Neither of the two earlier hard copy editions of The Combes Genealogy included an Index. While the General Table was a Guide to its contents, locating specific individuals or locations was often nigh to impossible. Given that this valuable source included literally thousands of names and locations, an Index was considered mandatory. The Result? After hundreds and hundreds of hours of work, Combs Researcher Charlie Harber's initial Index included over 4,500 entries, not including multiples (The author had referred to so many individuals and locations that the Index was practically as large as the Manuscript!).
In addition to the physical problem of size, we also encountered yet another problem, that of Nicknames. The author had identified, for example, 14 different nicknames just for the many Jeremiah COMBS of East Kentucky; i.e., Beet-Nose Jerry, Chunky Jerry, Curly Jerry, Free Jerry, Long Jerry, Loose Jerry, Ram Jerry, Rebel Jerry, Round Jerry, Short Jerry, Slow Jerry, Tight Jerry, Yankee Jerry and Young Jerry. Unfortunately, in some instances, Combs &c. Research Group Researchers had documented that the wrong nickname had been applied to the right Jerry (or vice versa). And ditto for Nicholas, and John, etc., etc. As a result, we ultimately determined that the "safest course" would be to include all Jeremiah and Jerry COMBS, regardless of nickname, under a single index entry, and likewise for the Johns, Nicks and Nicholases, etc. Further problems were encountered when it became documented that Revolutionary War Soldier John COMBS was one of the "eight," and that a second John COMBS of about the same age may have been the father of some children occasionally assigned to RW John... Then came Nicholas "Danger" COMBS who turned out to be one of the "eight" also, and the same individual as Nicholas, Jr. a.k.a. Nicholas of Breathitt. It became increasingly clear that trying to individually identify these various COMBS in the Index was impossible. The Result? The Index now has only 3,500 entries.
The good news, however, is that we now have an excellent search engine for our Combs &c. web site, and those seeking specific individuals or locations can use key words to search for nicknames,* etc. To search the contents of only The Combes Genealogy, go to our Combs &c. Web Site Search Engine, and include at the beginning of your search query (exactly, including quotes): "special copyright" and
*See Also Combs &c. Nicknames for possible additional variant spellings of given names.
Important! In addition to the above examples, a number of other instances exist whereby subsequent research and/or typographical errors in The Combes Genealogy have resulted in inaccurate statements as to relationships, given names and/or surnames. It is strongly suggested that researchers, particularly those studying East Kentucky Combs, not depend on this index alone, but read both the Manuscript and the accompanying Combs &c. Research Group Footnotes* in their entirety.
*Reminder: This Index includes only names and locations appearing in the Manuscript, not those in the Footnotes.
A special salute from The Combes &c. Research Group to our Combs Cousin Charlie Harber for his tremendous contribution to The Combes Genealogy Project, a contribution which will be appreciated by thousands of Combs Researchers through the generations to follow.
Thanks, Charlie!
Sincerely,
The Combs-Coombs
&c. Research Group
20 October 1999
*Except Combs, but including variant spellings: Comb, Comba, Combe, Combes, Combs, Combs-Couch, Comes, Coombe, Coombes, Coombs, Coomes, Coumb, Coumbe, Coumbes
Return To The Combes Genealogy
Copyright
Restrictions: "Combs,
a Study in Comparative Philology and Genealogy" by
Josiah H. Combs, Ph.D., University of Paris, Copyright 1976 by
Norris K. Combs, Published by Norris K. Combs, Pensacola, Florida,
1976, reprinted 1979, electronic reprint by the Combs &c.
Research Group, 1999. The Index and Annotated Footnotes have been
provided by the Combs &c Research Group
and researchers are permitted to copy and distribute only the
latter, and only for non-commercial genealogical research. Any
and all commercial use is strictly prohibited. This
electronic edition of Combs, A Study in Comparative Philology
and Genealogy, by Josiah H. Combs, Ph.D., University of Paris,
copyrighted 1976 by Norris K. Combs, published by Norris K. Combs,
Pensacola, Florida, 1976, reprinted 1979, and electronically reprinted
by the Combs &c. Research Group in 1999, has been authorized
by copyright holder Norris K. Combs for the free use of
those engaged in non-commercial genealogical research only.
Permission is freely granted to Hot Link to this site; however,
copying and/or distribution of this work is strictly prohibited.
Sincerely,
Norris
K. Combs and the Combs &c. Research Group.
Email: WebMaster@combs-families.org.
©1999 Norris K. Combs and The Combs &c. Research Group