Rev John AMBROSE [7037]

  General Notes:

John Ambrose
Baptism Date: 5 Feb 1821
Baptism Place: Copford, Essex, England
Father: John Ambrose
Mother: Julia Ambrose
FHL Film Number: 1472112

John. Ambrose. Entered:Michs. 1838 Adm. sizar (age 17) at ST JOHN'S, May 3, 1838. S. of John, of Copford, Essex. Matric. Michs. 1838; B.A. 1843; M.A. 12 Dec 1846. Ord. deacon, 1844; priest, 1845. R. of Trimley St Martin, Suffolk, 1847-60. Of Copford Lodge, Colchester, 1867-80. Disappears from Crockford, 1880.

Reverend John Ambrose
Age: 21
Birth Year: abt 1827
Event Date: 27 Jun 1848
Parish: Felixstow Suffolk
Spouse's name: Elizabeth Thorogood Liveing
Spouse's Age: 21
Spouse's Parish: St Mary, Paddington Middlesex
Event Type: Allegation
Reference Number: Ms 10091/225

Local News
Thursday, November 11.
The Church: On Wednesday week, the Rev John Ambrose, the younger, clerk, was instituted to the Rectory of Trimley St Martin, in this County, on the presentation of John Ambrose, of Copford, in Essex, Esq.
The Suffolk Chronicle 13 November 1847.

The following critique in 1858, of John and his preaching may give an insight into why he gave up the Church and went farming.
The Suffolk Pulpit.
No 38. Trimley St Martin.
Rev John Ambrose MA
Everybody in this neighbourhood has found, or made, occasion at some period of his life to go to Felixstowe, and, therefore, everyone has seen within three or four miles of that pleasant, sea-washed village, two churches standing next door to each other on the high road, surrounded by the boundaries of what appears to be one common churchyard. The first of these neighbourly churches everyone has been informed is that of Trimley St Martin, and the other that of Trimley St Mary. Our first visit was made to the church of Trimley St Martin. This is the larger of the two parishes. It extends over an era area of 2338 acres, and has a population of 574. The Rectory is valued at 423L per year. The church is a plain, but not a small building, and it contained a rather full congregation on the morning of our visit.
The Rev John Ambrose MA is about 40 years of age. Whatever we may say of the reverent gentleman before our article is ended, we shall say it of one who is a preacher in good faith and not of one to whom that title is applied by profession or by courtesy.
He reads carefully, and conducts the church service in such a manner, upon the whole, that the critic will not feel called upon to score any serious faults against him. Previously, however, to the reverent gentleman ascending the pulpit, no unusual expectations will have been raised in the mind of the stranger who has experience in the ministrations of rural churches. But one glance at this man after he has taken his place in the pulpit, awakes us to the grateful assurance that we have a study before us, and not a mere subject for an article. He collected his energies and girds himself to his task as to a work upon which a great stake is laid, and we perceive that, whatever failings we may have to note we shall not have to suffer under that of dullness.
The reverent gentleman's preaching is of the oratorical character. He does not preach without notes, but he studies action and pulpit effect. He is not a great master of this art, but he gives considerable attention to it. Sometimes as we watch his manner and his periods a suspicion steals upon us that there is rather more of professional effort than of fervency of purpose in his impressiveness, but, so grateful is it to see a rural minister of the Church of England with some oratorical ability, preaching as good a sermon as he can, and throwing his best ability into the delivery of, that we hasten over the record of our critical suspicion. Another trait that detracts from the higher excellence of his oratory is, that a feeling is induced upon the mind of the listener of a slight lack of sympathy and kindness on the part of the preacher. His preaching cannot be characterised as severe, yet it tells upon the minds of the audience with a certain hardness, and there is that in some of us that slightly rebels while we unavoidably assent to the justice of his declamation. His style is marked by an intensity and force rather than by breadth and power. In his endeavour to gain a dramatic point his vehemence will occasionally override the force of his meaning; yet his matter cannot be said to be ill adapted to the style of his delivery.
It was a fine subject for a sermon the rev gentleman had chosen on the morning we went to his church: "The fool has said in his heart there is no God". The sermon we think was a good measure of the man. It was forcible, eloquent, replete with rhetorical epigram and telling scenes; but it wanted genius - it wanted breadth of conception, and was destitute of the higher elements of originality. The argument had considerable life infused into it, but it proceeded along a too well beaten tract; the illustrations, appealing to the personal experiences of the inner life, were dramatic, but they were unreal, they appealed strongly to the self-knowledge of the audience, but that self-knowledge could not respond to them - there was more force than truth in them. If we indicate the main argument of the sermon to our readers they will say that they have heard all that often enough before from preachers whom the critic would rank much lower than the subject of our present sketch. In a few words the argument may be stated. The "fool" was defined to be one who chose to pursue the sins of the world, and neglected the parts that lead to salvation, and it was reasoned that the wish would be farther to the thought, and that un-belief in God would be the frequent result of a sinful life. True, our readers have heard this before, but if it be a great truth it can scarcely be heard too often, and the man who brings eloquence and ability to enforce it will be doing good service; but, when a man comes for with abilities and energy to enforce a broad argument that has none of the merits of novelty in it, we expect to find that he has examined it well and assured himself that the timeworn argument contains no conventional error. This can scarcely be said of the argument before us. However likely it may seem, reasoning our priori, that speculative unbelief would arise out of practical ungodliness, a little actual acquaintance with real-life tells us directly against the theory. It is not among the ranks of vice and crime that the sceptical proposition will enlist much direct ascent. On the contrary, it is no uncommon thing for the vilest characters to plume themselves upon their religious belief. Men who follow vice from motives of self gratification, find no incentive to take a sceptical proposition in religious matters, and while they debar themselves from no indulgence, they find a cheap redeeming trait in giving a quiet assent to religion. Again, it is not in the pursuit of a criminal career that unbelief is likely to grow into a conviction; every step in that course is a breach in the superficial role of ordinary life, and the voice of the profane invader of God's order is echoed through the unsounded wilderness of a terrible divine mystery, and every crime carries in itself a hint of immeasurable retribution. Perhaps we are digressing too far; but it is one of the most prevalent errors of the pulpit that it perpetuates fallacious notions, and does not often enough bring down its lines of argument to the test of common experience. The same fault we observed in the rev gentleman's argument we noted in his endeavour to portray the inward workings of the sinful mind. We have left ourselves no space to report the preachers verbatum representations of the self communings of the sinner; but they appeared to us to be unlike what men in the circumstances he indicated are accustomed to say to themselves. Those unhappy soliloquies had not the ring of life in them, and reminded us of that part of the dialogue in religious tracts which is supported by the man of straw, who was set up in the first page to try the enduring patience of his argumentative christian neighbour, and finally brought to a knowledge of the Truth upon the last page of the production. Yet this part of the rev gentleman's preaching exhibited considerable fertility of imagination; and did we not pay him the complement of judging him by a tolerably high standard, we should have had far less to say of the faults we have noted.
When we entered the church we were quite without information as to the quality of the preacher, and our pleasure was, perhaps, on that account the greater on hearing a gentleman whose pulpit powers exceed in a considerable degree the average of the rural pastors. We may be allowed, perhaps to say that he has a good deal of egotism, some slight acidity of temper evident in his manner, and a want of rich originality and grasp of the subject, if we say in the same sentence that he is good in style, forcible in manner, and to no little degree effective in matter. There was, perhaps, a little over exertion on the occasion of our hearing him, but such exertion is not possible to respectable mediocrity, and we give the rev gentleman every benefit of the occasion. So opposite in every respect to oratory is the usual fare in a country church, that we should have been glad, if we could, to give a better welcome than we have into our series, of the rev rector of Trimley St Martin.
Suffolk Chronicle 7 August 1858.

Garden Robbery by Boys.
Arthur West, and Henry Kelly, 14, two boys belonging to Marks Tey, the latter of whom did not appear, were summoned, the former for stealing, and the latter for receiving, a quantity of pears and plums the property of the Rev John Ambrose, of Copford. Josiah Spark, gardener, in the employ of the complainant, said on Saturday last he missed about 25 or 30 plums of the kind now produced from a tree in his masters garden, and also a quantity of pears. The tree was damaged. Charles Spark, brother to the last witness said he also was in complainant's employ, and on the afternoon in question he saw West on the top of his masters garden wall. The boy Kelly was also there; West was reaching over the wall as if in the act of picking the fruit. As soon as they saw witness they ran away. He afterwards spoke to the gardener about.
Sgt Newman stated that on Sunday morning from information he received he went to the West's house, and in the presence of his parents asked him where he was about half past twelve the previous day, and he replied that he was with Kelly at the complainants. He also admitted that he had taken some fruit. The wall was eight feet thee inches high, and witness asked him how he got up, he said Kelly assisted him up. He afterwards saw Kelly, when he admitted having received some of the fruit from West. West said he was very sorry for what had occurred. The chairman after admonishing the defence defendant fined him 6d value and 11s expenses or seven days imprisonment.
Essex Standard Friday, 25 August 1865.

Estate Sales by Mr Edward Smith.
At Three Cups Hotel Colchester 30 August 1866
Lot 6. Pond Field and Layers Croft, containing 9 acres 1 Rood 4 Perchs bought by Rev John Ambrose. L521 10s 0d
Essex Standard Friday, 31 August 1866

Essex Record Office D/DJ 20/66
DEEDS OF BRAISWICK FARM, MILE END, LEXDEN, COLCHESTER AND GREAT HORKESLEY
Dates of Creation25 June 1869
Scope and Content:
Conveyance for L2,000 Revd. Henry Thomas Liveing of Tansor, (co. Northants.), clerk, Revd. John Ambrose of Copford, clerk and Edward Liveing of 52 Queen Anne Street, Cavendish Square, Middlesex, Doctor of Medicine, to Augustus Albert Smith of Northwood House, Upper Norwood, (co. Surr.), gent.
3 plots of land (28 a. 0r. 19p.) in Mile End, Colchester Stipulates that widow of purchaser shall not be entitled to dower Recites: (a) that property was conveyed to John Ambrose (now deceased) as in D/DJ 20/56; (b) mortgage as in D/DJ 20/58; (c) recitals as in reconveyance endoresed on D/DJ 20/58; (d) that property was reconveyed as in endorsement on D/DJ 20/58 Marginal plan and schedule of property
Witnesses: Mary Kate Liveing, 52 Queen Anne Street, Cavendish Square, London W., F.H. Newell, solicitor, Colchester, William Howard of Woodgate, Wellington, (co. Som.)

Essex Record Office D/DJ 20/65
DEEDS OF BRAISWICK FARM, MILE END, LEXDEN, COLCHESTER AND GREAT HORKESLEY
Dates of Creation25 June 1869
Scope and Content:
Conveyance of L6,000 Revd. Henry Thomas Liveing of Tansor, (co. Northants.), clerk, Revd. John Ambrose of Copford, clerk and Edward Liveing of 52 Queen Anne Street, Cavendish Square, Middlesex, Doctor of Medicine, to Augustus Albert Smith of Northwood House, Upper Norwood, (co. Surr.), gent.
Messuage, farm and lands called Upper Braiswick (91a. 3r. 27p.), in Mile End, Colchester Stipulates that widow of purchaser shall not be entitled to dower Recites: (a) that property was conveyed to John Ambrose (now deceased) as in D/DJ 20/56; (b) mortgage as in D/DJ 20/58; (c) recitals as in reconveyance endoresed on D/DJ 20/58; (d) that property was reconveyed as in endorsement on D/DJ 20/58 Marginal plan and schedule of property
Witnesses: Mary Kate Liveing, 52 Queen Anne Street, Cavendish Square, London W., F.H. Newell, solicitor, Colchester, William Howard of Woodgate, Wellington, (co. Som.)

Copford 1878 - Ambrose Rev John M.A. of Copford Lodge, and among principle landowners Ambrose Rev James M.A.

At Colchester, the Rev John Ambrose, of Copford Lodge, near Colchester, has been charged upon two informations, with having in his possession, or under his control, three pigs affected with swine typhoid, and failing to give the necessary notice to the police. The bench imposed fines and costs, amounting in the aggregate to L7 5s 0d which defendant paid
Derby Daily Telegraph Wednesday, 29 October 1879

Swine Fever
Last week, the Rev John Ambrose, made an application to the bench to have his farm at Marks Tey declared free from swine fever, and the matter was adjourned until today for Supt Daunt to report. Supt Daunt today called Mr P S Cowan, veterinary inspector, who had been called in to examine the pigs by the Rev John Ambrose. He stated that the previous Saturday he examined them, and in his opinion they were free from disease, but in examining some of them again on Friday and that morning he found symptoms of swine fever, and he should recommend that 18 of them be slaughtered. The Bench ordered Supt Daunt to inspect the pigs, assisted by a veterinary inspector, and use his own discretion after that inspection whether any of the pigs ought to be slaughtered or not.
Chelmsford Chronicle Friday, 1 August 1884

The Essex Standard Saturday, 9 August 1884, reported that Supt Daunt had inspected the 18 pigs at Marks Tey and ordered them to be slaughted, however 30 further pigs has escaped to a neighbouring property. The Bench ordered that that property and Marks Tey be declared infected properties for 28 days. No claim for compensation for the slaughtered pigs had yet been received by the Court.

John Ambrose
Record Type: Marriage
Marriage Date: 15 Feb 1877
Marriage Place: St Marylebone, Westminster, England
Father: John Ambrose
Spouse: Herrietta Diana Ware
Register Type: Parish Register

In 1877 John made an unhappy marriage to Henrietta Ware, they had met as a result of advertisements in a publication known as the Matrimonial News. By 1880 their differences had reached the Courts with Henrietta alleging regular acts of violence against her by John.
Documents from the Courts are to be found on this Website Home Page under Books - "John Ambrose an unfortunate marriage"
The case was also widely reported:

Dundee Evening Telegraph 15 November 1880.
The Result of Matrimonial Advertising.
In the divorce court last week a petition was presented by Mrs Henrietta Diana Ambrose craving for a Decree of Judicial Separation on the grounds of her husband's cruelty. The respondent, the Rev John Ambrose, a Clerk in Holy Orders but without care of souls, resided at Copford in Essex, denied the charge, and also pleaded provocation and violence on the part of the petitioner. It appeared that the substantial question of controversy between them was as to the amount of the allowance to be secured to Mrs Ambrose. The respondent, it was said, followed multifarious occupations, including those of brickmaker, farmer, and pig dealer, and was in the enjoyment of an income of between L4000 and L5000 a year. The petitioner had no property. It appeared from the opening statement of counsel and the evidence of Mrs Ambrose that she and Mr Ambrose became acquainted through the medium of advertisements in a publication known as the Matrimonial News. On their subsequent interviews he represented himself as a widower without encumbrancers, which was the fact; she, as a widow (which was not a fact) with 2 children. They were married at Marylebone in February 1877, and they spent their honeymoon at Paris. While at Paris the respondent, the petitioner alleged, displayed the violent temper of which he was possessed. They entered a church to witness the service, but they had scarcely done so when the respondent called out to the officiating priest, "humbug, hypocrite." She endeavoured to induce him to leave the church, but in vain, and a crowd collecting she left him and fled to their hotel, the Louvre. He followed her and threatened her with violence when they got to their home. On their return to England they took up their residence at Copford, and there led a life of great unhappiness until April last, when the petitioner left her home and initiated this suit. On cross examination, Mrs Ambrose admitted that before their marriage she had been guilty of grave misrepresentation as to her parentage, position, and means to her husband. She had told him that she was the daughter of Mr William Everett Ware, a solicitor of Brighton. That was not the fact. She had told him that she was the widow of a Mr Henry George Ware, and that she had had two children by him. That was not the fact. But she had lived with Mr Ware, and he was the father of her younger child. She refused to disclose the name of the father of her first child. She also made false representations as to her means; but she did not tell her husband that she had eloped when very young with a gentleman from a school at Brighton, nor show him the window through which she had escaped. She had eloped from a school at Holloway.
She was 27 years of age and her husband was some 40 years her senior.
On Saturday his Lordship found for the respondent but did not dismiss the petition, hoping the parties would come to an arrangement.

The Monmouthshire Merlin 19 November 1880 added to the above:
. . . . . According to the evidence of Mrs Ambrose, seven weeks after the marriage the respondent began to ill treat her. He had frequently beaten her, and on one occasion had pulled some of her hair out . . . . .
. . . . . She stated that when she made the acquaintance of the Rev John Ambrose, she described herself as a widow with 2 children, but that was not the case. She was married in Germany, but it was not a real marriage. . . . .

The Dundee Courier 16 November 1880 took a rather more tabloid approach:
Extra Ordinary Divorce Case.
In the Probate and Divorce court on Saturday the hearing of the case of Ambrose v Ambrose was resumed. . . . . In the course of the day several unsuccessful attempts were made to do bring about a compromise.. . . . . The Rev John Ambrose the respondent . . . . . Some time in 1876 he went to a matrimonial office "out of curiosity" and accidentally met the petitioner. She spoke to him on the stairs, and told him that she was a widow with 2 children. He had some conversation with her and was afterwards introduced to her relations . . . . She told him her husband died abroad. He thought that she was respectable and that the children were legitimate. . . . .
Mr Middleton for the respondent.
How did you get on in Paris? - Bad enough.
How was that? - I found I had got into a mess, for she flirted with men. (Laughter) she was the topic of conversation throughout the hotel . . . . . When they returned home she was in no way confined to the house. He heard from his niece that she had run away from a school in Brighton, and afterwards lived with a man.. . . . . It was not true that he had treated her with cruelty. She had beaten him. She was always bullying and fighting him, and used to say "you dare not hit me for the public against striking a woman" (Laughter) on one occasion she threw some hot tea over him, scratched his face, and pulled his whiskers. . . . . One of his fingers was permanently injured through her violence. She smashed a quantity of his china and used to abuse him "most gloriously" (Laughter) he was afraid of her violence and for three years his life had been a perfect misery to him.. . . . He had called her "a liar" but her language to him was beyond description. She swore and used "Billingsgate language" (Laughter) . . . . . A person at the matrimonial office claimed a commission in respect to the fortune the lady was said to be possessed of. She stated that she had L3500, but he had never seen a farthing of it (Laughter) Sir James Hannen (President) - the commission, I suppose, was not for the fortune but for the lady. (Renewed laughter).
Captain Ambrose, nephew of the respondent, said that in the latter part 1878 he was on a visit to his uncle. The petitioner on one occasion gave the respondent of violent blow on the chest. He appeared to be very frightened of her.
Julia Ambrose, niece of the respondent, gave evidence as to the violent conduct of Mrs Ambrose towards her uncle. She had threatened to kill him, and he was afraid of her. After the marriage her uncle became a changed man.
His Lordship, at the rising of the court, suggested that some arrangement should be brought about between the parties.

The Worcester Chronicle 13 November 1880 reported further:
In cross-examination by Mr Inderwick Q.C. for Ambrose:
Did you describe yourself as a widow? - I refuse to answer.
Sir James Hannen: you must answer the question.
Witness: I described myself as a widow, I think I said my father was a solicitor at Brighton. I represented myself as a widow of a solicitor, and that I had two children by him.
Were all these statements true? - They are in a sense I was married in Germany, but not to this person. It was not a real marriage. It was not true that I was a widow I have lived under the name of Mrs Shelley.
Was there anyone who answered to the name of Mr Shelley? - No
. . . . . She denied that she had treated her husband with cruelty. She admitted pulling his whiskers and boxing his ears on one occasion.

The Worcestershire Chronicle 20 November 1880.
. . . . . On the conclusion of the whole of the evidence, Sir James Hannen gave his decision. In doing so, he stated that he was of opinion that the charges of cruelty alleged by the wife against her husband had not been proved, that what she called cruelty was a result of provocation, and that no other cruelty had been proved. He ought, therefore, to at once dismisses this petition, but he would not do that in order still to give the parties an opportunity of coming to some arrangement with or without his assistance. . . . . .

Following this the parties were granted a Judicial Separation and John paid his wife L200 p.a. so long as she remained chaste and unmarried.
In 1884 John petitioned for the dissolution of his marriage on the grounds of adultery naming four men as co-respondents, Farmer, DeLonga, Blanco and Owen.
The case was heard before Mr Justice Butt and a special Jury in the Divorce Court, Thursday 3 April 1884 it lasted several days.
The Essex Standard Saturday, 5 April 1884 reports:
. . . . . The respondent answered and denied the adultery, as did the first named two co-respondents: the other two co-respondents did not answer. . . . . .
It was alleged that in 1882 while living in Gower Street, she committed adultery with John Farmer and other persons, but no evidence was given as to the adultery by her and any of the co-respondents except Farmer. He (Farmer) was a dealer in ladies dresses and knew who Mrs Ambrose's husband was. Costs were asked against him, because he was aware, when carrying on criminal relation with her, that she was a married woman.
The testimony of several witnesses showed that in 1882 Mrs Ambrose and Farmer were together on various occasions at a house in Euston Square, which was called a "private hotel", but which as the learned Judge remarked, had been shown to be nothing but a brothel.
After hearing this evidence and no defence having been offered, the Jury under the direction of the learned Judge gave a verdict for the petitioner on the ground of his wife's adultery with the co-respondent Farmer.
Mr Justice Butt pronounced a decree nisi with costs against Farmer.
Mr Waddy then asked that the learned Judge would give his sanction to an arrangement which had been come to, by which the petitioner had agreed to allow his wife L150 a year in order that she might set up in business for herself . . . .. The petitioner did not wish his wife to be rendered destitute and to prevent her being so, had agreed to her allow her the sum.
Mr Justice Butt said as his sanction was considered necessary he readily gave it. Though the respondent had misconducted herself, it was right that she should not be left without a provision.

Colchester (County) November 18.
Before C.R.G. Hoare Esq
Theft - Robert Andrews, watchmaker, living in Fisher's Yard, Middlesboro, was charged with stealing on 12 February, 1886, a gold watch, the property of the Rev John Ambrose, of Copford. The prisoner who has been "wanted" for a long time was arrested on Thursday evening by Sgt Creasy of the County Force and PC Summons of the Borough Force. The prisoner was remanded till the Bench sitting today (Saturday).
Essex Standard Saturday, 19 November 1887.

In early 1888 John is reported to being replaced as the Copford representative on various associations, as he was very ill.

Obituaries.
Our obituary today records the demise of the Rev John Ambrose, of Copford Lodge, which took place at his residence on the 1st inst, after a long and painful affliction.
The deceased, we believe, had never held any cure, but some years ago he used frequently to take occasional duty for various incumbents in and around his native village, and was a very powerful preacher.
The remains were interred in the family vault in Copford Churchyard on Thursday, the Rector of Copford (the Rev W Ruck-Keene) officiating, assisted by his Curate. The mourners were Mr Thomas H Ambrose and Capt Ambrose (nephews). Mr and Mrs George W Bawtree (niece), Miss Cosens (niece), Prof Liveing and Dr E Liveing (brothers-in-law), Mr Oliver Williams (executor), Mr Edwin Worts (medical attendant), Mr H H Elwes (solicitor). There was a large congregation at the Church. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs Rickword and Son of Colchester.
Essex Standard Saturday, 7 April 1888.

Ambrose the Rev John 7 June 1888. The Will with a codicil of the Rev John Ambrose late of Copford Lodge Copford in the County of Essex clerk who died 1 April 1888 at Copford was proved at Ipswich by Edward Liveing of 52 Queen Ann St in the County of Middlesex MD and Oliver John Williams the Younger of 8 Great College St in the City of Westminster Esq two of the executors. Personal estate L41,409 19s 6d Re-sworn Aug 1889 L44,266 5s 2d
Ref: National Probate Calendar.

  Research Notes:

Liveing Tree puts John born 1 Apr 1821?
Bap Ref Essex D/P186/1/5. Burial source Essex Standard 1
3 April 1888.
Ref: Sue Yenney.

John appears not to have had issue from either of his marriages. At least one Ancestry Tree puts a Henry G Ambrose as the child of John and Henrietta born c1873 in Germany. However this researcher gives more weight to the statements of both parties in the course of the litigation of their divorce which stated there was no issue of the marriage. Had there been, it seems unusual that Henrietta did not state so as a factor to been taken into account in the matter of alimony. Much of this unhappy matter remains clouded in mystery.

2019 - Christopher Radley (musdeco@googlemail.com) mails to say he has a number of documents for sale (1855 - 1968) pertaining to a pair of shops just off Oxford St London UK which appear to have been owned by William Liveing, and in 1884 the Rev John Ambrose of Copford, his son in law, is mentioned in several as a a Trustee.
Please contact Christopher if you have an interest.

  Other Records

1. Census: England, 30 Mar 1851, Rectory Hse Trimley SFK. John is recorded as head of house married aged 30 Rector of Trimley St Martin born Copford ESS

2. Census: England, 8 Apr 1861, Copford Lodge Copford ESS. John is recorded as head of house married aged 40 a Clergyman of the Church of England without the care of souls born Copford

3. Census: England, 2 Apr 1871, Copford ESS. John is recorded as a Clergyman of the Church of England without care of souls he is head of house married aged 50 born Copford ESS

4. John Ambrose: Will, 21 Jun 1879.
Part 2
Pages 8 to 14

This is the last Will and Testament of me the Rev John Ambrose of Copford Lodge in the County of Essex
Continued guidence on the matter of inheritance.
I give and bequeath all my collection of China to my executors upon trust to permit and suffer the same to be held or enjoyed by the tenant for life for the time being of my estates hereinbefore devised . . . . .
To my old and valued servant Ellen Simpson an annuity or yearly rent charge of £31 4s 0d to be payable weekly and commence from the date of my decease. . . . . . paid clear of legacy duty and all other expenses.
I devise all my farm messuage lands and hereditaments situate in the parishes of Tolleshunt, Knights and Tollesbury in the County of Essex consisting partly of freeholds and partly of copyhold is unto the said Edward Liveing Oliver John Williams and John Charles Ambrose their executors and administrators '96 during the life of my said niece Emma Julia Ambrose without impeachment of waste. Upon trust to pay the rents and profits thereof as and where the same shall become due and not by way of anticipation into her own hands to be enjoyed by her as an inalienable personal provision and while covert free from the control and engagements of her husband for which rents and profits her receipts alone shall be sufficient discharge to my executors and administrators and from and after the decease of the said Emma Julia Ambrose I devise the said farm messuage lands and hereditaments unto and to the use of the child if only one or all the children if more than one of the said Emma Julia Ambrose in fee simple such children if more than one to take as tenants in common in equal shares with cross executory limitations . . . . . failing living issue. Then I devise the said farm messuage lands and hereditaments unto and to the use of my said nephew Thomas Hitchcock Ambrose . . . . . then his issue . . . . .

5. John Ambrose: Will, 21 Jun 1879.
Part 3
Pages 15 to 21

Then I devise the said farm messuage lands and hereditaments unto and to the use of my said nephew Thomas Hitchcock Ambrose and his assigns for his life without impeachment of waste and immediately after the determination of that estate by forfeiture or otherwise in his lifetime to the use of the said Edward Liveing Oliver John Williams and John Charles Ambrose their executors and administrators during the life of the said Thomas Hitchcock Ambrose Upon trust by the usual ways and means to preserve the contingent remainder is hereinafter limited from being defeated or destroyed but to permit and suffer the said Thomas Hitchcock Ambrose and his assigns during his life to receive the rents and profits of the said hereditaments . . . . . and his issue with limits . . . . .
The rest of the estate not hereinbefore otherwise disposed of unto Edward Liveing Oliver John Williams and John Charles Ambrose Upon trust to be invested and the proceeds paid to Emma Julia Ambrose for her sole and separate use and her issue there being no issue to Thomas Hitchcock Ambrose during his life and his issue there being no issue to John Charles Ambrose absolutely . . . . .
In witness whereof I the said John Ambrose the testator have to this my last will and testament contained in this and 14 preceding sheets of paper set my hand this 21st day of June 1879.
John Ambrose
Signed and declared by the said John Ambrose the testator as and for his last will and Testament in the presence of us here present at the same time who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have here unto subscribed our names as witnesses stop
H G Deane Sol. Colchester.
Henry H Elives Sol. Colchester.

This is a Codicil to the last will and Testament of me the Rev John Ambrose of Copford Lodge in the County of Essex . . . . .
Replaces his nephew John Charles Ambrose as an executor and trustee with his nephew Thomas Hitchcock Ambrose.
Revokes the legacy bequeathed to the Church Pastoral Aid Society
Bequeaths a legacy of £500 to the Church Missionary Society
Bequeaths a further £500 to the Irish Church Missions
Bequeaths to each of his servants who at the time of his death had been in his employ 12 calendar months 1 years wages free of legacy duty in addition to any wages due to them.
Requires the bequest of £1000 in favour of Fanny Louisa Elizabeth Cousins to be free from legacy duty and paid to her children should she predecease the testator
In witness whereof I the said John Ambrose the testator to this Codicil to my said last Will and Testament set my hand this 7th day of March 1888
John Ambrose
Witnesses
Henry H Elives Sol. Colchester.
Edwin Worts Surgeon.

Ambrose the Rev John 7 June 1888. The Will with a codicil of the Rev John Ambrose late of Copford Lodge Copford in the County of Essex clerk who died 1 April 1888 at Copford was proved at Ipswich by Edward Liveing of 52 Queen Ann St in the County of Middlesex MD and Oliver John Williams the Younger of 8 Great College St in the City of Westminster Esq two of the executors. Personal estate L41,409 19s 6d Re-sworn Aug 1889 L44,266 5s 2d
Ref: National Probate Calendar.

Page 21 of the Will records.
Gross Personal Estate £41,409 19s 6d
Net Personal Estate £35,456 10s 7d
Elives & Turner Solicitors Colchester.

6. John Ambrose: Will, 21 Jun 1879, Proved 7 June 1888.
This a long Will, complex in its effect which the transcriber makes no pretence at understanding ! however it appears John is using the ancient legal device of fee tail to prevent the dissipation of his substantial assets.

Part 1
Pages 1 to 7.

This is the last Will and Testament of me the Rev John Ambrose of Copford Lodge in the County of Essex Clerk In Holy Orders I revoke all former testamentary dispositions.
I appoint Edward Liveing of 52 Queen Anne St, London MD; Oliver John Williams the younger of Dovercourt in the said County of Essex gentlemen and my nephew John Charles Ambrose of 33 Topstone Rd, Kensington Esq Executors and Trustees of this my will. And I bequeath to each of the said Edward Liveing and Oliver John Williams who shall prove my will the sum of £500 as an acknowledgement of the trouble which they will have therein
I bequeath to my nephew Thomas Hitchcock Ambrose the sum of £2000 I bequeath to my godson Frederick Billingsley Ambrose Williams the sum of £200 I bequeathed to Charlotte Bowles daughter of the late Rev George Cranley Bowles of East Thorpe Rectory in the said County of Essex for her separate use the sum of £200 as a memento of regard and long friendship
I direct all the legacies hereinbefore bequeathed to be paid free from legacy duty out of such part of my personal estate as may by law be bequeathed for charitable purposes to the Treasurers or other proper Officers of the respective Charities or Institutions hereinafter mentioned (whose respective receipts shall be effectual discharges for the same) and to be applicable for the charitable or general purposes of such respective Institutions namely
To the Church Association instituted 1865 (office number 14 Buckingham St, Strand London) the sum of £500
To the Irish Church Missions the sum of £500.
The Church Pastoral Aid Society the sum of £500.
To the Essex and Colchester Hospital the sum of £200.
I bequeath to my niece Emma Julia Ambrose all my plate and plated articles linen watches and jewellery and apparel of my late dear wife for her own use and benefit absolutely.
I bequeath all my household furniture glass pictures prints musical instruments books and other articles of household use or ornament (except my collection of China hereinafter disposed of) wines liquors and other household stores and provisions which respectively at the time of my decease shall be in my dwellinghouse to my said nephew John Charles Ambrose absolutely.
I bequeath the sum of £1000 free from legacy duty to the said Edward Liveing Oliver John Williams and John Charles Ambrose upon Trust to invest (various investments detailed) the income of the said investments to be paid to my niece Fanny Louisa Elizabeth Cousins wife of Frederick Cousins for her exclusive use for life, she not having the power to dispose or deprive herself of the benefit thereof. . . . . at her decease to her children, or there being none to my said nephew Thomas Hitchcock Ambrose absolutely.
I devise all the Manor messuage lands tenements and hereditaments being freeholds of inheritance . . . . . situate in the parishes of Tolleshunt, Knights and Tollesbury in the County of Essex subject as to my Marks Tey Hall Estate and the sum of £8000 and interest or other , , , , , to the use of my said nephew John Charles Ambrose for life . . . . . (Then describes the line of benefit and instructions on failure of issue)
I devise and bequeath all the leasehold messuage lands tenements and hereditaments to Edward Liveing Oliver John Williams and John Charles Ambrose upon Trust (then follows several pages of instructions as to the management of the property and woodland, investment of the proceeds, guidance as either family inheritence by tenant for life, or tenant and tail male, or in tail by purchase or other to avoid the dissipation of the estate.)

7. Census: England, 3 Apr 1881, Copford Lodge Essex. John is recorded as head of house married aged 60 a clergyman Church of England without Cure of Souls born Copford Essex

8. J L Ambrose: Letter to Rev John Ambrose concerning Ambrose family, 27 Jun 1887, Mass USA. Office of the Clerk of Courts Middlesex County
Massachusetts USA
East Cambridge
June 27, 1887.

Rev John Ambrose
Dear Sir
Through the kindness of Rev John Ambrose of Digby, N.S., but I learned your name and address. My purpose in writing to you is to obtain as much information concerning the Ambrose family in general, and my branch thereof in particular, as you are able and willing impart. I have been engaged for nearly two years in writing a history of my branch.
The field has been pretty thoroughly cultivated in point of time \endash from 1638, to the present.
The first knowledge I have of Henry the immigrant is, that he was settled in Hampton, New Hampshire, in 1638. He came from England, but of his native city or town, when or from what place he emigrated, I am ignorant.
These facts I desire very much to establish \endash afterward, to trace his direct line of ascent and establish the English record of his family.
If, from this slender stock of facts, you can aid me, I shall indeed feel very grateful.
Very truly yours
John L Ambrose.
PS Our name, though . . . . . and well meaning, is scarce, and our possession of it in common seems to make us, at all events, a sort of kin

John married Elizabeth Thorogood "Betty" LIVEING [2065] [MRIN: 2340], daughter of Capt William LIVEING [136] and Louisa ORGEE [6268], on 29 Jul 1848 in St Mary Paddington MDX. (Elizabeth Thorogood "Betty" LIVEING [2065] was born about 1824 in Harwich ESS and died on 22 Feb 1874 in Copford ESS.)

John next married Henrietta Diana WARE [24153] [MRIN: 8691] on 15 Feb 1877 in St Marylebone London MDX. The marriage ended in divorce. (Henrietta Diana WARE [24153] was born in Jul 1851 in Lewes SSX.)