Combs &c. Families of Amelia (Prince George) Co, VA 1728-1739	Amelia Co. 1735

Chancery Court Records 1728-1739 1740-1790

Amelia County Court Order Records, 1735-1760
unless otherwise noted, are abstracts/transcriptions by Combs Researcher Sue Elfving
from Original court order books on FHC Microfilm:

SE NOTE: Some page numbers were unreadable, so the page number given represents the page number for that particular date and will be designated as #1, 2, etc. These abstractions do not represent all the COMBS entries. Essentially, I tried to make a note of the first time a particular name occurred or of any record that was interesting.

Except where otherwise noted, tax list extractions are by Combs Researcher Sue Elfving from "Amelia County, Virginia Tax Lists 1736-1764, An Every-Name Index," 1993, T.L.C. Genealogy.

Sue adds: COMPILER'S DEFINITIONS: p. VI: "List or tithe(s) - when the word list or tithe(s) follows a name, in most tax lists (Greenhill list of 1756 excepted, where it was used with each head of household) it suggests that that person was not taxable. People were not taxable if they were non-residents, or if they were executors, administrators, guardians, trustees, or if they were white women, old, infirm, poor, a political employee, a minister, a soldier or sailor, or a ferryboat operator." With reference to the above see entries for Francis COMBS, 1762-1764. Descriptive information following the list is given exactly as in printed source. According to the compiler, that information contained within [ ] represent's the compiler's interpretation. Location information within { } came from the court order books. The compiler explains that some residents were missing from some years as some lists were badly faded, etc. so names could not be read and some years had missing lists. Undated lists were not included in this compilation. Furthermore, Thomas Tabb's lists included only the heads of households instead of every taxable person.

Ed. Note: The tax lists are as follows, but are also integrated with other records below (chronologically). Also note that this publication apparently did not include when an individual was tithed by another; i.e., in 1737, George COMBS was tithed by John COMBS (George not on the TLC list) and in 1762, Phillip COMBS was tithed by Benjamin HAMMOCK.

SE Note: Wm COMBS in same list in 1753 as was George in 1750-52

Chronology of Records

John COMBS I is first found in Prince George, that part that later became Amelia, in 1732:

John Combs' neighbors all seem to have patented land in Prince George County beginning around 1727 through 1735. Following are John's patent and some of those belonging to his earliest neighbors.

John FARGUSON may be the same who deposed (age 61) in 1766 for George Combs,son of John. He may also be related (possible father?) to the James FERGUSON who deposed (age 46) in 1766 on George's behalf. In his deposition, James stated that John placed the hand of the slave boy Ned in the hand of his son George before his Uncle Jamey and Aunt Patty as witnesses. See Chancery court record for Moses ESTIS vs. Combs. John FARGUSON (b 1705) and John COMBS (b 1705) were contemporaries who obtained their land patents on the same day. A 1735 grant (see below) shows that one John ELAM also lived on Tommahawk Branch; interesting for the reason that John Combs I of Amelia married secondly in 1750, Frances ELAM, yet to be identified. Also, is this James FERGUSON the same who, with Phebe DELANY, sold household items to George (son of John) in Halifax in 1772?

31 Jul 1732 (Prince George - VA Patent Book 14:459) Richard BOOKER, Gent., of James City Co; 970 acs (N. L.), bet. Knibbs' & Flatt Creeks; adj. John FARGUSON; Samuel COBBS; John COMBS; Edward BOOKER, John ANDERSON; & Field JEFFERSON; 5 Lbs., Money.(Cavaliers & Pioneers, Vol. 3, p. 418)

He has not been identified; however, it is thought he may have been somehow kin to the Combs of Old Rappahannock Co, VA, possibly from Essex Co, VA, due to: (1) Although the Bookers were of James & Gloucester Cos, VA, they also owned land in Essex where they are found near Combs & Associated Families (See Booker Families); (2) The above John ANDERSON has not been identified. Might he have been kin to the ANDERSONS of Richmond & King George Cos VA? (John ANDERSON, d 1720, King George) was exec. of will of John COMBS, d 1716/7, Richmond). See also Ann ANDERSON Evans Stern of 1773 below.

Other pertinent land records include:

Benjamin WARD also had land (1728 patent PB 13:423)) between the head of Knibbs Creek and the head branch of Beaver Pond Branch of Deep Creek in Prince George. In 1745 the defendant in Frederick BLAKE vs Thomas TABB) states that the plantation where Frederick BLAKE was overseer belonged to the orphans of Benjamin WARD. John Combs deposed for Frederick BLAKE.

See Also Samuel COBB of Westmoreland Co VA. The above land all became part of Amelia when that county was established in 1734-5:

28 Jan 1733 (VA Land Patent Book 15:150) Field JEFFERSON of Henrico Co, VA, 800 acres in Henrico Co, VA between Flatt and Knibbs Creek adjacent Samuel COBBS line (abstracted by S. Elfving from LOVA Digital Land Patent Database, Book 15, pp. 150).

This patent record for Field JEFFERSON, together with the 1732 patent record for Richard BOOKER showing John Combs as a neighbor is important because George Combs is hired as an overseer by Field JEFFERSON in 1740 (see Chancery records). Both George and John Combs appear in 1736 in Edward BOOKER's Amelia Co. tax list.

12 Mar 1735 [6] (AC-COB1: no page #). Fran? LAYDE[sp?] of P_____ George COMBS being sumoned as witness for J_____ CHALMERS heard said Chalmers pay him _____ days.

A George COMBS is found in Essex Co, VA Order Books in the late 1720s (record not yet extracted), but not found again. It is not yet known if he might be the same George COMBS, or if he is the George COMBS of 1737 below

10 Sept. 1735 (VA Land Patent Book Patent Book 16:273). John ELAM of Henrico, 400 acres on Lower Side of Flatt Creek above mouth of Tomahawke Branch opposite to Philip JONES land. (abstracted by S. Elfving from LOVA Digital Land Database PB16:273).

1736 Amelia Tax List of Edward Booker, above Flatt Creek
COMBS, Geor
COMBS, John

14 May 1736 (AC-COB1:#2).John COMBS on Grand Jury.

Jun 1736 (Amelia Deeds) Edward BOOKER of Amelia to Edmund BOOKER of Essex, a tract of land in Amelia near Richard BOOKER'S mill. (Virginia Families, Vol. 1, p. 174)

The 1737 TLC transcription lists both John and George COMBS in 1736, but only John in 1737 whereas the above indicates that George was tithed by John which is sometimes an indication of a father and son. However, we know that John was born about 1705 and therefore not old enough (age 32) to have a tithable son, and we know that the early George in Amelia records was also born about 1705. It is possible this George might also be the 1725 George COMBS of Essex Co, VA, or they may have been descendants either George of 1725 or William COMBS of Richmond Co VA whose descendants, if any, remain unknown. Note: The minimum age for titheables in Virginia at this time was 16. Also note that Barnett WELLS above may have actually been Barnaby WELLS earlier of Richmond Co VA (See later Freeman WELLS/Mary COMBS marriage in Halifax Co VA)

SE Notes: In 1745, Frederick BLAKE, former overseer for Thomas TABB, brought suit against TABB and John Combs, age 40, deposed (refer to Chancery records). Both BLAKE (upper side) and TABB later received patents for land on Sandy River. Also of interest is TABB's neighbor Henry LESTER. On 15 Mar. 1750[1] (AC-COB1-A:#?), the suit of March COMBS v LESTER abates on plaintiff´s death. March Combs is George March/Marsh Combs of early Amelia Co. who appears to have died unless there is a mistake in the abstract or recording and LESTER (first name not given) is the one who died. This record needs further research to determine if a LESTER did die in 1750. Also, one John Combs with a Clayton LESTER in the 1787 Amelia Co. tax records in Nottoway parish.

George Marsh COMBS (aka March COMBS and George March COMBS) appears to have been the George COMBS tithed by John in 1737. Might Timothy's surname have been MURRELL? See also Combs-Murrell in Lunenburg Co, VA and Hawkins Co, TN. A "surface search" for a George MARSH or George MARCH has shown none in Amelia around this time, nor in earlier Prince George. A Mr. George MARSH (aka MARCH aka MARKES), Gent., patented land in Old Rappa Co, VA on the south side of the Rappa River in 1662, and was probably the same whose will is mentioned in a 1670 Old Rappa deed in which Henry CORBIN is the executor appointed by George MARSH, who died testate, the land, a tract called Nemcock (aka Nimcock), sold to Richard LOES and adjacent to Richard PARRET (Old Rappa Deeds, Book 1668-1772). This George MARSH appears to have had a wife Alice and then one named Eve (unless this was Else), but will not yet located nor any record of descendants as yet.

According to Combs Researcher Danny Knight, this Benjamin CLEMENTS was the s/o William of Amelia (d 1760), and m Susannah HILL, d/o Isaac & Margaret JENINGS Hill. Benjamin later removed to Pittsylvania Co, VA where he died. Among his children were: (1) Benjamin CLEMENTS, Jr. who m Mary BAKER and removed to Montgomery Co, VA where his daughter, Rachel, m 26 Sep 1788, Henry "8" COMBS (s/o John & Nancy HARDING Combs & gs/o Mason COMBS, Sr.; (2) Susannah CLEMENT who m William EVANS and removed to Wilkes Co, GA where they lived on Kettle Creek. Their son, William EVANS, Jr., m Elizabeth Combs HAMMOCK, d/o Benedict and Mary COMBS Hammock, Jr. of Amelia Co, VA and Wilkes Co, GA.

1739 COMBS, George - Edward Booker's List, btwn Deep and Flatt Creeks
COMBS, Jno - Ditto

Chancery Court Records 1728-1739 1740-1790