DORSET-L Archives

From: "Thomas R Cole" <>
Subject: Shambler family
Date: Fri, 07 Aug 98 19:56:48 PDT

Like the TILLY family of the same era - commencing mid to late seventeenth century, the SHAMBLER family divided their time between Christchurch, Hampshire (now Dorset) and Newfoundland. Indeed the Tilly and Shambler family seemed to have had dual establishments in Newfoundland: they were both active in Bonavista as well as in Harbour Main in 1675.

The Shambler family of Newfoundland perhaps came from Ringwood. James was in Bonavista c1675 a single man, however in 1677 he was married with a son and a daughter. A John Shambler was at Salvage c1675. A Joseph Shambler was at Keels in 1681 and a Samuel Shambler was at Bonavista 1708.This is the same family for which Shambler’s Island was named.

It is likely that Richard Shambler of Christchurch was born at Bonavista. He married Mary SEBLY at Christchurch 26 Dec 1691. They had a son also named Richard whose birth record cannot be found at Christchurch, so it seems that Richard Shambler (the second) was also born away from Christchurch. This Richard Shambler the second was first married to a Mary ROGERS, who had a brother named James Rogers, a mariner. [This James Rogers mentions a few familiar Newfundland surnames in his will of 1783: Cook, Gregory, Pudner, Adey, and Mills, but all of Christchurch]. Richard Shambler, a labourer, lived at Christchurch where he rented 30 luggs in Winkton Common from Thomas HAYWARD, on the north side of Samuel HOOKEY; he also leased land from Sarah BOURNE. In 1781 the widower Richard Shambler married again to Sarah SHEARING of Ringwood-

Another child, Elizabeth, of Richard Shambler and Mary Sebly, was baptised at Christchurch 30 Aug 1700 and married there 12 Jul 1724 to Thomas BOUNE [Bown]. who is later found in the 1753 census of Bonaventure, Trinity Bay along with her brother James Shambler (baptised at Christchurch 03 Aug 1702) and another relative William Shambler. It is more than likely that the Thomas Bound found in the Bonavista parish register in 1787 is Elizabeth’s grandson; Thomas Bound has followed his ancestral footsteps leading him back to Bonavista.

Another child, Ann, was baptised at Christchurch 08 Dec 1696 and there are no other records of her at Christchurch; perhaps she lived and died in Newfoundland. The same can be said for her brother, George, who was baptised at Christchurch 22 Sep 1705; George married Ann PEEK at Christchurch 07 Dec 1737 and promptly disappeared from the parish, to Newfoundland no doubt where there must be a relationship to George Shambler (1788-1821) buried in St. John's.

Mary Shambler baptised 01 Mar 1724 daughter of Richard (the second) married at Christchurch 07 Feb 1749 to Thomas RUSSELL. Her son Thomas Russell Jr. baptised there 11 Mar 1759 is likely the same found in the Bonavista parish register c1799.

Ann Shambler baptised 18 Jan 1726 daughter of Richard (the second) married at Christchurch 13 Oct 1754 to Moses Reeks, who was likely a brother to the shipwright Richard Reeks of Seldown, Great Canford.

Mary Russell. born Christchurch 1750, daughter of the above Thomas Russell and Mary Shambler married at Christchurch in 1772 to Joseph Tilly, witnessed by John and Hester Shambler. [Joseph Tilly’s father, Edmund, was firstly married to Sarah SEXTON, and secondly to Mary MARTIN].

Hayward, Hookey, Shearing, Bown, Russell, Rogers, Sexton, Martin and Bourne are all familiar surnames in the Bonavista/ Trinity area of Newfoundland.

Thomas R Cole

Looking for Newfoundland connections

__________
What a wonderful world in which we dwell! when we think of all the various kinds of beings who inhabit it, and the changes which are constantly taking place...

-Philip Tocque

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• Shambler family by "Thomas R Cole" <>