had returned to the States seeking munitions and other support, took the family to Texas, where David Sr. had bought property near the San Jacinto, close to present-day Houston. Mary Macomb took ill on the journey and died shortly after arriving in Texas, in October 1836. David Sr. committed suicide by slashing his throat in February 1837. David and Mary Macomb left five children, some of whom stayed in Texas after their parents' deaths, although at least two of the three youngest—Louis (age 16 in 1837), Mary (13), and David (10)—were sent to their maternal grandmother in Ohio. Both Louis and Mary appear to have returned to Texas at the first opportunity. Oldest daughter Eleanor married, but died without surviving children in 1839; Both Mary and Tom, the oldest son, had surviving children at their deaths and may have living descendants. Louis is recorded as having died in either 1839 or 1889, in Houston. Early naval career Macomb was appointed into the Navy as a third assistant engineer from Pennsylvania in January 1849, and was promoted to second assistant engineer in February 1851, on duty with the Coast Survey aboard . He next served with the Ringgold Expedition which explored the North Pacific, the China seas and the Sea of Japan from 1853 to 1855, aboard the , initially under the command of his cousin, Lt. John Rodgers. After returning to the States, he was promoted to first assistant engineer in June 1856 and assigned to the Home Squadron flagship , then was transferred to of the Pacific Squadron in 1858. In September 1861 he was promoted to chief engineer aboard , which was detailed to escort the Japanese ambassadors during their return to Edo at the end of 1860. Niagara returned to American waters in April 1861, in time to be ordered as the first vessel to blockade Charleston, South Carolina, following the outbreak of armed rebellion. Civil War service After the start of hostilities in 1861, he took part in the blockade of Charleston, and the bombardment of the Pensacola Navy Yard, aboard Niagara. He was detached from Niagara in early 1862 and detailed to Boston as superintendent of the building and fitting out of the monitors , and . He subsequently served as chief engineer on Canonicus with the James River flotilla and later, the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Aboard Canonicus, he was present for the battle