ca 1777	Combs &c. Families of Surry Co, NC	Old Rowan ca1869

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Index to Combs &c. of Surry Co, NC

Introduction and Background

Surry County NC was established eff. 01 Apr 1771 from Rowan Co NC . In 1777, Wilkes was created, and in 1789, when Stokes was created from Surry, the courthouse was temporarily at the house of Richard HORN. In 1790, Rockford was established. In 1792, Wilkes ceded land along the northern half of its eastern border back to Surry. In 1796, Surry regained land from Stokes Co. In 1850/1, Yadkin County was formed from Surry, and in 1869, Alleghany (org. from Wilkes>Ashe in 1859) gained additional land from Surry.

Two Early Combs Families of Surry Co, NC

Combs-Associated Families of Surry Co, NC, many also listed on the 1768 Rowan Co NC tax list of Gideon WRIGHT, included

Also Note: Because of the boundary changes between Surry and Wilkes, it is mandatory to research both counties, particularly since, in the case of the Mason Combs Families at least, it appears that either Mason's son, William, moved westward into Wilkes Co NC by the time of it's formation, or that the county lines changed, causing his land to become part of Wilkes. See Also Combs &c. Land of Old Surry Co NC (Includes all of Wilkes and Surry and more).

Note: Use of [brackets] indicates added data inserted by the Combs Researcher, not the author (of published works). Also note that in a number of instances, we have original transcriptions yet to be entered; thus the "published" record below is only a temporary "placeholder."

Research Status

Surry Co NC has not been fully researched. Extant Surry County Records include:

Court house records: bonds of apprentices (1779-1921), bonds of bastardy (1830-1928), bonds of officials (1777-1893), court dockets (1772-1872), court minutes (1778-1940), court records (1771-1929), deeds (1771-1963), divorce (1826-1927), estate accounts (1792-1963), estate administrators (1776-1958), estate executors (1868-1902), estate inventories (1784-1963), estate records (1771-1943), estate sales (1784-1845), estate settlements (1868-1963), guardian (1784-1963), land ejectments (1798-1905), land entries (1778-1883), land grants (1782-1877), land miscellaneous (1772-1930), land processions (1801-87), marriages (1778-1963), miscellaneous (1771-1963), naturalizations (1910-28), petitions (1778), roads (1722(sic mg - but cannot be correct)-1931). tax (1771-1888), wills (1771-1963).

Other records: Baptist, cemetery, census, Church of Christ, county history, DAR, Episcopal, Friends, Moravian, newspaper, town history, WPA inventory.

Libraries: Surry County-Dobson Library, West Atkins St., Dobson, NC 27017; Northwestern Regional Library, 111 North Front St., Elkin, NC 28621.

County histories: J. G. Hollingsworth, HISTORY OF SURRY COUNTY, Fisher, Greensboro, NC, 1935; Bicentennial Commission Book Committee, THE SURRY COUNTY BOOK, Surry County Historical Society, Elkin, NC, 1978.

Chronology of Records 1771-1777

(Transcription of Licentious Researcher George Baumbach)

Notes: Lucretia COMBS has not been identified as yet. Was she a daughter of Mason COMBS, Sr. or the widow of an yet unidentified COMBS? Did she bear children by the above Andrew VANNOY and John PARKER? It is known that she was the mother of a George COMBS, b 1764, and she apparently lived in that part of Surry Co that became Wilkes Co in 1777 (See Below). Question: Are location descriptions of Surry/Wilkes parishes extant?

1771 Surry Co, NC Tax List - Clerk's Copy (Selected Entries)

From Surry and Wilkes Co, NC Taxables, 1771-1800, Vol. 1, 1771-1777, William Perry Johnson (alpha list by 1st letter of surname):

ALLEN, John 1
ALLEN, David 1
ALLIN, Adaniram 2
ALLIN, Gersham 2
ALLIN, Richard 1
BROUGHTON, Willoby
COONS [COOMS], Francis 1 [h/o Charity WOOD]
COMES, Mason Senr 3
CODE [CODY] Godfrey 1
CODE [CODY] William 1 [h/o Sinai STACY]
COMES William 1 [h/o Seth STACY & s/o Mason Sr.]
COGSWELL, John 1
DUNCAN, Charles 1
DUNCAN, John 1
DUNCAN, Marshall 3
EVERAG(?) [EVERAGE] Abner 1
RIDGE William 5 [h/o Winnifred COMBS, d/o Mason, Sr.]
STASE Benjamin 1 [aka STACY, h/o Ann COMBS, d/o Mason, Sr.]
Thomas PETTIT [2nd h/o Judith TOLSON Stacy]
VANDERPOOL Abraham 2
VANDERPOOL Wynant 1
WOOLBANKS, Richard 1
ZITWOOD Isaac 1 [probably TITSWORTH.]

(Surry and Wilkes Co, NC Taxables, 1771-1800, Vol. 1, 1771-1777, William Perry Johnson)

Notes: Francis COOMBS (b1722) arrived in Surry Co at some time after 1768 from Maryland by way of Virginia. Mason COMBS (b 1714) tithed 2 on the 1768 Rowan tax list, presumably himself and son, Mason COMBS, Jr. (b 1746/7). The third tithe in 1771 may indicate a younger son, an employee or a negro. His name precedes immediately the two CODY entries, and is 20-30 lines below that of Francis COMBS. William COMBS is listed 7 names below that of Mason COMBS, only two names below that of Benjamin CLEVELAND. See Willoughby BROUGHTON with Bennett COMBS in Pendleton SC, and see the latter also in Greeneville SC. Charles DUNCAN, s/o Marshall, is found in the records of early Washington Co TN with CALLEHAMS and an unidentified John COMBS and both CALLEHAMS and COMBS had previously been in Greeneville SC. Thomas PETTIT m Judith TOLSON, widow of Simon STACY (See 1784 below) Judith TOLSON Stacy Pettit reared Mary EVERAGE Cornett according to Thomas CODY, grandson of Judith & son of the above William & Sinai STACY Cody. (See also William CORNETT RW Pension File) Might Abner EVERAGE above have been Mary EVERAGE Cornett's father?

1772 "List of Taxables for Surry County - 1772" [Clerk's Copy - Selected Names]

ALLING [ALLEN] Richard 1
ALLEN, Adoniram 1
ALLEN, Grisham 3
ALLEN, John 1
ALLING [ALLEN], David 1
BROWN, William 1
BROTTON, Willibe [BROUGHTON, Willoughby] 3
BURCH, Henry 1
BURK, Benjamin 1
CADE [CODY] Godfrey 1
CADE [CODY] William 1
CO(O)GGSWELL [a.k.a. COGHILL], John 1]
COOK, Nicholas 2 [not on 1771 list]
CUMP, Jesse 1
COODEY [CODY], Thomas 1
COMES Mason Senr 2
COMES Mason Junr 1
COMES William 2
CALLIHAM, William 3 [not on 1771 list]
DUNCAN, Marshall 2
DUNCAN, Charles 1
HAMMETT, Hugh
HORN, Richard 1
MARTIN, David 4
PARKER, John 1
STACE Benjamin 1
VANDERPOOL Winyard 1
VANDERPOOL Abraham 2
VANDERPOOL John 1
VANOY, Andrew 1
WALTHENS, Hennery 1 [See Combs-Wathen of Nelson Co KY]
ZITTSWOOD Isaac 1 [probably a.k.a. TITSWORTH]
No RIDGE

(Surry and Wilkes Co, NC Taxables, 1771-1800, Vol. 1, 1771-1777, William Perry Johnson)

1773 Surry Co, NC - None Extant

23 Jul 1773 (Surry Co. NC Land Entry #307) Mason COMBS, Senr., enters 250 A in Surry on South [sic] side of the Yadkin River against Tumlin Falls, including his improvement.

(Surry County, NC, Wills, 1771-1827, Annotated Genealogical Abstracts, Jo White Linn, GPC, Baltimore, 1992)

1774 Surry Co, NC Tax Lists

Notes: See Combs-Underwood Families and Combs-Hammett-Underwood.

Notes: See (1) John HARRELL deed to John Combs in 1758 in Frederick Co VA; (2) John HARRELL 1814 Hawkins Co TN will names daughter, Lydia (wife of George Combs); (3) Henry SPEER with Mason Combs on 1751 Augusta Co (later Frederick) VA petition; and (4) Mason Combs & William STONE tithed by Henry STONE in 1767 in Pittsylvania Co VA.

Notes: See Combs-Bolling in Stafford VA; and Nelson & Perry Cos KY. See Combs-Musick in Pittsylvania and Russell Cos VA.

Notes: See Cody-Combs-Davidson-Stacy-Tate in Russell Co VA; and Warren Co TN. See Combs-Johnson-Ridge-Horn in White Co TN. See Martin ARMSTRONG mentioned in RW Pension File of Nicholas Combs, Sr.; and his deposition in William Ridge Estate File. Who was the above James JOHNSON?

Notes: Most of the above were later in Wilkes Co NC and/or on Surry/Wilkes county line. Also Note: William was the only Combs on the extant 1774 lists - and no RIDGE, or STACEY.

22 Mar 1775 (Surry WB1:58) 22 Mar 1775. Bill of Sale. Nicholas COOK to Andrew MARTEN for £16 proc personalty & improvement where COOK now lives. Wit: George McDOLE Rec. Aug Ct. 1775. (Surry Wills, Linn)

Notes: Is this William Nicholas COOK? See also Combs Land of Old Surry and Estate File of William RIDGE. Also note numerous other Combs &c. Families Cook Connections, both in Surry and Wilkes NC, and possibly in Charlotte Co VA (See Below).

May 1775 (Surry WB1:44a) Inv. of est. of John MILLER decd retd by William HANNAH adm. Mentioned are: John HANNAH, William HANNAH, Barnabas FAIR, Peter LOWORK, George HOLDSBROOK, Richd LINVILLE, Joshua HANNAH, James BOND, George PIERCE, Reuben KNIGHT, Henry COOK, William PIERCE, Aaron LINWELL, James HALBROOK [HOLBROOK?], John COOK, George COMERS [sic], Moses LINWELL, Cornelius COOK. Rec. May Ct. 1775.

(Surry County, NC, Wills, 1771-1827, Annotated Genealogical Abstracts, Jo White Linn, GPC, Baltimore, 1992)

Notes: The above is believed to have been COMBES, not COMERS, which gives us an adult(?) George Combs in Surry (Wilkes) NC as early as 1775 (RW George Combs of Wilkes?). See also 1795 Wilkes Co NC deed of John Combs of Wilkes to Hicks Combs of Wilkes w/Henry COOK a witness. (The Wilkes NC John Combs remains unidentified as does Thomas Hicks Combs m Keziah, d/o Henry HAYES. Are these Surry or Wilkes Co NC neighbors?

1775 Surry Co, NC Tax List

11 categories: Land; Value in pds.; "Negres" over "Teen", under Fifty; "Negres" over Fifty, under Sixty; "Negres" over five, under "Teen"; Cattle; Horses; Value; Money, Pounds; Shillings; Pence

CAMPLINS List

Jacob BONN'S List

Richard MURPHY'S List

(Transcribed by Combs-Cody Researcher George Baumbach who adds: A portion of the 1775 Tax List of Surry County, North Carolina has just been identified at the State Archives in Raleigh recently. It is the District of Richard Murphey. The full list will be published, thanks to Carl York of Knoxville, TN in about February 2000. Below are some of the names from this District of interest to this group:

Notes: Mason COMBS is now tithing three again. Has a second son been added?

28 Mar 1777 (Surry NC WB I:71a) Lucresha Combs binds her son George COMB [sic] as apprentice to William LENOIR, farmer, for 8 yrs., 5 mos. 28 Mar 1777. Wit: Saml SIMPSON, John MORRIS, Keziah KING.

(Surry County, NC, Wills, 1771-1827, Annotated Genealogical Abstracts, Jo White Linn, GPC, Baltimore, 1992)

Notes: Assuming the apprenticeship was to age 21, George Combs was born Aug 1764. A Wilkes Co NC record dated 10 Mar 1780 reiterates the above with the added information that he was an "orphan boy," and "aged 15 years 28th Oct last" (born 28 Oct 1764). The phrase "orphan boy" (as versus baseborn, etc.) implies Lucretia Combs was a widow, but no Combs estate records have been located in either Surry or Wilkes Cos. The second record also states that he was to learn the occupation of farmer. Lucretia apparently resided in that part of Surry Co that became Wilkes (as did William LENOIR, Andrew VANNOY and John PARKER). If not for the PARKER & VANNOY records, it would be "logical" to assume that George Combs was the son of the Tory Combs that d ca1780 (See Below), but too many men, too little time…

1777 Surry NC Tax Lists

"Jabez JARVIS District" (Excerpted):

Notes: Francis COOMS was the only Combs on any 1777 list -0- unless William COLE(?) adj. to Godfrey CODEY was actually a Combs. Also note that those serving in militias may have been non-tithables and not included(?).

Continued: The Middle Years - 1778-1799
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