Research Forum

Marriage registers in England and Wales between 1754 and 1837 do not give parents although sometimes they may witness the marriage but their relationship will not be identified.   Original Somerset records are held by the Somerset Heritage Centre and copies of them on fiche can also be seen in some libraries - Here in Weston-super-Mare Library are copies (images) of the North Somerset Parishes on fiche.  Similarly Bristol Record Office has the registers of churches in the diocese of Bristol.

Do you have a specific marriage which you are researching?

Hello Pat,

This goes back to my Coombs question of a couple of weeks ago. You pointed me in the direction of the Portbury registers and there is a Lawrence Combs born 1782 to William & Mary, but there is also a Lawrence Cooms born 1780 to Thomas & Sarah in Weston (St John's registers). My ancestor in 1841 Census is Christopher Coombs, parents Lawrence and Ann, siblingsHenry & William. Lawrence's age in the census does not tie up (but I know the 1841 can be incorrect). the spelling of the surname changes, but again as they probably couldn't read or write it was down to interpretation.

I can only find one burial in 1844 in St John's Weston of Lawrence Coombs age 62. Lawrence seems an unusual name, so to have 2 born less than 2 years apart (possibly to brothers) is giving me problems. As someone used to searching for Mary Jones or Mary Davies in South Wales I thought Lawrence would be a doddle!!

If I could find another death or as I was hoping confirm the parents of Lawrence in the 1841 ...... If you can help in any way or give me some pointers I would be very grateful.

Chris Dye

This may or may not help  - but on Findmypast in the British Army Service Records 1760 - 1915 is a Private Laurence COMBS from "Parberry near Bristol" [Portbury?] who enlisted on the 12th April 1801 when he was aged 18.  He served with the 6th Dragoons at Waterloo and was discharged 25th Oct 1822 with chronic rheumatism.   No family is mentioned in these papers - he is described as a labourer.

When your Lawrence married in Dec 1822 the transcription of the marriage details on the Bristol & Avon FHS CD does say that he was from Weston-super-Mare and as he was described on the 1841 census as a cordwainer not a labourer that does seem to rule out the Portbury one.

I have a copy of his Army papers Pat and everything you say is correct but, my Lawrence married age 40 in December 1822 about 2 months after Lawrence( Portbury) had left the Army. I wonder whether in the 20years after leaving the Army he could have become a Cordwainer (do you know whether this would be the sort of work someone with chronic rheumatism could do?).The biggest minus point against Portbury Lawrence in his discharge papers (which I found very interesting) from a family viewpoint was his height! As a family we are short, his height is put as 5' 11 1/2" which I think is quite tall for the 1800's.

Unless I can find another death I think I have to go with the Weston Super Mare Lawrence!!