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Maude Coombe (5/1/1911 - 12/6/1996)

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Glyn

Glyn Report 12 Feb 2026 11:54

Married 1936 July to William J Hosking
Married January 1964 to Nicholas J Rowe ( I think) They divorced. I don't know when

I'd love to fond out more about her and her parents who travelled around on the Music Hall circuit.
HARRY COOMBE (1872-1957)
ADELAIDE MAUDE COOMBE NEE FRY (1971-1953)

greyghost

greyghost Report 12 Feb 2026 12:31

What research have you done yourself?

The marriage of Harry and Adelaide

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
Marriages Jun 1904 (>99%)
Connolly Lena Grace Winchester 2c
Coombe Harry Winchester 2c 286
Fry Adelaide Maude T Winchester 2c 286
Hibberd William Winchester 2c 286

Birth reg. of Adelaide showing second middle name and birth reg. 1871

Name: Mother's Maiden Surname:
FRY, ADELAIDE MAUDE THERESA EMMENT
GRO Reference: 1871 J Quarter in DARTFORD Volume 02A Page 366

greyghost

greyghost Report 12 Feb 2026 12:34

1911 for Harry and Adelaide, showing places of birth.

Married 6 years, 2 children born and still living

1911 Census For England & Wales
30 York Place Newport Mon, Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales
First name(s) Last name Relationship to head Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Frederick Edmund Murrow Head Married Male 31 1880 Clerk Monmouth Newport
Ellen Winifred Murrow Wife Married Female 27 1884 Housekeeper Durham Stockton on Tees
Dorothy May Murrow Daughter - Female 3 1908 - Monmouth Newport
Harry Coombe Boarder Married Male 37 1874 Vocalist Cornwall Hayle
Adelaide Maude Theresa Coombe Boarder Married Female 39 1872 Vocalist Kent Belsedere
Margaret Ann Charles Boarder - Female 62 1849 Vocalist Monmouth Newport
George Abraham Bere Boarder Widower Male 56 1855 Parkkeeper Devon Landford

greyghost

greyghost Report 12 Feb 2026 12:38

The Cornishman Newspaper 9 Nov. 1893. At Hayle

...... the 3rd of a series of concerts in aid of the band fund of the Hayle men's Bible class was given on Thursday, when the band played several selections, and vocal solos were rendered by Mrs Vincent and Mr Harry Coombe. .........

nameslessone

nameslessone Report 12 Feb 2026 12:46

Try www.britishmusichallsociety.com

( sorry, my iPad is not doing the links properly.)

There is a list of publications to check out on there

greyghost

greyghost Report 12 Feb 2026 12:48

Trying to establish where the children are in 1911 and the family in 1921 as the 1911 census said 2 born and 2 alive at that point.

There was also a Coombe/Fry marriage in Camelford RD in 1905.

These are the births from 1904 to 1911

Name: Mother's Maiden Surname:

COOMBE, FRANK FRY
GRO Reference: 1906 M Quarter in CAMELFORD Volume 05C Page 10

Coombe, NORA FRY
GRO Reference: 1907 D Quarter in LAUNCESTON Volume 05C Page 13

COOMBE, SYDNEY GREGORY FRY
GRO Reference: 1911 M Quarter in CAMELFORD Volume 05C Page 11

COOMBE, MAUDE FRY
GRO Reference: 1911 M Quarter in NEWPORT. MON Volume 11A Page 262

Nora is with Frank a farm labourer and his wife Maud and siblings Frank and Sydney
in St Clether, Cornwall in 1911.

greyghost

greyghost Report 12 Feb 2026 13:04

1939 Register
6 South Street, Exeter, Exeter C.B., Devon, England

First name(s) Last name(s) Birth date Sex Occupation Marital status Schedule Schedule sub number
Harry Coombe 24 Aug 1872 Male ??? Married 5 1
Adelaide M T Coombe 24 Jun 1871 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 5 2

Harry's occupation is given as Vocalist Music Hall Variety

on the opposite page next to his line it says - Ex service ? ----- Royal Marine ?-------

Adelaide's DOB originally written as 2 June 71 has had 4th June '71 written in above that.

Sorry, got to go out now.

Glyn

Glyn Report 12 Feb 2026 14:01

I've researched the censuses relating to their lives, Harry, Adelaide and Maude.
I tried to find out if the Rowe, Nicholas J was the man Maude married. I only knew him as Uncle Jack, and I know they were divorced at some time. ( Not the thing children were told in those days!)
I tried to find traces of Harry or Harry and Adelaide in the music hall lists. So I will follow the suggestions given. I wondered if they travelled abroad for work because Harry Jr is born in Canada.
I've found the gravestone of William J Hosking, Maude's first husband who died at the young age of 34. Maude was buried with him some 60 years later which in my opinion shows what she felt about him. He was her first love.
Other than that I've drawn a bit of a blank and thought you all could help me know where to look further :-)

alviegal

alviegal Report 12 Feb 2026 15:37

1921 Census Of England & Wales
Penpol Road, Hayle, East Phillack, Cornwall, England

Household members (6 people)
First name(s) Last name Relationship to head Sex Birth year Age in years Birth place Occupation Employer
Frances Mitchell Chinn Head
Female 1870 50 Lelant, Cornwall, England Boarding House Keeper Employer
>>Harry Coombe Boarder
Male 1908 13 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada - -
>>Maud Coombe Boarder
Female 1911 10 Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales - -
William George Buckingham Visitor
Male 1867 54 Devonport, Devon, England Checker & Weigher T W Ward & Son, Iron & Street Foundry
Mary Annie Uglow Buckingham Visitor
Female 1867 54 Devonport, Devon, England Home Duties -
Roma Annie Buckingham Visitor
Female 1898 23 Devonport, Devon, England Clerk Civil Service, Inland Revenue


and

1911 Census For England & Wales
Penpol Road Hayle, Phillack West, Cornwall, England

Household members (6 people)
First name(s) Last name Relationship to head Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
James Chinn Head
Married Male 44 1867 Coal porter Cornwall Hayle
Frances Chinn Wife
Married Female 42 1869 - Cornwall Lelait
Gladys Mary Chinn Daughter
Single Female 20 1891 - Cornwall Hayle
Ada Chinn Daughter
- Female 6 1905 - Cornwall Hayle
>>Harry Coombs Boarder
- Male 3 1908 - Ottawa Canada
>>Maud Coombs Boarder
- Female 0 (3 months) 1911 - Moumouth Newport

alviegal

alviegal Report 12 Feb 2026 15:56

Mr Harry Coombe, son of Mr Joseph Coombe, of Penpol Rd, arrived home on Wednesday, with his wife, from USA. Mr Coombe is well known as a professional vocalist, both at home and in the States. His many friends at Hayle are pleased to see him amongst them again.

Cornishman, Penzance 24 Sept 1908


At the usual service at the Foundry Wesleyan Chapel on Sunday last Mr Harry Coombe, a former member of the choir, sang two solos "Dream of Paradise" and "For those in peril on the Sea". Each piece was beautifully rendered, every word being clear and distinct. The occasion drew a large congregation, the spacious chapel being crowded to excess, and all were delighted at the singing. Mr Coombe possesses a powerful voice of great range and compass, and he is to be congratulated on his great success. Being home for a short holiday. he very kindly offered to assist his old friends.....

he is "the possessor of a rich, powerful baritone voice" and had left Hayle a few years since and had already made a name for himself.

Cornish Telegraph 23 Mar 1904


...special solos were sung by Mr Harry Coombe, now a professional singer with a rich, bass voice ...

Cornish Telegraph 27 Nov 1901


WANTED Engagement as Bass Vocalist or Cornettist - ADDRESS Harry Coombe, Penpol Rd

The Stage 4 Jan 1894


...glad to hear from Mr Edwin Drew, the well known London Entertainer, that Harry Coombe, the Hayle baritone, carried all before him in the French Salon, St James' Hall. He was advertised as ' A Cornish Miner, first appearance in London' and sung 'I fear no foe', 'The village blacksmith' and 'Nazareth'. He has been engaged by a London mamager.

Cornish Post and Mining News 1898

nameslessone

nameslessone Report 12 Feb 2026 16:28

I've had a chance to switch machines do here is the link that wouldn't copy properly

https://britishmusichallsociety.com/

This is the section from their research guide:

https://britishmusichallsociety.com/archives/research-guide-artistes
The British Newspaper Archive
The BNA has in recent years revolutionised theatre research with the digitisation of the main theatrical newspapers including The Era (1833-1959), The Stage (1880-2007), The Music Hall & Theatre Review (1889-1912), as well as publications such as The Referee (1877-1914) and The Entr’acte (1870-1907) which contain much theatrical content. Theatre and sport often went hand in hand as seen in publications like The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News (1874-1970)

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 12 Feb 2026 18:54

Harry Coombe
in the Ontario, Canada Births, 1832-1918
Name Harry Coombe
Gender Male
Birth Date 21 Apr 1908
Birth Place Carleton, Ontario, Canada
Father
Harry Coombe [vocalist ]
Mother
Maude Fry
Page number 583


Harry Coombe
in the UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960
Name Harry Coombe [ vocalist ]
Arrival Age 31
Birth Date abt 1877
Port of Departure Montréal, Québec, Canada
Arrival Date 13 Sep 1908
Port of Arrival Liverpool, England
Ports of Voyage Montreal
Ship Name Canada
Shipping Line Dominion Line
Official Number 106806

Travelling with Mrs Maud Coombe, wife, and Harry, infant.

alviegal

alviegal Report 12 Feb 2026 20:14

1939 Register
4 Little Lane, Hayle, West Penwith R.D., Cornwall, England

Household members (2 people)
First name(s) Last name(s) Birth date Sex Occupation Marital status Schedule Schedule sub number
William J Hosking 24 Mar 1911 Male Market Gardener Widowed 135 1
Maude Rowe (Hosking) 05 Jan 1911 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 135 2

Penzance, Cornwall, England
First name(s) Maude
County Cornwall
Last name Hosking
Country England
Marriage quarter 1
Volume 7A
Marriage year 1964
Volume as transcribed 7A
Page number 297
MarriageFinder™ Maude Hosking married one of these people
Nicholas J Rowe
Record set England & Wales Marriages 1837-2005
Spouse's last name Rowe
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
District Penzance

alviegal

alviegal Report 12 Feb 2026 20:38

William James Hoskings of Venton Cot. Ventonleague died 14 Feb 1946 aged 34. He worked for Lello Bros. and was popular in the district. His funeral arrangements were carried out by S J Coombes and son.

Cornishman 28 Feb 1946

Glyn

Glyn Report 12 Feb 2026 22:34

Thank you all so much for the information you've found out.
I need to investigate those newspapers relating to entertainment and music hall. Thank you nameless one. I did look at the website and couldn't find anything about Harry Coombe. I did wonder if he sang under a different name but it doesn't appear so from the excerpts from the Cornishman.
It appears Harry and Adelaide travelled a bit with their singing but I'm not sure how to find out more beyond the newspaper articles.
Any further help would be appreciated but I'm delighted with what's been discovered already

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 12 Feb 2026 22:52

Don’t discount the idea of his having a ‘professional’ name on the circuit……….he would be too well known ‘at home’ not to use his given name.

alviegal

alviegal Report 13 Feb 2026 20:19

Parish School Hayle Foundry, Infant
Admission Date 22-Apr
Admission Year 1912
Forename Harry
Surname COOMBE
Date Of Birth 21/04/1908
Parent Guardian Mrs CHINN
Abode Penpol Road
Register Notes removed
Transcriber Notes See parish page for full transcript
Transcriber Karen Duvall

https://www.cornwall-opc-database.org


Parish School Hayle Foundry, Wesleyan
Admission Date 25-Oct
Admission Year 1915
Forename Maude
Surname COOMBE
Date Of Birth 5-Jul 1911.
Parent Guardian Mrs CHINN (G)
Abode Penpol Road
Register Notes removed to Newton Abbot
Transcriber Notes See parish page for full transcript
Transcriber Karen Duvall

Glyn

Glyn Report 15 Feb 2026 18:21

Thank you all for your help. I've been checking out the newspapers that mention Harry Coombe. That was really interesting. Also the school records for Harry Jr and Maude.

I haven't been able to trace anything more about Nicholas J Rowe, other than the fact he married Maude. Does anyone know anything more about him?

Also how do I find probate records for Maude or a will? Is there a website I can check out for that?
Thank you all very much for what you've found out for me so far :-)

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 15 Feb 2026 18:42

Get a copy of the marriage cert to find out how old Nicholas Rowe was and the name of his father, if he knew him.

It's important to realise that not all info is online and has to be obtained by purchasing documentary records

The chances of anyone on here ‘knowing’ anything about the man are virtually zero, as hardly anyone uses these boards

Google Probate index and go from there on the website ………..it’s a GRO site

Presumably you know under which surname her death was registered?

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 15 Feb 2026 19:00

ROWE, MAUDE 1911
GRO Reference: DOR Q2/1996 in PENZANCE (3651) Reg 46C Entry Number 278


ADDED:

https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#wills

ROWE MAUDE
Date of death:13 June 1996
Date of Probate:18 September 1996
9680206850
PROBATE Bristol

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