Comberbach of Chester Arms

Comberbach Coats of Arms

Comberbach of Chester Arms

Comberbach Coats of Arms

The coats of arms, bookplate and heraldry of people with the surname Comberbach.

By Bob Cumberbatch www.cumberbatch.org

 

 

 

Whatever may have been the origin of the Comberbachs, and although they have never risen to any eminence, or been entered in those valuable records the Heralds Visitations, they have long laid claim to rank among our armigerous families, though they have not succeeded in proving their right to arms. Alas for their claims to such distinctions, one Roger Comberbach, of Nantwich, was among those who disclaimed arms at Sir William Dugdale's Visitation of Cheshire, in 1663. And that this circumstance has not been overlooked by modern heralds, I notice as a significant fact that when the representative of the Nantwich branch assumed the name of Swetenham on inheriting the ancient possessions of that family at Somerford Booths, he did not assume their arms, nor were any entered in the books of record at the College of Arms, as pertaining to him, as representative of the family of Comberbach. I am, however, of opinion that their claim to arms is not without foundation; but it is curious that in each instance in which they are used [with] some slight discrepancy in the mode of blazoning occurs.

George William Marshall, "Collections for a Genealogical Account of the Family of Comberbach" p7

Roger Comberbach 1596 – 1678

Roger Comberbach, of Nantwich, was among those who disclaimed arms at Sir William Dugdale's Visitation of Cheshire, in 1663.

Unidentified Comberbach

Oldest Comberbach Coat of Arms
 

  • Unidentified Comberbach, See Roger Comberbach below
  • Arms: 3 bars azure [really?], on a canton azure a fleur-de-lis argent
  • Authority: A family history scroll claiming this to be the most ancient

 

Elizabeth Comberbach 1694 – ? Coat of Arms

Elizabeth Comberbach Coat  of Arms

 

  • Elizabeth Comberbach 1694 – ? was the daughter of John Comberbach 1670 – 1727/28 of Nantwich. John was a younger brother of Roger Comberbach 1666 – 1720 Recorder of Chester. John was older than his brother James Comberbach 1676/77 – 1737
  • Arms: Barry of six ermine and azure on a canton argent a fleur-de-lis gules
  • Authority: Monument of Henry Bennet, St. Peter's Church, Chester. I was unable to find the monument of Henry Bennet at St Peter's Church, Chester. I wonder if the arms would have read: Barry of six ermine and sable on a canton argent a fleur-de-lis gules

James Comberbach 1676/77 – 1737, Mayor of Chester 1727, Coat of Arms

James Comberbach Coat of ArmsJames Comberbach Mayor of Chester's Arms
 

  • James Comberbach 1676/77 – 1737 and Mayor of Chester 1727
  • James Comberbach was the younger brother of Roger Comberbach 1666 – 1720 Recorder of Chester and uncle of Roger Comberbatch 1720 -1771
  • Arms: Barry of six ermine and azure [sable] on a canton gules a fleur-de-lis or
  • Authority: Monument at St John's Church, Chester. George William Marshall citing a monument at St. Johns Church, Chester

 

Roger Comberbach 1719/20 – 1771 Coat of Arms

Roger Comberbach 1719/20 - 1771 Coat of Arms Roger Comberbach 1719/20 - 1771 Coat of Arms

  • Roger Comberbach, 1719/20 – 1771 and his widow Helen Comberbach nee Haughton's coat of arms
  • The picture left is from Roger Comberbach's monument originally at St Michael's Church, Chester but now at the Wellington Museum, Chester. It differs from Burke's and Marshall's description which should read as below:
  • Arms: Ermine three bars azure [sable] on a canton of the last a fleur-de-lis argent [impaling her arms: azure 3 bars argent]
  • Authority: COMBERBACK [sic] (Co. Chester 1771) – Burke's General Armory 1884 ed. p. 219; and George William Marshall citing monument at St. Michaels Church, Chester

 

Roger Comberbach 1758 – 1814 Coat of Arms

Roger Comberbach Coat of Arms 1758 - 1814

 

  • Roger Comberbach, aka Roger Swetenham, 1758 – 1814
  • This Roger Comberbach was the son and heir of Roger Comberbach 1719/20 – 1771
  • Arms: Barry of six ermine and sable, on a canton azure a fleur-de-lis or [should this be argent? His great uncle had a fleur-de-lis or]
  • Authority: Burke's General Armory under Swetenham: (Somerford Booths, Co. Chester, temp. Edward L; Clement COMBERBACH, Esq., of Somerford Booths, eldest son and heir of Roger COMBERBACH, Esq., assumed, upon succeeding to the estates of his maternal ancestors, the name and arms of Swetenham). Paly of six arg[ent] and gu[les] on a bend vert three half-spades of the first, quartering for COMBERBACH, Barry of six erm[ine] and sa[ble] on a canton az[ure] a fleur-de-lis or. Crest – A porcupine's head erased az[ure] gutée d'eau, chained and collared or. Motto – Ex sudore vultus.

John Comberbach 1725 – 1779 Seal

John Comberbach Coat of Arms John Comberbach Coat of Arms

 

  • The last John Comberbach of Haughton. Baptised 22 Oct 1725 – buried 17 Mar 1770
  • Arms: Azure1, two bars ermine, on a canton argent a fleur-de-lis
  • Authority: From his seal, once in the possession of George William Marshall

 


Footnotes:

1: A seal could not reveal the colour of the bars on a shield.