• General Notes

  [pitts.FTW]
  
  [Br²derbund WFT Vol. 5, Ed. 1, Tree #0725, Date of Import: Apr 16, 2002]
  
  Source: John Combest and his descendants.
  The migration of large numbers of settlers from the northern colonies to
  the Carolinas started around the year 1754 and continued in an increasing
  stream until the Revolution. About this time John and Josiah Combest,
  thought to be brothers and other Scotch-Irish Presbyterians were making
  settlements on the water of the Fishing and Rocky Creeks in Craven
  District, later Chester County, South Carolina. Land located on Rocky
  Creek was granted by Governor William Bull,Jr. to John Combest in 1764
  and to Josiah Combest in 1766. In 1768 Josiah sold his land and it is not
  known at this time where he relocated. Perhaps future research will show
  other branches of the Combest family descended from him.
  Documents show that John Combest was a prominent man and took part in the
  civil affairs of Camden District. John Combest and Ann (maiden name
  unknown) probably married in the late 1760's. Their children were
  Margaret, who married James Nixon; Samuel, who married Sarah Dick; John,
  who married Jane Kennedy; Mary, sometimes called "Polly"; Sarah, who
  married Peter Halsell; and William, who married Martha Milling.
  The Revolutionary War beginning in 1776 had moved into the Fishing and
  Rocky Creek area by 1780. John Combest lived in this area in which a
  great deal of fighting took place and it is natural to suppose that he
  took part. However, war records have only been found for Josiah and
  Joseph Combest, who served in the 6th Regiment of South Carolina. During
  this time many were killed by the Tories, murdered by the Indians, or
  died of small-pox. We do not have a record of how or why John Combest
  died, but based on known facts we can assume it was sometime between 1780
  and 1785.
  On the 28th of December 1785 a deed of conveyance from John Combest and
  wife Ann to Peter Culp made in 1776 was brought before the open court of
  Chester County. Nicholas Bishop and John Carter made proof of the deed by
  their oath as witnesses and on the 16th of August 1786, it was proved and
  ordered to be recorded. On the same date John Service applied for letters
  of administration of the Estate of John Combest. The citation was read
  nine days later at the Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church by the Reverand
  John Simpson. On the 12th day of September of the same year, John Service
  was bonded as administrator of John's estate, along with John Winn. On
  the 17th of September 1786 estate appraisers Michael Dickson, James
  Bishop, and Robert Morrison valued all the goods (land not included) of
  John Combest to amount to 50 pounds, 8 shillings, and 4 pence.
  The minutes of Chester County Court give reference that Ann Combest had
  married George W. Kennedy sometime in the late 1780's or early 1790's. In
  the month of June of 1793, Mary Combest was in the courts seeking
  judgement against Thomas Kennedy. Two years later, on the 29th of June
  1795, Elizabeth O'Neal was seeking judgement against George Kennedy and
  his wife Ann, Samuel Combest and Mary Combest. By consent of the parties
  and assent of the court all these cases were referred until the next
  court. Seven months later, on the 26th of January 1796, the suit was
  abated by the death of George Kennedy. The suit of O'Neal versus Samuel
  Combest came before a jury oin the same date and the verdict returned in
  favor of the defendant.
  Although we do not know the exact date of the death of George Kennedy, we
  know it was sometime within the seven months from June of 1795 and
  January of 1796. He was a very prosperous man and prominent in the
  affairs of Chester County. Based on the settlement of the estate of Ann
  Kennedy, we can assume they were the parents of three children; George,
  Zackariah, and Ann Kennedy.
  Samuel Combest, by the law of primogeniture, became the heir of his
  father's estate. In December of 1796 he deeded 100 acres to his brother,
  William, and on the 9th day of December of 1797 he deeded 100 acres to
  his brother John. Each of these deeds were signed by Samuel Combest and
  his mother, Ann Kennedy, and witnessed by John Service. A slave was
  purchased by Samuel Combest in November of 1799. He married Sarah Dick
  the next month. Sarah Combest and Peter Halsey were married in the same
  year. John Combest bought a lot in Chester, moved into the village, and
  established his blacksmith shop nearby during this same period of time.
  The exact date of the death of Ann Kennedy is unknown but it was probably
  in January or the early days of February of 1801. Her son, John Combest,
  was granted letterso of administration of her estate on the 21st of
  February and on the 6th of March of the same year was made the
  administrator. A memorandum of all her articles was made and praised and
  her estate appraised as 438 pounds, 90 shillings and 8 pence.
  The heirs named in her estate were Samuel Combest, Margaret and James
  Nixon, Sarah and Peter Holsey, Polly Combest, William Combest, John
  Combest, George Kennedy, Zackariah Kennedy, and Ann Kennedy, each
  receiving 20 pounds of silver. The estate settlement was completed and
  signed on the 5th day of June 1812 by John Combest, the Administrator.
  We can almost say with certainty that Ann and John Combest, and later the
  Kennedys attended the Catholic Presbyterian Church and later Old Purity
  Church.
  The old cemeteries at these churches must be the burying place for many
  of the early settlers, including the Combests and Kennedys, however most
  signs of the headstones and graves are gone. Much time and effort had
  been spent trying to locate their graves but they have not been found.

Details of John's family with Ann \\