Rebecca (Bailey) McComas (1800 - 1866)

Born 25 Dec 1800 in Tazewell, Virginia, United States [uncertain]

Ancestors

Wife of James McComas — married 7 Sep 1820 in Tazewell Co. Virginia

Died 25 Aug 1866 at age 65 in Mercer, West Virginia, United States

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Biography

Rebecca Bailey was born on 25 December 1800^[1] (see research note) in Tazewell County, Virginia (see research note) to John Bailey and Nancy Davidson^[2].

On 7 September 1820, Rebecca married James McComas in Tazewell County, Virginia^[3]. Rebecca and her husband James were 1st cousins - her father John, and James' mother Chloe, were siblings, both children of Richard Bailey Sr..

Her father's will, dated 4 April 1835, described an inheritance for his daughter "Rebekah McComas"^[2]. That will was accepted by the Tazewell County court on 30 March 1836^[2].

In the 1850 Federal Census, Rebecca and James lived in Mercer County, Virginia^[4]. James' occupation was "farmer"^[4]. Also in their household were four children, Rebecca, Martha, Elizabeth, and Rufus^[4].

In the 1860 Federal Census, Rebecca and James continued living in Mercer County, Virginia^[5]. Also in their household were three children, Martha, Elizabeth, and Rufus^[5].

Rebecca was about 65 years old when she passed away^[6]. She died on 25 August 1866 in Mercer County, now part of West Virginia^[6]. Her husband James was the informant on her death certificate^[6]. She is buried in the McComas Family Cemetery located near Lamar, Mercer, West Virginia^[1].

Research Notes

Birth Date

Rebecca's grave marker is thus far the only record that provides a full birth date for her^[1]. Other records estimate her birth year as either 1800^[4] or 1801^[5][6].

Birth Location

Both the 1850^[4] and 1860^[5] censuses indicate that Rebecca was born in Virginia. Her death record, however, indicates that she was born in Mercer County, West Virginia^[6]. Mercer County, West Virginia did not exist until 1863, when West Virginia was created as a state^[7]. Mercer County, Virginia was created in 1837, from portions of counties Giles and Tazewell^[7]. Prior to that, Giles County, Virginia was created in 1806, from portions of counties Montgomery and Tazewell^[7]. Based on these dates for Virginia county formation, a location in Mercer County could have been in Tazewell County or Montgomery County in December 1800. Since the location of her marriage^[3], and the location given by her father in his will^[2], were both Tazewell County, it seems likely that Rebecca was born in Tazewell County.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 11 Dec 2021), memorial page for Rebecca Bailey McComas (25 Dec 1800–25 Aug 1866), Find A Grave: Memorial #22328251, McComas Family Cemetery, Lamar, Mercer County, West Virginia, USA ; Maintained by Judy Llamas (contributor 46854247).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} FamilySearch; United States, Virginia, Tazewell County, Probate Records; Will books, 1800-1932; general indexes to wills, 1800-1985 (Catalog #366527); Will book, no. 2, 1832-1850 -- Will book, no. 3, 1850-1866.; DGS #7645849; Pages 66-67; Image 63 of 654.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRS1-C2K : 29 January 2020), Rebeckah Bailey in entry for James McOmas, 1820.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8DD-5R2 : 23 December 2020), Rebecca McComas in household of James McComas, Mercer, Virginia, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M416-K5L : 18 February 2021), Rebecca Mc Comas in entry for James Mc Comas, 1860.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4} "West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NMJQ-N7V : 10 March 2018), Rebecca Mccomas, 25 Aug 1866; citing Mercer, West Virginia, County Records, 10, county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 804,477.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} “State and County Maps of Virginia.” MapofUS.org. Accessed December 11, 2021. https://www.mapofus.org/Virginia/