Gamble Surname - Your Stories


GAMBLE/PARKINSON CONNECTION IN QUORN, LEICS

Submitted by Liz Parkinson. Terrigal, Australia.

    Gambles and Parkinsons had settled in Quorn by the 1750's, when the Baptist Church was being established there. It isn't known at this stage, where these families were beforehand (anyone out there know?). Three Parkinson brothers (Robert, Thomas and William), married local girls and had families there. The men became bakers, farmers, or coal-miners, while the women generally became dressmakers. The Gambles were involved with the woollen trade, and a number of Gamble and Parkinson families lived in the High Street as early as 1787 (according to the members book of the General Baptist Church for that year). Both these families were ardent supporters of this church, and one Thomas Gamble married one Kitty Parkinson on 28 October 1798.
The following comes from the Quorndon Baptists Baptism Registry: 1785-1837: 14 Feb 1837 - the following children of Thomas Gamble of Quorndon, and Kitty his wife, who was the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Parkinson of Quorndon, were registered: Ann born 18 Sept 1799; Elizabeth born 2 June 1801; Sarah born 28 Oct 1803; Joseph born 7 Jan 1806; John born 22 April 1808 - and died 9 May
1808; Thomas born 19 Sept 1809; John born 1 Nov 1811; Catherine born 15 April 1814; & Mary born 10 Aug 1816.
Kitty Gamble (nee Parkinson) survives in the church records in the 1830's, as continually trying to get her errant brother, Robert Parkinson, to church - he apparently preferred the ale houses! Perhaps a reason for this is that his eldest son, another Robert, was transported to VDL in 1822 as a convict, with a commuted death-sentence (my forebear). In his new country, the latter mended his ways, and ironically became a policeman.

Liz Parkinson.

Visit the Parkinson Page at http://www.terrigal.net.au/~liz/rparky.htm

 


Jerry Read is researching the Gamble surname in the United States,
He has submitted this information about Gamble's from Londonderry.

As best we can determine Thomas Gamble and Margaret Scott, who lived in Northern Ireland, had four children: Mary, Thomas, Archibald and William. Here's what we know about this family:It is written in the History of Manchester (formerly Derryfield) in New Hampshire by C.E. Potter - 1856: "William Gamble came to this country in 1722, aged fourteen years. He and two elder brothers, Archibald and Thomas, and a sister, Mary, started together for America, but the elder brothers were pressed into the British service upon the point of sailing, leaving the boy, William, and his sister to make the voyage alone. William was saved from the press-gang, alone by the ready exercise of "woman's wit." The Gambles had started under the protection of Mr. and Mrs. Michael McClintock, who resided in the same neighbourhood, and were about to emigrate to New England. Upon witnessing the seizure of the elder brothers Mrs. McClintock called to William Gamble, "Come here Billy quickly." and upon Billy's approaching her, she continued, "snuggle down here Billy," and she hid him under the folds of her capacious dress! There he remained in safety, until the gang had searched the house for the boy in vain, and retired in high dugeon at their ill success." "Alexander, son of William McClintock, subsequently married Janet Gamble, daughter of William Gamble, whom his grandmother by her great presence of mind had saved from the clutches of the press-gang. " "William Gamble upon his arrival in Boston, went to work on the ferry from Charlestown to Boston. Here he remained two years. During this time, he had no more than supported himself, and he went back into the country and worked at farming for some years. At this period he made a visit to Londonderry where he married a widow Clark. At Londonderry, he found a cousin, Archibald Stark, and concluded to remain in this neighbourhood. Accordingly he 'made a pitch' upon the west side of the Merrimack, in what is now Bedford; but after a short time he determined to settle in Chester, and 'spotted out' the farm now owned by Samuel Gamble, his great grandson, and Issac C. Flanders, Esq. This was probably about 1733. Here he built a log house upon the east side of the brook that passes through the farm of Samuel Gamble, Esq." He resided in this farm until 1745 the start of the Indian War. "During this war he joined several "scouts" and upon the commencement of the 'old French War,' in 1755, having lost his wife, he enlisted in the regular service, and was in most of the war, being under Wolfe on the 'Plains of Abraham.' After the fall of Quebec, he came back to Derryfield, and went to work upon his farm. Soon after, he married Ann, the eldest child of Archibald Stark. By her he had two sons, William and Archibald.""Archibald and Thomas Gamble the elder brothers of William after serving some time in the British army, deserted, came to this country and settled in Virginia, where their descendants reside at the present day."In the Mt Destert Widow by Greenleaf and Jonathan Cilley 1895 it says;"

The following item is taken from the papers of William S. Curtice kindly sent by Miss N. Velona Curtice.

'Michael McClintock and wife in company with William Gamble came to this country in 1722 from Belmorry Antrim County, Ireland. William was 14 years of age at that time.' This agrees with William Gamble's age, but Posster gives 1728 as the year he came to this country." William was chosen Hayward on Sept 23 1751. He Signed the association test June 1 1776. His will dated 25 November 1785 states that he was in the 77th year of his age. Mentions wife Anna, son William, son Archibald, daughter Jennet McClintock, daughter Margaret Love and John Stark of of Derryfield appointed executor. Approved and allowed 17 Oct 1786.

DAR Record Lineage Book Vol VII shows Mrs. Caroline Stark Head as a descendant of William Gamble who "although over seventy, served as an aid-de-camp to his brother-in-law General John Stark." General John Stark served in the Revolution.

DAR Record Lineage Book Vol CVIII 1914 Page 137 shows William Gamble as aid-de-camp, New Hampshire Line.

The History of Chester New Hampshire by Benjamin Chase 1869 states:

"William Gambel or Gamble came from Londonderry, Ireland at the age of fourteen, with the McClentos and Starret. He lived awhile at Londoderry, and married a widow Clark there. Previous to 1748, he bought lots No. 10 and 11, 4th D., and a corner of No. 12, on which he built, where Samuel Gamble now lives. He was a petitioner for soldiers in 1748. His will is dated November 25, 1785, at which time he died of the colic, a. 77. In May of 1759 He was voted as a tything man for the town of Derryfield. March 4, 1765 William Gamble voted at a meeting of freeholders and inhabitants of Derryfield. He was voted Constable for 1761, 1762 & 1763.

The Military History of The State Of New Hampshire 1623-1861 by Chandler E Porter Volume 1 states: " IN 1758 New Hampshire raised still another regiment for "the Crown Point Expedition." This numbered eight hundred men, and was commanded by Col. Joh Hart, of Portsmouth. A portion of the regiment was ordered to join the expedition against Louisburg, and remainder did duty under Lieut. Col. Goffe, on the western frontier." Company 7 commanded by Captain Alexander Todd included Wm Gamble who entered service April 26 1758 as a private and was discharged November 27, 1758. Todd was also as Scotsman from Northern Ireland.

Jerry Reed

Whitesboro, NY USA

 


If you have done a lot of research and written a story like these of your family or discovered an interesting story about others send it in to the feedback Email address found at the bottom of each page.

 
Home

Home