Combs &c. Families of Washington Co, MD

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Washington County was created from Frederick in 1776. In 1789, Allegany was est. from Washington. See also the Tonoloways (a.k.a. Conolloway) Settlement, straddled Maryland and Pennsylvania (later partly Allegany).

According to the Frank Woodward Combs letter of 1942 (s/o William and Eliza WOODWARD Combs), in 1905, he visited Hagerstown, MD, where he located records indicating:

“George Thomas McCombs and Hester HEWINGS were married at Greenock, in Scotland and together came across the ocean about 1770.

“Settled at Hagerstown, Maryland. George Thomas McCombs was in the Revolutionary War and a George Thomas McCombs was a soldier in the war with Britain in 1812 and later a George Thomas McCombs was a captain and served with General Andrew JACKSON in the south.

“At the death of George Thomas McCombs 3rd, John, Charles and Thomas McCombs, at the settlement of the estate, concluded by filing a bond in the sum of $12,000 in the Plenipotentiary court in Hagerstown, Md to satisfy any lawful and proper claim against them, or either of them in the name of McCombs and of a date previous to said indenture, in the name of McCombs and providing that they and each of them thereafter should be allowed to go by and be known and transact business in the name of Combs, each, John Combs, Charles Combs and Thomas Combs separately.

“John Combs took his goods and went south through Virginia, leaving CombsES scattered in Va, Ky, Tenn, the Carolinas, Ga (I know a F.W. Combs, an attorney-at-law now in Marietta, Ga), Floirda [Florida], Ala, Tex, etc. There were McCombsES left in Hagerstown, or from other branches, without dropping the Mc, for there are McCombsES scattered, too.

“Charles Combs took his pack and went to the far west during the early days when the great west was pictured in stories of broad acres, great forests, expansive prairies and golden crops.

“Thomas Combs the First, who was previously Thomas McCombs the III, took up as proprietor and succeeding to his father's business as a cabinet maker and extended the shop to a mill and finally a factory. We have been told that his house made all kinds of household furniture, boxes and caskets for all purposes and tubs, buckets and barrels. They bought and sold timber and lumber.”

Also Note: No corroboration of the above account has been located as yet. We are seeking any records of the above family, particularly the record of a name change.

25 Apr 1799 Washington Co, MD. Married: Mary Combs & John EDWARDS (Combs Researcher Fay Madison who adds that Mary was the d/o Coleman & Mary PEIRCE Combs (See Below))

Notes: Mary was the d/o Coleman & Mary PEIRCE Combs of Hunterdon Co NJ where they married 10 Feb 1770; in 1790 in Baltimore Co MD

19 May 1802 Baltimore Herald (newspaper), 19 May 1802, “Died Friday last in the prime of life, James Combs, son of Coleman Combs of this county.” (Combs Researcher Ida Madison)

????-28 Oct 1810 Washington Co MD. Liber B, Folio 215. Will of Coleman Combs names wife, Mary; sons, John, Thomas, Lewis; daughters, Sarah DOUGLAS, Mary EDWARD. Mariah, Nancy and Elizabeth, daughters of Lewis, and James, son of John. Probated: 28 Oct 1810. (Combs Researcher Fay Madison) [Reminder: Still need date and witnesses]

12 Oct 1807 Washington Co MD. Died: Coleman Combs, h/o Mary PIERCE/PEARCE who d in 1812 in Washington County [Source for death date?]

6 Nov 1807 Maryland Herald (newspaper) “John Combs, exec. of Coleman Combs, deceased, to sell dwelling of father. (Combs Researcher Ida Madison)

5 Oct 1814 Hagerstown (Allegany Co, MD Newspaper) "Sale at place where subscriber now lives on Gen. Ringgold Manor 4 miles from Hagerstown, negro woman about 25, boy 14 and girl, signed John COMBS.

March 8, 1815 - Sale (above description) horse, cows, blacksmith tools, farming utensils, furniture and 10 place stove, John COMBS.

(ibid.)

(Provided to Combs Researcher Matt Combs by Researcher Anne Cissell)