Family of William Alexander COOMBE and Catherine HATTEN

Husband:	William Alexander COOMBE (c. 1843-1920)
Wife:	Catherine HATTEN (1844-1896)
Marriage	1871	Exeter, Devon, England
	in All Hallows On The walls.

Husband: William Alexander COOMBE

Name:	William Alexander COOMBE¹
Sex:	Male
Father:	-
Mother:	-
Birth	c. 1843	Exeter, Devon, England
Occupation		Plasterer, Mason
Census	30 Mar 1851 (age 8)	Exeter, Devon, England²
	West Quarter, St Mary Steps
Occupation	30 Mar 1851 (age 7-8)	scholar; Exeter, Devon, England²
Census	7 Apr 1861 (age 17)	Exeter, Devon, England³
	Anchor Lane, Exe Island, St Edmund
Occupation	7 Apr 1861 (age 17-18)	plasterer; Exeter, Devon, England³
Residence	5 Jan 1863 (age 19-20)	Exeter, Devon, England^4,5
	Well Lane
Occupation	5 Jan 1863 (age 19-20)	plasterer; Exeter, Devon, England^4,5
Census	2 Apr 1871 (age 27)	Exeter, Devon, England⁶
	Rosemary Lane, Exe Island
Occupation	2 Apr 1871 (age 27-28)	plasterer; Exeter, Devon, England⁶
Census	3 Apr 1881 (age 37)	Exeter, Devon, England⁷
	Saddler's Lane, St Edmunds
Occupation	3 Apr 1881 (age 37-38)	plasterer; Exeter, Devon, England⁷
Occupation	3 Oct 1887 (age 43-44)	plasterer⁸
Census	5 Apr 1891 (age 48)	Exeter, Devon, England⁹
	18 Bonhay Road
Occupation	5 Apr 1891 (age 47-48)	plasterer; Exeter, Devon, England⁹
Occupation	14 May 1893 (age 49-50)	plasterer¹⁰
Residence	18 Jul 1897 (age 53-54)	Exeter St Thomas, Devon, England¹¹
	31A Oxford Street
Occupation	18 Jul 1897 (age 53-54)	plasterer; Exeter St Thomas, Devon, England¹¹
Census	31 Mar 1901 (age 58)	Exeter, Devon, England¹²
	18 Eagle Cottages, Bonhay Road
Occupation	31 Mar 1901 (age 57-58)	plasterer; Exeter, Devon, England¹²
Census	2 Apr 1911 (age 68)	Exeter, Devon, England¹³
	18 Eagle Cottages, Bonhay Road
Occupation	2 Apr 1911 (age 67-68)	plasterer working; Exeter, Devon, England¹³
Death	17 Aug 1920 (age 76-77)	Exeter, Devon, England
	Cause: road traffic accident involving a charabanc on Six Mile Hill, Dunsford on 26 June 1920. Inquest jury returned the verdict that death was due to bronchitis as a result of an accident. Address: Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Exeter Residing at the Alexandra Inn, Bonhay Road
Burial	23 Aug 1920	Exeter , Devon, England
	Higher Cemetery Funeral of Mr. Coombe at Higher Cemetery There was a very large number of friends and sympathisers at the Higher Cemetery, Exeter yesterday, when the funeral took place of Mr. Coombe of the Princess Alexandra Inn, who died in hospital last Wednesday night from the injuries he received in the Dunsford char-a-banc disaster. Mr Coombe's elder son, Mr. W.J.Coombe was unable to attend owing to the severe injuries he himself received in the accident. The family mourners present at the graveside were Mr. J Coombe and Mrs. Ellen Coombe, of Brecon, S. Wales (son and daughter-in-law) Mrs. Kate Coombe of the Princess Alexandra Inn (daughter-in-law), Miss Ada Coombe (granddaughter), Mr. Tom Coombe and Mrs. Kate Coombe of Well Street (brother and sister-in-law), Mrs Perkins (sister), Mr. Hermon Harris and Mrs. Harris (brother-in-law and sister), Mr. G. Shobbrooke and Mrs. Shobbrooke (step-children), Mrs Shooter, Miss Perkins (niece) and Master Coombe (nephew). Rev. A. Seymour, curate at Allhallows on the Wall Church officiated. The friends at the graveside included Mrs. Helley, wife of the last victim of the disaster, Miss Beer, Miss N.Helley, Mrs Lear, Mr. B. Brookes, Mr. B Drake, of South Wales, and Mr. H.Keith. The coffin was of unpolished elm with brass mountings. A large full length cross was sent by his loving children, Bill, Jack, Kitty and Nell, and granddaughter, Ada, and there were wreaths from his step-children, Emily, Will, Maud, George and Lill, Mrs Helley and Hilda, Mr. and Mrs. Drake and family, Tom and sister-in-law, Kate, his sister Eliza and family, Alice and Harry and family, sister and brother, Elizabeth and Hermon Harris, and members of the outing. Western Times 24 August 1920

Wife: Catherine HATTEN

Name:	Catherine HATTEN¹
Sex:	Female
Father:	John HATTEN (c. 1815-1893)
Mother:	Ann H. PACKER (1817-1881)
Birth	1844	Sandford, Devon, England
Baptism	8 Nov 1846 (age 1-2)	Sandford, Devon, England
Census	30 Mar 1851 (age 4)	Sandford, Devon, England¹⁴
	Sandford Town
Occupation	30 Mar 1851 (age 6-7)	scholar; Sandford, Devon, England¹⁴
Census	2 Apr 1871 (age 24)	Sandford, Devon, England¹⁵
	Sandford Town
Occupation	2 Apr 1871 (age 26-27)	General Domestic Servant; Sandford, Devon, England¹⁵
Census	3 Apr 1881 (age 34)	Exeter, Devon, England⁷
	Saddler's Lane, St Edmunds
Census	5 Apr 1891 (age 47)	Exeter, Devon, England⁹
	18 Bonhay Road
Death	1 Feb 1896 (age 51)	Exeter, Devon, England
	Cause: Accidental death. Fall downstairs caused by weak ankle and no handrails resulted in a broken neck. Inquest held. 4 Feb 1896. Address: 8 Exe Street
Burial	8 Feb 1896	Exeter, Devon, England
	In St David's

Note on Husband: William Alexander COOMBE (1)

Western Times 26 June 1920

MOTOR OVERTURNED ON SIX MILE HILL

Dunsford Saturday Afternoon

This morning an alarming accident happened within a few miles of the village of Dunsford, on the main road to Mortonhampstead. A huge motor char-a-banc, belonging to the Exeter and District Touring Co., and known as “the Kid,” ran away down the steep hill leading to the village and capsized. As a result a man named Ben Shaw, aged about 50, a wood turner employed by Messrs. Wippell of Exeter, and residing at West View Terrace, Exeter, was killed and practically all the occupants, thirty in number, were injured more or less seriously.

The party was that organised by Mr. Coombe, landlord of the Princess Alexandra Inn, Bonhay Road, Exeter. They planned to go to Plymouth via Mortonhampstead and return via Kennford. They set out in two cars. “The Kid” was overtaken by the second, and at the time of writing its occupants are apparently unaware that anything has happened to the other char-a-banc.

All went well until they reached the top of what is known as the Six Mile Hill. The accident happened only about 200 yards from the top of the hill, where it is exceedingly steep, probably a gradient of one –in-five where the crash happened.

Nobody who was riding in the char-a-banc is able to say what happened. They appear to agree that they did not know there was anything wrong until the vehicle turned turtle.

The only people who are in a position to give any account of what took place are Mr. Victor Strong, a farmer of Coombe Farm, Dunsford, and his father. They were working in the field, and on hearing the char-a-banc approaching Mr. Victor Strong ran to the hedge to see them pass. In his own words he described what he saw:

“I was standing in the field when I saw the char-a-banc approaching at a very rapid pace, and it was gathering speed with every yard. As I was looking through the hedge I saw the driver pull in to the left-hand side of the road. The great car ran into a telegraph pole which snapped off like a carrot. Then the left hand wheels went into a deep ditch made for carrying off the surface water. The field entrance crosses the ditch where it is covered to allow carts to pass.”

“The result of this is that the wheel was in a deep gutter but came up against an obstruction that was right across the track. It came up against this with a terrible bump. The whole char-a-banc wobbled, and one of the occupants was thrown out on the left-hand side between the car and the hedge. He is the man who was killed.”

“It was all over in a matter of seconds now. The car continued its mad career. It ran on and the left-hand front wheel commenced to mount the hedge. It ran up a matter of four feet, the effect being that both front wheels were running on the side of the hedge and the car was practically on its side for a few yards. Then they fell off, and the whole car turned over on its side right across the road as you see it now.”

“There was no noise except the crash. It was all so sudden that there were no shouts of terror for the instant. The whole of the remainder of the occupants of the car were pitched out in a heap on the right-hand side of the road.”

“My father and I ran to give what assistance we could. The man who had been thrown from the car died whilst my father was trying to attend to him. We ran to find more help, and from the village contact the authorities in Exeter, but the telegraph pole being knocked down, we could not get through. Somebody cycled to Christow to telephone a message from the station to Exeter. Exeter City Police sent St John’s Ambulance and the RAMC ambulance to help, and they arrived within forty minutes of the accident. In the meantime the injured that could walk had gone to Coombe Farm for assistance, and the District Nurse from Christow arrived to help the others. “

Note on Husband: William Alexander COOMBE (2)

The Western Times, Tuesday August 24th 1920

THE DUNSFORD DISASTER

Inquest on the Third Victim

Yesterday

SOME FRESH POINTS

The Exeter City Coroner (Mr. W. Linford Brown) held, at the Guildhall yesterday, the adjourned inquest on William Coombe, aged 77, of the Alexandra Inn, Bonhay Road, who died at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital on Tuesday, as the result of shock caused by the injuries received in the char-a-banc disaster on Six Mile Hill, Dunsford, on the 26th June. Mr. S. Ernest Crosse represented the owners of the char-a-banc (the Exeter and District Touring Company) and the driver (James Marshall), and Mr. J.McGahey appeared for the relatives of the victims.

The jurors first met at the court house, and decided, before hearing any evidence, to proceed to Six Mile Hill to view the scene of the accident. The inquest was accordingly adjourned for an hour and the jurors set out in two motor cars for Dunsford Hill.

Captain Abbott, M.B.E., as a technical expert, assisted the Coroner at the inquiry.

Captain John Doyle, the partner in the Company, with Henry Woodward, of London, repeated in the main his previous evidence. He said the car, which the Company had on the hire system, had been used eleven times before the accident.

In cross-examination by Mr. McGahey, witness admitted that this particular car, “The Kid”, had been dismantled on the previous days in order to have lighter springs substituted, was still unready at the time it was due the next morning (7.30), to take the party, and did not go out till an hour later. The driver (James Marshall) was responsible to see the car was all right before it was taken out.

Replying to Mr. Crosse, witness said it was impossible for him to see every car that went out. The car was new in 1918 when the steering gear was in good condition. Before he took it over on June 4th it had been thoroughly overhauled by the Rotary

Engineering Company.

THE GARAGE TESTS

Henry Camp, motor engineer, employed by the Exeter Garage Company, described what was done to the car (the new springs which were fitted being supplied by the last witness), and the test of the side brakes by rotating the wheels by five men – which, he said, was the only practical test that could be applied in a garage. He did not test the footbrake, which did not concern his job. If it was found when on the road that the side brake needed further adjustment the driver could have done it. That was the driver’s province. When witness saw the car after the accident he found the hand brake was not at full travel; it was about three-quarters on. He drove the car to the blacksmith’s shop and found the footbrake was useless. On the following Monday he found the footbrake lining of the nearside brake burnt. The side brake was not against the dashboard and never had been.

In answer to a juryman, witness said five men could be put at one time to rotate a four-feet wheel. It was the usual method in every factory for the preliminary test.

The juryman said he could not understand how five men could be put around such a wheel.

In answer to Mr. McGahey, witness said the foot brake was half the length of the car away from the part of the work he was engaged on. The hand brakes were all right when the car left the garage, and they were after the accident, when he got up the car on the wheels and drove it to the blacksmith’s shop. He had heard that the lever of the brake was seen after the disaster to be at the full length of its travel, but that was no guide as the lever would be affected by the upsetting of the car. After the accident everything was in perfect order in the steering gear of the car, except the foot brake. All of the car that he had had anything to do with was in perfect order.

Answering Mr. Crosse, witness said if the car had negotiated the two previous hills – Pocombe and Culvert, alternately using hand and foot brakes – all right, he should have regarded that as a proof that the brakes were in order. If the car had

been kept in second gear, it could not have run away.

THE BRAKE QUESTION

In answer to the Coroner, witness said the car seldom jumped out of gear.

In answer to further questions, witness said it was just as possible to test a brake efficiently on the level road as in going down a hill.

The Coroner: Do you seriously contend that?

Witness said if an expert like Mr. Abbott disagreed with this, he should still hold to his opinion, which he had formed after 22 years experience.

Henry Martin, a passenger on “The Kid” said he saw two men, and not five test the wheel at the garage on the morning of the accident. Witness also described the suffocating smoke with a smell like greasy cloth burning, which emanated from under the centre part of the car on Pocombe and Dunsford hills. He heard nothing said about it to the driver. The deceased man, Coombe, was sitting about three seats from the front.

- By Mr. McGahey: “The Kid” took the lead, but the second car, though of less power, passed it on Dunsford Hill, and they never saw it afterwards.

By Mr. Crosse: He did not know of his own knowledge what was the power of either of the cars, but he had heard from outside that “The Kid” was more powerful. The driver did not give him the information. He admitted there might have been five men rotating the wheel, to test the brake, at the garage, after he saw the two men engaged on it, but he never saw more than two.

Further evidence was given by several other passengers, including Geo. Coles, Edwin John Gibbings, John Crews, Walter Stapley, and also by Victor Strong, who from a field saw the accident.

WAS A WARNING GIVEN?

Stapley, in answer to Mr. McGahey, said the car would have turned the bend in the road all right if it had not got into the culvert, which projected almost half-way into the road. Witness also said that on the level at the bottom of Culver Hill he heard two passengers, John Haydon and Walter Hemmens, advise the driver to stop and look at his brakes.

By Mr. Crosse: He did not remember the exact words Haydon and Hemmens used, nor the driver's answer.

Who asked you about this point before you entered the box? - Nobody has asked anything.

Have you discussed this question with anyone? - Not at all.

Answering further questions, witness said both Haydon and Hemmens even stood up in the car.

Mr. Crosse: I put it to you that the evidence given by Gibbings and Cole that nothing was said to the driver about the brakes at the bottom of Culver Hill is correct? - Witness: Oh! yes there was.

P.C.Horner, Chudleigh, also gave evidence.

James Marshall, the driver, said the footbrake of the car was tested the day before the accident, and the handbrake at the garage on the morning of the day of the accident.

Witness added that the passengers never gave him the impression that they thought an accident was likely to happen. It was false to say that any passenger advised him to look at the brakes. When he descended the last hill before the accident the whole of the brakes were all right.

By Mr.McGahey: The statement that the two passengers named by previous witnesses stood up and advised him to examine his brakes was absolutely a lie.

I put it to you that one of the main causes of the accident was your failure on the top of the hill to touch the footbrake to see if it were working? - It might be a sensible way of putting it in theory, but in practice it is never carried out.

Not, perhaps, in your practice? - Not one driver in a hundred does it in practice after it has taken him down a previous hill.

Answering further questions, witness said his hand-brake held to some extent, but not sufficiently.

Mr. McGahey suggested that witness had changed his story about the hand-brake, but Mr. Crosse protested against this insinuation, remarking that witness was one of the few witnesses who was telling the truth.

The Coroner said that witness had previously said that his brakes did not hold.

Mr. Crosse: He is trying to give you the explanation that he gave to the Dunsford jury.

Mr. McGahey (to witness): Have you always said at each of the inquests that your hand-brake was no good and could not pull up the car?

Witness replied that it would not pull the car up, but it held to some extent. Witness did not believe his brakes were burning on Culver Hill. He had never told a representative of the Press that his steering gear went wrong.

Answering Mr.Crosse, witness said had it not been for the culvert he could have got round the corner all right and the accident would have been prevented.

Evidence was also given by Mr. Morton S. White and Mr. W.G.Abbott, O.B.E., both of whom examined the car after the accident. The last-named, who was called by the Coroner, explained that if the foot-brake shoes had been adjusted properly, they would have been effective, and the driver could easily have adjusted them on the top of the hill before commencing the descent.

By Mr. Crosse: The culvert was very dangerous.

The jury returned a verdict to the effect that death was due to bronchitis as a result of an accident.

Sources