On this site, I have found a marriage certificate for James Whitcombe and Anne Watkins, married in Walford on 8 July 1850; also the birth of their son William Frederick Whitcombe on 18 Sept. 1850 in Monmouth.

The father of James is shown as Thomas Whitcombe, a Maltster, and James' occupation is Brewer on both certificates. I am hoping someone can help me to locate more information about Thomas Whitcombe (birth / marriage / death) and maybe census records. So far I have been unable to locate relevant records on this or other genealogy sites.

It would also be helpful if there were records associated with occupation - Brewer and / or Maltster. Any advice /suggestions will be very much appreciated.

Thanks in anticipation.

Cherryl

For starters.

--

Looking at the census info - James dob is c1816 - one census says he was born in Monmouth (1851 aged 34) and the other (1861 aged 42) Hereford

There is a Public Members Tree on Ancestry - which lists his christening 27 November 1814 at St Mary Monmouth - father Thomas, mother, Margaret and a brother Charles.

Monmouth St Marys

27 November 1814

WHITCOMB

Child: James
Father's forename: Thomas (his occupation is given as labourer)
Mother's forename: Margaret

also on Charles WHITCOMB - baptism - 16 October 1816.

Charles WHITCOMB's death is on this website 22 May 1874 at Monmouth

also the birth of his son Charles 9 June 1861 at Whitchurch - mother: Sarah

This needs sorting out - however.....

Here is James' brother Charles

Marriage at Monmouth

28 October 1852

Charles WITCOMB

bachelor

occupation: Mason residence of this Parish

father: Thomas WITCOMBE - occupation: Malster

to

Ann NORMAN of this parish:

Bride's father: John NORMAN, occupation: Shoemaker

witnesses: John MORRIS and Mary Ann MEREDITH

This is the 1871 census, Monmouth,

Charles WHITCOMB - aged 54, Mason - born Monmouth
Anne - 61 - born Hereford, Withington

and on the 1841 census - Monmouth

Sarah WATKINS - 25 - not born in County
Charles WHITECOMB - 20 - I Mason - born in County

---

On one census, James says he was born in Hereford

?

There is a marriage at Little Birch, Hereford, 6 December 1802

Thomas WHITCOMB and Margaret DAVIS (the children's mother was listed as Margaret)

Hi Cherryl, warm welcome to the forum and website !

You mention records associated with Brewer and Malster. I've tried researching the history of pubs, brewhouses and their workers in the past and have found various sites which I hope you'll find useful, including those about the role of brewers and malsters. Please see this prior post and the subsequent thread, it contains several pointers and links to other webpages, hopefully it will help you.

Good luck, Jeff.

https://forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?mode=entry&id=50396

Thank you for the prompt response, MPGriffiths. I had found the 1851 and 1861 census but had missed the Private Members Tree on Ancestry. They seem to have a lot of information about the family so I will email them directly to confirm their sources. Interestingly they indicate that James had a brother William and his marriage certificate shows a William Whitcombe as a witness. So far, so good!

I find it curious that Thomas Watkins was a labourer and then became a maltster. Similarly James went from a man servant (1841 census) to brewer (marriage cert. son's birth cert and 1851 census), then an ostler in 1861 census. Still plenty more digging to do:-)

Thanks again for your interest and information.
Kind regards
Cherryl

Thanks for the welcome and the reference, Jefff. Hopefully I can shed more light on the Whitcombe family and their brewer / maltster background.

Kind regards
Cherryl

Here are earlier baptisms at Monmouth for siblings - on this website

Put the Symbol % in the surname - and put father: Thomas, Mother : Margaret, for baptisms at Monmouth - then we have

Parents: Thomas & Margaret

Thomas WHITCOMB - 4 Augut 1805

William WHITCOMBE - 6 January 1807

Michael WHITCOMBE - 2 April 1809 (buried at Monmouth 31 January 1824 aged 14)

Henry WHITCOMB - 25 October 1812 ***
Mary WHITCOMB - 25 October 1812

George WITCOMB - 17 January 1819

***

Think this is his marriage at Penalt, Monmouth, 16 October 1832 (on this website)

to Martha Shellard

and he is on the 1851 Census, Monmouth with Martha. Henry occupation is a Gardener

and children

Joseph - 18
Margaret - 16 (family name)
Mary A - 11 (family name)
Sarah - 8
Julia - 6
Henry - (family name)
George - 1 - (family name)

George WITCOMBE - christened 17 January 1819

George WITCOMBE - baptised at Monmouth St Mary's 31 July 1850

parents: George (occupation: Gardener) - and Elizabeth

residence: Chippenham & Monmouth

---

Chippenham is in Wiltshire

1851 Census Monmouth

WHITCOMB

George - 32 - Gardener - Monmouth
Elizabeth 32 - born Abby Monmouth
Emma - 10 - born Chepstow
Martha - 2 - born Chepstow
George - 8 months - born Monmouth

--

Looking at the GRO Index

George WHITCOMBE - born 1850 Monmouth : Mother's Maiden name: POWELL

.....

There is a burial at Monmouth 19 October 1819 of Margaret Whitcomb aged 44 and the next day of Thomas Whitcomb aged 45

Been on contact with the Public Members Tree on Ancestry - and he has updated his website

as he does have

baptism at Little Birch, Herefordshire 25 May 1777 - of Thomas WITCOMBE - parents: Thomas WHITCOMB and Mary YEATES etc.

So the death given in my last message in 1819 of Thomas aged 45 - seems to be very possible.

There is a baptism at Monmouth 7 November 1775

of

Margaret DAVIS - parents: Michael & Mary

which is possibly the correct Margaret and the burial in 1819 gives her age as 44 = c 1775

sibling: William - 18 Mar 1772

Thank you so much for all of this information, MPGriffiths. It is really interesting to see it all coming together. How can this be verified? By going to the local church and asking for records? It is all so long ago. I have seen the marriage certificate of James Whitcombe and Anne Watkins on this web site, which is where I found the father's name. As the marriage took place in 1850, the father must have already been deceased, since 1819 according to the info you provided. I had assumed he was still alive!

I see you have made contact with the Public Members Tree on Ancestry. Once I have got my head around all this information, I will also contact them as I have a few questions about James Whitcombe.

Thanks again
Cherryl

Wills etc and witnesses at weddings - family names etc - are useful tools (if they exist)

Managed to find on this website.

George WHITCOMBE's marries to Elizabeth POWELL (GRO Index gave the childrens' mother's maiden name as POWELL

This was at Chepstow

20 July 1845

George WHITCOMBE (Widower) occupation: Gardener - will have to see if an earlier marriage exists!

father: Thomas POWELL - occupation : MALSTER

to Elizabeth POWELL - father: Jas POWELL - foreman

=
witnesses: Thos SHELL & Elizabeth SHELL

1841 Census, Monmouth

WHITCOMB

Geo - 30 - Gardener - all born in County
Ann - 30
Ann - 3
Emdte - 1 - (female, name as transcribed on Ancestry) Emma - 1851 census