Abraham AMBLER

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Son of Richard Ambler and Sarah
• Occupation: Between 1670 and 1686; Recorder or town clerk of Stamford
• Occupation: 1699; Recorder or town clerk of Stamford

Notes:

Was elected Deputy from Stamaford to the Connecticut Legislature and served:

May and October 1677
May and October 1678
May and October 1679
May 1681
May 1682
October 1690
May, July and October 1691
October 1692

He was a Justice of Fairfield County when he died in 1699, having been appointed by the General Court in May, 1699. In addition he held minor offices in Stamford and major offices in Bedford, Westchester County, as well as serving on important committees in both places. In 1684, when New York assumed jurisdiction over Bedford for a short time, he was confirmed in his offices and made a Justice of Westcheste County.

Abraham's name is second as a signer on the Indian Deed to Bedford, dated December 23, 1680, his father's standing first. On October 11, 1681, he was named one of a committee of five appointed by the Proprietors to lay out the town lots.

Name:
A man of superior education and wisdom he held a position of leadership throughout his life, while his gentle nature and generous mind brought him the affection of the people of Stamford and Bedford....

In 1684, when New York assumed jurisdiction over Bedford for a short time, he was confirmed in his offices and made a Justice of Westchester County.

Abraham Ambler's name appeared for the first time in the Stamford Land Records on 20 june 1670, when Richard Ambler by "free deed of gift" gave his son Abraham Ambler a house and home lot situated between his own home and that of Robert Bates. From that date until his death his name appears frequently as grantor and grantee and in various distributions to proprietors made by the town. His holdings rank him among the town's richest proprietors and were widely distributed over the township.

Abraham Ambler's name is second as a signer on the Indian Deed to Bedford, dated 23 Dec. 1680, his father's standing first. On 11 Oct. 1681, he was named one of a committee of five appointed by the Proprietors to lay out the town lots. That he was an active projector of Bedford is proved by the action of the Court of Elections at Hartford which on 11 may, 1682, empowered him to act as chief civil officer of Bedford under a license which reads to this effect: Upon the petition of the people of the Hop ground, this Court doth grant them the privelege of a plantation and do order that the name of the town be henceforth called Bedford, and this Court do appoint Joseph Theall to be the present chief military officer for the train band of Bedford and Abraham Ambler is also empowered by this Court to grant warrants, to swear officers and witnesses and to join persons in marriage according to law, and they do free the said town of Bedford from county rates, for the space of three years next ensuing.

Abraham Ambler thus became the first Justice, town clerk and recorder of Bedford and continued as recorder until 26 Feb. 1696/7, when he was succeeded by Zachariah Roberts. His last entry in the town books of Bedford is dated 9 Feb., 1696/7. The early town records in his hand in Stamford and Bedford are remarkable for the character and beauty of the script and the clarity of the phrasing. They prove him a man of education. One marvels that living in a new and crude town such as the Stamford of his boyhood must have been, he enjoyed the opportunity or possessed the character to assimilate the degree of learning which evidently was his. The early school in Stamford probably was most rudimentary, actually there is no record of a school before 1670 and it may be assumed that the Rev. John Bishop, first minister of Stamford, was his teacher.

Abraham married Mary BATES on 25 Dec 1662 in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA. Mary (daughter of Robert BATES and UNKNOWN) was born about 1643 in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA; died after 15 May 1675 in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Hannah ?. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mary married John BROWN about 1684. John was born about 1659. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
Abraham Ambler was dead by 15 Nov. 1694, for on that date his father Abraham Ambler drew up a general deed of gift to Abraham Ambler: "These may certify ****that whereas my son Abraham Ambler deceased before he had any housings and land confirmed unto him and leaving one child, I Abraham Ambler of Stamford, do give grant and confirm unto my grandchild Abraham Ambler all of the particulars hereafter named as ye whole of his portion and interest in my estate viz: The house in East part of Town where he now lives" together with various other parcels of land. It is of interest to note that on 31 July 1699, Abraham Ambler as Justice, took the acknowledgment of Abraham Ambler, the grantor, as signer. "This deed of gift" was entered 22 Jan. 1699/1700, by Samuel Holly, recorder.

On 20 Jan., 1699/1700, John Ambler, executor of his father Abraham Ambler's estate, acknowledged the previous grant of his father Abraham Ambler, deceased, "to son of my brother Abraham Ambler," gave young Abraham an extra L30 and also granted to the boy's mother the use of all lands granted her "by my father Abraham Ambler, until the said child Abraham Ambler do come of age, viz., 21."

Hannah Ambler, widow of Abraham Ambler, married second at Stamford 8 Sept., 1697, Jeremiah Andrews, son of Francis Andrews. On 5 Aug., 1713, Administration on the estate of Abraham Ambler was granted to Jonathan Gold. On the same date administration on the estate of Jeremiah Andrews, deceased, of Stamford, was granted to Jonathan Gold and Daniel Weed, Jr. thus the estates of the two deceased husbands of Hannah Gold Ambler Andrews were settled simultaneously at about the time Abraham Ambler came of age. Inventory on Abraham Ambler's estate was taken 13 Aug. 1713, and filed 25 Aug., 1713.

Abraham married Hannah GOLD on 12 Jan 1692/3 in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA. Hannah (daughter of John GOLD and Hannah SLAWSON) was born about 1672 in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA; died on 12 Dec 1715 in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
John Ambler evidently accompanied his father to Bedford upon the settlement of that plantation and spent his early manhood there, perhaps maintaining his father's property in that town.

John Ambler appears on the inhabitants' list of Bedford for 1692. On 16 Oct., 1694, the town of Bedford agreed to buy a house and lot of John Ambler for a parsonage " provided his price do not exceed L25." On 22 Dec., 1694, he joined with his father in a deed of several plots to the Proprietors of Bedford and was called "of Stamford" in the conveyance. it seems probable that this deed covered a large part of the Ambler holdings in Bedford. On 26 Dec., 1699, the Town of Bedford agreed to carry out certain accommodations for Mr. Joseph Morgan upon his coming to carry on the ministry. Among other things the town agreed to give Mr. Morgan all the land "which the town bought of Mr. Ambler and of his son John."

John Ambler entered his ear mark for animals at Stamford on 1 April 1699. He was, listed as a freeholder of Stamford in 1701 with property amounting to L92.10s, which placed him among the town's twenty richest men. He was collector of rates of Stamford in 1700 and a selectman of stamford in 1709 and 1710. he served as Deputy from Stamford to the Connecticut Legislature in May and Oct., 1711. His name appears frequently in Stamford Land records.

The will of John Ambler dated 3 Nov. 1711, was probated 5 Feb., 1711/12. In it he mentions wife Martha and children John, Stephen and Martha, a minor. Executrix, his wife Martha. Inventory was taken 1 Jan. 1711/12, Ib 24 Aug., 1713, John, a son of the decedent, chose Samuel Blatchley, of Stamford, as guardian and the son Stephen chose John Stone, of Stamford. Martha, widow of John Ambler, married second at Stamford, in Nov., 1712 Edward Beach. On 14 April, 1720, "the widow Martha Beach" entered hr ear mark for animals at Stamford. On 15 Dec., 1724, the town granted widow Martha Ambler a discharge from paying any taxes for one year.......

John married Martha WILDMAN in 1695 in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA. Martha was born about 1668; died after 12 Nov 1728. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mehitable married James SLASON on 03 Dec 1702 in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA. James (son of Eleazer SLAWSON and Susanna BELDING) was born in Feb 1681 in Bedford, Westchester, New York, USA; died before 16 May 1759 in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]