Albert Coombes

Albert Coombes was the son of Joseph Coombes and Eliza (née Gilbert).

Joseph Coombes was born in 1854 at Lenton, and Eliza Gilbert was born in 1858 at Beeston. The record of their marriage has not yet been traced; there is the registration of a marriage by an Eliza Gilbert in 1880 (Basford registration district) but the spouse name/s are not that of Joseph Coombes.

The couple had eleven children, one of whom died in infancy: William b. 14 April 1880, John Henry b. 1882, Ada b. 6 August 1884, Eliza birth reg. 1886(JFM) and Nellie birth reg. 1888 (JFM) who were all born in Lenton, Arthur b. 1890, Charles 1892 OND d. 1892 OND, Sarah Ann b. 1893 and Albert birth reg. 1896 (JFM) who were born in Stapleford, Frank b. 1899 who was born in Sandiacre and Ethel b. 1904 who was born in Stapleford. All the registrations of birth gave the mother's surname (Gilbert).

Three of the children were baptised at Lenton St Anthony parish church; William bap. 1 August 1880, John Henry bap. 27 July 1882 and Ada bap. 2 November 1884.

William, Eliza and their son William were living at 9 Scarcliffe Terrace, Lenton, in 1881; William was an unemployed lace maker while Eliza was a winder in a lace factory.

By 1891 the family had moved to 42 Bessel Lane, Stapleford. Joseph, a lace curtain maker and Eliza now had six children, William, John, Ada, Eliza, Nellie and Arthur. Their fourth son, Charles, was born the following year, but died in infancy, and then between 1893 and 1901 there were two more sons and a daughter.

Joseph, a lace curtain maker, and Eliza were still living in Stapleford in 1901 but were now on Halls Road. Their nine surviving children were in the home on the night of the census; William and John were Levers lace makers, Ada and Eliza were Levers lace menders, Nellie, Arthur, Sarah, Albert and Frank.

The youngest child, Ethel, was born in Stapleford in 1904 (reg. OND); her father's death at the age of 50 was recorded in the same registration period (1904 OND).

His widow, Eliza, had returned to Nottingham by 1911 where she was living at 129 Birkin Avenue, Hyson Green. Seven of her ten children were in the home on the night of the census, Ada and Nellie who were lace menders, Arthur, Sarah a cigarette packer, Albert a shop assistant and Frank and Ethel who were school age.

Eliza's eldest son, William, his wife Lilian [Truman], and their infant son, William (b. 1910), were living at 27 Kenilworth Terrace, Portland Road, Radford, Nottingham. The two other siblings, John Henry and Eliza, have not yet been traced on the 1911 Census.

Eliza snr. was recorded on the 1921 Census at 34 Grimston Road, Nottingham. Also in the household was her married son, Frank, a corn merchant's carter, and his wife, Edith (née Chamberlain), a collar machinist (National Laundry). The couple were married at Radford St Peter on 9 April 1921. At least two other children were also married by 1921: Arthur to Eleanor Lily Keating at Radford Christ Church in June 1920 and Nellie to Herbert Walter Miller at Radford St Peter in November 1920.

Four siblings, John Henry, Ada, Eliza and Sarah have not yet been traced after 1911, but Ethel probably married at Radford St Peter in September 1933 (Percy George Snusher?).

Eliza snr. died in 1932 aged 74; burial date 1 July.