| DACKOMBE FAMILY A Sixteenth Century Soldier - Robert Dackombe c1567 - c1623 |
Some time after January 8th, 1594 - it would have depended on the speed of the courier and the prevailing Channel crossing - a letter was received by William Cecil, Lord Burghley - Lord Treasurer to Elizabeth I. It was sent from Ostend by Captain Robert Dackombe of the Footbands, and the contents were to inform Lord Burghley of secret information concerning a forthcoming attack upon the town by the Spanish. It was probably passed to the English secret service which had been set up and master-minded by Francis Walsingham; he had died in 1590 but his network of spies and espionage was operating a highly efficient intelligence agency throughout Europe.
This letter was one of a number from Robert Dackombe concerning the ongoing campaigns against the Spanish in the Low Countries which Elizabeth was subsidising. Another letter dater December 4th, 1595 is addressed to the Earl of Essex who had replaced Leicester for overall command.
Captain Dackombe was in the Low Countries as early as march 8th 1593; a roll of the weekly payments to H.M. Forces records him, along with others, as a Captain of the Footbands. At this time he was expected to be appointed Deputy Govenor but the post was given to Sir Edward Norreys; Robert did, however, act in Norrey's absence.
It is recorded that he was wounded and hospitalised but when he returned to England has not yet been established.
Return he did, and a request dated July 4 1595 from Elizabeth I to the Governors of the free school at Sherborne, Dorset to grant him a lease of Beresford Farm, belonging to the school; from the dates of Robert's letters this grant must have been made while he was on active service.
His last years were spent in the Castle on Brownsea Island, where he died about 1623. The island was the property of the Cecils and, possible, Sir John Dackombe, as Robert Cecil's secretary, had some influence with his patron/master. Captain Robert Dackombe was possibly the son of John and Anne of Stepleton. In Ann's Will dated 1585 she bequeaths to Robert, her son, the sum of £100 which, according to a special Article entered into with her son and heir, James, was to be "paid in 1588 at Stepleton House". If Robert was born in 1567 he would be 21 years in 1588.
Two other Roberts may be considered: 1) The third son of Robert and Margaret of Corfe Castle. 2) The second son of John and Alice of North Wotton - a branch of Corfe.
No heirs have been attributed to Captain Robert, but it is gratifying to think that he upheld the family motto and lived up to his name -
ROBOR (strength)
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