He was born on Appledore Island, also known as Hog Island, one of the Isles of Shoals in 1665. He is believed to have moved with his parents and siblings to Kittery on the mainland in 1669. He would have been 4 years old.
From all indications, Appledore, due most likely to its remoteness, has changed little from the days when Simon might have toddled on its sparse grasses. This 96 acre island serves today as the Shoals Marine Laboratory, associated with the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, MA.
Kittery, ME, on the other hand, is now an exit off of I-95, known here as the Maine Turnpike. Through the resources provided by Google Maps, I was able to locate the site of Andrew Newcomb's property in Kittery from the description provided in the Genealogical Memoir of the Newcomb Family, originally published by John Bearse Newcomb in 1874 - as follows:
"This place in Kittery, York Co., Me., is on the southeast side of the mouth of Spinney Creek, and bounded westerly by the Piscataqua River, about half a mile from the city of Portsmouth"
This view is what a 9 year old Simon and his father Andrew might have experienced coming out of Spinney Creek into the river in 1674, with the notable exception of the I-95 bridge which now enters Portsmouth, NH at the right. The property which was owned by Andrew is on the left.
In 1674-5, after Simon's mother died, his father would move again to Edgartown on a much larger island in Massachusetts, Martha's Vineyard, where Simon would grow to adulthood and marry.Google's Street View offers this glimpse from Edgartown, of Chappaquiddick, on which island Simon is known to have had sizable holdings where he raised cattle.
Simon's last move, described briefly in my last entry, was in 1713, to Lebanon, CT where he established himself and several members of his family. He would live there until his death in the winter of 1744-45.
Next, I promise, we will explore the life and movements of Simon's sons, including my ancestor, "Deacon" John.
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