Ancestors of Mandy Willard

John COMBER (1816-1876)

and Eliza CHART (1820-1901)

John Comber and Eliza Chart married on 4 March 1839 at the parish church of St. Andrews in Nuthurst, Sussex.  He was then a bachelor and servant of full age and she a spinster and minor.  John signed his name and Eliza made her mark.  Their fathers were named as John Comber and Edward Chart who were both farmers  The witnesses to their marriage were James Comber (signed) and Hannah Coomber (marked).  (They were not my direct ancestors.)

John Comber was baptised aged 16 years on 29 April 1832 in Nuthurst, at which time his father was a farmer of Nuthurst.  He was the son of John Comber (c1789-1867) and Mary Ann Foster (c1794-1871).  He was baptised on the same day as his younger brother, Richard.  John died aged 60 years and his death was registered in the second quarter of 1876 in the Horsham registration district.  At one point it was thought he was the John Comber baptised on 30 August 1818 in Slaugham, Sussex, the son of John Comber (1795-1839) and Sarah Wood (1795-1850), but that John was recorded as unmarried in the 1841 and 1851 census.  Another John Comber was born on 28 November 1818 and baptised on 10 Janaury 1819 in Ardingly, Sussex, and he was the son of John Comber (1796-1855) and Elizabeth Isted.

Eliza Chart was baptised aged 13 weeks on 24 December 1820 in Nuthurst, at which time her father was a miller of Nuthurst.  She was the daughter of Edward Chart (1783-1840) and Matilda Millyard.  Eliza died aged 80 years and her death was registered in the first quarter of 1901 in in the Horsham registration district.  (Eliza's sister Emily Chart married Edward Chart in 1836.)  Eliza's widowed mother, Matilda Chart married Peter Comber in 1843.  Peter was born in about 1792-5 and was the son of Richard Comber and Mary Smart, and they were most probably 1816 John Comber's grandparents.

At the time of the 1841 census the couple and their young son were living in Nuthurst Street, Nuthurst and John was an agricultural labourer.  When the 1851 census was recorded the family were living at Jackrells in Nuthurst and John was a 35 year old famer of 15 acres of land.  Also with them on census night was unmarried 50 year old Stephen Vokes.  John's father had been farming Jackrells at the time of the 1841 census.  The 1861 census records that the couple and 3 of their sons were living at Studs in Nuthurst and John was then a farmer of 16 acres.  In 1871 John and Eliza were living at Jackrells along with his younger brother, Richard, and John was then a farmer of 15 acres.  In 1881, Eliza was a 60 year old widow living with her son Jesse and his family at Partridge Green.

John Comber and Eliza Chart had 7 known children:

1. John Chart Comber was baptised on 13 October 1839 in Nuthurst and the baptism register then described his father as an agriculturalist of Nuthurst.  He was a labourer.  He died on 25 June 1879 when he was accidentally killed by being struck on the head by an engine of the London Brighton & South Coast Railway Company, in the parish of Nuthurst.  He was a year old in 1841.  In 1851 he was an 11 year old living at home.  He was an unmarried 20 year old agricultural labourer when the 1861 census was recorded and he was living at home with his parents.

   John married twice, firstly to Jane Botting on 21 September 1862 in Nuthurst.  The witnesses to the marriage were Jesse Chart Comber and Allen Spencer.

   Jane was born about 1839 and was the daughter of Henry Botting.

   John then married Julia Kirby on 9 August 1870 in Stoke Lyne, Oxfordshire.  She was born there in about 1849.

   When the 1871 census was recorded the couple and their young daughter were living in Nuthurst and John was an agricultural labourer.

   John and Julia had 1 known daughter:

   1. Louisa Comber was born about 1871 in Nuthurst.  She was 3 months old when the 1871 census was recorded.

2. Jesse Chart Comber was born on 7 February and baptised on 5 April 1842 in Nuthurst.  He died before 1901.  In 1851 he was 9 years old and living at home with his parents.  He was an 18 year old agricultural labourer in 1861 and still at home with his parents.

   Jesse married twice.  His first wife was Mary Botting (sister of his brother John's wife) whom he married on 5 April 1863 in the parish church of St. Nicholas, Brighton, Sussex.  At the time he was a 22 year old bachelor and labourer of 18 Spring Gardens, Brighton, and she was a 24 year old spinster of 8 Bath Street, Brighton.  The witnesses to the marriage were Walter Comber and Emma Wilmshurst.

   Mary died aged 34 years on 18 December 1871 in Henfield, Sussex.  Her cause of death was Haemoptysis (coughing up blood).

   Jesse and Mary had 3 known children:

   1. William Raymond Comber was born on 8 June 1864 in Mill Lane, Crabtree, Lower Beeding.  At the time of his birth his father was a timber sawyer.  He died in 1866.

   2. Edith Mary Comber was born on 25 May 1866 in East Grinstead, Sussex.  At the time of her birth her father was a farm labourer.

   3. Gilbert Comber was born on 10 July 1870 in Henfield.  He died aged 21 years on 18 June 1891 at 22 Upper Maze Street, St. Leonards, Sussex.  His cause of death was Phthisis Pulmonalis (TB) which he had had for 2 years.  In 1881 he was a 10 year old scholar living with his father and step mother.

   Jesse then married Sarah Ann Whiting on 2 July 1873 in West Grinstead, Sussex.  He was then described as a 28 year old widower and labourer of West Grinstead and she was a 24 year old spinster and servant of West Grinstead.  The witnesses were James Whiting and Mary Ann Whiting.

   Sarah Ann was born about 1848 in Wivelsfield, Sussex and was the daughter of William Whiting a gamekeeper.

   At the time of the 1881 census the family were living in Partridge Green and Jesse was a 38 year old agricultural labourer.  Also with them on census night was his widowed mother.

   Jesse and Sarah Ann had 9 known children:

   4. Mary Georgina Comber was born on 11 March 1877 in Partridge Green, Sussex.  She was a 4 year old scholar in 1881.

   5. William Adolphus Comber was born in the fourth quarter of 1878 in West Grinstead.  In 1881 he was 2 years old.

   6. Arthur John Comber was born in the first quarter of 1881 and died in the first quarter of 1885.  When the 1881 census was recorded he was 3 months.

   7. Ernest Jesse Comber was born in the third quarter of 1884 and died in 1973.

   8. Edward Comber was born in the third quarter of 1886.

   9. Harry Ronald Comber was born on 17 December 1888 in Partridge Green.

   10. Eliza Ellen Comber was born in the second quarter of 1891.

   11. Herbert Frank Comber was born on 23 September 1893 in Partridge Green.

   12. Percy James Comber was born on 15 February 1896 in Littleworth.

3. Walter Chart Comber was baptised on 6 October 1844 in Nuthurst.  He died aged 75 years on 14 November 1919 at West Hylands in Cuckfield, Sussex.  He was then a drover of Slaugham and his cause of death was heart disease.  The informant on his death certificate was R. Blasdale-Holmes, occupier.  In 1851 he was 6 years old.  He was a 16 year old agricultural labourer/servant in the home of George Henson at Swains in Cowfold in 1861.  (In 1641, Swains was held by my 10x Great Grandparents, Richard Cripps and Jane Gratwick.)

   Walter married Eliza Argent on 21 July 1866 in East Grinstead, Sussex.  The witnesses were John Chart Comber and Ann Wickenden.

   Walter and Eliza had the following children:

   1. William Dennis Comber was baptised on 29 July 1866 in East Grinstead.

   2. Walter Henry Comber was born on 29 August and baptised on 31 October 1869 in Woodmancote, Sussex.

   3. Charles Comber was born on 11 January 1871 at 'Woodies' in East Grinstead.  His father was a farm labourer at the time of his birth.

4. Edward Chart Comber was born on 16 April and baptised on 14 June 1846 in Nuthurst.  He died before 1901.  He was 4 years old when the 1851 census was recorded.

   Edward married Louisa Taylor on 11 July 1864 in East Grinstead.  The witnesses to the marriage were John Payne and Jane Taylor.

   Louisa was born about 1847 and was the daughter of James Taylor a labourer.

5. Charles Chart Comber was born on 2 September 1848 in Nuthurst.  In 1851 he was 2 years old.  I have not found him in the 1861 census but in 1871 he was a 25 year old unmarried farm servant living at West Lands in West Grinstead, Sussex in the home of George Woods and his wife Hannah.

   Charles married Annette Wickham on 26 December 1875 at the parish church of St. John's in Burgess Hill, Sussex.  The witnesses were George Wickham and Alice Wickham.

   Annetta was born on 4 January 1857 in Hurstpierpoint, Sussex and was the daughter of George Friend Wickham (1826-?) and Mary Ann Clark.

   Charles and Annette had 9 known children:

   1. Matilda Ann Comber was born on 16 February 1876 in West Street, Clayton.

      Matilda Ann married William Woolgar on 31 March 1895 in the parish church of Southwick, Sussex.  The witnesses to the marriage were Benjamin Comber and Fanny West.

      William was born about 1873/4 in Southwick and was the son of Mark Woolgar (1846-?) and Eliza Skinner (1848-?).  (Mark was the grandson of my 4x Great Grandparents, William Woolgar (1780-1874) and Naomi Lelliott (1784-1833).)

   2. Benjamin Comber was born on 12 September 1878 at Little Jackralls in Nuthurst.  He was killed during WW1.

      Benjamin married Catherine Elizabeth Harrow, widow, on 7 June 1911 in Brighton.  The witnesses to the marriage were George H. Huckin and David Hill.  Her maiden name was Catherine Elizabeth Hill.

   3. George Clemmon Comber was born on 16 November 1860 in Windmill Cottage, Portslade, Sussex.

      George married twice, firstly to Eleanor Daisy Boniface in 1899.  The couple had 1 known daughter:

      1. Dorothy Comber was born on 23 August 1899 at 3 Elm Road, Portslade-by-Sea.

      George then married Nellie Smith on 14 June 1948 at St. Nicolas, Portslade.  She was the daughter of George James Comlidge, a butcher, who had died before 1848.  At the time of their marriage George was a widower an Nellie a widow and they were both of 17 Hayes Close, Portslade.  The witnesses to the marriage were A.E. Comlidge and G.H. Cooper.

   4. Jesse Comber was born on 16 November 1883 at 1 Hope Cottages in Keymer, Sussex.

   5. Charles Comber was born on 20 October 1885 at 6 George Street, Portslade.

   6. Leonard Comber was born on 27 March 1889 at 6 George Street, Portslade.

   7. Bernard Comber was born on 22 May 1891 at 6 George Street, Portslade.

   8. Robert Comber was born on 13 September 1892 at 6 George Street, Portslade.

   9. Frederick Comber was born on 29 July 1894 at 6 George Street, Portslade.  He died on 30 November 1957 in the General Hospital at Dorking, Surrey.  His cause of death was Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis.

      Frederick married Helen Annesley Clara Moon on 8 November 1924 at the Register Office in Reigate, Surrey.  The witnesses to the marriage were P. Dyke and P. Moon.

      Helen was born on 11 November 1900 at 55 Park Street, Southwark and baptised on 24 December 1900 at St. Saviour's in Southwark, and was the daughter of Sampson Moon (1859-1923) and Susannah Helen Winrow (1874-?).  She died on 22 January 1964 in the General Hospital at Redhill, Surrey.

      Frederick and Helen had 2 children:

      1. Constance Phyllis Comber married Lenoard Stephen Sunderland (1919-2003).

      2. Frederick Charles Comber (1932-2002).

      Helen married for a second time to Frederick Roney in 1961. 

6. George Clement Comber was born on 1 May and baptised on 1 August 1858 in Nuthurst.  The 1861 census records that he was 8 years old and living at home with his parents.  He died before 1901.

   George married Mary Frances Baker on 25 December 1888 at the Kingston Register Office in Surrey.  The witnesses to the marriage were Mary Ann Coit and Edwin Thomas Coit.

   Mary was the daughter of William Baker a gentleman who had died before George and Mary's marriage.

7. Richard Comber was born on 1 May 1858 at Little Jackralls in Nuthurst and died there on 14 May 1858 aged 13 days.  His cause of death was Congenital Debility.

Comber baptisms in Nuthurst between 1810 and 1825:

1811, March 20, William son of Peter Comber and Hannah

1811, July 14, Peter son of John Comber and Mary, an adult aged 59 years

1812, March 31, David son of Richard Comber and Mary, aged 19 years

1812, March 31, William son of William Comber and Anne, aged 15 years

1812, April 19, Thomas son of William Comber and Anne, aged 13 years

1812, April 19, Hannah daughter of William Comber and Anne, aged 11 years

1812, April 19, Stephen son of William Comber and Anne, aged 8 years

1812, April 19, Frances daughter of William Comber and Anne, aged 3 years

1812, September 20, Lucy daughter of William Comber and Ann

1813, September 19, Thomas son of James Comber and Sophia, labourer of Nuthurst

1813, October 3, John son of Peter Comber and Hannah, labourer of Nuthurst.  John died aged 1 year and 11 months and was buried on 5 July 1815 in Nuthurst.  (Peter Comber married Hannah White by licence on 7 May 1795 in Nuthurst.

1816, February 7, Charles son of William Comber and Ann, labourer of Nuthurst

1816, February 18, Hannah daughter of Peter Comber and Hannah, of Nuthurst

1816, May 26, James son of James Comber and Sophia, labourer of Horsham

1817, October 29, Lucy daughter of David Comber and Emily, husbandman of Nuthurst

1819, January 31, Hannah daughter of James Comber and Sophia, labourer of Nuthurst

1819, October 31, George son of David Comber and Emily, labourer of Broadwater

1820, August 6, Sarah daughter of James Comber and Sophia, labourer of Nuthurst

1822, March 10, William son of James Comber and Sophia, labourer of Horsham

1822, May 19, William son of Stephen Comber and Mary, labourer of Nuthurst

1823, June 8, Ellen daughter of William Comber and Rebecca, labourer of Nuthurst

1825, September 11, William son of William Comber and Rebecca, labourer of Nuthurst

1825, November 13, Frederick son of Hannah Comber, spinster of Nuthurst

Comber marriages in Nuthurst between 1790-1820:

1795, May 1795, Peter Comber and Hannah White

1797, December --, John Aylard and Elizabeth Comber

1799, June --, Henry Divill and Martha Comber

1804, January 20, William Comber and Mary White

1805, April 15, Stephen Comber and Mary Harden

1805, April 16, James Heasman and Hannah Comber

1812, November 24, Richard Blake and Elizabeth Comber

1813, September 7, William Killner and Mary Comber

1815, January 22, John Comber and Mary Foster

1816, April 25, David Comber and Emily Millyard

1818, July 1, Thomas Jupp and Sarah Comber

COMBER