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The McComb Family

Originally MacIntosh and MacThomas

Clan Chattan Confederation

The name McComb appears in various, not say puzzling, forms in the records of this family. The spelling is often found to vary in different parts of the same document.

Harry Alfred Long in his Personal and Family names,published by John Menzie & Co.,1883,derives the names McComb.McCombe,McComber,McCumber,etc., from the gailic Omish (Thomas), and says that other forms of the same names are McOmish,McTarish and McTause.

A Memoir of the Families of Mcombie and Thomas ( originally MacIntosh and MacThomas ), by William McCombie Smith,Edinburgh,1890, say the McThomies,McHomie,McOmie,McOmish,McOmy,McComie,McCombie,and Thomas,McThomas,and McIntosh,are all names used to designate members of the same clan.

S.A. Dewick in his Ancestry of John S. Gustin, say that the name McThomas,son of McIntosh,changed gradually from McHomie to McComie,McCombie and McCombe. He also finds that the name was sometimes written Macomb.

According to the findings of Antiquarians the McCombie family is a branch of the Clan MacIntosh, which is a branch of the Clan Chattan.

In Anderson's `Scottish Nation,Vol 2,p 944, it is shown that the the family of McIntosh into which Eva, only daughter and heiress of Dugal Phaol,Captain of the Clan Chattan married in 1292, sprange from Shaw or Sheagh,second son of Duncan McDuff, the fifth Earl of Fife.And the name rose in the following manner:Shaw McDuff being sent by King Malcolm IV, in year 1163, to quell a rebelloin in Morayland, wich he effected in a most signal manner, was rewarded with the constabulary of the castle of Inverness;and by the people of the country who spoke Gailic he was called `Mac-in-tosh-ich, that is to say ` Thane`s Son, or `Chief. He thus became the first of the name, and the progenitor of a long line of chiefs.The amorial bearings of this clan exhibit the cat as the crest with the motto: `Touch not a cat but with a glove.`

In 1904 Dove, Locket & Stuart of Edinburg, wrote Charles Summer McComber,lawyer,of Ida Grove, Iowa,pointed out the various forms of the name as known in Scotland, viz: McComber, McCumber,McCombie,McCombe,McOmish, etc, and after indicating the connection with the clan as above as shown, adds this. ` The clan McIntosh was one of the clans which took part in the memorable duel of the North Inch of Perth-see Scotts Fair Maid of Perth-where they are designated the clan Chattan. Scotts Waverly makes scion of the clan, Evan Dhu Maccombish, one of the leading personages.(see Stackpoles McComber genealogy pp.8 and 9)

Sir Aeneas, in his MSS.history,makes mention of 'John McIntosh of Forter,commonly called McCombie, as among ` the eldest and wisest, not only of my own but all our neighbors' families.

The surname `McIntosh, was used interchangeably with McCombie, until after the settlement in Aberdeenshire, after the death of John McComie in 1676.The family McCombie tooks its rise as a separate and distinct branch of the Clan MacIntosh in the later half of the 14th century.

In the Parlimentary Records of Scotland there is an original feu charter bearing date of Sept.7th,1568, given at Abbotshall, by Thomas Scott de Pergorns in favor of John McComy, Moir,(meaning great). Janet Rattray, his wife, and their son and apparent heir, John McComy Moir Jr. These McCombies are described as being `ab antiguo tenents and possessors of Finegand in Glenshee.Another instrument in the same records , bearing date Sept.30,1571,says: ` John Mackomie,younger of Finegand, is in fue infiefted and saised in all and haill the lands and shealing place in Glenbrig callit Cronahery, etc.etc..Another of date Nov.11,1577, called `Instrument of Tollerance, gives `tollerance,license

and privilege to the said John McComas and his aires linially to descend of his bodi to pasture their guddis wyneforth of ony part of the borch and leid array feu all the saidis landis of Tarrydon underwrytten, in the marches and meithis efter specefeit.

The McComies became connected with the family of Farquharsons by marriage,which family was descended from the ancient house of Cummings of Altyre, having branched from the parent stock about 1460.The renowned Finla,Mor, the great hero of the Farquharsons,was born about 1487. In 1547 he was the standard bearer in the disastrous battle with th English, at Pinkie Cleugh,where he was slain. His second wife was Margary,daughter of Baron Ried of Kincardine,and their son,William Farquharson,married Beatrix Gordon,the daughter of Lord Sutherland.

John McComie,Mor,the younger,married Janet Farquharson,the daughter of William Farquharson and his wife, Beatrix Gordon. Alexander McComie was their son,the name of his wife has not been found (but it may be `Margaret Small, as shown on a recent Clan MacThomas timeline.*Clach A' Choilich Vol.5No5 2001*This Alexander also had at least one brother named John, which moved to fife, (early 1600s).But Alexander is twice mentioned as the father of John MacIntosh,alias McComie,who sells and disposes of the lands of Finnagand and Cronahery,with the shealing of Garniell in 1652. This contract of sale was entered betweenJohn MacKintoische,alias McKomie of Farney.John McComie entered into possession of the Barony of Forter during the time of the Commonwealth.In the `Montrose Papers,James Graham Marquis of Montrose, we find that John McComy was with Montrose at Appermuir, near perth, in 1644, when McColmy took prisoner Sir William Forbes of Cragivars. It is evident that at this time McComie was on the side of the Royalists.

He died at Crandart on the 12th of January, 1676, and was buried in GlenIsla,churchyard beside two sons who were killed in a fight at Drumgley (McComies Field). Through all Glenshee and Glenisla his memory lives.`Of the old Ha` of Crandart, Barony of Forter, situated in the west of Forfarshire, in the Parish of Glenisla, little remains, but in the south end of the west wing of the present steading is a stone with an inscription. The stone seems to have been carried across the Bay of Isla, and doubtless once rested in the wall of the old Hall. His descendents are glad to recognize the language of the inscription as the pious utterance of the redoubtable old Covenanter, McComie Mor, who once dwelt on this spot.The inscription is:

" The Lord Defend This Famili, I Shall Overcome Invy-Viti Grd-aelp-to God be all Prais Honor-and Glorie!

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