Richard Crumbleholme 1820-1880

Birth & Early Life :

1820 - 27th December : Richard Crumbleholme [Cro0241] was baptised - the son of William and Charlotte Crumbleholme of Frome [Cro0162 & 163] in Horningsham Church. However, his age appears to vary in the Census Returns but when he died in Weymouth in 1880, his age is given as 69 years which, if true, would give a birth date in 1811. His parents had married in Horningsham in 1816 and his brother Edward Crombleholme [Cro0243] had been born in 1817. The 1820 date therefore seems more likely.

Little is known of his early life although it is very likely that the Rev Francis Skurray, Rector of Horningsham taught him at the local school. Richard's father William [Cro0162] died in 1828 in Frome when he was only 8 years old. Although his mother remarried, she too died, aged 39, in 1833 when Richard was only 13 years old. 

1841 Census : Richard is recorded in the Horningsham as living with the Dredge family (his late mother's family) in West Common, Horningsham - he is noted as aged 20 with a birth date of 1821. His occupation is given as painter. 

The move to Weymouth, Dorset

Richard Crombleholme [Cro0241] moved to Weymouth in Dorset after 1841 but before 1851 as this later Census records him married and living in Weymouth. Their marriage record below has them both living in Crewkerne with Elizabeth’s address given as the George Inn and Richard’s as Market Place. Perhaps they had both been working in this town and met there - we shall probably never know !

Marriage :

1849 - 29th September : Richard Crombleholme [Cro0241] married Elizabeth (nee Christopher) [Cro0242] in Crewkerne, Somerset. She came from a Weymouth family with her father Samuel Christopher (1779-1860) being a shoemaker. Her mother Mary (nee Searly) had been born in Highwood, East Stoke near Wareham, Dorset and was living with her daughter and family in Weymouth aged 85 during the 1861 Census noting this as her birth place. 

Prior to her marriage, Elizabeth Christopher  is recorded in the 1841 Census as living with the Templar family in Frederick Place, Weymouth - she may have been a servant ? Their marriage record has them both living in Crewkerne with Elizabeth’s address given as the George Inn and Richard’s as Market Place. Richard signed his name whilst Elizabeth made her mark. Witnesses were John Webb and Mary Ann Berryman. 

1871 Census (2nd April) Melcombe Regis

Ref 35  1 Helen Lane  Richard Crumbleholme  Head of family Condition : married    Age : 60  Occupation : Painter & Glazier Born: Somerset, Frome

                                   Elizabeth Crumbleholme        Wife                 Condition : married    Age : 58               blank                           Born : Dorset, Weymouth

                                   Richard Crumbleholme        son      Condition : unmarried Age : 20   Occupation : Plumber & Glazier     Born : Dorset, Weymouth

The couple had settled in Weymouth by 1850 where their son Richard [245] was born. Later in 1861, the couple lived in 72 High Street, Weymouth sharing a house with the Christopher family. Richard [0241] is recorded in 1850 on his son's baptism record and also on this son's (another Richard [Cro0245] ) marriage certificate in 1872 as a "house painter" born in Frome. He was buried in Melcombe Regis Cementary  6th January 1880 aged 69 years (i.e. 1880-69 = 1811 !). 

His move to Dorset may have been influenced or even arranged by the Rev Francis Skurray who also held a living at Winterbourne Steepleton (about 7 miles north west of Weymouth) in Dorset. He had also been the vicar in Horningsham where Richard had grown up and as he was also a school teacher probably taught him. The Rev Skurray also performed the burial service of Richard's father William in 1828. I live in this village now!

He is recorded with his family in various locations in Weymouth in the 1851, 1861 & 1871 Census (Weymouth & Melcombe Regis) and gives his birth place as Frome

1850 - 6th October : Richard Crombleholme [Cro0245] baptised eldest son of Richard [Cro0241] & Elizabeth [Cro0242]  Richard's occupation : painter of Melcombe Regis.  (Source : Parish Reg Ref P243/RE25 - page 191 entry 1523)

1851 Census (30th March) Melcombe Regis (ie modern town side)

Ref 165   Maiden Street Richard Crumbleholme  (241) Head of family    Condition : blank   Age 27 ?   Occupation : Painter;  Born : Somerset, Frome

                                      Elizabeth Crumbleholme  (242)    Wife                                             Age 39                                      Born  : Dorset, Weymouth

                                      Richard Crumbleholme (245) son                                              Age 6 months                             Born : Dorset, Weymouth.  

NB The previous  ref 164 is given as the Ship Inn

1852 - 10th November : William Crombleholme  [Cro0247] was born younger son of Richard & Elizabeth.  No christening has been located as yet and although he is listed in the 1861 Census as a scholar aged 8, he is not listed in the 1871 Census when he would have been 18 years old. This is due to him joining the Navy in November 1870 and serving for 10 years before becoming a coast guard on the west coast of Ireland. His naval records give his birthdate and other details. He married  Esther (nee Saint) [0814] in South Petherton in Somerset and they had two sons Richard [Cro0815] & William.[Cro0819] These two brothers are the first of the South Petherton Crombleholmes. Their father William[Cro0247] sadly died in Ireland in January 1884 of diptheria and his widow returned to her home in South Petherton in 1884 with her very young children.

1861 Census (7th April)  Weymouth

Ref 72   High Street  Richard Crumbleholme  Head of family; Condition : Married  Age 39 Occupation : Painter & glazier journeyman  Born : Frome 

                                     Elizabeth Crumbleholme wife  Condition : Married   Age 30  Occupation : Painter & glazier's wife    Born : Dorset, Weymouth

                                     Richard Crumbleholme      son                                  Age 10                      Scholar                                Born : Dorset, Weymouth

                                     William Crumbleholme **      son                                 Age  8                       Scholar                                Born : Dorset, Weymouth

                                     Mary  (Christopher)   mother in law  Condition : widow  Age 65  Receiver of Parochial relief          Born : Dorset, Highwood**

                                     Mary   Pottle   lodger                Condition : widow      Age 60    Charwoman                                           Born : Dorset Stoke Abbas

My father, Dick Crumbleholme[Cro0254] , had said that these early photographs were of his great grand parents  Richard [Cro0241] & Elizabeth Crumbleholme. [Cro0242] . This cannot be verified unfortunately.

Death & Burial :

1879 - 29th November : Elizabeth Crombleholme [Cro0242] buried in Melcombe Regis cemetery, Weymouth  aged 67. Widow of Richard ?? (she died before him !)

1880 - 6th January : Richard Crumbleholme [Cro0241] buried in Melcombe Regis cemetery, Weymouth aged 69. Occupation : painter.  The grave still exists.

(Source DCRO Ref P243/RE34 page 2 & 4 Nos 13 & 25)