THE COOMBS OF MAINE


Descendants of Joshua2 and Elizabeth (Pratt) Coombs

The Fifth Generation and their Children of the Sixth – Joshua2 & Elizabeth Pratt

James5 [Joshua,4 John,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Coombs, born 7 Nov 1795; married 1st Lovey Getchell of Durham, ME and 2nd Mrs. Gould; he died 1 Sep 1880. Occupation blacksmith.

Children of James5 and Lovey (Getchell) Coombs:373

Child of James5 and (Mrs. Gould) Coombs:374

Martha5 [Joshua,4 John,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Coombs, married Lemuel Woodward, a farmer.

Children of Lemuel and Martha5 (Coombs) Woodward:375

Fannie5 [Zebulon,4 John,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Campbell Coombs, born 12 Dec 1801; married Thomas Minott of Bowdoin, ME, who was born 13 Jun 1795; she died 5 Nov 1888.

Children of Thomas and Fannie5 Campbell (Coombs) Minott:376

Brown5 [Zebulon,4 John,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Coombs, born 21 Jun 1803; married 28 Nov 1827 to Harriet Stanwood of Bowdoin, ME, who was born 10 Mar 1810 and died 28 Dec 1893; he died 1 May 1879.

Children of Brown5 and Harriet (Stanwood) Coombs:377

Sarah5 [Zebulon,4 John,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Coombs, born 15 Jun 1805; married Capt. David5 Coombs (son of Peter and Sarah,4 Coombs) of Harpswell who was born 7 May 1803 and died 24 Apr 1856; she died 7 Feb 1879.

Children of Capt. David and Sarah5 (Coombs) Coombs:378

Abner5 [Zebulon,4 John,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Coombs, born 3 Aug 1807; married 1st Harriet Carter and 2nd Mary Ann Small; he died 3 Jun 1872. Occupation tanner, farmer, and merchant.

Children of Abner5 and Mary Ann (Small) Coombs:380

John5 [Zebulon,4 John,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Coombs, born 8 Jan 1810; married 30 Jun 1836 to Betsy Powers, who was born 10 Oct 1811 and died 22 Sep 1896; he died 7 Dec 1897. Occupation sea–captain and farmer.

Children of John5 and Betsy (Powers) Coombs:381

Nancy5 [Zebulon,4 John,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Coombs, born 21 May 1812; married 13 Aug 1835 to Abraham Hathaway Healy of Fall River, MA, who was born 29 Apr 1810 and died 1 Mar 1867; she died 2 June 1876.

Children of Abraham Hathaway and Nancy5 (Coombs) Healy:382

William5 [Zebulon,4 John,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Bates Coombs, born 26 Jun 1817; married Sep or Oct 1834 to Lydia Harmon; he died 4 Nov 1889.

Children of William5 Bates and Lydia (Harmon) Coombs:383

Dexter5 [Zebulon,4 John,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Brown Coombs, born 26 Jun 1817; married 18 Dec 1845 to Sarah Jane Todd of Bath, ME, who was born 4 Apr 1821 and died 14 Jun 1886; he died 4 Nov 1880. Occupation ship–joiner.

Children of Dexter5 Brown and Jane (Todd) Coombs:384

Dennis5 [Zebulon,4 John,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Deering Coombs, born 3 Oct 1820; married to Lavinia Carr of Bowdoin, ME, who was born 16 Aug 1818; he died 4 Sep 1887. Occupation spar maker.385

Lizzie5 [Mary,4 John,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Beal, married 1st John Christopher and 2nd _____ Percil of Boston.386

Hannah5 [Mary,4 John,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Beal, born 6 Sep 1825; married 1st William Gould, who was born in 1823 at Bowdoin, ME and died in 1846 of consumption in the hospital at Mobile, AL, and 2nd 4 July 1853 to Nehemiah Curtis, who was born 18 Aug 1807 and died 8 Aug 1885.

Child of William and Hannah5 (Beal) Gould:387

Children of Nehemiah and Hanna5 (Beal) Curtis:388

Benjamin5 [Mary,4 John,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Beal, born 1828; married 1st Sarah Anderson of Bowdoin, ME and 2nd Sarah Addams.

Children of Benjamin5 and Sarah (Anderson) Beal:389

Nathaniel5 [Mary,4 John,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Beal, born 1830; married 1st Hannah Small of Bowdoin, ME and 2nd Nettie Graves.

Children of Nathaniel5 and Hannah (Small) Beal:390

Children of Nathaniel5 and Nettie (Graves) Beal:391

George5 [Mary,4 John,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] T. Beal, born 1833; married 1st Martha Hogan and 2nd Mary Elizabeth Gould, a widow, who died 5 Sep 1902; he died 4 Mar 1911.

Children of George5 T. and Martha (Hogan) Beal:392

Rev. Zacheus5 [Mary,4 John,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Beal, born 19 Apr 1835; married Lizzie Trufant, who was born 1 Aug 1834. Occupation minister, Old School Baptist. “Predestinated” to have half of the state of Maine as his parish, there being only one other of the same denomination in the state.

Children of Rev. Zacheus5 and Lizzie (Trufant) Beal:393

Charlotte5 [Josiah Colby,4 John,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] A. Coombs, born at Bowdoinham, ME; married J. F. Blake.

Child of J. F. and Charlotte5 A. (Coombs) Blake:394

William5 [Cynthia,4 Ebenezer,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] E. DALIE, married Sarah J. Butler.

Child of William5 E. and Sarah J. (Butler) Dalie:395

Abigail5 [Andrew,4 Ebenezer,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Coombs, born 6 Oct 1801 in ME; married 26 Jul 1827 to Amos Conklin, who died 6 May 1866; she died 5 Oct 1890. Resided most of her life at or near Cincinnati, OH. She was a woman of remarkably retentive memory and to her we are indebted for much material for this book.

Children of Amos and Abigail5 (Coombs) Conklin:396

Elizabeth5 [Andrew,4 Ebenezer,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] M. Coombs, born 12 Aug 1803; married 1st 1827 to Thomas J. Hilton of Lynn, MA, he was born at Newmarket, NH and 2nd Thomas Hudson; she died 14 Apr 1899.

Children of Thomas J. and Elizabeth5 M. (Coombs) Hilton:397

Andrew5 [Andrew,4 Ebenezer,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Coombs, Jr., born 24 Dec 1805 in ME; married 29 Nov 1832 to Kitty A. Shannon, daughter of John Shannon and Ann Scull, Kitty died 10 Mar 1906 at age 94 years; he died 26 May 1864.

Children of Andrew5 and Kitty A. (Shannon) Coombs, Jr.:398

Andrew Coombs, Jr. came to Ohio with his father when six years old, attended the public schools, and lived on the home farm until he reached manhood. He then went to Ripley, Ohio, where he studied in a private school kept by Rev. John Rankin, in which he was also employed as assistant teacher. Returning to his home he took charge of his father’s farm. Not long after this he married Kitty A. Shannon, who proved a good helpmate and mother. Purchasing of his father about 35 acres of land on the west side of the road, he built a house on it, in which he lived until he died. Entering into partnership with his father, they conducted a general store for some time, and he finally assumed full charge and ownership. He also opened a store at Cincinnati, corner of Third and John streets, fronting on what was then the Canal Basin, now the location of the Union Central Depot. He prospered in this business and at home, and on the death of his father he purchased the shares of the other heirs in the home farm. He took great interest in improved agriculture, and was one of the organizers and officers of the county agricultural society. He was also a leader in public improvements, anti–slavery and temperance movements, as well as church affairs.

Becoming entangled in some western interests, he was caught by the panic of 1857, and was somewhat crippled financially. The Civil War began soon after, and his four sons entered the army. His health gave way and he died before the close of the war. The good wife and mother survived and lived to the age of ninety–four, always feeling deeply the loss of her brave sons, but consoled by the thought that the country she loved was no longer cursed by the blight of slavery.399

William5 [Andrew,4 Ebenezer,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Harvey Coombs, born 17 Jun 1808 at Brunswick, ME; married 25 May 1837 to Jane Edsall of Fort Wayne, IN, who died 26 Jun 1894; he died 27 Nov 1894 at Fort Wayne, IN.

Children of William5 Harvey and Jane (Edsall) Coombs:400

William Harvey Coombs came to Ohio with his father when about three years old. After growing to manhood on his father’s farm he went to Connersville, IN, where he studied law under Caleb B. Smith. He settled at Fort Wayne, where he built up a successful law practice, and married Miss Jane Edsall, a very worthy woman.

On the breaking out of the “gold fever,” when the rush to California began, he decided to go to that state. In September, 1849, he went to Boston, Mass., and Kennebunk, Me., where he bargained for the brig “Swiss Boy” for the company with whom he was going. For this they were to pay $6,500, expecting to spend $1,500 in fitting up cabins for the passengers. They intended to carry a cargo of lumber, but when some of the party failed to join them this plan was given up. After many vexatious delays, he and others engaged passage on the brig “Orleans” from New York, and sailed on the 10,th day of December. For himself, his wife and three children, and brother Thomas, he paid for passage $650. it proved a long and tedious passage of nine months, going around Cape Horn, at the southern extremity of South America, and crossing the tropics twice. Reaching San Francisco, he purchased land near San Jose, at the southern end of the bay, and began farming. Such was the rush of gold miners and settlers to the state that potatoes and onions sold at $1 per pound. He planted as largely as his means would permit, and the soil was wonderfully productive, but the next year great ricks of potatoes rotted on the wharves for want of a purchaser. Those California stories of big crops of potatoes, wheat, barley, etc., were very interesting to us in those days.

After six years he returned to Fort Wayne and resumed the practice of law, which he continued until he was eighty or more years of age, serving some time prior to 1883 as judge of the United States Court,

He died at the age of eighty–six, only a few months after the death of his faithful wife. Death made sad inroads into the families of this generation, as will be seen by a study of the genealogical lists, and his family was no exception.

John Marshall Coombs, his oldest son, was a very successful hardware merchant at Fort Wayne until his health failed, and he died after a fruitless effort to regain his vigor in this country and Europe.401

Joseph5 [Andrew,4 Ebenezer,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Jackson Coombs, born 27 Oct 1810; married 16 May 1844 to Alice Leiby, who was born 9 Apr 1825 and died 19 1866; he died 29 Apr 1886.

Children of Joseph5 Jackson and Alice (Leiby) Coombs:402

Joseph Jackson Coombs, third son of Andrew, Sr., was brought to Ohio when very young. His sisters told this little “baby story” of him. On the journey from Maine, by wagon, he was one year old on the day that they crossed the Alleghany Mountains. At the crest he was taken out of the wagon and made to walk a few steps so that it could be said that he walked over the Alleghany Mountains when he was one year old.

At the age of sixteen he left the farm to make his own living in the world. Going to the county seat, Batavia, he learned the printer’s trade. At twenty he went to Columbus, Ohio, seeking work as a journeyman printer. The journey seems to have been made on foot and, on account of sickness from exposure, occupied five days. Much of the way was through a dense forest, where the houses were from three to eight miles apart. From Columbus he went to Gallipolis, Ohio, where he edited a paper and was elected to the state legislature. He also served as judge of the Circuit Court. Here he married Miss Alice Leiby.

After this he removed to Washington City, where he practiced law. During the Civil War he was appointed judge of the Court of Appeals of the Parent Office, by President Lincoln. This he held for a number of years, but finally resigned and resumed the practice of law. He was considered one of the foremost patent lawyers in the United States.

Of his family of nine children, only one now lives [1913], Mrs. Alice C. Getchell, of Dorchester, Mass., whose two sons are conducting their late father’s business, that of law printing, at 185 Franklin street, Boston.403

Martha5 [Andrew,4 Ebenezer,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Robinson Coombs, born 2 Aug 1813 at Clermont county, OH; married 2 Jan 1837 to Rufus Hubbard, who died at Keokuk, IA on 7 Sep 1880; she died 3 Jan 1899 at Cincinnati, OH.

Children of Rufus and Martha5 Robinson (Coombs) Hubbard:404

Susanna5 [Andrew,4 Ebenezer,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Jackson Coombs, born 6 May 1820; married 2 Feb 1843 to Rev. William Cox, a Baptist minister of Indiana; she died 14 July 1848. Both he and she died of cholera on the afternoon of the same day, at Milford, OH, and were buried in the same grave at Lindale, Clermont county, Ohio.

Child of Rev. William and Susanna5 Jackson (Coombs) Cox:405

Reliance5 [Susanna,4 Joshua,3 Joshua,2 Anthony1] Tibbets, born 31 Oct 1803; married 6 May 1827 to Silas Dolen.

Children of Silas and Reliance5 (Tibbets) Dolen:406


  1. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, page 169.
  2. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, page 169.
  3. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, page 169.
  4. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, pages 169-70.
  5. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, pages 170.
  6. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, pages 170..
  7. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, pages 89.
  8. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, pages 171.
  9. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, pages 171.
  10. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, page 171.
  11. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, pages 172.
  12. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, pages 172.
  13. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, pages 172.
  14. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, pages 172.
  15. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, pages 172-3.
  16. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, page 173.
  17. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, page 173.
  18. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, page 173.
  19. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, page 173.
  20. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, page 173.
  21. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, page 174.
  22. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, page 174.
  23. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, page 193.
  24. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, pages 193-4.
  25. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, page 194.
  26. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, page 194.
  27. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, pages 92-3.
  28. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, pages 194-5.
  29. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, pages 95-6
  30. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, pages 195.
  31. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, page 97.
  32. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, pages 195-6.
  33. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, page 196.
  34. Anthony Coombs and His Descendants, page 207.

Next: The Sixth Generation and their Children of the Seventh – Joshua2 & Elizabeth Pratt