John Combs Sr.
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John Nicholas Combs Sr. (1737 - abt. 1820)

John Nicholas Combs Sr. aka Coombs
Born in Overwharton Parish, Stafford, Virginiamap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
Brother of , , , , and [half]
Husband of — married about 1755 in Frederick County, Virginia Colony, British Americamap [uncertain]
Descendants descendants
Father of , , , , , , and
Died about at about age 82 in Defiance, Perry, Kentucky, United Statesmap
Problems/Questions Profile managers: Kathi Stoughton-Trahan private message [send private message], Jeffrey Martin private message [send private message], Kellie Rhodes private message [send private message], Kerena Hyler private message [send private message], David McCaulley private message [send private message], Rick Combs private message [send private message], and Tam X private message [send private message]
Profile last modified | Created 27 Dec 2011
This page has been accessed 5,177 times.

Contents

Biography

This profile is part of the Combs Name Study.
1776 Project
John Combs Sr. performed Patriotic Service in North Carolina in the American Revolution.
Daughters of the American Revolution
John Combs Sr. is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A204415.

John Nicholas Combs was born on February 21, 1737 in Stafford, Virginia British Colonial America, son of Mason Combs (1714–1785) and Sarah Ann Tucker (~1716–1785).

John (14) married Nancy Harding (16) (born in 1735 in Shenandoah, Virginia) in 1752. Their children were:

John made oath of allegiance to gain land entry 1778-1781. [1]

John died about 1820 in Perry, Kentucky, United States, aged about 82.

John was born about 1736, probably in Overwharton Parish, Stafford County, Virginia Colony. He is the son of Mason Combs and Sarah Ann Nelson. He passed away about 1820 in Floyd County, Kentucky.[2]

John settled in Frederick County, Virginia by 1758 when he apparently purchased 78 acres of land on the Shenandoah River on 3 Jul 1758, recorded 5 Jul 1758.[3] John and his family remained in Frederick County until at least 1773. He lived in that part of the county which became Dunmore in 1772, and was renamed Shenandoah County in 1777/8. At some time between 1773 and 1780 he apparently moved to Surry County, North Carolina. About 1787 John returned to Virginia and is found in Montgomery County, the area which became Wythe County in 1790. It is not proven, but generally assumed, that the John Combs on the 1810 census in Floyd County, Kentucky, is this John Combs. He is listed with his wife, both born prior to 1765.[4][5]

Birth

No birth record has been found for John. His birth year has been estimated between 1735 and 1738. His oldest child, William, was born in September 1757. Marriage date estimated as 1755/6; estimated age at marriage 21-22. Estimated birth year 1736.

Marriage

John married Nancy Harding about 1755/6, probably in Frederick County, Virginia Colony.[6] They had eight sons: William (1757), John, (b 1761), Nicholas (b before 1764), Biram (b 1760-66), Mason (b before 1765), Henry (b c 1772), Elijah (b 1770), and George (b before 1774). These sons are referred to in some documents as "the eight" or "the original eight" brothers who settled in Perry County, Kentucky from Holston River, Virginia.[7]

Death

No death record has been found. His death in 1820 in Floyd County, Kentucky is assumed based on the administration of the estate of a John Combs by Elijah Combs, son of this John Combs. [5]

Revolutionary War Service

John is listed as a NSSAR Patriot, P-136959. At least three NSSAR Applications have been filed based on his service: by David Ray Bryant, Nat'l No. 97176; by Howard Ray Bryant, Nat'l No. 90546; by Fred Bryant, Nat'l No. 84342. Unfortunately, these applications are incorrect. John did not serve in the Revolutionary War. The information used on these applications applies to his son, John Combs, Jr. (1761-1848), who did serve.

John Combs, Jr. appeared in court in Perry County, Kentucky on 13 May 1825 to apply for a pension based on his Revolutionary War service. He states he was born 7 February 1761; that he enlisted in Frederick (or Shenandoah) County about 1 January 1777 for a term of three years in the 12th Regiment, Continental Line from Virginia under Capt. Jonathan Langford and Col. James Wood; that he served two years and four months before being discharged for sickness. John claimed compensation for injuries to neck and leg. The pension was approved and he was entered on the rolls of Kentucky for a rate of $8 per month beginning 19 November 1825. Certificate of pension was sent 13 January 1826. Arrears of $28.26 to March 1826 were paid.[8]

  • It should be noted that John, Sr. is recognized by DAR as a Patriot based upon his signing of the Oath of Allegiance Upon Land Entry 1778-1781.

Sources

  1. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 24 Feb 2024), "Record of John Soombs", Ancestor # A204415.
  2. ↑ Combs, Josiah H., Ph.D., University of Paris; Combs, a Study in Comparative Philology and Genealogy. Copyright 1976 by Norris K. Combs, Published by Norris K. Combs, Pensacola, Florida, 1976, reprinted 1979, Electronically reprinted by the Combs &c. Research Group in 1999
  3. ↑ Frederick VA Deed Book 4:369-70
  4. ↑ Year: 1810; Census Place: Floyd, Floyd, Kentucky; Roll: 6; Page: 97; Image: 00111; Family History Library Film: 0181351
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 John & Nancy Hardin Combs, Sr. s/o Mason Combs, Sr.
  6. ↑ Nancy is named "Nanney Combes" in the will of her father, Henry Harding dated 28 September 1779
  7. ↑ Dickey, Rev. John J.; Dickey Diary Interviews; recorded beginning in the 1870s; transcript available online.
  8. ↑ Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (NARA microfilm publication M804, 2,670 rolls). Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15. National Archives, Washington, D.C. Roll: 618; Pension File No.: S35851. A partial transcript of the files is available online.
  • Find a Grave, database and images ( Find A Grave: Memorial #191724732 john-combs: accessed 06 December 2023), memorial page for John Combs Sr. (1736–1820), Find a Grave Memorial ID 191724732, citing John Combs Cemetery, Defiance, Perry County, Kentucky, USA; Maintained by " Tim and Tammie ♥ (contributor 47669102).
  • Source: S500051 Filae Family Trees Publication: MyHeritage The Filae Family Trees can be found on <a id="" href="https://www.filae.com" class="green" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.filae.com</a>. Filae is owned and operated by the MyHeritage Group. Collection Media: 14100Certainty: 4 John COMBS&lt;br&gt;Birth: From 1733 To 1736 Caroline, Virginia, United States &lt;br&gt;Marriage: Marriage to: Nancy Margaret HARDING Virginia, United States&lt;br&gt;Death: From 1819 To 1820 Defiance, Perry, Kentucky, United States&lt;br&gt;Burial: John Combs Cemetery, Defiance, Perry, Kentucky, United States&lt;br&gt;Wife: <a>Nancy Margaret HARDING</a>&lt;br&gt;Children: <a>Maj. Elijah Cornett General Lige COMBS</a>, <a>Nicholas COMBS</a>, <a>Henry Harrison COMBS</a>, <a>George Washington COMBS</a>, <a>Biram COMBS</a>, <a>John COMBS</a>, <a>Mason COMBS</a> Event: Record Role: 14100:183677689:
  • Source: S861706416 Repository: #R850671001 U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
  • Repository: R850671001 Ancestry.com
  • Coombs family archives
  • World Family Tree
  • Filae Family Trees
    Certainty: 4 John COMBSlt;brgt;; Birth: From 1733 To 1736 Caroline, Virginia, United States lt;brgt;Marriage: Marriage to: Nancy Margaret HARDING Virginia, United Stateslt;brgt;; Death: From 1819 To 1820 Defiance, Perry, Kentucky, United Stateslt;brgt;; Burial: John Combs Cemetery, Defiance, Perry, Kentucky, United Stateslt;brgt;; Wife: Nancy Margaret HARDINGlt;brgt;; Children: Maj. Elijah Cornett General Lige COMBS, Nicholas COMBS, Henry Harrison COMBS, George Washington COMBS, Biram COMBS, John COMBS, Mason COMBS Event: Record Role: 14100:183677689
  • John Combs, I<br>Gender: Male<br>Alias name: Kentucky John Combs, Kentucky John, JOHN COMBS<br>Birth: 1737 - Overwharten Parish, Stafford County, Virginia, Colonial America<br>Marriage: Spouse: Nancy Margaret Combs (born Harding) - Between 1752 and 1755 - Frederick County, Virginia, Colonial America<br>Death: Feb 28 1820 - Carr's Fork, Perry County, Kentucky, United States<br>Burial: After Feb 28 1820 - White Oak Cemetery, Defiance, Perry County, Kentucky, United States<br>Father: <a>Mason Combs, I</a><br>Mother: <a>Sarah Ann Combs (born Nelson)</a><br>Wife: <a>Nancy Margaret Combs (born Harding)</a><br>Children: <a>George Washington Combs</a>, <a>Mason Combs</a>, <a>Nicholas Combs, of East Kentucky</a>, <a>John Combs, II</a>, <a>Elijah Combs</a>, <a>Abraham Biram Combs, I</a>, <a>Henry Harrison Combs, I</a>, <a>Barbary Combs</a>, <a>William "Old Buckey" Combs, Sr.</a><br>Siblings: <a>Nicholas Combs</a>, <a>Josiah Combs</a>, <a>William Combs, I</a>, <a>Benjamin Combs</a>, <a>Ann Stacy (born Combs)</a>, <a>Sarah Mary Hammock (born Combs)</a>, <a>Mason Calmes Combs, II</a>, <a>Winney Combs</a>, <a>Wilmott Combs</a>
  • John COMBS, I<br>Birth: 1737 Overwharten Parish, Stafford County, Virginia, Colonial America <br>Marriage: Marriage to: Nancy Margaret HARDINGCirca 1755 Frederick, Virginia, Colonial America<br>Death: 1819 Carr's Fork, Perry County, Kentucky, United States<br>Burial: 1819 White Oak Cemetery, Defiance, Perry County, Kentucky, United States<br>Father: <a>Mason COMBS, SR</a><br>Mother: <a>Sarah Ann NELSON</a><br>Wife: <a>Nancy Margaret HARDING</a><br>Children: <a>Barbara COMBS</a>, <a>Biram COMBS, I</a>, <a>Millie COMBS</a>, <a>Soldier John COMBS, II</a>, <a>Nicholas COMBS, OF EAST KENTUCKY</a>, <a>Mason COMBS</a>, <a>George David COMBS</a>, <a>Henry Harrison COMBS, I</a>, <a>Elijah Gen Lige COMBS</a>, <a>William Old Buckery COMBS, SR.</a><br>Siblings: <a>Sarah COMBS, I</a>, <a>John W. COMBS, SR.</a>, <a>Mason COMBS, JR</a>, <a>Anne COMBS</a>, <a>Winnifred COMBS, I</a

DNA Confirmation

Y-DNA

  • Matthew Combs and Rick Combs II match at a Genetic Distance of 6 with Big Y STR Differences totaling 5 of 587. Precise genealogy is currently unknown due to non-paternity events, but MRCA is predicted to have been born about 1723, which is estimated to be John Combs Sr. (abt.1736-abt.1819). Both have tested but there is no Family Finder test match.
  • Matthew Combs and Ron Combs match at 67 markers with a Genetic Distance of 6. Precise genealogy is currently unknown due to non-paternity events, but MRCA is estimated to be John Combs Sr. (abt.1736-abt.1819). Both have tested but there is no Family Finder test match.

Acknowledgments

  • COMBS-COOMBS &c. Research Group with appreciation for all their hard work, research, documentation, and their generosity in posting it all online for others to use.
  • Thank you to Kathleen Stoughton for creating Combs-975 on 3 Dec 2013.
  • WikiTree profile Combs-434 created through the import of Edwards_Keith Genealogy.ged on Dec 27, 2011, by Erica Edwards.
  • Thank you to Darlene Burton for creating WikiTree profile Combs-787 through the import of clay3_2013-07-25.ged on Jul 25, 2013.
  • WikiTree profile Combs-614 created through the import of RodneyTree12232012.ged on Dec 23, 2012, by Rodney Gross.




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It may be possible to confirm family relationships with John by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. Y-chromosome DNA test-takers in his direct paternal line on WikiTree: It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with John:

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Images: 3
kentucky pay voucher 1818
kentucky pay voucher 1818
Compiled service record. Record of monthly pay for John Combs
Compiled service record. Record of monthly pay for John Combs
Headstone of John and Nancy Combs
Headstone of John and Nancy Combs


Comments: 15

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Meehan-411 Beryl Meehan
Combs-2451 and Combs-434 appear to represent the same person because: Seems the unsourced Combs-2451 is all guess work, unsourced and orphaned
posted by Beryl Meehan
Combs-919 Rick Combs II
My name is Rick Combs, I am a co-administrator for the general Combs surname project on FTDNA and I am the sole administrator of this Combs line's private surname project on FTDNA. I am one of the foremost authorities on this line. To understand this line one must fully read this website https://www.combs-families.org/combs/families/c-j-arch.htm, then read this link on John! https://www.combs-families.org/combs/families/c-8.htm. Any online tree since I have been doing this that is open for editing by the general public is garbage and this Combs line that I fully corrected years ago to the information that is known and proven has been turned to garbage. The only assumption on this line is that Archdale (likely pronounced as Ark-dale like the town in North Carolina not Arch-dale) was in fact the grandson of Merchant John Combe ~1555/1561-1610 and Margaret Archdale 1569-1616. The paper trail stops at John, his parentage is unknown and he is not the son of Richard Combe, his son John was born years later and died years later. Our John's son John Combe born 1602 London, died 1652 Sparsholt. He was attending University in Oxford, England in 1619 when the mythical Jamestown John Combs came to the Jamestown Colony in 1619 on the ship Marigold. that guy isn't our line! John Combe born 1602 married Elizabeth Lovett b.1614-d.1656 in 1630 in Soulbury, England. Archdale, their 6th child and 3rd son was born/christened 16 Nov 1641 in Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England. Their eldest son John born in 1633 died in 1642, their second born son Robert born 1634 would now be heir to the estate, his death is unknown or if he survived Archdale. Archdale at the age of 14 was apprenticed to his mother's brother Christopher Lovett in Dublin, Ireland at the modern day cost of $200K. Archdale's parents are now both deceased by 1656! If he completed the apprenticeship is unknown, but if we are to assume that the Archdale found in the early records of Stafford and Old Rappahannock Counties, VA are of him which everybody believe is him, then we are all on the same page. He married a widow Elizabeth at some point in the early 1660's. Her married name was Underwood, her maiden is unconfirmed but she also could have been an Underwood or a Butler, it is not known! They had two possibly three Children John, William and Charles! She already had a William with her late husband and he was about 10 when she had John. Charles is an unknown, no records about him or if any descendants, the same with William. John born ~1663 in Old Rappahannock County, VA d. 1716 in Richmond County, VA is the one who carried on the line. Whether or not he married once or twice is moot, we know he married Ann Mason. John had two known sons, Archdale which according to research only had daughters and Archdale III is speculated as an illegitimate of his daughter but unconfirmed and Mason his youngest child b.1713 Richmond County, VA- d.1785 in Dobson, NC who married Sarah Ann Nelson in Caroline County, VA circa 1734. Mason had three known sons John, William and Mason Jr. John b.1736 Frederick County, VA-d.1820 Floyd County, KY married Nancy Harding circa 1755 in Frederick County, VA. They had 8 sons that are documented and possibly two daughters. The sons are in approximate order of birth- Mason "Mace" 1756-1822, William "Old Buckery" 1757-1840, John 1761-1848, Nicholas "Danger" 1762-1859, Henry Harrison 1765-1853, Biram 1766-1836, George 1768-1827 & Elijah 1770-1855. The daughters being Wilmouth 1772-1884 & Barbara 1780-1860. Early research that has been corrected, had Danger Nick as one of Mason Sr's sons and a brother to John the father of the 8. Nick is now known as one of the brothers. John's brother William b.1740 Frederick County, VA d.1815 Clay County, Kentucky married Sitha Stacy approximately 1761. Their children are the least known about and mostly conjecture but it is believed that they had a John b.1761, William b.1763 and Winnifred b. 1767. John is the biggest conjecture, he married an unknown Sarah, but it is believed he is the father of some of the children that his first cousin John has been given credit for such as Jeremiah Lorenzo "Long Jerry", Shadrack "Old Shade", Mason, William B and Millie. William Jr married a Mary "Polly" Skaggs, Winnifred married a Samuel Sumner & Robert Hicks. Mason Sr's youngest son Mason Jr b.1747-d.1802 married an unknown Dorothy "Dolly" circa 1776 they had children Silvia, Sarah, Simeon, Amelia "Millie", Jeremiah & Nancy Jane. This is the documented line from John Combe & Margaret Archdale down to the 8 Combs brothers and their 1st cousins. If anywhere in this online tree strays from the aforementioned facts, it is purely their opinion or conjecture and not backed by documentation. The paternal male YDNA haplogroup of this line is I-M223. There are at least a dozen confirmed Combs lines in this country that are unrelated to us and to each other, and there are about another two dozen Combs lines that claim the surname but are unrelated to any of the others. There were about a handful of Combs that came out of early Virginia, all the others hitched their wagons to Archdale since he is the only one that can confirm lineage back to the old country, that is how a lot of these trees and this tree became garbage. If you are a male Combs and want to prove your surname to a particular line, go to Family Tree DNA and take the Big Y 700 DNA test. Join the Combs surname project, if you match one of the lines, then I will place you in that group.
posted on Combs-3109 (merged) by Rick Combs II
Parker-36732 Neal Parker
Combs-3109 and Combs-434 appear to represent the same person because: Same name, same parents, same dates
posted by Neal Parker
Combs-919 Rick Combs II
Melodie, I wish you the best on this free site where everyone with fingers that can press a button can change anything at anytime. At one point years ago I had our Combs line from John Combe & Margaret Archdale down as current as possible with documented known facts and married to the correct people with the correct maiden names if they are known and without all the made up middle names that I have been seeing now. I got sick of changing things back every time someone thought they knew better with zero sources and based on hunches. I just noticed now with your merge request that someone changed his mother to a Tucker. There is a marriage record that shows her name as Sarah Ann Nelson. I have seen multiple wives, children, fathers etc... linked to the same individual. We have our own Combs Y-DNA group on Family Tree DNA. There is a group that accepts all Combs that share the surname regardless if they are related or not and they are broken down into groups of their own Combs lineage, then I have a private group in which a Combs male must take a Y-DNA test first, prove that they are a match and then they can join. Some folks keep attaching Joseph Combs as an elder brother to Mason, he is absolutely not related and that's fact based on YDNA. I also see Mason has two sons named John on this page. I haven't looked yet, I am afraid too, but has someone re-attached Lord Richard Combe as the father of the John Combe that married Margaret Archdale. If anyone bothered to research anymore, they would know that his son had a different birth and death date. Were we related to Lord Richard Combe in some way, I don't know maybe but not directly. The documented end of the line paper trail ends with John Combe born circa 1555/61 died 7 Sep 1610 in London. His son John II born 15 Aug 1602 London died 24 Apr 1652 in Sparsholt. Neither one of them set sail to the colonies until Archdale the son of John II came here after his Draper Apprenticeship which began in 1856, he was here by ~1662, did he finish his apprenticeship, maybe not, is this Archdale the son of of John & Elizabeth Lovett, most likely but not proven, but Archdale is a pretty unique name. Once again I wish you the best of luck, this site has done nothing but give me grief.
posted by Rick Combs II
Combs-6364 Melodie (Combs) Patton
Combs-2945 and Combs-434 appear to represent the same person because: Both profiles appear to represent the same individual. Please review and merge
posted by Melodie (Combs) Patton
Combs-6364 Melodie (Combs) Patton
Combs-2391 and Combs-434 appear to represent the same person because: Both profiles represent the same individual, need to check Son John Combs for duplicate. Please review and merge
posted by Melodie (Combs) Patton
Laura Gabbard
It should be noted that John, Sr. is recognized by DAR as a Patriot based upon his signing of the Oath of Allegiance Upon Land Entry 1778-1781.
posted by Laura Gabbard
Lewis-10321 Tam (Lewis) X
Combs-2532 and Combs-434 appear to represent the same person because: I created the profile and wasn't informed by wikitree it existed
posted by Tam (Lewis) X
Noland-165 Liz (Noland) Shifflett
following was added to profile, but it's more a comment, so I deleted it from the profile:

Changes made by Diane Friedman, 13 July 2016:

I found about the same information but with birth dates a few years difference. also I found some sisters of the brothers but no confirmation on any dates or persons. Start in Virginia and as it was broken, Kentucky I found sisters listed in the next generation forJohnunder father, mason Stafford combs, sr but not listed here.

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Wheeler-8347 Kellie (Wheeler) Rhodes
Combs-2312 and Combs-434 appear to represent the same person because: Merged spouse , now she's married to both John Combs.
posted by Kellie (Wheeler) Rhodes
Jeffrey Martin
Combs-2316 and Combs-434 appear to represent the same person because: I propose a merge of Combs-2316 into Combs-434, so that the earlier profile (#434) survives. Will you approve the merge, or add me to the trusted list for Combs-2316 so I can complete it?
posted by Jeffrey Martin
Strutton-11 Shirley Ann (Strutton) Dalton (1943-2023)
Combs-614 and Combs-434 appear to represent the same person because: Same (within 2 yrs) birth and death dates; same mother.
posted by Shirley Ann (Strutton) Dalton (1943-2023)
Strutton-11 Shirley Ann (Strutton) Dalton (1943-2023)
Combs-787 and Combs-434 appear to represent the same person because: Birth dates the same; both married to Nancy Harding.
posted by Shirley Ann (Strutton) Dalton (1943-2023)
Strutton-11 Shirley Ann (Strutton) Dalton (1943-2023)
Combs-1048 and Combs-434 appear to represent the same person because: Birth and death dates the same within a year or two; both married to Nancy Harding.
posted by Shirley Ann (Strutton) Dalton (1943-2023)
Strutton-11 Shirley Ann (Strutton) Dalton (1943-2023)
Combs-975 and Combs-434 appear to represent the same person because: Birth and death dates the same within a year or two; both married to Nancy Harding.
posted by Shirley Ann (Strutton) Dalton (1943-2023)

Rejected matches › John Coombs (1738-) › Nicholas Danger Combs (1763-abt.1859)

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Categories: British America | Concord, Stafford County, Virginia | Combs Name Study | Patriotic Service, North Carolina, American Revolution | NSDAR Patriot Ancestors