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The study of the history of the Coombs family leads us far back into the past, among many contrasting conditions of life, and among peo- ple who spell their name in various ways. But wherever these historic trails lead us we dis- cover the same sturdy physical characteristics; the same glowing patriotism; the same unflag- ging industry; the same untiring perseverance; the same love of home; the same triumphs over difficulties which at first, and even through long years might have seemed ap- palling to hosts of others.

Sir Mathew Hale, in his "Norman People," gives many noble records of the family who spelled their name Combes, Combs and Coombs. Theobald Combes was of Normandy in 1180-1195, with noble sons Giselbert, Nigil and Richard. Robert Combes made the far year 1198 shine with his sturdy valor. Orli- dulph Comes lived as brave and true a life in Devon in 1272; as did also Sir Richard Comes. Roger and Nicholas Combes were in Oxford and other towns at an early date. Brownings "Americans of Royal Descent" shows one of the noblest of Coombs lines from William the Conqueror down to Matilda Woodhull of Princeton, daughter of Dr. John H. Woodhull and Ann Wycoff, who married Judge Joseph Coombs.

The description of the coat-of-arms of the Coombs family in England is that of a man standing upright, with the hilt resting on the ground. The spear is represented as being broken off perhaps a foot from the point, but the bearer of it seems ready to face any foe with what remains of the weapon. The legend accompanying this device may be freely trans- lated, "He who fights shall win the victory." It has been said that -the family name, which was spelled Comb, Combe, Coomb and Coombs, was from the Welch owmb (Cumb or Coomb), meaning a narrow valley. But Scotland, too, is a land of oombs, or valleys, and here are found many of the Coombs name, some of them being men of considerable note. Some spell their name McComb, and some of their descendants in America still retain the name in that form, though the majority spell it Coombs.

(I) The large majority of the members of the Coombs family in the New England States, and of those which are so widely scattered       

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over the west, trace their origin to a sturdy ancestor, Anthony Coombs, who was born in France about 1656 and came to America about 1674, landing at Plymouth, Massachusetts. From thence he removed to New Meadows, near Brunswick, Maine, buying a large tract of land of the Indians. Being driven from thence by the savages he removed to Massa- chusetts, where he died; but some of his chil- dren returned to the lands in Maine, and be- came, like those of the family who remained in Massachusetts, the ancestors of many no- ble, patriotic men and women, all records for our country's struggles for liberty being starred many times with the names of Coombs patriots. The name of the Coombs ancestor at New Meadows, Maine, is spelled Allister, in the old records. He was married, Septem- ber 5, 1688, to "Dorkas" Woodin. This an- cestor, Anthony Coombs, is said to have been of one of the best French families, and by his father was designed for a priest, but his noble spirit revolted at the restrictions laid upon the priesthood. He soon found that an old friend of his had a portion of the English Bible, which he diligently read in secret. He was so impressed by the sincerity and faith of this old man, and by what he read in the Bible, that he determined to become an earnest Chris- tian, though he knew the discovery of this purpose meant death for him. At length he ventured to talk about this with his mother, and found that she held the same ideas which made his life have such a new meaning. She aided him with money and means to escape on a vessel to America, though she well knew that she might never again look into the face of this beloved son. No wonder that, with such an ancestry as this, the members of the Coombs family through long generations have been men and women of noblest thought and Christian faith.

(II) Lieutenant Peter, son of Anthony and Dorcas (Woodin) Coombs, was born 1690 at New Meadows, and died there March 30. 1768. His wife's Christian name was Joanna, and they were the parents of: George, Anthony, Peter, Samuel, Caleb, Asa and Abigail.

(III) Anthony (2), second son of Lieuten- ant Peter and Joanna Coombs, was born about 1715, probably at Gloucester, Massachusetts, and lived for a time upon the paternal lands at New Meadows (now a part of Brunswick), whither he removed about 1750; thence he re- moved to the town of Islesboro, Maine, where he was town officer in 1789, and died in 1815, at the age of one hundred years. His wife, Ruth (surname unknown), survived him about      

eleven years, dying in 1826. They had seven sons and two daughters, but the names of the latter are not preserved. The sons were : An- thony, Jesse, Robert, Ephraim, Benjamin and Jonathan.

(IV) Jesse, second son of Anthony (2) and Ruth Coombs, was probably born at Glouces- ter, Massachusetts. He removed with his fa- ther to Islesboro, Maine, and died there Sep- tember 5. 1823. He was married April 16, 1794, to Hannah, daughter of William Rich- ards, of Bristol, Maine. She died November 16, 1859, m Islesboro. where all their children were born, viz.: Jesse, Sally, Othniel, Wealthy, Temperance, Rebecca, Philip, Pillsbury, Lucin- da, Hannah and Cyrena.

(V) Othniel, second son of Jesse and Han- nah (Richards) Coombs, was born June 25, 1799, in Islesboro, where he passed his life. He was a man of remarkable energy and in- dustry and was governed by the highest prin- ciples of honor in all his dealings. He was therefore much esteemed and respected, and died mourned by most of the inhabitants in the town. His old age was passed in the care of his youngest son. Joseph, who inherited the paternal estate. His marriage intentions were published April 27, 1816, and the wedding no doubt occurred very soon thereafter, the bride being Sally Marshall, of Islesboro. Their chil- dren were: 1. Sarah, born November 20, 1818, married William Farrow of Islesboro. 2. Lois, February 6, 1821, married Henry Rue, of Islesboro. 3. Lydia J., April 6, 1832, married Samuel Coombs. 4. Arphaxad, February 12, 1826. 5. Martin S., March 30, 1829, married Catherine Thomas, died Septembers, 1868; his children : Wellington, born September 16, 1854; Eliza C., October 26, 1857; Robert P., May 3, 1860. 6. Lucenia, June 10, 1831, died when sixteen years old. 7. Mary Ann, Feb- ruary 1, 1835, died April, 1838. 8. Eliza F., November 22, 1837, died November 26, 1857. 9. George A., August 30, 1840, married Lydia Burgess. 10. Joseph L. S., September 24, 1842, married Lucy Parker.

(VI) Arphaxad, eldest son of Othniel and Sally (Marshall) Coombs, was born Febru- ary 12, 1826, in Islesboro, and died in New York, November 1, 1883. In 1838 he went to sea as cabin boy, and worked up to master mariner. In 1875 he left the high seas and en- gaged in the towing business in New York City. He was a member of the Masonic fra- ternity and a Congregationalist in religion. He married Harriet L. Coombs, daughter of Fields and Betsey (Ames) Coombs, of Isles- boro. She was born October 15, 1827, and         

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died September 10, 1897. They were the parents of three sons and two daughters: 1. Arphaxad, died at the age of twenty years. 2. Angelina, married (first) George Russell, of Belfast, and (second) Roscoe Robbins, and resides in Union, Maine. 3. Hattie I., born July 8, 1857, died March 3, 1897, while the wife of Arthur Paine, of Camden. 4. Preston W., born July 14, 1863, died March 7, 1901. 5. James Bliss, mentioned below.

(VII) James Bliss, youngest child of Ar- phaxad and Harriet L. (Coombs) Coombs, was born July 12, 1865, in Islesboro, and re- ceived a limited education in the public schools of Belfast, Maine, and Brooklyn, New York. He came to the latter city at the age of eleven years and one year later became an office boy with Miller & Houghton, in business on South street, Manhattan, and here he continued five years. Before beginning his business career he attended school one year in Brooklyn. At the age of seventeen he took employment with L. W. & P. Armstrong, merchants, sugar ex- porters and importers and steamship agents, in New York. Since that time he has remained continuously connected with this firm, and in 1903 became one of its partners. His keen in- terest in the business and activity in its pro- motion has contributed in considerable degree to the success of the establishment. He was formerly a member of the Union League Club of Brooklyn, and is now an active member of the Marine and Field clubs in that city, the Indian Harbor Yacht Club, and of the Produce and Maritime exchanges of New York. He is a trustee of the Bedford Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, and in politics is an earnest and straightforward Republican. He is one of the Sons of Maine who have gone out into the world and achieved success unaid- ed, amidst the crushing competitions of a great city. He married, June 10. 1896, Lulu Tirrell, a native of Boston, daughter of Isaac and Sarah Tirrell, of Brooklyn, New York.

(III) Peter (2), third'son of Peter (1) and Joanna Coombs, was a resident of Brunswick.

(IV) Hosea, probably son of Peter (2) Coombs, removed from Brunswick to Isles- boro and settled on the next lot below Sab- bath Harbor. He married (first), September 25. 1782, Elizabeth Page, supposed to be either a daughter or sister of Rev. Solomon Page, who was the minister of Bath, Maine, about 1762. Peter Coombs married (second), Sep- tember 11, 1813, Judith (Maddocks) Buck- more, a widow. Their children were probably: Simon, Fields, Hosea, Otis, Solomon Page, Jeremiah, Betsey, Isaac and John.

(V) Captain Fields, second son of Hosea and Elizabeth (Page) Coombs, was born Jan- uary, 1786, in Islesboro, where he passed his life and died May 2, 1848. He married, De- cember 26, 1814, Betsey Ames, who died Au- gust 15. 1865, aged seventy-nine years and five months. Their children: 1. Emeline, born May 17, 1816, died January, 1892; mar- ried Thomas H. Parker, February 6. 1839. 2. Eliza J., March 23, 1817, married Mark Pen- dleton Jr., 1837. 3. Otis, 1819, died March, 1820. 4. Otis F., February 22, 1821, married Angelina Veazie, who died December 19, 1891. 5. Catherine, February 23, 1823, died August 9, 1826. 6. Deborah, April 27, 1825, married (first) Otis C. Veazie, January 21, 1844, (sec- ond) John Veazie, who died 1888. 7. Lincoln, August 3. 1830, married Louisa Farnsworth. 8. Charles A., February 22, 1832, married (first) Euraina Veazie, (second) Helen Smith. 9. Theresa, March 11, 1835, died January 9. 1838. 10. Edwin. October 29. 1837, married (first) Louisa Marshal, January 29, 1860, (second) Augusta Veazie, September 25, 1864. Otis F. Coombs represented the town in the legislature and was the first master of Island Lodge of Free Masons. He was postmaster, town clerk, and a man of honor and esteem. He died on board his vessel, the brig, "Caro- line Eddy," in the Mediterranean Sea, Decem- ber 19. 1877, and was buried in Islesboro with Masonic rites.

Many members of the Coombs family appeared in America at early dates, and trace their ori- gin to England. John Coombs was a passen- ger on a ship from London, October 13, 1635, and is considered to be the same John Coombs who was at Plymouth, Massachusetts, at an early date.

The old records of Boston, Massachusetts, contain mention of several worthy citizens who bore the name of Coombs. None of the de- scendants left statements which prve how these were related to or if they were near relatives of John Coombs, of Plymouth. One of the ear- liest Coombs records in Boston mentions the marriage of one John Coombs to Elizabeth Barlow on February 24, 1661. His children were : Elizabeth; John, who was born July 20, 1664. and daughters Mary and Sarah. The son John was a famous "Taylor" in Boston, and had by his wife, Elizabeth, children: Thomas. Peter and Mary, and two sons John, one of whom died young, the other John being a very successful mariner, who made his will at Boston, September 26, 1751. mentioning his  

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wife Elizabeth and children John, Jonathan and Elizabeth. One of the executors of this will was Philip Coombs, of Newbury, Massa- chusetts.

(I) Philip Coombs was a shipwright at Newbury, Massachusetts, in 1751, and appears to have resided in that town for many years. He was a man of great constructive skill, and was a townsman of excellent repute. The child- ren born to him by his wife Lydia at New- bury are thus named in the old records : Will- iam, mentioned below; Martha, May 29, 1739; Betty, June 8. 1744.

(II) William, only son of Philip (1) Coombs, was born September. 1736.

(III) Philip (2), son of William Coombs, was a man of very sturdy, enterprising character, who removed to Bangor, Maine, in 1814, becoming a very successful mer- chant there, and one who was highly re- spected by all who knew him. "In 1836 Philip Coombs, one of the original settlers of Ban- gor, with his son Philip H. and his son-in-law Frederick Hobbs, Esq., conveyed to the city of Bangor what was then called 'Coombs City Common, ' containing five acres, to be forever kept as a park. During the administration of Mayor Arthur Chapín the name of this park was changed to Chapin Park."

(IV) Philip Henry, son of Philip (2) Coombs, was born in Newburyport, Massachu- setts, February 21, 1803, died November 22, 1871. He moved to Bangor, ?J aine, when he was a lad and became a very successful mer- chant in that city. He was widely noted for his great executive ability, his honest dealings with all classes of customers, and for his grand help in all matters of public interest. He was a member of the First Congregational Society of Bangor, and a Republican in politics. He married Eliza Boardman, born August 26, 1805, died May 25, 1873. They had several children, only two who arrived at maturity: 1. Fred H., born May 1, 1832, died December 16, 1887, unmarried; he was a successful civil engineer and city engineer of Bangor. 2. Philip, see forward.

(V) Philip (3). son of Philip Henry Coombs, was born in Bangor. August 5, 1833, died November 9, 1906. He graduated from the high school of that city, and at an early age became a bookkeeper and an expert ac- countant. One of the many obituaries of him states : "Mr. Coombs was a man who was recognized as the very soul of honor and probity. He was scrupulously exact in all busi- ness matters, and used the utmost care in every detail of his work. He was deeply interested   

in all charitable and religious work, and along all such lines did as much as several men usually do. He was willing to go without many things which seemed quite essential to his comfort if only the poor could be cheered and the cause of religion advanced. His death will be regretted by a large circle of friends." Philip Coombs married Sarah F., daughter of the Rev. Richard Woodhull, and descended from a long line of ancestry. The mother of Sarah F. Woodhull was Sarah Forbes, daugh- ter of William Forbes, the second postmaster at Bangor, Maine, who was appointed to that office April 1, 1804. William Forbes took up one of the original settlers' lots on the Penob- scot river, near the present Mount Hope ceme- tery, at what is called Red Bridge, and the farm has ever since been owned in the family. It is now occupied by the widow of Charles H. Forbes, son of William Forbes. Philip Coombs and wife had six children, one of whom died in infancy. The others were: 1. Philip Hen- ry. 2. Eliza Boardman, married Rev. J. G. Smiley. 3. Mary Woodhull, married Dr. Fred- erick M. Brown. 4. Caroline, married Henry E. Kelley. 5. Helen, who is unmarried and resides in Connecticut.

(VI) Philip Henry (2), son of Philip (3) and Sarah F. (Woodhull) Coombs, was born in Bangor, Maine, December 24, 1856. He has always resided at Bangor. He entered in 1875 the engineering office of his uncle, Fred H. Coombs, where he learned civil engineering. After the death of his uncle, in 1887, he en- tered into partnership with T. W. Baldwin. Since 1892 Mr. Coombs has been in sole con- trol, and has a verv large business, which reaches far and wide outside of the city. For over twenty years Mr. Coombs has been city engineer for Bangor. It is very interesting to notice that this civil engineering office was started by the great-uncle of Mr. Coombs, William Coombs, over seventy years ago, and then continued by his nephew, Fred H. Coombs, and then as stated by Philip H. Mr. Coombs is consulted on important matters by people all over his native state. The following list of the achievements of Philip H. Coombs was furnished by the American Society of Civil Engineers : "Assistant on original sur- vey for location of Penobscot Chemical Fiber Company. Pulp Mills, Great Works, Maine, in 1881. Acting resident engineer on the con- struction of canal and mill, 1882 and 1883, for T. W. Baldwin : civil engineer from the time of breaking ground until the mill was suc- cessfully running. Original cost of this mill about $150.000. This was the first large pulp     

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mill erected in Maine. Resident engineer in laying out and construction of pulp and paper mill, Eastern Manufacturing Company, at Brewer, Maine, 1889, this costing about $200,- ooo. Resident engineer pulp and paper mill, Orono Pulp and Paper Company, Basin Mills, Orono, Maine, 1890, the work costing about $250.000. Resident engineer Pulp and Paper Company, Webster Paper Company, Orono, Maine, 1890, cost about $250,000. Engineer on laying out Bangor, Maine, street railway, 1888. This was the first electric road built in Maine, and among the first to be successfully operated in the United States. Original length of this road, one and one-half miles. Mr. Coombs has been engaged as engineer in lay- ing out and improving roads for several com- panies centering in Bangor most of the time since 1888 up to date. City engineer and su- perintendent of sewers, Bangor, from Novem- ber, 1883, until March, 1893. inclusive. City engineer, 1894-99-1901-02-03-04-05-06-07-08. The cost of sewers constructed during these years was $323,348. The cost of bridges con- structed in that time. $201.777. Mr. Coombs was principal assistant with city engineers from 1875 to 1882, inclusive. He made the plans, specifications and contracts, and super- intended the construction of the masonry pier and abutments for Kenduskeag Bridge in 1884 and 1889, and for masonry pier for Franklin street bridge in 1885, the cost of both being $60,000. This work was done jointly by the city of Bangor and the United States govern- ment, the government first approving the de- signs, plans and specifications and finally ac- cepting the work and paying one-half the cost. He made surveys and plans with profiles for sewer system for towns as follows: 1892, Dexter. Maine, estimated cost to complete, $54.000; 1894, Dover, Maine, estimated cost to complete, $30,000; 1904, Foxcroft, Maine, es- timated cost, $30,000; 1904, Newport, Maine, estimated cost, $20,000. Engineer on survey, plans and specifications, contract and in charge of construction for sewer system for a part of the city of Brewer, Maine, in 1898, cost $10,- ooo. In 1901, same kind of work for Maine State Prison, cost about $6,500. Engineer on original and subsequent sewerage, Eastern Maine Insane Hospital, from purchase of the property in 1899 to date. Principal construc- tion, 1895 to 1900. Administrations of three different commissions. Made plans, specifica- tions and contract for engineering construc- tion, among which may be mentioned earth and ledge excavations, about $45.000; sewer system, about $1,500; a deep well water sup-    

ply sufficient for one thousand patients, cost about $2,500; and the building of about one- half of the macadam road on the grounds; also designed what landscape work was done. Cost of this institution, about $300,000. Resi- dent engineer on construction and completion of foundation and building of Stewart Free Library, Corinna, Maine, 1897-98, including design and laying out of grounds; cost about $45,000. On this work Mr. Coombs also acted as agent of the owners, who lived in Minne- apolis, Minnesota. Engineer engaged in or- iginal survey for water works system, Dexter, Maine, in 1898, and on survey, plan, specifica- tions and construction of system, including concrete reservoir of five hundred thousand gallons capacity, in 1903; cost of system built, about $50,000. One of the two commissioners authorized by the Maine legislature in 1901 and appointed by the Penobscot Log Driving Company on a hydraulic survey of the Penob- scot river, West Branch watershed, to investi- gate and determine present storage, need of increased storage for log driving, manufac- turing and other purposes. This survey cov- ered two vears and cost $13,000. Reported to the legislature of 1903, upon which legislation and business transactions have since been based. Mr. Coombs is still engaged by the Penobscot Log Driving Company, principally on hydraulic work. Chief engineer for the Bangor Terminal Railway Company on sur- vey, location, etc., of six miles of road con- templated to connect Bangor with the North- ern Maine seaport branch of the Bangor and Aroostook railway at Hermon, Maine, con- struction pending. Engineer on working plans and in charge of construction of Chapin Park, Bangor, 1899 and 1901, cost about $8,000. Same position on working plans, spe- cifications, contract under charge of con- struction of Broadway Park, Bangor, 1904 and 1905; cost, about $10,000. Same position on survey, plan and design for Summit Park, Bangor, 1904; estimated cost, $5,000. Engi- neer on design, plan, specifications, inspection of construction, etc., of fishways for Maine Fisheries Commissioners from 1889 to pres- ent date."

Mr. Coombs is deeply interested in Masonic work; is an active member of Rising Vir- tue Lodge, No. 10, F. and A. M., of which he is past master; Mt. Moriah Chapter, No. 6, R. A. M., of which he is high priest; Bangor Council, R. and S. M., of which he is master; St. John's Commandery, No. 3, K. T., of which he is eminent commander; Eastern Star Lodge of Perfection; Palestine Council,              

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Princes of Jerusalem; Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, thirty-second degree. He is also an Odd Fellow, member of the Masonic Club, and the American Society of Civil Engineers. Mr. Coombs married Millie M., daughter of Samuel B. and Mary Proctor (Burr) Field; two children: Grace Field, born September 6, 1886; Leola Woodhull, March 10, 1889. Samuel B. Field was born at Carmel, Maine, October 4, 1817, died November 19, 1902; he was a very faithful soldier in the civil war, mustered in December 12, 1861, first lieuten- ant of Company C, Second Regiment of Maine Volunteers; he was a charter member of B. H. Beal Post, No. 12, Grand Army of the Re- public.

The immigrant ancestor of this branch of the Coombs family was of French Huguenot an- cestry. All we know of him is that he came to America, lived for a time in Plymouth county, Massachusetts, and then at Newbury- port. He was doubtless a seafaring man and there is reason to believe that he died when a young man. There are many reasons for thinking him a grandson or at least a near relative of Henry Coombs, of Marblehead. who is the progenitor of a large part of the Coombs families of America. He, too, was French in descent, though of English birth probably. Henry Coombs had land laid out to him in Marblehead, December 22, 1648; had charge of the ferry in that town in 1661; died 1669: children of Henry and wife Eliz- abeth : i. Henry, settled in Salem Village and had a son John, who died in 1690; ii. Hum- phrey, born 1635, married Bathsheba Ray- mond; iii. Deborah; iv. Elizabeth; v. Mi- chael, resided in Marblehead: vi. Susannah, married, October 22, 1668, Francis Grant; vii. Richard, died January, 1693-94. Children of the Maine family's progenitor: 1. Peter, came to Brunswick, Maine, about 1730, and settled at Havard's Point a short distance be- low the Bartlett Adams place, removed to the Freeman Gross place near Harding Station; children: George, Peter, Samuel, Caleb. 2. Anthony, mentioned below. 3. John, settled on Great Island, Harpswell, Maine, and was grandfather of Elisha, Anthony, John and Isaac Coombs of that town. We find John Coombs, born August 14, 1695, at Hull, Mas- sachusetts, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Coombs, probably the pioneer ancestors of this family.

(II) Anthony Coombs, son of the immi- grant, was born in 1715. He went to Bruns-        

wick, Maine, with his two brothers. He set- tled on the James Larrabee place. He re- moved to Islesborough, Maine, where he was one of the first settlers. He was a prominent citizen and held various offices. He sold his farm at Islesborough to Mighall Parker, Au- gust 6, 1791, and spent his last years in Brunswick, where he died in 1815 at the age of one hundred years. His widow Ruth died 1826. Children: 1. Anthony Jr., died Jan- uary 8, 1735, a town officer; married Hannah Holbrook. 2. Jesse, married, April 16, 1794, Hannah Richards, of Bristol. 3. Robert, men- tioned below. 4. Ephraim, died January 9, 1812, aged thirty-six. 5. Benjamin, married, June 16, 1791, Abigail Williams, who died July 13, 1842. 6. Jonathan, married, Novem- ber 16, 1790, Martha Warren and removed to Albion, Maine. 7. Abiezer, married, Novem- ber 23, 1823, Mary Burke; he died October 3, 1861: she died May 5, 1881.

(III) Robert, son of Anthony Coombs, was born in Islesborough or New Meadows (Brunswick) about 1755. He lived in West Bay, Islesborough, near Jeremiah Hatch. He married, July 10, 1790, Lucy Thomas. He may have been a soldier in the revolution, though the record has not been found. Of the revolutionary soldiers of the family we find from Brunswick alone Fields Coombs, Benjamin Coombs, Hezekiah Coombs, Joseph Stout Coombs and Nathan Coombs. Robert Coombs was a captain in the coasting trade, and like many of the privateers in the revolu- tion his contribution to the cause, if any, might not be found in the printed rolls. He married (second) --------- . Children, born in Isles- borough: 1. Robert Jr., June 25, 1783, men- tioned below. 2. Jacob, March 31, 1785, mar- ried Prudence Turner (intentions dated April 15, 1821). 3. Lucy, February 28, 1787, mar- ried, October 7, 1816, Otho Abbott, of Mont- ville, Maine. 4. Jesse, April 4, 1789, married Desire Turner, March 2, 1816. 5. Isaac, Feb- ruary 9, 17 90, married Betsey Boardman. 6. Luther, June 3, 1805, married Dean Basford, of Belfast, May 9, 1828. 7. Catherine, May 13, 1809, married Charles Bagley, of Belfast. 8. Louisa, July 18, 1811, married, June 21, 1832, Arthur Farnsworth. Child of his sec- ond wife: 9. Isaiah, August 16, 1838.

(IV) Robert (2), son of Robert (1) Coombs, was born in Islesborough, June 25, 1783. He began to go to sea when a boy, and led the life of a sailor during his youth and early manhood. In 1830 he removed to Belfast, Maine, and pi1rchased a farm of some sixty acres, where he lived the remainder of    

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his life, and died July 9, 1862. He married, December 25, 1823, Jane Gilkey, born in Isles- :borough, April 9. 1807, died in Belfast, Au- gust 1, 1884. Children: 1. Lucy Jane, born September 5, 1824, died January 23, 1827. 2. Statira Preble, April 13, 1826. 3. Robert H., July 3, 1828, mentioned below. 4. Lucretia Mary, married A. J. Macomber. 5. Lorenzo D., November 20, 1831, was a forty-niner. 6. Charles Henry, went to California in 1853, and not heard from since 1865, when he joined a company of cavalry and took part in the close of the civil war. 7. Ludia Jane, March 15, 1835. 8- Hollis M., March 15, 1837, resides in Providence, Rhode Island. 9. Franklin S., January 5, 1839. 10. Philip G., resides in Belfast. 11. Royal Augustus, drowned while bathing at the age of fifteen. 12. Caroline F., died young. 13. Welcome Jordan, resides on the homestead. 14. Emma Frances, married Charles Hayes.

(V) Captain Robert H., son of Robert Coombs, was born in Islesborough, Maine, July 3, 1828, and died in Belfast. Maine, No- vember 7, 1897. He had but a limited educa- tion, entering on his career as a sailor when but nine years old. He went first as cook on a coasting vessel, and at the age of sixteen was master of the schooner "Jane" of Belfast. After that he commanded a variety of craft, including the schooner "Dime," "Eri," "Royal Welcome," "Tippecanoe," "Pensacola," "Fred Dyer," "Lydia Brooks," the brig "Russian." the bark "P. R. Hazeltine," the bark "Diana," the ship "Live Oak," the ship "Cora," named for his daughter. During the war he sailed the "Diana," under the Hanoverian flag, from America to India and to the United Kingdom. In the spring of 1865 he sold this vessel in Copenhagen. In the "Cora" he sailed round the world, touching at Chinese ports and others on the Pacific coast, and for twenty years his vessel was not on the American coast. About 1880 he returned to Belfast and gave up sea-going for the remainder of his life. He engaged in the furniture trade and under- taking business in Belfast. In politics he was a Republican. He was a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, and his diploma was a most interesting document, coming from the Grand Orient in Paris, where he was made an M. M., bearing indorsements from many lodges; from Excelsior Lodge in Buenos Ayres in 1862; New Zealand Lodge, Wellington, New Zea- land, 1866; Bute Lodge, Cardiff, Wales, 1859; Mount Moriah Lodge, New Orleans, 1859; Lodge of Love, Falmouth, Cornwall, England, 1860; Rising Star.   Bombay, September,  1876;

St. Andrew Lodge, Calcutta, 1877: and St. John Lodge, Hong Kong, China, 1880. His home membership was with Phoenix Lodge, No. 24, Belfast, Maine. He married, June 11, 1850, Harriet E. Pendleton, born April 13, 1831, died June 7, 1894, daughter of Jared Pendleton, of Belfast. Children: 1. Walter H., resides in Belfast. 2. Cora J., September 18, 1852, married Alexander Leith and had two children. 3. Daughter, died young. 4. Charles R., March 20, 1862, mentioned be- low.

(VI) Charles R., son of Captain Robert H. Coombs, was born in Belfast, March 20, 1862. He attended the public schools of Belfast. When he was but ten years old he went to England with his mother, and while there con- tinued his schooling for two years. When he returned home he took a c.ourse in the Bryant & Stratton Business College in Boston. He became associated in business with his father in February, 1882, under the firm name of Robert H. Coombs & Son, undertakers and dealers in furniture, in Belfast. Their busi- ness was prosperous and the partnership con- tinued until the father's death in 1897. Since then the junior partner has been the sole pro- prietor. In 1900 he sold the furniture store and business and has devoted his attention ex- clusively to the undertaking business. In pol- itics he is a Republican. He is a member of Phoenix Lodge of Free Masons, Belfast, and at present its worshipful master. He is a member also of the Corinthian Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Belfast, an d of King Solo- mon Council, Royal and Select Masters; also of Waldo Lodge of Odd Fellows, Belfast; of Penobscot Encampment and Aurora Lodge of Rebekahs. In religion he is a Unitarian. He married, September 4, 1902, Helena C. Mat- thews, born January 11, 1872, daughter of Charles and Carrie Matthews, of Belfast. They have no children.

Henry Coombs was of Marble- head, Massachusetts, as early as December 22, 1648, when he with others had lots of land laid out in the swamp. On April 11, 1653, he sold a cow lease to John Legg, and in 1656 was elected "way warden." In 1661 he had temporary charge of the ferry, near which he appears to have lived. In 1667 he was complained against for having uttered alleged slanderous reports concerning the minister at Marblehead, the Rev. Mr. Walton, saying that “he preached nothing but lies, and that he could prove him to be a knave.”   Henry  Coombs was a fisher-

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man. The inventory of his estate was taken September 16, 1669, by Henry Bartholomew, Moses Maverick and Hilliard Veren. His wife was Elizabeth , and administration was granted on her estate June 13, 1709, to her son-in-law, Francis Grant, and his wife Susannah, the latter the youngest daughter of the decedent. Henry and Elizabeth Coombs had seven children: 1. Henry, was living in 1690, when he was in Salem, Massachusetts, and settled the estate of his brother John. 2. Humphrey, born about 1635. married, July 29, 1659, Bathsheba Rayment (Raymond), daughter of Richard Rayment, of Seabrook, Connecticut. 3. Deborah, who married --------- House. 4. Elizabeth, who married Thomas Trevey. 5. Michael (see post). 6. Susannah, who married, October 22, 1668, Francis Grant, of Marblehead, and had nine children: Mary, born July 16. 1669, died young; Susannah, August 19, 1671. died before 1718, married, July 4, 1692, Thomas White; Francis, No- vember 25, 1673; Sarah, August 24, 1675, married ---------- Merritt; Jane, August 29, 1679, married ---------- Knight; John, August 30, 1682; David, November 14, 1684, died be- fore 1718; Henry, July 30, 1687; Mary, April 12, 1694, married ----------- Pitman. 7. Rich- ard, died January, 1693-94; married Margaret ---------, and had one child, Bridget, born Feb- ruary 25, 1689, married, January 10, 1710, John Lapthorne.

(II) Michael, son of Henry and Elizabeth Coombs, married Joanna , and by her had two children: Michael (see post) and Joshua, born February 23, 1670-71, no further record.

(III) Michael (2), son of Michael (1) and Joanna Coombs, was born March 22, 1668-69, and died July 26, 1730. He was witness to a nuncupative will made by Thomas Rhoades, of Marblehead, to John Sampson, on board the ship "Essex" at sea, wherein it was agreed that if either died during the voyage the sur- vivor should have whatever clothes and wages the other possessed at the time of his decease. It so happened that Sampson was killed during the voyage. Mr. Coombs married, July 12, 1694, Ruth Rhoades and had six children: 1. Joanna, baptized May 19, 1695. married, De- cember 29, 1715, Benjamin Girdlcr. 2. Rich- ard, baptized February 14, 1696-97. 3. Josh- ua (see post). 4. Michael, born February 28, 1702-03, died January, 1782; married (first), March 12. 1724-25, Remember White, daugh- ter of Thomas and Susanna (Grant) White. Their children were Mary, baptized December 11, 1726;  Ruth, baptized  September 28, 1729,

died in infancy; Ruth, baptized June 30, 1731, died November 8, 1814, married, June 18, 1751, Mark Haskell; Thomas, baptized No- vember 25, 1733, died December, 1764. 5. Ruth, baptized March 25, 1705, married, June 12, 1726, John Down, of St. Island, New Hampshire. 6. Elizabeth, baptized July 26, 1713, no further record.

(IV) Joshua, son of Michael (2) and Ruth (Rhoades) Coombs, was baptized June 11, 1699, and died before February 27, 1764. the date his will was proved. He was a member of St. Michael's Episcopal Church of Marble- head. He married, January 29, 1721, Mary Goree, and by her had four children: 1. Mi- chael (see post). 2. Susannah, married a Mr. Nicholson. 3. Joanna, married a Mr. Nelson. 4. Richard, date of birth unknown, died young.

(V) Michael (3), son of Joshua and Mary (Goree) Coombs, was baptized February 25, 1727-28, and died in 1806. During the revo- lution he cast his fortunes with the British, and having become a Tory he fled from home and all his property, with that of other Tories in the vicinity of Marblehead, was confiscated. In regard to his movements the following an- nouncement was made by the committee of correspondence at Marblehead, in June, 1781, through Jonathan Glover, chairman of the committee: "This may certify that Mr. Mi- chael Coombs, late an inhabitant of Marble- head, in said county (Essex), mariner, has absented himself for 3 weeks and upwards from the usual place of his abode and we verily believe went to our enemies." On Feb- ruary 19, 1782, Michael Coombs' wife present- ed a petition to the general court asking that a portion of his estate which had been con- fscated should be set off and sold, which re- quest was granted and one-third of it was set off, including the toouse and the land around it, located "on training field hill." On January 4, 1753, Michael Coombs married Sarah Girdler. In his will he mentions only one son, Nicholas (VI), to whom he gives his great coat, and to Joshua, son of said Nicholas, he gave all the rest of his wearing apparel. To his wife Sarah he gave one-third part of his real es- tate.

(VII) Joshua, son of Nicholas Coombs and grandson of Michael Coombs, of both of whom mention is made in the preceding paragraph, was born in Bowdoin, Maine, July 7, 1775. and died November 29, 1851. He married Mary --------- who was born December 7, 1772, and died in October, 1843.

(VIII) James, son of Joshua and Mary Coombs, was born  in  Bowdoin,   Maine, No-

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vember 7, 1798, and died in Lisbon, Maine, September 1, 1880. He was a blacksmith by trade. The greater part of his life was spent in his native town of Bowdoin, but during his latter years he lived in Lisbon, where he died. He married (first) Love Getchel. who was born July 26, 1801, and died December 20, 1851, having borne him thirteen children. He married for his second wife Mrs. Mary Gould, and by her had one child. His children: 1. William Given (see post). 2. Nathaniel G., born February 5, 1821, died October, 1876. 3. John G., May 19, 1822. 4. Mary, July 28, 1823, died July 6, 1824. 5. Mary, June 21, 1825. 6. James, January 13, 1827, died Au- gust, 1864. 7. Hannah, March 3, 1828, died March 5, 1828. 8. Daniel C., March 3. 1830, died September 26, 1891. 9. Martha, Novem- ber 4, 1834, died September, 1871. 10. Charles B., July 28, 1837, died September, 1875. 11. Susan, October 28, 1839, died January 3, 1842. 12. Ruth L., April 17, 1841, no further record. 13. Frank B.. September 13, 1847, no further record. 14. Nathan S., November 25, 1853, no further record.

(IX) William Given, eldest son and child of James and Love (Getchel) Coombs, was born in Bowdoin, Maine, October 1, 1819, and died in Auburn. Maine, March 6, 1898. He was a blacksmith by trade, which he followed all of his life. In 1852 he removed to New Gloucester, Maine, and subsequently located in Auburn, where the later years of his life were' passed. His wife was Clarina Ann Kinsley, daughter of Daniel Kinsley, of Au- burn, Maine, by whom he had two children : James Edward, born in Lisbon Falls, July 3, 1845. Delbert Dana (see post).

(X) Delbert Dana, youngest of the two sons of William Given and Clarina Ann (Kinsley) Coombs, was born in Lisbon Falls, Maine, July 26, 1850. When he was two years old his parents removed to New Gloucester, one of the most picturesque old towns in Maine. No doubt the natural beauty surrounding him made a deep impression on the sensitive mind of the young boy and was the first cause of the art impulse that early showed itself. No artistic ancestors as far as known and no art influence whatever about him. Here in this quiet village he received his early edu- cation at the common school. A severe illness when he was about twelve years old (the effects of which were felt for many years) un- fitted him for the broader education his am- bition craved. When almost a babe he would spend hours at his mother's side cutting out all kinds of figures with the scissors and even

then it is said he showed remarkable skill in some of his work. At school his pencil often brought him trouble, but the corner grocery store was the place where it found encourage- ment. Many evenings has he entertained the frequenters of that resort, sketching on the rough wrapping paper anything they would call for. Crude no doubt these sketches were, but it was the school that trained the pencil for the rapid work required for animal paint- ing later in life. The old village smithy, too, was a picture gallery for the young artist, where the boy's father proudly exhibited to his customers' his son's skill in chalk on the black- ened wall of the old shop. It was a great day for young Coombs when Scott Leighton, the celebrated Boston animal painter, came to New Gloucester to paint some horses. This was the turning point in Mr. Coombs' life. Through the kind encouragement of Mr. Leighton he soon took up the .brush and for nearly forty years he has been an active work- er in his chosen art. Mr. Coombs had many difficulties in his way. He lacked the physical strength to pursue the course that many art students take, and his father lacked the means, but he gave him what was perhaps better, en- couragement and faith. Mr. Coombs took a few lessons at first of Mr. Leighton and also of H. B. Brown, of Portland, the marine and landscape painter. In 1870 he took a studio in Lcwiston for a short time, receiving a number of pupils, but little encouragement. He soon after went to Portland, when his parents had removed, and while there he spent a short time with Mr. Lamson, the photog- rapher, learning the principles of his profes- sion. This, however, did not satisfy his love of art. A business enterprise brought him again to Lewiston, but he soon gave this up to return to his brush. He again opened a studio in Lewiston, and soon took up sign painting as a support to his art work. He also took pupils and for over twenty years he had quite a following of art students. About this time he won some recognition as a caricaturist. His work in this line attracted the attention of the late James G. Blaine, who sent for Mr. Coombs and made arrangements to use his cartoons in the political campaign. This work seemed to establish Mr. Coombs' reputation as an artist, and he was enabled to give up sign painting and devote all his time to art work. At this time he did considerable illus- trating and there was a good demand for his work. A Boston engraving company gave him a call to take charge of their illustrating, but he  had  been with them but   a few months when

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he was called to Auburn by the serious illness of his father. The Lewiston Journal was about establishing an illustrating plant, and they engaged Mr. Coombs to take charge of that department. Here Mr. Coombs found free course for his pencil and an opportunity to express himself in caricature, and his suc- cess in that line was most marked, his subjects being always appropriately chosen and his tastes inclining to the higher order of por- trayals rather than to those of the baser order. But notwithstanding his success in caricature and the freedom of his connection with news- paper illustrating and its comfortable income, Mr. Coombs' old love for color finally over- powered all other considerations and drew him back into the domain of legitimate art; and while he would have gone abroad for a deeper and broader study, conditions he could not control forbade the consummation of his high- est aims; and yet he has by intuition and na- tive genius been enabled to acquire such thor- ough knowled ge of technique and in the finesse and finish of his work that he has come to be recognized as one of our famous Ameri- can artists. Mr. Coombs never graduated from an art school, never belonged to an art club and has lived and worked in a community far removed from art and artists. He re- ceived instruction from some of the best Bos- ton artists from time to time, as circumstances would allow, and he kept in touch with the art world by visiting the Boston and New York art exhibitions, and for several winters had a studio in Boston. His pictures are sel- dom seen at exhibitions or on sale at art stores, yet his landscapes and cattle pieces are owned from Maine to California and many of them represent scenes of his old boyhood home in New Gloucester. The first picture sold from the Poland Spring art gallery was one of his cattle pieces and is owned in Philadelphia. He has painted many of Maine's distinguished sons. Examples of his work in these lines may be found in the collection of eight of his portraits that adorn the walls of the state house gallery at Augusta. A large portrait of the late Chief Justice Peters, of Maine, is hung at Yale College, and a life-size portrait of Judge Haskell was burned in the city hall fire in Portland. His most recent work is "Calling the Cows," painted from life at the Poland Spring farm. The canvas is four by six feet in size and represents the herd of over fifty cows in the pasture, with the farm buildings and hotels in the distance. This picture is owned by H. Ricker & Sons, and is hung in their New York office.

On September 10, 1902, Mr. Coombs mar- ried Mrs. Martha Lufkin and has one child, Martha Pauline Coombs, born in Auburn, July 19, 1907.