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Mostly Coombe in Australia &

Coumbe in North Hill, Cornwall

Family History & Genealogy

Mostly Coombe – Migrants - Orleana - 1842 - To Tasmania

John Coombe, his wife and 7 dependants, of Lewannick origins, migrated from Altarnun, Cornwall to Campbell Town, Tasmania. John's second cousin James brought his family to Australia five years later in the Princess Royal.

In the 1841 census John Coombe (40) was a farmer at Trebet in the parish of Altarnun, Cornwall, together with his wife Ann and children.

The following year, the family migrated on Orleana, which was the first ship under the “General System, (that is to say, under the authority and guidance of Her Majesty’s Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners resident in London)” (Hobart Courier, 8 July). Orleana departed Plymouth 21 March and arrived Hobart 4 July 1842 with 276 immigrants aboard. The passenger list records the group as John (age 42), his wife Ann (42), Grace (19), John (16), George (14), William (13), Richard (9) and Joseph (3). It seems Thomas was not on this list.  They were still available for hire when they were described in the Courier after arrival: “John Coombs, wife, and seven children, first class farm servant; most of the children useful.” The Coombe family of "farm servants" first lived and worked on William Kermode's "Mona Vale", near Ross. Some time later they moved to nearby Campbell Town.

“The Wesleyan chapel was almost full of Coombes. Seventy or more children of that name passed through the Sunday school.” See more on Campbell Town Methodist Church centenary report.

The Campbell Town Methodist Church has memorial windows for Joseph and Anne Coombe and Thomas and Betsy Coombe. Headstones in the cemetery are listed further below.

See “Connections” below for Western Australia branch, Tucker and Venning relations and the family’s Boer War participation.

Below is the family group of the migrant couple and two generations. There are quite a few gaps - your additions and corrections are welcome. The following abbreviations are used: HS = headstone noted below, ? = uncertain, NI = no issue, ... indicates known descendants, Laun = Launceston TAS, CON = Cornwall, UNK = unknown place. All locations are Campbell Town TAS, unless otherwise noted.

John COOMBE, b. 1797 Lewannick CON, d. July 1875 HS

+ Ann TUCKER, m. 1823 St Clether CON, d. 1887 HS

├── Grace COOMBE, b. 1824 St Clether CON, d. 1856, issue?

│  + Joseph BRICKHILL, m. 1847, d. 1865 ...

├── John COOMBE, b. 1826 St Clether CON, m. 1852 Hobart, d. May 1875 HS

│  + Maria Eleanor THOMPSON, b. 1830 London, d. 1887 HS

│    ├── John James COOMBE, b. 1854, d. 1939 Obituary ...

│    ├── Priscilla Ann COOMBE, b. 1856, d. ?, issue?

│    ├── Emily COOMBE, b. 1856, d. ?, issue?

│    ├── William Thomas COOMBE, b. 1859, d. ? ...

│    ├── Charles Hepburn COOMBE, b. 1861, 1890s in Sth Africa?, d. ?, ...

│    ├── Alice Maria COOMBE, b. 1863, d. ?, issue?

│    ├── Sarah Ann COOMBE, b. 1866, m. 1892 James Henry SHAW, d. ?, issue?

│    ├── Herbert Ambrose COOMBE, b. 1868, d. 1950 Johannesburg, ...

│    ├── Amy Isabella COOMBE, b. 1870, d. ?, issue?

│    ├── Robert Leslie COOMBE (Leslie Robert COOMBE), b. 1873, migr. USA 1906, d. 1960 Oregon USA, ...

│    └── Grace Elizabeth COOMBE, b. 1875, d. 1899 Melbourne, NI.

├── George COOMBE, b. 1828 St Clether CON, d. 1911 HS ...

│  + Charlotte SMITH, b. 1824 Hobart, m. 1851, d. 1911 HS

│    ├── Grace Ann COOMBE, b. 1853, d. 1875 HS

│    ├── George COOMBE, b. 1855, d. 1875 HS

│    ├── female COOMBE, b. 13 Apr 1857

│    ├── Alfred COOMBE, b. 1858, d. 1948 Hobart ...

│    ├── Ada Rosina COOMBE, b. 26 Sep 1860, d. 1872 HS, NI

│    └── Louise COOMBE, b. 1871, m. Laun 1896 Henry BALLARD, d. 27 Nov 1942 Castlemaine VIC. NI.

├── William COOMBE, b. 1829 St Clether CON, d. 1909 HS

│  + Elizabeth TUCKER, b. 1839 St Clether CON, m. 1860, d. 1922 HS

│    ├── William John COOMBE, b. 1861, d. 1866 HS NI

│    ├── Fanny Elizabeth COOMBE, b. 1862, d. 1930 Toowoomba QLD, m. 1884 Edmund WILCOX ...

│    ├── Rose Annie COOMBE, b. 1864, d. 1933

│    ├── Florence Venning COOMBE (or Flora), b. 1865, d. 1946 Burwood NSW, m. 1897 Samuel George LOONE ...

│    └── Arthur William Strafford COOMBE, b. 1870, d. 1920, m. 1900 Annie TANNER ...

├── Thomas COOMBE, b. 1831/2, d. 1888 HS ...

│  + Betsy BRUCE, b. 1836 Greenpoint/Bridgewater TAS, m. 1854, d. 1915 Hobart HS

│    ├── Emily Grace COOMBE, b. 1857, d. 1939 Hobart, NI.

│    ├── Christina Ann COOMBE, b. 1858, m. 1898 Samuel NEWMAN, d. 1945 Melbourne VIC, issue?

│    ├── Edward Thomas COOMBE, b. 1861, cook, d. Melbourne 1951, m. Mary Ann O’BRIEN 1905 Melbourne VIC, NI.

│    ├── Frederick Tasman COOMBE, b. 1863, miner d. 1892 Ring River TAS Inquest

│    ├── Walter Bruce COOMBE, b. 1865, d. 1876 HS, NI

│    ├── Roberta Constance COOMBE, b. 1868, m. Albert Frederick STRUTT 1902 Hobart, d. 1933 Hobart

│    ├── Albert William COOMBE, b. 1870, d. 1946 Laun, issue?

│    ├── Frank Chamberlain COOMBE, b. 1871, m. Zeehan 1899, d. 1935 Hobart ...

│    ├── Douglas Cullen COOMBE, b. 1873, m. Florence WELLS 1903, d. 1921 Hobart ...

│    ├── Percival Charles COOMBE, b. 1875, m. Ivy WILLIS 1919, d. 1945 Moonah TAS, ...

│    ├── Mildred May COOMBE, b. 1878, d. 1949 New Town TAS, NI.

│    └── Nettie Valentine COOMBE, b. 1880, d. 1958 Windsor VIC

├── Richard COOMBE, b. 20 Jun 1836 St Luke s Chapel, St Neot CON, d. 1920

│  + Sarah Frances LOWE, b. 1836 Redbourne Lincolnshire, m. 1857 Ross, d. 1886

│    ├── Annie Louisa Dorina COOMBE, b. 1858, m. Laun 1878 William James STURGES, d. 1932 ...

│    ├── Frances Maria COOMBE, b. 1860, d. 1861 HS

│    ├── Sarah Ann COOMBE, b. 1861, m. 1892 James Henry SHAW , d. 1900, issue?

│    ├── Francis Richard COOMBE, b. 1863, d. 1951 ...

│    ├── Thomas Fredrick COOMBE, b. 1864, d. ?, ...

│    ├── Maud Mary COOMBE (or Margaret), b. 1866, m. James Middleton CRAWFORD, issue?

│    ├── Arthur Henry COOMBE, b. 1868, d. 1869, NI

│    ├── Henry John COOMBE, b. 1870, d. 1938 UNK, ...

│    ├── Arthur Harold COOMBE, b. 1872, d. 1929 Auckland NZL, ...

│    ├── Edgar Arnold COOMBE, b. 1874, d. 1945, ...

│    ├── Walter Manton COOMBE, b. 1878, d. 1879, NI

│    ├── George Stewart COOMBE, b. 1880, d. 1895, NI

│    ├── May Evelyn COOMBE, b. 1881, m. Mar 1923 Edwin John LOWE, d. Jul 1923 Hobart, NI.

│    └── Irene COOMBE, b. 1886, d. 1886.

└── Joseph COOMBE, b. 1839 St Neot Bible Christian, Altarnun CON, d. 1908 HS

  + Anne Fitzroy CHAMBERS, b. 1838 UNK, m. 1860, d. 1882 HS

     ├── Joseph COOMBE, b. 1861, d. 1943, issue?

     ├── Archibald COOMBE, b. 1862, see “Connections” below, d. 1941 HS, Obituary ...

     ├── Mabel COOMBE, b. 1864, d. 1892 HS

     ├── Ernest COOMBE, b. 1865, see “Connections” below, d. 1949 Mt Lawley WA ...

     ├── Agnes Eleanor COOMBE, b. 1867, m. Laun 1895 Ernest Edward HARRISON, d. ?, issue?

     ├── Gertrude COOMBE, b. 1867, d. 1957 Laun

     ├── Marion COOMBE, b. 1869, d. 1892 HS

     ├── Katie COOMBE, b. 1869, d. 1870 HS

     └── Muriel COOMBE, b. 26 Jun 1872, m. 1915 Joseph Henry RUSSELL, d. 1956 Laun, issue?

   + Mary Ann STURGES, b. 1856 Hobart, m. 1891

Campbell Town Cemetery

Many of this family are buried in Campbell Town Cemetery, the earliest being 1861. As much as possible, each headstone’s inscriptions are recorded below, beginning with the pioneering couple of John and Annie Coombe. (Due to legibility from my photos I was not able to get all verses - is anyone visiting Campbell Town and want to try reading these?)

Sacred to the Memory of John Coombe Senr. Who died 29th July 1875 Aged 78 Years. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.” Rev XIV: 13.

◊ Also Ann Coombe, the beloved wife of the above, who died 24th Sep 1887 Aged 88 Years. Her end was peace.

Sacred to the Memory of John Coombe, Who died 27th May 1875, Aged 49 Years.  “But now is Christ Risen from the dead, and become the firstfruit of them that slept.” 1 Cor. XV: 20.

◊ Also His beloved Wife, Maria E. Coombe, who departed this life, Oct 17 1887 Aged 56 Years. He giveth his beloved sleep.

Sacred to the Memory of Frances Maria, the infant daughter of Richard & Sarah Coombe, died 14th August 1861. Aged 19 months.

Sacred to the Memory of William John, the Beloved Son of William & Eliz’th Coombe who died on the 13th Sept 1866. Aged 5½ Years.

Sacred to the Memory of Ann Fitzroy, the Beloved Wife of Joseph Coombe, who died Aug 1st 1882 Aged 44 Years. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not Want.

◊ Also Katie, their Infant Daughter, who died Feb 6th 1870 Aged 6 months.

In Loving Remembrance of Thomas Coombe died May 22, 1888. Aged 56 Years.  Not gone from Memory; Not gone from Love; Gone to his Father's home above.

◊ Also Walter Bruce, the son of Thomas & Betsy Coombe, died Jul 28, 1876, Aged 11 years. Safe in the arms of Jesus.

◊ Betsy Coombe Died Nov 22nd, 1915 Aged 78 Years. Her end was Peace.

In Loving Remembrance of Mabel Coombe, who fell asleep in Jesus Sep 26, 1892 Aged 28 Years

◊ Also Marion Coombe On Oct 10, 1892 Aged 23 Years.

The Beloved Daughters of Joseph and Anne Coombe.

In Loving Memory of Joseph Coombe who fell asleep in Jesus, July 1, 1908 in the 68th Year of his age.

In Loving Memory of George Coombe, died March 23, 1911, Aged 83 Years.

◊ Also Charlotte, wife of George Coombe, died March 20, 1911, Aged 87Years.

◊ Also Grace Ann died March 30 1875 Aged 22 Years

◊ Also Ada Rosina died March 24 1872 Aged 11 Years

Not gone from memory, Not gone from love, But to a Father's home above, Rest in the Saviour, Sweetly rest, They miss you most who loved you best.

◊ Also George Coombe died April 1 1875 Aged 21 years.

In Loving Memory of William Coombe who fell asleep in Jesus April 20th 1909 in his 80th Year. In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust.

◊ Also his beloved wife, Elizabeth Coombe, Died 13th May 1922 aged 83 Years. “Safe home”.

Archie Coombe (1862-1941) - the inscription is very hard to read.

Connections – Tucker, Venning

Researcher Janice has noted that Elizabeth Tucker and William Coombe were cousins. “Elizabeth Tucker was baptised at St Clether, Cornwall, on 13 January 1839, the daughter of John Tucker and his wife Elizabeth (nee Venning). John Tucker had a sister Ann, who was almost certainly William Coombe's mother. The Tuckers arrived in Tasmania in 1855 on the Iceni and name John Coombe as the one introducing them. In 1841 they were in St Clether, in 1851 in neighbouring Laneast. While in Tasmania, they lived in Campbell Town. All but Elizabeth (who had married William Coombe by this time) moved to Queensland in 1862.”

Contact researcher Rob Carseldine for his book (December 2014) on the Tucker family - including their Coombe family relationships - with details of their Cornish ancestry and settlement in Queensland from 1862.

Connections - Boer War

Archibald was in the Boer War’s First (Tasmanian Mounted Infantry) Contingent as a private (Regimental No. 25). AWM has a photo of him in uniform. He returned as a Transport Sergeant (No. 259) in the Fourth (Second Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen) Contingent. In the same contingent was saddler Edward Coombe (No. 267), who had joined from South Australia, grandson of James Coombe and brother of Lionel Coombe who was a saddler at nearby Ross. Possibly Edward had come to Tasmania for his brother Lionel’s wedding just before he enlisted. (See Oz-Boer Database Project.) Also in the war was Archibald’s cousin, Lieut. Herbert Ambrose Coombe (No, 224) 1st Battalion, Railway Pioneer Regiment (see AngloBoerwar.com). Photos of Archibald and Edward are available via Australian Light Horse Studies Centre (search that page for Coombe and follow links).

Connections - Western Australia

Mr. Ernest Coombe, of Perth, West Australia, youngest son of the late Joseph Coombe, of Nile House, Campbell Town, is paying a visit to relatives and friends after an absence from Tasmania of 48 years. During the week he called at the residence of Mr. A. Coombe, High St., Campbell Town, and inquired for his brother, whom he happened to be addressing. After such a long absence neither had recognised the other. The reunion was a happy one and after spending a few days with his brother the visitor left for Launceston to visit another brother, Mr. Joseph Coombe, and a sister. Mercury (Hobart) 13 February 1937.

John’s Ancestry

Paternal Ancestry (likely):

John COOMBE, b. 26 Feb 1797, Lewannick, son of:

  John COOMBE and Grace SLEEP, m. 6 Jan 1795, Lewannick

  John COOMBE, b. 8 Apr 1766, Lewannick, son of:

    Christopher COUMBE and Charity RODGERS, m. 13 Oct 1765, Lewannick

    Christopher COUMBE, b. Feb 1743, Lewannick, son of:

      William COUMBE and Margery DRAPER, m. 9 Apr 1733, Northill ***

      William b. 30 Jun 1704 Altarnun son of

        Philip COUMBE and Elizabeth PEARCE, m. 18 Dec 1699 Altarnun

For more, see Coombe of Altarnun.

*** Note: the Princess Royal 1847 South Australia Coombs migrants are also descended from William Coumbe and Margery Draper.

Contact

To add, contribute, comment, contact David Coombe

Updated: 8 Dec 2014.