William Burke McComas was the son of Moses McComas and his wife Lucy Napier who moved from Cabell Co WV into early Platte County, MO about 1839. 'Burke' as he was known by, married Nancy Heath b. 31 July 1814 Cabell Co WV, the daughter of Israel Heath and Elizabeth Blue. As neighboring families back in Cabell Co. WV, five of the children of Moses McComas married five of the children of Israel Heath and began families of their own. William Burke McComas was one. By the time both families decided to leave Cabell Co WV for early Missouri (1839/40), they shared at least 16 grandchildren. These early McComas/Heath unions are the ancestors of many of the current MO families and were all interrelated. Both families were members of the early Methodist Episcopal Church.

"In December 1840 the family having decided to come on westward, located in Missouri, taking up their permanent residence in Platte County, and upon the place where they now reside, in 1848. Burke McComas first settled in the Platte and Missouri river bottoms, but losing a great deal of property by the flood of 1844, he moved to Preston township, two and a half miles southwest of Ridgely." (From History of Platte County)

On Jan. 11, 1844 received a patent for full payment of land from the General Land Office of the U.S., a certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Plattsburg, MO described as: "The E 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of Section 35, Township 52, Range 35 in the District of Lands subject to sale at Plattsburg, MO containing 80 acres. On 1 May 1846 Burke McComas recorded the purchase of 160 acres in Township 52-N of Platte Co., MO. This property was adjacent to the 40 acres in township 52-N recorded by James Heath, eldest son of Israel Heath. (Waldron Township, Platte Co MO). The original 80 acres and a 2nd 80 acres were both sold for $200 by Nancy and Burke McComas to her brother James Heath on Aug 24, 1847 (filed March 6, 1848). These two pieces were described as the E 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of section 35, Twp 52, Range 35 80 acres and S 1/2 of the SE 1/4 section 34, twp 52, range 35 containing another 80 acres.) Neither Nancy or Burke McComas could read and write because they had to sign 'X" as their marks on the documents.

There used to be a Heath Cemetery in T52N R35W S35. Both James Heath and brother in law William 'Burke' McComas were "original owners" having adjacent pieces. The original owner in S35 (40a) was James Heath a warrantee/patentee dated 11/1/1848. adjoining this property, also in S35 (80a) is William Burke McComas a warrantee/patentee dated 5/1/1846.

William Burke McComas and wife Nancy Heath sold their land to brother in law James Heath on 24 Aug 1847 for $200.

The Union Chapel School in north-central Carroll Twp, Platte County MO was originally a log school called the McComas School for the landowner William Burke McComas. When a new building was erected Union Church and Sunday school services were held in it and the school became known as the Union Chapel School.

The two patriarchs and their families:

Moses McComas was born 1776 in VA. Lucy Napier was born 1774 in Montgomery County, VA. She married Moses McComas on Feb. 5, 1793 in Christianburg, Montgomery County, VA. Their children were:
1. Elisha McComas b. 1794
2. Dicey McComas b. 1796
3. George McComas b. 1798
4. Hiram McComas b. 1799
5. Julia McComas b. ca 1800
6. Sarah McComas b. 1801
7. Cynthia McComas b. 1802
8. Chloe McComas b. 1808 (marries a Heath, James Heath)
9. William Burke McComas b. 1810 (marries a Heath, Nancy D Heath)
10.Judith B McComas b. 1811 (married a Heath, Rev John Wesley Heath)
11. Sanders W McComas b. 1814 (marries a Heath, Laura Mary Heath)
12. Rebecca McComas b. 1815
13. Letha Zetta McComas b. 1818 (marries a Heath, Rev David M Heath)

Israel Heath was born 1773 VA and married 25 July 1799 Elizabeth Blue in Martinsburg, Berkeley Co VA. Their children were:
1. James Heath b. 1800
2. William Richard Heath b. 1801
3. Richard Blue Heath b. 1803
4. Jonas Blue Heath b. 1808
4. John Wesley Heath b. 1809
6. Stephen Preston Heath b. 1812
7. Nancy Heath b. 1814
8. Laura Mary Heath b. 1815
9. David M Heath b. 1817