HAMBLY family from Lansallos

[overlandermatt]

I've been looking for William Hambly b1894, husband of Jane Hambly... William Hambly looks to have been a fairly common name around Liskeard.

I found a Free BMD entry for a William Hambly who died in Pensilva, St Ive in 1874 aged 81 which would be a good match. Pensilva is the town where daughter Rebecca and family were in the 1861 and 1871 census. It appears that there was a huge copper mine at nearby Caradon Hill which many labourers moved to the area for.

Interestingly there is a William Hambly in the 1871 census in Pensilva and from Lansallos. I strongly suspect it is the right William but the head of the household is a Francis Hambly - William did not have a son called Francis... He did have a daughter called Elizabeth and I wonder whether Francis's wife was William's daughter. There is some rather compelling but incomplete information in a FamilySearch tree which makes me wonder. Francis later died in Lancashire in the same village that Rebecca Hambly/Stephens was in the 1881 census (and later died there).

It's the only explanation I can come up with so far! Any help on this gratefully received.

[Milliepede]

Interesting and haven’t checked it out but there is a marriage in 1852 with Francis Hambly and Elizabeth Hambly on the same page.

If you check birth registrations for the children listed in 1871 and mother’s maiden name is also Hambly then they must have married each other.

Yes just checked Richard born 1869 and mothers name indeed Hambley.

[Milliepede]

Ah just realised with 2 Hambly’s marrying each other Francis’ father could also have been called William.

It definitely says father on the census not father in law.

[overlandermatt]

Thanks Millie. I have a bit more digging to do here. I do know from a marriage certificate for Mary Jane Brock marrying John Burn that her father William was deceased by 1877. William's wife Jane died in 1861 and was described as the wife of William Hambly rather than widow so there is a probably a 16 year gap should it be a matter of trawling through registered deaths...

I will try to find a marriage certificate for the two Hamblys - Francis and Elizabeth. A lot of records suggest he was from Lansellos and Polperro but I cannot see a record of a baptism there in 1822. There is one in nearby St Germans with a father Francis. More to go at...

In 1861 Francis is a Royal Marine in East Stonehouse. In 1881, at Pensilva, he is a pensioner - so probably completed his 21 years in the Royal Marines. Normally a place of birth is recorded in the service records.


Elizabeth Hambly is not really a main focus in my research but these siblings are often a source of additional background to the wider family. It's all very interesting!

[Milliepede]

There's a family tree which has the marriage of Francis & Elizabeth as 14 July 1852
St Pauls Parish Church Devonport

No image of the marriage but the tree has his parents as Francis Hambley & Elizabeth Smith

[overlandermatt]

Thanks Millie. That looks to be the right one. FindMyPast had the image so it's good to confirm the fathers as Francis and William. I shall need to see whether they were related.

Do you think it's fair to assume that the William Hambly in the 1871 census in St Ive is the William I am after? Having taken another look at the census image I even noticed another younger William Hambly in the neighboring dwelling also from Lansellos! 

In 1881, Francis and Elizabeth were living in Great Marsden, Nelson, a route taken by elder sister Rebecca and her daughters. I've yet to identify the reason for this move - I believe the Cornish copper mines were closing by that time. Possibly it was for work in the mills but it seems a long way to move for work...

[osprey]

possible death reg for William

William Hambly 81 march qtr 1874 Liskeard vol 5c pg 33

[overlandermatt]

Thanks Osprey. This is the one I have been looking at. I think it is the best match...

The 1871 census seems to show him in St Ive (not to be confused with Ives) with the family of a daughter.

I don't know if he was buried there. That's another challenge!

[osprey]

no, different ends of Cornwall!

No burial on the opc website. St Ive burial register for that period isn't on FamilySearch, Lansallos is, but he's not there.

Can't find him in this municipal cemetery
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2500171/lanchard-municipal

You could try the council
https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/births-marriages-deaths/deaths-funerals-and-cremation/council-cemeteries-in-east-cornwall/