The True Briton Coach

The Family :

Brothers Richard Crombleholme [Cro0154] and Thomas Crombleholme [Cro0161] were partners in this coaching company. Richard Crombleholme [Cro0154] was also involved in the Manchester based manufacturing company Crombleholme & Crompton.

Their parents were Thomas Crombleholme [Cro0146] and Agnes (nee Teeby) [Cro0147]. Richard [154] was the eldest brother having been born in 1768. Thomas [161] was about 7 years his junior having been born in 1777. The fact that Richard & Thomas were brothers is also proved due to the record in 1813 below when Richard's business partnership interest was transferred to Thomas his brother.

1777 - Thomas Crombleholme's [Cro0161] birth - (from burial record see 1815 below)

1802 - Thomas Crombleholme [Cro0161] married Ann (nee Burgess) [Cro0629] in Wilmslow, Cheshire. They were both 25 years old. They had 6 children :

i) John Crombleholme [Cro0570] born 1804; killed by a horse in Salford in 1811 and buried in Wilmslow.

ii) Catherine Crombleholme [Cro0167] born 1806 in Manchester.

iii) Richard Crombleholme [Cro0164] born 1809 in Manchester married Eliz Thomas [544] in about 1830. Moved to Ohio USA between 1845 - 49. They had 6 children. Richard C [164] died in 1852 in Covington Kentucky.

iv) Thomas Crombleholme [Cro1048] born in 1812 in Manchester - Godparents Ann C [206] & her husband Sam Kirton. Note : Ann C [Cro0206] was the daughter of Richard C [154]

v) George Crombleholme [Cro0165] born in 1814 in Manchester. He married (his cousin once removed) Elizabeth (nee Kirton) [Cro0533] d/o Anne C [Cro0206] in Holborn, London in 1833. They moved to Ohio USA between 1845-49 (perhaps travelling with elder brother Richard C [164] - above). They had one daughter Ann Eliza C [639]. George died in 1870 in Ohio.

vi) Mary Ann Crombleholme [Cro0166] born 1815.

Manchester Coach Business “The True Briton Coach”

It appears that this Manchester based coaching business had a succession of different partners over the years of its existence. The earliest record of Richard Crombleholme [Cro0154] being involved as a partner is December 1812. He gave up his partnership in June 1813 to his brother Thomas Crombleholme's [Cro0161] who was a partner until his death in November 1815. Thomas C’s [161] wife Ann (nee Burgess) [Cro0629] took over his partnership and continued until December 1823 when she ceased to be a partner. The other partners, John Weatherall and Robert Cookson appear to have been partners for some years before and after the Crombleholme family’s involvement.

The coaching business was very competitive with Brethertons being the biggest operator in the north west area of the country during this period. Speed became necessity in order to compete and some bad accidents were caused due to this.

In England, the postal service had started in 1635 when riders carried the mail between “posts”. At each "post", a postmaster would take local letters and then hand remaining ones to the next rider. In the 18th century, mail coaches were introduced and by 1797, some 42 coach routes existed linking most of the major cities and towns.

Mail was carried by stage coaches as well as mail coaches. Turnpike roads and improved (“ Flying Waggons”) coaches were gradually developed and a journey from London to Cambridge that had taken 2 days in 1750, could be completed in 7 hours in 1820. By the mid 18th century, coaches were taking four and a half days from Manchester to London. The introduction of new steel spring suspension soon reduced this journey down to three days at an average speed of 8mph. By 1820, coaches were travelling at 12 mph with four coaches per route, two going in each direction with two spare in case of a breakdown or accident. It was short-lived, as the railways started their decline from the 1830’s and by 1850’s most coaches had ceased to operate.

- “performed" by Weatherall, Crombleholme & Cookson.

Note : This company provided a daily service (one coach) from the starting point at the Angel Inn, Liverpool at 8am and left the Swan Inn in Manchester at 2pm, arriving at Huddersfield and Leeds at 8pm. The next morning, it left for Tadcaster, York and arrived finally at the Bull & Sun Inn in Hull. The coach leaves Leeds every morning at 7am and arrives in Liverpool the same night. There was a greater cost for riding inside rather than outside. Earlier in 1812, the coach had ran from Manchester without travelling from Liverpool.

1813 - 21st June : From the London Gazette No 16745 :

Notice is hereby given, that the Co-partnership subsisting between us the undersigned, carried on at Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, as Coach-Proprietors, under the firm of Weatherall, Crombleholme and Cookson, is this day dissolved mutual consent, so far as Richard Crombleholme [Cro0154], one of the said partners, was in anywise concerned or interested therein, he having disposed of his share and interest therein to his brother Thomas Crombleholme [Cro0161].

As witness our hands this 21st day of June 1813 : John Westherall, Richard Crombleholme [Cro0154], Robert Cookson

1814 - 22nd May : On Friday se’nnight (sic ?) in the morning the True Britain Coach from Leeds to York in passing the other coaches, while delivering a parcel at Tadcaster (the last stage before York) came in contact with splinter bar (??), was overturned and the driver Matthew Irish was killed. The coroner’s inquest gave a verdict “That the said Matthew Irish being carelessly wilfully driving the True Britain Coach the same was thrown to the ground and and the coach falling upon his body he received several mortal injuries, of which he died about two hours after”. The coach, horses and harness were declared “deodand” and valued at £100. We hope this will be a caution to proprietors and their servants. (Source : Transcations Early Liverpool Coaching by A H Arkle 1919 - found on the www !) (note “deodand” signifies a thing forfeited to the Crown to be used in alms etc as having caused a human death)

1814 - 5th December : The Leeds Intelligencer reported :

The True Briton Coach was overturned last Monday afternoon, by coming in contact with a coal cart at Hunslet, near this town; the coachman, guard and one female passenger were severely hurt; but we are glad to state that any serious apprehensions, which might have been entertained for their recovery are happily done away with. A correspondent from Wakefield writes as follows : A melancholy accident occurred on Saturday from want of knowledge or care of the driver of the True Briton Coach by which it was upset at the turn of the corner near the top of Kirkgate in Wakefield; most of the passengers were injured, three materially. This is the third time the same coach has been overturned within a very short time; it calls for the interference of the magistrates, as carelessness of coach drivers should always meet the punishment it deserves.

1815 - 31st October : Thomas Crombleholme [Cro0161] of Manchester (Coachman) died.

Will ref SR 5 : Died intestate 31st October 1815. Administration granted 6th November 1815 to his widow Ann Crombleholme (nee Burgess) [Cro0629] Estate amounted to £1000. No children noted. Note : It would appear that the partnership had been quite profitable.

1815 - 4th November : Thomas Crombleholme [Cro0629] buried aged 38 in Wilmslow, Cheshire (birthdate noted as 1777) (Source : Bishops Transcripts 1576-1933 FHL No 1836382 via Ancestry)

Note : From the records below, Thomas C's [161] widow Ann (nee Burgess) [629] became a partner in the coaching company presumably on the death of her husband. She gave up the partnership in 1823. In Manchester, she also was the licensee of the Grey House PH from 1821-1825 and of the Houldsworth Arms from 1825 until , it is presumed her death in 1830.

1817 - October : Ann Crombleholme [Cro0629] involved in a prosecution together with John Weatherall, Robert Cookson at Salford October Sessions against Richard Jones - bill only, the actual subject of the case is not clear. (Source : Quarter Sessions 1648-1908 Salford, Lancs 1817 Michaelmas via Ancestry)

1821 - Ann Crombleholme [Cro0629] was the licensee (victualler) of the Grey Horse, Smithy Door, Manchester (Source : Pigot & Dean’s New Directory for Manchester & Salford 1821-1822 )

1823 - Ann Crombleholme [Cro0629] involved in another prosecution together with John Weatherall, Robert Cookson at Salford October Sessions against Edward Davies - bill only, the actual subject of the case is not clear. (Source : Quarter Sessions 1648-1908 Salford, Lancs 1823 Epiphany via Ancestry)

1823 - Monday 8th December 1823 : From the Morning Chronicle : Partnership of John Weatherall, Robert Cookson and Ann Crombleholme [Cro0629] of Manchester dissolved.

1824 - Ann Crombleholme [Cro0629] was the licensee (victualler) of the Grey Horse, Smithy Door, Manchester (Source : Pigot & Dean’s New Directory for Manchester & Salford 1821-1822 )

1825 - 13th - 22nd December : Ann Crombleholme [Cro0629] : Certificate that Ann Crombleholme [Cro0629] of the Grey Horse Public House, Manchester, is a fit and proper person to keep the Houldsworth Arms, Ancoats, Manchester, previously licensed to Joseph Roebuck, witnessed by Charles Cross, constable, John Wilcock, Robert Gregory, T.G. + R Owen,, Thomas Howe, Joseph [Stelfox] , Ben Goodall, Robert Booker, and Thomas Gittins; together with recognizance that Ann Crombleholme [629] of the Houldsworth Arms, Manchester, will keep an orderly house. Sureties : John Wilcock of Manchester, shopkeeper; Justice of the Peace & Court Officials. (Source : Lancashire Archives Ref QSB/1/1826/Jan/pt 10/27)

1830 - 18th March : Ann Crombleholme [Cro0629] died - Inquistion taken at Charlton Row the 18th day of March on view of the body of Ann Crombleholme [629] who died in a fit. (Source : Quarter Sessions Records & Petitions 1648-1908 Salford 1830 Easter entry 163 - via Ancestry)

1830 - 21st March : Ann Crombleholme [Cro0629] buried in Wilmslow, Cheshire (birth date given as 1777) (Source : Bishop’s Transcripts Cheshire 1576-1933 FHL No 1836382 - via Ancestry)