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Dorset is on England’s southern shore with Devon to the west, Somerset to the Northwest, Wiltshire to the North, and Hampshire to the East.

Note: Until 1836, some Dorset parishes were locally in Devonshire. In 1836, these and some neighboring parishes were transferred to Devon, and in 1896, yet more parishes were transferred. We do not yet have a full list of these parishes, but know only of those which we have discovered in the course of our research. Also note that in many instances it appears that alliances (intermarriages, etc.) have primarily been with Devonshire (and even Somerset) families rather than Dorset. The transferred parishes include:

Chardstock, a parish in Beaminster Hundred, Dorset [sic] (1896)
Dalwood, a chapelry in the liberty of Fordington in the parish of Stockland (1836)

See all new COOMBS & var. Wills, Administrations, Inventories for the County of Dorset, England, compiled by Claire Smith-Burns

Combs &c. Records by Hundred and Parish (in which Combs and Associated Families have been found thus far)

To learn more about medieval terms for land see the ENGLAND: Land from Medieval to Present Day.

Earliest Combs &c. of Dorset
See also Earliest Combes of England

1214 v.i: Hilary term 15 John, p. 122; "Dorset’. Assisa ultime presentationis inter Robertum de WERMEWELL petentem et priorem de Hounne de advocatione ecclesie de WERMEWELL’ ponitur in respecum usque a die sancte trinitatis in j. mensem pro defectu recognitorum, quia tantum tres venerunt. Et vicecomes habeat corpora Willelmi DE CUMBA, Willelmi Gerard’ JORDANI de Barnevell Qluentini de Cnihteton’. Idem dies datus est quatour per sessoniatres sous. Et loco Andree de CHAUNEDUN’, qui amovetur, ponat ciecomes alium etc. (Extracted by Combs Researcher Joe Kendalll from “Curia Regis Rolls”, His Majasties Stationary Office (hmso), Public Record Office (pro), London, 1922).

Extracted from THE DORSET LAY SUBSIDY ROLL OF 1332, edited by Anthony David Mills, Dorchester Record Society, 1971- Trowbridge Library by Combs &c. Researcher David Vidler who adds: The transcript is in Latin and the letters following each entry are the amounts paid - in roman numerals + s = shillings or d= pence (pennies).

Hd de Cokdene [Cogdean Hundred]

Combe Almere [Combe Almer in Sturminster Marshall]
De Ricardo de Comb’ xij.d

Hd de Modbergh [Modbury Hundred]

Comptone [West Compton]
De Roberto in the comb’ iij.s

Hd de Shirebourn [Sherborne Hundred]

Bradeford [Bradford Abbas]
De Roberto de Comb’ ij.s

Hd de Beymunstr’ [Beaminster Hundred]

Beymunstr’ [Beaminster]
De Roberto de Comb’ ij.s

Corscomb [Corscombe]
De Alicia in la comb’ iij.s
De Henrico in la Comb’ ij.s
De Rogero in la comb’ xvj.d
De Johanne in la Comb’ viij.d

Manerium de Brodewyndsore [Manor of Broadwindsor]
De Ricardo de combe ij.s

Hd de Whitchurch [Whitchurch Canonicorum Hundred]

Calwehagh [Colway in Lyme Regis]
De Waltero atte comb’ ij.s

Hd de Sexpenne et Henleigh [Sixpenny Handley Hundred]


De Roberto in la comb iij.s ix.d ob

Libertas de Frompton [Frampton Liberty]

Compton [Compton Valence]
De Willelmo in the comb’ iij.s

Bettescomb [Bettiscomb]
De Edwardo in the comb’ xv.d

1558 1 Elizabeth. Chancery: Inquisitions Post Mortem, Series II, and other Inquisitions, Henry VII to Charles I [1485-1660]. C 142/122/27 COMBE, Bartholomew: Dorset. (Combs &c. Extractions from the PRO Catalogue, C Series - record not yet acquired)

1558 1 Eliz I. Court of Wards and Liveries: Inquisitions Post Mortem. WARD 7/102/148. COMBE, Bartholomew: Dorset (Combs &c. Extractions from the PRO Catalogue, WARD Series - record not yet acquired)

1558 1 Eliz I. Exchequer: King’s Remembrancer: Escheators’ Files, Inquisitions Post Mortem, Series II, and other Inquisitions, Henry VII to Elizabeth I [22 Aug 1485 - 24 Mar 1603]. E 150/946/14. COMBE, Bartholomew: Dorset (Combs &c. Extractions from the PRO Catalogue, E Series - record not yet acquired)

Nothing more is known of Bartholomew at this time, including the parish in which he resided..

19/07/1553-17/11/1558 Court of Star Chamber: Proceedings, Philip and Mary. STAC 4/9/31. Plaintiff: Robert BURES Defendant: Charles, lord Stourton, Leonard COMBES, John BAKAR, Richard DOWGOOD, John GOLD, Hugh POPE, and others Place Or Subject: Assault and false imprisonment at Up-Cerne and Minterne County: Dorset

19/07/1553-17/11/1558 Court of Star Chamber: Proceedings, Philip and Mary. STAC 4/10/81. Plaintiff: Jane STOURTON Defendant: Leonard COMBES, John BAKER, Thomas PHYLYPPS, and others Place Or Subject: Refusal to pay rent for tenancies in the manor of Up-Cerne, seizure of corn, etc. (interrogatories and depositions) County: Dorset

Parish not yet determined. No other records of an early Leonard Combe located as yet.