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Messages - mbourneworster

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Other Countries / Re: Can you help to solve an Indian mystery?
« on: Tuesday 14 November 23 17:38 GMT (UK)  »
Quote from: mckha489 on Sunday 11 July 21 04:20 BST (UK)
There isn't any indication of source on the card.  other than the fact it is an M.I. So perhaps you should be googling "Monumental Inscriptions of Buxar" or something.

I have also found the following monument inscription in the book, 'List of Old Inscriptions in Christian Burial Grounds in the Province of Bihar and Orissa' relating to Louisa Charlotte Coombs, but not that of her baby, Robert Smith. I don't think this adds any additional information, but confirms the records already shared earlier in the thread.

"Sacred / to the memory / of Louisa Charlotte Coombs / the / beloved Wife / of / R. S. Coombs, Esq., / Indigo Planter /who departed this life / on the 7th August 1841 / aged 35 years 3 months and 11 days / In sure and certain hope of a / joyful resurrection."

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Other Countries / Re: Can you help to solve an Indian mystery?
« on: Thursday 09 November 23 17:02 GMT (UK)  »
Apologies for resurrecting an old thread!

I believe an ancestor of mine, Mary Ann Bock, was a witness at the baptism of Frank Smith Coombs in 1859. She was the second wife of an indigo planter, Thomas Robertson Bock, who was in turn her third partner.

Nic, I was fascinated to read that you are in possession of diaries that are contemporary with Mary's life in Buxar as I have found very little record of her life in India and who she was.

Her previous partner had been John Gibbs, the commandant of Buxar Fort, who had died in 1847 She was not married to him but she and he had 3 'natural' children (I am descended from one of them - they all went to England for their education and never returned).

Shortly after, she then married the indigo planter Thomas Robertson Bock. He also died in 1859, leaving her his indigo factories in his will. However, Mary remained in India until her death 30 or so years later in 1890. I am very curious to know what her life was like there and her social standing. I get the impression she must have been quite a character to continue to live independently in India long after Thomas' death!

I would love to know if the Bock's were peers of the Coombs and if the diaries make any mention of John Gibbs, Thomas Bock, or Mary Ann Bock?

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