In searching through the cemeteries visited in Bullitt County, Kentucky, I came across the gravestone for James Combs in Old Cedar Grove Church Cemetery.  The fact that he was born in Vermont was unusual, and thus started the search for records for the man, his ancestors and descendants.

James Combs was born April 5, 1799, in Vermont, not only noted on his gravestone, but in the 1850 Bullitt County Kentucky Census.  James was the son of William Combs, born April 10, 1758, in New Hampshire, and Thankful B. Fletcher, born July 18, 1766, also in New Hampshire.  My husband has the Fletcher family from this area in his lines – would be interesting to know if they cross paths!  I found a birth record for Thankful Fletcher, July 18, 1766, in Hollis, New Hampshire, giving her parents’ names, Oliver and Tabitha Fletcher. 

William Combs’ parents were John Combs, 1731-1818, and Margaret Aulds, 1729-?

James Combs married Rebecca Weller in Nelson County, Kentucky, November 20, 1823.  The bondsman was Daniel Weller, possibly Rebecca’s father.  In the 1840 census for Bullitt County we find James, 40-50, 2 sons 10-15, one daughter 5-10, and wife Rebecca, 20-30.  According to the 1850 census sons Oliver and Myron were 24 and 22 respectively.  There is no daughter listed in the census, but I believe it to be Julia M. Combs, born about 1830, who married George W. Magruder, before the 1850 census.

Rebecca Combs died June 16, 1845. 

James married Susan Welch about 1848.  There is a marriage with the date September 19, 1848, recorded in Hardin County for a James Combs and Susan A. Bennett – with the notation ‘both married before.’  Could this be our Susan Welch who first married Mr. Bennett?  My question was answered through the 1908 obituary of Susan Combs, which listed her first husband as George W. Bennett.  Together Susan and George had three children. 

These three Bennett children were listed in the household of James and Susan Combs in the 1850 Bullitt County Census – Mary E., 15; George W., 11; and John, 8.  James Combs two sons from his first wife, Rebecca, are also in this census – Oliver, 24; and Myron, 22, students.  There is also a one year old, Ann Mariah, daughter of James and Susan. Teacher Francis M. Lutes, 24, is also part of the household; as well as David Marchant, laborer, and Rachel Wells, 15.  The value of James Combs real estate was $4,500.    George Magruder, 22, and Julia Combs Magruder, 18, lived with his mother, Verlinda Magruder, a few houses down from James Combs.

In 1860 James Combs has real estate valued at $5,800 and $7,000 personal estate.  He and wife Susan were listed at 61 and 40, respectively, as well as sons Oliver, 34, and Myron, 32, from his first marriage.  Stepson James Bennett was 18.  Daughter Mariah was 11 – she is listed as Mariah Bennett, but I believe that to be a mistake of the census taker.  This meant she was born in 1849, after the marriage of James Combs to Susan Bennett.  James Fletcher Combs, son, is 8.

James Combs did not leave a will when he died four months later on January 22, 1861.  However, in Will Book F, pages 495-502, is an inventory of James’ estate, on motion of sons Oliver and Myron, administrators of James Combs, deceased.  On February 18, 1861, Charles Lee, James Y. Pope and Robert Simmons were appointed appraisers to appraise the slaves and personal estate of the said James Cook, deceased.  The appraisal was returned April 4, 1861.

James Combs owned ten slaves at the time of his death – Ben, Charles, George, Duncan, William, Cretia, Ann and infant child, Louisa and Edna.  The slaves were valued at $5,925.

Money on hand at the time of his death was $57 in bank notes, $7.50 in gold, $1.00 in silver.  School  money, it being the amount advanced to teacher last year by James Combs, and received since that time of W. A. Rouse by James Combs administrators, $40.00

James held several notes for money lent to different individuals, a total of 19, in the total amount of $105.50.

I must say this was the most beautifully written account I have ever seen – very neat, easy to read.  Three bedsteads, bed and bedding, chest, bureau, washstand, small table, pair of brass andirons, candlesticks and snuffers, mantel clock and two vases, settee, large mirror, map of the United States, window curtains and shades, books, an eight day brass clock, lounge pillow, sugar chest, dining table, gravy dish, silver tea spoons, knives, forks, tea board, wardrobe, washstand with bowl and pitcher, table cloth, chairs, sausage grinder, guns, stone jars, skillet, tea kettle, coffee boiler, water buckets, smoothing irons, barrels, beehives, drill, chisels, wheels, grindstone, scythe and cradle, ox yoke, wheel barrow, plows, hoes, pitchforks, barrel of salt, sides of bacon, hams, shoulders, wagons, spreaders.  His stock included hogs, sheep and lambs, sorrel mare and mule colt, bay mare, sorrel filly, pied cows, brindle cow, spotted heifer, pale red cow, roan heifer and calf, etc.

The total amount of inventory came to $982.10.  At the sale widow Susan Welch Combs chose items amounting to $162.95, items necessary to run a household.  Sons Oliver P. chose items amounting to $71.85; Myron S., $76.50.  Total amount purchased by others, $459.85. 

The division of slaves owned by James Combs is as follows:

To the widow, Susan Comb, Negro man Charles and Negro woman Edna.

To Oliver Combs, one Negro man Ben.  Said Oliver Combs to pay George W. Magruder and Wife $210.

To George Magruder and wife, one Negro woman Ann, and Louisa, a girl.

To James F. Combs or his guardian Susan Combs, Negro man George.  And the said James F. Combs is to pay George W. Magruder and wife $80.00.  And Myron Combs $40 and to Susan Combs, guardian for Mariah Combs, $90.  

To Myron Combs one Negro boy Duncan.

To Susan Combs, guardian for Mariah Combs, one Negro woman Lucretia and Negro boy William.

As for division of land, we find that information in Will Book G, pages 332-337.  Susan Combs, widow of James Combs, deceased, was given a certain tract of land on which James Combs, deceased, lived, land purchased of Samuel Simmon.  Plus, a lot of ground adjoining the above purchased from Dint’s heirs.  These two pieces were laid off as one plot.  One lot included the house, orchard, etc., the other being timbered land – 15 acres, 1 rood in the first plot, 10 acres, 2 roods and 2 poles in the timbered land.

Land divided between the heirs of said decedent, ran whole boundary to ascertain the correct number of acres. 

Lot #1 was allotted to Mariah Combs, infant, containing 34.5 acres.

Lot #2 was allotted to James F. Combs, infant, adjoining Maria Comb’s lots, 34.5 acres.

Lot #3 was allotted to Julia Magruder, wife of George W. Magruder, containing 18 acres and timbered land containing 11 acres.

Lot #4 was allotted to Oliver Combs, containing 42 acres.

Lot #5 was allotted to Myron Combs, containing 33 acres, 2 roods and 39 poles.

Myron S. Combs died April 23, 1894, and was buried in Old Cedar Grove Cemetery in Bullitt County, Kentucky.

Oliver P. Combs died in 1899 and was buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Bullitt County, Kentucky.

Susan Welch Bennett Combs lived an additional 47 years after the death of husband James Combs in 1861.  She outlived all the children except the two youngest, Mariah, who went by the name of Ann and married Wm. F. Henderson, and James Fletcher, and her stepdaughter Julia Combs Magruder.

The Bullitt News, Shepherdsville, Bullitt County, Kentucky

February 21, 1908

In Memory of Sister Susan A. Combs

It is with a depth of sadness almost inexpressible that we attempt to write a few lines in memory of sister Susan Combs, known as ‘Grannie,’, who was planted on this earth November 26, 1816, in Hardin County, near Hodgensville, Kentucky., and was transplanted to bloom in Heaven February 10k 1908, from the  home of her son at Shepherdsville, Kentucky.

She was married at the age of seventeen years to Mr. George W. Bennett.  Three children were the fruits of that union, all of whom have passed away.

Her second marriage was to Mr. Jame Combs, September 19, 1848.  Three children were the fruits of this marriage, two of whom survive, Mr. James Fletcher Combs and Mrs. Anna M. Henderson, of Bullitt County.

Sister Combs was converted and joined the M. E. church, South, at the age of fifteen years, having been a Methodist seventy-six years; probably the oldest Methodist in the Louisville Conference.

The Pioneer News, Shepherdsville, Bullitt County, Kentucky

January 14, 1916

Death of Mrs. Julia Magruder

Mrs. Julia M. Magruder, widow of George W. Magruder, died at the residence of her son, Samuel B. Magruder, at Lebanon Junction of pneumonia in her 86^th year.  She leaves three sons, David and Samuel Magruder, of Lebanon Junction, and George H. Magruder, of Uba City, California, a brother, J. F. Combs, of Shepherdsville, and a sister, Mrs. Annie Henderson, of Bardstown Junction, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends to mourn her loss.  Her funeral will be conducted from the residence of her son, S. B. Magruder and interment at Lebanon Junction Cemetery.

The Pioneer News, Shepherdsville, Bullitt County, Kentucky

July 4, 1930

Mrs. Annie Henderson

Mrs. Annie Henderson, aged 81 years, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Fletcher Smith, Saturday, Jun 28, about 10:30 a.m.

Mrs. Henderson was the wife of the late Frank Henderson and one of the best known and well liked ladies in the county.

She leaves two sons, Eugene Henderson of Bardstown Junction and Ralph Henderson of this place, and one daughter, Mrs. Fletcher Smith.

Funeral services were held  Monday morning at M. E. Church at 10 a.m. by Rev. Cox, after which her remains were laid to rest in Hebron Cemetery.

The Courier Journal, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky

October 25, 1938

Passed from this life Sunday, October 23, 1938, at 5:30 a.m.,  at his residence, Shepherdsville, Kentucky, James Fletcher Combs, in his 86^th year, beloved husband of Emma Combs (nee Troutman), father of Mrs. Howard Roby.  Funeral Tuesday, October 25, at 2 p.m. from the Shepherdsville Methodist Church.  Burial in Hebron Cemetery.