Francis Ignatius Coomes Sr. (abt. 1726 - 1822)

Born about 1726 in Port Tobacco, Coomes Purchase, Port Charles, Province of Maryland

Husband of Charity (Woods) Coomes — married 1767 in Province of Maryland

Descendants

Died 3 Apr 1822 at about age 96 in Fairfield, Nelson, Kentucky, USA

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Francis Coomes Sr. resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776. Join: US Southern Colonies Project Discuss: southern_colonies

Biography

Francis Coomes Sr. served with 1776 Project Needs Additional Sources during the American Revolution.

Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed January 23, 2013), "Record of Francis Coombs", Ancestor # A025600.

I believe there were at least 4 Francis Ignatius Coomes/Coombs/Combs lines in the 18th/19th century originating in Maryland and at least one other Francis Combs from the 18th Century. Much of the information on Ancestry and Rootsweb confuses these different Francises, leading to "facts" like him being born 5 years before his father, having two families in Kentucky and (West) Virginia, or him marrying a 23 year old at 80 and fathering 8 childern before the age of 90.^[1]

FRANCIS IGNATIUS COOMES was born about 1726 in Coomes Purchase, Charles County, Province of Maryland. He married CHARITY WOODS 1767 in Maryland. ^[2][3] She was born about between 1734 and 1740 in Province of Maryland. There are several citations for this marriage. One lists Francis's birth year as 1726, the others as 1718. Some show the marriage in MD, and others KY. NOTE: The early settlement of Harrod's Town was not until 1774. Francis and Charity were not part of the early settlement of Kentucky. All seem to agree on the names and 1767 date though.

Children of Francis Ignatius and Charity Woods Coomes:

1. Richard Raymond Coomes 1768–1856

2. Lydia Coomes 1764-67+ (?) married in 1783. She could not have been born in 1774 as many trees show unless she married at age 9.

3. Anna Coomes 1773–1847

4. Margaret Modesta Coomes 1773–1848

5. Rachel Coomes 1775–1847

7. Winifred Elizabeth Coomes 1779–1868

8. Mary Elizabeth Coomes 1785–1857

In addition, daughter Rachael Coomes married her first cousin William Coomes Jr. the son of William and Frances Jane Coomes.

Per DAR records, they resided in first in Virginia Colony, Feb. 14, 1768 when son, Richard, was born (1850 Nelson KY Census) and then, between 1768 and 1771, removed to Surry Co NC where Francis COONS [sic] appears on the tax lists of the newly-formed (from Rowan) county with 1 tithable.

In 1777, the Surry NC tax returns of Jabez JARVIS include "Francis COOMS Improvements:: 0 Vallue: 0 Negros: 0 Value: 0 Horses: 2 Value: 24 Cattle: 3 Value: 9 0:7:8 Cash in Hand: 0 Money on "Interest" 0."

In 1782, Francis COOMES is listed on the Surry NC tax list in Dyer's District with two horses and one head of cattle with a total value of 13 Pounds.

The Surry NC marriage bond of his daughter, Lydia COOMS, and Amos CRITCHFIELD was dated 27 Aug 1783. (See Below).

On August 9, 1787 Francis entered his NC Land Grant of 200 acres of land known as "Round Hill" located on the south side of the Yadkin River in Surry Co. NC. On 06 Aug 1796 (Surry Co NC DBF:332) Francis COOMER [sic] sold Round Hill to John FARMER, £100, and shortly thereafter removed to Nelson Co KY where he first appears on tax lists in 1797.

According to the following family traditions/histories:

(1) Extracted from "The Centenary of Catholicity in Kentucky", by Hon. Ben. J. Webb, published by Cook & McDowell Owensboro, Kentucky in 1980, Chapter XXXVIII, "The mission of Daviess County," an interview by Webb of Francis' grandson, Richard R. COOMES:

"Richard R. COOMES, whose name appears in the above list of early settlers in the county [list of pre-1831 settlers of Daviess Co. KY], is a grand son of the veteran patriarch of the Cox's Creek settlement, Francis COOMES, who died a centenarian in 1822. The history of the family as sketched for the writer by its oldest living representative in Daviess… is sufficiently interesting to be here introduced:

"Francis COOMES, from whom one branch of the family so designated and residing in KY has its descent, was born in Maryland about the year 1722. When a young married man, he stayed away from MD and went first to VA, and afterwards to N.C. Here their children were born to him and these grew up with little, if any, knowledge of their ancestral faith.

" When his oldest son, Richard, father of the venerated friend whose account the writer is here quoting, reached his majority, he became dissatisfied with his surroundings in NC and, after wandering from place to place for a number of years, finally came to KY in the year 1790. It is more then likely he fell in with some of his father's former acquaintances of MD then on their way to the settlement on Cox's Creek [Nelson Co, KY].

"Richard COOMES was accompanied to the State and to the settlement referred to by two single sisters, Anna and Rachel COOMES, the first of whom afterwards became the wife of Walter COOMES, .... and the mother of the late Rev. Charles I. COOMES .... and the last the wife of William COOMES [Jr.], who removed from Nelson to Daviess County in the year 1815.

"In 1794, or thereabouts, Richard COOMES returned to NC and brought back with him to Kentucky his aged father and mother and two single sisters. One of these latter afterwards intermarried with Wilfred WATHEN, and became the mother of … Rev. John C. WATHEN. The other was married to John SPEAKS. Having still a widowed sister residing in VA, Mrs. Margaret WATHEN, Richard went after her a year or two later, and brought to KY herself and her two infant children... she was afterwards united in marriage with Zachariah AUD, of the Cox's Creek Settlement, and she became mother of ...Rev. Athanasius A. AUD,.... The death of Richard COOMES took place in 1868, at the age of eighty-eight years."

(2) From Combs Researcher Joe Lewis: Father Eugene COOMES, S.J. also stated that Francis and Charity had nine children, some born in VA and some in NC. In addition to those named above, Fr. Eugene also listed "…Henry who died 1856 in Breckenridge Co. KY, Leonard, who married Mary Anastasia COOMES (daughter of William COOMES) 1800 in Nelson Co. KY, and Lydia who married a CRUTCHFIELD in NC and moved to St. Lawrence in Daviess Co. KY…"

(3) From the "History of Daviess County, Kentucky," Inter-State Publishing Co., Chicago, 1883. Reprinted by McDowell Publications, Utica, KY, 1980. p. 611:

"HILLARY F. COOMES, farmer, stock-raiser and also tobacco merchant, Knottsville, was born in this precinct [of Davies Co KY] Feb. 20, 1844. He spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, and was educated at St. Mary's College, in Marion County. He engaged in the mercantile business in Knottsville for two years, but for the past three years has been dealing in tobacco. He was married Oct. 9, 1866,to Ellenora McDANIEL, daughter of Benedict J. McDANIEL. They had six children, five living --- Marietta, Elizabeth H., Minnie R., Edwin L. and Fabien. Mr. COOMES is a Catholic Knight and a member of the Total Abstinence Society.

Richard R. COOMES, father of the above, was born in Nelson County, Ky., April 1, 1812, and is a son of Richard COOMES (deceased), who came from North Carolina to this State as early as 1797, while the Indians were yet here. He was one of the first settlers of Bardstown. Mr. COOMES was educated at St. Mary's College. In April, 1841, he came to this county and was the first County Surveyor of Daviess County elected under the new Constitution in 1850. He established the entire boundary line of McLean County, having been appointed to that work by the Legislature."

Record ID Number: MH:N63079

PRIN MH:I9255

Francis Ignatius COOMES died April 3, 1822 and Charity died August 19, 1826, both in Fairfield, Nelson County, Kentucky. Francis and Charity are buried in the churchyard at St Michael's Catholic Church in Nelson County, Kentucky.

Will, Estate Appraisement, and Sales record, Estate of Francis Coomes in Nelson County, Kentucky

The will for Francis Coomes of Nelson County, Kentucky was dated 17 March 1821 and proved 15 April 1822. The transcript of the will is:

"In the name of God amen, March the 17th 1821, I Francis Coomes being ninety odd years of age infirm in body, but sound in mind, do make this as my last will and Testament (viz) I do will and bequeath all and every species of my property to my son Richard Coomes after my just debts are paid, my loving wife Charity Coomes being old and infirm should she survive me, It is my will that my son Richard Coomes should support her decently so long as she may live. # Given under my hand this Day and date above written. # his Francis X Coomes mark Attest Jas. Porter Charles Murphey

At a Count Court held for Nelson County at the courthouse in Bairdstown [sic] on the 15th Day of April 1822 # The above last will and Testament of Francis Coomes decd. was Exhibited in court and proved by the oaths of James Porter & Charles Murphy the subscribing witnesses thereto & ordered to Be recorded. # and on the motion of Richard Coomes administration with the will annexed of all the goods chattels and credits of the said Francis Coomes decd. was granted him, to The said Richard with James Porter his security having given Bond in the penalty of $200, conditioned as prescribed By law & having taken the oath the law in such case directs. Teste. Ben Grayson CC"^[4]

The estate of Francis Coomes was appraised by John Minor, William W. Mason and Charles Murphy who met at the house of Richd. Combs [sic] and after being duly sworn proceeded to appraise the property as follow: [list of property including a sorrel horse, a red cow and calf, a red cow and yearling, a sow and pigs, 17 head of hogs, bed, bedstead, furniture, tools, etc., total value of $154.02½.^[5]

The sale or the personal property of Francis Coomes was recorded on 21 April 1823. Proceeds totaled $162.59.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ The Multiple Francises. Posted 24 Mar 2018 by Jessica Ennis on Ancestry.com
2. ↑ U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Francis Ignatius Coomes Gender: Male Birth Place: MD Birth Year: 1718 Spouse Name: Charity Woods Spouse Birth Place: MD Spouse Birth Year: 1734 Marriage Year: 1767
3. ↑ U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Francis Ignatius Coomes Gender: Male Birth Place: MD Birth Year: 1718 Spouse Name: Charity Woods Spouse Birth Place: MD Spouse Birth Year: 1728 Number Pages: 1
4. ↑ Nelson County, Kentucky, Will Book, D: 334, will of Francis Coomes, proved 15 April 1822; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9P3Y-FQ8 : accessed 14 September 2022).
5. ↑ Nelson County, Kentucky, Will Book, D: 454-5, Estate appraisement of Francis Coomes (22 April 1822); digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GP3Y-XGY : accessed 14 September 2022).
6. ↑ Nelson County, Kentucky, Will Book, D: 513-4, Report of sale of property, estate of Francis Coomes (21 April 1823); digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GP3Y-XGC : accessed 14 September 2022).

See also:

• Nelson County on Wikipedia
• Fairfield on Wikipedia
• Webb, Hon. Bennedict Joseph. The centenary of Catholicity in Kentucky, Reprint of 1884 Louisville [Ky.] Charles A. Rogers, 1884. Chapter XXXVIII, "The mission of Daviess County"
• Gwathmey, John H., Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution: Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, 1775 - 1783 Introduction by Dr. H. J. Eckeniode, Dir. of the Virginia Division of History and Archealogy. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, 1979 Originally Published: Richmond, Virginia, 1938 John H. Gwathmey Lirary of Congress Catalogue Card Number 73-4558
• 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Bradstown, Nelson, Kentucky; Page: 205; NARA Roll: M33_19; Image: 180 Name Francis Coomes Home in 1820 (City, County, State) Bradstown, Nelson, Kentucky Enumeration Date August 7, 1820
• Hatcher, Patricia Law, Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots; Volume: 1; Serial: 11127; Volume: 2, Dallas, TX, USA: Pioneer Heritage Press, 1987.
• Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Revolutionary War Bounty Land Grants. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1998.
• U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current. Francis Coomes Birth Date 1726 Birth Place USA Death Date 3 Apr 1822 Death Place Fairfield (Nelson County), Nelson County, Kentucky, USA Cemetery Saint Michaels Cemetery
• Virginia, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1607-1890 Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes. Francis Ig. Combs State VA County Hampshire County Township 06 01 Year 1782 Record Type Continental Census Page 25 Database VA Early Census Index

The following sources from Fold3.com are records pertaining to one of the Francis Coomes:

• Service Record of Francis Coomes
• Pay Roll for 10th Virginia Regiment

Acknowledgments

• Thank you to Joseph Warren, Steven Frank, and Grace McChesney for creating Coomes-10 on 29 Oct 13.