| Notes |
- Antoine Comeau (anglicized as Anthony Coombs) was born about 1661 in Port Royal (then Nouvelle-France) Nova Scotia as known by his age 10 on the 1671 census of Port Royal.[1] He was the 5th son of Pierre Comeau and Rose Bayol (or Bayon) who married about 1650. [2] He is again at Port Royal living with his family in 1678 though his mother had died. His calculated birth years ranged between 1658 and 1661.[3]
Anthony moved in 1684 from Port Royal to the part of Massachusetts which later became the state of Maine to work for Louis Allain (anglicized as Lewis Allen). When Lewis Allen abandoned his property in Wells to return to Port Royal in 1686 or 1687, he left Anthony Coombs on his land.[4] "At that time Anthony may still have been bound by his apprenticeship contract. However, that compact had undoubtedly expired by February 1688, since apprentices were normally barred from marrying during their period of servitude."[5]. Note: if this is true, then it raises the possibility that Coombs and Comeau, who was found in the 1686 Acadian census living with his father at age 24 are not the same[6]. See Similarities and Connections section for possible reasons for this.
In 1686 at Port Royal, Antoine age 24 was living with his father Pierre COMMEAU, a widower at age 88, and his two brothers: Pierre age 25 and Jean age 21. They were living on 6 arpents of cultivated land with 4 cattle, 12 sheep and 4 hogs.[6]
On September 5, 1688 Anthony was married to Dorcas Wooden by Mr. Martin (minister) in Wells, Maine.[7][8][9][10] [11] [12]She was born at Rowley, MA on Feb. 10, 1671, daughter of John Wooden[13][4][14] and Mary (Johnson) Wooden.[4][15][13]
Anthony and Dorcas' 12 children included:
1 Mary, baptized at Beverly, MA on Nov. 3, 1689.[16]
2 Peter, baptized at Beverly, MA on Oct. 18, 1691.[17]
3 Tabitha, baptized at Wenham, MA in 1693,[18] probably died young.
4 Anthony, born at Wells, ME on 1 Mar 1695 [19]and baptized in Wenham in 1695.[20]
5 Sarah, born say 1697, probably at Sandwich, MA.
6 John, born at Rochester, MA on Mar. 18, 1699.[21]
7 Hannah, born at Rochester on Nov. 30, 1700.[22]
8 Rosanna, born at Rochester on Nov. 23, 1700.[23]
9 Ithamer, born at Rochester on Nov. 20, 1704.[24]
10 Joshua, born at Rochester on July 28, 1706.[25]
11 Frances, born at Rochester on July 20, 1708.[26]
12 Jane, born at Rochester on Mar. 29, 1710.[27]
Life in Wells
Shortly after their marriage, the King William’s War [1689–1697] broke out and Anthony sent his young bride to live with her family in Essex County, MA. Meanwhile, Anthony spent much of his time in Wells; his section of the town was often in the hands of the Indians.[4][28]
On 15 Apr 1697, Anthony was in Wells and served on a Jury of Inquest: “Upon the body of John Mackaney who: was found drowned in a gunqued [Ogunquit] Rever: wee Judge it was occasioned through his onaquaintednes with the River and not by any other means”[29] The other members of the inquest jury were Jonathan Hammond, John Wheelwright, Josiah Littlefield, Eliab Littlefield, Mark Rounds, Samuel Jones, James Ros, Nathaniell Frost, John Drisco, James Denmark, and John Rodgers.
On 8 Nov 1699, John Wooden (Dorcas’ brother), with the consent of Katharine, his wife, sold a certain parcel of land in Wells, ME to Nathaniel Clark of Wells that abutted “Land claimed by Anthony Comes & Nicholas Cole near Little River Mill….”[30] This was the land purchased by Lewis Allen in 1685.
"The inhabitants of Wells were beleaguered throughout the French and Indian Wars, with devastating attacks in 1692 and 1703. In August, 1703, Wells was attacked with such desperation that in a short period of time 39 of its inhabitants were killed or made prisoners, besides many wounded."[31][32]
Life in Rochester
October 13, 1703, Anthony was one of “Seven Christian men of Rochester [MA], in addition to Mr. [Samuel] Arnold [minister], signed the covenant that day….” establishing the First Church of Rochester. [33]
In 1704, Anthony was granted land in Rochester near Peter Blackmer’s mill at Leonard’s Pond, on the condition that he “do the work of a smith among us for seven years”.[33] In the same year a road was laid out “towards the mill [the Sippican mill dam] touching John White’s land, and an old bridge, Anthony Coombs’ land, and so to Kennel Winston’s land.” [11]
In 1709 there were thirty–five members of the church, including Anthony, but not Dorcas[33] Anthony Coombs purchased “one half of the thirty first lot of fresh meadow & medow ground & swampy land…in the Township of Rochester aforesd & lyeth on the easterly branch of Sippican River….” from William Clarke “for six pounds and ten shillings in corant money of New England….” This purchase was made on 9 Feb 1703/4. [34]
on 25 Jun 1722, Anthony Coombs and Dorcas, his wife, of Rochester, Plymouth county, sold her interest in her father’s right to commonage in Haverhill, MA.[35]
Death
There is no record of the death of either Anthony or Dorcas. Dorcas had probably died before 12 Oct 1736 when Anthony conveyed their dwelling house and homestead to their son, John, without her participation in the conveyance [36] Anthony's date of death was sometime after acknowledging his final deed on 29 Aug 1746 [37], but almost certainly before 1754 when his care-givers, John and Lydia (Woodin) Coombs, removed to Brunswick, ME.[5] [2]
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Old Dead Relatives
Abt 1661 - Aft 1746 (~ 85 years)
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set
