John Edwin George Tombs

1868-1903

John was born in Newbury, Berkshire, the first son of Edwin and Charlotte Tombs (nee Elms) who were married in 1867 (marriage registered in Newbury).

His mother Charlotte was born c1847 in Stockcross, Berkshire, the daughter of George and Elizabeth Elms (nee Pearce) who were married on the 8^th September 1842 at St Mary the Virgin Speen, Berkshire. She died aged 85 on the 4^th December 1931 in Hertfordshire, she was brought to Newbury and laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 7^th December.

His father Edwin was born in 1840 in Newbury, Berkshire, the son of Israel and Maria Tombs (nee Purdue) who were married on the 29^th March 1832 in Collingbourne Dulcis Wiltshire. Edwin was a Grocer’s Assistant in his early life (worked for Webb’s Grocers at 50 Northbrook Street, Newbury), by 1881 he had his own grocery business in Speenhamland, Newbury. Edwin died aged 58 on the 7^th October 1898, he was laid to rest in a family vault in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 11^th October.

John’s siblings were:

Henry c1870 (died aged 2 months, buried in the NRC on the 26^th February)

Harry c1871

Fred 1872 (died aged 16, buried in the NRC on the 18^th October 1889)

Walter 1874

Edwin 1876 (died aged 10 months, buried in the NRC on the 12^th May)

Frank 1879 (died aged 9 months, buried in the NRC on the 27^th August)

Charles 1881

Richard c1889

The 1871 census records John (2) (recorded as George) living at 31 West Street, Newbury with his father Edwin (31) a Grocer’s Shopman, his mother Charlotte (23) and his brother Harry (2 months).

John (12) was recorded as a pupil at Christ Hospital, Hertfordshire in 1881.

The 1891 census records John (22) and his brother Harry (20) as Grocer’s Assistants at 21 Oxford Street, Newbury, also recorded with them was Ernest Clift (22) a Grocer’s Assistant, recorded as a boarder, Ann B Pringle (51) a Housekeeper and Alice J Claridge (14) a Domestic Servant.

John does not appear to be recorded in the 1901 census.

He died aged 35 in Birmingham, Warwickshire on the 9^th November 1903. His body was brought to Newbury and he was laid to rest in a family vault in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 13^th November. (Probate record mistakenly recorded date of death as the 8^th November)

Also buried in the family plot were his brother Fred (buried 1889), his father Edwin (buried 1898) and his mother Charlotte (buried 1931)

Probate:  TOMBS John Edwin George of 48 Newton-street Birmingham died 8^th November 1903 Administration London 3^rd December to Charlotte Tombs widow Effects £122 12s

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