JAMES COOMBS (junior) THE COLOURFUL JAMES COOMBS James Coombs junior (1828), a Cornish wrestler arrived in Adelaide South Australia aboard the Princess Royal 5th November 1847 Aged 18. On 16 March 1848 aged 20 he married Jenifer John (Jane) Stevens in Adelaide South Australia. 6th March 1850 their first child Elizabeth Ann Coombe was born to only die 9 months later on 12th December 1850. March 23 rd 1851 their first son James Coombe was born it was at this time that James was preparing for his Grand wrestling match that was held a month later. He participated in several wrestling matches as was known as James Coombe “The Cornish wrestler hailing from five lanes Altarnun” Aged 21 weighting 150lbs who was known to lay his components out as “ flat as a flounder” and was very sharp contestant (South Australian register 1851). 1852 James would have left for the Gold Fields in Castlemaine Victoria, leaving behind his pregnant wife Jane (Jennifer) and son James. March 20th 1852 James consigned 3 oz Gold to Jane on the first escort from Mount Alexander Goldfields; this was the beginning of James travelling some 680 km between Kapunda and Castlemaine to provide for his family. November 1852 James back in Adelaide for the birth of his second son Thomas Coombs to only loose his first son James a couple of months later January 1853. James a successful miner in the Goldfields a place known as Specimen Hill in Campbell’s Creek, he would spend time between Kapunda and Castlemaine in January 1854 his second son Thomas had died, one month later (February 1854) his second daughter Elizabeth Coombs was born, January 1856 Phillip Henry Coombs was born, back to the Goldfields James would go not only to provide for his Kapunda Family but to also live his second life with Mary Gribbon. March 20th 1857 James Coombe (Bachelor) from Cornwall a Miner, married Mary Gribbbon (spinster) from Cornwall at the School House in Castlemaine Victoria. Back to Kapunda to be with his family while Mary gave birth to their son James Edward Coombe on 19th April 1857 just one month after their marriage. Yes the colourful James Coombs surely was a busy man, December 1857 another son for James and Jane, James Combs (1857). April 1858 James and Mary son James Edward Coombe died (Victoria), 3 months later James and Mary second son was born James Coombe (Victoria), just 10 days later James and Jane son Phillip Henry died (Kapunda), 4 days later their daughter Elizabeth Coombe died (Kapunda), while in Victoria just 27 days later James and Mary lost their son James Coombe (Victoria). March 1860 the death of James Comb (Kapunda), September 1860 John James Coombs born (Kapunda), May 1861 Elizabeth (Mary Jane) Coombe born (Victoria) , was it around this time that Jane and their only child John James coombs left South Australia to join James in Victoria ? 25th August 1862 James Coombe (junior) died in an accident at the Ajax Mine Aged 28. He was buried in Campbell’s Creek Cemetery along with his son James Coombe (son of James and Mary). “MAN KILLED ON THE AJAX REEF.- An inquest was held yesterday on the body of a miner, named John Coombes, aged twenty eight years, who was killed the preceding day whilst engaged at work. Deceased was at work on the Ajax Reef, at a depth of 160 feet. After a shot had been fired, deceased, with a minor named Scantlebury, went to clear out the stuff. Deceased sat at the back of Scantlebury, as the drive was narrow; and, whilst they were at work, a shell of rock fell, clearing the latter, but falling on deceased, and covering him completely all but his head. Scantlebury called to his mates, who came at once. The debris was moved, but deceased never spoke or moved, only groaning slightly afterwards. He was perfectly sober when the accident occurred. He has left a widow and one child. Dr. Gow was called in directly, but life was extinct long before his arrival. It did not appear that the accident had occurred through any carelessness, and the medical evidence showed that death had been occasioned from injuries received and the shock to the system. A verdict of “Accidental Death” was returned. The police constable who took charge of the body found in the trousers’-pocket the sum of ₤51 3s. 9d. - Mount Alexander Mail, Aug. 27.” At the time of the accident, the claim was being worked by James Coombes, Richard Scantlebury and Henry Bishop - all from Cornwall. His grave, along with that of his infant son, is marked by an impressive headstone in Campbell’s Creek cemetery. A ghost story subsequently emerged, and that report also mentions that James was a shareholder in the Ajax claim, Bolivia Reef. Coombes Gully is earlier mentioned in the Ballarat Star in 1860. The Argus (Melbourne) of 19 September 1862 speaks of the great fortune that James and his mates would have had: “Wherever the system of ‘tribute’ has been introduced in the working of the quartz mines, so far as came under my observation, it has been profitable to the men engaged in it. The case of the Ajax Mine is, of course, an uncommon one, the richness of the stone the tributers discovered there having given them an annual return superior to the salaries of the judges of the local courts, and not inferior to those enjoyed by the permanent heads of departments in the States service ! Few of the working clergy of the United Church of England and Irelandand none of the placed or chosen clergymen of Scotland enjoy a revenue equal to that of a tributor in the Ajax!” Ajax Reef was “first known as the Specimen Hill, then as the Bolivia … In September 1859 the Bolivia Company as formed … sunk a shaft to 150 ft … for very little return. In January 1861, the mine and plant were purchased for $6000 (sic) by the Ajax Quartz Mining Association, and let on tribute. The tributors found rich gold by a short east crosscut to the footwall on the 150 foot level… Between 1861 and 1879, the Ajax Quartz Mining Association, including gold won by tributors obtained 40,929 ozs. 13 dwt. from 58,647 tons of ore.” Goldfields Reminiscences. Castlemaine’s Golden Era, first published 1884 by S. W. Jonnes, published in facsimile by S. J. Tingay, Castlemaine, 1977. ISBN 0959672508. James’ identity was difficult to determine. The main reason is that iJames had two families. (This is the most likely explanation for the data.) The other family was the one he had with his first wife Jane Stevens in South Australia. James Coombe’s estate was handled by his brother, William, after James’ widow Mary had given up right to it on behalf of herself and their daughter. In an estate worth a very large ₤1400, this approach makes most sense by realising that William would be better able to distribute assets to both families. William Coombe was described as a mason from Sandhurst (later known as Bendigo) - his signature appears below. It was not uncommon for miners to lead a double life and have a second family - official or otherwise - on the goldfields. (Source: Digging for gold : a guide to researching family and local history in Victorias central gold fields by Helen Doxford Harris, 1988.) This situation also explains why James gave false information at his second marriage for his age and parentage and could not give a maiden name for his mother. In 1864, James’ first wife Jane Stevens, married again to Francis William WALSCH (Francis William WALSH), stating on the marriage certificate that her first husband had died in 1862.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 07:44:49 +0000
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