunity, and came next month in the Hercules. [This would have had him about 14 years of age in 1634.]
He settled in Quascacumquen, which was incorporated the following year as the town of Newbury, named in honor of the Rev. Thomas Parker, the first minister who had preached for some time in Newbury, England before coming to America. William Titcomb's name is in the list of original proprietors who had grants of eighty acres or less. In 1670, the town granted to "William Titcomb and Amos Stickney the little pine swamp, to be their property, with skirts of the common, provided they make and maintain a sufficient fence about the hole for the safety of the cattle from time to time." The pine swamp is the tract of land on the south side of Oak Hill cemetery, and was, it appears, surrounded by the common.
William Titcomb was a farmer. He was made a freeman June 22, 1642. In 1646 he was chosen a selectman, and probably filled that office at other times, as his name appears in the list of selectmen of 1675-6, who were instructed by the Council to see about fortifying from Merrimac River to Charlestown River. At a general meeting of the freemen, he was chosen, with others "to be a committee for the towne to view the passages into Plum Island, and to inform the courte by way of petition concerning the righte the towne hath to the said island," etc.
William Titcomb married Joanna, daughter of Richard Bartlett, Sen., of Newbury (see account of the Bartletts). Their children were:
Sarah, who married Thomas Treadwell (the second) of Ipswich;
Hannah (she probably died young, as her father, in his will, mentions Sarah and Mary as his eldest daughters);
Mary married John, son of John Poore of Newbury (see account of the Poores);
Mellicent, died at 17 years of age;
William, died at 11 years of age;
Penuel, married Lydia, daughter of John Poore; and
Benaiah, married Sarah Brown, probably a daughter of the first Richard; Mrs. Titcomb died June 28, 1653, the day of Benaiah's birth.
William Titcomb married, March 3, 1654, Mrs. Elizabeth Stevens (born Bitfield), probably the widow of William Stevens.
The children of William and Elizabeth were:
Elizabeth, married Samuel, son of Richard Bartlett, Jun.;
Rebecca, married Nathaniel Treadwell (she was his second wife);
Tirzah, married first, Thomas, son of Richard Bartlett, Jun., second, James, son of James Ordway; William, married Ann, daughter of William Cottle (William Cottle was a son of Edward of Salisbury, Mass.);
Thomas, married Mary Dam; Lydia, married Jonathan Clark; and Ann.1
William Titcomb died Sept. 24, 1676. Judge Samuel Sewall, in his "Diary," says that he died "Sabbath day, after about a fortnight's sickness of the Fever and Ague," and "one week or thereabout lay regardless of any person and in great pain."
His will was made six days before his death. After giving legacies to eleven of his children, he says:
"I give to my loving and dear wife the third of all my lands for her use and benefit, with the third of my housing during her natural life, and then to return unto my heirs.
"Lastly, I do make and hereby apoynt my sonne Penuel Titcomb to be my Heir to enjoy all my land and housing and all my estate besides, whom I do hereby apoynt my holl and solle executor to reseve all my estate in lands and house goods and drafts whom I do order and apoynt by this my will to pay all my debts that I doe owe, and all the legacies that I have given according to the true intent of this my will, and that this is my last will and testament, having my perfect memory and understanding witness my hand.
"I add to what is above written before my signing here of, that in case my heir should decease without children all my land and housing should be posesed and enjoyed by my sonne Benia otherwise Benomena or by the next eldest surviving at the death.