Valens Comyn
Encyclopedia
Valens Comyn was an English merchant and administrator and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1747 to 1751.
Comyn was the fifth son of Rev. Robert Comyn and his wife Martha, and was baptised on 4 June 1688 at East Molesey
, Surrey
where his father was vicar and also headmaster of nearby Kingston Grammar School
. His elder brother was a friend of the influential Robert Harley and in January 1712 Comyn was appointed to a position in the Excise Office. Comyn's title by 1716 was Assistant Accomptant for duties on Hides. In 1718 he was appointed to the position of Clerk to the Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks, a minor livery company of which his father in law James Lucas was a member. Through this, Comyn was required to live at the Hall of the Company in Wood Street.
In 1726, Comyn was selected as accountant for the Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy
. The post had been in abeyance, but 1726 the council decided to appoint an accountant at a salary of £40 per year. An election was held with Comyn in nomination with two others. He obtained 20 votes and was elected. In the following year the council decided to award him a gratuity for his very extraordinary services. These services were the uncovering of the fraudulent activities of one of the Treasurers who had been double listing widows whose pensions he was responsible for paying, and lining his pockets on the proceeds By 1727 Comyn was also Accountant for the County inland excise on beer, ale etc. at the Excise Office and in the same year he was one of the appraisers of the inventory of Sir Isaac Newton including the contents of his house at 35 St. Martin's Street.
In 1731 Comyn was appointed Registrar of the Corporation as well as Accountant. This gave him accommodation in the house belonging to the Corporation in Salisbury Court off Fleet Street
, and he obtained dispensation from the Company of Parish Clerks to move from their Hall. In 1734 Comyn succeeded his father in law James Lucas as Clerk to the Chamberlain of St Paul's Cathedral
. This post was responsible for administering many of the Cathedral estates and charities. Comyn resigned from the Corporation, recommending his nephew Stephen to succeed him. He moved into the Chapter House
of St Pauls Cathedral, leaving his nephew to live at the house in Salisbury Court. Comyn was also appointed Accomtant General of Excise from 1734 to 1745. During this time, Comyn took up residences upstream on the River Thames
, at Hammersmith
and later at Twickenham
. In 1745 Comyn was a member of a group who subsidised a fleet of the privateer
s and over the next two years amassed a large fortune privateering. Comyn was credited with developing life assurance tables based on life expectancy.
In the British general election, 1747
, Comyn was elected Member of Parliament
for Hindon
a rotten borough in Hampshire as a government supporter in the interest of Sir Henry Calthorpe. In 1749 Comyn was living at Eversley
, Hampshire
as well as Twickenham. He died at Eversley aged 63 and was buried at Twickenham. He died intestate, and as the proceeds of various privateering expeditions had not been fully distributed, his estate was subject to considerable litigation, with over 100 cases under his name.
Comyn married Mary Lucas ( -1730) at St Mary le Bow on the 31 January 1713. They had a large family and she died in 1730. Comyn married again at the age of 60 on the 29 December 1748 to Mary Colston ( -1780) of St Andrews Holborn at the Lincolns Inn Chapel. Mary was the widow of Francis Colston and daughter of Richard Nicholson. After his death, his widow was living at No 13 Bedford Row from 1756 to 1780 in which year she died. Comyn was great-uncle of Stephen George Comyn
who was naval chaplain to Lord Nelson.
Comyn was the fifth son of Rev. Robert Comyn and his wife Martha, and was baptised on 4 June 1688 at East Molesey
East Molesey
Molesey is a town in the Borough of Elmbridge in Surrey, England. Situated on the outskirts of Greater London, approximately from Charing Cross, it is a typical suburban area. There are two distinct areas in the town: West and East Molesey...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
where his father was vicar and also headmaster of nearby Kingston Grammar School
Kingston Grammar School
Kingston Grammar School is an independent co-educational school in Kingston upon Thames, Greater London. The school was founded by Royal Charter in 1561 but can trace its roots back to at least the 13th century. It is a registered charity under English law....
. His elder brother was a friend of the influential Robert Harley and in January 1712 Comyn was appointed to a position in the Excise Office. Comyn's title by 1716 was Assistant Accomptant for duties on Hides. In 1718 he was appointed to the position of Clerk to the Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks, a minor livery company of which his father in law James Lucas was a member. Through this, Comyn was required to live at the Hall of the Company in Wood Street.
In 1726, Comyn was selected as accountant for the Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy
Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy
The Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy is a charity founded in 1655 which provides financial support to clergy of the Church of England.The Corporation was established in 1655 in response to the distress of the large number of clergymen who were dispossessed of their livings under the regime of...
. The post had been in abeyance, but 1726 the council decided to appoint an accountant at a salary of £40 per year. An election was held with Comyn in nomination with two others. He obtained 20 votes and was elected. In the following year the council decided to award him a gratuity for his very extraordinary services. These services were the uncovering of the fraudulent activities of one of the Treasurers who had been double listing widows whose pensions he was responsible for paying, and lining his pockets on the proceeds By 1727 Comyn was also Accountant for the County inland excise on beer, ale etc. at the Excise Office and in the same year he was one of the appraisers of the inventory of Sir Isaac Newton including the contents of his house at 35 St. Martin's Street.
In 1731 Comyn was appointed Registrar of the Corporation as well as Accountant. This gave him accommodation in the house belonging to the Corporation in Salisbury Court off Fleet Street
Fleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
, and he obtained dispensation from the Company of Parish Clerks to move from their Hall. In 1734 Comyn succeeded his father in law James Lucas as Clerk to the Chamberlain of St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
. This post was responsible for administering many of the Cathedral estates and charities. Comyn resigned from the Corporation, recommending his nephew Stephen to succeed him. He moved into the Chapter House
Chapter house
A chapter house or chapterhouse is a building or room attached to a cathedral or collegiate church in which meetings are held. They can also be found in medieval monasteries....
of St Pauls Cathedral, leaving his nephew to live at the house in Salisbury Court. Comyn was also appointed Accomtant General of Excise from 1734 to 1745. During this time, Comyn took up residences upstream on the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
, at Hammersmith
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
and later at Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
. In 1745 Comyn was a member of a group who subsidised a fleet of the privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
s and over the next two years amassed a large fortune privateering. Comyn was credited with developing life assurance tables based on life expectancy.
In the British general election, 1747
British general election, 1747
The British general election, 1747 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 10th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707. The election saw Henry Pelham's Whig government increase its majority and...
, Comyn was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Hindon
Hindon (UK Parliament constituency)
Hindon was a parliamentary borough consisting of the village of Hindon in Wiltshire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1448 until 1832, when the borough was abolished by the Great Reform Act...
a rotten borough in Hampshire as a government supporter in the interest of Sir Henry Calthorpe. In 1749 Comyn was living at Eversley
Eversley
Eversley is a village and civil parish in the Hart District of North-East Hampshire, England, 21 km North East of Basingstoke. Its northern boundary is formed by the River Blackwater....
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
as well as Twickenham. He died at Eversley aged 63 and was buried at Twickenham. He died intestate, and as the proceeds of various privateering expeditions had not been fully distributed, his estate was subject to considerable litigation, with over 100 cases under his name.
Comyn married Mary Lucas ( -1730) at St Mary le Bow on the 31 January 1713. They had a large family and she died in 1730. Comyn married again at the age of 60 on the 29 December 1748 to Mary Colston ( -1780) of St Andrews Holborn at the Lincolns Inn Chapel. Mary was the widow of Francis Colston and daughter of Richard Nicholson. After his death, his widow was living at No 13 Bedford Row from 1756 to 1780 in which year she died. Comyn was great-uncle of Stephen George Comyn
Stephen George Comyn
Stephen George Comyn was an English naval chaplain who served with Lord Nelson at the Battle of the Nile and Battle of Copenhagen. He was a close friend of Nelson and is said to have been his favourite chaplain. -Early life:...
who was naval chaplain to Lord Nelson.