Ancestors of Mandy Willard

John COMBER (1795-1839)

and Sarah WOOD (1795-1850)

John Comber and Sarah Wood married by banns on 6 May 1816 at the parish church of St. Mary's in Slaugham, Sussex.  They were both then of Slaugham.  (They were not my direct ancestors.  John was the great grand nephew of my 6x great grandmother, Anne Comber.)

John Comber was baptised on 5 July 1795 in Slaugham.  He was the son of Stephen Comber (1758-1835) and Ann Bartley.  He died aged 44 years on 13 November 1839 and was buried on 16 November 1839 in Slaugham.  He was a labourer and a farmer. 

Sarah Wood was born on 10 January 1795 and baptised on 5 April 1795 in Ardingly, Sussex.  She was the daughter of William Wood (1766-?) and Elizabeth Frances.  She died on 7 July 1850 in Slaugham.  Sarah's cause of death was General Glandular Disease of the Abdomen for 19 weeks.  (Sarah's sister Martha Wood married John Sawyers in 1834.)

When the 1841 census was recorded, Sarah and 5 of her children were living on Slaugham Common and also with them was a 17 year old servant Sarah Channon.

John Comber and Sarah Wood had 9 known children:

1. Sarah Comber was baptised on 16 February 1817 in Slaugham.

   Sarah married William Marshall in the fourth quarter of 1838 in the Cuckfield registration district.

   William was born about 1816 in Cuckfield, Sussex.  Might he have been the son of James Marshall (c1794-?) and Elizabeth Dancy (c1794-?), who married on 27 March 1815 in Cuckfield?

   When the 1841 census was recorded the couple were living at Hoadlands in Slaugham along with Sarah's younger brother, Richard.  William was then a 25 year old bricklayer.  The couple and their 6 children were living in Handcross in 1851 along with a 14 year old servant, Jane Burchfield.  William was still a bricklayer in 1851 and Sarah a laundress.  I have not found the family in the 1861 census.

   William and Sarah had 9 known children:

   1. Isaac Marshall was baptised on 19 January 1840 in Slaugham.  When the 1841 census was recorded, 1 year old Isaac was living in the home of James and Elizabeth Marshall at Upper Stapefield Common in Cuckfield.  He was an 11 year old errand boy in 1851.

   2. Elizabeth Marshall was baptised on 16 January 1842 in Slaugham.  She was a 9 year old scholar in 1851.

   3. Sarah Anne Marshall was baptised on 31 March 1844 in Slaugham.  She was a 7 year old scholar in1851.

   4. Georgiana Marshall was born about 1846 in Slaugham and baptised there on 24 September 1848.  In 1851 she was a 5 year old scholar.

   5. Janetta Marshall was baptised on 24 September 1848 in Slaugham.  She was recorded twice in the 1851 census and in both entries she was a 3 year old scholar.  In one entry she was living with her parents and siblings and in the other in home of her uncle John Comber.

   6. Horatio Marshall was baptised on 27 October 1850 in Slaugham.  The 1851 census records his/her age in months, but I can not make out the figure.

   7. Angelina Marshall was baptised on 31 July 1853 in Slaugham.

   8. Julia Hannah Marshall was baptised on 27 July 1856 in Slaugham.

   9. Ada Emiline Marshall was baptised on 16 September 1860 in Slaugham.

2. John Comber was baptised on 30 August 1818 in Slaugham.  The 1841 census records that John was a 22 year old agricultural labourer living with his mother and younger siblings.  By 1851 he was the head of his household and he was an unmarried 31 year farmer occupying 18 acres on Slaugham Common.  Also with him on census night were his sisters Eliza and Elizabeth, brother Stephen and niece Janett Marshall.

3. Eliza Comber was baptised on 17 March 1822 in Slaugham.  She died aged 69 years in the first quarter of 1892 in the Cuckfield registration district.  In 1851 she was an unmarried 29 year old housekeeper and laundress in her brother John's home.

   Eliza married George Lucas Roberts on 27 June 1853 in Slaugham.

   George was born about 1822 in Fletching, Sussex.  He died aged 54 years in the fourth quarter of 1876 in the Cuckfield registration district.  He was most probably the son of George Roberts and Elizabeth Lucas who married on 25 December 1823 in Fletching.  When the 1841 census was recorded he was a 19 year old servant living at the Chequers Inn in Maresfield, Sussex.  In 1851 he was an unmarried 28 year old gardener living with his Uncle and Aunt, George Mitchell who was a 61 year old Inn Keeper, born in Kent and Barbara Mitchell who was 50 and had been born in Fletching.  They were living in Handcross, Slaugham, but the name of the inn was not recorded in the census.  George Mitchell, widower married Barbara Roberts, spinster by banns on 30 October 1833 in Warnham, Sussex.

   When the 1861 census was recorded George was the inn keeper of the Red Lion at Handcross in the parish of Slaugham.  At that time his household comprised of wife Eliza, their 2 young children, her sister Elizabeth, 13 year old visitor Alfred Upton and 3 unmarried servants, Henry Miller a 45 year old ostler, Sarah A. Talmey aged 18 and 13 year old Eliza Huntley.  George was still the inn keeper of the Red Lion Inn when the 1871 census was recorded.  With them at that point was their daughter Eliza, 15 year old servants Maria Banes and Jane Stoner, and 2 lodgers, George Mason a tin smith and 64 year old Edmund Marchant who was an agricultural labourer.  In 1881, widowed Eliza and her daughter were living in Slaugham.  Mother and daughter were still living together in Slaugham, a few doors away from the Red Lion, when the 1891 census was recorded and living on their own means.

   George and Eliza had 2 known children:

   1. George Roberts was baptised on 25 January 1857 in Slaugham and buried there on 8 November 1863.  He was a 4 year old scholar in 1861.

   2. Eliza Anness Roberts was baptised on 25 November 1860 in Slaugham.  She was 8 months old when the 1861 census was recorded.  In 1871 she was a 10 year old scholar.  In 1881 she was a 20 year old dressmaker living with her mother.  She was a single 30 year old in 1891.  In 1901 she was an unmarried 40 year old barmaid living at the Red Lion Hotel in Slaugham.

4. Richard Comber was baptised on 26 December 1824 in Slaugham.  He died aged 73 years and his death was registered in the fourth quarter of 1898 in the Cuckfield registration district.  He was a 16 year old bricklayer in 1841 living with his elder sister.  In 1851 he was an unmarried 25 year old bricklayer lodging at Bolney Street, Bolney in the home of Stephen Vincent and his wife Harriet.  His surname was then recorded as Coomber.

   Richard married Mary Sharp on 15 November 1851 in Slaugham.

   Mary was baptised on 1 December 1830 in Cowfold, and was the  daughter of Hezekiah Sharp (1793-1872) and Lucy Moore (1789-1833).  In 1841 she was 10 years old and living with her father and step mother in Lower Beeding.  (Another Mary Sharp was baptised on 15 August 1830 in Upper Beeding and was the daughter of William Sharp and Jane Feast.)

   At the time of the 1861 census the Coomber family were living at Gassons in Bolney and Richard was a master bricklayer employing 2 men.  Their surname was spelt Comber in the 1871 census and they were living in Bolney Wood, Bolney.  Richard was then a builder employing 4 men.  In 1881 the family were living on Bolney Common and Richard was a bricklayer.  Richard and Mary were living alone in 1891 at Wykehurst Lodge in Bolney and he was a bricklayer.

   Richard and Mary had 11 known children:

   1. John Coomber was born in Cowfold, Sussex and baptised on 24 October 1852 in Bolney.  He was 8 years old when the 1861 census was recorded.  In 1871 he was an 18 year old bricklayer living at home.

   2. Eliza Comber was baptised on 4 June 1854 in Bolney, at which time her father was a mason of Bolney Common.  She was 6 years old in 1861.

   3. George Comber was born on 14 June and baptised on 27 June 1856 in Bolney, at which time his father was a mason of Bolney Common, although on George's birth certificate his father was a master bricklayer.  He was 4 years old in 1861.  In 1871 he was a 14 year old scholar living at home.

   4. Arthur Comber, a twin, was baptised on 9 October 1859 in Bolney, at which time his father was a mason from Garston in Bolney.  He was a year old in 1861.  In 1871 he was an 11 year old scholar.  His name was recorded first in the census but second in the baptism register.

   5. Clara Comber, a twin, was baptised on 9 October 1859 in Bolney.  She was a year old in 1861.  In 1871 she was an 11 year old scholar.

   6. Elizabeth Ann Comber was baptised on 29 June 1862 in Bolney, at which time her father was a bricklayer.  She was a 9 year old scholar in 1871.

   7. Harry Comber was baptised on 27 December 1863 in Bolney, at which time his father was a stone mason.  He was a 7 year old scholar in 1871.  In 1881 he was an unemployed 17 year old groom and the eldest of his siblings living at home.

   8. Jessee Comber was baptised on 29 July 1866 in Bolney, at which time her father was a stone mason.  When the 1871 census was recorded she was 4 years old.  She was 14 years old in 1881.

   9. Louisa Comber was baptised on 25 October 1868 in Bolney, at which time her father was a stone mason.  She was 2 years old in 1871.  In 1881 she was a 12 year old scholar.

   10. William Comber was baptised on 6 March 1871 in Bolney, at which time his father was a stone mason.  He was 4 months old when the 1871 census was recorded.  He died aged 1 years and was buried on 19 November 1871 in Bolney.

   11. Sarah Ann Comber was baptised on 29 December 1872 in Bolney, at which time her father was a builder.  She died aged 6 months and was buried on 20 April 1873 in Bolney.

5. Charles Bartley Comber was baptised on 26 November 1827 in Slaugham as Charles Buttley Comber.  He died aged 81 years in the first quarter of 1909 in the Horsham registration district.  In 1841 he was 13 years old.  When the 1851 census was recorded he was an unmarried 22 year old bricklayers labourer lodging at Bolney Street, Bolney in the home of Stephen Vincent and his wife Harriet.  His surname was then recorded as Coomber.

   Charles married Elizabeth Comber by banns on 22 July 1854 in Bolney.  He was then a mason and bachelor and she a spinster from Nuthurst.  Their fathers were named as John Comber a coachman and James Comber a wheelwright.  The witnesses to their marriage were William Comber and Sarah Jupp.

   Elizabeth was baptised on 19 June 1831 in Nuthurst and was the daughter of James Comber (1804-1891) and Hannah Henty (1807-1881), who had married on 13 November 1829 in Bolney.  Elizabeth died aged 45 years on 8 September 1876 at Maplehurst, near Nuthurst.  Her cause of death was Addison's disease.

   Charles and Elizabeth had 11 known children:

   1. Charles Bartley Comber was baptised on 3 December 1854 in Nuthurst.  He married Harriett Hill in the second quarter 1876.  She was born about 1855  The couple had 2 known children:

      1. William Edwin Comber was born in the fourth quarter of 1876.  He married Elizabeth Louise Reed.

      2. Amy Catherine Comber was born in the fourth quarter of 1881.

   2. Elizabeth Ann Comber was baptised on 12 October 1856 in Nuthurst.

   3. Sarah Jane Comber was baptised on 14 March 1858 in Nuthurst.

   4. Emily Eliza Comber was baptised on 27 May 1860 in Nuthurst.

   5. Ellen Comber was baptised on 22 December 1861 in Nuthurst.

   6. William Henry Comber was born at 8am on 3 March 1864 in Maplehurst.  His father was then a stonemason journeyman.  William Henry was  baptised on 17 April 1864 in Nuthurst.

   7. Alice Caroline Comber was baptised on 17 April 1864 in Nuthurst.  When the 1881 census was recorded she was a 17 year old general servant living at 53 Roundhill Ct in Brighton, the home of Francis S Beirne and his wife Charlotte.

   8. Catherine Comber was baptised on 7 October 1866 in Nuthurst.  In 1881 Kate Comber was a 14 year old general servant at the Fountain Inn in Handcross, the home of her Uncle James Bennet and Aunt Elizabeth.

   9. George Albert Comber was baptised on 28 June 1868 in Nuthurst.

   10. Mary Jane Comber was born about 1870.

   11. Fanny M Comber was born about 1873.

6. Henry Comber was baptised on 20 May 1831 in Slaugham.  He was 10 years old in 1841.  When the 1861 census was recorded he was an unmarried 30 year old head gardener living alone in Handcross.

   Henry married Mary Ann Potter on 21 April 1861 in Nuthurst.  As a 54 year old widower, he married Jane Elizabeth Bannister on 12 October 1884 at the Clifton Congregationalist Church in Steyning.  He was then a gardener of 2 Wandsworth Street, Hove.  His father's name was recorded on the marriage certificate as John Comber (deceased), coachman.  Jane Elizabeth was a 33 year old spinster of the same address.  Her father was named as Edmund Bannister a stonemason.  The witnesses to the marriage were Henry Brown (who made his mark) and Caroline Brown.

7. George Comber was baptised on 18 September 1833 in Slaugham.  He died as an infant on 21 January 1834 in Slaugham.

8. Stephen Comber was baptised on 22 September 1835 in Slaugham.  He died aged 53 years from Pneumonia on 1 March 1890 in Handcross, Sussex.  In 1841 he was 5 years old and living with his mother and siblings.  In 1851 he was a 15 year old errand boy living with his elder brother, John.  When the 1881 census was recorded he was an unmarried 45 year old stonemason living alone in Lancing, Sussex.

9. Elizabeth Ann Comber was baptised on 19 January 1840 in Slaugham.  She was a year old when the 1841 census was recorded.  In 1851 she was an 11 year old scholar living with her brother, John.  When the 1861 census was recorded she was living with the family of her elder sister, Eliza, at the Red Lion in Handcross.

   Elizabeth Ann married James Bennett of Bromley on 14 September 1867 in Slaugham.

   James may have been born about 1841/2 in Midhurst, Sussex, but I have not found a baptism for him recorded in the Midhurst parish registers.

   In 1871 the couple were living at 7 Beachfield Cottages, Widmer Road (I think that's the spelling) in Bromley, Kent.  James was then a 29 year old domestic gardener.  Also with them at that time was a 2 year old nurse child, Hannah Frankinson. When the 1881 census was recorded James was the licensed victualler of the Fountain Inn in Handcross.  At that time his household comprised of his wife Elizabeth A., servant Kate Comber (as mentioned above) and 41 year old lodger Richard Spingwood who was a widower and an agricultural labourer who had been born in Mortlake, Surrey.  I have not found the couple in the 1891 or 1901 UK census.

COMBER          WOOD