from
History of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Biographical
NY: The American Historical Society, Inc.
1920
pp. 424 - 425:
"RICHARD BORDEN COMSTOCK -- For forty years a practitioner at the Rhode
Island bar, located in Providence, Mr. Comstock has as persistently and
ably fought the peaceful battles of the courts as his father, Captain
Joseph Jesse Comstock, fought the elements while in command of coastwise
and ocean steamships. In the seventh American generation the Comstocks
developed their nautical strain, Jesse Comstock, son of Benjamin Comstock,
being captain of a packet running between Providence and New York, while
his brother, Captain William Comstock, was one of the noted navigators and
builders of his day. Captain William Comstock first followed the sea as
cabin boy, was captain of the 'Fulton', and built the 'Massachusetts', a
side-wheeler of which he was very proud, it being said that every stick of
timber in her bore his initials, W. C. He was in command of the
'Massachusetts' and also built the 'Mohegan' and the 'Rhode
Island', all of
these running between Providence and New York. He was captain of the
packets 'Juno' and 'Venus', and after retiring from active life on the sea
was for many years agent at Providence for the New York and New Jersey
Steam Navigation Company, and for a time president of both the Merchants'
Insurance Company and the Commercial National Bank. His brother, Captain
Jesse Comstock, was less widely known, but Captain Joseph Jesse Comstock,
son of Captain Jesse Comstock, bore general reputation as one of the most
able masters and navigators of his day. One of his sons, Captain Charles
Cook Comstock, was captain of the steamer, 'Golden Gate', and died in
Panama in 1873. Richard Borden Comstock, brother of Captain Charles
Comstock, is the only one of his family to have embraced a profession, no
other lawyer appearing in the records of this branch.
The line of descent to Richard Borden Comstock, of the ninth generation, is
traced to William Comstock, who, going from Watertown, Mass., is first of
record at Wethersfield, Conn., in 1641. The line of descent is through his
son, Samuel Comstock, of Hartford, Conn., and Providence, R. I.; his son,
Captain Samuel Comstock, of Providence, R. I. his son, Captain John
Comstock, of Providence; his son, Samuel Comstock, of Providence, who
married a great-granddaughter of Chad Brown; his son, Benjamin Comstock, of
Providence; his son, Captain Jesse Comstock, whose youngest son, Jesse
Comstock, was lost in the burning of the ship 'Lexington', January 13,
1840; his son, Captain Joseph Jesse Comstock, of further mention, father of
Richard Borden Comstock, of Providence.
Captain Joseph Jesse Comstock was born in Providence, February 12, 1811,
and died in New York City, August 16, 1868. He early emulated the example
of his father and uncle, both masters of vessels, and while yet a young man
was captain of a Sound steamer running between Providence and New
York. Later he was in command of the 'Baltic' and 'Adriatic',
transatlantic steamships, the 'Adriatic' being the second largest steamship
afloat at the time of her launching. Captain Comstock commanded the
'Baltic' during the Civil War, his ship being used as a government
transport. While carrying troops the 'Baltic' was often in the war zone,
and from her decks, Richard Borden Comstock, who accompanied his father on
all his southern trips witnessed the fall of Port Royal, New Orleans, and
Charleston. Captain Comstock married (first) Ellen Cowin, born in
Liverpool, England, December 21, 1815, died in Providence, February 23,
1837. He married (second) Maria S. Taber, born April 21, 1814, daughter of
Captain John R. Taber, of Fairhaven, Mass. Children: Joseph, born in
1836, died in 1837; Joseph Jesse, major in the Fourteenth Regiment, Rhode
Island Heavy Artillery, during the Civil War, died March 14, 1903; Charles
Cook, captain of the 'Golden Gate', died in Panama in 1873; Ellen, born in
1842, died Aug. 22, 1863, married Admiral J. N. Miller, of the United
States Navy, now deceased; Adelaide H., died in Feb., 1918; Emma Russell,
deceased; Frank, deceased; Frederick Hunter, deceased; Amelia Townsend,
deceased; Richard Borden, of further mention.
Richard Borden Comstock, youngest child of Captain Joseph Jesse Comstock
and his second wife, Maria S. (Taber) Comstock, was born in Jersey City, N.
J., February 15, 1854. During his early life, prior to the death of his
father in 1868, he made many voyages on the 'Baltic' and other steamships
his father commanded, but later devoted his time to school work, several
years being spent in boarding schools at Ridgefield, Conn., Yonkers, N. Y.,
and Lawrenceville, N. H. His preparation for college was completed at
Mowry and Goff's English and Classical School, of Providence, and in 1872
he entered Brown University. He was graduated A. B., class of 1876, and
immediately began the study of law under the preceptorship of Elisha C.
Mowry, an eminent lawyer of Providence. He was admitted to the Rhode
Island bar in 1878, his practice having been continuous since that
date. In 1881 he was admitted to practice in the Federal Courts of the
district, and in 1892 formed a partnership with Rathbone Gardner. Comstock
& Gardner ranked among the most important legal firms of the State until
April 1, 1905, when he formed his present association, Comstock & Canning,
with offices at No. 926 Grosvenor building. Mr. Comstock is a member of
the various bar associations of his city and State, is a Democrat in
politics, and in 1892-93 represented the city of Providence in the State
Senate. During 1915 and 1916 he served as president of the Rhode Island
Bar Association, and is now filling his second term as head of that
association, his term expiring in 1920. In social as well as professional
circles he is widely acquainted, being a member of the Hope, University,
Turk's Head, Providence Art, Wannamoisett Country, and Rhode Island Country
clubs. While a student at Brown University, he was elected to membership
in the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, and the Phi Beta Kappa. Notwithstanding
the engrossing nature of his professional work, Mr. Comstock found time for
outside activities, and upon the entry of the United States into the World
War he became a member of the partnership for victory formed by the
citizens of the county. His response to every need, whether of the
government or organizations working among the soldiers and sailors, was
immediate and effective. His enthusiastic, confident leadership was felt
in all of the splendid work that stands lastingly to Rhode Island's credit,
and particularly in the five Liberty Loans was his work valuable. The
record of his patriotic service throughout the war is a worthy supplement
to a lifetime of distinguished professional work.
Mr. Comstock married, July 19, 1883, Alice Green, daughter of Samuel S.
Green, until his retirement professor of languages at Brown University and
author of 'Green's Grammar'. Mr. and Mrs. Comstock are the parents of
three daughters: Marjorie Stuart, a graduate of Smith College, class of
1907, married Henry C. Hart, a lawyer of Providence; Louise Howard, a
graduate of Smith College, 1909, married Langford T. Alden, of Little
Compton, R. I.; Alice May, a graduate of Smith College, 1912, now (1919)
in Young Men's Christian Association work in France."
illustration on facing page:
photo, Richard B. Comstock
for more information "A History and Genealogy of the Comstock Family in
America":
http://free.prohosting.com/~comstock/book/index.html
from the RI Historical Cemeteries Database Index:
COMSTOCK, JOSEPH J, CAPT 1811 - 18 AUG 1868 PV001
COMSTOCK, MARIA S (TABER) 1814 - 18 JUN 1911 PV001
COMSTOCK, RICHARD BORDEN 1854 - 17 MAR 1923 PV001
COMSTOCK, ALICE (GREENE) 1858 - 19 MAR 1938 PV001
HART, MARJORIE STEWAR (COMSTOCK*) 1884 - 31 JAN 1939 PV003
ALDEN, LOUISE (COMSTOCK) 1889 - 18 JUN 1945 PV001
COMSTOCK, ALICE MAY 1890 - 7 MAY 1964 PV001