Combs & Research - Proud Patron of USGenNet  Combs &c. Families
 of Mercer Co., KY

Please Email Additions and/or Corrections to Webmaster

Mercer Co., KY was established in 1785-6 from Lincoln Co., KY. Franklin Co. was established in 1795 from Woodford, Mercer and Shelby. Garrard was established in 1797 from Lincoln, Madison and Mercer. Anderson was established in 1827 from Franklin, Mercer and Washington. Boylewas established in 1842 from Lincoln and Mercer.
According to an article submitted by descendant Henry D. Payne, Jr., to KENTUCKY ANCESTORS, quarterly of the KY Historical Soc vol 30 #2, 1994-1995, page 79, under the title of "ROSTER OF FIRST KENTUCKY ANCESTORS," William COOMES, born ca 1734 in Charles Co., MD (son of Thomas & Elizabeth WHARTON Coomes) moved to the South Fork of the Potomac River (present-day Hampshire Co., WV) about 1771 and in the Spring of 1775, with a party guided by Abraham and Isaac HITE, moved to HARROD'S settlement (in present-day Mercer Co., KY). William is said to have been active in the defense of Fort Harrod and with the Lincoln Co., KY Militia at Blue Licks in 1782, following which, in 1783, they moved to his landholding on Stewart Creek near Bardstown [Nelson Co., KY]." (See Early Combs of KY).
According to the William F. Coombs Manuscript, following her marriage 15 Feb 1832, Hardin Co., KY to Jesse ALEXANDER of Mercer Co., KY, Parmelia Combs (daughter of Adin and Parmelia WILLIAMS Coombs and granddaughter of Samuel & Mary WILKES Combs of Loudoun Co., VA and Nelson Co., KY) removed to "Pike County, Indiana, near the Wabash River, where his wife died, leaving three sons, viz: Samuel, Isaac and Adin. Samuel and Isaac served through the war on the Federal side and returned at the close of the war to their home. They are still living in that part of the state. After the death of his first wife, Jesse Alexander married again, but died shortly thereafter." No dates are given, and there is no indication as to whether any other Combs Family members also removed to Pike Co IN.
1795 Mercer Co., KY Tax List (The 1795 Census of Kentucky by T.L.C. Genealogy, copyright 1991)
Richard COOMES

Notes: Richard Combs has not yet been identified. There is a Richard who is in Lincoln Co., KY at same time as Stephen Combs who follows.
09 Aug 1796 Mercer Co., KY Marriage Bond. Claytor Combs & Jael RANSDELL, consent of her father, William RANSDELL. Stephen Combs, Wharton RANSDELL, bondsmen. (James Logan Kendall Manuscript)

Notes: According to James Logan Kendall, Claytor was the son of Stephen & Barbara ALLEN Combs of Loudoun Co., VA who are later found in the records of Lincoln Co., KY (adj. Mercer) from 1790-1810.
15 Feb 1798 Mercer Co., KY Marriage Records. John Combs & Polly ADAMS (Marriage CD - Source still needed)

Notes: According to Combs-Craig Researcher Bob Craig, John & Polly ADAMS Combs were the parents of William Combs, b 1805, Henderson Co., KY, later of Hopkins Co., KY. This still needs to be documented; however, given that William Combs married Mary Ann CRAIG (Webster Co, KY Records), daughter of Samuel & Mary HUGHES Craig of Loudoun Co., VA, together with the above records, the possibility is raised that these are yet more Loudoun Families. See also other (the same?) Combs-Craig connections in Loudoun Co VA.
1800 Mercer Co., KY Tax Lists (Second Census of KY, 1800, Clift, GPC 1993 reprint)
Henry BANTA
Clator Combs
John PIPES

Notes: See Combs-Banta in Lincoln Co., KY, and Combs-Pipes of Surry Co., NC.
28 Dec 1805 Mercer Co., KY Marriage Bond. Jaly Combs & Jacob VORIS. John POULTER, Bondsman. (James Logan Kendall Manuscript)

Notes: According to Kendall, following the death of Claytor Combs, his widow, Jael RANSDELL Combs, m Jacob VOORHIS (and numerous var. sp.) and it is thought they were later in Johnson Co., IN (where her son, Joseph Allen Combs of Woodford Co., KY is also later found).
1810 US Census Index, Mercer Co., KY: No Combs, BANTA, VORIS (or var. sp.)
21 Sep 1811 COLE, Sally married Combs, Berryman, Mercer County, Kentucky (Early American Marriages: Kentucky to 1850, Jordan R. Dodd, et al, Precision Indexing Publishers, Bountiful, UT)

Notes: This may be the Berryman Combs who is later found in Spencer Co., IN.
1813 Mercer Co., Ky. Tax Lists, 1813, 1815-1831 Submitted and Abstracted by Combs &c researcher Sue Elfving from microfilm of original lists. FHC Film # 0008150

  • p. 11 Combes Jacob...................1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 2hr; 62a(3rd) on Salt River
    1814 - Mercer Co., Ky. Tax Lists, 1813, 1815-1831 Submitted and Abstracted by Combs &c researcher Sue Elfving from microfilm of original lists. FHC Film # 0008150: No Tax Book
    1814 According to his War of 1812 pension file, Joseph A. Combs (thought to have been son of Claytor and gson of Stephen and Barbara ALLEN Combs), served in the War of 1812 in George McAFEE'S KY Militia. McAFEE was residing in Mercer County in 1810, but not known where either Joseph A. or Claytor were at that time. In 1822, Joseph A. married Nancy RANSDELL in Woodford Co., KY, later resided in Johnson Co., IN, died in Franklin Co., IN.
    1815 Mercer Co., Ky. Tax Lists, 1813, 1815-1831 Submitted and Abstracted by Combs &c researcher Sue Elfving from microfilm of original lists. FHC Film # 0008150
  • p. 8 Combs Jacob......................1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 2hr; 60a (3rd). Mercer Co., Salt R., N=Barker?, ditto, ditto
    1816 Mercer Co., Ky. Tax Lists, 1813, 1815-1831 Submitted and Abstracted by Combs &c researcher Sue Elfving from microfilm of original lists. FHC Film # 0008150
  • p. 11 Combs Jacob......................1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 3hr; 62a(3rd) Salt River, N=Barber? ditto ditto
    17 Dec 1816 COOMBS, George married EPERLY, Susan, Mercer County, Kentucky (Extracted by Combs Researcher Pat Orton from var. marriage CD's
    1817 Mercer Co., Ky. Tax Lists, 1813, 1815-1831 Submitted and Abstracted by Combs &c researcher Sue Elfving from microfilm of original lists. FHC Film # 0008150

  • p. 10 Coombs Jacob....................1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 2hr; 62a(3rd)
  • p. 11 Combs George..0a..............1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 2h
  • Combs ( or Comer) Wm. S....1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 0hr
    1818 Mercer Co., Ky. Tax Lists, 1813, 1815-1831 Submitted and Abstracted by Combs &c researcher Sue Elfving from microfilm of original lists. FHC Film # 0008150

  • p. 11 Combs Jacob......................1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 2hr Tot Value=$340; 62a (3rd) Salt R., N=Barber, ditto, ditto
  • p.12 Combs George...0a..............1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 2hr Tot Value=$80
    1819 Mercer Co., Ky. Tax Lists, 1813, 1815-1831 Submitted and Abstracted by Combs &c researcher Sue Elfving from microfilm of original lists. FHC Film # 0008150
  • p. 11 Combs C[?] George.....0a.....1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 1hr
  • p. 17 Combs Jacob.......................1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 3hr; 62a (3rd) Salt Cr. N=Barber ditto ditto
  • Combs Joseph...........0a.......1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 1hr
    11 Nov 1819 Mercer Co., KY Marriages. Nancy Combs, married Thomas Davis ROBARDS. (Combs Researcher Donna Bobal)

    Notes: According to the Kendall manuscript, Nancy was the daughter of Claytor Combs. Source unknown.
    1820 US Census Index, Mercer Co., KY

    P. 087 Peter BANTA
    P. 088 Henry BANTA
    P. 091 George Combs
    P. 092 Jacob Combs

    Notes: Not identified
    1820 Mercer Co., Ky. Tax Lists, 1813, 1815-1831 Submitted and Abstracted by Sue Elfving from microfilm of original lists. FHC Film # 0008150
  • p. 11 Combs George...........0a.......1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 1hr
  • Combs Jacob........................1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 2hr; 62a (3rd) Salt R., N=Barber ditto ditto
    1821 Mercer Co., Ky. Tax Lists, 1813, 1815-1831 Submitted and Abstracted by Sue Elfving from microfilm of original lists. FHC Film # 0008150
  • p. 10 July 30 Coombs Jacob......1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 2hr; 62a(3rd) Salt River., N=Barber ditto ditto
    1822 Mercer Co., Ky. Tax Lists, 1813, 1815-1831 Submitted and Abstracted by Combs &c researcher Sue Elfving from microfilm of original lists. FHC Film # 0008150
  • p. 9 Combs Jacob.....................1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 2hr; 62a(3rd)
    1823 Mercer Co., Ky. Tax Lists, 1813, 1815-1831 Submitted and Abstracted by Sue Elfving from microfilm of original lists. FHC Film # 0008150
  • p. 15 Combs George....................1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 2hr; 103a Green Co., Pitman Creek or Peters Creek
    01 Jul 1823 COOMBS, Isabella married KENNEDY, Jacob, Mercer County, Kentucky (Extracted by Combs Researcher Pat Orton from var. marriage CD's)

    SE Note: Per a Hendricks Co., IN biography of Jacob KENNEDY, his wife Isabella Combs was a cousin to Gen. Leslie Combs. Her parents have not been identified. See Hendricks Co., IN for more information on this family.
    1824 Mercer Co., Ky. Tax Lists, 1813, 1815-1831 Submitted and Abstracted by Sue Elfving from microfilm of original lists. FHC Film # 0008150 - No Combs
    1825 Mercer Co., Ky. Tax Lists, 1813, 1815-1831 Submitted and Abstracted by Sue Elfving from microfilm of original lists. FHC Film # 0008150

  • No Combs
  • p. 53 STACY George...................1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 7hr; 103a (2nd) Shawney R.

    NOTE: This George Stacy is old George Stacy of NC, and Russell and Scott Cos., Va. He is believed to have been a son of Simon STACY Sr. and Judith TOLSON. George left his second wife Agnes CHITTLETON Culbertson Stacy and relocated to Mercer Co. with his daughter Jemimah and her husband Jeremiah CULBERTSON. In 1832, George Stacy of Mercer Co., Ky., obtained an Indiana BLM grant for land in Hendricks Co., In. Also note that the George Combs of the 1823 tax list has 103 acres and now George Stacy has 103 acres.
    21 Oct 1825 BURTON, Elizabeth married Combs, Rodney on 21 Oct 1825 in Mercer County, Kentucky (Extracted by Combs Researcher Pat Orton from var. marriage CD's)
    1826 Mercer Co., Ky. Tax Lists, 1813, 1815-1831 Submitted and Abstracted by Sue Elfving from microfilm of original lists. FHC Film # 0008150
  • p. 12 Combs Rodney.....0a............1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 0hr [married in 1825]
  • p. 51 STACY George....................1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 0hr; 103a (2nd)
    1827 Mercer Co., Ky. Tax Lists, 1813, 1815-1831 Submitted and Abstracted by Sue Elfving from microfilm of original lists. FHC Film # 0008150
  • p. 16 Combs Rodney.....0a............1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=1, 0hr
  • p. 49 STEACY George...................1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 0hr; 103a (2nd)
    1828 Mercer Co., Ky. Tax Lists, 1813, 1815-1831 Submitted and Abstracted by Sue Elfving from microfilm of original lists. FHC Film # 0008150
  • p. 11 Combs Rodney W................1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 1hr; 1 lot Perryville
  • p. 54 STACY George.....................1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 4hr; 103a (2nd) Shawnee R.
    1829 Mercer Co., Ky. Tax Lists, 1813, 1815-1831 Submitted and Abstracted by Sue Elfving from microfilm of original lists. FHC Film # 0008150
  • p. 12 Combs Rodney W................1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 1hr
  • p. 58 STACY George.....................1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 4hr; 103a (2nd), Mercer, S. River, N entered in Hankin?
    1830 US Census Index, Mercer Co., KY

    Mercer City
    P. 336 Rodney W. Combs

    Notes: This may be Rodney W., son of Joseph & Susannah CLARK Combs of Clark Co., KY, in which case he is next found in Clark County (Census Record Needed)
    1830 Mercer Co., Ky. Tax Lists, 1813, 1815-1831 Submitted and Abstracted by Sue Elfving from microfilm of original lists. FHC Film # 0008150
  • p. 14 Combs Rodney......................1wm>21, 1blk>16, tot blk=1, 2hr
  • p. 61 STACY George......................1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 8hr; 103a (2nd), Shawnee R.
    1831 Mercer Co., Ky. Tax Lists, 1813, 1815-1831 Submitted and Abstracted Sue Elfving from microfilm of original lists. FHC Film # 0008150
  • p. 14 Combs Rodney W..................1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=1, 2hr
  • p. 66 STACY George.....0a..............1wm>21, 0blk>16, tot blk=0, 5hr
    1850, 1860 Census Mercer Co., KY: No Combs listed in index
    Fall 1861 The Nineteenth Infantry Kentucky was recruited and then mustered into service for the union in the Civil War, 2 Jan 1862. (Sources: Mercer Co., KY Rootsweb, The Union Army, vol. 4 cited in database by Ancestry, and The Lexington Cemetery Database. See also Combs in the Civil War) Included in Company D's roster were:
  • Pvt. John B. Combs enlisted 01 November 1861 and died 1 Jun 1863, in Vicksburg, Warren Co., MS.
  • Pvt. Byron Combs enlisted 01 November 1861, died 20 Nov 1862, Lexington, Fayette Co., Ky, and is buried in Lexington Cemetery Section N Lot National Grave 99.
  • Pvt Elihu Combs enlisted in 01 November 1861 and was discharged 06 August 1862 in Cumberland Gap.
  • Pvt. Henry Combs enlisted 01 November 1861 and deserted 12 September 1862 in Cumberland Gap.
  • Pvt William Combs enlisted 01 November 1861, and died 11 Feb 1864, New Orleans, La..

    Note: These men have not been identified as yet, however, there was an Elihu Combs living in Letcher Co., KY at this time. See also the report of Biram Combs.
    8 Mar 1912 Kentucky Death Certificate #8140 of Francis M. Combs; white male married; age 59 yrs; born 18 March 1853 Madison Co., Ky; died 8 March 1912 Mercer Co., Ky of Brights diseaseson of J. N. Combs born Va & (blank) of Ky; informant Ward Combs of Burgin, Ky; buried Nicholsville, Ky undertaker Durl & Brumer? (Combs Researcher Debi Kendrick)
    14 March 1927 Kentucky Death Certificate of John B. Combs, white male, widowed, retired, age 75 yrs, born Ky, died 14 March 1927 Mercer Co., Ky, son of Jeremiah Combs born Ky and Martha ZIKE born Ky, buried Springhill Cem., Informant: Ed Combs of Harrodsburg, Ky. (Transcribed by Combs Researcher Debi Kendrick from microfilm copy)

    Note: Jeremiah and Martha ZIKE Combs are listed on the 1850 Jessamine Co., Ky Census.
    Important: All Records collected for this county may not have been added here as yet; see also the Combs Research List Archives.