I had previously posted years ago about some updated research regarding John Comer, one of the early settlers of Grayson County, Virginia. The research concerned his life prior to Grayson County, connecting him to Caroline County, Virginia by way of Amelia County, Virginia, and linking him with other Comer families in eastern Virginia. There has continued to be some confusion on the Comer family and their relations, since the surname Comer encompasses three different branches of that surname: John Comer’s family and other Comer’s from east central Virginia, the Gaumer/Comer family of the Shenandoah Valley (of German extraction), and the Comer’s from Pennsylvania who belonged to the Society of Friends (Quakers). Some additional focus has been put on the John Comer branch of Caroline County, and some new research has come about, despite the county’s heavy record loss prior to the Civil War.
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EASTERN VIRGINIA COMERS
At this time, it appears very likely that the patriarch of the John Comer family (later of Grayson County) appears to be Thomas Comer, who is found in New Kent County, Virginia, in the 1690s. He married a woman named Jane as his first wife, and during the first quarter of the 18th century, he had removed to King William County, Virginia. By 1720, he is found as having married the widow Keziah Henshaw, widow of Samuel Henshaw, in Essex County, Virginia. Details on Thomas Comer is very sparse at this time because of the catastrophic record losses in New Kent County, and the severe record loss in King William County; he is briefly mentioned in the sole deed book which survives for King William in the 18th century.
This link is drawn through English customs: it was common for the eldest son to be named after the paternal grandfather. In this event, this relationship appears to be accurate, since John Comer of Caroline County, Virginia, named his eldest son Thomas Comer. John Comer was born sometime by 1720, probably in King William County, Virginia, given the estimated dates that Thomas Comer (his son) was born. Whether John was born to Thomas’s first or second wife cannot be concluded at this time. John is first found, however, in 1744, in Caroline County’s court order books; these order books encompass a majority of all known information in Caroline County prior to 1800, excluding the parish tax lists and a few surviving wills and deeds.
The length of depth of the order books can be disputed, since on 8 May 1747, Thomas Cheadle was appointed the overseer of the Polecat Road in Caroline County in place of John Comer[1]; Comer’s appointment to this position has not been found. However, since most civic appointments lasted for one year, he was probably appointed the position in 1746. For several years thereafter, most mentions of John Comer’s name in Caroline County was as a witness, such as proving the deed of Thomas and Rachel Morris to Thomas Watts on 10 March 1749[2], and the deed of John Gouch to Henry Terrell on 9 November 1752[3]. Comer was appointed a constable in the district where William Dyer was serving the same on 13 October 1749[4]; he was replaced for this position by James Samuel on 14 September 1750[5]. He was one of the witnesses at court who proved the will of Matthew Mills dec’d on 9 August 1753[6]. His last court appearance (and mention of him living) is on 13 December 1759[7], when he appeared as a witness to prove the nuncupative will of Mary Magehee (McGehee), for whom administration was granted to Carr McGehee.
At Caroline Court on 11 March 1762, William Holman, John Thompson, Roger Quarles, and Robert Tompkins were appointed to appraise the estate of John Comer, being the first instance Comer is reported as deceased[8]. On 10 June 1762, the churchwardens of St. Margaret’s Parish were ordered to bind Charles Comer, orphan of John Comer dec’d[9]. At Caroline County Court in February Term 1764, William Tyler, Christopher Tompkins, Roger Quarles, and John Minor, or any two of them, were ordered by the court to settle the executorship of Carr McGhee of John Comer’s estate, and to lay off the widow’s dower[10]. The settlement of his estate was returned to court on 8 March 1764[11].
At Caroline County Court on 10 May 1770, Thomas Comer appeared and made a motion to have the widow’s dower assigned to her[12]; the court appointed Roger Quarles and Benjamin Tompkins for that purpose. In Caroline Chancery court on 14 February 1771, Thomas Comer, Jeremiah Stone and wife Susanna, and William Williams and wife Elizabeth brought suit against Annis Comer, John Comer, Charles Comer, and Mary Comer, all infants of John Comer dec’d[13]; since the actual papers are missing, the details can only be ascertained. It appears, however, that the minors had no infant representing them, and on that court date, the court appointed William Tyler, gentleman, as the defendants’ guardian. Additionally, under Tyler’s representation, the court ordered John Minor, Roger Quarles, Samuel Redd, and John Clark to divide the slaves and residuary estate between the two parties, agreeable to the last will and testament of John Comer dec’d. The order serves as proof Comer had left a will, but due to the record loss, the will is most likely destroyed.
At Caroline Court on 9 April 1772, the parties of the lawsuit reappeared, and the court considered that “Negro Sampson be hired out in Order to raise the Widows Dower & for the benefit of the Estate and that the other slaves & residuary Estate be sold by John Minor, Roger Quarles, John Clark & Samuel Redd,” the estate to be sold at twelve months credit, and the proceeds to be evenly divided among all the heirs agreeable to the last will of John Comer dec’d[14]. The assignment of Elizabeth Comer’s dower was returned to court on 11 June 1772[15]. On 13 August 1772, the younger John Comer made choice of Robert Tompkins as his guardian, and the bond was acknowledged in court on that date[16]. The sale and division of Comer’s estate was returned to court on 12 November 1772[17].
It can be ascertained that James Terrell and Carr McGhee were the executors of John Comer’s will, since they brought lawsuit against John Harris and John Johnson for debt (on behalf of Comer’s estate) before Caroline Court on 13 August 1772[18]. Again, the details of the case are missing, but the order book shows the case was dismissed and agreed between the parties. A suit was also brought against Elizabeth Comer by William Langham on 14 May 1773, but the suit was abated by sheriff’s return[19].
As far as surviving records can provide, the full family record of John Comer and his wife Elizabeth is as follows:
- Thomas Comer, b. ca. 1743-45, Caroline Co, VA, d. ante 3 October 1811, Nottoway Co, VA. He married Elizabeth —-. At Caroline Court on 11 June 1773, Thomas Comer brought suit against Phillip Estis on a case of debt, but Estis did not appear. The case was moved to court on 8 July 1773, where Estis failed to appear again, and was arrested[20]. The case was decided in court against the defendant, with Comer recovering £118 as requested in his petition, plus costs, but the judgment was to be dismissed by payment of £59 with interest from 1 March 1771, and interest on the remainder from 1 June 1772 until paid[21]. He must have bought one of his father’s slaves, since a bond from him in the sum of £85 was returned to court on 9 September 1773 by the commissioners[22], along with the bond of Richard Stevens for £80. The court ordered the bonds to be delivered to Roger Quarles, to give security to refund any debt that may appear thereafter, and to deliver the rest to the legatees of John Comer dec’d. On 11 February 1809, Thomas Comer wrote his will in Nottoway Co, VA (probated on 3 October 1811)[23], referencing the deed of trust to Maj. Richard Jones made in Amelia County, and the same on which he had a deed of release, and in case the deed of release was lost, the same was to be guarded against in his advantage. He left his real and personal estate to his wife Elizabeth until her death. If Richard Jones did not claim anything under the deed of trust, then the rest of the personal estate and land not bequested in the will was to go to Richard after Elizabeth’s death. Half of his slaves were to be equally divided to Dr. James Jones after Elizabeth’s death, and the other half (after Elizabeth’s death) were to go to Richard Jones, but upon reservation that if Richard or his heirs claimed anything under the deed of trust, then the whole of his estate was to go to Dr. James Jones. Comer appointed Maj. Richard Jones, Dr. James Jones, and his friends Robert Dickenson, Tyre G. Bacon, and James Dupuy Sr. as his executors; no reference is made to any children or heirs. The 1810 Census shows Thomas Comer as a resident in Nottoway Parish, Nottoway Co, with he and his wife over age 45 years, and 26 slaves[24].
- Susanna Comer, b. ca. 1744-47, Caroline Co, VA. She m. Jeremiah Stone. This couple followed a similar migration to John Comer, as they also settled in Grayson County, Virginia, by the close of the 18th century.
- Elizabeth Comer, b. ca. 1749-52, Caroline Co, VA. She m. William Williams.
- John Comer, b. July 1753, Caroline Co, VA, d. ante September 1836, Grayson Co, VA. He married Catherine Dove.
- Annis “Ann” Comer, b. ca. 1754-55, Caroline Co, VA. Her age is more discernable against most of the other siblings because William Tyler, her guardian was discharged from guardianship upon producing his accounts and receipts at Caroline Court on 9 September 1773[25]; thus, Ann must have attained the legal age of 18 years by that time. Her whereabouts afterward, however, are unknown.
- Charles Comer, b. ca. 1754-56, Caroline Co, VA. The deed has since been destroyed by record loss, but Caroline Court records the return of the deed of Charles Comer to Philip Estis at court on 11 November 1779; the deed was proven by the witnesses[26]. He was living in Amelia County, Virginia, as of the 1780s.
- Mary Comer, b. ca. 1755-58, Caroline Co, VA. She is last mentioned on 9 April 1772, and no record of her thereafter has been found.
NOTES ON THE QUAKER COMERS
To confuse many southwestern Virginia researchers who have interests with the Comer family, there is a branch of the Comer family who belonged to the Cane Creek Monthly Meeting in Orange Co, NC. Originally from Chester Co, PA, one branch of the family, being the descendants of John Comer and wife Elizabeth Cox, who later settled in Randolph Co, NC. This John Comer was disowned from Cane Creek on 6 November 1779 when he married out of unity; this is evidence he had a second marriage, since his marriage to Cox was from 1762. He was the father of Richard Comer and John Comer, both of whom settled in Washington Co, VA. It was Richard Comer who was the father to Jonathan Comer who was a resident of Wythe Co, VA, as of 1820; this Jonathan Comer married Rebecca Parsons. At this point, through research on these Comers, there does not appear to be any connection in America between these two branches of the Comers. Jonathan Comer went to northwestern Grayson County, Virginia, later in life, and his descendants settled in and around Troutdale. This relationship has puzzled many, since Jonathan’s age otherwise could fit the family record of John and Catherine Comer. A fuller record on this branch of the Comer’s will follow at a later date, but this section serves to show that a different branch of the Comer family existed in southwestern Virginia and may have crossed paths. The younger John Comer, brother to Richard Comer, is likely the John Comer who purchased land on the Holston River (as was originally believed to be John Comer of Grayson County). The Thomas Comer in Grayson County in the 1790s could not be John’s son of the same name, since he was born in the 1780s. It is still believed to be Thomas Comer, elder brother to John Comer, since these two were neighbors. However, while Thomas Comer may have owned land there, little evidence exists to show that he did more than own the land, since he otherwise resided in Amelia and Nottoway counties in Virginia.
Research on the Comer’s will continue in the meantime as more is sought on sorting the different Comer’s from each other in Grayson County.
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[1] John F. Dorman. Caroline County, Virginia Order Book 1746-1754: Part One 1746-48. Washington, Privately Published, 1968, p. 21 (citing p. 34 of Caroline Order Book 1746-1754).
[2] John F. Dorman. Caroline County, Virginia Order Book 1746-1754: Part Two 1748-50. Washington, Privately Published, 1968, p. 11 (citing p. 130 of Caroline Order Book 1746-1754).
[3] John F. Dorman. Caroline County, Virginia Order Book 1746-1754: Part Four 1752-54. Washington, Privately Published, 1968, p. 3 (citing p. 351 of Caroline Order Book 1746-1754).
[4] John F. Dorman. Caroline County, Virginia Order Book 1746-1754: Part Two 1748-50. Washington, Privately Published, 1968, p. 49 (citing p. 176 of Caroline Order Book 1746-1754).
[5] John F. Dorman. Caroline County, Virginia Order Book 1746-1754: Part Three 1750-52. Washington, Privately Published, 1968, p. 3 (citing p. 234 of Caroline Order Book 1746-1754).
[6] John F. Dorman. Caroline County, Virginia Order Book 1746-1754: Part Four 1752-54. Washington, Privately Published, 1968, p. 42 (citing p. 408 of Caroline Order Book 1746-1754).
[7] John F. Dorman. Caroline County, Virginia Order Book 1759-1763: Part One 1759-1760. Washington, Privately Published, 1982, p. 53 (citing p. 87 of Caroline Order Book 1759-1763).
[8] John F. Dorman. Caroline County, Virginia Order Book 1759-1763: Part Two 1760-1762. Washington, Privately Published, 1983, p. 55 (citing p. 272 of Caroline Order Book 1759-1763).
[9] John F. Dorman. Caroline County, Virginia Order Book 1759-1763: Part Two 1760-1762. Washington, Privately Published, 1983, p. 78 (citing p. 312 of Caroline Order Book 1759-1763).
[10] John F. Dorman. Caroline County, Virginia Order Book 1764-1765: Part One. Washington, Privately Published, 1989, p. 2 (citing p. 53 of Caroline Order Book 1764-1765).
[11] John F. Dorman. Caroline County, Virginia Order Book 1764-1765: Part One. Washington, Privately Published, 1989, p. 5 (citing p. 57a of Caroline Order Book 1764-1765).
[12] Ruth & Sam Sparacio. Virginia County Court Records: Order Book Abstracts of Caroline County, Virginia 1770-1771. McLean, VA: The Antient Press, 1992, p. 13 (citing p. 3 of Caroline Order Book 1770-1772).
[13] Ruth & Sam Sparacio. Virginia County Court Records: Order Book Abstracts of Caroline County, Virginia 1770-1771. McLean, VA: The Antient Press, 1992, p. 62 (citing p. 122 of Caroline Order Book 1770-1772).
[14] Ruth & Sam Sparacio. Virginia County Court Records: Order Book Abstracts of Caroline County, Virginia 1771-1772. McLean, VA: The Antient Press, 1992, p. 98 (citing p. 437 of Caroline Order Book 1770-1772).
[15] Ruth & Sam Sparacio. Virginia County Court Records: Order Book Abstracts of Caroline County, Virginia 1772-1776. McLean, VA: The Antient Press, 1993, p. 2 (citing p. 5 of Caroline Order Book 1772-1776).
[16] Ruth & Sam Sparacio. Virginia County Court Records: Order Book Abstracts of Caroline County, Virginia 1772-1776. McLean, VA: The Antient Press, 1993, p. 43 (citing p. 90 of Caroline Order Book 1772-1776).
[17] Ruth & Sam Sparacio. Virginia County Court Records: Order Book Abstracts of Caroline County, Virginia 1772-1776. McLean, VA: The Antient Press, 1993, p. 76 (citing p. 154 of Caroline Order Book 1772-1776).
[18] Ruth & Sam Sparacio. Virginia County Court Records: Order Book Abstracts of Caroline County, Virginia 1772-1776. McLean, VA: The Antient Press, 1993, p. 44 (citing p. 92 of Caroline Order Book 1772-1776).
[19] Ruth & Sam Sparacio. Virginia County Court Records: Order Book Abstracts of Caroline County, Virginia 1773. McLean, VA: The Antient Press, 1994, p. 23 (citing p. 218 of Caroline Order Book 1772-1776).
[20] Ruth & Sam Sparacio. Virginia County Court Records: Order Book Abstracts of Caroline County, Virginia 1773. McLean, VA: The Antient Press, 1994, p. 55 (citing p. 274 of Caroline Order Book 1772-1776).
[21] Ruth & Sam Sparacio. Virginia County Court Records: Order Book Abstracts of Caroline County, Virginia 1773. McLean, VA: The Antient Press, 1994, p. 78 (citing p. 312 of Caroline Order Book 1772-1776).
[22] Ruth & Sam Sparacio. Virginia County Court Records: Order Book Abstracts of Caroline County, Virginia 1773. McLean, VA: The Antient Press, 1994, p. 10 (citing p. 365 of Caroline Order Book 1772-1776).
[23] Nottoway Co, VA Wills 3: 105-106; witnessed by James Dupuy Jr, Elijah Deaton.
[24] 1810 US Federal Census, Nottoway Par., Nottoway Co, VA, p. 1007, Thomas Comer, NARA M252, Roll 70, RG 29 Series.
[25] Ruth & Sam Sparacio. Virginia County Court Records: Order Book Abstracts of Caroline County, Virginia 1773-1774. McLean, VA: The Antient Press, 1994, p. 9 (citing p. 364 of Caroline Order Book 1772-1776).
[26] Ruth & Sam Sparacio. Virginia County Court Records: Order Book Abstracts of Caroline County, Virginia 1778-1781. McLean, VA: The Antient Press, 1994, p. 59 (citing p. 199 of Caroline Order Book 1777-1780).
The Ancestral Clark 
These posts have been super helpful–I’m descended from the John Comer who moved to Grayson County (probably prompting the naming of Comer’s Rock). My grandmother is a Comer.
I see you’ve addressed the unrelated Comers descending from Jonathan and Richard Comer, who appear later in Grayson County.
However, what really puzzles me is teasing out the differences between the Comers of Caroline County and the Comers of Halifax/Lunenberg County, the latter of which you don’t seem to cover.
I haven’t checked everything in this link (the assertions about immigration seem sketchy), but it seems like a good rough summary of the generations of Comers in Halifax County. https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/w/h/i/Robert-C-Whitehead-GA/GENE2-0001.html
I’m very struck by the similarity in names. John Jr., Thomas, Susannah, Samuel, and Elizabeth are the first generation of names, and John Jr. (who is described as “late of King William County,” having died in 1757, though his property was divided in Lunenberg in 1762) had these children: William, Elizabeth, Daniel, Samuel, and Annis, named after his wife. All of these people appear in a lot of Halifax records.
Meanwhile, Caroline County’s John Comer, married to Elizabeth, had the following children, as you list: Thomas, Susannah, Elizabeth, Grayson Co. John, Annis, Mary, and Charles. Before the war, according to his pension, Grayson co. John Comer had moved from Caroline County–where he was born in 1753–to Amelia County, which is much closer to Lunenberg and Halifax Counties. His brother Thomas, as you document, moved to Amelia/Nottaway counties.
Meanwhile, John Comer Jr. (d. 1757) of Halifax is described as “late of King William County,” placing him very close to Caroline County (I’m not sure whether the document means he was born there or died there).
Given the crossover of children’s names (though surely Annis is a coincidence, since both girls were born around the same time, but one was named after someone marrying into the family in that generation), and the pattern of traveling between each other’s areas of Virginia, is it supportable that they were related in some way? Could the Thomas Comer you mention at the top of this blog post, a resident of New Kent County in 1690, been a brother of the first Halifax John Comer?
P.S. A la Columbo, just one more thing (or two): there’s also a Thomas Comer from King William County who fought in the seventh Regiment, according to pension requests (probably Caroline County Thomas, in his youth?)
And finally, I think I can provide the maiden name of Caroline County John Comer’s wife, Elizabeth. John Riddle Jr. of Goochland County’s will in 1770 mentions his sister, Elizabeth Comer. Further back, 1744 records in Caroline County show the orphans of John Riddle Sr., on the death of his wife, to be John Riddle Jr., Thomas, and Anna, establishing that the family is originally from Caroline County. Their guardian is William Herndon, who appears in a record witnessed by John Comer on another occasion. (All of this is someone else’s research, but I can refer you to their Ancestry account.)