Biography:
James Duncombe (505)
12/11/1834 –27/12/1915
James Duncombe (505)
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Plot 505 James Duncombe (1834-1915)
James was born 12 November 1834 in Berkhamsted, the son of Edward Duncombe, a labourer, and his wife Charlotte.
In 1841 his father was described as a “navigator” (what would now be called a “navvy”) living in Albert Place (now Highfield Road). James had an older brother and sister.
In 1851, aged 16, he was lodging at the Three Tuns public house in Twickenham, “ a servant out of a place”.
He had not been found in the 1861 census but he joined the police at Great Scotland Yard on 12 January 1863 when he was 25.
In 1863 James married Martha Reeley in Highgate. He was a police constable. Their sons
Robert (1867), Alfred (1869) and Ernest (1872) were all born in Islington.
The 1871 records the family at 2, Grosvenor Road, Islington.
In February 1872 James was promoted to sergeant.
Martha died in 1875 aged only 31 and he married Mary Ann Wade in 1877. They were to have no children.
By 1881 James was a Police Inspector 3rd Class. Unfortunately the date of that promotion is illegible on the records. He and Mary Ann were living at the police station in Shenley, Barnet.
The Metropolitan Police Pension records for Hampstead show that sub-inspector James Duncombe resigned 31 March 1888. He was entitled to an annual pension of £70 4s after 53 years’ service. This document gives us a description of James: 5 foot 8 inches tall, dark grey hair, grey eyes and a sallow, pock-marked complexion.
He and Mary Ann had moved to 22, Kittsbury Road by 1891.
In 1901 they had taken as a lodger a Dutch schoolteacher .
James died at Kittbury Road in December 1915 aged 81 and was buried 30 December.
Mary Ann survived him until 1933 and lies here with him.
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Plot 505 James Duncombe (1834-1915)
James was born 12 November 1834 in Berkhamsted, the son of Edward Duncombe, a labourer, and his wife Charlotte.
In 1841 his father was described as a “navigator” (what would now be called a “navvy”) living in Albert Place (now Highfield Road). James had an older brother and sister.
In 1851, aged 16, he was lodging at the Three Tuns public house in Twickenham, “ a servant out of a place”.
He had not been found in the 1861 census but he joined the police at Great Scotland Yard on 12 January 1863 when he was 25.
In 1863 James married Martha Reeley in Highgate. He was a police constable. Their sons
Robert (1867), Alfred (1869) and Ernest (1872) were all born in Islington.
The 1871 records the family at 2, Grosvenor Road, Islington.
In February 1872 James was promoted to sergeant.
Martha died in 1875 aged only 31 and he married Mary Ann Wade in 1877. They were to have no children.
By 1881 James was a Police Inspector 3rd Class. Unfortunately the date of that promotion is illegible on the records. He and Mary Ann were living at the police station in Shenley, Barnet.
The Metropolitan Police Pension records for Hampstead show that sub-inspector James Duncombe resigned 31 March 1888. He was entitled to an annual pension of £70 4s after 53 years’ service. This document gives us a description of James: 5 foot 8 inches tall, dark grey hair, grey eyes and a sallow, pock-marked complexion.
He and Mary Ann had moved to 22, Kittsbury Road by 1891.
In 1901 they had taken as a lodger a Dutch schoolteacher .
James died at Kittbury Road in December 1915 aged 81 and was buried 30 December.
Mary Ann survived him until 1933 and lies here with him.
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