This month’s first topic concerns my Comer family, another one of the early families of Grayson County, Virginia, whose origins are also muddled with incorrect conclusions. Only two known men of the name made their way into southwest Virginia in the last quarter of the 18th Century, yet the surname wove into numerous families of the county, and a few branches of the name still exist today. The legacy of the Comer name survives in the name of the dormant community “Comer’s Rock,” of northern Grayson County. Once a thriving post office town with several stores, the community today is merely a junction of three roads with remnants of old structures, a small hub of older homes, and a church. The community did not exist by name in early Virginia gazetteers, but the Post Office was created in 1877 (Ray O. Hummel, A List of Places Included in 19th Century Virginia Directories, p 41) and appears in Chataigne’s Gazetteer and Classified Business Directory for Virginia in 1884 and 1885. The story regarding the name is that a man of the name took refuge in the nearby mountains during the Revolutionary War, and the subsequent area, or “rock,” became associated with his name. This factoid, however, holds little credence other than proving a story behind the community’s name. There is no proof a Comer was in this region during the Revolutionary War.
The first man of the name Comer who made his way into Grayson County was John Comer. His early origins have erroneously linked him with the German name “Gaumer,” which was anglicized as Comer (or Comber). The surname was established in the upper Shenandoah Valley and Rappahannock River valley in the mid-18th Century, but only by name does John Comer link with them. There were, however, multiple other Comer families in Virginia, many of them of English extraction. The original spelling of their name was likely “Comber,” as the name does appear as such in some original parish and vestry records. However, the English Comer family is far less studied because they inhabited areas of colonial Virginia for which there is little surviving documentary evidence. John Comer came from Caroline County, Virginia, where most deeds and almost all wills and loose papers before 1853 were mutilated, stolen, or burned in May 1864, during the Union Army occupation in the Civil War (refer to “Lost Records Localities” at http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/guides/rn30_lostrecords.pdf for more information). This branch of Comers also resided in Prince George, which also suffered heavily from record mutilation in 1864. Therefore, we only know what we can extrapolate from surviving records. Having focused a great deal on John Comer’s early life in recent months, I was able to draw together some interesting information about his family.
A great deal of what we know about John Comer comes from his application and declarations for a pension for his Revolutionary War service. John Comer appeared on the Pensioners Roll of 1835 as having enrolled for a pension as of the Act of 4 March 1831 and residing in Grayson County, Virginia, aged 81 years (NARA M804, Revolutionary War Pension & Bounty Land Warrants, Pension No. S17899). He received the rate of $20 per annum, with the certificate of pension issued 4 April 1834. His original declaration was written on 22 October 1832 in Grayson County court, and read as follows (2 pages):
“On the 22nd day of October 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the County Court of Grayson now sitting, John Comer a resident of Grayson County in the State of Virginia aged 79 years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832, That he entereed the service of the United States under a Captain Lewis Jones of Amelia County in the State of Virginia as a militiaman, who were called minutemen and marched upon the Command of the aforesaid Capt Lewis Jones to Norfolk in Virginia, and arrived there on New Years day in the winning the same night the town was set on fire by the British but this declarant does not now recollect the year, James Foster and Robert Foster were his first & second Lieutenants, After the British had fired Norfolk the declarant was marched about 11 miles from that place to a point at or near Kemps Landing, then so called, where he (—-??) stated the month of May following having been in the Service under the aforesaid Capt Jones, about 6 months. This declarant then went into the marine service under a Capt Hanway (or Hanbey?) or Humby, and was sent to a place on James River called Sandy Point, where he remained (—)ting for a gally, Some short time, and do soon as it arrived he went on board and sailed to aid James Town the galley was Commanded by Capt John Calouet(?), this declarant was in the marine service about 3 months as well as he now remembers, under the said Hamway & Colonel. He was afterwards in the same service under Capt Pollard and Lieutenant Stratton in a Gally, called the Hero, Commanded by a Capt Moster(?), this declarant was a midshaipman on board of this galley for about 6 months, being served in it 12 months altogether. He left the aforesaid galley in September 1777, and in the year following he went as a Seaman on board a new Vessel built at Gosport & Commanded by a Capt Wren, and Lieutenant Stratton’s but just before the sailed he was taken Sick and did not accompany the vessel.
After this he was 3 months in the service of a Merchant mill making flour for the Army, this mill was in Amelia County, Virginia & belonged to two gentlemen by names of Coke, After he left the aforesaid mill he again entered the military Service under a Capt Fuers and served 4 months the whole Company were discharged shortly after the Surrender of Cornwallis – this declarant having served 3 years and 4 months in the whole, as a soldier of the war of the Revolution,
This declarant was born in Caroline County, Virginia in July 1753, He has now no record of his age, He resided in Amelia County, Virginia when he entered the Service, and continued to reside in that County, until he removed to Grayson County, Virginia, about 40 years ago, where he now lives. He was drafted as a militia man, except when he was in the marine Service & then he was a volunteer. He was acquainted with some of the regular officers, but has now forgotten their names, He never received a written discharge, and knows of no Surviving witness who can testify to his service in the war of the Revolution, but he is Known to Stephen Hail & James Brewer in his present neighborhood who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his service in the war of the revolution. He hereby Relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
John Comer.
We Stephen Hail, a Clergyman, residing in the County of Grayson and James Brewer – residing in the same County, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Comer who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 79 years of age, that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, that we concur in that opinion,
Stephen Hail Jr
Sworn, and subscribed, the day & year aforesaid James Brewer.”
He made a second declaration on 24 June 1833, in response to clarify his services in the war (2 pages):
“On the 24th day of June 1833 Personally appeared in Open Court, before the Justices of the Court of Grayson County, now sitting, John Comer, an applicant for a pension under the Act of Congress Passed June 7th 1832, and being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his Oath, make the following amendment to his declaration made in this Court on the 22nd day of October 1832, in order to obtain the benefit of the said Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States as a drafted militiamen under the command of Capt Lewis Jones as is stated in his Original declaration, in the year 1775, month of November, and arrived at Norfolk in Virginia on the evening of the 1st day of Jany 1776, and the same evening that Norfolk was burned. This declarant was then marched to Kemps Landing and remained in actual service under the command of Capt Jones & Lieutenants James & Robert Foster until the month of may in the year 1776, having served a tour of 6 months. The declarant then entered the marine service (^as a volunteer) under the Command of Capt Hamby [blotted out] and was put on board a Gally Commanded by Capt John Colvert and was in actual service a tour of 3 months, the declarant again volunteered & went into the Marine service under Capt Pollard & Lieutenant Stratton and was put on board a Galley called the “Hero” commanded by a Capt. Wooten, and was in actual service as a Marine 3 months, and as a midshipman 9 months. In the month of May 1779, the declarant volunteered as a Seaman or Sailor on board of a new vessel built at Gosport, Va, Commanded by Capt Wren & was in actual Service 2 months before he was taken sick. The declarant again entered the service as a drafted militiamen under a Capt Fulks, as well as he remembers, and served a tour of 3 months in the year 1781, the same year Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, Va, the name of the Col who commanded the regiment is which this declarant was in his first tour of 6 months was Eppes, as well as he remembers — He does not remember the name of the Col who commanded in his last tour of 3 months.
This declarant during the time he served in the Galley was mostly stationed at Hampton Roads, tho’ sometimes he was in Hampton Creek & Chesapeake bay ——————–
Sworn to & described the day & year aforesaid
John Comer.”
The response from the Pension Office of the War Department, signed J. L. Edwards, was written on 1 August 1833, and delivered to the Grayson County Court House (attention Samuel McCamant), as follows:
“Sir,
The amended declarations of Stephen Clark, Benjamin Phipps, William Vaughn and Isaiah Austin have been examined and admitted. That of John Comer is also returned, that he may be able to prove his naval service. He must have either served on board a privateer or some public vessel belonging to the State; if the former he cannot be entitled to a Compensation; if the latter he will be required to prove it. The 3 months service at the Mill is inadmissible. As the case now stands he can have a certificate for $20 per ann. should he prefer it to an attempt to produce the required proof…”
McCamant made an attempt to help prove Comer’s naval service, but his response to J. L. Edwards dated 18 January 1834 found no results, as written:
“I herewith enclose you the Papers relating to the application of John Comer for a Pension. I was in Richmond some short time sinse [sic] and examined the office there with a view to obtain some documentary evidence of Mr Comer’s naval Services but failed. I found a register of those vessels, on board of which he says he served, and also the names of the officers who commanded them, all in strict accordance with the Statement made in his declaration; and as Mr Comer is a man of unquestioned veracity, I have not the least doubt of the truth of his statements, though his Services as a Marine cannot now be proven.
You will please to Send me a certificate in his name for 20$ pr ann. as expressed in your letter of the 1st August last if nothing more can be allowed him.
Very Respectfully,
Your obd’t Servt.
Saml McCamant.”
There are few surviving records of the Comer family in Caroline County, Virginia, but we can surmise that this John Comer was probably the son of another John Comer and his wife Elizabeth. The elder John Comer was in Caroline County as early as April 1745 (note that the county’s court order books are among the few resources we have today to declare such arguments), when Comer was appointed overseer of the “Pole Catt Road in the room of John Cheadle…” (abstracted by John F. Dorman, “Caroline Co, VA, Order Book 1740-1746,” Part Three, 1973, p 12, from Order Book 1740-46, p 458, 12 April 1745). On 13 October 1749, he was appointed constable “in the precinct in which Wm Dyer is at present constable” (abstracted by John F. Dorman, “Caroline Co, VA, Order Book 1746-1754,” Part 2, 1968, p 49, from Order Book 1748-50, p 176, 13 October 1749). This John Comer died by 1762, when his estate was declared to be administrated by court order. The same court order, however, acknowledged that “Elizabeth Comer, widow and relict of John Comer, declares she would not take or accept any legacy or legacies to her bequeathed by the will of her deceased husband John Comer” (abstracted by John F. Dorman, “Caroline Co, VA, Order Book 1759-1763,” Part 2, 1983, p 55, from Order Book 1760-62, p 273, 11 March 1762). Only one child, a son Charles, can positively be identified as an heir of this couple; on 10 June 1762, the Caroline Court “ordered the Churchwardens of St. Margaret’s Parish bind Charles Comer, orphan of John Comer” (abstracted by John F. Dorman, “Caroline Co, VA, Order Book 1759-1763,” Part 2, 1983, p 78, from Order Book 1760-62, p 312, 10 Jun 1762).
In February 1764, the court ordered that “William Tyler, Gent, Christopher Tompkins, Roger Quarles, and John Minor, or any two settle the executorship of Carr McGee of John Coman’s [sic] estate and lay of the widow her dower” (abstracted by John F. Dorman, “Caroline Co, VA, Order Book 1764-1765,” Part 1, 1989, p 2, from Order Book 1764-1765, p 53, February 1764). His estate was settled and returned to court on 8 March 1764 (Dorman, ibid, p 5, from Order Book 1764-1765, p 57a, 8 March 1764).
However, a chancery suit, which will be abstracted later, proves that Charles Comer was this John Comer’s brother, and hence links John to his parents John and Elizabeth.
The pension of John Comer states he was in Amelia County by at least 1776, though there is no other proof of his being there before 1779. On 22 September 1779, Comer purchased 50 acres of land in Amelia County from John May (both men of Amelia County), for the sum of 200 pounds. This land was “part of land conveyed by William May to his son, William May, by will, and conveyed to said John May by his brother, William,” with the land being adjacent to the land lines of James Gunn, Repps Jones, and John Leith (wit- Stephen Cocke, John Cocke, Sarah Jones; no recording date; from Lib of VA, Reel 6, Amelia Co Deeds, Book 15, p 208).
The few deeds in Amelia County that show Comers in the area, though, give a strong relationship between a John Comer and a Thomas Comer, thus signifying the two were probably brothers. John witnessed the deed of Thomas Comer, who sold 100 acres of land in Amelia County to Thomas Cocke of Lunenburg County on 17 May 1782, for the sum of 5050 pounds; this land was located on the Little Nottoway River, having been conveyed to Thomas Comer by Stephen Cocke, and was adjacent to the Little Nottoway bridge, and bordered the river down to the line of William Jordan (wit – John Comer, Stephen Cocke, John Cocke, recorded 27 Jun 1782; from Lib of VA, Reel 7, Amelia Co Deeds, Book 16, p 92). Thomas is identified as a neighbor in one of John’s deeds. John Comer also appears in the 1783 Personal Property tax list for Amelia County, paying 3 tithes for over the age of 16 years, and 2 tithes for those under the age of 16 years. He also owned 4 horses and 6 cattle (Amelia Personal property tax, 1782-1813, reel 15, Lib of VA; Amelia Land tax, 1782-1818, reel 14, p 5).
Both men also appear in chancery suits in Amelia County. In 1784, John Comer was a plantiff in the suit and case against a neighbor Edward Anderson, regarding a slave that Comer had purchased from Anderson. The lawsuit, totaling almost 40 pages of documentation, was initially recorded as such (4 pages):
“To the worshipful Court of Amelia County
sitting in Chancery —
Humbly complaining sheweth your orator John Comer, that on or about the [blank] Day of [blank] in the year one thousand seven hundred and [blank] a certain Edward Anderson (who your orator prays may be made a party respondent to this his Bill) offered for sale a certain female slave named Fanney and a negroe Girl named Grace which your orator being enclined to purchase, the said Anderson did —- agree for the consideration of fifteen thousand pounds of Tobacco to sell the same to your orator, at the same time assuring your Orator by way of producement(?) to him to purchase them at so exorbitant a price that they were healthy sound negross, and your orator confiding in the assurances of the said Anderson did actually purchase the said Slaves for the quantity of Tobacco above mentioned & gave the said Edward Anderson his Bond bearing date the same Day & year first above mentioned for Eight Thousand pounds of Tobacco, as also another Bond of the same Date for the further Quantity of Seven Thousand pounds of Tobacco, to both which Bonds a certain John Anderson became Security for your Orator to the said Edward Anderson — your Orator further shews that the said Female Slave called Fanney at the Time of the purchase above mentioned made by your Orator appeared to be pregantn & a short time after being taken sick a midwife was sent for to her assistance who soon discovered that those symptoms which your orator had concieved indicated a pregnancy were in fast consequences of some invertrate(?) disease as a Dropsy or Lympony(?), under which she laboured at the time of your orators Bargain with the said Edward Anderson for the purchase of her — your orator further shews that the Girl by him purchased at the same time of the said Edward Anderson had had one of her legs broken, which was not altogether well, upon discovering of which circumstances your Orator applied to the said Edward Anderson in a friendly manner to deliver him his Bond to be cancelled, offering at the sametime to restore to him the Negroes by him purchased under such circumstances of Deception, and well hoped that the said Edward Anderson would have complied with this his reasonable proposition request.
But now 10 it is, may it it please your Worships the said Edward Anderson combining &c how to defers and defraud your Orator in his particular hath commenced his Action at Law against your Orator on his Bond by him given for the consideration herein before mentioned, and hath recovered a Judgement against him in this worshipful Court for the Penalty thereof, and pretends & gives out in speeches that your Orator hath traduced(?) his characted in alledging that he was delivered in his purchase, for that the said Negroes when sold by him were healthy, sound & of good constitutions — as other times the said Edward Anderson pretends that he did not assure your orator at the time of selling the said Slaves to your Orator that they were healthy & sound negroes, whereas your Orator expressly charges, & well hopes to prove the contrary to be true — At other times the said Edward Anderson pretends that the Bonds on which he hath brought suit & recovered a Judgement at Law against your Orator were not given in consideration of the purchase of the said Slaves, but for some other Consideration, whereas your Orator expressly charges that the Bonds whereon he hath brought suit & obtained a Judgement against your Orator were given by your orator in consideration of the above mentioned purchases, & for no other cause or consideration whatsoever. All which actings(?) & pretences of the said Edward Anderson are contrary to Equity & good conscience & tend to the manifest wrong & injury of your Orator — In tender consideration whereof, and for as much as your Orator is otherwise without remedy in the Premises; To the End therefore that the said Edward Anderson on his corporal(?) Oath may full time & perfect answer to all & singular the charges in your Orator’s Bill contained, but more especially that he may set forth & declare whether he did not sell such Slaves as herein before mentioned to your Orator, whether at the time of said Bargain he did not assure your orator that the said Slaves were healthy & of sound Constitutions — had not the Slaves Fanny the appearance of being pregnant — doth he not known or hath he not heard that the said Slave was not then pregnant, but that she was at that time actually labouring under some disease which occasioned such symptoms as were by your Orator mistaken for marks of pregancy — Did he not know, or suspect that the said Slave was not with Child not with tendings(?) her appearance. Did not your Orator give him his Bonds for the Quantity of Tobacco herein before set forth & hath he not commenced an Action & obtained a Judgement against your Orator for the Penaltis [sic] thereof. Were not the said Bonds given by your Orator for the Consideration of the purchase of the said Slaves, or for what other reason or consideration — Had not the Leg of the Girl Grace been broken before the sale & did not the said Edward Anderson know thereof. Did he acquaint your Orator therewith — And that the said Edward Anderson maybe forever enjoyned from proceedings to take Execution on the Judgement by him obtained against your Orator. And your orator receive such other relief in the premises as may be agreeable to Equity & good conscience may it please your Worships to grant a writ of Infirmation (Injuration?) &c and also a Writ of Subpona [sic] &c.
P G Tucker & Complt.”
Edward Anderson’s response to the Bill of Injuration was written as follows (1 page):
“The Answer of Edward Anderson to a Bill of Injuration obtained against him in the County Court of Amelia by John Comer
The Deft for consideration to the same Bill or so much thereof as he conceives material(?) for him to answer sa—(?) there he was inform’d by his Borther who liv’d in Charlotte County that a Neighbour of his was inclin’d to purchase such Negro as this Def hath for sale in order to pay this De—-(ink blot) there(——) of from Comer on the 7th of Nov 1781 and carry’d with him the negros in the Bill mention’d in order to sell them so the man in Charlotte and quarter’d at a certain John Anderson of this County and re—-tion(?) of his sd(?) Neighbours of the Comp’t John Comers and next Day left the sd Andersons on his Journey to Charlotte after Travelling a few Miles he was overtaken by a certain Charles Comers a Brother of the Compt & requested by him to return to Andersons because his brother the compt was in want of such slaves on the Deft had to sell after being greatly persuaded this Deft returnd and was met by the Compt who agree’d to give the Deft for the s’d Slaves Eight Thousand pounds w of Inspected Tob’o the 25th day of December next ensuring and Seven Thousand pounds w. of Tobaco in December 1782 and gain the Deft his Bond for the same now of record in this Court. The Deft denies there(?) the Negro Slaves were infirm when defendant To the s’d P’f he believes they were sound healthy slaves He therefore prays that the s’d Injuration he —-‘d(?) & True in may have the (—-?) of the (——-?) obtain’d in this Court forth Tob’o afores’d for them that —(?) he prays to be sd —?
Edw’d Anderson made Oath to the (—)th of the above before me
Mack. Goode.”
Within the documents of the chancery suit are copies of the bonds John Comer secured to Anderson. The original is fading, but some of the context is still able to be read:
“We John Comer and John Anderson of Amelia County in the Parish of Notaway do promis to Pay or Cause to be paud unto Edw’d Anderson at Chesterfield County his heirs Executors & Administrators and Assigns the Just sum of Eight thousand Pounds of marchianoble(?) and inspected tobacco on or before the twenty first day of December — to which Payment well and truly to be made We bind our selves and heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns in the Penal sum of Sixteen thousand Pounds of Like tobaco witness our hands this eighth day of December one thousand seven hundred and eighty one
Charles Comer John Comer (Seal)
Hannah Anderson John Anderson (Seal)
Priscilla Anderson.”
The second bond from John Comer to Anderson was made with John Anderson also serving as security. The witnesses testified as follows:
“By Consent of the Parties,
William Ware a Witness in this Cause of full age being first sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God Deposeth & Saith that the negroe Woman named Fanny sold by the sd Edwd Anderson to the said Jno Comer leved near this Deponent a bout twenty months preceding the sd Sale during which time she appeared to be wealthy and ——- with Child and worked with this deponent many Days & further this Deponent saith not this Deposition sworn
to before us this 25th March 1784 Wm Ware
Sir Cocke,
S— Sh—-in(?)
By Consort of the Parties,
Francess Oliver of full age a Witness in this cause being first sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God deposeth & sayeth that she was acquainted with the negroe womans & Child that Edward Anderson the present deft sold to Jno Comer the sd woman about six years & the CHild from near the time it was born—-until the sd Anderson sold it, this deponant does not know during the sd term that the sd Negro Woman was Sickly or unhealthy nor did the sd Negroe Woman appear to be with Child the day he sett out to sell her which he accordingly did this Deponent further saith that she was present at the time the sd Childs leg was Hurt it did not appear to be broke as the child got up and walked; the following night the sd child had one of its legs burned so that it blistered this deponent saith that the sd Child appeared to be a well Child at the time the sd Edwd Anderson carryed it a way for Sale when he sold it & further this deponent saith not
This deposition sworn to } Frances Oliver
before us this 25th March 1784 }
Mr (or Sir) Cocke
S—– Shir—–(?)
By consent of the parties,
Thomas Ware being of full age, being Sworn upon the holy Evangelist of Almight God, deposith & sayeth that the negro Woman sold by the said Edwd Anderson to the said Jno Comer, he the sd deponent was acquainted with & frequently laboured with about eighteen months, last proceeding the sale of the sd Slave by the said Anderson, to the said Comer & during that time appeared to be sound & healthy, & further this deponant sayeth not —
Thomas Ware
Sworn to before us }
this 25th March 1784 }
Sir Cocke
So—She—win(?)
This day Jordan Anderson of Chesterfield County, of Lawful age, came before me a Magistrate for the said County, & deposeth & saith that, about seven years ago, he ave his son Ned a Negro – Winch Fanny, after being, Bosses & of free several years duringt the time she appeared to healthy * sound his son Edward owned her four or five years, during the time she was frequently at his, the deponants House, and he at his Sons, that he never heard or knew that she was more unhealthy than Braiding(?) won(?) she generally are; That the Childs Thigh — appeard to be Broke, but had got well, and that it did not appear to be injured by it; and that before his son parted with the Wench & Child he heard the Childs leg was broke * also heard it was got well and further saith not
Acknowledged before me Jordan Anderson (Seal)
Francis Goode.
By Consent of the Parties and at their request
John Anderson a Witness in this Cause being first sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almight God Deposeth & Saith that he was present at the time of Jno Comers giving his Bond for ——– Edwd Andersons for the purchase of two negroes a Woman named Fanny & her Child Mr Comer asked him if he sold them negroes for sound Healthy negroes he replyed they were as far as he knew & agreed to support the right afterwards he asked him if ever the man in Charlott he was maintaining do —ell(?) ———— the sd Negroes to had ever seen them he said no this deponent said to him he had got rid of the trouble of carrying them back if the man did not buy them he said he was determined never to carry them back sell (or sold?) or not sold & said that she made disturbance in the Family. This deponent says it was generally thought she was with Child & was requested & did bring Mrs Eliza Morgan the midwife to the sd negroe & this deponent further saith not
This deposition taken at
Mrs Drinkwaters 21st John Anderson
April 1784
Sle Cocke.
By Consent & at The Request of the Parties
Hannah Anderson of full age being first sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almight God deposith & saith that Edwd Anderson went from her fathers Jno Anderson with a negroe Woman & Child that he proposed to sell & Chas(?) Comer leaving (up?) is went after him & Neg came back & then went for his Bro’r Jno Comer to purchase the negroes Mr Comer being present with Edward Anderson & the Negroes for some time before Jno Comer came during which time Mr Comer asked Edwd Anderson what kind of a negroe woman she was that he had for Sale he said she was not fitt for the House but that she was as good in the field as any common Fellow Mr Comer at the time they were contracting asked Edwd Anderson if he sold them negroes a woman named Fanny & her Child for sound well Negroes he answered they were as far as he Knew & said he would maintain the right & said that the woman Fanny was a gant gutes(??) thing when she was not with Child but He Did not know wheather she was with Child or not This deponet from the appeance of the sd Woman (——–blotted) to be a bo—(?) half gone with Child this deponant asked Edward Anderson the reason he sold so likely a Breeding wench He said she made a disturbance amongst the Family & said he neaver would carry them home again. The reason this deponant thought she was so likely she appeared Large & with Child the said Negroe wench ——- appears new as if she was with Child but she thinks she is not to appearance quite as large as she was then this deponent saith that the sd negroe Woman has been of little or no le—-(?) since she was sold but is raither a Change The Child at the time it was sold walked from No D—-(?) to the office in the House but seems to have an impediment in its walk owing to its leg that appears to have been broken but at present appears Healthy & likely & further this deponent saith not
This deposition was taken at
Mrs Drinkwaters before me 21 April 1784 Hannah Anderson
Sle. Cocke
By Consent of the Parties
Eliza Morgan of full age a Witness in this cause being first Sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God deposeth & saith that she was sent for to John Comers the present Plaintiff as a Midwife to a negro Woman named Fanny that this deponent understands John Comer some time before bought of Edwd Anderson & Mrs Lucy Jones was there present at the time that this deponent was with the negroe woman & that was the only time this deponent was there on the Occasion as the Negroe woman upon examining her was not with Child but appeared to this deponent to be the effect of some bad Cold — which in its tendancy she believes must be of dangerous consequences as it appears then to have been a considerable time her case being very much swelled which she remains to be at present & this deponent further saith that she does believe that the sd Negroe woman will ever be able to do half as much work as if she was well
This deponent saith that it is plain to Observe that one of the leg bones of the child that is said to beelong to the sd Negro Woman has been broken and believes the child Could not have walked at the time it was broke & that the sd Child could scarcely walk when she saw it & further this deponent saith not
This deposition was taken before me
this 21st day of April 1784 at Mr Drinkwaters Eliza (her X mark) Morgan
by request & consent of the parties
Ste Cocke.
By Consent of the Parties Lucy Jones a Witness on this cause of full age being first sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God Deposeth & Saith that she lived at John Comers at the time he bought two negroes of Edward Anderson & when the Negroes were brought home Mr Comers Wife to the Pltff asked her how long she thought it would be from the looks of the negroe woman befroe she had a little one she Answered her about two months, this deponent observed that the negroe woman spit blood & frequently complained of pains in her breast & arms & Mr Comer frequently directed the sd Negroe not to carry but little water she ever she sent her for it and on All occasions was very tender of her as she supposed her with Child & since has been healed by her Master & Witnesses. This deponent saith that after it was found out by Mrs Eliza Morgan who was sent for some time in February after John Comer bought the sd Negroes as a Midwife for the sd Negroe Woman Fanny Who was believed to be in Labour that this deponent was reading in a Midwife Book that described the case of the sd Negro woman & observed the consequence would be that it would break her constitution if not Presently releaved the directions for the relief Contained such medicine as could not be had neither were I acquainted with themalland [written as one word] after that Mrs Comer told me she applyed to the Revd W Craig & this deponent well remembers that Mrs Comer did endeavor by appluying Medicine as she said she was directed to offer the Cure this deponent further saith that she has made Mr John Comers her home ever since & does at present that this deponent think the sd negroe woman raither a Charge than an advantage owing to her being so short winded & unhealthy this deponent says that the negroe child of the Negroe womens that was baught at the same time did appear to have had one of its Bones broke when it was first braught home the child was very unhealthy when it was first baught but at present by the Care & nursing of its mistress is hearty at present but seems to walk slow & clumsey & thinks the child is now worth as much again as it was when sold and further this deponent saith not.
This deposition was taken before me Lucy (her + mark) Jones
at Mr Drinkwater 21 April 1784
Ste Cocke.”
“The depositions of Sundry witnesses in a matter of Controversy between John Comer and Edward Anderson now depending in the Court of Amelia County & undetermined Fanny Oliver being of full age and first sworn on the Holy Evangelist, deposith & Saith that She has been Acquainted with the NEgro Fan, Sold by the sd Anderson to the Sd Comer & that she allways thought her a Sound healthy Negro, and as to the Child she was acquainted with it for About four months before the Sail of the sd Negroes to Mr Comer, and saw it but a few days (before Mr Comer Receiv’d the sd Negroes, & that it appeared to be a well Healthy Child and farther this deponant Saith not
Anne Oliver being age & Sworn &c
Deposeth and Saith that She the sd deponant has been Acquainted with the Sd Negro Fan & her Child Ever Since the Child was born, and that Neither of the sd Negroes were under any Complaint worth Notice in the whole Time & that they the sd Negroes appear’d to be well & Healthy about three days before they were Sold to the Sd Comer, which was the last time she saw them, and further this deponant Saith not.
Fanny (her + mark) Oliver
Taken and Sworn to at William Olivers
in Sussex County before us the 31st
March 1784 ———————————–Geo: Booth Anne (Oliver (Seal)
Green(?) Hill.”
After this date, the court convened to meet and declare a judgment in the case. On 23 April 1784, the parties met in Amelia County Court, as recorded:
“Ordered that Edmund Booker Christopher Ford & Mack Goode Gent’n do settle all matters in dispute in the Cause the parties having given each other Ten Days Notice of the time the arbirtrators are to meet Who may proceed notwithstanding the absence f either party & are to return their award to July Court, Which is to be made the decree of this Court.
John Wiley D.C.
Persuant to an Order hereto anexed we the Subscribers having examined the Papers & Witnesses in the cause Depending between John Comer Plaintiff & Edward Anderson Defend’t in Chancery are of Opinion that the said Comer pay to the said Anderson One hundred & Twenty four pounds nineteen Shillings together with Costs in Lieu of the judgment claimed against him in this Court at Common Law & no more, Certify’d under our hands this 25th Day of June 1784.
Edm’d Booker
Christo’r Ford
Mack. Goode
15000 lb Tob’o at 18/ —- 135 pounds
O. By Cash…………….11.0.8
124.19.4 pounds.”
After the court case, in 1783, John Comer entered bond with John Leith as security in order to address court orders from Amelia County for debts. Comer was charged with being indebted to Anderson for two separate totals of 16,000 and 14,000 pounds each in March 1783. The circumstances of the chancery suit, which were not decided until 1784, show that Comer owed more money to Anderson. It is possible that these lawsuits and debts were a reason Comer left Amelia County for Grayson County in the 1780s. The bond for Comer & Leith was written as follows:
“Know all men by These presents that we John Comer &
John Leith ————– are held & firmly bound unto Edward Anderson in the sum of Thirty Thousand pounds of Tobacco to be paid to the said Edward Anderson his heirs Executors Administrators & Assigns to the Which Payment well and Truly to be made we bind Ourselves our Heirs Executors & Adm’rs Jointly & Severally firmly by these Prsents sealed with our Seals and Dated this 23d day of October 1783.
The Condition of this Obligation is such that Whereas the above a Bound John Comer hath obtained an Injunction to ths the proceeding in an Action dependVoid Otherwise to Remain in Full force and Virtue.
Sealed & Delivered
In Prensence of John Comer (Seal)
John Wily D.C. John (his X mark) Leith (Seal)
John Comer sold his 50 acres in Amelia County to Elisha Gunn on 21 May 1784 for the sum of 40 pounds (wit – James Gunn, John Beveis, William Gunn, recorded 27 May 1784; Lib of VA, Reel 7, Amelia Co Deeds, Vol 17, p 31). After this date, there is little information on his whereabouts until he settled in Wythe County, Virginia, in the area that became Grayson County in 1792.
John Comer was certainly there by 30 August 1792, when he was one of three witnesses (the others being Lewis Haile and John Fielder) to the deed of Henry Kirk, who purchased 25 acres on both sides of the Turkey Fork of Elk Creek from Richard and Sarah Wright (Wythe Co Deeds, Book 1, p 125; recorded 12 February 1793). Both John Comer and his brother Thomas Comer were in Wythe County in 1793, appearing on the first page of the tax list for Captain William Drope’s District (Malita W. Murphy & James L. Douthat, Wythe Co, VA Tax List, 1793-1800, p 12), but they do not appear there after that time; this coincides with the creation of Grayson County and the fact their property was in Grayson. Thomas Comer had apparently followed John there about the same time he moved to Wythe County; Thomas Comer was one of the adjoining neighbors to the tract purchased through treasury warrant by Peter Powers on 12 June 1792, along Turkey Fork near Dry Branch Gap on Iron Mountain, next to Henry Kirk (abstract from Mary Kegley’s “Abstracts of Land Entries of Wythe Co, VA, 1790-1803,” p 17: Entry Book 1, p 76). By these land definitions, the Comers resided within close distance of each other in the northern part of the current Elk Creek community, near the boundary of Wythe County and Grayson County (which is created by Iron Mountain).
John Comer is most likely the “John Coomer” who was listed as being adjacent to the property purchased by Thomas Tilson, which consisted of 150 acres on the South Fork of the Holston river, on 19 September 1797. This tract bounded Joshua Jones, and included the improvement made by “Justus” Hubble (abstract from Mary Kegley’s “Abstracts of Land Entries of Wythe Co, VA, 1790-1803,” p 74: Entry Book 2, 1796-1803, p 32). However, with this land appearing to be on the north side of the Grayson County border, it is not known if Comer held additional lands there (and if so, no deed has been located), or if this is another man whose name was misinterpreted. John Comer, however, remained a Grayson County resident – on 7 December 1798, he witnessed the deed of James Cornute, who had purchased 377 acres along Elk Creek from Joseph and Susanna Day for 150 pounds. He proved the deed in the June 1799 Court (FHL Film No 31746, Grayson Co Deeds, Book 1, p 266). Meanwhile, his brother Thomas Comer’s next mention in Grayson County is when he sold his 143 acres to Jacob Hiett for $313; this land was on the New River and bounded by a branch (wit – Jos Finney, J Hanks, Edmond South; proved and recorded October Court 1800; FHL Film No 31746, Grayson Co Deeds, Vol 1, p 344).
Both men made minor appearances in Grayson County records for the next two decades. Both John and Thomas Comer appear in the estate sale records for several men, including James Cornutt and Dudley Hail; that of James Cornutt, in November 1819, is one of the last records of Thomas Comer.
The first census record of John Comer in Grayson County is the 1820 Census. In that year, there were 2 males aged 10-15 years, 1 male aged 45+ years (John), 1 female aged 16-25 years, and 1 female aged 45+ years (his wife Elizabeth Catherine Comfort Dove).
John Comer died without a will in Grayson County, but his estate was appraised by George Hackler, John Cornutt, A. Curnutty, and L Hale, Jr, on 27 August 1836 (recorded September 1836; see FHL Film No. 31742, Grayson Co Wills, Book 1, p 485). An estate sale was held on 3 September 1836, and recorded in that same month (recorded September 1836; see FHL Film No. 31742, Grayson Co Wills, Book 1, p 486).
After John’s death, his widow “Catherine” Comer resided in the home of her son, John P. Comer, in Elk Creek, where she lived out the remainder of her days. In the 1850 Census, she was enumerated as being 80 years old, though her age was most likely nearly a decade older (as her son is approximated to have been born by the end of the American Revolution; see 1850 US Fed Census, Census Place: District 19, Grayson, Virginia; Roll: M432_947; Page: 213B; Image: 115). The 1860 Census shows her as being a more appropriate 98 years of age, in the home of John P. Comer (1860 US Fed Census, Census Place: Grayson, Virginia; Roll: M653_1348; Page: 16; Image: 20; Family History Library Film: 805348).
Through the grace of chancery records and pension documents, John Comer’s early life is able to be ascertained better, and prove that his ancestry was not of the German Comer’s. We are able to connect him one generation further, though how much farther the Comers can go back is uncertain at this time, due to the number of important records that no longer survive. Stay tuned to future research on the Comer lines, particularly on that of the third brother, Charles Comer, who went to Nottoway County, Virginia.
The Ancestral Clark 