Person Page - 182

     Grace May Holcombe was born on 16 June 1877 at MA.¹ She was the daughter of Alfred Holcombe and Ellen Elvira Baker.

     Thomas Holcombe was born on 7 November 1779 at Granby, Hartford Co., CT.³ He was the son of Hezekiah Holcombe II and Chloe Pinney. Thomas Holcombe married Clarinda Pettibone, daughter of Gen. Chauncey Pettibone and Theodosia Hayes. Thomas Holcombe died on 18 December 1865 at age 86.⁴ He was buried at Holcomb Street, East Granby, Hartford Co., CT.

There is some confusion with this Thomas who married Clarinda Pettibone, and the Thomas who was the son of Thomas Holcombe and Sarah Loomis. Carol Laun of the Salmonbrook Historical Society confirms that Thomas, son of Hezekiah and Chloe (Pinney) was the correct spouse.

Thomas and Clarinda were enumerated in the 1850 Granby, Hartford Co., CT census. There were boarders in the household.

     Chauncey Pettibone Holcombe was born on 11 December 1803 at Granby, Hartford Co., CT.² He was the son of Thomas Holcombe and Clarinda Pettibone. Chauncey Pettibone Holcombe married Rebecca Taylor, daughter of Bankston Taylor and Hester McWilliams, on 10 January 1839.

McPherson lists the birth date as 12 (11?).

     Rebecca Taylor was born on 23 February 1817 or 23 February 1818. She was the daughter of Bankston Taylor and Hester McWilliams. Rebecca Taylor married Chauncey Pettibone Holcombe, son of Thomas Holcombe and Clarinda Pettibone, on 10 January 1839. Rebecca Taylor died on 3 November 1851.

     Thomas Holcombe was born on 13 July 1843 at Del. He was the son of Chauncey Pettibone Holcombe and Rebecca Taylor. Thomas Holcombe married Elizabeth Hindman Barney, daughter of Jospeh Nicholson Barney and Eliza Jacobs Rogers, on 17 November 1868.

Trained in law at Harvard and served in the state legislature as well as, for may years, recorder of the City of Wilmington. Auditor of the United States Treasury in the administration of Grover Cleveland.

     Elizabeth was a member of the DAR, # 92616, and provided, with her half-sister, the line to Commodore Barney. Elizabeth Hindman Barney was born in 1847 at New Castle Co., DE. She was the daughter of Jospeh Nicholson Barney and Eliza Jacobs Rogers. Elizabeth Hindman Barney married Thomas Holcombe, son of Chauncey Pettibone Holcombe and Rebecca Taylor, on 17 November 1868.

     Gen. Thomas Holcombe was born on 5 August 1879 at Walnut Hill, Newcastle Co., Del.. He was the son of Thomas Holcombe and Elizabeth Hindman Barney. Gen. Thomas Holcombe married Beatrice Miller Clover, daughter of Richardson Clover Rear Admiral, on 11 November 1916 at St. John's Church, Washington, DC. Gen. Thomas Holcombe died on 24 May 1965 at New Castle, DE, at age 85. He was buried on 28 May 1965 at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA; Section 3, Grave 2501-1.

from the official Marine Corps biography, dated December 1971:

General Thomas Holcomb, Seventeenth Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, died May 25, 1965, in New Castle, Delaware, at the age of 85. Born on August 5, 1879, in New Castle, he attended private schools there until 1893, when his family moved to Washington, D.C. He was graduated from Western High School in Washington in 1897, and was appointed a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on April 13, 1900.

General Holcomb was on detached duty with a company of Marines organized for service with a Marine battalion attached to the North Atlantic Fleet from September 1902 to April 1903. He was promoted to first lieutenant that year. He served in the Philippine Islands from April 1904 to August 1905, and in October and November 1906.

He was on duty with the Legation Guard, Peking, china, for one year in 1905 and 1906. He was appointed a captain in 1908, and from December of that year to July 1910, he again served with the Legation Guard at Peking. He continued on duty in Peking as Attaché on the Staff of the American Minister for study of the Chinese language and remained on that duty until May 1911. In December of that year, he was again ordered to the Legation at Peking to continue his study of the Chinese language, and remained in that capacity until May 1914.

General Holcomb has been prominently identified with the development of rifle shooting, and served as Inspector of Target Practice in the Marine Corps from October 1914 to August 1917. While serving in that capacity he was promoted to the rank of major in 1916. He was a member of the Marine Corps Rifle Teams of 1901, 1902, 1903, 1907, 1908, and 1911, and of teams representing the United States in the Palma Trophy Match in 1902 and 1903.

From August 1917 to January 1918, he commanded the Second Battalion, Sixth Marine Regiment, at the Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia, in preparation for overseas duty. From February 1918 to July of the next year, following his appointment to lieutenant colonel, he served with the A.E.F. in France. He commanded the Second Battalion from August 1918 and served as Second in Command of the Sixth Regiment, taking part in the Aisne Devensive (Chateau Thierry), the Aisne-Marne Offensive (Soissons), the Marbache Sector, the St. Mihiel Offensive, the Meuse-Argonne (Champagne) Offensive, the Meuse-Argonne (Argonne Forest) Offensive, and the March to the Rhine in Germany following the Armistice.

In recognition of his distinguished services in France, he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star with three Oak Leaf Clusters, a Meritorious Service Citation by the Commander-in-Chief, A.E.F., the Purple Heart, and was three times cited in General Orders of the Second Division, A.E.F. The French Government conferred on him the Cross of the Legion of Honor, and three times awarded him the Croix de Guerre with Palm.

From September 1922 to June 1924, he commanded the Marine Barracks, Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and on his return to the United States was ordered to the Command and General Staff School of the Army at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Upon completion of the course as a Distinguished Graduate, in June 1925, he was ordered to Headquarters Marine Corps for duty in the division of Operations and Training, where he remained until June 1927.

From August of that year to February 1930, General Holcomb commanded the Marine Detachment, American Legation, Peking, China. While serving there he was promoted to Colonel. In June 1930, he went to the naval War College as a student, Senior Course. He was graduated in June 1931. He was then ordered to the Army War College, graduating a year later.

From June 1932 to January 1935, prior to his appointment to brigadier general, he served in the Office of Naval Operations, Navy Department. He then served as Commandant of the Marine Corps Schools at Quantico, Virginia, until November 1936, when he was ordered to Marine Corps Headquarters to assume the office of the Major General Commandant on December 1, 1936.

With his advancement to lieutenant general on January 20, 1942, pursuant to an Act of Congress, the Commandant became the highest-ranking officer ever to command the Marine Corps up to that time.


On August 5, 1943, when Lieutenant General Holcomb reached the regular retirement age, the President announced he was continuing General Holcomb as Commandant of the Marine Corps, in recognition of his outstanding services in that capacity.

After nearly 44 years as a Marine, General Holcomb was retired on January 1, 1944. Because he had been specially commended for his performance of duty in actual combat, he was advanced one rank on the retired list in accordance with a newly passed Act of Congress. He thus became the first marine ever to hold the rank of general. In a letter to General Holcomb, the late Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox said, "You will be the first officer of the Corps to hold the rank of general -- the highest rank in our armed forces. I know of no other officer to whom that distinction more fittingly belongs."

During General Holcomb's tour of duty as commandant, the Marine Corps expanded from 16,000 men to about 300,000 men and women. The general was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his outstanding work as Commandant in April 1944.

On March 9, 1944, the President nominated General Holcomb for the position of United States Minister to the Union of South Africa. The Senate confirmed the nomination on March 20 and the general was commissioned as such on the next day.

He resigned as Minister to the Union of South Africa on June 15, 1948, and lived at Rose Croft, St. Mary's City, Maryland, where he managed the family farm until 1956. He then moved to Chevy Chase, Maryland, where he continued his interest in gardening. In 1962, he moved to an apartment in "The Towers" in Washington, D.C. Following a serious illness in the spring of 1964, he returned to his native New Castle, Delaware, making his home at 125 East Third Street.

General Holcomb's wife was the late Beatrice Miller Clover of Washington, D. C. They were married in 1916. Mrs. Holcomb died in 1962. Their only son, Franklin P., served as a Marine officer during World War II, and is now a lieutenant colonel, United States Marine Corps Reserve, (Retired.)

A list of General Holcomb's medals and decorations includes: the Navy Cross; the Distinguished Service Medal; the Silver Star Medal with three Oak-Leaf Clusters; the Purple Heart Medal; the Expeditionary Medal, China; the World War I Victory Medal with Aisne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne and Defensive Sector clasps; the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal; the American Defense Service Medal with Base clasp; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze star, Guadalcanal; the American Campaign Medal; the World War II Victory Medal; the French Legion of Honor; the French Croix de Guerre with three palms; the Naval Order of Merit, First Class (Cuban award), 1943; the Knight Grand Cross (Netherlands), 1944; and the French Fourragere.


From Time 11 November 1940: When he is not out of Washington on inspection trips, General Holcomb, trim and blocky in dark mufti, gets to his office at 8:30, usually has plenty of time to chat during the day. Favorite Topic: rifle-shooting. Member of the Marine rifle team between 1901 and 1911, high gun in the international matches in Canada in 1902, he wears the gold medal of the distinguished marksman (a sort of super-expert) below the ribbons of the Navy Cross, Legion of Honor and other decorations. Most of them he won as a battalion commander in the Marine Brigade of the A.E. F.

Weekends he and Mrs. Holcomb (daughter of the late Rear Admiral Richardson Clover) drop down the Potomac in their 50-foot yacht Slow Boat, are sometimes called back for official business by a message carried down river by Marine Corps plane. On office days Tommy Holcomb goes home at 4:30 to the Commandant's quarters at Eighth and G Streets Southeast, alongside the Marine Barracks, where Commandants have lived in unbroken succession since the house was built in 1805. Quaint, spacious, fitted with authentic reproductions of its original furnishings, the house is also the centerpiece of one of the Corps' favorite yarns. Colonel Archibald Henderson, fifth Commandant, lived there for 39 years, go so used to the place that he forgot it was government property, solemnly willed it to his son.

     Beatrice Miller Clover was born on 23 January 1896. She was the daughter of Richardson Clover Rear Admiral. Beatrice Miller Clover married Gen. Thomas Holcombe, son of Thomas Holcombe and Elizabeth Hindman Barney, on 11 November 1916 at St. John's Church, Washington, DC. Beatrice Miller Clover died on 14 August 1962 at age 66.

     Lt. Col. Franklin Porteous Holcombe was born on 13 October 1917 at Washington, DC. He was the son of Gen. Thomas Holcombe and Beatrice Miller Clover. Lt. Col. Franklin Porteous Holcombe died on 30 June 1991 at Washington Hospice, Washington, DC, at age 73.

from The Washington Times, July 5, 1991:
Franklin specialized in political issues in the Foreign Service and served in Washington, Switzerland, Italy, Argentina, France and Algeria. He retired in 1975. During World War II, Mr. Holcombe served in Europe and North Africa as a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps reserves, participating in Allied landings in France, Morocco and Sicily. Born in the District, he lived here and at Marine facilities in the United States, Cuba and China while growing up. He attended Sidwell Friends School and graduated from St. George's School, a preparatory school in Rhode Island. He attended University of Heidelberg in Germany in 1937 and later graduated from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in 1939.

Mr. Holcombe, a yachtsman and an ocean sailboat racer, was a member of both the New York Yacht Club and the Cruising Club of the Chesapeake. He also belonged to the Chevy Chase Club and the Metropolitan Club.

     Mary L. Palmer was the daughter of Leman Palmer and Salome Root. Mary L. Palmer married Birney G. Holcombe, son of Milton Holcombe and Elvira Gillett, on 5 June 1870.

     Simeon Palmer was the son of Leman Palmer and Salome Root. Simeon Palmer married Emma Holcombe, daughter of Milton Holcombe and Elvira Gillett, on 29 April 1869.

     Sarah Elizabeth Holcombe was born on 15 October 1872. She was the daughter of Birney G. Holcombe and Mary L. Palmer.

     Helen Elvira Holcombe was born on 4 April 1876. She was the daughter of Birney G. Holcombe and Mary L. Palmer. Helen Elvira Holcombe died in 1918.

     Ellen L. Butler was born on 21 September 1842. She was the daughter of Burrage Yale Butler and Maria Louisa Forward. Ellen L. Butler married Wallace Holcombe, son of Milton Holcombe and Elvira Gillett, on 6 April 1875.

     Burrage Yale Butler was the son of Divan Butler. Burrage Yale Butler married Maria Louisa Forward, daughter of Gen. Joseph Morton Forward and Fanny Moore.

     Maria Louisa Forward was born on 28 September 1818.¹ She was the daughter of Gen. Joseph Morton Forward and Fanny Moore. Maria Louisa Forward married Burrage Yale Butler, son of Divan Butler. Maria Louisa Forward died on 12 December 1858 at age 40.¹

     Divan Butler was the son of Comfort Butler.

     Comfort Butler was the son of John Butler III.

     John Butler III was the son of John Butler II.

     John Butler II was the son of John Butler Dr.

     John Butler's father was Richard Butler, the immigrant.

     Gen. Joseph Morton Forward was born on 22 January 1785 at Granby, Hartford Co., CT. He was the son of Joseph Forward II and Mary Owen.¹ Gen. Joseph Morton Forward married Fanny Moore, daughter of Roger Moore and Rosetta Hayes.² Gen. Joseph Morton Forward died on 21 December 1860 at Southwick, Hampden Co., MA, at age 75.³

     Joseph Forward II was born on 11 February 1759 at Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT.² He was the son of Joseph Forward and Ruth Morton.¹ Joseph Forward II died between 18 July 1840 and 16 June 1841.²

     Joseph Forward was born on 16 December 1733.² He was the son of Joseph Forward and Marcy Lourton.¹ Joseph Forward died in 1810 at Granby, Hartford Co., CT.²

     Joseph Forward was born on 10 November 1709.² He was the son of Samuel Forward and Deborah Moore.¹ Joseph Forward married Marcy Lourton on 27 March 1729 at Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT.² His estate was probated on 11 December 1759.

     Viola graduated in 1906 with a BS degree from Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO; MA from Radcliffe College, Cambridge, MA; taught Mt Holyoke College, MA; PA college for Women, Pittsburg; philosophy and psychology, Wilson College, Chambersburg, PA. Viola Louise Holcombe was born on 19 June 1884 at Southwick, Hampden Co., MA. She was the daughter of Wallace Holcombe and Ellen L. Butler.

     Keturah Dibble was born circa 1822 at Southwick, Hampden Co., MA. She married Henry Holcombe, son of Amassa Holcombe II and Gillett Kendall.

     Amassa Holcombe was born on 7 October 1852 at Southwick, Hampden Co., MA. He was the son of Henry Holcombe and Keturah Dibble. Amassa Holcombe died on 17 August 1921 at Westfield Hospital, Westfield, Hampden Co., MA, at age 68.

     Crace E. Holcombe was born on 13 January 1876. Crace E. Holcombe was the child of Amassa Holcombe and Eleanor Bronson.

     Eva C. Holcombe was born on 17 June 1881. She was the daughter of Amassa Holcombe and Eleanor Bronson.

     Mary E. Gibbons was the daughter of James Gibbons and Philura (?). Mary E. Gibbons married Franklin Holcombe, son of Amassa Holcombe II and Gillett Kendall, on 27 November 1851 at Southwick, Hampden Co., MA.

     James Gibbons died on 9 January 1853.

     Eliza Gibbons was the daughter of James Gibbons and Philura (?). Eliza Gibbons married Franklin Holcombe, son of Amassa Holcombe II and Gillett Kendall.

     Sarah Jane Robinson married Franklin Holcombe, son of Amassa Holcombe II and Gillett Kendall.

     Frank Gibbons Holcombe was born on 26 January 1852 at Southwick, Hampden Co., MA. He was the son of Franklin Holcombe and Mary E. Gibbons.

A lawyer in Boston, MA.

     Moved in 1872 from Southwick, MA to Wilton; grad Harvard Medical College 1886; settled to practice in Milford, 1888; moved to Brookline, MA; member of Med Ass'n; amateur botanist. Charles Henry Holcombe was born on 14 November 1859. He was the son of Franklin Holcombe and Sarah Jane Robinson. Charles Henry Holcombe married Clintina A. Burton, daughter of James E. Burton and Olive A. Robinson, on 23 June 1888.

     Newton Franklin Holcombe was born on 7 October 1861. He was the son of Franklin Holcombe and Sarah Jane Robinson.

     Frank M. Holcombe was born on 11 October 1880 at Winchester, MA. He was the son of Frank Gibbons Holcombe and Inez Norman Maynard.

     Amassa Maynard Holcombe was born on 27 October 1882 at Winchester, MA. He was the son of Frank Gibbons Holcombe and Inez Norman Maynard. Amassa Maynard Holcombe married Eleanor Pearl Marshall, daughter of John T. Marshall and Susan Priscilla McKenney, on 7 September 1909.

AB in ME, MIT, 1904, George Washington Univ. Law School; admitted to DC Bar 1910; Asst. Examiner US Patent Office 1907-10, Special Asst. to Atty-Gen'l Court of Claims, 1920-26, patent lawyer, 438 Munsey Bldg. Washington, DC.


Amasa M. and and Eleanor M. were enumerated in the 1930 Washington DC, federal census. He was a patent and trade lawyer, age 47; she was 47. Children in the household were Lucille 16, and Marshall M. 15.

     Arthur Norman Holcombe was born on 3 November 1884 at Winchester, MA. He was the son of Frank Gibbons Holcombe and Inez Norman Maynard. Arthur Norman Holcombe died in December 1977 at Milton Village, Norfolk, MA, at age 93.

20 Berkeley St. Cambridge, MA and Duxbury, Harvard University, AB, 1906, PhD, 1909, studied in universities in Berlin and Paris and in London School of Economics and Political Science; holds chair of Government in Harvard university; was Visiting Prof. Chinese national University, 1935. From 1912-35 has served long memberships on 8 or more committees of State and national importance and influence in the fields of his specialization and with many similar organizations of national or greater range. He has constantly contributed to national magazines and publications extensive treatises in his field of activity, principally science of government; served 1944 with Appeals Board of War Production Board.


Arthur and Carolyn were enumerated in the 1930 Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA, federal census. He was a professor age 45, she was 37. Children in the household were Waldo 18, Mary 15, Robert 14, Jan 12, and Richard 10.

     Elizabeth Holcombe married Carl A. Norman. Elizabeth Holcombe was born on 27 August 1886 at Winchester, MA. She was the daughter of Frank Gibbons Holcombe and Inez Norman Maynard.