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| Mason & Jane RICHARDSON Combs of Montgomery, Wythe & Grayson, VA and Clay & Perry, KY s/o John & Nancy HARDING Combs, Sr. and “one of the eight” |
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Updated 17-Apr-2008
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As is the case with all Combs Research Family Reports, when a source is not specifically referenced herein, the source can be found via a “hot link” to the applicable Combs County of Record, Revolutionary War Pension Files, Bible Records, etc.
Mason Combs, one of the “eight” (John Combs, Sr., Mason Combs, Sr., John Combs of Richmond, Archdale Combs of Old Rappa), b pre-1765, probably in Frederick Co, VA; d 1822, Perry Co, KY; m 29 Jan 1793, Wythe Co, VA, Jane RICHARDSON (a.k.a. Jennie RICHASON), b 1761-1764, d aft 1830, of Perry Co, KY.
| Documenting Mason “8” Combs |
| Known and Possible Issue of Mason “8” Combs |
| A Tentative Chronology of the Life of Mason “8” Combs |
Mason “8” is documented as “one of the eight” s/o John Combs, Sr. based primarily on Dickey Diary Interviews, in conjunction with various public records (as noted herein).
According to the 1898 Jackson, Breathitt Co, KY, interview of his son, Napoleon Bonaparte Combs: “My father was Mason Combs. My mother was Jennie RICHESON or RICHARDSON. He and seven brothers came. William Combs, my uncle, went to Fayette County. He was at my mother's after my father died [1822, Perry Co, KY] and wanted to take me to his home to raise. My father had 11 children, 5 girls and 6 boys. I am the youngest. The girls were born first. Willie, the youngest daughter, was born in Kentucky. There are seven children, at least, born after the CombsES came to Kentucky, and the youngest was born in 1808… Stephen JETT told me that he stayed all night at my father's when he moved to Kentucky. My father took up all the land that he could in his own name, and then he took some up in his daughter, Willie's, name. He owned six miles up Carr, also up and down the North Fork. He had land in Tennessee. He left his land on the Holston. He said there were Indians in Kentucky, and if he could not live here, he would have his own land to which to go back. He never sold it. He had plenty here and did not need it…”
According to the 1898 Hazard, Perry Co, KY Dickey Diary Interview of Elijah Combs CORNETT (s/o Robert B. and Louisa Combs Cornett): “I was born Perry Co, Ky., March 22, 1822… Mason and [his brother] George Combs died with the fever the same year about the time I was born…”
Elijah's statement that Mason died in 1822 is confirmed by the Jun 1822 Perry Co, KY Court minutes which order that Robert BRASHEARS be appointed guardian of Talton Combs, Clinton Combs, Bonapart Combs and Marsingil Martin Combs (children) of Mason Combs decd who together with Robert HICKS his security into and acknowledge bond in the place of $1,000 dollars conditioned as the law directs. Note, however, that Mason's brother, George Combs, did not die until 1826-7.
Note: Robert BRASHEAR was the s/o Samuel and Margaret AKIN Brashear (1788 Sullivan Co, TN Militia). Robert HICKS was the second husband of Winnifred Combs, widow of Samuel SUMNER and d/o William and Seth STACY Combs, Sr.
According to the 1898, Hazard, Perry Co, Ky. Dickey Diary Interview of John S. Combs (s/o Jeremiah & Syntha SUMNER Combs): “There was a large company came together: Mason, George, Nicholas, W, Jeremiah, Byron, Elijah Combs. There was one other who made it. Yes, Henry was his name. Mason was the oldest…. Mason Combs, my uncle, had children as follows; Martin, lived on Carr's Fork, Preston lived in Breathitt on the Middle Fork, Cyry Combs [h]is son; Washington lived below mouth of Carr on North Fork; Talton Combs, at the mouth of Carr; Clinton still lives on mouth of Carr, very old; Bonaparte lived at Booneville [Owsley Co]… John S. Combs' brother, Andrew, adds: … Old Mason Combs married a terrible women. Martin Combs was his son, on Carr; also Preston on Middle Fork and Bony at Booneville…”
The 1898 Dickey Diary Interview of William M. Combs (s/o Matthew & Frankie BROWN Combs), includes the statement that he (William M.) had married “Jane Combs, daughter of Washington and grandaughter of Mason Combs, one of the original COMBES.”
The Dickey Diary Interview of John D. WHITE (date, location and his name not yet known) includes the statement: “…Mason Combs was the original Combs in the mountains. he setteled on a high hill below the mouth of Carr's Fork, on opposite side. Mace's Creek was named for him and is really Mason's Creek. His brother's Danger [Nicholas] Combs and Gen. Elijah Combs came later. He laid out a patent about the mouth of Mace's Creek making his beginning corner a “mill seat” upon which a mill was never built until two years ago by one of the HALLS…”
Although the Dickey Diary Interviews and the 1822 Perry record account for all of Mason's six sons and his youngest daughter, Wilmoth “Willie”, they do not reveal the names of his four other daughters. The following deed, however, documents all six sons and four of his five daughters (The Combes Genealogy… lists a fifth daughter, Tabitha with no source and no further information, who is not named below):
4/10/1848-4/12/1848 (Perry Co, KY DBB:381-2) Perry Co., Ky., commissioners deed by Robert S. BRASHEARS and Jeremiah C. Combs, per a Perry Co. Circuit Court Order decree. wherein the heirs of Mason Combs decd. sell to Washington Combs, for $190, a 50a tract by patent.. The heirs are listed as: Washington Combs, Preston Combs, Tarlton Combs, Hardin Combs and Nancy his wife (late Nancy Combs), William Combs Jr. and wife Wilmoth (late Wilmoth Combs), William Combs Sr. and wife Sally (late Sally Combs), John Combs and wife Rebecca (late Rebecca Combs), who are 21 years of age, Robert S. BRASHEARS guardian for Masingill Combs, Clinton Combs, and Bonapart Combs, the infant heirs of Mason Combs decd. (Combs Researcher Sue Elfving)
It appears that this record, although dated 1848, includes an earlier record (the list of heirs), which must have been dated after Tarlton Combs had come of age, but before his three younger brothers had come of age. Tarlton was born 1803-1804 per 1850-1870 Perry Co, KY census records, thus 18-19 years of age when his father died. Of his three younger brothers, Massingill Martin was b 1805-1809; Clinton abt 1810; and Napoleon Bonaparte abt 1811. Based on these birth years, the earliest that the record of the list of heirs could have been dated would have been about 1826, and the latest, abt 1830 (Note that Jane was still alive in Jun 1830 (Perry census), yet not listed above). Also note that if Napoleon's Dickey Diary interview is correct, if there was a fifth daughter, she was either omitted erroneously from the list of heirs or deceased by 1830. An 1835 court minute record includes a list of 11 males (see chronology below), each of whom received a $19.50 distribution from the estate of Mason Combs. This list included the six documented sons (Preston, Washington, Massengill, Clinton, Tarlton, and Bonapart), the four documented sons-in-law (Hardin, John C, William D, and William B Combs), and a fifth male named Jesse Stacy providing additional confirmation of a fifth daughter. This court record never listed any of the daughters by name but each of the 11 named males received an equal share.
pre-1765 (probably) Frederick Co, VA. Born: Mason, s/o John & Nancy HARDING Combs, Sr.
1782 Surry Co, NC. Mason “8” may have been one of the three tithables in his father's household (although, if so, he was not there in 1784, with his father leaving Surry shortly thereafter, but possibly coming back there to live for a short while following Mason, Sr.'s death. Mason himself was never recorded in Surry Co, NC so far as is known (keeping in mind, always, that he and his uncle, Mason Combs, Jr., are sometimes indistinguishable in records).
1788 Surry Co, NC. Mason may have been the same who was charged with desertion (military) in 1788 in Surry Co, NC along with a John Combs (Or, this Mason Combs may have also been his uncle, Mason Combs, Jr., and/or the charge may have been a false one if John and Mason were across the state line in Montgomery Co, VA - see next)
1788 Montgomery Co, VA. Mason Combs was probably security for marriage bond of his brother, Henry, to Rachael CLEMENTS (Again, this could have been his uncle, but more likely him).
1792-1793 Wythe Co, VA. Tax Lists. Mason was probably the Mose Combs on the 1792-1793 Wythe Co, VA tax lists (created from Montgomery in 1790-1)
1790-1793 (date to be added) Wythe Co., VA. Entry Book 1, p.44, Mason Combs enters 150 acres on Little Reed Island of New River, adjacent his own land and to extend up creek on the south side. (Extracted by Combs Researcher Sue Elfving from Mary B. Kegley's Early Adventures On The Western Waters, v. III, part. 1, 1995, p. 78)
29 Jan 1793 Wythe County, VA. Marriage License. Groom: Mace Combs, Bride Jane RICHESON, Minister Daniel LOCKETT.
1794-1795. Grayson Co, VA. Mason was probably the Mason Combs on the 1794 and 1795 Grayson Co, VA tax lists (Grayson from Wythe in 1794).
Mason may have also been next in both Russell Co, VA and Sullivan Co, TN, or he may have been in Kentucky (research in progress).
1807-1809 Clay Co, KY Tax Lists. Mason Combs.
1810 Clay Co, KY Tax List and Census, p. 153: Mason Combs 42001-22101
1 m b pre-1765 [Mason]
1 f b pre-1765 [Jane]
1 f 16-25 b 1785-1794 (adj. to 1793-1794) [Nancy?]
2 f b 1795-1800 [Sarah and Rebecca?]
2 m b 1795-1800 [Washington and Preston?]
2 f b 1801-1810 [Wilmouth out of order and (Tabitha?)?]
2 m b 1801-1810 [Tarlton and Massingill Martin?]
1811, 1813, 1814, 1817-1819 Clay Co, KY Tax Lists. Mason Combs.
1820 Clay Co, KY Tax List Mason Combs
1820 Clay Co, KY Census, p. 125, line 08: Mason Combs 221201 00001
1 m b bef 1774 [Mason, adj. to pre-1765]
1 f b bef 1774 [Jane, adj. to pre-1765]
1 m b 1795- 1802 [Washington?]
1 m 16-18 1802-1804 [Preston?]
2 m 10-15 b 1805-1810 [Tarlton and Massingill?]
2 m b 1811-1820 [Clinton and Napoleon?]
by Jun 1822 Perry Co, KY. Mason Combs died (Court Minutes, Deed and Dickey Diary Interviews)
10 June 1822 (Perry Co., Ky. Court Order Book A:2). Robert BRASHEARS appointed guardian to Talton COMBS, Clinton COMBS, Bonapart COMBS, and Massingil Martin COMBS of Mason COMBS dec'd. Robert HICKS his security. (Abstracted by Combs researcher Sue Elfving from original book.)
10 March 1823 (PC-KY COBA:21). Ordered that Stephen HOGG be and is appointed a commissioner to assist in laying off the dower of Jane COMBS her late husband dec'd in the land of Mason COMBS. (Abstracted by Combs researcher Sue Elfving from original book.)
11 Sep 1826 (PC-KY COBA:114). Road order: Taton [sic] COMBS, Robert BRASHEARS, Jefse STACY appointed to view the road from Jane COMBS… (Abstracted by Combs researcher Sue Elfving from original book.)
SE NOTE: 1835 court records regarding the estate of Mason COMBS deceased show Jesse STACY to be an heir [as a son-law].
9 Oct 1826 (PC-KY COBA: 116-117). Elijah COMBS Jane COMBS the administrators of the Estate of Mason COMBS dec'd…appointed by the court to make sale of personal estate…[followed by sale list and sold to all on credit]. Some of the purchasing entries were: Jefse STACY & Jefse COMBS, Biram COMBS & Jefse COMBS, Jeremiah COMBS & Biram COMBS. The widow's portion was $281. The heirs received $51.11 in the settlement. (Abstracted by Combs researcher Sue Elfving from original book.)
1830 Perry Co, KY Census, p. 341, line 12
Jane [RICHARDSON] Combs: 00011-000000001
1 f b 1761-1770 [Jane adj. to 1761-1764]
1 m b 1801-1810 [Clinton?]
1 m 1811-1815 [Napoleon Bonaparte?]
1835 (PC-KY Old Minute and Docket Book, p. 89, no cover).
Mason COMBS Admr. vs. Wm. D. COMBS satisfied by payment of $19.50
Mason COMBS Admr. vs. Wm. B. COMBS satisfied by payment of $19.50
Mason COMBS Admr. vs. Preston COMBS satisfied by payment of $19.50
Mason COMBS Admr. vs. Washington COMBS satisfied by payment of $19.50
1835 (PC-KY Old Minute and Docket Book,p. 111, no cover)
Mason COMBS Admr. vs. Massengill COMBS - Debt $19.50
Mason COMBS Admr. vs. Clinton COMBS - Debt $19.50
Mason COMBS Admr. vs. Tarlton COMBS - Debt $19.50
Mason COMBS Admr. vs. Wm. D. COMBS - Debt $19.50
Mason COMBS Admr. vs. Jefse STACY - Debt $19.50
Mason COMBS Admr. vs. Bonepart COMBS - Debt $19.50
Mason COMBS Admr. vs. John C. COMBS - Debt $19.50
Mason COMBS Admr. vs. Washington COMBS - Debt $19.50
Mason COMBS Admr. vs. Hardin COMBS - Debt $19.50
SE NOTE: The above list of suits by the administrator of the estate of Mason COMBS against the children and heirs of Mason COMBS deceased shows eleven (11) heirs which corresponds to the exact number of children (6 sons, 5 daughters) Mason was known to have had. The new information in this list is the identification of Jesse STACY as an heir indicating he was married to a daughter of Mason. This daughter was said to be named Tabitha by The Combes Genealogy… but no documentation has been found. At this time no record has been found to document the given name of Jesse Stacy's wife. Jesse STACY was a son of Benjamin STACY and Barbara COMBS, d/o of RW Soldier John COMBS. Mason's son Preston COMBS married Nancy STACY, d/o of Benjamin STACY and Barbara COMBS. The above list also clearly identifies the two William COMBS who were sons-in-law as William D. COMBS and William B. COMBS. Other records have been unclear and confusing about the initials. Mason's youngest daughter Wilmouth was married to a William COMBS Jr. and they were enumerated in the 1850 Montgomery Co., Ky. census. Mason's daughter Sarah was married to William COMBS Sr. who was sometimes styled with the initial "M" or "H." One William D. COMBS, age 60, and living by himself in the 1850 Perry Co. census (hh #13) in District 2 which indicates he was the one married to Sarah who must have been deceased by 1850. Since the son-in-law William COMBS Sr. was William D. COMBS, then the William COMBS Jr. who married Wilmoth was William B. COMBS.
27 Aug 1856 (PCKY DBD:438-9). Indenture dated 27 Aug. 1856 between Heirs of Mason Combs Deceased and Tarlton Combs...for $25 each in hand paid...all that tract of land it being the part that was laid off to Jane Combs, widow of Mason Combs, deceased by commissioner...100 acres on the North Fork of the river…signed
Hardin Combs (Seal) Martin x Combs (Seal)
Nancy x Combs (Seal) William x Combs (Seal)
Bony x Combs (Seal)
Rebecca x FRANCIS (Seal)
Henry FIELDS for Sally (Seal) Combs Heirs
Washington x Combs (Seal)
Preston x Combs (Seal)
Acknowledged by H. FIELDS 30 March 1861 Owsley County, Ky. certified.
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