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]

1. Mary AMBLER was born on 15 Jan 1663/64 in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut; died before Aug 1699 in Bedford, Westchester Co., New York.
2. Abraham AMBLER was born on 05 Jan 1665/66 in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut; died before Nov 1697 in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut.
3. John AMBLER was born on 18 Feb 1667/68 in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut; died on 04 Nov 1711 in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut.
4. Joshua AMBLER was born on 08 Sep 1670 in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut; died before 1680.
5. Sarah AMBLER was born on 06 Oct 1672 in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut.
6. Mehitable AMBLER was born about 1675 in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut; died on 08 Feb 1737 in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut.

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

Richard married Sarah ?. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]