Cotswolds.Info Forum

Date: Oct 6 11:16 AM, 2011

RE: Brockhampton - Combe, Denley, Toms, Barnfield family news from 1914!

lindanecia · Member

Hi, I must confess to using your website to add information about the Deakins to my tree on Ancestry even before you contacted me here.

One of George Deakin's in-law's descendants told me adamantly that the Deakins were not the Jam manufacturing ones. However we know differently.

It was Winsome, not Winifred, the first name that George's wife went by, as well as Edith Victoria Combe. She received an MBE, and their son received a CBE so they are a very honoured family.

I am a distant cousin of these Combes. My great grandfather Clement Combe was a younger brother of Winsome Edith Victoria's great grandfather - George Combe, brewer and baker of Brockhampton.

If you want to know anything more about the Combes I will try to help you.

Linda

Date: Oct 5 8:24 PM, 2011

Hi!

Very interesting as I am researching my Deakin family and my Great Uncle George Deakin married Edith Combe from Brockhampton! smile

I have been researching the Deakin's family involvement in the fruit growing and jam manufacturing business in the Vale of Evesham and have been putting some of the information on my website at www.deakin.broadwaymanor.co.uk.

lindanecia · Member

Hi Cotswold people,

I would have liked to give this information to the Sevenhampton Village News, online, but they don't have a contact method.

My father's Uncle Charles Becket Combe was born in Brockhampton in 1868 and ended up living in Coronado, California where he was the Providor Manager for the famous Hotel del Coronado in WW1 years.

I have been transcribing a letter, dated 8/12/1914 he sent to his brother William Bacon Combe in Sydney, following a visit there with his wife Annie (nee Golding).

On page 2 of the letter he gives all the recent news from 1914 after his visit which also included going back to England: (verbatim)

"Bill there are not many people you would know at Brock[hampton] now. The younger element has gradually stepped in and taken the place of those we used to know. Then the Villages as I could see and I went through a number of them with George Combe driving me around are depopulating there are not the young men around there used to be. did you get the paper I sent with my article in? John Denley has been retired by George Combe he gets so much per week as long as he lives. Albert Toms looks well but older. Fred, Albert and Will Barnfield are still there and all going well. Mr Rhodes have transformed our two old Houses into almost New ripping the whole interior right out New big Doors Chimneys & Roof I could hardly believe such a change could be brought about. Barnett is still there The Chapel Services have gone to pieces I cant believe they have any more worshipping there than the upper Chapel. George Combe goes to Church I believe there is something wrong somewhere I really think if I were Mr Whitbread I would give up to some younger blood."

Please contact me if any more light to be shed on the people or matters Charles mentions, or you have have any queries or comments. Kind regards from humid Sydney, Congrats on the cricket!

Linda