February 13, 2024
Introduction: In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry continues her series on the genealogy of the Wampanoag Tribe, the Indians who were in first contact with the Mayflower Pilgrims. Melissa is a genealogist who has a blog, AnceStory Archives, and a Facebook group, New England Family Genealogy and History.
Today I continue with my “Mayflower Descendants & the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe” series.
To recap: My recent series on the Mayflower lines of Katie Crocker of Barnstable, Massachusetts, has featured a rare account book connected to the business of Zenas Crocker (1761-1807) and his descendants.
The Crocker account book (1790 through 1843) contains residents of the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe. (Note: there are two federally recognized tribes of Wampanoag people in Massachusetts: the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Mashpee on Cape Cod, and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head on Martha’s Vineyard.)
The Cahoon Museum in Cotuit, Massachusetts, has given me permission to share the account book’s pages and do further research. You can view this book on Americana-Archives.org.
One of the most prominent and frequent names in the Crocker account book is Deacon Isaac Coombs (1774-1848), a Mashpee Wampanoag, born to Joshua and Patience (Newcomb) Coombs.
In part one I introduced some of his descendants and today I introduce more.
A grandson of Issac Coombs was Darius C. Coombs (1845-1924), born to Oakes Angus Coombs Sr. and Dinah Amos.
He married Martha Ann Mye, daughter of John Mye and Lydia Pocknett and granddaughter of James Mye and Mehitable Skipper.
Darius left many descendants which I will cover in a future story.
John Mye and another Mye, Eben Mye, are listed in the Crocker account book and most likely relatives.
Darius served in many official offices in the town of Mashpee. In 1881 he was appointed trustee of the Mashpee Public Library.
I found this newspaper announcement from 1910 on Darius’ political activities.
This article reported:
For the first time in its history, the town of Mashpee will be represented today by a delegate in a Democratic state convention. The one delegate is Darius Coombs, the last full-blooded survivor of the Mashpee Indians.
“Who am I with for Governor?” Mr. [Eugene Noble] Foss, of course,” he said. “He is the man who created the Democratic Party in Mashpee, and I tell you that every delegate from the whole of the 14th district will cast his vote for him.”
Darius died in Mashpee on 29 July 1924. I found an obituary for him in the archives which revealed his prominent position in the community.
This article reported:
Funeral services for Darius Coombs, 79, were held at the old Indian Meeting House this afternoon. Mr. Coombs is said to be one of the few remaining Mashpee Indians which comprised this township only a few years ago.
Mr. Coombs had wide acquaintance among the traveling public from the fact that he carried the mail between Sandwich and Mashpee for about 50 years. He was personally acquainted with the late President Cleveland and “Joe” Jefferson, and during the summers at Cape Cod frequently accompanied them on their fishing trips in Mashpee and vicinity. Mr. Coombs always was a Democrat and until a few years ago was the only member of that party in town. He was a conspicuous figure at all the state conventions in years past and had a wide acquaintance among Democrats. He had held the office of postmaster, selectman, and assessor. He served in the navy during the Civil War [the USS Ohio]. He is survived by a daughter and two sons.
Next up is a great grandson of Deacon Isaac Coombs, Darius Clayton Coombs (1885-1932), son of Oakes Agnus Coombs Jr. “Chief Hiacoomis” and his wife Amanda Pocknett (daughter of Nathan Pocknett and Eleanor Hicks). She was the widow of Thomas William Gardner.
Darius was born in Mashpee and lived in New Bedford until about 1916. From there he moved to Nantucket and engaged in the fishery business. He died of pneumonia on 2 June 1932 at his home in Nantucket.
He married Ruth West (1891-1964), daughter of John West and Elizabeth Howard of Nantucket.
I found her obituary in the archives. Her memorial revealed she was known as “Princess Red Feather” and was a descendant of Chief Massasoit of the Wampanoag Tribe. Please note: Many have recorded her birth year as 1895, but her birth record is 5 January 1891.
Ruth was a noted singer and accomplished piano player who appeared in both public and on radio.
In addition, Ruth was a member of the Federation of American Indians, American Legion Auxiliary, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Nantucket.
Darius and Ruth left descendants.
To be continued…
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Note on the header image: Mashpee Wampanoag ceremony in Middleborough, Massachusetts, 1930. Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection.
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