Valens Comyn

Who was Valens Comyn?

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 Robert, later Archdeacon of Shropshire, 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.