Author Topic: John Chambers of Moulton and Northampton 1780s to 1810s  (Read 1108 times)

Offline jonwicken

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 912
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
John Chambers of Moulton and Northampton 1780s to 1810s
« on: Wednesday 06 September 17 23:47 BST (UK) »
Hi all,

I have a bit of a problem with my ancestor John Chambers of Moulton and Northampton in the 1790s to 1810s and am hoping that someone might be able to please help me crack it.

My ancestor Martha Chambers married Moses Mallory Cowley in All Saints Northampton by licence on 3 March 1809.

The census and death records indicate she was born between 1783 and 1787 and this took place in Moulton, Northampton.

In the non-conformist records there is the baptism of a Martha Chambers, daughter of John and Sarah Chambers, on 9 February 1796 at Doddridge Memorial Congregational Chapel, Northampton.

This records she was born in Moulton on 16 May 1791 but that her parents now lived in the parish of St Sepulchre Northampton. She seems to have later added years to her age for one reason or another.

From baptisms and burials in Moulton and Northampton I know John Chambers and Sarah had the following children:

1. Thomas Chambers 1787–1788
2. Martha Chambers/Cowley 1791–1875 
3. Thomas Chambers 1793–1798
4. Ruth Chambers 1795–1796
5. William Chambers 1796–1797
6. Thomas Chambers 1799–1799

The first son was baptised and buried at Moulton parish church with all the others being baptised at Doddridge Memorial Congregational Chapel, Northampton and buried at St Sepulchre Northampton.

The burials at St Sepulchre only list the name with no family details or age, but it seems clear from the names that the burials are of their children. This also makes it likely that another two sons were the Thomas Chambers and William Chambers buried there in 1800 and 1802.

Now here come the problems which are...

A. I cannot find a marriage for John Chambers to a Sarah in the period before 1787. There is a marriage for a couple with these names in Deene, but as there were children baptised there, this must be another couple.

B. I would assume they had a child in c1789 that I cannot find a trace of.

C. I do not know for sure who John Chambers was. It would appear due to the Moulton connection that he was the John Chambers, son of John Chambers (1729-1815) and Susanna Faulkner (1733-1807), who appears to have been baptised twice at Moulton. The first baptised is 5 June 1765, but then he appears to have been baptised a second time in 1767 with his sister Mary where his date of birth is recorded as 15 June 1763. The latter however cannot be correct as his sister Ann was baptised in May 1763.

D. His assumed father John Chambers (1729-1815) had his death announced in the New Monthly magazine and the Northampton Mercury, but I have not been able to find a will or administration for him which might name his son John to prove the link for certain.

E. Adverts in the Northampton Mercury show that in January 1810 he opened a shop in the Drapery, Northampton, with his son-in-law Moses Cowley specialising in woollen, linen, hosiery, haberdashery and hats. However they closed down their business in February 1812 to Mr J. Knight. However in July 1812 Mr Knight vacated the premises and John Chambers was looking to rent or sell it which makes me assume he owned the building.

F.  There is a notice of sale in Northampton Mercury 08 April 1815 at John Chambers’ house in Gold Street, Northampton. It is not made clear if these were his own possessions, but given the nature of the objects in being furniture, this seems likely. Was he in financial difficulties or was he moving away from Northampton? His assumed father John Chambers died later that month so was there a link there?

G. After this newspaper article I have found no further reference to John Chambers and his wife Sarah. Certainly by 1823 his son-in-law Moses Mallory Cowley and daughter Martha were living in Newington in Surrey. So could he have moved down to the London area? As far as I am aware, Martha was his only surviving child so this could be a possibility, but I do not know for certain.

I don’t really know where else to go to find out more and wondered if anyone might have any ideas on how to proceed with this line further. Any help would be very much appreciated.

Thank you,
Jon

Offline jonwicken

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 912
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: John Chambers of Moulton and Northampton 1780s to 1810s
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 06 September 17 23:53 BST (UK) »
And this is the assumed signature of John Chambers on the 1809 marriage of his daughter Martha Chambers to Moses Cowley.

It looks a bit like an F, but I think the ink just did not come out at the bottom loop of the 'J'.


Offline Jomot

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 3,658
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: John Chambers of Moulton and Northampton 1780s to 1810s
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 07 September 17 02:32 BST (UK) »
Quote
I cannot find a marriage for John Chambers to a Sarah in the period before 1787. There is a marriage for a couple with these names in Deene, but as there were children baptised there, this must be another couple

Northamptonshire FHS Transcriptions show two marriages:
 
6 Nov 1786 Brampton Ash - John Chambers of Deen (sic) & Sarah Sharman of Brampton Ash. 
16 Feb 1787 Deene - John Chambers, Blacksmith & Sarah Boin.  Both of Deene

There is a burial for Sarah Chambers at Deene, but this was 1 Jun 1787 (no relationship or age given).
MORGAN: Glamorgan, Durham, Ohio. DAVIS/DAVIES/DAVID: Glamorgan, Ohio.  GIBSON: Leicestershire, Durham, North Yorkshire.  RAIN/RAINE: Cumberland.  TAYLOR: North Yorks. BOURDAS: North Yorks. JEFFREYS: Worcestershire & Northumberland. FORBES: Berwickshire, CHEESMOND: Durham/Northumberland. WINTER: Durham/Northumberland. SNOWBALL: Durham.

Offline Jomot

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 3,658
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: John Chambers of Moulton and Northampton 1780s to 1810s
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 07 September 17 03:25 BST (UK) »
Quote
There is a notice of sale in Northampton Mercury 08 April 1815 at John Chambers’ house in Gold Street, Northampton. It is not made clear if these were his own possessions, but given the nature of the objects in being furniture, this seems likely. Was he in financial difficulties or was he moving away from Northampton? His assumed father John Chambers died later that month so was there a link there?

There is also a notice on 15 April 1815 advertising the freehold estate 'in perfect repair' of premises on the East Side of the Drapery consisting of kitchen, larder, coal & beer cellars, shop & workroom, parlour, yard, dining room, lodging room, drawing room, 2 sleeping rooms & spacious attics.  Applications to John Chambers, Messrs Buswell & Sons, Solicitors, or the auctioneers.

Combined with the furniture sale it sounds to me as if they were planning to move away.
MORGAN: Glamorgan, Durham, Ohio. DAVIS/DAVIES/DAVID: Glamorgan, Ohio.  GIBSON: Leicestershire, Durham, North Yorkshire.  RAIN/RAINE: Cumberland.  TAYLOR: North Yorks. BOURDAS: North Yorks. JEFFREYS: Worcestershire & Northumberland. FORBES: Berwickshire, CHEESMOND: Durham/Northumberland. WINTER: Durham/Northumberland. SNOWBALL: Durham.


Offline jonwicken

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 912
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: John Chambers of Moulton and Northampton 1780s to 1810s
« Reply #4 on: Monday 11 September 17 09:56 BST (UK) »
Hi Jomot,

Thank you so much for the replies.

I had not found that 1815 freehold estate notice, which was great to find.

It certainly seems John must have had some money in this case as he lived in Gold Street but appears to have owned the Drapery too.

I have however found an article showing that in September 1815, John's son-in-law Moses Cowley was having a closing down sale in the Drapery.

I am not sure if he bought it or the shop continued for a few extra months with him running it.

I would love to know what happened to John and Sarah Chambers after 1815, but it is looking unlikely at the moment.

Thanks again,
Jon


Offline jonwicken

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 912
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: John Chambers of Moulton and Northampton 1780s to 1810s
« Reply #5 on: Monday 11 September 17 10:38 BST (UK) »
Also I have looked at the two possible two possible marriages of a John Chambers to a Sarah which you kindly posted here.

The first to was to Sarah Sharman at Brampton Ash on 6 Nov 1786. I don't think this was him as he  was of Deene and could not sign his name.

The second was to Sarah Boin at Deene on 16 Feb 1787. No marital status is given. He was however a Blacksmith and had a signature different to the 1809 witness on the marriage of his daughter Martha.

A John and Sarah Chambers had children baptised at Deene at regular intervals from November 1788 to 1805 so could be either couple.

So for now the marriage of my John and Sarah remains uncertain.

Thanks again though,
Jon