Individual Details

From History of the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations: Biographical; The America Historical Society, Inc. 1920
P. 424-425 "Richard Borden Comstock"
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."

Birth	15 Feb 1854	Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey
Death	Mar 1923

Father	Joseph Jesse "Captain Joe" Comstock (1811 - 1868)
Mother	Maria S. Taber (1814 - 1911)
Sibling	Joseph Jesse Comstock ( - 1903)
Sibling	Charles Cook Comstock ( - 1873)
Sibling	Ellen Comstock (1842 - 1867)
Sibling	Emma Russell Comstock ( - )
Sibling	Frank Comstock ( - )
Sibling	Franklin Hallett Comstock (1848 - 1849)
Sibling	Adelaide Howard Comstock (1849 - 1918)
Sibling	Frederick Hunter Comstock (1850 - 1912)
Sibling	Amelia Townsend Comstock (1852 - 1907)