Combs &c. Families of Coombes, Sussex, England

Combs &c. Families
of Coombes, Sussex, England

You are Our Visitor Since 28 Dec 2000
Last updated
Please Email Additions and/or Corrections to Webmaster

Coombes (Coombs), a parish in the hundred of Steyning, rape of Bramber, county of Sussex, is 1.24 miles south of Upper Beeding 1.38 miles southeast of Bramber, 2 miles south southeast of Steyning, 2.56 miles northeast of Lancing, contained 70 inhabitants in 1830. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Chichester, rated in the king's books at £10. 0. 2½. The Earl of Egremont was patron in 1824. The Rector of Coombs is the patron of the living at Shipley. The river Adur is navigable on the east of this parish... (Lewis and maps)
1120-1139 (est.) Two brothers, Hugh (Hugone) and Norman (Normanno) de COMBIS (CUMBIS) witnessed several documents for the de HARCOURT and de BRAOSE families of nearby Bramber, the latter descended from William de BRAOSE, Lord of the rape of Bramber, who came from Normandy with William the Conqueror. One of those documents was the charter by Phillip de HARCOURT transferring Shipley (see above). Whether the name of this parish is descriptive of the locale or the de Coombes surname (or vice versa) is not yet known (See Early Combes &c. of England) and Early Combes of Sussex).

Nigel de COUMBES (COMBES) of Sutton and Excete, Seaford and Applesham, Coombes, Sussex, died without issue by 1336:

7 Aug 1736 (9 Edward III) Writ. 15 Sep 1636. Sussex Inq. No. 680. Nigel de COUMBES (COMBES).

7 Aug 1336 Applesham Manor, Coombes, Sussex. Nigel de COUMBES (COMBES) of Sutton and Excete, Seaford and Applesham, Coombes, died without issue by 1336, Richard de COUMBES (relationship not stated) his heir. The reversion of the Seaford lands after the death of Nigel pertained to Joan, wife of William BONET, aged 26 plus, by the grant of William JOLIF. Applesham is described as follows:

Appelsham in Coumbes. The manor (extent given) held, to him and the heirs of his body, of John de MOUBRAY, by service of two knights' fees; the reversion whereof belongs to Richard de COUMBES, aged 40 years and more [born bef 1296], by a fine levied in the king's court, because the said Nigel died without heir of his body; and 15a. arable and 11a. marsh, held for life of John de MOUBRAY, as parcel of the said manor; the reversion whereof belongs to Joan, daughter of John atte CHAUMBRE, aged 11 years and more, by a fine levied in the king's court.
(Great Britain. Calendar of Inquisitions Post-Mortem, published 1906 by His Majesties Stationery Office, London, copied by Combs Researcher Joe Kendalll and transcribed by Combs Researcher Denise Mortorff, Vol. 7, p.463, C.Edw. III. File 43. (9))

22 Jun, 23 Edward III [1350]. Richard de COMBE or de COMBES of Sussex died, leaving daughter, Joan, aged 17 or more, following which an inquisition was conducted at Bembre (Bramber) on 1 May 24 Edward III [1351] which listed among his holdings, "Hoo in the parish of Launcyngg [Lancing]. Tenements (unspecified) held of the Sir John de MOUBRAY by service of an eighth part of a knight's fee and by rendering 5d. yearly." Rchard's other holdings included the manor of Applesham in Coombes, described as" Applesham. The manor, held of John de MOUBRAY by service of two knights' fees."

In the case of each of the above records, it is not stated whether the deceased was a resident of the county.
Return to Combs &c. of Sussex
Return to Combs &c. of England