I56719: John AMBLER Esq.Col. (25 Sep 1762

Notes

V. John Ambler((4)), b. Sept. 25, 1762; d. May 8, 1836. Married three times.
" fifth child of Edward Ambler and Mary Cary, his wife. After 1782, he was the only surviving child of Edward and Mary Ambler. He was born in the town of Little York, and while a child was taken to Jamestown. At twelve years of age, his mother took him to Baltimore to be inoculated for the smallpox, at which city she remained with him until he had recovered from the dreadful disease. John Ambler was sent to Philadelphia to school, where he remained until the Revolutionary War broke out. The war prevented his being sent to England to be educated, as his father's will had directed.

During the war John Ambler remained at "The Cottage," in Hanover County, Virginia. He went to school in the neighborhood to a man named Bates.

When the Revolutionary War closed, in which he had acted the part of a boy warrior, young John Ambler found himself of age and one of the richest men in the State of Virginia. Without ever being in debt to any amount, he owned the following estates:
1. Jamestown, in County of James City.
2. The Maine, in County of James City.
3. Powhatan, in the County of James City.
4. An Estate, in the County of Surry.
Image Not Shown Col. John Ambler Of Jamestown, Va. (Copied from painting by Petticolas)
5. Westham, in the County of Henrico.
6. Cottages, in the County of Hanover.
7. Mill Farm, in the County of Louisa.
8. Lakeland, in the County of Louisa.
9. Nero's -, in the County of Louisa.
10. Glen-Ambler, in the County of Amherst.
11. Saint Moore, in the County of Amherst.
12. Estate -, in the County of Frederick.
13. 1,015 acres of land, in Piedmont Manor.
14. 10,000 acres, in the Manor of Leeds.
15. Several lots, in the Town of Little York.
16. Several lots, in the Town of Manchester.
17. Several lots, in the Town of Richmond.
18. The Mill tract, in the County of Henrico.
19. Stock in the Bank of Virginia.
20. Stock in the Farmers' Bank of Virginia.
21. Stock in the Farmers' Bank of United States.
22. Stock in the Dismal Swamp Canal.
23. Stock in the Richmond Dock.
24. 5,000 acres of land, in Mason County.

Col. John Ambler put his affairs in order, placed an overseer on each estate and employed a steward to superintend the whole. Before he was of age, John Ambler was elected to represent James City County, in the Legislature. He became the commander of a troop of cavalry in James City, which consisted of eighty men and was at the time the finest in the State. He took great pride in this company and presented it with an elegant banner.

When he removed to Richmond to live in 1807, he was made major in the 19th Regiment of Virginia Militia. And with this rank surrounded the troops who were sent to Norfolk in what was called the Chesapeake War, caused by British ships of war firing in the frigate Chesapeake and forcibly taking out some of her crew.

On his return he was promoted to the rank of Colonel of 19th Regiment-and in this rank he served through the War of 1812. He was stationed at Camp Bottoms Bridge about fifteen miles below Richmond on the road leading to the old City of Williamsburg, Virginia. His headquarters were at what has since been known as Frazer's Tavern. His usual style of travelling was in a "Coach and Four," with a gig and outriders. There is a most accurate portrait of John Ambler, which has the merit of being both a good likeness and a good painting, and from which is copied the engraving given on the opposite page. There is also an admirable portrait of the third Mrs. Ambler. The first of these portraits was painted by Petticolas and the last by King.

Col. Ambler's friends and associates were: Judge St. George Tucker, native of Bermudas, d. 1827; William Coleman, of Williamsburg; Wilson Miles Cary; Bishop James Madison; Col. Burwell Basset; Dr. Philip Bernard, of Norfolk, Virginia, d. 1830; Wm. Marshall, of Richmond, husband of Mary Macon; Gen'l John Hartwell Cocke, of Surry; Philip Norborne Nicholas,
Mrs, John Ambler Née Bush, of Winchester, Va.-Widow Norton (Copied from painting by King) President of Farmers' Bank; Wilson Cary Nicholas, Governor of Virginia; John Marshall, Chief Justice of United States; Col. Edward Carrington, of Richmond; Edward Smith, Mrs. Ambler's brother-in-law; Mrs. Bannister, of Williamsburg, Virginia; Sam G. Adams, of Richmond; Col. Sam Travis, of Williamsburg.

John Ambler was on the jury which tried the celebrated Aaron Burr.
In the year 1806, Col. Ambler purchased an elegant house upon Shockoe Hill in the city of Richmond, to which he removed his family in the fall of the same year.

His estate, Westham, about eight miles above Richmond on James River, now became his principal source of pleasure. He was in the habit of visiting it about twice a week and took great delight in improving it. Even after he came to Richmond to live he passed his summers in Winchester.

In 1818 John Ambler received from James City County an old christening vase, which had been given to the church of Jamestown nearly a century before by the wife and son of his ancestor Edward Jaquelin. (See Chapter I.)

*). At his death, he was surrounded by all his children excepting Thomas Marshall and Richard Cary. He died with all the dignity of a philosopher and the calm and tranquil resignation of a devout Christian. In the War of 1812, he bore amongst the officers and soldiers of the army the sobriquet of Marshal Ney. And during the last years of his life, he was so large a land holder, that he was familiarly spoken of by his Richmond acquaintances as "The Duke."

His widow, the third Mrs. Ambler, survived him ten years. She breathed her last on the 15th of June, 1846, in the same room in which he died, surrounded by all the children except Philip Saint George and Richard Cary. She was buried by the side of her husband, under the marble pyramid she had assisted his children in rearing to his memory.

John Ambler's tombstone is a high shaft, with coat-of-arms, and this simple inscription:

John Ambler of Jamestown, Va. Born September 25, 1762. Died April 8, 1836. Erected by his widow and children.
On the right side of shaft is inscription:
Katharine Ambler, Widow of John Ambler Esq. Born May 9, 1773. Died June 16, 1846.

In the left corner of the above lot and shaft is:

Tombstone of Dr. Francis T. Brooke, Son of Mrs. Frank Brooke (née Ambler) and Grandson of John Ambler. Born August 26, 1842 Died March 31, 1882

Col. John Ambler married 1st, Francis Armistead, daughter of Gill Armistead and Elizabeth Allen, his wife, of the County of New Kent, Virginia, in 1782. She died in 1789. They had issue:

I. Edward Ambler((5)), b. May, 1783; d. July 10, 1846. Married (1811) Sarah Taylor Holcombe, daughter of Col. Philemon Holcombe, of "The Oaks," Amelia County, Virginia.

II. Mary Cary Ambler((5)), b. May, 1787; d. Sept. 25, 1843. Married John H. Smith.

Soon after the latter's birth, Mrs. Ambler died in 1787. John remained a widower until 1792, when he married Lucy Marshall, b. in Fauquier County, Virginia, about 1768; d. Jamestown, Virginia, 1793; she was daughter of Thomas Marshall of Fauquier County, Virginia, and sister of Chief Justice John Marshall. They had issue:

III. Thomas Marshall Ambler((5)), b. May 1, 1793; d. Sept. 4, 1875. Married (April 15, 1819) Lucy Johnston.

* Her early death cast a pall of sorrow over the whole family. "Lucy" has become a favorite family name and attests her loveliness. The first two Mrs. John Amblers fell martyrs to their attachment to Jamestown, which they could not be persuaded to leave, though it was known to be unhealthful during the months of August and September.

Col. John Ambler married (Nov. 21, 1799) Mrs. Catherine Norton, widow of John Hatley Norton, Esq.,

Col. John Ambler and his third wife, Catherine Bush, had following issue:
IV. John Jaquelin Ambler((5)), b. March 9, 1801; d. Nov. 18, 1854.
V. Catherine Cary Ambler((5)), b. Nov. 18, 1802; d. Nov. 8, 1850, New Orleans, Louisiana.
VI. Elizabeth Byrd Ambler((5)), b. April 22, 1804; d. July 27, 1877.
VII. Philip Saint George Ambler((5)), b. Sept. 5, 1806; d. March 19, 187-.
VIII. Sarah Jaquelin Ambler((5)), b. Nov. 5, 1809; d. Aug. 1811.
IX. Richard Cary Ambler((5)), b. Dec. 7, 1810; d. July 16, 1877.
X. Wm. Marshall Ambler((5)), b. July 25, 1813; d. at Lakeland, Louisa County, Virginia, Aug. 25, 1896.
XI. Gabrilla Brokenbrough Ambler((5)), b. May 18, 1815; d. May 30, 1874.

(More about Bush Family Volume III.)

COLONIAL FAMILIES OF THE Southern States of America
AMBLER FAMILY page 16
HON. JOHN AMBLER, (4--5), of Jamestown, Va., b. Sept. 25, 1762; d. May 8, 1836; he was active in affairs of both Church and State. He m. (first) 1782, Frances Armistead, dau. of Gill and Betty (Allen) Armistead and gr.-dau. of John Armistead, of New Kent Co., Va., and his wife, Miss Gill; (second) 1796, Lucy Marshall, b. 1768; d. 1795; dau. of Col. Thomas and Mary Randolph (Keith) Marshall, of "Oak Hill"; (third) Catherie (Bush) Norton, wid. of John H. Norton; and dau. of Philip and Catherine (Clough Bush, of Winchester, Va. (See Armistead, Marshall and Keith lineage.)

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Notes

"from father's will: To son John "Baltimore's Gift" on condition he make over his right in the third part of land belonging to father Williamson to sons Samuel & Hezekiah. Spouse: Mary ( - ) Marr. Date: Abt 1738.
12. He signed a will on 30 Dec 1740-15 Feb 1741 in Charles Co., Maryland, USA. (23) Briscoe, John, planter,Charles Co., 30th Dec., 1741; 15th Feb., 1741. To wife Mary, extx., entire estate during widowhood at her death or re-marriage to pass to child. Samuel, Eleanore, Elizabeth and unborn child. Should wife die during minority of child., they to be under the care of bros. Samuel and Philip. Test: Robert Gill, Mary Hall, Mary Gill. 22. 424"

^[S1580]

Notes

He was a private in Co. I, 3rd LA. Cav., CSA, captured in Baton Rouge Sep. 20, 1864, sent to New Orleans on Oct 10, 1864, to Ship Island, Miss. Oct. 21, Fort Columbus, NY Nov. 5, Elmira NY Nov. 20, paroled Mar. 2, 1865 for exchange. Louisiana Secretary of State
Confederate Pension Applications Index: MC CANTS, HELEN M. (ANDERSON) CP1.93 2, seq. 10 3 MC CANTS, HELEN.
1884 Newspaper Clipping: Identified: The body of the man found drowned at the head of Pleasant Street on Tuesday, has been identified as that of Julius McCantz, Secretary of the Grain Trimmers Benevolent Association. Mr. McCantz left his home, corner Louisiana Avenue and Prytania Street, last sunday morning and was last seen alone at two o'clock Sunday afternoon. It is believed that he stooped over the edge of the wharf to get a drink of water out of the river and lost his balance and fell overboard. His head striking a pile he was knocked insensible and unable to save himself. This theory would account for the contusions found on the head of the drowned man.

Louisiana Secretary of State, Reel: CP1.93 -- Microdex 2 -- Sequence 10
Target card: MC CANTS, HELEN
Applicant Information & Name Variations:
MC CANTS, HELEN M. (ANDERSON)
Parish: ORLEANS -- Pages: 3
Soldier Information & Variations:
MC CANTS, JAMES CLARENCE
State: LA
Branch: CAVALRY
Unit: 3RD REGIMENT
Company: CO. E
Louisiana Secretary of State Confederate Pension Applications Index:
MC CANTS, JAMES CLARENCE CP1.93 2, seq. 10 3 MC CANTS, HELEN

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Notes

"Thomas, Sr., died in 1731. His will was proved the first Monday in April, 1731. Thomas and Elizabeth had five children:
1. Richard, 1721-1786
2. Ann
3. Judith, m. Mr. Goode
4. Thomas, Jr., 1726-1786
5. John, 1730-1796. He was only a year old when his father died, so would have been brought up by Elizabeth and his step-father, Edmund Goode."

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Notes

Virginia Marriages to 1800, Virginia Madison County: Madison, Elizabeth married Shepherd, Alexander on 22 Feb 1798 in Madison County, Virginia. ^[S1533]

My Southern Family

Col. John AMBLER Esq.

25 Sep 1762 - 8 May 1836

ID Number: I56719

Notes

Sources

Thomas BRAGG

ABT 1715 - ____

ID Number: I95415

Sources

Capt. John BRISCOE

ABT 1715 - 1741

ID Number: I47436

Notes

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W. B. CLOUSE

ABT 1850 - ____

ID Number: I4763

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Baby COLSON

Junius Clarence MCCANTS C.S.A.

14 Mar 1847 - 1884

ID Number: I299

Notes

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Thomas MORTON

ABT 1690 - 1731

ID Number: I51352

Notes

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Alexander SHEPHERD

ABT 1770 - BEF 1800

ID Number: I34832

Notes

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Elizabeth SMITH

ABT 1684 - ____

ID Number: I97785

Sources

Helen G. STUART

ABT 1780 - ____

ID Number: I82811

Sources