John Corbin was born on 25 May 1811 in Ringwood, Hampshire, the son of William Corbin (1781-1854) and Mary Corbin née Bentley (1783-1853). He was baptised on 23 June 1811 in Ringwood. From 1835 to 1838 he attended Highbury College (Congregationalist Church College) in North London. From 1839 to 1856 he was an Assistant Minister at Victoria Street Chapel in Derby, Derbyshire.
On 23 September 1841 he married Elizabeth Robinson (1813-1846) in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire and they had three children: John Robinson Corbin (1842-1842), Thomas Wilson Corbin (1843-1918) and James Gawthorn Corbin (1845-1845).
His wife died on 13 June 1846 and on 27 April 1848 he married Margaret Johnson (1809-1878) and they had one son, Joseph John Corbin (1849-1917). In the 1851 census he is described as an independent minister living at 35 Friar Gate, Derby, with his wife and his two sons, together with house-maid and nurse-maid.
He was the Pastor of Park Chapel, Crouch End from its commencement in 1856 to 1871. The 1861 census confirms that he was an independent minister residing in Harringay Park, Hornsey, with his wife and his two sons, together with a cook and a house-maid. His elder son was described as a medical student and his younger son as a scholar. The 1865 electoral registers show him still at this address.
He was again described as an independent minister in the 1871 census, living at Crouch Hill, Hornsey, with his wife and younger son, together with a cook and a house-maid. His younger son was listed as a solicitor's articled clerk. The 1881 census showed him as both a widower and an independent minister living at 34 Harringay Park, Crouch End, Hornsey, with a cook and a house-maid. His younger son, by now a solicitor, was also described as lodging with him.
Probate records described him a Minister of the Gospel and confirmed that he died, aged 79 years, on 30 December 1890 at 34 Haringey Park, Crouch End, Middlesex. His will was proved by his three executors: his solicitor son, John James Corbin of 85 Gresham Street, City of London, Walter Hazell a printer of 15 Russell Square, Middlesex and a James Dix Lewis a chartered account of Penrhyn, Hornsey Lane, Highgate, Middlesex. His effects totalled £9,417-8s-1d. He was buried on 5 January 1891 in the burial ground in Finchley for the parish of St Mary's Islington.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
