Clergy
Ezekiel Lockwood 1802–1877
Fourth Cousin Eight Times Removed
Ezekiel Lockwood was born on Aug. 22, 1802. Ezekiel passed away in 1877. He was buried in the Congressional Cemetery.
| Branch: USA | Unit: 2nd Regiment, District of Columbia Infantry | Rank: Chaplain |
| United States. National Park Service. The Civil War. Web. | ||
Richard Platt 1604–1684
Ancestor (0)
Richard Platt was baptized on May 6, 1604 in Ware, Hertfordshire, England. Richard married Mary Wood on Jan. 26, 1629 in Roydon, Essex, England. He passed away in 1684 in Milford, Connecticut.
A Special Compilation of the History and Genealogy of Richard Platt. Milford, 2003. 24. Web.Richard Platt and his own family left England by ship along with a large number of other Puritan families with the objective of settling in the new colonies of America. The group of which Richard was a part undoubtedly had the objective of settling in an area called Quinnipiac on Long Island Sound that became the town of New Haven, Connecticut. Having founded the New Haven Colony in 1638, Richard Platt then moved a little further west in 1639 to found the Milford Colony with 53 other Puritan families. |
 |
David Nelson Beach 1848–1926
Fourth Cousin Four Times Removed
David Nelson Beach was born on Nov. 30, 1848 in South Orange, New Jersey. David passed away on Oct. 18, 1926 in Southington, Connecticut at age 77. He was buried in Southington.
John Prideaux 1578–1650
Cousin (17)
John Prideaux passed away on Jul. 29, 1650 in Bredon, Worcestershire, England. His death was due to fever. He was buried on Aug. 15, 1650 in Bredon.
Seth Whitney 1765–1835
Seventh Great Uncle
Seth Whitney was born on May 3, 1765 in New York. Seth married Elizabeth Strang on Nov. 17, 1792 in New York. He passed away on May 20, 1835 in New York at age 70.
William Wistar Comfort 1874–1955
Sixth Cousin Thrice Removed
William Wistar Comfort was born on May 27, 1874 in Pennsylvania. William married Mary Lawton Fales in 1902. He passed away on Dec. 24, 1955 in Pennsylvania at age 81.
"Biographical Note." Haverford College, Apr. 2006. Web.
William Wistar Comfort (1874-1955), son of Howard and Susan Foulke Wistar Comfort, was born in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa. and raised a Quaker, attending Meeting as a youth at the Meeting at Coulter and Greene Streets in Germantown . He graduated from Haverford College in 1894 and received a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1902. His thesis was titled: “The Development of the Character Types in the French Chansons de Geste.” In 1902, he married Mary Lawton Fales. He returned to his alma mater (Haverford) to teach from 1897-1898, also 1902-1909, took many trips abroad and taught Romance Languages at Cornell University, 1909-1917. In 1917 he returned to Haverford to serve as its president until 1940, thus spanning the two World Wars. He often lectured on Quaker topics at the college.
Comfort was an elder, later minister in the Society of Friends. He was Clerk of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting from 1934-1953, president of Friends Historical Association from 1941-53, member of the Board at Lingnan University, China. In 1937, he traveled to France at the request of the American Friends Service Committee to lecture on Quaker topics.
William Wistar Comfort was the author of a number of books primarily on Quaker topics, written both in French and English.
Samuel Whitney 1793–1845
Third Cousin Seven Times Removed
Samuel Whitney was born on Apr. 28, 1793 in Branford, Connecticut. Samuel married Mercy Partridge on Oct. 3, 1819 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He passed away on Dec. 15, 1845 in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii at age 52.
Phœnix, S. Whitney. The Whitney Family of Connecticut. Vol. I. New York, 1878. 253. Whitney Research Group. Web.
Samuel Whitney, b. at Branford, Conn., 28 Ap. 1793; a clergyman; joined the church at Northford, Conn., 27 March 1812; was dismissed, about 1817, to the church in Yale College, where he studied for two years; married, 3 Oct. 1819, at Pittsfield, Mass., Mercy Partridge, dau. of William and Jemima (Bidwell) Partridge, of Pittsfield, where she was born 14 Aug. 1795. The A. B. C. F. M. having accepted his offer of service as a missionary to the Sandwich Islands, they embarked at Boston, Mass., 23 Oct 1819, in the brig Thaddeus, and arrived at Kailua, Hawaii, 4 Ap. 1820. He was licensed by the Hawaiian Association, 28 Feb. 1823, and ordained by the same, at Kailua, 30 Nov. 1825. They settled at Waimea, Kauai, where she was yet living in 1868. He died, 15 Dec. 1845, after 25 years of devoted service, at Lahainaluna, in the Island of Maui, and was buried there.
John Vivian 1742–1801
Second Cousin Eight Times Removed
John Vivian was baptized on Feb. 13, 1742 in Camborne, Cornwall, England. John passed away on Dec. 27, 1801. He was buried on Jan. 1, 1802 in Camborne.
Cornwall. Online Parish Clerks. Baptisms. 1742. Web.
Date: February 13
Parish: Camborne
Name: John Vivian
Father: John
Mother: Julian
Cornwall. Online Parish Clerks. Burials. 1802. Web.
Date: January 1
Parish: Camborne
Name: Reverend John Vivian
Residence: Penkelinnick
George Comfort 1831–1908
Fourth Great Uncle
George Comfort was born Apr. 28, 1831 in Pennsylvania. George married Helen Wickes on Nov. 26, 1851 in Pennsylvania. He married Marian Gertude Ackley in 1889. He passed away on May 12, 1908, at home in Lanesboro, Pennsylvania at age 77. He was buried in the Lanesboro Cemetery.
18 May 1908. Susquehanna County Historical Society. 18 May 2008. Web.
Lanesboro - Rev. George Comfort, aged 77, died at his home on Tuesday evening. Mr. Comfort was injured in a railroad accident a number of years ago, while traveling in Utah, and has been in poor health ever since. He was a pioneer missionary in Montana, going there in 1868, when it had been but four years a territory. Prior to that time he had been 7 years a minister in the Methodist church, joining the Wyoming Conference in 1862. He was a son of James Comfort and was born at Comfort's Pond, Harmony Twp., April 28, 1831, the eldest of 13 children. He is survived by his second wife, the former Marian G. Ackley, of Tunkhannock and an adopted son residing in Helena, Montana.
King, George D. Proc. of The Montana Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Miles City. Helena, 1908. 36-37. Web.
George Comfort was born at Comfort's Pond, Pa., April 28, 1831, and died at Lanesboro, Pa., May 12, 1908. He was the eldest of thirteen children. He was received into Wyoming Conference in 1862. He was an evangelist and saw several sweeping revivals.
In 1867 Bishop Kingsley appointed him missionary to Montana. Rev. A. M. Hough, first Superintendent of this new Mission, organized 1864, was soon after obliged to leave on account of his wife's health. Brother Comfort was thus left the only traveling preacher in the Territory of our Church, and he believed, the only Protestant Minister. He lived in Helena. W. W. Alderson of Bozeman and Hugh Duncan at Virginia City gave efficient service as local preachers and life long friends. The next year Rev. S. G. Lathrop came to Helena as Superintendent and pastor, and Brother Comfort became missionary at large.
With great physical strength, a good singer, a pleasing speaker, a genial, social nature, he was well fitted for the work. He preached the first sermons in Beaverhead and Bitter Root valleys, and visited all the settlements and encouraged our scattered membership.
After three years' pioneer work, Brother Comfort made a trip East, and was detained to work in his own Conference. Again in 1878, he returned to Montana and became pastor at Bozeman, spending in all nearly twenty-five years in Montana. He served a full term as Presiding Elder of Bozeman District.
He was chaplain of both branches of Montana Legislature for one year, and was Superintendent of the Orphans' Home at Twin Bridges from 1894 to 1898. In 1899 he returned to Pennsylvania and spent the last years of his life at Lanesboro.
In 1903 he visited our Conference, then in session in Livingston, in a church which he had built in 1883. After visiting friends at Bozeman, Twin Bridges, Missoula, etc., he went on to Portland and San Francisco. Returning, he was almost killed in a railway wreck in Nevada, and lay for twelve weeks in the railway hospital at Ogden. From this injury he never fully recovered.
Brother Comfort was twice married. In 1851 to Miss Helen Wickes, who died in 1887. In 1889 he was married to Miss Maria Ackley, a faithful Christian whom he leaves to our love and care. A foster-son still resides in Montana.
Each year he wrote a cheerful, fervid letter to his brethren, to assure us that his faith was strong and that his Savior's presence caused him to rejoice with joy unspeakable.
Thus has passed one of the best known and best loved of the heroic founders of Methodism in Montana.
"A frame of adamant, a soul of fire, No dangers daunted and no labors tire."
"And he was not for God took him." Transferred to the Church triumphant.
"Servant of God, well done; Thy glorious warfare past. Thy battle is fought, thy victory won, And thou art crowned at last!"
Richard Denton
Tenth Great Grandfather
Richard Denton was born in Yorkshire, England.
Davis, John A. "The Beginning of the American Presbyterian Church." The Presbyterian and Reformed Review. Vol. VII. Philadelphia, 1896. 68. Web.
Rev. Richard Denton was born in Yorkshire, England, 1586, of good and honored parents. He graduated from Cambridge, 1623, and for at least seven years after was pastor of the Presbyterian chapel (Coley) at Halifax, Yorkshire, England.
James Comfort 1805–1885
Fourth Great Grandfather
James Comfort was born on Sep. 17, 1805 in New York. James married Mary Anne McKune on Jun. 3, 1830 in Pennsylvania. He passed away on Jan. 17, 1885 in Lanesboro, Pennsylvania at age 79. He was buried in the Lanesboro Cemetery.
 |
 |
| Year | Name & Age | Occupation | Residence | F | M | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | James Comfort | Harmony, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania | ||||
| 1850 | James Comfort | 44 | Harmony, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania | |||
| 1860 | James Comfort | 55 | Farmer | Harmony, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania | ||
| 1870 | James Comfort | 64 | Farmer | Harmony, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania | ||
| 1880 | James Comfort | 74 | Blacksmith | Harmony, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania | NY | NJ |
Riddle, Steve. RootsWeb. Ancestry. Web. Circuit riders were clergy in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
He was a circuit rider preacher, sometimes gone two years at a time.
United States. Census. 1840. Web.
State: Pennsylvania
County: Susquehanna
Township: Harmony
Head of Family: James Comfort
Males: 6
Under 05: Nelson Rounds Comfort, 1839
05 to 10: Oliver Comfort, 1832
05 to 10: George Comfort, 1831
15 to 20: Unidentified
30 to 40: James Comfort, 1805
30 to 40: Unidentified
Females: 5
Under 05: Sarah Ann Comfort, 1837
Under 05: Phebe Ann Comfort, 1836
05 to 10: Esther Lyons Comfort, 1833
15 to 20: Unidentified
20 to 30: Mary Anne Comfort, 1810
Eliphalet Lockwood 1675–1753
Tenth Great Uncle
Eliphalet Lockwood was born in 1675 in Connecticut. Eliphalet passed away on Oct. 14, 1753. He was buried in Norwalk, Connecticut.
| Legislature | Office |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | Representative from Norwalk |
John Platt 1632–1705
Ancestor (1)
John Platt was born on Jan. 11, 1632 in Ware, Hertfordshire, England. John married Hannah Clark. He passed away on Nov. 6, 1705 in Norwalk, Connecticut at age 73.
| Legislature | Office |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | Deputy from Norwalk |
| Unit: Norwalk Trainband | Rank: Sergeant |
Silas Gildersleeve Comfort 1803–1868
Fifth Great Uncle
Silas Gildersleeve Comfort was born on May 18, 1803 in New York. He passed away on Jan. 10, 1868 in New York at age 64. He was buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Endicott, New York.
Beauchamp, William M. Past and Present of Syracuse and Onondaga County New York. Vol. II. 1908. 232-35. Web.
Rev. Dr. Silas Comfort was a prominent minister in the Methodist church. In 1835 he was transferred by Bishop Morris from Potsdam, New York, to the First Methodist Episcopal church in St. Louis, Missouri. By his ruling in introducing the testimony of a negro (slave) church member in the trial (which resulted in the expulsion) of a white member, he originated the famous “Silas Comfort Negro Testimony Case,” which in the general conference at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1840, nearly disrupted that church on the subject of slavery and largely contributed to the tension which caused the secession of the southern Methodists in 1844. Owing to the violence of the agitation in Missouri caused by this “Negro Testimony Case,” he returned to New York state in 1842, taking the pastorate of the Methodist church in Cazenovia and afterward the presiding eldership of the Wyoming, Oneida and Cazenovia districts of the Oneida conference. He was a member of the general conference of 1848 and 1852. He was a great student in theology and history, contributed articles to the Methodist Quarterly Review, and was the author of: The Exposition of the Articles of Faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the End of the Argument (on universal salvation) and Man’s Moral History. He always stood for reform and progress and it is therefore fitting that the recent prohibition presidential candidate, Silas Comfort Swallow, should have been named in his honor.
| © 2006–2018 Andrew Champion |