JACOB NEWCOMER By Chessie Pollary and Caroleen May Jacob was born in Ohio in the year 1805. He was the son of Christopher Newcomer. His mother’s maiden name was probably Wilkins, the daughter of Michael Wilkins. As heirs of “Michael Wilkins an ancestor,” the names of Jacob and his siblings appeared on a land document. (LDS FHL Franklin Parish, La. Land Rec. Film 904480, P. 96-97) Land deeds for Concordia Parish, Louisiana show that the first Newcomer family came to Louisiana before 1802. This land belonged to Ann Newcomer, Jacob’s grandmother. His grandfather was not on the 1810 Census nor was his name on the records for the land. She already owned the land when a Jacob Newcomer obtained 240 acres joining her land on March 15, 1802. Both sections of land bordered the banks of the Mississippi River. (LDS FHL Film 858690, P. 19) This Jacob might be Jacob’s grandfather, but his name was not on the land record instead of Ann’s. Almost always, the land was in the husband’s name. No further record of this Jacob was found. Some evidence indicates the grandfather’s name might be Christopher. There might be a chance he went by both of these names. Ann did name one son Christopher and one Jacob. Jacob’s grandmother’s maiden name might be Ann Summy. When Ann Newcomer was found in Louisiana, she had younger children still living at home with her. Jacob’s father, Christopher, did not move from Ohio to Louisiana until after Jacob’s birth in 1805. The easiest route to travel from Ohio to Louisiana would be, by a barge, flat bottomed boat or a large raft, down the Ohio River to the Mississippi River, floating right to Concordia Parish where Ann Newcomer lived. Jacob’s family arrived in Concordia Parish, Louisiana sometime prior to 1807. On the 1810 Census for Concordia Parish, (LDS FHL Film 181355, page 159) the head of household names of Christopher Newcomer, John Newcomer and Mrs. Newcomer appear living next to each other. It showed that Jacob’s father Christopher had four children and no wife was listed. Jacob’s mother was probably away from home when the census was taken or the census taker made a mistake. We know that she was the mother of at least nine children according to this censes and the 1820 census, along with the list of heirs of Michael Wilkins. All four of the children on this census were under ten years of age. The two sons would be Jacob and his brother Michael. Mary was one of the daughters, but the second has not been identified and was not found on future records. We assume this child either died or married young. Jacob’s father Christopher was between twenty-six and forty-five years of age on this census. Jacob’s Uncle John and his wife, were between sixteen and twenty-six years of age. They had a young daughter under five. Next to John was Jacob’s grandmother, Mrs. Newcomer who was listed as being over forty-five years of age. She had her two youngest sons still living at home, who were between ten and sixteen years of age. These would be Michael and George Newcomer. Jacob’s grandmother owned enough land to let her children build a home. This would be one reason why they are next to each other on the census. It was a custom, at this time, to section off land this way. It was a good way to keep the family close. Jacob’s Uncle John moved to the neighboring Parish of Catahoula by the spring of 1812. He was followed in 1814 by Jacob’s father Christopher. From a book called “First Settlers of Catahoula Parish, Louisiana 1808-1839" (LDS FHL Book 976.374 R2k, P. 97, 545C) we found the following account. It was undated; therefore we recorded the date from the entrees before and after. It was telling of an earlier time, but was recorded between August 2, 1825 and September 5,1825: John Newcomer for $700 paid him by Joseph Beiler for two improvements and rights of preference with the crop on both improvements, with house and stock of hogs (150 head) on Bayou Mason [Macon]... the improvements made by Joseph Kimble sometime in the Spring of 1812, and sold to me in the winter of the same year and it being the place where I have resided from then to now... The other improvement made by Christian [Christopher] Newcomer, Sen. who made the improvement sometime in the year 1814... the two improvements adjoining each other... Witness: Thomas H. Lovet. Joseph Kimble built a house in the spring of 1812, selling it that winter to Jacob’s uncle John Newcomer. Two years later, a second house was built in 1814 adjoining Jacob’s uncle John’s house by his father Christopher. On the Catahoula Parish Census for 1820, (LDS FHL Film 181357, P. 19 and 20) Jacob’s father Christopher and his Uncle John were living next to each other and his Uncle Jacob was near by. This confirms what was found in the book “First Settlers of Catahoula Parish, Louisiana 1808-1839". John now had four children and Jacob had two. On this census, Jacob’s father was over forty-five years of age, his wife was between twenty-six and forty-five years of age. The children now numbered nine. There were thirteen living in this household. Two young men, between sixteen and twenty-six were living with them. This would be Jacob’s two uncles that were living with his grandmother on the 1810 Census. His grandmother, Ann Newcomer evidently died sometime between the 1810 and 1820 Census and Jacob’s father took these two young men into their home. Jacob’s uncle, John Newcomer, lived in this residence for thirteen years before selling. Jacob’s father lived next door with his family up to 1829, about fifteen years. Both of these houses, barns, sheds, or whatever, adjoined each other. Jacob would have been nine years old when the home was built and he spent the rest of his childhood living on this farm. Most likely these improvements were log or split log homes. Homes in Louisiana, and especially being near the Bayou Macon would be built on stilts to keep them free from the damp ground, rain or flooding. Most of these old places had a porch clear across the front. Prior to the Civil War, levies were not commonly built to protect the land. There would be some swampy and some heavily wooded areas. Fertile land and needed water for crops made this a good place to farm. They could hunt and fish. Another account from “First Settlers of Catahoula Parish, Louisiana 1808-1839" (LDS FHL Book 976.374 R2k, P. 110 662C) between April 17, 1829 and June 4, 1829 tells: James Corbit for $150 paid him by Joseph Beiller sells improvement of land lying on Bayou Mason, [Macon]... settled and improved by Christian [Christopher] Newcomer previous to the year 1829, and adjoining lands claimed by William M. Smith and now in possession of Beiller... Prior to 1825, Jacob’s father evidently sold the first place to his Uncle John, as John sold both improvements to Joseph Beiller. As the family had outgrown the size of the home, he built a second one on the same bayou. Then prior to 1829, this home was sold to James Corbit, then to Joseph Beiller who was now the owner of all three places. They were living on Bayou Macon in Catahoula Parish. Catahoula was much larger at this time and included most of what is now Franklin Parish. This Bayou comes down from the top of the state bordering several parishes, before going through Franklin Parish where it empties into the Tennas River. This area became Franklin Parish in 1843 due to a parish division. Now a grown man, Jacob married Mary Ann Castrey about 1827. On a deed found in Franklin Parish, Louisiana, (LDS FHL Film 904484, P. 96-97) dated January 6, 1851, we finally found her maiden name. This document gave her full name and said she was the wife of Jacob Newcomer. She was born in Louisiana according to census records. We have been unable to find anything on her family except for a man named Castre (no first name) from Louisiana, served in the War of 1812. On the 1830 Census Records for Louisiana, the only Newcomer listed was that of Jacob’s Uncle Jacob in Concordia Parish. There were a number of Newcomer families missing from this census making research difficult. Searching surrounding states did not help. Information handed down in the family, indicates that Jacob’s place of residence was Larto Lake. This is a small community by a lake called Larto Lake in Catahoula Parish. It was a farming area west of the Black River across the river from the communities of New Era and Acme in Concordia Parish. Even today, it only has two stores, two churches and a school. There are swamps and the possibility of flooding, but the hunting and fishing are good. It is said that this is where Jacob and Mary lived when they had their children. On the 1840 Census, Jacob and Mary Ann are in Madison Parish. (LDS FHL Film 009690, P. 122) Jacob was listed as a farmer. For some unknown reason, the boys were left off this census. There are two daughters [Elizabeth and Catherine] between the ages of ten and fifteen and one daughter [Mary] under five years of age. [the sons: Aaron would be four and Henry three.] Another son was born the same year, but probably after this census was taken. His name was John. Later census records and Civil War records state that he was born in 1840, but the cemetery records, where he was buried, gave his birth as 1838. Living in Madison Parish by Jacob, are his brothers George and Mikel [Michael] along with his sister Nancy and her husband Christopher Aughtman [Aultman] all living close to each other. Abraham Newcomer lives in the same location. These families are listed on pages 122 and 123 of the census. Abraham’s parents are undocumented, but believed to be the same as Jacob’s. From the 1820 Census, there were nine children in the family of Jacob’s father, Christopher Newcomer. Abraham is of the right age to be the missing son of this family. Abraham moved his family to Texas after the 1840 Census. With no record of Jacob and Mary Ann’s family on the 1830 Census and their sons missing from the 1840 Census, we have no way of knowing how many children they had. Between their daughters Elizabeth and Catherine and the rest of the known family, there is a space of seven years. No probate which would list the children for Jacob or Mary Ann could be found. There is also the possibility that any children born during this period of time died. Their daughter Elizabeth married Charles Mc Elhaney on May 12 1846 in Marksville, Avoyelles Parish. (Brides Book Of Avoyelles Parrish, 976.371 V2l, P. 68) Three children were born to them, James born in 1847, Sarah Jane in 1849 and Mary Ann in 1851. [Elizabeth named the second daughter after her mother.] Several Newcomer families were living in Madison Parish up to this time, but in 1843 Franklin Parish was created from Catahoula and Madison Parishes. In this case, the parish name changed and they did not necessarily move in order to be found in Franklin Parish after this date. Then on April 13, 1848 Jacob Newcomer sold forty and 12/100 acres of land in Franklin Parish, to Michael Frank (LDS FHL Film 904484, P. 433-434) Their daughter Catherine married George W. Ford on September 21, 1849 in Franklin Parish. (Marriage Book A Franklin Parish, Louisiana 976.377 V25p) In 1850, they had a son they named George, after his father. The 1850 Census (LDS FHL Film 990698, P. 308, family #289) taken in Franklin Parish, lists Jacob as forty-five while Mary was forty-three years of age. They only had two children still living at home. Aaron was fourteen years and Mary thirteen years of age. The amount of Newcomer families living in Franklin Parish was growing. As mentioned before, Michael Wilkins, whom we believe is Jacob’s grandfather on his mother’s side, bought eight-two acres of land in 1810. This land bordered the mouth of the Great Miami River on the east of meridian, on the north by the lands of Peter Wilkins, and on the south by the middle of Paddys run. On a deed to sell this land, dated January 6, 1851, it states that Michael Wilkins was deceased by this date. Jacob and his brothers and sisters were heirs to land. Their [Uncle] Michael Wilkins purchased the land from Jacob’s family. Those mentioned on the deed were: Mary [Newcomer] Whitney, Michael Newcomer and his wife Elizabeth, George Newcomer and his wife Catherine, Jacob Newcomer and his wife Mary Ann, David [also found as David C.] Newcomer and his wife Cathleen, Christopher Newcomer, Christopher Aultman and his wife Nancy [Newcomer]. The sale of the land took place in Franklin Parish. (LDS FHL Film 904484, P. 96-97) We could not find a probate for Michael Wilkins, nor did we locate where the land was. The children were listed as Mary, Michael, George, Jacob, David, Christopher and Nancy. Another daughter found on the 1810 Census was not mentioned here, she appears to have died before 1820 or married and moved away prior to this sale like Abraham and his family, that moved to Texas. The land sold for $65.00. “It being an undecided tenth part thereof said tract and being about eighty-two acres.” In 1851, Jacob received payment in full for land he sold to Moses E. J. Walton and in return he gave him the deed. (LDS FHL Film 904484, page 213-214) Then on January 1, 1852, the note paid off, Jacob gave a deed to G. W. Ford (George) for the land he had purchased. George was a son-in-law, married to their daughter Catherine. (LDS FHL Film 904477, Book B 215) On March 21, 1854 Jacob made a request of the Franklin Parish Court for custody of their grandson George W. Ford. It stated that George W. Ford was deceased. No mention was made of their daughter Catherine, she probably died earlier. Jacob and Mary were granted guardianship of their grandson. He was just three to four years of age when they got custody of him. There was a Cholera epidemic in 1850-1851, killing many people in Louisiana. This may be the cause of death of Catherine and perhaps her husband as well. Their daughter Elizabeth lost her husband about this same time, leaving her with three young children. Perhaps, he too, died from the Cholera epidemic. She and her family did not move to the northern part of Louisiana as her parents. She was from Concordia Parish when she remarried. She married Elisha Harris on February 12, 1855, (LDS FHL Film 858679, P. 254) His first wife and two of his four children had died of Cholera. Elizabeth and Elisha had two more children, Andrew Jackson Harris born in 1855 in Avoyelles Parish and John Nick Harris born in 1857 in Catahoula Parish. A land deed recorded on April 23, 1857, (Catahoula Land Rec. 331K, P. 273) shows that Elizabeth’s husband Elisha purchased land in Catahoula Parish. This deed was witnessed by Charles Newcomer of Catahoula Parish. He has not been placed with any of the Newcomer families under the name of Charles. The only information found on Charles was his probate, where his land was being sold in 1869. No positive information has been found to identify him except, we know that Jacobs’ brother, David C. Newcomer, was living in Catahoula from the Catahoula Parish Agricultural Census taken in the year 1860. (LDS FHL Agricultural Census Film 1549555) If his middle initial C. stood for Charles, then this would be David C. Newcomer going by his second name. He would be Elizabeth’s uncle. Land records indicated that Jacob bought, sold and traded land several times. (LDS FHL F 904477, P. 7 of Index): In 1857 he sold land to W. D. Adams, which was a cash sale and the deed changed hands; On February 11, 1857 Jacob Newcomer and Isaac Collins exchanged land. Jacob traded eighty acres, while Collins traded seventy-nine and 99/100 acres; later that year, on September 8, 1857 Jacob sold a parcel of land that he owned in Tensas Parish to William D. Adams. Tensas Parish was created in 1843 from part of Concordia. Also, Bayou Macon passed through Tensas Parish at this time. The land he sold could be in any of the previous places mentioned in this history because of parish changes. On the 1860 Census for Carroll Parish, Louisiana (LDS FHL Film 009692, P. 411, Dwelling 864), Jacob, was age fifty-five and Mary, age fifty-two. They live in the town of Floyd. The only child living in their home was their grandson George W. Ford. He was now the age of ten and was listed as their ward. Jacob was no longer a farmer, but a grocery merchant. Their grandson George had attended school for one year. We also learn that Jacob and Mary can neither read nor write. Jacob’s real estate value amounted to $3,000.00. His personal property was worth another $3,000.00. His family appears to be the only Newcomer family living in Carroll Parish on this census. On February 27, 1861, Jacob and Mary sold two lots located on Torenty (?) and Whisky Street in the town of Floyd, in Carroll Parish to Ellis D. Hawn. Mr. Hawn paid them $300.00 cash and assumed the balance of the mortgage the Newcomers owed of $100.00. Both Jacob and Mary were present and signed this transaction with an X. A law passed on March 27, 1835 giving women certain rights was mentioned and Mary was taken by the Parish Recorder out of the presents and hearing of her husband and asked if she was in agreement with the sale of this property. This document was of great importance because this is where we found her maiden name of Castrey. (LDS FHL Film 311928, Vol. L, P. 251 and 252) Their son, Aaron, was on the 1850 Census with Jacob and Mary Ann, but Henry and John were not mentioned. All their sons were left off the 1840 Census. We know from the Harris family records of Andrew Jackson Harris, a grandson of Jacob and Mary that these three were their sons. Within a few months after the 1860 Census was taken, the country was in turmoil. The Civil War broke out in the spring in 1861. In the Civil War records for the state of Louisiana (LDS FHL Film 1305385, P. 1272) we found that Jacob and his three sons enlisted. Following is an account of information we found on each: A couple of months after the Civil War started Jacob Newcomer enlisted on September 23, 1861, (records at Richmond) as a Pvt. in Co. A, 14th Louisiana Infantry. The roll for November and December, 1861, reported him absent. “Was sent to Hospl., in Yorktown, and has not since been heard from.” Jacob enlisted July 27, 1861 (records at New Orleans, La.) The roll for January and February, 1862, “Reported absent sent to Hospl., in Yorkstown, not heard from since, date Oct. 21, 1861.” “Report of deaths, not dated, Died Dec. __, 1861, of Pneumonia. Born La.” [Jacob, about fifty-six years of age, had a nephew, named Jacob, that was born in 1840. Since this nephew was not located on the 1860 Louisiana Census, it is likely that the Civil War record Jacob and not his nephew. Jacob’s sons Henry, Aaron and John enlisted in the Civil War together on August 2, 1861, stating that their home was in Alexandria which is in Rapides Parish. Their records are at New Orleans, Louisiana. The record states that Henry Newcomer, a farmer, was a single, twenty-five year old young man when he enlisted. He was present on all rolls from November 1861 to April 1863. Then for the roll for May and June of 1863, he was reported absent and reported missing since the battle of Gettysburg. It was determined that he was a prison in the hands of the enemy. He had been taken prisoner at Gettysburg, Virginia and sent to Fort Delaware, Delaware. He was there from July 7 to July 12 before he was transferred to Pt. Lookout, Maryland where he died in a prison hospital a few months later on November 19, 1863. Aaron Newcomer, a farmer, was single and twenty-two years old when he enlisted. show that he was absent because he was sick. Later it states that he died at Lynchburg, Virginia-----1862. John Newcomer, the youngest, was single and twenty years old. He was present on all rolls to November 2, 1863. From that time until August 1864 he was absent and listed as sick. He was a detailed ambulance driver and was wounded by being shot in both legs. Perhaps during the ten months he was absent he was recuperating from his wounds. He changed his place of residence during this time to Avoyelles Parish where his sister Elizabeth lived. He was taken prisoner of war and paroled on April 10, 1865. When he was discharged, he was listed as disabled. His records give a detailed description of his appearance in 1865. He was twenty-five years of age, had eyes blue, gray hair, his complexion was dark, and his height was five feet eight inches. The Civil War took the lives of so many. Jacob was about fifty-six years of age at this time. Besides these deaths, their daughter Elizabeth lost her two daughters during the War. Elizabeth’s step-daughter, Florence, lost her husband, she had three small children. When John Newcomer, came home from the war he went back to Avoyelles Parish where his sister Elizabeth lived. The following year, he married her step-daughter Florence. John Newcomer and Florence were married November 22, 1866 in Marksville, Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana. (LDS FHL Film 864304, B 3, P. 285) Jacob and Mary Ann’s sons gave Alexandria as their place of residence when they enlisted in the Civil War. Alexandria is on the Red River. Their daughter Elizabeth and her family owned land on the Red River in the neighboring Parish of Avoyelles. There was no record of Elisha and Elizabeth on the 1860 Census, but other records confirm that they were in Avoyelles Parish before and after the War. Elisha was found as James on the 1850 Census and there is a possibility that he was James E. Harris living in Union Parish at the start of the War. This would place them thirty or forty miles from where the Newcomers lived. War ships came from the Mississippi and up the Red River to reach Alexandria. It was called the Red River Invasion. On May 13, 1864, the burning of Alexandria took place. During the War, their son John changed his residence from the town of Alexander in Rapides Parish to Avoyelles Parish. This was during the ten month period of time he was absent on the rolls for being sick. The Red River Invasion was a very good reason for moving. From a book called “Rapides Parish History,” (LDS FHL Book 976.369 H2e) we found out about the destruction that took place: “The scenes attending the burning of the city are appalling. Women gathered their helpless babes in their arms, rushing frantically through the streets with screams and cries that would have melted the hardest hearts to tears.... Were hurrying away from the suffocating heat of their burning dwellings and homes.... Owing to the simultaneous burning in every part of the city, the people found no security in the streets where the heat was so intense as almost to create suffocation. Everybody rushed to the river’s edge, being protected there from the heat by the high bank of the river. The steamboats lying at the landing were subjected to great annoyance, the heat being so great that the decks had to be flooded with water to prevent the boats from taking fire.... The march of the army from Alexandria to Fort De Russy was lighted up with the flames of burning buildings...” [This was in quotation marks in the book.] For historians the everlasting tragedy of the Red River Invasion was the destruction of records and printed materials. Rapides Parish Courthouse with records of the settling of the country and of all its inhabitants up to 1864 went up in flames. No matter how conscientious or zealous the research done nothing can ever supply the history contained in that Courthouse fire. Mary Ann Newcomer was last found on a document in 1861, when they sold two lots in Floyd, Louisiana. We have been unable to find further information on the Newcomers or their grandson George W. Ford, who was in their care. There was an order from the Court to seize and sell a frame building, house and one lot of ground situated in the town of Floyd, belonging to Jacob Newcomer. They listed Jacob as the defendant and someone from the Court represented him during the sale. It was a Sheriff’s Sale on the Court House steps. The property was taken because the taxes had not been paid. It would take only four years of not paying the taxes for a Sheriff’s sale to take place. On February 3, 1866, just months after the Civil War ended in 1865, (LDS FHL Carroll Parish Thirteenth District Court Records Film 311929, Vol. M, P. 363) the Sheriff received an order from the Court giving him: “a direct command to seize and sell the following described property belonging to the defendant Jacob Newcomer to wit. A certain frame building and house situated in the town of Floyd.... and a lot of ground.” ...the first Saturday, the seventh day of April A. D. 1866… I offered the same for sale in a public place whereupon Louis Eddins became the purchaser thereof for the price and sum of Three hundred Dollars cash in hand paid that being the full amount of the appraised value thereof and the said Eddins being the best and highest bidder for and in consideration of the premises and by virtue of the authority in me vested by the law of the State of Louisiana I do hereby sell and adjudicate unto the said purchaser all the rights title interest and claim which the said Jacob Newcomer has or had in and to said house....” W. W. Collins, Sheriff On October 19, 1866, the lot was seized and sold by the sheriff. The lot sold on January 5, 1867. (LDS FHL Carroll Parish Thirteenth District Court Records Film 311929, Vol. M, P. 513) The frame building was most likely a store since Jacob was listed as a grocery merchant on the 1860 Census. In the spring of 1861 the Civil War started. Even though no fighting took place in Louisiana during the first year of the War, Jacob probably enlisted, leaving Mary with the store. Later that year, he died, if he is the Jacob mentioned in the Civil War record. When the War reached Louisiana, a store would have been vandalized by the armies of both sides. Because of shortage of supplies, the armies took whatever they could for their own needs. If the attempt was made to restock the shelves, it would just be taken again, but most likely there was nothing obtainable to restock the store with. This would leave little doubt as to why the taxes were not paid. Perhaps the property had been abandoned during the War and they fled to a safer place. Efforts to locate further information ended in failure. What happened beyond this is unknown.