Mercy (Webb) Balcomb (abt. 1790 - 1832)

Born about 1790 in Kent, England

Wife of Abraham Balcombe — married 30 Oct 1809 in New Romney, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died Jan 1832 at about age 42 in Ticehurst, Sussex, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

She was born about 1787 or about 1795.

Mercy Webb married on 30 Oct 1809 at New Romney, Kent, England to Abraham Balcomb ^[1] All their children were born and baptized at New Romney, Kent, England including ...

1. Ann Balcomb, b: 30 Apr 1810, bapt: 09 Sep 1810, m: 07 Jan 1829 at Dover to John Thomas Pilgrim
2. Sarah Balcomb, b: 14 Jun 1812, bapt: 02 Aug 1812, buried: 04 Apr 1816
3. Mercy Balcomb, b: 22 Mar 1814, bapt: 08 May 1814, m: 12 Oct 1831 at Biddenden, Kent to Robert Blanch
4. Mary Balcomb, b: 02 Oct 1815 and baptized 26 Nov 1815, m: James Blanch
5. Sophia Sarah Balcomb, b: 05 May 1817, bapt: 22 Jun 1817
6. Harriett Balcomb, born 12 Sep 1818, bapt: 18 Oct 1818, buried: 26 Feb 1832
7. Hannah Balcomb, born 25 Mar 1821, bapt: 05 Apr 1821
8. Abraham Balcomb, born 3 Feb 1823, bapt: 09 Feb 1823
9. George Balcomb, born 10 May 1825, bapt: 19 Jun 1825, buried: 19 Sep 1825
10. Eliza Balcomb, b: 18 Sep 1826, bapt: 27 Sep 1826, buried: 06 May 1827.

Mercy's husband Abraham worked as a labourer and, during the period after the Napoleonic Wars ended in 1819, the area was relatively prosperous. However, the condition of the greater part of the country, particularly in the industrial areas, was steadily deteriorating, and a great agricultural depression began in 1822 and 1823. In the New Romney area the worst of this terrible depression was from 1822 to 1832.

By 1830 the plight of the Balcomb family had become desperate. Abraham had left town, probably to avoid Debtors Prison, and his destitute wife and four underage children became the responsibility of the Parish. On 24 April 1830 Mercy, with children Sophia Sarah, Harriett, Hannah and Abraham, was sent to the Ticehurst Union Workhouse.

At the time Mercy and her children were sent to the Workhouse, her eldest daughter, Ann, had already married John Thomas Pilgrim at Dover 7 Jan 1829. On 12 Oct 1831, the second surviving daughter, Mercy, married Robert Blanch at Biddenden in Kent. The next year, the next daughter, Mary, married Robert Blanch’s younger brother, James Blanch.

Mother Mercy’s health collapsed and she died in January 1832 at Ticehurst aged 45 (buried 9 Jan 1832), followed in February by her 14 year old daughter, Harriett (buried 26 Feb 1832). Abraham and 4 of their children soon emigrated to America.

Research Notes

Apparent marriage source gives surname as West - "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NNH4-8X7 : 11 April 2018)

Sources

1. ↑ England Marriages, 1538-1973, database, FamilySearch
   Name: Abrham Bauckham - Sex: Male - Spouse's Name: Mercy West - Spouse's Sex: Female - Marriage Date: 30 Oct 1809 - Marriage Place: New Romney, Kent, England, United Kingdom - Marriage Place (Original): New Romney, Kent, England
   Digital Folder Number: 004089485 - Microfilm Number: 1737002 - Originating System: EASY - Indexing Batch: I03193-6.

• William Good's Family of Abraham Balcomb

• Unsourced family tree handed down to Cynthia (Barrass) Blundell.