Mathew Comb (1814 - 1883)

Born 2 Jan 1814 in Dunbar, Haddingtonshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Crombie — married 13 Oct 1832 in Dunbar, Haddingtonshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 5 Jul 1883 at age 69 in Dunbar, Haddingtonshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Biography

Mathew Comb was born in Scotland.

Mathew was born on 02 Jan 1814 in the parish of Dunbar in Haddingtonshire in Scotland. Mathew was the son of James Comb, a fisherman, and Ann Mar [sic]. He was baptised on 09 Jan 1814, and the witnesses recorded at his baptism were Peter Mar (who was probably his uncle, since Anne had a brother named Peter) and James Reid. ^[1].

Mathew became a seaman, and his marriage to Mary Crombie was regularly proclaimed on 14 Oct 1832 at Dunbar. On the marriage record, Mathew and Mary were both noted as being "of this parish". ^[2] Although parents are not listed on the marriage proclamation, it is known from Mary's death registration record, that her parents were Richard Crombie and Margaret Hume. ^[3].

Mathew and Mary had 9 known children.

1. Margaret
2. James
3. Mary Ann
4. Richard
5. Agness Marr
6. Elizabeth Mary Donaldson
7. William Hume Crombie
8. Jane E.
9. Matthew

In 1841, Mathew and Mary lived at The Vennel in Dunbar in Haddingstonshire, and they had 4 children who lived with them, Margt (7), James (5), Mary (3), and Richd (1). Mathew was still a seaman, recorded as a merchant sailor on this census. ^[4]

Mathew was not recorded on the 1851 Scotland census. His wife, Mary, and some of their children, namely James (15), Richard (11), Agnes M (9), Elizabeth M D (6), and William H C (4), lived at Castle Street in Dunbar, and Mary was listed as a shipmaster's wife. (Also living with them was Mary's mother, Margaret). The two older daughters, Margaret and Mary Ann lived with their grandfather, Richard Crombie, at Duke Street in Dunbar. Since his wife, Mary, was noted as married, not widowed, it was likely that Mathew was away at sea. And sure enough, in 1861, he was back with his wife and younger children, William (14), Jean E (10), and Mathew (7). They lived on Broadhaven in Dunbar. This time, his occupation was recorded as a fisherman. ^[5]

In 1871, Mathew, listed once again as a seaman, and his wife, Mary, were living at Dawell Brae in Dunbar, with their youngest child, Matthew, and also their grandson, Matthew Brodie (see Research Notes for more information on young Matthew). ^[6]. Mathew and Mary obviously moved quite a bit, because in 1881, they were living at High Street, 2 Browns Close in Dunbar. They finally had an empty nest, free of children and grandchildren. Mathew was listed as a sailor this time. ^[7]

Unfortunately, the bliss of "empty nesters" didn't last too long. Later that year, his wife, Mary, died on 15 Dec 1881,^[3] and Mathew's mental health declined. He was admitted to the Haddington District Asylum (otherwise known as the Herdmanflat Hospital) on 19 Jan 1883. He died less than 6 months later on 05 Jul 1883. ^[8]. His death record states that he was a pauper, formerly a fisherman, and died of brain disease of which he had been suffering for some years. ^[9]

Research Notes

Birth notes: It should be noted that the index for his birth shows a birth date of 09 Jan 1814 but the document clearly shows 02 Jan 1814. ScotlandsPeople advises that the birth date on the index may indicate either the birth date or the baptism date, and Mathew was baptised on 09 Jan 1814.

Name notes: Mathew was the spelling on Mathew's birth record, as well as other records. He was recorded as Matt on the 1841 census, so that was a likely nickname. And yet other records, namely the 1881 census and his death record, show the spelling of Matthew. Some records also indicate his surname spelled as Combe.

1871 census notes: Matthew Brodie was the illegitimate son of Matthew and Mary's daughter, Elizabeth, and he was born in 1862 at Dawell Brae when Elizabeth would have been about 17 years old. That means Matthew and Mary must have moved to Dawel Brae shortly after the previous census was taken. Young Matthew's birth registration named him as Matthew George Comb, and did not list his father, but the 1871 census has recorded him as a Brodie, hence that was likely his biological father's name. Elizabeth went on to marry Duncan Naismith, and Matthew was later recorded as Matthew Comb, stepson to Duncan.

See also

Place notes: After April 1921, Haddingtonshire became known as East Lothian.

• https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk: "Border news in brief". Southern Reporter. Selkirk. 7 April 1921. p. 6. Retrieved 08 Apr 2022. It was agreed at a special meeting of Haddington County Council on Friday [1 April 1921], on the motion of Lord Polwarth, to apply for a Provisional Order to vest Haddington County Buildings in the Council, and to change the designation of the county from "Haddington" to "East Lothian".

Sources

1. ↑ "Statutory Registers - Births" database, National Records of Scotland (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/), accessed 26 Mar 2023; COMB, Mathew, born 02 Jan 1814, son of James COMB, fisherman, and Ann MAR, parish 706 Dunbar; citing Ref No: 40 / 157.
2. ↑ "Statutory Registers - Marriages" database, National Records of Scotland (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/), accessed 26 Mar 2023; COMB, Mathew, age 26, seaman, married Mary CROMBIE, on 14 Oct 1832 at Dunbar in Haddingtonshire; Parish 706, citing Ref No: 80/66.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "Statutory Registers - Deaths" database, National Records of Scotland (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/), accessed 08 Apr 2023; COMB, Mary, died 15 Dec 1881, married to Mathew COMB, daughter of Richard CROMBIE, man servant, and Marg HUME, Year 1881 Dunbar; citing Ref No: 706 / 110.
4. ↑ Scottish General Register Office: 1841 Census Returns database, FreeCEN https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5a14996bf4040b9d6e95b655/matthew-comb-1841-east-lothian-dunbar-1815-?locale=en: viewed 08 Apr 2023), Mathew COMB, 26, Merchant Seaman, Dunbar, East Lothian; from 1841, citing Piece: 706 Enumeration District: 5 Page: 6 House or Street Name: The Vennel
5. ↑ Scottish General Register Office: 1861 Census Returns database, FreeCEN https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5903057be9379091b1469e54/mathew-comb-1861-east-lothian-dunbar-1814-?locale=en: viewed 08 Apr 2023), Mathew COMB, 47, fisherman, Dunbar, East Lothian; from 1861, citing Piece: 706 Enumeration District: 6 Folio: 0 Page: 19 Schedule: 103
6. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1871 Scotland Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Scotland. 1871 Scotland Census. Reels 1-191. General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland. Parish: Dunbar; ED: 6; Page: 9; Line: 12; Roll: CSSCT1871_172
7. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1881 Scotland Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Scotland. 1881 Scotland Census. Reels 1-338. General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland. Parish: Dunbar; ED: 2; Page: 20; Line: 15; Roll: cssct1881_303
8. ↑ 'General Register of Lunatics in Asylums', Haddington District Asylum, East Lothian, NRS Reference MC7/5 p. 295; Index, Scottish Indexes (https://www.scottishindexes.com/hentry.aspx?hid=529523: accessed 02 Apr 2023); Original Source: Mental Health Records, National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland.
9. ↑ "Statutory Registers - Deaths" database, National Records of Scotland (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/), accessed 02 Apr 2023; COMBE, Matthew, son of James COMB, fisherman, and Ann MARR, died 05 Jul 1883, District Asylum, Haddington; citing Ref No: 709/ 56.