Adam Comstock (January 18, 1740 – April 10, 1819) was an officer in the

American Revolution The American Revolution (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in which the Thirteen Colonies broke from British America, British rule to form the United States of America. The revolution culminated in the American ...

, and a politician from

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

. Comstock was born on January 18, 1740, in

Smithfield, Rhode Island Smithfield is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 22,118 at the 2020 census. Incorporated in 1731, it includes the historic villages of Esmond, Georgiaville, Mountaindale, Spragueville, Stillwater, an ...

. On April 10, 1763, he married Margaret MacGregor (September 8, 1745 – March 3, 1807) in

Cranston, Rhode Island Cranston, formerly known as Pawtuxet, is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The official population of the city in the 2020 United States Census was 82,934, making it the second-largest city in the state. The center of ...

. They had ten children. Adam Comstock enlisted in 1776 as a

Major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

Christopher Greene Christopher Greene (May 12, 1737May 14, 1781) was an American legislator and soldier. He led the spirited defense of Fort Mercer in the 1777 Battle of Red Bank, and for leading the African American 1st Rhode Island Regiment during the American Re ...

's Rhode Island Regiment and was later promoted to lieutenant colonel . At the

Battle of Red Bank The Battle of Red Bank, also known as the Battle of Fort Mercer, was fought on October 22, 1777, during the American Revolutionary War. A British and Hessian force was sent to take Fort Mercer on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River just s ...

in New Jersey, he assumed command when the commanding officer was wounded and won the battle. He also served with Washington's army at

Valley Forge Valley Forge was the winter encampment of the Continental Army, under the command of George Washington, during the American Revolutionary War. The Valley Forge encampment lasted six months, from December 19, 1777, to June 19, 1778. It was the t ...

. After the Revolution Comstock moved with his family in 1786 to

Corinth, New York Corinth is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 6,500 at the 2020 census. The town contains a village also named Corinth. The town is on the northeastern border of the county, north of Saratoga Springs. The ...

and built the first

frame house Framing, in construction, is the fitting together of pieces to give a structure, particularly a building, support and shape. Framing materials are usually wood, engineered wood, or structural steel. The alternative to framed construction is ...

in the town. He was elected to the

New York State Assembly The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, with the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits. The Ass ...

from

Saratoga County Saratoga County is a county in the U.S. state of New York, and is the fastest-growing county in Upstate New York. As of the 2020 United States census, the county's population was enumerated at 235,509, its highest decennial count ever and a ...

in 1791 and served twelve years. In 1805 he was elected to the

New York State Senate The New York State Senate is the upper house of the New York State Legislature, while the New York State Assembly is its lower house. Established in 1777 by the Constitution of New York, its members are elected to two-year terms with no term l ...

and served for four years. He also served as justice of the peace, associate judge of the

New York Court of Common Pleas {{History of NYC The New York Court of Common Pleas was a state court in New York. Established in the Province of New York in 1686, the Court remained in existence in the Province and, after the American Revolution, in the U.S. state of New York ...

, had a seat on the

Council of Appointment The Council of Appointment (sometimes also Council of Appointments) was a body of the Government of New York that existed from 1777 to 1822. History Under the New York Constitution of 1777, the Council of Appointment consisted of the Governor of ...

, and served as a

presidential elector In the United States, the Electoral College is the group of presidential electors that is formed every four years for the sole purpose of voting for the president and vice president in the presidential election. This process is described in ...

. Adam Comstock died on April 10, 1819, in South Corinth, New York and is buried in the Comstock Cemetery there.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Comstock, Adam 1740 births 1819 deaths Continental Army officers from Rhode Island New York (state) state senators Members of the New York State Assembly People from Corinth, New York People from Smithfield, Rhode Island Politicians from Providence County, Rhode Island 19th-century members of the New York State Legislature 18th-century members of the New York State Legislature