South Petherton (Somerset)  Family

South Petherton Family :

Descent :  The origins of this branch of the family remained a mystery for many years. When I met the late Hugh Crombleholme [Cro0817] of South Petherton, Somerset many years ago, he apparently had always thought that their family was related to the "Crumbleholmes of Weymouth". 

Happily, I can now prove him correct ............. 

This family does descend from Richard Crombleholme  [Cro0241] of Weymouth, Dorset,  who moved down from his birthplace in Horningsham near Frome in Somerset in the early 1840's. He was the younger son of William Crombleholme  [Cro0162] of Frome in Somerset who, in turn, descends from the Crombleholme Fold family in Lancashire.

Richard Crombleholme [Cro0241] had married Elizabeth (nee Christopher) [Cro0242] in Crewkerne, Somerset in 1849 and had two sons Richard Crombleholme [Cro0245] and William Crombleholme [Cro0247 ] . My Weymouth family descend from the elder son Richard C .[Cro0241] 

1852 - 10th November :  William Crombleholme [Cro0247] was born in Weymouth - no baptism found but the Royal Navy records :

1852 - 10th November : William Crombleholme  

                                        Official No : 47433   Place of Birth : Dorchester Dorset

                                        Cat Ref : ADM 188/17

                                        Dept : Records of Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines,

                                        Coastguard & related bodies

                                        Series : Admiralty : Royal Navy register of Seaman Services 47201-47800

1861 - Weymouth Census lists William Crombleholme [Cro0247]  with his family as a scholar aged 8. 

Naval Career :

1867 - 30th October : Date of Volunteering  3045B  RNVR Division - William Crombleholme [Cro0247] born 10th November 1852 

(Source : Nat archives Admiralty : RN continuous service engagement book CS No 3001B-3100B Ref ADM 139/831/45).

Note : Having joined the RNVR, it is likely that this was for basic training ready to join the Royal Navy afterwards.

1870 - 10th November : The Naval Record below for William Crumbleholme [Cro0247] records him as joining up on 10th November 1870 with a birthdate of 10th November 1852. He thus joined up on his 18th birthday and missed the Census at home. He is recorded as being 5ft 4inches tall with dark hair, blue eyes and a dark complexion with no wounds, scars or marks ! 

1871 - Weymouth Census : He does not appear in the 1871 Weymouth Census (when he would have been 18 years old) as he had joined the RNVR (Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve) a few years before in 1867 (aged 15).  From 1862, the RNVR undertook training and presumably William followed this career path until joining the Royal Navy in 1870. He is recorded in the 1861 Census whilst abroad (see below)

Not sure what F.E 1867 under remarks means ??

1871 - 2nd April (1871 Census)   Funchal Bay, Madeira, Royal Navy, England  No 15 - William Crombleholme [247] , Boy - age 18  born Dorchester, Dorset

1873 - 1st January : William [247] joins his first ship HMS Ariadne as a leading seaman aged 21. He served on her until September of that year. 

1873 - 3rd September : William [247] joined HMS Excellent which appears to have been a collection of hulks named HMS Excellent in Portsmouth harbour. They had been established in 1830 as a training establishment. It became formally established in 1861 and became shore based in 1891. He trained here until August 1874.

Marriage :

1874 - 3rd April : William Crombleholme [Cro0247]marries Esther Ann Saint [0814] of South Petherton, Somerset in South Petherton. William was 21 years old and recorded as mariner. Both living in parish. William’s father Richard Crumbleholme [241], Plumber.  (Source : Marr Reg South Petherton 1871-1889 - via ancestry)

1874 - 31st August : William [247] joined HMS Audacious as a Leading Seaman. She had only been built a few years before and in 1874 was stationed in Hull from where she was ordered to the Far East to serve as a flagship for the China station. She grounded twice whilst going through the Suez Canal on her way to Singapore. . She collided with a merchant ship during a typhoon in Yokohama. She returned to Hull in 1879 and from William's record above it appears that he served on her for the whole time being away from England for nearly 5 years.

1876 - 1st May : William [247] is promoted to Petty Officer (2nd Class) whilst serving on his second ship HMS Audacious in the Far East

1878 - 9th February : William [247] is promoted to Petty Officer (1st Class) whilst serving on his 2nd ship  HMS Audacious in the Far East

1879 - 23rd February : William [247] returns to England and spends another 5 months at the training facility at HMS Excellent in Portsmouth

1879 - 26th July : William [247] is transferred to "N Barracks" (name / location not traced at present)

1879 - 25th September : William [247] transfers to HMS Northampton for 3 months. From the information below, it appears that she was on sea trails as she was not completed until 7th December 1879. 

1879 - 18th December : William [247] transferred to HMS Duke of Wellington for just over a month in Portsmouth.

1880 - 21st January : William [247] transfers to his final ship HMS Valiant stationed in Southern Ireland just for a few weeks before leaving the Royal Navy.

Retirement from Royal Navy :

1880 - 10th February : William [247] retires from the Royal Navy as a Petty Officer 1st Class having served for 10 years with very good and exemplary character. It appears that as he was in Southern Ireland when he left the Navy, he perhaps decided to stay there. He is then recorded as a boatman working for the Coastguard Service in Cappa near Kilrush in County Clare, on the west coast of Ireland. 

It seems likely that he retired from the Royal Navy to settle down. It is unknown where or how he met his wife Esther Ann (nee Saint) [0814] who came from South Petherton in Somerset - they had married in South Petherton earlier in 1874.

The whole of Ireland had been made part of the United Kingdom of Britain under the Acts of Union of 1801. It remained this way until 1922 when the division into  Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland (which remained part of the United Kingdom) was agreed. Southern Ireland ultimately became a republic completely divorced from the UK.

It was perfectly feasible therefore for William to settle in Southern Ireland as he probably never had a home base to return to. He has never been mentioned in our Weymouth family and until I did this research I had presumed that he had died young.

Oldest son born 

1881 - 14th January : Richard Crombleholme [0815] son of William Crombleholme [247] & Esther Ann (nee  Saint) [0814] born in Kilrush, County Clare. (Source : required)

1882 - 14th June :  William [247] was promoted to a coastguard having started as a boatman.

c1883 - William Crombleholme [Cro0819] son of William Crombleholme [Cro0247] and Esther Ann (nee Saint) [Cro0814] born in Kilrush, County Clare. (Source : required)

William dies :

1884 - 31st January : Very sadly, William Crombleholme [Cro0247] is recorded as dying at Cappa, Kilrush on 31st January 1884. His Naval Record states diptheria as a cause of death - he was only 31 years old. There were some 12 deaths in the area in the same week and presumably all from the same cause.

1884 - Friday 8th February : From the Western Gazette : Jan 31 at Cappa Coastguard station, Kilrush, co Clare, Ireland William Crombleholme [Cro0247] late of Weymouth aged 31. 

Note : The 1891 Census Returns of South Petherton, Somerset (below) records his widow Esther Ann Crombleholme (nee Saint) [Cro0814] - (aged 37 and born in South Petherton herself) having two sons Richard [Cro0815] (b 1881) and William [Cro0819] (b 1883) - both born in Ireland. The 1911 Census adds the detail of them both being born as residents in Kilrush, County Clare.

Ellen Crombleholme, his widow returns to Somerset

1884 - 27th July : South Petherton  Burial of Ellen Crumbleholme [Cro0822] age 1 yr (see above)

This is another tragic record showing that their baby daughter Ellen [Cro0822] died 6 months after her father, aged 1 year. 

The newly widowed Esther  Ann Crombleholme (nee Saint) [Cro0814]  aged 30 with her two very young sons and baby daughter had obviously moved back from Ireland to Esther's family in Somerset soon after William's death. She had been born in South Petherton on 30th May 1853, the daughter of William Saint (1832-1886) a groom and Elizabeth Saint (nee Bowditch). She appears to have lived at home until at least 1871 when she is recorded in the census aged 18. The census of 1891 lists her as a glove maker. It seems that she did not remarry.

1891 Census : South Petherton, Sch No 133  - George Lane (occupied rooms : 4)

Esther Crombleholme, [Cro0814] widow aged 37, glove maker ; born in South Petherton.

Richard Crombleholme, [Cro0815] scholar aged 10; born Ireland (b c 1881)

William Crombleholme  [Cro0819] scholar aged 8; born Ireland (c 1883)

Albert Swain (nephew to Esther) scholar aged 4  born South Petherton 

1901 Census : South Petherton, George Lane

Esther Crombleholme [Cro0814] age 38   Born 1863  Head of family.  Born in South Petherton, Somerset; 

Occupation : Charwoman

Richard Crombleholme [Cro0815] age 20  Born 1881 son;   Born in Ireland;  occupation : tailor

William Crombleholme [Cro0819] age 18  Born 1883  son;  Born in Ireland occupation : Postman rural

Albert Swain age 14 Born in 1887 nephew ; Born in South Petherton, occupation : Shop Boy Port

1907 - 5th October :  Jack Crombleholme[Cro00   ] born - West Somerset. He died in 1984 (Source Eng & Wales deaths 1837-2007)  

Not sure how he fits in ?? Richard & William were both still single in the census of 1911.

1911 Census  : South Petherton 117 South Street,  (parish St Peter & St Paul)

Esther Crombleholme [Cro0814] age 58  born 1853; Head of family, widow; Born in South Petherton. No occupation given.

Richard Crombleholme [Cro0815] age 30  born 1881 son, single, Born Kilrush Clare (resident), Ireland; Occupation : Tailor / maker

William Crumbleholme [Cro0819] age 29 born 1882 son, single, Born Kilrush Clare (resident), Ireland; Occupation : Groom

Stanley Dart  age 18 born 1893  boarder, single, Born Yeovil, Somerset, occupation : baker. 

1911 - 1st August : William Crombleholme [0819] married Lotte Martin [0820] (1877-1957) in South Petherton. They do not appear to have had any children.

Brothers Richard [Cro0815] and William Crombleholme [Cro0819] appear in the 1919 Kellys Directory but only Richard appears in later editions up to 1935 as a "tailor".

NB : There may be an error in Kellys listing - Reg as Richard ? A nickname ? - Local recollections are unlikely to make this mistake although the mention of Mr Hawker below is not borne out by Kellys. 

Below : Entry from 1910 Kellys Directory 

Richard Crumbleholme listed as "sexton" (a person who looks after the church and churchyard, often also acting as bellringer and gravedigger)

1918 - January : Richard Crombleholme [0815] married Eva Ella (nee Foote) [0816] in Yeovil, Somerset. She had been born on 13th December 1879 in Ansford, Somerset, the daughter of Mark Foote and Mary (nee Pitman). 

Kellys Directories *:

1919*

Richard Crombleholme,[Cro0815] tailor,  St James Street (36 years old)

William Crombleholme,[Cro0819] beer retailer, Palace Road (34 years old)

1920 - Friday 9th July : From the Western Gazette : Lot 5 - An off-licensed Beer House at Roundwell in Palace Road, South Petherton, now occupied by Mr William Crombleholme [Cro0819] as sub tenant of Messrs Old, Battiscombe & Elwes, who holds the house on a quarterly tenancy at a very low rental of £8. 

1920 - 20th August :  Hugh Richard Crombleholme [Cro0817] born son of Richard Crombleholme [0815] and Eva Ella Crombleholme (nee Foote) [0816]. 

1922 - A daughter Mina Crombleholme [0823] was born but sadly died within a year.

Kelly's Directory for these years have the same entry - 1923, 1927, 1931, 1935,*

Richard Crombleholme, [Cro0815] tailor,  St James Street 

1927 - January : Lotte Crombleholme (nee Martin) [0820] died in Yeovil, Somerset.

1928 - January : William Crombleholme [0819] marries again to Emily Pavord Martin [0821] (1873-1957). She may have been related to his first wife ?

The following information (and photographs) appears in a locally produced book : South Petherton in the twentieth century - A Village Album  published in 2000 by South Petherton Local History Group.  

Chapter 3 - shops and businesses in South Petherton (p55-57)

Unfortunately, there are no dates mentioned in, what is presumably, recollections by local people. 

It appears that Richard Crombleholme [0815] was known as “Reg" 

Richard (Reg) Crombleholme [Cro0815] was apprenticed to Mr Hawker* who ran a tailor's shop where suits were made to measure for less than £2. 

(* RC note Mr Hawker does not seem to appear in Kellys directory although a Richard Crumbleholme is listed as a tailor from 1919 to 1935)

Richard (Reg) C [Cro0815] married Eva Foote [Cro0816] and they moved to The Red House. After his death, Mr Hawker left his business to Richard (Reg) Crombleholme [Cro0815] who moved his wife Eva [Cro0816] and son Hugh [Cro0817] (b1920) into the left hand end of the building. There was a living room and kitchen on the ground floor with a bedroom upstairs. A bathroom was added later on.

The shop probably when still owned by the Mr Hawker pre WW1 ? 

Richard (Reg) diversified the shop and started stocking many different things and offering various services. 

1939 - Register Yeovil Rural District :

            6 St James Street (Shop)

            Henry Adams b 15/9/1876 - Ironmonger Manager

            Gertrude Adams b 24/4/1888 - Unpaid domestic duties !

            Hilda Adams b 30/4/1872  - ditto

            Richard Crombleholme [Cro0815]  14/1/1881 Shopkeeper Outfitter

            Eva  E Crombleholme [Cro0816]  b 13/12/1879  Unpaid domestic duties 

            Hugh Crombleholme [Cro0817]  b 20/8/1920  Assistant shopkeeper outfitter

Sept 39 - Feb 1940 : Hugh Richard Crumbleholme [Cro0417] enlisted at Padgate, (near Warrington, Cheshire) between these dates in the Royal Air Force - Service No 1142497  (Source : RAF index 1918-1945 ref AIR 78 40 2)

1940 - 13th January : Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser records - Boys of 13 evacuated from London appeared at Ilminster Juvenile Court ....admits shoplifting thefts from seven South Peterson shops ......An album, two diaries, a fountain pen, style pen and a number of lead boys valued 9s  3d from Richard Crombleholme [Cro0815] draper of St James Street.

1942 - 15th August : Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser records a show at South Peterson in which Mrs (Eva ??) Crombleholme [Cro0816] is noted for displaying currants and white eggs !  (in the middle of WW2 !)

1945 - 19th August : Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser of 1st September records : Mrs Eva Ella Crombleholme [Cro0816] wife of Mr Richard (Reginald) Crombleholme  [Cro0815]  of St James Street died. Mrs Crombleholme was well liked in the parish for her kindly manner (not seen in full)

1946 - October : William Crombleholme [0819] died in Tauton, Somerset. It appears that he had no children.

Richard’s son Hugh Crombleholme  [Cro0817]   married Jean (nee Kear) [Cro0818] in July 1951 in Smethwick, Staffordshire. Jean recalled that the shop took priority as from September the living room was used to store toys and decorations for Christmas. 

1952 - 4th August : Richard Crombleholme [Cro0815] died in the isolation hospital in Yeovil, Somerset.

Hugh Crombleholme [Cro0817] (1920-1997) and his wife Jean (nee Kear) [Cro0818] (1925-1984) were married in 1951 at Smethwick (ref 9b 1229 father Christopher Kear). They built a house in the orchard which they owned opposite the shop which allowed the shop to expand.  Hugh ran the shop for almost 50 years and provided a wide range of stock and services :  toys, gardening equipment, china, eggs, paraffin, stationery with services including watch repairs, crockery hire, engraving, dry cleaning, and shoe repairs. "If he hadn't got it (and he usually had), he would get it". 

A local postcard (Tuck Ltd) showing the shop and Crombleholme clock in 1963

Below : Present day (2022) Facebook items found on the internet : Obviously a very popular man and shop !

A sketch map of South Petherton - the shop was at 6 St James Street

Last of the line

The shop in 1999 after Hugh's death - note name and clock still present (photo by    ?   )

The Crombleholme Clock 

This local "landmark" was relocated in January 2011 on Blake Hall in the centre of the village. The clock had been fitted on the front of the Crombleholme shop in the 1940's but was frequently damaged by passing lorries. It is a Smiths electric type dating from c1935. It was finally taken down and given to the Parish Council, who stored it in the cemetery chapel. 

The local community managed to raise more than £1000 and a kindly clockmaker from Exeter helped by working in his spare time. Local architect John Ratton obtained the necessary planning consent. The clock bracket was put up when the Christmas decorations were being erected in December 2010 and the clock itself in early 2011. The clock now has an automatic sensor to light it during the hours of darkness. 

"The restoration was important as much to preserve the memory of the man as well as his clock".

Well done the local community !

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