(Herbert) Russell Midlane COOMBE alias Russell MIDLANE

[judb]

This man is not my direct ancestor but I find his life interesting, and would like to know about the change in his family circumstances in later life.

He was registered and baptised in Wilton, Wiltshire, as "Midlane Russell COOMBE" in 1840 to John Henry COOMBE and Frances Agnes nee MIDLANE.  I have plenty of information about his parents.  As his father was a clergyman the family moved about a bit - in 1841 at Mere using first name of Russell; 1851 they are in Heworth Yorkshire, and his name is listed as "Russell Midlane COOMBE."

In 1855 he was appointed Master's Assistant in the Royal Navy (named as Russell M COOMBE)

The next sighting I can see is a marriage in Kooringa, South Australia in November 1863 to Bridget Bower, using the name "Herbert Russell Midlane COOMBE" He and Bridget had children who used the surname COOMBE and three of whom were still alive at the death of Bridget in Wentworth NSW, December 1917, according to the obit which makes no mention of a husband.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/74807613 
His youngest child with Brdget is born abt 1868

By about 1886 he begins a family with Margaret MOORE who, by 1897, is using the name Mrs Midlane.  He marries Margaret as "Russell MIDLANE" in Jan 1917 and he gives his status as widower although Bridget doesn't die till December 1919.

I think I have all the details re his children of both families and his wives, so no need to search for them.

What I'd like to know is:
How did he get to South Australia? He had only been taken on by the RN seven years before.
Did the two families and wives know of each other?
The marriage to Margaret was about 30 years after the birth of their first child.  Wondering why as it seems he didn't wait for his first wife to die. (Pure nosiness here!)

There was an earlier thread about this man where it's clear that Herbert Russell Midlane Coombe is the same man as Russell Midlane.
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=799129.27

Sorry, a bit long-winded but might fill in some spare time in these days of pestilence.   

Judith

[maddys52]

Interesting Judith.

Will spend some time looking, but to start, just in case you haven't seen it, there are notices in various newspapers of a Russell COOMBE being appointed a naval cadet around 3rd March 1854.

[judb]

Thanks, Maddy.  Are those UK papers?  Seems odd that he was only in the RN for seven/eight years, if that.  Many of his mother's family were involved with the RN, either as serving officers or as  Admiralty administrative staff.

Judith

[jorose]

Do you have copies of his RN records?
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
 
I would look at "Russell M Coombe" but also "Rupel M Coombe" - particularly look for dates suggesting if he was released from service (possibly by purchase?) and what ships he was on in what years - might let you know what regions of the world he was in.

From google books I can see a reference in 1857 to him being assigned (R M Coombe, Masters Assistant, to the Styx) which is also found in the newspapers https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/
(Simply says "R M Coombe, to the Styx" - this was around September 1857)

As someone with a seafaring background I imagine it would have been fairly simple for him to work passage. Perhaps, having entered the Navy at the encouragement of his family, he found it was not for him after all.

Did his father leave a will? The way in which he is referred to and if there is a location given for him might tell you if the family in the UK knew about his movements and name changes or not.

[majm]

I am just popping this transcription here,  'because' ... 

Looks certain that Herbert Russell Midlane COOMBE is the same man as Russell MIDLANE.

Transcript of the marriage of Russell MIDLANE and Margaret MOORE
Reg No: 3106
Date Married 9 JAN 1917
Place Married ST MARY'S CHURCH, WEST WYALONG, BLAND SHIRE
Religion ROMAN CATHOLIC
Groom Name: Russell MIDLANE
Conjugal Status Widower
Birthplace York, England
Occupation: Selector
Age 77
Usual Residence BENA
Father : John Henry MIDLANE
Mother: Frances Agnes COOMBE
Occupation - Father: Clergyman
Bride
Name: Margaret MOORE
Conjugal Status: SPINSTER
Birthplace CARLOW, IRELAND
Occupation POST MISTRESS
Age 67
Usual Residence BENA
Father: Denis MOORE
Mother: Ellen POWER
Occupation - Father BAKER
Witnesses Austin H. O'CONNOR, Jane DUNNE
Minister EDWARD JOSEPH LAIDE; REGISTERED 19 FEB 1917

He has transposed the surnames of his parents as his father was John Henry COOMBE and his mother Frances Agnes MIDLANE.  His father's occupation is correct.  He was born in Wilton, Wiltshire but had moved to Yorkshire by 1861 (I cannot find the family in 1841).

He had a younger brother Herbert b 1853 - possibly why he used the forename Herbert  in his early adult life.

I'm still wondering why they were married so late.  Bridget didn't die until the end of 1917.

Is there a shipping record for him?

Judith

[judb]

Thanks, jorose.

I'm being mean and not buying much info for this man as our common ancestors are a good way back - my 3xgreatgrandparents. I just find him interesting, especially as he came to Australia.

As his father died in 1887 that will is not available on-line; the executor was Russell's sister who was born after he joined the Navy so no easily-found information there.

Thanks for the name of his ship which was deployed in the East Indies in 1855 and in North America/West Indies from 1857-1862.
https://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=2128

I downloaded the reference from The National Archives (UK) which told me no more than the index.  And he is indexed also as "Rupfel", caused by the use of the old long s

Judith

[judb]

Thanks JM. 

[majm]

In 1917 he married according to Roman Catholic rites .... and I notice that he must have converted, for his father was recorded on that NSW marriage as a 'clergyman'...

    

JM

[majm]

As an aside,  (from not just me, but also from several of my ancient rellies, including retired clergy)...     

Looking 1851 Heworth, Yorkshire.
Frances Agnes is a clergyman's wife,  but the clergyman was not listed although their children and even the Monthly Nurse was  ... and also noticed that next door but one was another clergyman's wife, their one child and three servants and again that clergyman was not listed ...   
Where were those two clergymen ...  (Rev Coombe, and Rev Barker).

ADD 1851 Russel Midlane COOMBE https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SG12-KKB : 12 September 2019

JM