Mary Be(?)rtram
|
|===========||
William lombe         Daniel Milner Esq of Ardwick (Manchester)
Be(?)rtram
b.                    b.
c.16mar1775            c.
d.                    d......1797 (to be confirmed)
|                     |
m.02apr1776           m.
|                     | 
Hannah                Frances Barrow (to be confirmed)   
Whittleham            |
|         |===========|================||
|         Daughter    Francis [Barrow/Barron]
|                     b.
|                     d.
|                     |
|                     m.           
|                     |
|                     Elizabeth barrow Milner                                                                 
|                     b...nov1797 Ardwick, Manchester                                     
|                     c.19nov1797 Saint Thomas Ardwick
|                     d.21jan1830 on the ship 'James' en route to Bahia, Brazil and 
|                     |                                       the Swan River Colony
|                     m1.14nov1818........................ m2.05jul1828   
|                     | St. Nicholas, Liverpool            |
......................William Henry Lombe                  William Stewart
                      b.30sep1788                          b.
                      c.19oct1788                          c.
                      br.08mar1824                         d.
                      |                             Step   |
|=================================|===========||...........|
William henry                     Frances louisa   father
b.21dec1820 Cheltenham            b.                                                         
c.05aug1819 Cheltenham            c.31mar1822              
c.05mar1826 Liverpool             c.05mar1826 Liverpool  
d.05nov1905 NSW                   d.15sep1900 Miners Rest
|                                 |
m.21dec1848 Launceston, Tasmania  m1.14aug1844 ........... m2.12nov1862   
|                                 |                        |         
Julia Sherlock aka Juliann        Caleb Crompton           William Brown  
b.07oct1829 Geogetown, Tas                                             
d.17jan1923 Lindfield, NSW
|                                                 Child - others died in childhood
4=============5==============6============8===========9===========10==========11=======||
Arthur        Sydney         Ada mary     Frank       Alfred      Herbert     Zilla agnes
price         albert                      edward      ernest      milner
b......1855   b......1859    b......1861  b......1865 b......1867 b......1870 b.....1872
d.1903Kogarah d.1938Rockdale d......1942  d......1938 d......1939 d.27may1930 d.....1965 
|             |              |            |           |             ********* |
m.1886/1895   m......1881    m......1879  m......1887 m......1899             m.....1900
|             |              |            |           |                       |
Twice         Janet jane     William john Caroline    Mary Ardley             John Pye
              McKay          Sherlock     Reidel  
  *********                  (cousin)                   *********

1821info1e, sheet 2

An inheritance

In 1841, Fanny Lombe received a bequest of 100 pounds from the will of her mother’s cousin, Betty Barrow, of Warrington, Lancashire. This is likely to be Betty Barrow a 60 year old lodger of Bean Yard, Bridge Street Warrington. This is equivalent to £10,900 at 2021 RPI values, and equal to A$19,818 at December 2022 exchange values. Source: Heather Schoffelen's family papers

Elizabeth Barrow MILNER'S marriage to William Henry LOMBE

William Henry LOMBE and Elizabeth Barrow MILNER were married by Licence of the Bishop of Chester, being that Liverpool was then in the See of Chester.

Above: A transcript of the opening paragraphs of William Henry LOMBE and Elizabeth Barrow MILNER's license to marry

Click on the pdf icon to open a scalable pdf of the full licence in a new window

It is interesting to note that this licence cost £500 in 1818, which is equivalent to £38,840 in 2021 RPI values or just shy of A$70500 at December 2022 exchange rate. That sets a whole new aspect on the marriage and probably accounts for the funding of the Lombe music school and Elizabeth’s libraries.

Left: Elizabeth Lombe's marriage certificate from the Anglican Liverpool St. Nicholas, sited near the Pier Head. Source: Liverpool Marriage and Banns 1813-1921, Liverpool Record Office Ref: 283 NIC/3/10 (Ancestry) Prior to the Industrial Revolution, Ardwick, where Elizabeth was born, was a small village situated just outside eastern Manchester in open countryside.

As the marriage notice shows William was already a travelled thespian.

Right: A composite image of Elizabeth and William's marriage. The 14 November 1818 was a Saturday. Source: 'The Lancaster Gazette and General Advertiser, for Lancashire, Westmorland, &c.' (Lancaster, England), Saturday, November 21, 1818; Issue 910.

Two years later their first child, also William Henry, was born in Cheltenham.

1821info1e, sheet 3

Cheltenham and William Henry junior's birth

In 1819 William Henry LOMBE was living in Cheltenham where William Henry Junior was born in 1820. Whilst this document proves that the family lived in Cheltenham and confirms that William Henry was an actor, it raises the question as to whether he was a Professor of Music and 

1. The date of the baptism is 17 months prior to the previously given birth date. 2. William Henry junior was baptised twice: Cheltenham and Liverpool Left: A composite image of William Henry Lombe junior's baptism record - 05 August 1819 Source: Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucester, England; Reference Numbers: P78/1 IN 1/8

At this time, on 09 September 1819, William Henry LOMBE was the producer, performer and song writer of an evening at the Theatre Royal, Cheltenham 1. It is interesting to note that tickets could be obtained from 10 St James Street, Cheltenham: his home? An article in the Cheltenham Chronicle of 13 May 1819 describes M Lombe, the actor, as being [oiginally?] 'from Liverpool', which may account for the family returning there after a stay in Worcester. Left: Advertisement from Cheltenham Chronicle of 09 September 1819 in which William Henry LOMBE produces, writes songs and performs

1821info1e, sheet 4

Above: Map locating St James Street, Cheltenham 1883, marked red

The British Book Trade Index - see below - does not offer a Lombe Lending Library in Cheltenham Left: 10 St James Street, Cheltenham from where William Henry LOMBE sold his theatre tickets. This is probably the 1820 birth place of his son.

1821info1e, sheet 5

Above: Mr Lombe, as Steadfast, reviewed in Mr Crisp's play - composite image of Cheltenham Chronicle 20 May 1819

1821info1e, sheet 6

Frances' birth

Claines church stands isolated in a farming area some miles north east of Worcester, surrounded by isolated housing, perhaps associated with farm workers. However in the 19^th century the large parish of Claines extended into the city of Worcester. It covered an area bounded by the A38 and the River Severn, south of the village. In today's Worcester it would have included the race course but then ended before the railway viaduct.

The register entries for 'Abode' gives the precise location of the parents residence. The Lombe family had moved to Worcester and lived in The Moors, an area adjoining the race course and within walking distance of the city centre. This area is within the parish of Claines.

William Henry LOMBE appears to have been a life long Non-Conformist. However, Worcester Local History Centre have no Non-Conformist records; Congregationalist or Presbyterian, for the first part of the 19^th century, therefore it is assumed that Frances' christening had to be within the established Church of England.

Above: An abridged page showing Fanny's birth entry in the Claines Parish Register Source: Worcester History Centre film 62/2 page 100

	Above: Claines Church, where Frances was first christened - Author Left: A map showing the Parish of Claines, Frances' birth parish

1821info1e, sheet 7

Life in Worcester

The Moors, once a series of long thin courtyards leading from the road towards the race course, were built on the flood plain of Worcester's River Severn. The 1886 map illustrates Courts 3- 11. From a plan view some Courts appear to be single dwellings with a long thin garden averaging 50m long by 6m wide.

Other Courts, approximately 55m long by 18m, show several smaller houses built around a 'garden' area. The plots were, in general, for multiple occupancy. The status of the area can be suggested by the quality of the buildings around Britannia Square. Here detached Georgian buildings surround a grassy square, with some of their long gardens extending down to The Moors. Right: A 1886 map of Worcester locating The Moors and 61 High Street Source: Ordnance Survey reprint

Today the building where the Lombe's lived have been knocked down, to be replaced by The Swan Theatre, an ex-serviceman's club, a car park and the race course's hurdles yard. There are only the remains of the facing walls to the gardens of Britannia Square.

Right: The Moors, Worcester, 2005, showing the car park railings, where the Courts once stood and the garden walls to Britannia Square.

1821info1e, sheet 8

Left: The site of the now demolished Courts in The Moors, Worcester, 2005. Beyond the trees is Worcester race course.

Right: The Georgian affluence of Britannia Square, Worcester, 2005

1821info1e, sheet 9

Lombe's Circulating Library

Every document researched refers to William Henry LOMBE as a musician and 'Professor of Music'. But he was also a bookseller and the owner of Lombe's Circulating Library, a many faceted establishment of books, sheet music, stationery and drawing. The British Book Trade Index (BBTI) records that, in 1819 Lombe's Circulating Library was based in High Street, Worcester, and in 1821 at number 61 High Street. But it is evident that his wife, Elizabeth Barrow Milner, was a 'partner' fulfilling an important role. It is interesting to note that the BBTI lists a Peter Milner, bookseller, in Warrington (where William Henry LOMBE and Elizabeth were married).

Circulating libraries sprang up in the 18th century as private libraries for members only. A fee was required to join but they greatly increased the accessibility to books, which were still expensive items. In England, many bookstores could not keep up with the demand for novels and romances so they started renting them out rather than selling them. These circulating libraries, as they were called, were derided by the literate classes as "slop shops of literature" . Note the careful wording of the Lombe advertisement. They were also unpopular with publishers as it was feared that they would lead to a fall in book sales. However, in the long term, circulating libraries increased book sales because they contributed to a rise in literacy among previously illiterate classes. As the market for books grew, people started to buy rather than rent. For-profit circulating libraries existed in England well into the 1950s, their demise eventually caused by the proliferation of the paperback book.

Right: The 1886 map of central Worcester showing 61 High Street at the corner of Broad Street. The Guildhall, shown above, is at the corner of High Street and Pump Street.

1821info1e, sheet 11

61 High Street, Worcester - the Lombe's Library Above: The doorway Right: The Georgian building

The architectural style suggests that this actual building, on the corner of High Street and Broad Street, could have been the one occupied by the Circulating Library. Behind the scaffold and curtains is an elegant building in a prominent position. The numbering of the High Street, in single numbers up one side and down the other, suggest that, at one time, this corner building numbered 61 was at the end of the prestigious development.

Right: Worcester High Street 1910, showing The Guild Hall and, on the left, looking down towards W.H.LOMBE's book shop. Source: From a painting by Worcester artist Nick Upton 1994

1821info1e, sheet 11

The family return to Liverpool and an early death

William was the advertised owner of the library up to 1824. The BBTI records William Henry's death as 1824 when Elizabeth LOMBE took over the business in Liverpool. Lombe's Circulating Libraries in Liverpool were at the following locations: 37 Lime Street, Liverpool, Lancashire - 1822-1824 - red 36 Whitechapel Street, Liverpool, Lancashire - 1824-1825 - yellow Source: British Book Trade Index (accessed 26 June 2019) Click on the map to open a 20kB A4 landscape map Pigot's 1835 Liverpool Directory lists LOMBE Wm. Henry of 37 Lime-st as a Music Seller

In 1826, the children were re-baptised into the established Church. It is possible that the Claines baptism 'didn't count'. In the early 1800s and before 1837 non-conformists had no graveyards available to them except those of the local parish church. The parish church wouldn't bury anyone unless they were baptised in that church. Perhaps William Henry, as a non-conformist, was hedging his bets by having the children and perhaps his whole family re-baptised into the new Communion. Is it possible that the date of Fanny's second christening coincides with the burial of William Henry?

Business and social requirements may be an alternative reason for a second christening. The congregation of the local non-conformist chapel in Churchtown, Southport in the 1820s was made up of impoverished fishing families, farm labourers and weavers, and was not the place for a librarian to be seen. The same scenario may have applied to the Liverpool churches and social scene.

It is possible that, at the time of William Henry LOMBE's early death, the family was living 'over the shop' at 37 Lime Street, Liverpool. It is possible that the death and subsequent reduced income necessitated the move to 36 Whitechapel Street. Left: William Henry LOMBE's burial certificate dated 08 March 1824

Living in Southport and a second marriage

The eighteenth entry in the1830 'Directory for Southport 1831' or, An historical and descriptive account of Southport, Lytham, and Blackpool. Preston, from Whittle, P and H (1831) records Elizabeth as the former owner of a library in the Lord Street area of Southport: 18, Billington, Mrs, "shell repository, music room, " public library. "This building is extremely neat and elegant, and is situated to the east of the Hesketh Arms, and was originally kept by Mrs LOMBE".

Above: A map locating the possible position of the old Hesketh Arms and the Lombe's circulation library

In 1819 the Hesketh Arms, described in Mrs Billington's trade entry, was the Black Bull, which in 1790s, was in one of three fisherman's cottages run by Wm. Sutton. He is credited with founding Southport by building The Original Hotel on the sands at the south end of Lord Street, then known as South Hawes. By 1851 the Black Bull had become the Hesketh Arms and the original Hesketh Arms, which stood in Lord Street, had been renamed the Scarisbrick Arms. Therefore, Mrs Billington's public library, which Elisabeth LOMBE kept, was in Lord Street east of the Hesketh Arms; a street of equivalent status to High Street, Worcester.

1821info1e, sheet 12

Running north east to south west is the promenade. If this library was situated to the east it is likely to have been at the bottom of Eastbank Street, where the present Sefton (formerly Atkinson) Public Library now is. Eastbank Street was then a community of fishermen's cottages, later pulled down to make way for more substantial civic buildings. With thanks to Judy Bradwell, who married in St Cuthbert's and now lives in Wellington, New Zealand. Right: An 1848 map of Eastbank Street, Southport showing the possible site of the Lombe Library Click on the image to open an A4 landscape 206kB jpg map

The Billington family are present in the 1851 census, but Mrs Billington is not listed. John Billington, a shopkeeper aged 75 and born in Cheshire, was the family head. Then follows a list of daughters and sons. There is, however, a nephew, Henry aged 5 who was born in Worcestershire. Living in Lord Street implies a substantial family.

On 05 July1828 the widow LOMBE, married, by licence (Accessed 25 December 2015) William STEWART (recorded as Steward) at St. Cuthbert, North Meols ² George Stewart and Elizabeth Todd were witnesses. The bride and groom lived in the parish.

The Parish of North Meols including Churchtown, Crossens, Marshside and Banks is situated on a rivulet one mile
along the coast, and 2 miles north east of Southport railway station. Visitors making the short journey from Southport found a charming village with its thatched cottages, St. Cuthbert's Church, and the beautiful Botanic Gardens. The A565, marked green, leads south-westerly to Lord Street. St Cuthbert Church is indicated by a black circle with a cross. The orange road below the church is Botanic Road. where a 'modern' Hesketh Arms was built circa 1880.
	Above: A map locating St Cuthbert's Church, Botanic Road, Churchtown

For the reasons described above Elizabeth may have been happy to have been married in an Anglican church. However, her wedding may have been in Christ Church, consecrated on 29 November 1821 and only 50m from where her library would have been. This was the 'posh-end' of the growing Southport with Churchtown being the home of impoverished fishing families and weavers. St Cuthbert's, being the original church held the records for Christ Church.

There are Stewarts in the 1851 census living in Upper King Street. This is the local area of Southport where lived the families who were doing reasonably well out of the new town. James STEWART, 34, was a boot maker, born in Hesketh Bank (a village north of Southport), with his wife Jane, 36, born Southport, and their two children Alice, 11, and Ellen 3. An Alfred Johnson, from Bradford was a lodger. However, Stewart is definitely not a Southport name.

Something made this new family emigrate to Australia.

1821info1e, sheet 14

William Henry LOMBE's origins

William Henry's parents, William Lombe and Hannah Whittleham were married by Licence on 02 April 1776, in the parish of Wroxham, Norfolk

Above: William Lombe's marriage certificate to Hannah Whittleham 02 April 1776

Above: A composite image of William Lombe's marriage in the Bishop's Transcript signed by Daniel Collyer, Vicar and John Green, Charles Atting Churchwardens Source: MyHertiage from Heather Schoffelen

There are many references in the Liverpool Mercury to a Mr. LOMBE who was an actor/singer/musician at the Theatre Royal in Liverpool between 1814 and 1817.

1821info1e, sheet 15

He then disappears from the advertisements until late 1823 when he re-appears just the once performing at a benefit concert held at the York Hotel. Although Christian names or initials are never given the dates fit with William Henry LOMBE getting married in 1818 and going off to Worcester and then coming back to Liverpool. This advertisement appeared in the Liverpool Mercury, Friday June 9, 1815. The lead actor, Charles Kemble, was from a very well known family of actors: he was the brother of Sarah Siddons nee Kemble. Source right: British Library Newspapers online - collection guide Below: The Theatre Royal Liverpool in the early 19th Century

William Henry LOMBE was buried on 08 March 1824 at Liverpool Christ Church.

Octagon Chapel, Norwich

The records of Octagon Unitarian Chapel confirms Hannah and William LOMBE had the family christened there:

1. 1. Maria Lombe - born: 05 February 1777, baptised: 10 February 1777
2. 2. Charlotte Lombe- born: 10 JAN 1782, , baptised: 22 January 1782
3. 3. Anna Lombe - baptised: 5 September 1784
4. 4. William Henry Lombe - born: 30 September 1788, baptised: 9 October 1788

Above: Christening of William Henry LOMBE on 19 October 1788 at Octagon Presbyterian or Unitarian Chapel, Norwich Source: TNA, RG4/1966/F3, Kew, London

Left: Pendlebury Houghton, Minister at Octagon Chapel 1787-1806 and 1810- 1812. A classics tutor at Warrington who came to Norwich to assist Enfield. He left for Westminster, returned two years later and then went to Liverpool. He is buried at Geldeston, where he died in 1824 at the home of his only daughter Mrs Henry Dowson. Right: Thomas Lombe TAYLOR 1802-1873. Grandson of Dr John and son of Richard. A trained lawyer who spent most of his life on the Starston estate. Source: Octagon Chapel vestry display

Note: Octagon Unitarian Chapel - Unitarians differ from mainstream Christian doctrine in their beliefs on baptism and as such their practice fell outside that of the Established Church of England. To overcome this the chapel was styled English Presbyterian/Unitarian.

1821info1e, sheet 15

The Lombe's appear to be a well established Norwich/Norfolk family. Edward LOMBE stood for parliament in 1818. Below: Octagon Chapel interior 13 November 2014

1821info1e, sheet 17

William Henry LOMBE Junior in later life

William Henry was born in Cheltenham Gloucestershire on 21 December 1820. However, Gloucestershire Archives records for St Mary's Church, Cheltenham give his baptism date as 05 August 1819. Though he arrived in Van Diemen's Land with Frances Louisa, little is known about his life. He was a witness at Caleb's wedding in 1844 and was married himself, to Julia(nn) SHERLOCK, on his 28th birthday. On 26 January 1839 a Mr Lombe arrived in Van Diemen's Land on the ' Adelaide' from Port Phillip (Melbourne). (LINC Tasmania MB2/39/1/4 p222 95/1/1 p342) On 20 July 1846 William Henry LOMBE, a carpenter, left Van Diemen's Land from George Town on the 'Roseanna' bound for Sydney (LINC Tasmania CSO 95/1/1 p342). At some time later he returned for his wedding. On 07 August 1849, their first child Mary Elizabeth was registered to William Henry and Julia LOMBE. Left: William Henry LOMBE Jnr in later life Source: Lowe LT, Sherlock History, Frankston 3199, courtesy Heather Schoffelen, Ocean Grove, Victoria

Right: Juliann LOMBE taken on her 90th birthday in Sydney, 07 October 1919 Julia SHERLOCK, or Juliann, as she like to be known, was 12 when she came to Port Phillip with her family in 1841: and at 16 and after her father's death she returned to live with her sister in Tasmania . She was small in stature as were many of the Sherlocks, and was said to possess a very fiery nature. She was 19 when she married William LOMBE on 21 December 1848. The marriage took place at the bridegroom's residence in Launceston and the officiating minister was the Rev. Charles PRICE of the Independent Church (1836) in Tamar Street, Launceston. The witnesses were her brother, John Henry SHERLOCK, and her sister Sarah SHERLOCK. (The marriage took place without his sister Frances being a witness. Does this mean that she had moved to South Australia by this time?) Source: Lowe op.cit. Juliann died on 17 January1923 at Lindfield/Chatswood NSW. They are both buried in the Congregational Monumental Section A-0043 of Woronora General Cemetery at 121 Linden St Sutherland, NSW 2232

Above: William Henry LOMBE's 1848 marriage certificate Source: LINC Tasmania RDG37/1/7 no 2089

1821info1e, sheet 17

Above: A composite image of birth record of their first child Mary Elizabeth LOMBE on 07 August 1849. She died in 1853 in New South Wales. William Henry is recorded as a carpenter of Brisbane Street, Launceston Source: LINC Tasmania RDG33/1/23 no 2465

After their marriage Juliann and William left Tasmania for New South Wales, and lived and raised their family at Merrimans Building, Miller's Point Sydney. Their son John was baptised from that address. Source: Lowe op.cit.

Above: A composite image of the departure of William Henry Lombe and family with Mrs Sherlock and child for Sydney Note: the coincidence of the mis/phonetic spelling of Lambe for Lombe and Shulock for Sherlock. The Lombe child would be Mary Elizabeth born 1849 Source: LINC Tasmania POL220/1/1 P251

Left: Composite image of Lombe family sailing 27 July 1850 Again note the mis/phonetic spellings of Lombe and Sherlock.

1821info1d, sheet 18

Their fourth child Arthur Price LOMBE, was named after Reverend Charles PRICE, the famous Tasmanian Congregational minister, who officiated at their wedding. Rev. Charles Price's obituary (Accessed: 26 June 2019) Later Juliann's sister, Sarah, married Charles Seckerson Yahrah PRICE, the Rev. PRICE's son. Left: The Independent Church, Tamar Street, Launceston (left) in 1886, subsequently demolished and replaced by Dutch Garden Source: National Trust of Australia (Tasmania) Photographic Collection

He lived at Ashfield, NSW. Was this where Frances lived for her period of five years in New South Wales as recorded on Charles Walter CROMPTON's death certificate?

His death

William Henry, a literate Congregational joiner of Kimberly Road, Hurstville, NSW, died on 05 November 1905 (Ref: NSW certificate 12918) at Hurstville, NSW. . He was buried on 17 November 1905 at Sutherland (Woronora) Cemetery Sydney, NSW. His funeral was arranged by his son, Alfred Ernest. The cedar coffin, with polished silver fittings, was taken to Sutherland Cemetery by hearse and two carriages. The cost of the funeral was 13 pounds 9 shillings.

William Henry's death certificate states that he spent 55 years in New South Wales (arrived c.1850) and 18 years in Tasmania (arrived in Tasmania c. 1832 at the age of 12).

1821info1d, sheet 19

The Theatre Royal, Cheltenham 'The Theatre Royal Cheltenham, also known as - The Cheltenham Theatre - was situated on Bath Street, near the Montpellier Pump Rooms, and formed part of a large site, which also included at different times, a Rotunda, a Conservatory, a Promenade, and a Music Hall. The busiest time for the building appears to have been the Summer Seasons, usually beginning on or about the 1st of May, the Theatre and Rotunda also opening to match this schedule. Sadly the first Cheltenham Theatre Royal was destroyed by fire on the 03 May 1839. It was owned at the time by a Mr. Grattan who had been running it for some time. Several adjoining houses were also destroyed by the fire which was so severe that the Theatre was completely destroyed and only a pile of ruins were left in its place. The damage was estimated to have been £5,000.' Source: The Theatre Royal, Cheltenham (Accessed: 26 June 2019) At this time the location can not be reconciled to the map. Bath Street is not near the Montpellier Pump Rooms, now Lloyd's Bank, Montpellier Walk - see below.

1821info1d, sheet 20

St Cuthbert, North Meols The name Southport came into existence in the 1790s; the town is neither south nor a port and was supposedly given by a pixilated doctor. However between two of the sandbanks off the town there was a "lake" where boats could anchor at the south end, so this might be how the town got its name. The parish remained North Meols which was the name of the original area. Left: St Cuthbert's Church from the newsagents Below: The interior of St Cuthbert's Church St Cuthbert's Church is believed to have been built on the site of a church dating from pre-Conquest times. A place called Mele is one of the twelve resting places, in Lancashire, of the bones of St. Cuthbert during their wanderings in the 9th Century. The Church was built in stone in 1571 and rebuilt in 1730-39 although very little of this now remains. The south door bears the inscription: James Rimmer, Thomas Rimmer, Robert Ball, Church Wardens. James Whitehead Rector 1730 . The tower and spire were rebuilt in 1850 and the interior suggests a similar date.

This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass		Version A8 Updated 07 June 2023