Page:Sketches of representative women of New England.djvu/70

Rh organized a society for the care of soldiers' families, contributing liberally to its funds. Being an invalid at that time, he was unable to enlist, but his personal efforts and financial support were of great service. He died in 1868. He married, October 23, 1842, Lydia Ann, daughter of Norton7 and Lydia (Christie) Newcomb. Her father was born in Braintree in 1796, was descended from Francis1 Newcomb through John,2 3 Isaac,4 Captain Thomas,5 Remember.6

Captain Thomas Newcomb, of Braintree, Mass., a great-great-grandfather of Mrs. Goodale, was Second Lieutenant, May 8, 1775, in Captain Seth Thomas's independent company. As First Lieutenant of the company he served at barracks in Braintree, January 1 to November 1, 1776; also in Captain Seth Turner's com pany, Colonel Thomas Marshall's regiment, at Hull, October 31, 1776, to January 1, 1777. In September, 1777, he was enrolled as a Captain in Colonel Theophilus Cotton's regiment, which marched on a secret expedition to Rhode Island. Honorably discharged October 31, 1777, he again enlisted and was commissioned Captain in a three months company in Colonel Ebenezer Thayer's regiment, which re-enforced the Continental army, a part of the company being stationed at West Point and a part at Rhode Island. On August 15, 1781, he was made Captain in Colonel Joseph Webb's regiment, in which he served four months on duty at Peekskill, N.Y. He also saw service in Paul Revere's artillery.

The Newcomb genealogy states that Captain Newcomb offered to receive his pay in potatoes, and that the offer was gladly accepted by the authorities. He was very successful in raising companies for the war, and would accept no higher position than the grade of Captain. This was in accordance with a pledge he had made, that he would remain in charge of the company as long as permitted by his superior officers. With him in the service were his three sons, the youngest entering the army when he was only fourteen years of age.

Captain Newcomb's wife cheerfully kept the house, cared for the little ones, and wished she had more sons to give to her country. Remember Newcomb, the third son, married Susannah Brackett, daughter of William Brackett, a Revolutionary soldier. William Brackett's name appears on the Lexington alarm rolls. In 1777 he is recorded as a member of Captain Thomas Newcomb's independent company, and in 1778 he appears with the rank of gunner in Captain Callender's company, Colonel Crane's regiment. His name was on pay-roll dated January 11, 1781. He served almost continuously until September, 1781, first in Colonel Benjamin Lincoln's regiment and next in Captain Seth Thomas's company. He died a soldier's death at Plattsburg in the War of 1812.

Mary Susan Goldthwait (Mrs. Goodale) received her early education in the public schools of Boston, and finished her course of study in Medford schools, her parents having removed to that city in 1854. The lessons of loyalty taught her by a patriotic father were deeply impressed upon her mind. Although only a school-girl when the Civil War began, she was interested in the soldiers, and solicited money with which she furnished a Thanksgiving dinner to their families in her neighborhood. On January 7, 1868, she was married to Captain George L. Goodale.

Mrs. Goodale is a charter member of S. C. Lawrence Relief Corps, No. 5, of Medford, which was instituted May 27, 1879. She .served that year as senior vice-president, was installed as president January, 1880, and re-elected three successive years. At the annual convention of the Department of Massachusetts, W. R. C, in 1881, she proved very efficient in committee work, and when the board of directors of the Department met in April, 1881, she was chosen a member of the commit- tee on the Soldiers' Home Bazaar, which was held in Mechanics' Building, Boston, in December, 1881. Mrs. Goodale was secretary of the Union table.

She was chosen by the board of directors of the Department W. R. C. to fill a vacancy in the office of Department Conductor in the latter part of 1881, was re-elected to the office at the annual convention in 1882, and a year later was elected senior vice-president. Mrs. Goodale was chosen Department president in January, 1884. During the first year of her