Henry Coombs (abt. 1610 - bef. 1669)

Born about 1610 in England

Descendants

Died before 16 Sep 1669 before about age 59 in Marblehead, Essex, Massachusetts

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Biography

COOMBS, HENRY, at Marblehead 1647, d. Sept. 1669, prob. as this is date of inventory. He left. wid. and childr. whose names I know not.^{[1] [2]}

He was a fisherman.^[3] He was a proprietor at Salem, MA, in 1635 and mortgaged land there in 1648. Henry removed to Marblehead, MA as early as 22 Dec 1648, when he with others had lots of land laid-out in the swamp.^[4]

The administration of Henry’s estate was granted to his widow, Elizabeth, for herself and her children on 2 Oct 1669.^[3] According to Essex Institute Historical Collections, Volume 2 Essex Institute., 1860 p. 20 An inventory of the estate of Henry Coombs taken 16 Sep 1669, (value £85.5.6, debts £57.02.5) mentioned the children of the deceased.

Probate record as printed^[5][6] do not name the children although that was certainly customary.

Henry died by accidental drowning (he was drunk) in August 1669.^[7]

Children of Henry and Elizabeth

Six children^[8]

1. Deborah b. 1664; d. 1728 Scituate m(1) Sharp. m(2) Joseph Gannett on Aug.15, 1682. m(3) Joseph Howes about 1702.^[9]
2. Henry Coombs b. 1645; d. 10 Feb 1724/5 m. Sarah Preble
3. Elizabeth Coombs; m. thomas Trevey
4. Michael Coombs m. Joanna ____
5. Susannah Coombs; m. Francis Grant 22 Oct 1668
6. Richard Coombs; m. Margaret c. 1688

Additional probable children of Henry and Elizabeth Coombs:

1. Humphrey Coombs, b. say 1630; m. Bathsheba Rayment
2. Mary Coombs, b. say 1648; m. John Ingersoll
3. John Coombs, b. ca. 1664; d. 22 Oct 1689

Henry COOMBS, born say 1605; he died before 16 Sep 1669; married probably Elizabeth BOWLES who died before 13 Jun 1709.

Henry was identified in a Nov 1667 General Court proceeding as being a “fisherman.” He was actually a farmer with six acres of land, an orchard, a garden, and “corne land,” as well as some “unimproved land,” plus three swine “a year old and four smaller swine.”^[10] He was a proprietor at Salem, MA, in 1635 and mortgaged land there in 1648.

He removed to Marblehead, MA: “as early as 22 Dec 1648, when he with others had lots of land laid-out in the swamp. On 11 Apr 1653, he sold a cow lease to John Legg, and in 1656 was elected ‘way warden.’ In 1661 he had temporary charge of the ferry, near which he appears to have lived. In 1667 he was complained against for having uttered alleged slanderous reports concerning the minister at Marblehead, the Rev. Mr. Walton, saying that he ‘preached nothing but lies, and that he could prove him to be a knave.’”^[11]

In 1649 he was brought before the General Court for battery against Nicholas Barkley and he was again in court in 1663 for cursing.

The administration of Henry’s estate was granted to his widow, Elizabeth _____ for herself and her children on 2 Oct 1669.^[12] A “jury of inquest” found that Henry had drowned, an accident due to “being drunk.” Inventory of Henry’s estate was taken 16 Sep 1669, by Henry Bartholomew, Moses Maverick, and Hilliard Veren and was valued at £85. 05. 06.^[13] Elizabeth deeded land in 1670 to her daughter Susanna and her husband, Francis Grant.^[14]

Henry’s wife, Elizabeth, apparently died in 1709 as administration was granted on her estate 13 Jun 1709, to her son-in-law, Francis Grant, and his wife Susannah.^[15]

Henry and Elizabeth Coombs had at least nine children. The order of birth is unknown but has been approximated based on the assumption that males of this period married around the age of 21 and females married at about 17 years of age.

Children of Henry COOMBS and probably Elizabeth Bowles:

Humphrey COOMBS, born say 1630

Michael COOMBS, born circa 1634

Elizabeth COOMBS, born say 1640

Henry COOMBS, born say 1645

Mary COOMBS, born say 1648

Susannah COOMBS, born say 1650

Deborah COOMBS, born say 1658

John COOMBS, born circa 1664

Richard COOMBS, born say 1667

Sources

1. ↑ A Genealogical Dictionary of The First Settlers of New England, Before 1692 Volume #1, Pgs 441 - 453 Cone - Coombs By James Savage.
2. ↑ http://www.usgennet.org/usa/topic/newengland/savage/bk1/441-453.htm
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Pioneers of Mass., page 116.
4. ↑ Gen. & Family History of Maine, page 1128.
5. ↑ The probate records of Essex County, Massachusetts by Massachusetts. Probate Court (Essex County); Essex Institute; Dow, George Francis, 1868-1936 Publication date 1916 p. 164
6. ↑ Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County Vol IV. p. 206
7. ↑ Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex p. 211
8. ↑ The Essex Genealogist. 27:176 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2018.) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB396/i/13216/176/234894899
9. ↑ Maine Biographies: Excerpted from Maine Resources, Attractions, and Its People: A History (Google eBook) p. 374
10. ↑ They Came Here to Fish, pages 3-4.
11. ↑ Genealogical & Family History of Maine, page 1128.
12. ↑ Pioneers of Massachusetts, page 116.
13. ↑ Essex County, Massachusetts; Salem, MA; Court files, Vol. 60, page 720 and Genealogical & Family History of Maine, page 1129.
14. ↑ Pioneers of Massachusetts, page 116,
15. ↑ Genealogical & Family History of Maine, page 1129.