Combs &c. Families of Berkeley Co, VA (WV)	Berkeley 1772

Berkeley County, VA was established in 1772 from Frederick Co, VA. Descendant Counties: 1801: Jefferson; 1820: Morgan from Berkeley and Hampshire. In 1863, Berkeley became part of the newly-formed state of West Virginia.

4-6 May 1763 (Frederick Co VA DB8:392-5) Lease. Right Honourable Thomas Lord FAIRFAX Barron of Cameron in the part of Brittain called Scotland, Proprietor of Northern Neck of Virginia, to Joseph COMBES of County of Frederick Yeoman… Consid. of Rents and Covenants hereafter Reserved… Granted to farm lett unto said Joseph COMBES… Tract of Land Containing by Estimation Eleven Hundred [1100] Acres lying and being on Potomack River near the Warm Springs and joining to Lands of Joshua BAKER late Thomas BERWICKS… for and during the Term of Twenty one Years… Yielding and paying Yearly and every Year on the first Day of January the sum of Twenty Pounds. Dated: 4 May 1763. s/FAIRFAX. Joseph COMBES. Wits: John DALTON, Peter HOG, Gabriel JONES. Rec: 6 May 1763.

(Frederick Co, VA Deed Book Series Volume 2, Deed Books 5, 6, 7, 8, 1757-1763, Abstracted, Amelia C. Gilreath, 1990)

The above land is further identified by the following patent:

11 Jan 1768 North Neck VA Patent Book O-113. George William FAIRFAX, Bryan FAIRFAX & Thomas Bryan MARTIN Esqs. 12 A. on Warm Spring Run in Frederick Co., part of Tract surv'd & reserved for His Lordship's use. Adj. Joseph COMBS.

(Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, Vol. II, Gertrude Gray, GPC, Baltimore, 1988)

Notes: Warm Springs Run of the Potomac River is almost directly across from the mouth of Little Tonoloways Creek at Hancock, Maryland, and only a few miles south of Coombs Fort of the Tonoloways Settlement. In 1772, Warm Springs became part of Berkeley Co, VA and in 1820 part of Morgan Co, VA (now WV). In 1763, the town of Hancock was in Frederick Co, MD, but in 1776 became part of Washington Co, MD. See also Frederick Co, VA re connection of this Joseph COMBS to George WASHINGTON and note Joseph COMBS and George WASHINGTON of Indian Fort, Franklin Twp, Fayette Co, PA.

11 Feb 1805 Loudoun Co, VA Deeds, 1757-1812. B&S 2F, f. 214 Mahlon and Sarah COOMBS to John MCCORMICK for $534 tract in Berkeley County on Sleepy Creek granted John SMITH by patent 1776. 133 acres.

(Abstracted by Combs Researcher Thom Mont)

Notes: Mahlon was the s/o Andrew COMBS I of Tonoloways (d 1774 Loudoun Co, VA). It is not known how or when he came to acquire the above land which is in present-day Morgan Co, WV, the mouth of Sleepy Creek is about 5 miles (as the crow flies) along the Potomac east of Warm Spring Run, but also runs a number of miles inland so (a) Berkeley deeds need to be read plus VSLA North Neck Land Index needs to be checked re 1776 patent of John SMITH.