Ancestors of Mandy Willard

John COMBER (1660-1729)

and Judith WHITE (1666-1726)

John Comber and Judith White were my 7x Great Grandparents.  (Click here to see their place in my pedigree chart.)  They married on 26 June 1690 in Balcombe, Sussex.  Of their 9 children, 8 survived to adulthood and married and had families of their own.  John and Judith had at least 31 Grandchildren, born between 1718 and 1745.

John Comber was born on 16 March 1660 in Ardingly, Sussex.  His birth was recorded in the Ardingly registers but not his baptism.  He was the youngest son of 5 286 Francis Comber (?-1689) and 5 286 Mary (?-1703).  He was a husbandman of “Batchelors”.  His will was dated 22 January 1726/7 and proved on 14 June 1730.  John was buried on 30 December 1729 in Balcombe.

Judith White's date and place of birth/baptism are uncertain, as there are two possibilities.  The first Judith was baptised on 25 February 1665/6 in Balcombe, the daughter of Reuben White.  The second was baptised on 10 November 1666 in East Grinstead, Sussex, the daughter of 5 357 Thomas White (c1640-?) and 5 357 Ann Langridge (1643-1682).  Judith was buried on 10 May 1726 in Balcombe.  However, the burial register records that she died aged 55, making her born about 1671.

I am inclined to think that Balcombe Judith married John, and that East Grinstead Judith married Thomas Dumbrill on 5 May 1698 in East Chiltington, Sussex.  BUT, John and Judith Comber did not name any of their sons Reuben, but did they name a son Thomas and a daughter Anne.  Therefore, I sway back to thinking East Grinstead Judith married John.

John Comber and Judith White had 9 known children:

1. Francis Comber was baptised on 6 February 1690/1 in Balcombe and buried there on 10 February 1690/1.

2. John Comber was baptised on 12 February 1691/2 in Balcombe.  He married Catherine Illman (1691-1762) in 1724.  (They have their own page.)

3. Francis Comber was born and baptised on 11 July 1695 in Ardingly.  He married Ann Neale (1696-1769) in 1722.  (They have their own page.)

4. Anne Comber, my 6x Great Grandmother, was born and baptised on 9 September 1697 in Ardingly.  She married 5 78 George Box (1686-1757) in 1715.  (They have their own page.)

5. Thomas Comber was born on 29 April and baptised on 30 April 1700 in Ardingly.  He married Ann Fairhall (1704-1766) in 1734.  (They have their own page.)

6. William Comber was born on 29 January and baptised on 2 February 1702/3 in Ardingly.  He died in 1778 in Crowhurst, Surrey.  He was a yeoman.  His will was dated 17 June 1778 and proved on 4 December 1778, in which he named his nephew John Comber (1725-1785) as his executor.  He along with his brother Thomas were named as joint executors of their father's will, by which they were to jointly receive the residue of their father's goods and chattels. 

   William probably married twice.  He may have first married Ann Falconer on 23 September 1732/3 in Nuthurst, Sussex.  He then married Ruth Blundel on 1 July 1771 in Crowhurust, who died after her husband.

   William had 1 known son:

   1. John Comber was mentioned in his father's will, by which he was left an annual annuity of Fifteen Pounds rising to Thirthy Pounds on the death of his step mother.

7. Stephen Comber was born and baptised on 2 June 1705 in Ardingly.  He married Mary Peters in 1729.  (They have their own page.)

8. Mary Comber was baptised on 25 September 1707 in Ardingly.  She received Thirty Pounds under terms of her father's will and was mentioned in her brother William's 1778 will.

   Mary married Henry Goldsmith on 25 April 1734 in Balcombe.

   Henry and Mary had 5 known children: 

   1. Henry Goldsmith was baptised on 20 March 1735/6 in Balcombe.

   2. Martha Goldsmith was baptised on 9 September 1739 in Balcombe.  Martha married John Rastrig on 7 August 1774 in Balcombe.  On 14 October 1806, John was a witness to the marriage of his niece, by marriage, Elizabeth Fieldwick to Edward Knowles, in Balcombe.

      John and Martha had 2 known children:

      1. Sarah Rastrigg was baptised on 12 February 1775 in Balcombe.  Sarah married James Marchant in 1799.  (They have their own page.)

      2. Mary Rastrigg was baptised on 8 April 1776 in Balcombe.  Mary married William Muddle on 9 July 1799 in Balcombe.

   3. John Goldsmith was baptised on 17 May 1741 in Balcombe.

   4. Mary Goldsmith was baptised on 22 January 1742/3 in Balcombe.  She was mentioned in her Uncle William's 1778 will.

   5. Sarah Goldsmith was baptised on 20 January 1746 in Balcombe.  She married William Fieldwick on 9 September 1775 in Balcombe, as his second wife.

      William and Sarah had 3 known children:

      1. William Fieldwick was baptised on 18 July 1776 in Balcombe.

      2. Sarah Fieldwick was baptised on 11 March 1780 in Balcombe.

      3. Elizabeth Fieldwick was baptised on 13 June 1783 in Balcombe.  She died on 16 March 1853 and was buried in Balcombe on 25 March 1853.  Elizabeth married Edward Knowles on 14 October 1806 in Balcombe.  He was baptised on 26 November 1780 in Balcombe and was the son of Richard Knowles (c1740-1788) and Frances Brooker (c1744-1826).

9. Elizabeth Comber was baptised on 22 January 1711/2 in Lindfield.  She received Thirty Pounds under terms of her father's will and was mentioned in her brother William's 1778 will.

   Elizabeth married Edward Smart on 20 January 1734/5 in Isfield, Sussex.

   Edward and Elizabeth had 1 known son: 

   1. James Smart, who was mentioned in the 1778 Will of his Uncle William Comber. 

   Did Edward and Elizabeth have 4 children (Elizabeth, Phoebe, Mary and Charles) baptised in Ringmer, Sussex between 1739-1746?

Judith Comber widow of Ardingly left a will dated 18 May 1752, she mentioned her 6 grandchildren the sons and daughters of her late son Walter Comber who were to receive £5 a piece when they reached 16 years of age.  Granddaughter Mary Comber left silver tea spoons, tongs, china ware, tea table and tea kettle.  Granddaughter Ann Comber to receive my gold wedding ring and silver shoe buckles and some wearing apparel.  Granddaughters Jane Comber and Elizabeth Comber two long silver spoons, aprons, shifts, handkerchiefs 4 piece of linen cloth, to be equally divided.  Son William Comber

COMBER          WHITE