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Combe St. Nicholas, a parish in the eastern division of the hundred of Kingsbury, county of Somerset, 2½ miles NW of Chard in the peculiar jurisdiction of the Dean and Chapter of Wells (Lewis, 1831...) is 4 miles northeast of Ashill

13 Jan 1618/9 - 31 Dec 1620 (SOAME, FOL. 111; 1280; pg 429-430) In his will dated 13 Jan 1618/9 and proved 31 Dec 1620, "John FRYE the eld., of Combe St. Nicholas, peculiar of Bath and Wells" [County Somerset] declared he wished to be buried in the church or churchyard of said parish; named his sister Maute MEERES, her daughters, Margt. and Agnes MERES (both under 21); Hughe, son of Edw. ROSCITER (relationship not stated); and his "cos." Eliz. BOURMAN. Executors named were his brother, John FRYE [sic] and his "Cos. Joseph COMBE." s/John FRYE. Witnessed by Joseph GREENFEILD, vicar of Combe and William LEA of Whittstaunton. The will was proved 31 Dec 1620, by John FRYE, bro. of decd. [sic], "JOSEPH COMBE being dead.") (Co Somerset Pro. Act. Book) (Abstracts of Wills in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury at Somerset House, London, England; Register SOAME 1620 by J. Henry Lea, 1904)

Notes: It is not yet known how Joseph COMBE, deceased, was kin to the FRYES, but he is apparently the same who follows, also having died testate in 1620:

21 Mar 1619/20 - 28 Apr 1620 (SOAME, FOL. 31; 335; pg 115) Joseph COMBE of Combe St. Nicholas, a peculiar ddoc. Of Bath and Wells. (Dat. 21 Mar. 1619-20.) Bur. in Ch. of Combe; dau. Agnis (und. 21); dau. Joan (und. 21); my child unborn; Extx: wife Winefred; John BOWDAGE of Totworthe in psh. of Chard; George FRYE of Combe; bro. Wm. COMBE of Combe; Edm. MEADE, of Crockstreete, hatter; John NOTHAN of Yarcombe [Devonshire], rooper; Overs: my bro. Edw. ROSSITER and my brother Edm. COMBE. [mark] Wits: Joseph GREENEFIELD, clk., John FRYE, Edwarde ROSSITER, Edmunde COMBE (mark). (Pr. 28 Apr. 1620.) (Abstracts of Wills in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury at Somerset House, London, England; Register SOAME 1620 by J. Henry Lea, 1904)

According to ROSSITER Researcher Stephen M. Lawson, Hugh ROSSITER (1615-1680), named s/o Edward, was the son of an unnamed Combs who was the sister of a Joseph Combs, who would appear to be the same as above. The ROSSITER genealogy also shows that Hugh ROSSITER had married, by 1641, a Dorothy Combs, said to have been the daughter of one Joseph & Winnifred (-----) Combs who would also appear to be the same as above (a first cousin marriage then?). Edward ROSSITER & his Combs wife left Combe St. Nicholas, Co Somerset, EN for the MA Colony, voyaging on the Mary & John, which departed from Plymouth 20 Mar 1630, with Edward ROSSITER listed as a settler and stockholder in Massachusetts Bay Colony, where he died the same year. Dorothy Combs is said to have been the widow of one William NORRIS who died in Salem [Essex Co] MA (See Rossiter-Alsop) She is not named in the above will; however, mention is made of a "child unborn," possibly Dorothy, who is shown by ROSSITER as having been b in 1620?

Some ROSSITER researchers aver that Edward's wife's given name was Elizabeth, and that she was the daughter of a John Combs, but their sources are unknown (perhaps the reference is to the above John & Mary Combs of Taunton, Co Somerset above who had a daughter, Elizabeth?).

According to Rossiter researcher Paul McBride, Mrs. Combs Rossiter was the daughter of a John COMBE who d aft 1592, and who was the son of Thomas COMBE, d 1559, who had resided at Combe St. Nicholas, and at Otterford, Co Somerset England. The McBride records show that John COMBE'S daughter, given name unknown, married Edward ROSSITER (b1575, Combe St. Nicholas, Co Somerset, EN; d 23 Oct 1630, Dorchester, MA), and had a brother named Joseph COMBE (Ref: "The New England Historical and Genealogical Register", The New England Historic Genealogical Society) Note: This source has not yet been pulled.

Also note that according to an IGI entry, one Thomas COMBE was of both Combe St. Nicholas and Otterford, Somerset; and one Margery COMBE of Otterford Parish, Somerset, m Simon VINCENT of Yarcombe, Devonshire (See also above ref. to Yarcombe). VINCENT'S will was witnessed by Edmond and Matthew COMBE. Yarcombe and Otterford, although in different counties, are only a few miles apart

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