Brooke County (now West Virginia) was est. in 1797 from Ohio County. In 1848, Hancock was established from Brooke.

12 Mar 1797. Brook Co, VA WB1:1 (first will of record). Will of Robert MURCHLAND. Dated March 12, 1797. It was probated at the May term of court 1797. In the name of God, Amen. I, Robert Murchland of Ohio county state of West Virginia, being Very weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory, doe make this my last will and Testament, in the words and manner following, that is to say my Brother William Murchland, is to have my land plantation, during his natural life, and then at his dicese, to be equally Devided betwixt his two sons James and Robert Murchland, and when the said premices fauls into the said James and Roberts hands, in one year after, to pay unto William Murchanland and John Their Brothers, the sum of Twenty pounds to each of them penns. currency, and also to pay to their Sisters Each of them Twenty pounds of like money, that is to say to mary and Susana and Elizebeth, and further whereas James LOWTHERS is settled on my premices is not to be disturbed till his seven years is expired, and at my Death the said James LOWERS is to have my mare saddle and Bridle, Two achors of Ry that I sowed myself, and to the said James' oldest Daughter I leave a pide heifer. and to Robert STEEN I leave my young bay mare and further the said steen is to pay unto Robert LOWTHERS ten pounds out of the said mare, and the said Robert LOWTHERS is to have my cart and th Tacklings therunto belonging, and my cow I leave to my sister Cristen LOWTHERS. and further to Robert LOWTHERS I leave my silver shoe buckles and nee buckles and two stock buckles and a pair of sleeve buttons all of which is ilver and further I Reserve one quarter of an acre, where the burning yard is, to bee a furing yard, and my sheep and hogs to be sold and the money arising therefrom to be be applied to the pailing in the graves or more, further I leave to my brother William my wareing Cloathing, both linning and wolling and further the hool of my household furniture and farming utencils to be apraised and equally Divided betwixt Alexander LOWTHER'S children and James STEEN'S Children, Excepting Robert STEEN, further all my money and debts due me, and I Leave Alexander LOWTHER and James STEEN to be equally devided betwixt them, they paying all Lawful Causts and further the said Alexander LOWTHERS and James STEEN is to pay unto Easton MUCKLEROY three pounds each of them, Pens. money in six months after my Death, and further I leave to William MUCKLEROY'S son James a brindle heifer with a white face and further I do here by constitute my Trusty friends Jon M. COMBS and Richard WELLS my hole and sole Eseteors of this my last will and Testament, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twelth day of March in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven-1797. Robert MURCHLAND. Signed in presents of Thomas WIGGINS. James FERGUSON.

Brooke County, Virginnia. May Term 1797. I do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the last will and Testament of Robert MURCHLAND Deceased, which will was produced in court, and proven by the oaths of Thomas Wiggins and James Ferguson, and ordered to be recorded. Teste, John CONNELL, CTk, B.C. (Brooke Co, WV GenWeb Archives, will001.txt)

1800 - 1850 Brooke Co, VA (WV)

No COMBS found in census or tax lists as yet.

Brooke County, (West) Virginia Marriages 1797-1899 (incomplete transcript by Janet L. Waite to Brooke Co, WV GenWeb Archives):

CARREL, T. & COMB, Elizabeth M. 03-31-1840 (bmarrc.txt)

COMBS, Joseph & ROBERTS, Fannie 10-13-1881 (bmarrc.txt)

BOWMAN, Edward & COMBS, Laura B. 07-08-1892 (bmarra.txt)

MONTGOMERY, J.A. & COMBS, Amelia V. 07-19-1889 (bmarra.txt)

COMBS, Saulie & CHAMBERLAIN, Anna B. 04-24-1893 (bmarrc.txt) SW: Solomon

COMBS, John & MILLER, Laura 04-08-1899 (bmarrc.txt)

Notes: None of above identified as yet. According to Dodd, Jordan R, et. al. Early American Marriages: Virginia to 1850. Bountiful, UT: Precision Indexing Publishers, 19xx [sic], Ancestry On-Line (http://www.ancestry.com/, T. CARREL was Thomas M. CARRELL.