Birth & Early Life :

1790 - 28th January : James Crombleholme [Cro0215] was baptised on 28th January 1790* at Garstang St Mary RC Church and was a younger brother of William Crombleholme [Cro0162] of Frome. His parents were Richard C [Cro0150] & Isabella (nee Blackburn) [Cro0151] who had also married in Garstang, Lancashire on 7th February 1787. They had a total of ten children. In the previous year, they had twins baptised on 27th February 1789 (a boy also named James and a girl Grace) but in view of this James birth and name, it seems they both died very young.

Nothing is known about James C's [215] childhood or education. The first record that has been found (see below) is of him being a clerk aged 35 in 1825 employed in the Custom House in Preston. After a relatively late start in the Customs Office, he was posted to various ports in the country prior to return to Preston and finally being the Comptroller at the end of his career.

Marriage :

1824 - 8th May :  James Crombleholme [Cro0215] married Elizabeth (nee Catterall)  [Cro0216] at St John, Preston (Source Par reg via ancestry)  Note : Elizabeth Catterall [216] was born in 1792 - see her age at 68 in her burial 1860 beloW

1828 - 13th January : James Crombleholme [Cro0215] is recorded as a witness to his elder brother William Crombleholme's [Cro0162] (of Frome) will in 1828 and is noted as a "landing waiter of Poulton". A landing waiter is a customs officer and Poulton on Fyde was a small port near Preston in Lancashire. He must have travelled down to Frome in Somerset to be a witness to his brother's will on 13rd January 1828, probably William was in very poor health as he died under a month later on 11th February 1828.   (Source* : Reg of Garstang : Sponsors Jos Shepherd & Jane Walker; vicar J Barrow)

Children : 

1828 - June : One son : Richard Alban Crombleholme [Cro0238] (see below) born in June 1828.

Career :

1825 - Public Offices Corporation of Borough of Preston  : Custom House, 20 Fox Street ....clerk : Mr James Crombleholme[Cro0215] (aged 35)  

1826 - Statement by the Customs service to their board : (this gives a useful description of the customs establishments and officers) ...........Poulton - at this place there is a Customs House in which John Bisbrowne, the principal coast officer resides and receives all duties and remits them to the collector at Preston. Robert Valiant, a landing and coastwaiter and Robert Roswell, a tides man are stationed here.

Preston Quay, one mile from the Customs House, at this place all lighters are discharged and also upon average each spring tide in the year four vessels, Irish and coastwise and within the last twelve months 57 vessels have landed their cargoes at this place. 

Preston Town - the Customs House is here, at which place are stationed Richard Pilkington collector, James Crombleholme [Cro0215] the clerk to the collector and acting comptroller, and James Foresaw the surveyor, landing and coast waiter.

1827 - 30th June - The port of Preston and its creek, the Wyre, which had a Customs House of its own at Poulton, were added to the Port of Lancaster and the customs House and its establishment were removed from Preston to Lancaster. This caused much protest as Lancaster was 22 miles from Preston. The arguments went on for several years until 1840 when the commissioners announced that Preston was to be separated from Lancaster and placed under the Port of Fleetwood. Later in 1843, Preston was made a port of the sixth class (?) and Fleetwood which was by then a supernumerary port may be made a creek within the Port of Poulton. The Board of Customs appeared to be a law unto itself and seemingly ignored protests when the various moves made traders and custom officers lives more difficult.   (Source : A History of the Ribble Navigation from Preston to the Sea - by James Barron (Engineer of the Navigation 1901-1933) Corporation of Preston 1938)

1841 : First Catholic Church in Fleetwood : It would appear that James Crombleholme [Cro0215] was involved in the establishment of St Mary's - the first catholic Church in Fleetwood. On their present day website, there are extracts of a Minute Book of 1841 together with a small advert offering copies (??) of this for £150.00 !!

The advert reads : CRUMBLEHOLME R.A. Manuscript minute and letter book of the first catholic chapel in Fleetwood. Large 8vo roan ? backed cloth 72 pages completed in a neat hand including minutes of the initial and subsequent meetings and copies of letters to and from Crumbleholme relating to the establishment of the Church. Loosely inserted is a later letter from Crumbleholm's son presenting the book to a friend.    £150.00 (R F G Hallett & Son Sedbergh Cumbria)   (Source : St Mary's Fleetwood website)  Note : The R A Crumbleholm is almost certainly the son of James : Richard Alban Crombleholme [Cro0238] (the advert uses "u" instead of "o" in his name).

The website has extracts of some pages of the minute book : Page 3 (9/2/1841) notes J Crombleholme as chairing the meeting at Mr Dobson's Steamer Hotel; Page 10 notes Mr Crombleholme (with others) meeting with Sir Hesketh Fleetwood Bart, the Lord of the Manor respecting land for the erection of a chapel - also noted is a census of catholics in the Fleetwood : 237 men, 94 women and 108 children Total = 439; Page 39 (19/11/1841) is a rather strongly worded letter address to a "Revd Sir" regarding non attendance of a meeting to examine the accounts of the new chapel and ending in a demand for a written answer. The latter is presumed to be a letter to the priest and presumably written by either James himself or on behalf of the committee. 

From all of the above, it is evident that James was Catholic - his grandson was baptised in 1867 (see below) in a Roman Catholic church with names in Latin.

1842 - Customs Duties from foreign goods entering Preston amounted to £10,400 whilst in the same period duties at Fleetwood were a tenth of this figure. This presumably prompted James Crombleholme the Controller at Fleetwood to write a letter :

1843 - 3rd March : Mr J Crombleholme, [Cro0215] the Controller of Customs at Fleetwood, wrote to Mr A Ross the Inspector- General at Liverpool :

    "Sir, I most respectively beg leave to submit to you the following observations and arrangements which I deem necessary for the better performance of the service duties, both as regards the interest of the Revenue and accommodation the trade of the port.

    That in consequence of the increased foreign and colonial trade into the River Ribble and the improvements recently made in that river, which will now admit of larger vessels getting up to the quays at Preston more frequently than formerly and the privilege of bonding sundry goods, wine and spirits, having been extended to that creek, together with the greater part of the duties being now received there and the decrease that has taken place in the trade at Fleetwood, particularly during the last year, some alterations are absolutely requisite  for carrying on the business of the port.

    I most humbly submit for your consideration the immediate removal of the establishment at Fleetwood to Preston and the latter place be constituted the principal station or port with all boundaries, limits and privileges which at present belong to the Port of Fleetwood" ........he then goes on to suggest details of the establishment required. 

The commission of the Lords of the Treasury evidently acted upon this suggestion assisted by the Ribble Navigation Company that submitted a report recording the great increase in trade and custom duties paid (The custom duties especially had increased from £23,303 in 1845 to £66,921 in 1846). They appointed as commissioners (to set out the limits off the port anew and for appointing proper places within the same to be legal quays for the lading and unlading [a bill of landing is a detailed list of a ship's cargo] of goods etc.) Thomas Underwood Esq, collector of our customs at the said port, James Crombleholme Esq [Cro0215] comptroller of our customs at the said port and Thomas Gray, one of the Inspectors General of our Customs at Liverpool. They were commissioned on 12th June 1844 and the "humble certificate" of these three gentlemen was issued on 26th October 1844 - this was a detailed account of the port boundaries and facilities.    (Source : A History of the Ribble Navigation from Preston to the Sea - by James Barron (Engineer of the Navigation 1901-1933) Corporation of Preston 1938)

1845 - 3rd October : (From Newcastle Courant  Tyne & Wear) ......Mr Crombleholme,[Cro0215] controller of Preston, has been appointed sub-director of Customs at Fleetwood (aged 55)

I had incorrectly thought that this was the the above was the Customs House in Fleetwood. However, it is now the Fleetwood Museum - known locally as the Fielden Institute and before that, as the Whitworth Institute.   (Photo - RC June 2016)

The old Custom House is actually at 6 Queen's Terrace, a street that connects Dock Street on the riverside to the Esplanade on the coast. The Custom House was opened in Autumn 1839 and was probably occupied by James Crombleholme in 1841. Benjamin Whitworth (who founded the Whitworth Institute in the 1860s) took on the Custom House as his family home in the mid 1850s. The post of Controller in Fleetwood ceased in January 1844 and James Crombleholme became Preston's Controller at the same time, when Preston became an independent port in place of Fleetwood.

My thanks to Ian Upward of Poulton-leFyde who is a keen researcher of Fleetwood history and who sent me the above newspaper extract and corrected me on the location of the Customs House.  (Source : Ian Upward email 3/10/2025)

James presented to Queen Victoria :

1847 - 22nd September : (From Manchester Courier & Lancashire General Advertiser) .... Arrival of her Majesty (Queen Victoria) at Fleetwood. The following gentlemen do accompany them : the Rev St Vincent Beechey (incumbent of Fleetwood); Frederick Kemp esq; Henry Houldsworth (Chairman of Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company); James Crombleholme Esq [Cro0215] ; Thomas H Higgins & Daniel Elletson esq (of Parrox Hall). A further account of the occasion :

............In September the Fylde was honoured by a passing visit from Queen Victoria and the late Prince Consort who arrived at Fleetwood in the Royal Yacht "The Victoria and Albert" on their return from Scotland to London. An address was presented by Sir P H Fleetwood bart, the Rev St Vincent Beechey, Frederick Kemp seq, James Crombleholme esq and Daniel Elletsonesq on behalf of the inhabitants of Fleetwood and received by Lord Palmerston, who promised that it should be laid before the Queen. In the course of a few days an acknowledgment was received from the metropolis. In Her Majesty's book published in 1868 and entitled "Leaves from our Highland Journal" the diarian entries relating to the above event appear :

Monday September 20th 1847 ......We anchored at seven in Fleetwood Harbour; the entrance was extremely narrow and difficult. We were lashed close to the pier, to prevent our being tamed by the tide; and when I went on deck there was a great commotion , such running and calling, and pulling of ropes etc. It was a cheerless evening blowing hard."

A further article of the time describes .........the royal debarkation being near the north end of the covered pier, upwards of 100 feet of which were boarded off and converted into a saloon, a covered gallery being erected leading from it to the railway where a special train was stationed.

Above : A contemporary sketch of the Queen's visit showing the covered gallery and awaiting train.

1848 - 2nd December : (From Preston Chronicle) .........Mr Crombleholme [Cro0215] sub collector at Fleetwood has been appointed Comptroller at Preston (aged 58) Living at 2 Avham Rd, Preston

H M Customs Grades : 

Comptroller of Customs - salary £300 pa in 1815;  Collector Customs ;   Riding Officer;  Coal meters; Land waiters;  Tidewaiters;  Boatmen; Customers

1851 Census : James Crombleholme [Cro0215] aged 61, Comptroller of HM Customs born at Garstang in 1790; Wife Elizabeth age 59; born in 1792 at Goosnargh.  Mary Layfield aged 17 servant;  Residence : No 1 Charles Street, Preston.

1852 - 21st October :  James Crombleholme [Cro0215] died 21st October 1852 aged  62 years.

Will : My Ref NR2

James Crombleholme [Cro0215] of Preston (Controller of Customs)

Will made 14th October 1852   He died 21st October 1852    Proved 10th November 1852

All property (under £600 after debts paid). Wife mentioned but not by name.

Son : Richard Alban Crombleholme [Cro0238] of Preston  (Later of Weymouth Dorset but not known to our family ?)

Trustees : His Son; Lawrence Robson of Fuelwood (County Stationer) & John Booth of Preston (Spindle maker) 

1860 - 24th November : Elizabeth Crombleholme [Cro0216] of Chaddock Street, widow of James Crombleholme [Cro0216], Exciseman, was buried in grave C-248 in a Catholic section of Preston Cemetery aged 68 years.  (Source : Pub. Preston Chronicle Saturday 24th November 1860 - thanks to Glenn Swarbrick via Ancestry)

Richard Alban Crombleholme 

[Cro0238] (1828 - 1891) son of James C [Cro0215]

1828 - 17th June : Born and baptised a few days later on 21st June at Poulton le Fyde son of James Crombleholme [Cro0215] & Elizabeth (nee Catterall) [Cro0216] (see above)  Sponsors _ Revd R Platt & Anne Wharton was baptised by me Ralph Platt MA.   (Source : Catholic Record Soc Reg of Poulton le Fylde = Roman Catholics)

Nothing is known about Richard's early life or education. He obviously moved around the country as his father James was posted to various customs posts in the coastal ports. 

Marriage :  

1872 - 14th April : Richard Alban Crombleholme [Cro0228] married Mary Ann (nee Molyneux)  [Cro0239] of  Lea near Preston at Melcombe Regis, Weymouth Dorset

Children : 

1867 - 27th August :  Richard James Denis Molyneux Crombleholme [Cro0240] born in Runcorn, Cheshire son of Richard Alban C [Cro0215]

Career : 

Richard [239] would seem to have followed in his father's choice of career in the HM Customs

1851 - Census : Richard Alban Crombleholme [Cro0238] living at 2 Eldon Place, St David, Exeter, Devon. Lodger not married; Tide surveyor with HM Customs. (Source : Census via Ancestry)

1852 - Living in Preston - executor of his father James [215] will.

1862 / 63 - (From Thom's Directory) : R . A Crumbleholme [Cro0238]- 1st Clerk customs Preston, Lancs (aged 34)

1866 - 67 : Custom Houses - Seaman’s Contributions there at (sic) towards the support of Lifeboats Donations : Runcorn, per R.A.Crombleholme Esq [Cro0238] : £1  16s  3d  (Source : The Lifeboat 1866 - online)     Note : As will be seen below, Richard C [238] as a customs officer moved around the country : 1871 in Runcorn, Cheshire; 1874 in Halifax, Yorkshire; 1878 in Boston Lincolnshire; and finally from 1878 in Weymouth, Dorset.

1871 - 2nd December : Petition of Anne Molyneux of Lea spinster, Alice Molyneux of Lea spinster and Richard Alban Crombleholme  [Cro0238] of Runcorn, Co Chester collector of HM Customs and Mary Ann [Cro0239] his wife : for appointment of Trustees to administer the trusts of the will of Henry Molyneux dec'd (i.e. Richard's father in law) (Source Lancs CRO DDX 163/97)

1874 - R A Crombleholme [238] noted as Collector of Inland Revenue at 7 Hampden Place, Halifax, Yorkshire (Source : Kellys - Halifax)

1878 - Collections from Seaman & Others, by Collectors of Customs ....  Boston, Lincolnshire per R.Crombleholme Esq [Cro0238] :  £2   0s  8d (Source : The Life Boat Vol X No 112 May 1st 1879)

1882-1884 : Collectors of the Out Ports - Richard A Crombleholme at Newry, Ireland (Source : Thom’s Official Directory via Ancestry)

1886 - 10th December : Article : County Petty Sessions .....and saw at once that it was tobacco. He then took the prisoner and tobacco to the chief officer Richard Alban Crombleholme, [Cro0238] Collector of Customs at Weymouth, stated that he had examined the tobacco produced and it was worth 2s per ld. The duty 16s. (Source : From Bridport News, Dorset - Article not seen)

1887 : R . A Crumbleholme [Cro0238 ] - Collector customs Weymouth, Dorset (aged 59) (From Thom's Directory 1887 p 221)

1890 : Sub commissioner of Pilots : Richard Crumbleholme [Cro0238] (Capt);  Receiver of Droits : Richard Crumbleholme [Cro0238 ]( Custom House (Source : From Kellys Directory  - No mention of either in 1880,1885 or 1895 editions)

1891 - 26th October : Death of Richard Alban Crombleholme [Cro0238] aged 63 in Melcombe Regis Parish, Weymouth Collector of Customs. Buried in Melcombe Regis Cemetery 30th October 1891.  (Source : Muriel Monk - Weymouth Parish Records)

Will :  

1891 - 12th November : Probate granted Blandford, Dorset

Richard James Denis Molyneux Crombleholme 

[Cro0240] (son of Richard Alban C [Cro0238])

1867 - 27th August : Richardus Jacobus Dionysius Molyneaux Crombleholme [Cro0240] baptised at Runcorn, Cheshire (Father Richard Albani [238] & mother Mariae Annae [239])  (Source Cheshire Non C & RC Register C17th - 1910)

1871- Census : Richard James Dennis Crombleholme [Cro0240] son living with parents in Runcorn, Cheshire.

1881 - Census :  Richard James Dennis Crombleholme [Cro0240] Student living with parents in Esh, Durham

1887 - Richard James Dennis Crombleholme [Cro0240] : University College Hospital, London - June 1887 (Apoth Soc; 1st Oct 1888 College Precep.)

1889 - April : Richard James Dennis Crombleholme [Cro0240] married Ellen (nee Middlemost) [Cro0801]  (1856-1942) at Hampstead (Paddington), London (Source : Par reg via Ancestry)

1889 - 24th June : Helena Mary Beatrice Crombleholme [Cro0802] baptised at Hampstead, London d/o Richard C [240] & Ellen (nee Middlemost) [801]

1889 - Richard James Dennis Crombleholme [Cro0240] - working in medical profession

1891 - Census : Richard James Dennis Crombleholme [Cro0240] Head living in Hampstead, London

1894 - 13th July : Bankrupts from London Gazette : Richard James Denis Molyneux Crombleholme [Cro0240] of the White Hart Hotel, Mitcham, Surrey - Hotel proprietor. (Source  The Edinburgh Gazette )

1901 - Census : Richard James Dennis Crombleholme [Cro0240]  Head of family living at Great Stanmore, Middx 

1904 - 7th June : Richard James Dennis Crombleholme [Cro0240]    Died at 6 St Andrew Street, Leighton Buzzard. Bedforshire. also recorded as living at  High Street, Edgware, Middx London. (ie two addresses) 

Probate granted in London : 23rd August to Ellen C (wife) [0801] Effects £45.00.

1911 - Census : Ellen (nee Middlemost) (wife) [Cro0801]  - living at Reading Berkshire (widow)

1912 -Ellen (nee Middlemost) Crombleholme [Cro0801] married Charles John Deshon (1841-1929)  at Abbotsbury, Dorset  (lived in Redruth Cornwall ? - husband died there in 1929)

1916 - October : Helena Mary Beatrice Crombleholme  (daughter) [Cro0802] Married Howard C Colyer at Reading.

1942 - 6th January :  Ellen (nee Middlemost) Deshon (wife) [Cro0801] died at Reading  

1974 - 7th February : Helena Mary Beatrice (Crombleholme) Colyer  (daughter) [Cro0802] died Sheepbridge Mill, Swallowfield, Wokingham, Berks. Probate 6th May 1974.

It would appear that this branch of the family ceased at this point.