John W Bone FSA

John William Bone FSA. (Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries) (1828 - 1895) and was an early researcher into Crombleholme family history his mother was a Crombleholme.

He was born in 1828, his mother being Mary Crombleholme [Cro0210] born in Salford in 1792, the daughter of Richard Crombleholme [Cro0154]  (1788-1815)  & Elizabeth [nee Bradshaw] [Cro0155] . The family descends from the main Dutton and Crombleholme Fold branch.  

Mary Crombleholme [Cro0210] was well educated having attended, from 1812, the Bar Convent in Micklegate Bar, York. On 5th June 1812 she is listed among the “Young Ladies of the Bar School, York taken into the Rosary” (noted as of Manchester)

Her older sister Ann Crombleholme [Cro0206] (of Manchester) appears on the same Rosary Confraternity List earlier in 1803.  (Source : Catholic Record Soc Misc IX  Mercat Press 1914 p234 & 236 + St Mary’s Convent, Micklegate Bar, York 1686-1887 by H J Coleridge p396) 

Mary Crombleholme [Cro210] had married John Bone (1805-1865) on 10th November 1828 in Manchester and had three children:

John William Bone (b1828 - d1895)

Rev Richard Crombleholme Bone (b1831 - d before 1901)  (bursar of Ratcliffe College, (RC) Leicester)

Mary Elizabeth Bone (b1838 - d ? ) Sister at the Convent of the Good Shepherd, Newcastle upon Tyne

As the three children grew up in a Roman Catholic family, their careers are perhaps not surprising.

John William Bone’s career can be read below in his memorial notice. He was a C19th researcher who contributed his research and facts to various the Victorian Lancashire County History accounts etc regarding Crombleholme Family History & Catholic History. 

He was a  Fellow  of the Society of Antiquaries. (FSA) having been elected on 30th May 1872. 

He is noted on the FSA election papers as living at 26 Bedford Place, Russell Square London. He gives his qualifications as BA 1851 and M.R.S.L. (?) 

(Source Soc of Antiquaries London). King's College London confirmed that he was a Theological Associate)

He was able to give a lot of information (from some sixty letters in his possession at that time) for an article in Volume 105, Chapter 7 of Chetham Old Series - History of Garstang = Old Hall and Families especially regarding John Crombleholme (France & Mauritius) . 

Unfortunately, despite extensive searches the writer has been unable to locate any of John Bone's papers or family letters. (see search list below). Some letters to Canon Raines (a well known and published researcher) have been located but these are disappointing in content (see precis of these letters below)

John W Bone died in 8th December 1895 aged 74 at the Alliance Hotel, Southport. His will made 11th August 1894 notes him living at 69 Everton Road, Birkdale near Southport, Lancashire. His brother Rev Richard Crombleholme Bone was his executor - his effects amounted to £5016  18s  11d.  (Value - about £586K in 2018)

It would seem that having been the Secretary of a Bank that he became quite wealthy with a posh London address but was then unable to spend  so much time on research as a consequence. What a pity that his research material does not appear to survive !  From the letters below, it will be seen that he often has trouble finding his notes and it is probable that they were destroyed after he died.

2011 : A wild Goose chase ! 

In August 2011, I realised that I had not contacted his brother's college (Rev Richard Crombleholme Bone - bursar). It turned out that all their archives are in Italy !  I corresponded with a Brother Nigel Cave in Italy where there are record boxes tantalisingly marked "Bone" . Their archive was undergoing refurbishment and Nigel Cave was abroad at the time  There was a long wait for any developments but when Nigel Cave returned to Italy and refurbishment of archive store was completed there was nothing relating to John Bone !! (there was a photograph of Richard Crombleholme Bone in his coffin !)

The search continues !!

October 2023 : Some J W Bones letters - Chetham's Library, Manchester have 13 No letters written by John W Bone (JWB) to Canon Raines (CR) between 1867 and 1875. I obtained digital copies but they are rather disappointing.  I have summarised the content of each In date order below : 

20 Dec 1867 : Written whilst staying with Mr Langley, an old friend, in Worksop, Notts. JWB is replying to CR regarding some Lancashire ballards and hopes to be able to show CR when next in Lancashire.

3 Feb 1868 :  Written whilst staying at 42 Cross Lane, Salford. JWB says that he has some more Recusant Ballards. JWB also thanks CR for information regarding the Hoghtons and asks if CR can give him any more on the Crombleholme, Vicars of St Michaels (on Wyre) in the last century. JWB says that a note in the Notitia Cestriensis (?) speaks of Rev William C as the son of Rev Richard C but he cannot see how this reconciles with the Parish register at St Michaels. JWB is looking forward to their meeting next Wednesday.

16 Dec 1870 : Written from Civil Service Commission, Westminster SW London.  JWB says that Mr Pearson* sent him two extracts that CR had made from his MSS. JWB notes that the information related to the Crombleholmes of Dutton under date of 1544, 1564, 1567, 1574, 1579 & 1588.  (no details given). JWB notes that he has mentioned in his letter to Mr Pearson the earliest records of Abbey lands of the Preceptory of Newland, the monastery of Pontefract, Whalley Abbey and of the Friars manors Lichfield - purchased of the crown by Richard Crombleholme. JWB says that he has amused himself for 3 or 4 yeras hunting up all that he could find on the family at Chester, Lancaster, York, Doctors Commons, the Duchy Office, the Public Record Office, the Harleian MSS, Dr Kuerden'sa MSS and Registers of sundry parishes. However he has less time now having undertaken the duties of assistant examiner to the Civil Service Commissioners. JWB ends by asking if CR could kindly pass on any further mentions of the name Crombleholme.  *Note : Mr Pearson was perhaps an agent for CR ?

20 Mar 1872 : Written from 26 Bedford Place, Russell Square London (his London home).  JWB apologises for delay in replying to CR's letter which contained interesting contents. JWB had thought that he could identify the Robert Crombleholme of the Whalley MSS with one of the Robert C's in his collection.  The delay was caused due to the books and papers in another house which I rarely find time to go to (he seems to have been moving houses and was in great confusion. He could not find his Crombleholme notes and feared that he had left them in a cab. However, a few weeks later he does find the notes.  He then goes on to say that the Robert in the Whalley MSS was not the same as any in his notes. JWB then notes that Robert was called of Lowde Mithin and thinks that this lies between Chipping and Goosnargh. He recalls that during a "pedestrian ramble" that he passed a bridge called Loud Bridge and that he had bathed in a pool in the stream nearby.  JWB then notes two identical Jury lists of 1528 & 1538 both dated 18 April as being puzzling and perhaps being a mistake. He intends to check the days of the week using Dr Morgan's "Book of Almanaces" (?).  JWB then recounts how he was allowed to copy some extracts made by a peer (an old Etonian) from a MSS written a hundred years ago by Dr Forster (HM of Eton) relating to the school in 1762 and the ten King (George III).  He notes various information about other masters and pupils etc plus some games palyed at Eton.  

JWB then notes that he encloses his certificate for election to the Society of Antiquaries signed by Mr W Hardy of the Public Record Office and hopes that CR will add his name as a referee. 

23 Mar 1872 : Written from 26 Bedford Place, Russell Square London again. A short letter with no mention of Crombleholme but thanking CR for the information that he sent about the Chetham Society. JWB then notes that he plans to go to Iceland or possibly Switzerland for the summer.

27 May 1872  : Written from 26 Bedford Place, Russell Square London again. A short letter saying that the election to the Society of Antiquaries is taking place next week and could CR ask any of his London friends to attend and vote for him as the number of vacancies are limited.  Note JWB was successful being formerly elected on 30th May 1872.

7 Nov 1872 :  Written from 26 Bedford Place, Russell Square London again.  JWB writes with lists of Lanacshire names / men involved in the French Wars of the C15th. (ie men serving in the English army in France - mostly archers)  JWB had spent 2 weeks in Paris and made the lists in various French archives. No Crombleholmes noted unfortunately.

20 Mar 1873 : Written from 26 Bedford Place, Russell Square London again. A short letter relating to Lancashire ballards previously sent to CR.

21 Mar 1874 : Written from 26 Bedford Place, Russell Square London again thanking CR for the extracts via Mr Pearson about the Crombleholmes of Dutton in 1578 & 1636.  JBW had trouble locating his notes about "the invincible Armada in 1588 lists but having found them sent a copy to CR. JWB then notes that his research into the Crombleholme family has flagged due to him being appointed Secretary to the Consolidated Bank which doubled his salary but has given far less leisure time. JWB then says that he is enclosing his 24 page index to his Crombleholme research !

JWB then notes that (transcription > ) "the possessions of the Dutton & Ribchester Crombleholmes appear to date from a grant of Abbey lands in 1545 including also the House of the Friars of Lichfield. I have searched the MS calendars in the Probate Court at Lichfield but they contain no trace of a Crombleholme. How Richard od Dutton came to buy that property I don't understand but suppose he must have had some trading connexion or possibly relationship with someone at Lichfield. A day or two after the grant to himself, he conveyed this Lichfield property to some one else (a name if I remember rightly) like Stone and probably mentioned in Dugdale's Monastcia Can (?). Can you explain such a transaction? It occurs to me for the first time (as I was writing this question) that it might be a friendly step, to save perhaps increased fees on a separate grant; but I have no warranty for this conjecture that this might be possible. I do not know the nature of the trade (if any) between Lichfield and Lancashire in those days.

I should much like to trace the ancestry of Samuel Cromleholme Headmaster of St Pauls School, whom you will find in my index. It is the point best worth working out perhaps in the whole story, for except the "confessor" imprisoned at Trafford and in the Tower of London (in 1584 I think) captured with (I think a Hothersall) and some Worthingtons, Samuel C's name is the most noteworthy I have come across. He is the only Samuel. I notice another less common seriptural (?) names in Tryphena at Stydd (d/o of Richard) indexed as 1621-58 but whether this feature in common is merely accidental, or drawn from relationship I have nothing to show. 

My own forbears are the Crombleholmes of Goosnargh, probably enough from Dutton or Ribchester, but I want the link as I also do with the later Crombleholmes at Fairsnape. Roger C married the widow of John Clifton of Fairsnape and I think there was a relationship between those of Goosnargh and a Richard at Fairsnape. But I am writing at a distance from my index of these names having had no intention of touching upon them now.

JWB finishes his letter with a note about Col Fishwick (another well known published researcher) being a candidate for the Soc of Antiquaries and saying that he would vote for him although he is a man as they say "cotton to" (?). He asks to be remembered to Mr Pearson.

8 Apr 1874 : Written from  the Consolidated Bank 52 Threadneedle St London EC.  JWB thanks CR for the return of his Armada notes and says that he had no idea that the Chetham Society had printed any such list of names beyond the one in the Volumes on the Lancashire Lieutenancy issued many years ago or I would have been doubly disposed and anxious to send you my notes before. JWB then notes that two versions of this list by Gregson and Harland were published and that Gregson's mistakes had been copied by Harland. He notes that in the more carefully written one, Mr Richard Crombleholme and other names are omitted in Gregsons but do occur in Harlands.  He then mentions that he no longer has the tract that it was taken from as a bookseller lent it to him over a weekend but thinks that there is a copy in the British Museum. The rest of the long letter only notes the Armada and current affairs of the time

28 Apr 1874 : Written again from  the Consolidated Bank 52 Threadneedle St London EC - a short letter of thanks for the return of a certificate.

21 July 1875 : Written from 26 Bedford Place, Russell Square London again. JWB notes Samuel Cromlehoplme as being the most notable C in his research and mentions Pepys & Duke of Marlborough as his pupils.  He says that he is sure that Samuel descends from the Lancashire / Yorkshire Crombleholmes but that he was the son of a Wiltshire clergyman. He found Samuel's university records but cannot find his fathers nor the other clerical Crombleholmes found - he suggests that in former times many clergymen were not graduates. He suggests research into schools where they may have been educated. He mentions a proposed holiday in Lancashire to undertake some more Crombleholme research but the rest of the lketter has nothing else of interest.

20 Aug 1875 : Written from 26 Bedford Place, Russell Square London again. The last letter in the collection. JWB thanks Raines for his suggestion to look at the Dublin and Scotch graduate lists and also the Rochdale Quaker records relative to Marsden and also containing Tolmorden & Fieldens. JWB then notes that he has been asked to look out for Fieldens records by a Mr Joshua in Lancashire but cannot recall the locality !  He also notes a younger aquaintance is taking a degree in Lation with great success. He also notes that he is enclosing a list of old Lancashire, West Riding and North Riding schools and will forward the completed Yorkshire on in due course.

Comments about the above letters :   J W Bone would have been 39 years old writing the first of these letters to Canon Raines and 47 years old when the last one was sent in 1875. Canon Raines died in 1878. The letters contain little information about the Crombleholme family and JWB's research was obviously not too advanced at this time. 

Canon Francis Robert Raines (1805-1878) was the vicar of Milnrow near Rochdale Lancashire. During a period of approximately 50 years Raines compiled over 40 folio volumes known as the Lancashire Manuscripts, amassed hundreds of letters written to him by local historians and antiquarians, and acquired over 250 deeds and papers relating to Manchester, the area around Rochdale and the West Riding of Yorkshire. 

He had been born in Whitby, Yorkshire, on 22 February 1805. He was educated at Burton in Holderness.  From the age of 13, he was an apprentice to William Coultate, surgeon at Clitheroe who later moved to Burnley. During his apprenticeship Raines went to Clitheroe and Burnley Grammar Schools, but he as did not like medicine and was released from his apprenticeship.

In 1826 he was admitted to St Bees Theological College and following his ordination became assistant curate of Saddleworth in 1828. Soon after he took the curacy of Rochdale parish church, and in 1832 was appointed perpetual curate of the chapelry of St James, Milnrow, where he remained for the rest of his life. In 1836 he married Honora Elizabeth, daughter of Major John Beswicke of Pike House, Littleborough. His appointments included Domestic Chaplain to Earl Dunmore, 1841, Rural Dean of Rochdale, 1846-1877, and Honorary Canon of Manchester Cathedral, 1849.

In 1843 he helped to found the Chetham Society and succeeded Parkinson as Vice President in 1858. He was responsible for editing some 18 volumes of the Society's Remains, more than any other single editor, and was widely regarded as the chief authority on the history of Rochdale and its neighbouring towns. Raines died after a short illness at Scarborough on 17 October 1878, and was buried in Milnrow churchyard. A memorial was later erected in the church. (Source : Chetham's Library)

Notes and Queries : J W Bone was a frequent contributor to Notes and Queries (many references will be found elsewhere in on this website). Below, is a typical example of such a letter written in his very  Victorian manner :

J W Bone articles in Notes & Queries :

1877 - NOVEMBER :  Local Gleanings Vol II Ref 622

CROMBLEHOLME FAMILY

I should feel much obliged by extracts, either in the columns of the Manchester Courier, or communicated to me direct, from University, College, and School Lists as to any students named Crombleholme, Crumblehulme  Cromleholme etc: more particularly in and before the 17th & 18th centuries. In the 17th century it was. I believe, not unusual for English Puritian families and others to have their sons educated in Scotland; and I beg leave to indicate as (amongst others) likely sources of information in my present inquiry, lists relating to Scotch Universities: to Trinity College, Dublin; or Grammar Schools in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

John W Bone FSA

26 Bedford Place, London 

My check list of enquiries made since 1980 !