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1. Henry Combly & Joan Tyler (1650-1689) | 1.1 Henry Comly (1674-1726) & Agnes Heaton (1677-1743) | | 1.1.1 Mary Comly (1699-) & Thomas Harding | | 1.1.2 Alice Comly (1701-1759) & Thomas Gill (1702-1775) | | | 1.1.2.1 Grace Gill (1720-1794) & William Beal (1723-1751) | | | | 1.1.2.1.1 Sarah Beal (1743-1806) & Hugh Thompson (1742-) | | | | 1.1.2.1.2a Thomas Beal* (1745-) & Phoebe (Pheby) Bidgod (1746-1775) | | | | 1.1.2.1.2b Thomas Beal* (1745-) & Alice Heaton | | | | 1.1.2.1.3 Grace Beal (1745-1789) | | | | 1.1.2.1.4 Joseph Beal (1747-1824) & Hannah Russell (1750-1832) | | | | 1.1.2.1.5 Elizabeth Beal (1750-1751) | | | | 1.1.2.1.6a William Beal Jr* (1752-) & Rachel E. Parry (1751-1797) | | | | 1.1.2.1.6b William Beal Jr* (1752-) & Mary McClun (1764-) | | | 1.1.2.2 Agnes Gill (1722-1782) | | | 1.1.2.3 Mary Gill (1724-) & William Pennington | | | 1.1.2.4 Hannah Gill (1732-1775) & Thomas Pennington Jr. (1729-) | | | | 1.1.2.4.1 Thomas Pennington III | | | 1.1.2.5 Uree Gill (1735-1796) & John Brodfield Jr. | | | 1.1.2.6 Thomas Gill (1740-1791) | | 1.1.3 Henry Comly (1702-) & Phebe Gilbert | | 1.1.4 Robert Comly (1704-) & Jane Cadwalader | | 1.1.5 John Comly (1706-) & Hannah Mason | | 1.1.6 Joseph Comly (1708-) & Elizabeth Mason | | 1.1.7 Walter Comly (1710-) & Susanna Mason | | 1.1.8 Agnes Comly (1712-) & Nicholas Randall | | 1.1.9 James Comly (1715-) & Mary Paul | | 1.1.10 Isaac Comly (1717-) & Abigail Walmsley | | 1.1.11 Grace Comly (1721-) & Benjamin Cadwalader
Comly Family in America by Norwood Comly, 1939 Published in Philadelphia, PA (1148 pages) Henry Comly was a weaver in the town of Bedminster, Somersetshire, near Bristol, England. MARR: Supplement to Bristol and Somerset Marriages,1658-1725; p.6; Combly, Henry of Bedminster to Joan Tylor of Bristol, m. 1673- 10mos- 25 days at Bristol. In 1682, Henry, his wife Joan, and son, Henry, came to America. It has been said that they came over on the "Welcome" with William Penn, but his name is not found in the very complete list of the "Welcome" passengers and it is believed that he came on one of the other ships sailing that same summer. He undoubtedly came before the marriage of his daughter, Mary, on Sept. 25, 1683, for he is recorded as "Henry Combly, late of Bedminster, Co., Somerset", at the time. His daughter, Mary, evidently stayed in England. If His son, John, came to America it is not likely that he left any family. Henry Comly settled on a tract of 300 acrs of land in Warminster Township, Buck Co. PA., located about seven miles south of the present town of Doylestown. It was part of a grant of 500 acres purchased of William Penn before Henry left England, the other part, 200 acres in Philadelphia Co., having been sold by Henry as soon as located. In is will (he died only two years afters arriving in the country) Henry left to his son, Henry "two hundred acres of land bought by me of the Governour besides the House and Hundred which I now live in." Many of those who purchased, in England, land grants of William Penn sent a member of the family over in advance to look over the site, but there were also many who could not do this and came over with no definite idea where their tract of land would be. Henry Comly was one of the latter and the early State papers in connection with his assignments are quoted here, more or less in full, in order to show some of the trials and tribulatins of the early settlers. Reed's map of Philadelphia and the "Liberties," printed with a quarto pamphel in 1774, mentions "Henry Comly, of the city of Bristol, weaver," in the list of original purchaser of land of William Penn, date of purchase being July 19, 1681. Each purchaser of 500 acres or more was to have a "city lot" and a lot of about ten acres near the city. (The city of Philadelphia was first laid out in July, 1681. Before that time there was not even a settlement there.) A study of the State records indicates that Henry Comly received his 500 acres (divided into two parcels) but the city lot was still the subject of discussion in 1793 and it is doubtful whether any member of the Comly family ever received a patent for it, and the same may be said for the ten acres liberty lot. The records follow, first, the city lot: WARRAT FOR RESURVEY, BK. D.71, P.109. "These are to will and require thee forthwith to survey or cause to be surveyed unto Henry Comely a Lott in any of ye Streets set out for purchasers of ye like quantity ......". To Thomas Holmes. Signed, William Penn. Lot assigned: 51 ft. in Second St. adjoining William Larro Lott and 247 ft. in lenght. Executed 29th of 9ber, 1683, recorded 23rd 11 mo. 1683. PA. Archives, 3rd Series, Vol. 2, p.67. "At a special meeting at the Surveyor Generals the 21st day Mar. 1793, Land Office: "The Board resumed the Consideration of Jacob Comleys (Jacob, son of James) application for a patent for Lot of Ground in the City of Philadelphia which he applied for to the Supreme Executive Council and was by that Council referred to this Board on 6-14-1788 on which it appears that the Lot of Ground was Surveyed on 29th 9th mo. 1683 persuant to a Warrant for that purpose for and in fight of Henry Comleys purchase of 500 As bounded by Schuylkill Second St. and Lots of Anne Oliff and Wm. Lawrence. And the said Jacob Comly produced the Will of Henry Comley the only Son and Heir at Law of the Said Henry Comley the original Purchaser and other documents Wherein it is the opinion of the Board that a confirmation of said Lot ought to be made to said Jacob Comly but in order more fully to as certain the Situation and bound the same and describe it and the Situation according to the present names of the Streets which are Walnut instead of Poole and Chestnut instead of Wynn street, It is ordered that the Surveyor General shall make a Resurvey of the same and on his return a Patent may issue." Resurvey Bk. D.71, p.46, Harrisburg: Resurvey to Jacob Comly in right of Henry Comly's purchase of 500 A.: Lot in Philadelphia on E. side of Second St. from Schuylkil Being 55 ft. front on said Second St. and 247 ft. 6 in. deep between Walnut and George Sts. in Said City- Bounded Westward by said Second St. Northward by George St. Eastward by #1553 of Lots Sold by Honble Supreme Executive Council of PA and Southward by a lot occupied by William Eckhard." Signed Mar 26 1793 James Pearson Regarding the "Liberty Lot", a warrant (#369) was issued to: "Henry Comley for ten Acres of Liberty Land, 14th of 12th mo. 1683." Resurvey Warreant for "Eight acres of Liberty Land where it was formerly laid out. In right of his fathers Purchase of 500 acres." Ordered, Phila., 2-24-1714, signed by Richard Hill, Isaac Norris, James Logan. More can be find in the following; PA Archives, 2nd Series, Vol.XIX, p. 311 (from Minute Book G; Resurvey Bk. D.71, p.114,115, Harrisburg; Resurvey Bk. D.71, p.116 WILL: Book A, p.8, Doylestown, Bucks, PA; Know all men by these presents that I, Henry Comeley, being weake of Bodey but of prefect memorey doe make This my last Will and Testament. First I give and Bequeath unto my wife Joane Comly the Third part of all my Personall Estate both Goods and Chatels. Item. I Bequeath unto my dauter Marey the Quantity of one haundred Acers of uncultivated land or the value thereof. Item. I bequeath unto my sone Henery ye Remaining two thirds of my Goods and Chatels and perticulerly one fither bed and Appurtinances thereunto belonging, together with Two hundred Acres of Land bought by me of the Governer besides the house and house and hundred Acers which I now live in. Lastly I nominate and appoint my friends Edmond Benet, David Davis and William Paxstone to be my sole Executors, to supervise this my last will and to overse my sd Son unto whose care I Commit him and the most fit time for him to reseve his sd portion (with the advice of friends of the Monthly Meeting) but if my Son dye before he be of Discresion to reseve his portion that it dissend to my sd dauter Marey exepting the house and lands I now live in to my wife during the terme of her naturall life. In Wittness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seale this the 26 day of 2d Mo. 1684. Sealed and Delivered in ye Presence of Henry Comly his mark James X Paxstone George X Sheave his mark Supplement 1952 p.1 Although we know that Henry Comly came to America in 1682 (or possibly 1683) his name has not been found in the passenger lists of the ships coming from England in those years. Albert Cook Myers of Moylan, PA supplies the following (8-23-1944) which he believes proves that Henry came over in the "Samuel and Mary". From Arrival MS. vellum Loading List for Bristol; "1683, September (7mo) 15. The Ship "Samuel and Mary," etc. Bristol, for Pennsylvania. Loading at Bristol, for Henry Cumly, 8 chest, 4 boxes, two packs of old household goods and beding and wearing apparel for his own and ffamileys use." 1683, November (9 mo.) 29th, William Penn in a letter of this date said; "The Samuel and Mary", etc., came well with theire passengers." But Henry Comly's name is not found in the "Samuel and Mary" passenger list and there is strong evidence that he arrived before 9-29-1683, and that he was having his household goods shipped over to him at the time of the marriage of his daughter Mary.