This tale takes us back to the middle of the 1700s. The areas of Camberwell and Peckham Rye were pretty small communities full of farms. There were not more than 100 people living in each. However as London grew things were starting to change – the farms were starting to do well because they were starting to cultivate market gardens to supply fresh vegetables to the markets of London.
It is hard to get much detail of any family in the 1770s but Wills are one source that can be quite revealing. And sometimes they make intriguing reading. The tale that follows has been pieced together from a number of wills across several different families. I was supported in the process by an AI tool in My Heritage
Peckham in the early 1700s was on one of the main drover routes into London from Kent and Sussex. These routes would have been wide thoroughfares that crossed the country – kind of the motorways of their time with taverns and inns along them for the travellers to stay. So farmers would walk long distances with their cattle and stop on the Peckham Rye common to rest their cattle and allow them to graze before they walked the last two hours to Smithfield market. This provided opportunites for the local farmers to make money and become much more wealthy. In this tale I am going to show how the Chambers family were amongst these.
I’ll start this tale with John Chambers (1711 – 1776). His Will states he has property in the Camberwell area and in Kent. The will is not clear where the land is in Camberwell. However his son Peters will is clear that the land he has to pass of is at a place called Homestall farm in Peckham Rye and that his father also owned this property.
His son Peter’s will also clarifies the Kent Property. He states that he owns property on Deptford high street (Butt street next door to the “Red lion and wheatsheaf” Pub). There is no evidence that these properties came from the Chambers family.
John married his wife the widow Martha Morphew nee Baker of Ewell in Surrey at the church of st Mary Magdelene in Bermondsey on the 20th September 1731. Martha’s first marriage was to a William Morpeth of Lewisham and they were married ten years earlier in 1721 at Saint Swithins, London Stone just near London Bridge in the city (sadly this chuch was bombed during the war and was demolished in 1969. The “Stone” it references is still there. It is an ancient relic of earlier times and held some significance in medieval times).
On this earlier wedding certificate it clearly states Martha Baker was from Deptford. So I suspect that the Kent properties were from her family. In their wedding record John Chambers is clearly marked as being from Camberwell.
Martha had three daughters by her first marriage born in Lewisham: Jane, Martha and Mary. Sadly Mary died aged 4, however there is a marriage record for Jane stating she married in Camberwell to a Mr Daniel Dance – so she clearly moved to live with the Chambers family when her mother remarried. I can find no records for Martha junior.
Documents showing John Chambers marriage to Martha Morphew and her marriage as Martha Baker to William Morphew. Giving evidence of her link to Deptford
In his will and on land records John is described as a Yeoman – this was a farmer who owned his own land. The rents from the Kent properties would have been useful additional income.
The Will of John Chambers 1765
Will of John Chambers 1765
Description:
This document is a Last Will and Testament for John Chambers, a yeoman from Camberwell, Surrey, dated October 28, 1765. It outlines the distribution of his real estate (referred to as messuages, lands, tenements, and hereditaments) in both Surrey and Kent to his three sons, while establishing a £20 annuity for his two daughters.
The document provides excellent historical context regarding 18th-century legal and religious customs. It opens with a standard religious preamble commending his soul to God. Furthermore, it stipulates that the daughters’ annuities be paid on traditional English ‘quarter days’—specific religious feast days used for settling debts and payments: the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Lady Day, March 25), the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (Midsummer, June 24), Saint Michael the Archangel (Michaelmas, September 29), and the birth of our Lord Christ (Christmas, December 25). The term ‘yeoman’ indicates that you are looking at the will of a commoner who owned and farmed his own land, suggesting he held a respectable social status and moderate wealth.
Transcription:
This is the Will of me John Chambers of the parish of Camberwell in the County of Surry yeoman being in good health of Body and of sound and disposing Mind Memory and Understanding first I commend my Soul to Almighty God hoping in his Mercy and through the Merits of my Redeemer Jesus Christ to attain Everlasting life and my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executors herein after named and as to such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me I dispose thereof as follows hereby directing that all my just debts funeral Expences and the charges of proving this my will be fully paid and discharged I give devise and bequeath all my Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments as well situate and being in Camberwell aforesaid in the County of Surry as in the County of Kent unto my three Sons Peter Joseph and Nathan and their Heirs equally to be divided between them to take as Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants subject and liable to and I hereby charge and make chargeable the same and every part thereof with the payment of one Annuity or clear yearly sum of twenty pounds a piece unto each of my two daughters Jane and Ann for and during the Term of their respective natural lives the same to be paid by four equal quarterly payments in the Year that is to say on the feast Days of the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary the Nativity of Saint John Baptist Saint Michael the Archangel and the birth of our Lord Christ the first payment to begin on such of the said feasts as shall next happen after my decease And all the Rest Residue and Remainder of my Estate of what nature kind or Quality soever or wheresoever which I shall be possessed of interested in or intitled unto at the time of my decease I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my said Sons Peter Joseph and Nathan and daughters Jane and Ann equally to be divided between and among them share and share alike And I hereby make ordain constitute and appoint my two Eldest Sons Peter and Joseph Executors of this my Will hereby revoking all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore made declaring this only to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the twenty eighth Day of October in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty five John Chambers Signed sealed published and declared by the above named Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our Names as Witnesses Wm. Hoppes, Wm. Hoppes Junr., John Nige 58 John Chambers 86
This Will was proved at London the twelfth day of ffebruary in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy six before the worshipful ffrancis Simpson Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Worshipful Sir George Hay Knight also Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oaths of peter Chambers and Joseph Chambers the Sons of the Deceased and Executors named in the said Will to whom Administration of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased was granted having been first sworn duly to administer Exd
Baptism records for Peter, Ann, Richard, Joseph and Nathan Chambers all at St Giles Camberwell
The five living Chambers children were:
- Peter Chambers born 1732 who married the widow Ann Brown in 1777. She had a four children from this first marriage John, Joseph, Ann, and Henry Brown. In Ann’s will there is mention of two further children Sarah Chambers and Walter Chambers but strangely Peter does not leave anything to them and nor does Ann later. It is clear from her Will that Ann is a substantial land owner in her own right.
- Ann Chambers born 1736 who I have no information on
- Jane Chambers born 1740 who married the Yeoman William Baylie. A quick look at his will shows that he was a very wealthy man and that they had no children. He left it all to his sisters son Daniel Lewis in 1815. His wife Jane had died 30 years earlier.
- Joseph Chambers born 1742 who married Ann and had at least one daughter Rebecca who is mentioned in Peter’s will.
- Nathan Chambers born 1744 who married Sarah ann Bampton had five daughters and one son Joseph. This is the family that I am descended from. I have good DNA matches between the four daughters so they are proved. The fifth daughter Sophia died aged 9. I don’t believe Joseph had any children.
The wedding records for Peter, Jane and Nathan Chambers
The Will of William Baylie – husband to Jane Chambers
Description:
This document is a Last Will and Testament with an appended probate clause. It was created by William Baylie in 1812 to legally dictate the distribution of his assets upon his death. The bottom section, dated June 28, 1815, is the probate record (grant of administration), which officially recognized the will’s validity and granted Daniel Lewis the legal authority to act as executor. The document reveals that William Baylie was a prosperous farmer, possessing significant financial assets (£2,000 in 3% reduced annuities from the Bank of England) and real estate (a copyhold property in Essex). The use of archaic spelling, such as ‘ffarmer’ and ‘ffrancis’, is typical of the era’s handwriting conventions.
Transcript:
William Baylie
In the Name of God Amen I William Baylie ffarmer of Peckham Rye in the parish of Camberwell in the county of Surry being of perfect mind & memory thanks be to God for the same & knowing the mortality of the body that it is appointed for all men once to die I do make this my last will & testament first I recommend my soul into the hands of God who gave it & my body to the Earth to be buried in a decent manner at the discretion of my Executor Imprimis I Give & bequeath to my Sister ffrancis Mary Lewis widow of peckham Rye Lane in the said parish of Camberwell or her heirs the sum of two thousand pounds stock that is now standing in my name in the three per cent reduced annuities of the Bank of England Item I Give & bequeath to my Nephew Daniel Lewis all my copyhold Estate at Boreham in the County of Essex I Give & bequeath to Elizabeth Platt wife of Thomas platt of peckham Rye the sum of twenty pounds the rest of my property I Give to my Nephew Daniel Lewis whom I likewise constitute my only & sole Executor of this my last will & testament together with all monies not before included & I do utterly revoke & disannul all other wills & Legacies confirming this & no other to be my last will & testament & I set my hand & seal this tenth day of April in the year of our Lord 1812 – Wm Baylie (seal) in the presence of us John Baylie – Mary Baylie Mary Little –
Proved at London 28th June 1815 before the worshipful Samuel Peart Parson LLD & Surrogate by the oath of Daniel Lewis the Nephew & sole Executor to whom admon was granted having been first sworn duly to admin – Exd
The three brothers probably farmed together after their father died in 1765. Their father John had left his property to all five children so this makes sense. In the 1776 records they are listed together under Camberwell but I think it is likely that this is at Homestall farm – at that point Peckham does not seem to be listed seperately. But by 1882 six years later Peter and Nathan are in “Peckham Liberty” and Joseph is in Camberwell. So perhaps there were always a number of farms or perhaps Joseph branched out. I probably need to get my hands on some tithe maps to work that out.
So from all of this my best guess is that Peter and Nathanial were both working Homestall farm which had a good amount of acreage. And this is where I think my ancestor Sarah Ann Chambers and her siblings grew up. Probably with Peter and his blended family of Browns and Chambers were living there to. There were actually a number of houses on the farm itself. Priory farm was just below and the Potteries – so any of these could have housed the familes.
1796 must have been a terrible year at Homestall farm in the February Sophia died aged 9 and a couple of months later Nathan also died aged 50. It could have been an illness that took them both. Other farming families in my tree were rife with TB in this period. And this farm definitely had cattle.
Martha was 17, Susanna was 15, Sarah ann was 13, Joseph was 11 and Jane only 5 when there father died.
Baptism records for Martha, Susanna, Sarah Ann, Joseph, Sophia and Jane Chambers all at St Giles Camberwell
Within four years all three of the older girls were married. Sarah Ann married first at just 15 in 1796 just two years after her father died – this marriage seems a little out of character for the family (but I have solid DNA evidence that it is correct). Firstly she is very young and everyone else in their family to that point married local Camberwell people. I wonder if Henry Harris came up from his families farm in Kent with the Drovers and met Sarah Ann in Peckham and they ran away together. There is no evidence that she interacted with her Camberwell family after she left home.
Martha married George Salmon a carrier (or carter) from Peckham Rye in 1798 when she was 21. Susanna married Isaac Upsdell a local Yeoman in 1799 aged 20.
It looks like Peter and Ann rented a seperate house after Nathan rented from a Sam Birch.
In 1799 Peter Chambers also died at the age of 67. He has a very complex will which tries very hard to control who will inherit his land of multiple generations. It also put in place an annuity for Rebecca Chambers the daughter of his brother Joseph and gives strict rules about it ending if she were to marry. The most consequential part of the will is he gives Henry Brown his stepson the right of abode at the farm until he dies.
The Will of Peter Chambers 1799
Description:
The text features dense legal terminology typical of the era, such as ‘messuages’ (a dwelling house with outbuildings and land) and ‘appurtenances’ (belongings or rights attached to the property). It outlines a complex chain of inheritance known as a life estate, ensuring the property provides income for specific individuals during their lifetimes before passing to the next designated heir or reverting to the testator’s ‘right heirs’.
It first details the disposition of a specific property, a farm called Homestall in Camberwell, Surrey. The testator establishes a life estate for one individual (Harry Brown), followed by an absolute bequest to another (Stephen Ring), while ensuring his widow (Ann Chambers) has a place to live rent-free and a guaranteed income (annuity) derived from the property’s income. This type of document is crucial for understanding property inheritance, family relationships, and the legal mechanisms used to provide for dependents after a person’s death.
The document then outlines a complex entailment of a £30 annuity derived from lands in St. Giles Camberwell. It provides excellent genealogical evidence of family relationships, specifically identifying two brothers of the testator (Joseph and the deceased Nathan) and a niece (Rebecca), while also demonstrating the legal mechanisms used to control inheritance across multiple generations and contingencies.
The next page details the distribution of annuities, household goods, and farming equipment. It uses standard legal phrasing of the era, such as ‘enter and distrain’ (the right to seize property if annuities are unpaid) and ‘intermarriage’ (often used to stipulate that a widow or unmarried female relative would lose her inheritance if she married). The document reveals that the testator was likely a prosperous farmer, given the bequests of agricultural assets.
Transcription:
Peter Chambers 31
In the Name of God Amen I Peter Chambers of the Parish of Saint Giles Camberwell in the County of Surry Farmer being of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding do make publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) I Give and devise to William Newton of Wandsworth in the County of Surrey Miller and Simon Deakins of Doctors Commons London Coachmaster and the Survivor of them and the Heirs of such Survivor All those my two freehold Messuages or Tenements and premisses with the appurtenances situate standing and being in Butt Lane in the Parish of Saint Paul Deptford in the County of Kent adjoining to the Messuage and premisses known by the Sign of the Red Lion and Wheat Sheaf and now in the tenure or occupation of Musgrave and Potter upon trust that they the said William Newton and Simon Deakins and the Survivor of them and the Heirs of such Survivor do and shall permit and suffer and for that purpose impower my dear Wife Ann Chambers to have receive and take the rents issues and profits thereof to and for her own sole use benefit and advantage for and during the term of her natural life and from and immediately after the decease of my said wife I give and devise my said two freehold messuages or tenements and premises with the appurts unto Stephen King the son of John King of the parish of Saint Giles Camberwell aforesaid Husbandman to hold to the said Stephen King for and during the term of his natural life and from and after the decease of the said Stephen King I give and devise my said freehold messuages or tenements and premises with the appurtenances unto Henry Brown the son of my said wife by her former Husband to hold to the said Henry Brown for and during the term of his natural life and from and after his decease.
I give and devise my said freehold messuages or tenements and premises with the appurtenances unto all and every the daughters of my Brother Joseph Chambers who shall or may be living at the time of the decease of the said Henry Brown to hold to them for and during the term of their respective natural lives and the life of the survivor of them and from and after the decease of the survivor of the daughters of my said Brother Joseph Chambers.
I give and devise my said freehold messuages or tenements and premises with the appurtenances unto all and every the daughters of my late Brother Nathan Chambers who shall or may be then living to hold to them for and during the term of their respective natural lives and the life of the survivor of them and from and after the decease of the survivor of the daughters of my said late Brother Nathan Chambers I give and devise the same messuages or tenements and premises with the appurtenances to my own right heirs for ever I give and devise to the said Henry Brown all that my freehold messuage tenement or farmhouse with the yards orchards gardens and appurtenances thereunto belonging and also all those several closes or parcels of land therewith usually occupied and enjoyed and called or known by the several names of the Dairy Grassfield containing by estimation two acres of arable land (more or less) the field next adjoining thereto formerly called the Eighteen acres containing by estimation twenty two acres of arable land (more or less) the field next adjoining [Margin note: containing by estimation seven acres of arable land more or less the field next adjoining] the last mentioned field containing also by estimation seven acres of arable land (more or less) the Clay pitt field containing by estimation three acres of arable land (more or less) the Orchard field containing by estimation five acres of arable land (more or less) and the Bean field containing by estimation four acres Meadow Land (more or less) All which said Messuage Tenement and Lands are situate lying and being on the South side of Peckham Rye Common in the Parish of Saint Giles Camberwell aforesaid in the said County of Surry and are part of a Farm called or known by the name of Homestall formerly in the tenure or possession of John Chambers my late father deceased and now in my own tenure or possession To Hold to the said Harry Brown and his assigns for and during the term of his natural life subject nevertheless to the payment thereout of the several annuitys or yearly rent charges of fifty pounds per annum thirty pounds per annum and twenty pounds per annum hereinafter mentioned And from and immediately after the decease of the said Harry Brown I give and devise the same Messuage Tenement or Farmhouse Closes or Parcels of Land Hereditaments and premises with their and every of their appurtenances (subject to and chargeable with the said several annuitys or such of them as shall be then subsisting) to the said Stephen Ring his heirs and assigns for ever But it is my will and pleasure and I do hereby order and direct that my said wife shall during her life have the use occupation and enjoyment of my said Messuage or Farmhouse or such part thereof as she shall think proper free from the payment of any Rent for or on account thereof I give and bequeath unto my said dear wife Ann Chambers and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life One Annuity clear yearly rent or sum of fifty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain free of all taxes and other deductions to be issuing and payable out of my said Farm Lands Hereditaments and premises in the Parish of Saint Giles Camberwell aforesaid and the same annuity to be paid and payable to my said wife by equal quarterly payments on the four most usual days of payment in the year (that is to say) the twenty fifth day of March the twenty fourth day of June the twenty ninth day of September and the twenty fifth day of December the first payment thereof to be made to her on such of the said days as shall first and next happen after my decease And in case the said annuity yearly rent or sum of fifty pounds or any part thereof shall be behind or unpaid by the space of twenty eight days next over or after either of the said days whereon the same is hereinbefore appointed to be paid as aforesaid then and so often it shall and may be lawful for my said wife and her assigns into or upon the said ffarm Lands hereditaments and premises or any part thereof to enter and distrain for the same Annuity or so much thereof as shall be so in arrear and all costs occasioned by non payment thereof I give and bequeath unto my Brother Joseph Chambers and his Assigns for and during the term of his natural life One Annuity or clear yearly rent or sum of Thirty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain free of all taxes and other deductions to be also issuing and payable out of my said ffarm Lands hereditaments and premises in the parish of Saint Giles Camberwell aforesaid by equal quarterly payments on the above mentioned four most usual days of payment in the year the first payment thereof to be made on such of the said days as shall first and next happen after my decease and from and after the decease of my said Brother Joseph Chambers I give and bequeath the said Annuity clear yearly rent or sum of thirty pounds to and amongst such of his Children (his Daughter Rebecca excepted) as shall then be living equally share and share alike for and during their respective natural lives and the life of the longer liver of them and if the said Joseph Chambers my Brother shall leave but one Child him surviving besides his said Daughter Rebecca then I give and bequeath the same Annuity to such Child and his or her assigns for and during his or her natural life and in case my said Brother Joseph Chambers should leave no Child him surviving besides his said Daughter Rebecca then from and after his decease I give and bequeath the said Annuity of Thirty pounds to and amongst all and every the daughters of my said late Brother Nathan Chambers as shall be living at the decease of him the said Joseph Chambers equally share and share alike for and during their respective natural lives and the life of the longer liver of them And if there should be but one Daughter of the said Nathan Chambers living at the decease of my said Brother Joseph Chambers without leaving any son besides his said Daughter Rebecca then I give and bequeath the same Annuity to such only surviving Daughter of the said Nathan Chambers and her assigns for and during her natural life and in case the said Joseph Chambers shall leave no Child him surviving except his said Daughter Rebecca and there be no Daughter or Daughters of my said late Brother Nathan Chambers living at his decease then I give and bequeath the said Annuity of Thirty pounds to the said Henry Brown and Stephen King and the survivor of them I give and bequeath my Niece the said Rebecca Chambers daughter of my said Brother Joseph Chambers and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life if she so long continues sole and unmarried One Annuity clear yearly Rent or sum of twenty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain free of all Taxes and other deductions to be also issuing and payable out of my said ffarm Lands Hereditaments and premises in the Parish of Saint Giles Camberwell aforesaid by equal quarterly payments on the above mentioned four most usual days of payment in the year the first payment thereof to be made on such of the said days as shall first and next happen after my decease and from and after the decease or intermarriage of the said Rebecca Chambers I give and bequeath the said Annuity clear yearly rent or sum of twenty pounds to and amongst such other of the Children of my said Brother Joseph Chambers as shall be then living equally share and share alike for and during their respective natural lives and the life of the longer liver of them and if there shall be but one other Child of the said Joseph Chambers living at the time of the decease or intermarriage of the said Rebecca Chambers then I give and bequeath the said last mentioned annuity to such other Child and his or her assigns for and during his or her natural life and in Case there shall be no other Child of my said Brother Joseph Chambers living at the decease or intermarriage of the said Rebecca Chambers then from and after her intermarriage I give and bequeath the said last mentioned Annuity to and amongst all and every the daughters of my said late Brother Nathan Chambers who shall be then living equally share and share alike for and during their respective natural lives and the life of the longer liver of them and if there should be but one daughter of the said Nathan Chambers living at the decease or intermarriage of the said Rebecca Chambers then I give and bequeath the said last mentioned annuity to such only surviving daughter of the said Nathan Chambers and her assigns for and during her natural life and in case there shall be no other Children of my said Brother Joseph Chambers nor any daughter or daughters of the said Nathan Chambers living at the time of the decease or intermarriage of the said Rebecca Chambers then I give and bequeath the said last mentioned Annuity to the said Henry Brown and Stephen King and the survivor of them and I do hereby order and direct that the said annuity of Thirty pounds shall after the decease of the said Joseph Chambers and also the said Annuity of Twenty pounds after the decease or intermarriage of the said Rebecka Chambers shall be paid to the person or persons who shall or may become intitled to the same respectively by equal quarterly payments on the four most usual days of payment in the year as above mentioned and in case the said Annuities or yearly rents or sums of Thirty pounds and Twenty pounds or either of them or any part or parcel of either of them shall be behind or unpaid by the space of twenty eight days next over or after either of the said days whereon the same is hereinbefore appointed to be paid as aforesaid then and so often it shall be lawful for my said Brother Joseph Chambers in respect of the said annuity of Thirty pounds and for the said Rebecka Chambers in respect of the said annuity of Twenty pounds and also to and for all and every or any other the person or persons who shall or may under or by virtue of this my Will become intitled to the same respectively and their respective assigns into or upon the said many lands hereditaments and premises or any part thereof to enter and distrain for the said several annuities or either of them or for so much of either of them as shall be so in arrear and all costs charges and expences by the nonpayment thereof respectively I give and bequeath to my said dear Wife Ann Chambers all my Household furniture plate linen and China whatsoever which I may be possessed of at the time of my decease for and during her natural life and from and after her decease I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof to the said Henry Brown if then living But in case he should be then deceased then I give and bequeath all my said Household furniture Plate Linen and China to the said John King I give and bequeath to the said Henry Brown All my Live and dead Stock farming Utensils and Implements of Husbandry whatsoever to and for his own use and benefit But subject nevertheless to the payment thereout of my just debts funeral and testamentary charges and other incidental charges and expences and also subject to and chargeable with the payment of the sum of Fifty pounds to Joseph Brown of [illegible] Dyer aforesaid within twelve months next after my decease All the rest residue and remainder of my personal Estate not hereinbefore disposed of I give and bequeath unto my said Wife to and for her own sole use and benefit and I do hereby make constitute and appoint my said Wife the said William Newton and the said Henry Brown Executrix and Executors of this my last will and Testament And do hereby revoke and make void all former and other wills Codicils and Testamentary dispositions by me at any time heretofore made and declare that these presents only shall stand and remain as and for my last will and Testament In witness whereof I the said Peter Chambers have to the first second third and fourth sheets of this my last will and Testament (the same consisting of five sheets of paper) set my hand and to this fifth and last sheet thereof my hand and seal this twenty sixth day of May in the thirty sixth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth and in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety six / Peter Chambers his mark / Signed Sealed published and declared by the above named Peter Chambers the Testator as and for his last will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto / John Baylie / Joseph Bayley Haynes / E. Davies
This Will was proved at London the third day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety nine before the worshipful Charles Coote Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Honorable Sir William Wynne Knight also Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oaths of Ann Chambers widow the Relict of the Deceased William Throton and Henry Brown the Executors named in the said will to whom administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased having been first sworn duly to adm[inister]
Sarah Ann Chambers nee Bampton appears to have stayed on at the farm with the two younger children for many years. Unfortunately I have not found her or Nathan’s will. Nathan clearly had a will because she is recorded as staying at the farm under the auspices of Nathan’s executors in 1802. Henry lived until the age of 81 and the Chambers family never lived at the farm again. It looks from the records that Nathanial had also put a similar clause into his Will. As he is living at the farm under the executors of both Nathan and Peters wills.
Peters wife Ann Chambers nee Brown continued to rent from Sam Birch until her death in 1805. By 1805 Nathan’s wife Sarah Ann is listed as being a tenant of Joseph Brown and her son Joseph is living with her. Perhaps the will has now been sorted. By 1809 Sarah is renting from a Martin Parnell.
Land and Tax records for Peter Chambers, his wife Ann Chambers, Nathan’s wife Sarah Ann Chambers and Henry Brown
Nathan and Sarah Ann’s last daughter Jane Chambers married handsome half Italian Butcher William Henry Mortlock of Southwark in 1810. He went on to have butcher’s shops right in central London and later in New Cutt in Lambeth. George Salmon the husband of Martha is a witness at the wedding. George and William were clearly close because George was later a witness on his Will.
Ann Chambers died in 1812. Her will is another complex document laying out inheritance of another raft of properties around Peckham Rye and Camberwell Green that she had inherited from her first husband Richard Brown. Henry, Joseph, Ann and the children of her deceased son John inherit here.
Will of Ann Chambers nee Brown wife of Peter Chambers
Will of Ann Chambers nee Brown wife of Peter Chambers
Description
This document is the Last Will and Testament of Ann Chambers, a widow from Camberwell, Surrey. The probate note at the top indicates it was proved in London on June 23, 1812, likely in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC), which handled estates of significant value or those spanning multiple jurisdictions. The document is highly significant for genealogical research as it outlines a complex blended family, revealing that Ann had children from at least two marriages (surnames Brown and Chambers). It also provides a detailed inventory of her real estate holdings, including freehold properties in Peckham Rye and leasehold properties in Rotherhithe (historically known as Redriffe). The will demonstrates the legal mechanisms of the time for passing down property, including life estates (leaving property to her daughter Ann for her ‘natural life’) and holding property as ‘tenants in common’. The use of the double ‘f’ (e.g., ‘ffreehold’, ‘fformer’) is a common archaic scribal convention of the era representing a capital ‘F’.
This document is the final page of a Last Will and Testament belonging to Ann Chambers. It details the distribution of her estate, which includes leasehold properties (referred to as ‘messuages or tenements’) located in Camberwell Green, London, as well as monetary legacies to her grandchildren. The document provides a rich genealogical snapshot, outlining her children, grandchildren, a former husband, and a step-daughter. It utilizes standard legal terminology of the era, such as ‘appurts’ (appurtenances), ‘Exors’ (executors), and ‘admors’ (administrators). The document is dated the ‘seventeenth day of June in the fortieth year of the reign of our sovereign’. Assuming the sovereign is King George III (who ascended in 1760), this dates the will to June 17, 1800.
This document is a probate clause or grant of administration appended to the Last Will and Testament of Ann Chambers. It serves as the official legal recognition that the will has been proved valid in court. The document was finalized in London on June 12, 1812, during the reign of King George III. It formally grants the power to administer the deceased’s estate to her named executors, Joseph and Henry Brown. The use of terms like “exors” (executors) and “admon” (administration) are standard legal abbreviations for the period.
Transcripton:
Proved at London the 23rd June 1812 before the Judge by the oaths of Walter Chambers the son & Sarah Chambers spinster the daur the Extors to whom admon was granted being sworn to admr
Ann Chambers 15
In the Name of God Amen I Ann Chambers of Peckham Rye in the parish of Saint Giles Camberwell in the County of Surry widow being of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding do make publish & declare this my last will and testament in manner & form following that is to say I desire that my just debts ffuneral and probate charges & other incidental charges and expences may be paid and discharged as soon as conveniently can be after my decease I give & devise to my son Henry Brown his heirs and assigns all that my ffreehold messuage or tenement and premises with the appurtenances situate standing and being at Peckham Rye aforesaid and now in the tenure or occupation of my son Joseph Brown to hold the same to my said son Henry Brown his heirs and assigns for ever I give and devise my said son Joseph Brown all that my other ffreehold messuage or tenement & premises with the appurts situate standing and being at Peckham Rye aforesaid next adjoining to the first mentioned messuage or tenement & now in the tenure or occupation of Mrs Sarah Rollit to hold the same to my said son Joseph Brown his heirs and assigns for ever I give devise and bequeath unto my said son Joseph Brown all that my seventh part or share of & in all those nine messuages Cottages or tenements and Premises with the appurts situate lying and being in meeting house Lane within the Village of Peckham in the parish of Saint Giles Camberwell aforesaid now in the several tenures or occupations of John Holt Martha Collins William Litter Edward Cutler John Syderol Batchelor John Williams Pennyfather & Samuel Allmey which was given and devised to me by my fformer Husband Richard Brown to hold unto the said Joseph Brown his heirs Exors admors & assigns I give devise and bequeath unto my said son Henry Brown all that my other seventh part or share of and in the said nine messuages Cottages or tenements & premises with the appurts in meeting house Lane aforesaid which I purchased of my son Richard Brown to hold unto the said Henry Brown his heirs Exors admors and assigns I give devise and bequeath unto my daughter Ann Brown all that my remaining seventh part or share of and in the said nine messuages Cottages or tenements and premises with the appurts which I in meeting house Lane aforesaid which I lately purchased of her my said daughter to hold to the said Ann Brown and her assigns for & during the term of her natural life & from and immediately after the decease of my said daughter Ann Brown I give devise & bequeath the said last mentioned seventh part or share of the said nine Cottages or tenements and premises with the appurts unto my said sons Joseph Brown and Henry Brown to be equally divided between them part and share alike and to hold as tenants in Common and not as joint tenants and to their respective heirs Exors admors & assigns I give & bequeath unto my said son Joseph Brown my three seventh parts or shares of and in all those four Leasehold messuages tenements or dwelling houses with the appurts thereto belonging situate standing and being in Staples rents Rotherhithe commonly called Redriffe in the said County of Surry now in the several tenures or occupations of Thomas Lambe Peter Dawe Drop & Burby to hold unto the said Joseph Brown & his assigns for and during the term of his natural life and from and after the decease of my said son Joseph Brown I give & bequeath the said three seventh parts or shares of the said last mentioned four messuages or tenements or dwelling houses with the appurts unto my Grand children Joseph Brown Henry Brown and Ann Brown the sons and daughters of my said son Joseph Brown to hold to my said Grand children Joseph Brown Henry Brown and Ann Brown and the survivor of them and the heirs admors & assigns of such survivor I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Brown the daughter of my said former husband Richard Brown by a former wife my three seventh parts or shares of and in all that leasehold messuage or tenement situate standing and being on the East side of Camberwell Green in the Parish of Saint Giles Camberwell aforesaid with the appurts now in the tenure or occupation of Smith widow to hold to the said Elizabeth Brown and her assigns for & during the term of her natural life and from and immediately after the decease of the said Elizabeth Brown I give & bequeath the said three seventh parts or shares of the said last mentioned messuage or tenement with the appurts unto my said sons and daughter Joseph Henry and Ann and the survivor of them and the Exors admors and assigns of such survivor I give and bequeath unto my said sons & daughter Joseph Henry and Ann all my right title & interest whether present or future vested or contingent in and to all that other leasehold messuage or tenement formerly in the tenure or occupation of Samuel Potts with its appurts also situate standing and being on the East side of Camberwell Green aforesaid next adjoining to the last mentioned messuage and now in the occupation of Cosway widow to hold the same unto my said sons and daughter Joseph Henry and Ann and the survivor of them and the Exors admors and assigns of such survivor I give and bequeath to my Grandson John Brown & Grand daur Elizabeth Brown the children of my late son John Brown the sum of Twenty five pounds each to be paid them within two years next after my decease and in case either of them my said Grand son & Grand daughter John Brown & Elizabeth Brown should happen to die before the expiration of two years after my decease then I give & bequeath the said legacy of twenty five pounds of him or her so dying unto the survivor of them and I do hereby charge & make liable all & every my ffreehold & leasehold premises herein before given devised and bequeathed with the payment of the said two several legacies of twenty five pounds to my said Grand children John Brown and Elizabeth Brown and also with the payment of my just debts funeral and probate charges & and all other incidental charges and expences and as to all the rest residue & remainder of my personal Estate not herein before or by me otherwise disposed of I give and bequeath the same unto my said sons Joseph Brown and Henry Brown share and share alike and I do hereby make constitute and appoint my said sons Joseph Brown & Henry Brown Exors of this my last will and Testament and I do hereby revoke and make void all former and other wills Codicils and Testamentary dispositions by me at any time heretofore made & declare that these presents only shall stand and remain as & for my last will & Testament In witness whereof I the said Ann Chambers have to the two first sheets of this my last will & Testament the same being contained in three sheets of paper set my hand & to the last sheet my hand & seal this seventeenth day of June in the fortieth year of the reign of our sovereign
Lord George the third by the Grace of God of Great Britain ffrance and Ireland King defender of the ffaith and in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred – Ann Chambers Signed sealed published and declared by the Testatrix ann Chambers as and for her last will and Testament in the presence of us who in her presence at her request and in the presence of each other have hereto subscribed our names as witnesses – Juliet Davies – Edward Davies Castle Street Holborn Geo Westray his Clerk Proved at London 12th June 1812 before the worshipful Samuel Peart parson doctor of Laws surrogate by the oaths of Joseph Brown and Henry Brown the sons exors to whom admon was granted being sworn to admin
By the end of the 1700’s Camberwell and Peckham have grown to house around 150 families – about 700 people. The market
The maps below show how by 1836 the farm became surrounded by Market gardens that were supplying the markets of London.
So what happened to Henry Brown of Homestall farm? It appears he married twice and the second of these was a marriage to a younger woman Sarah Maddocks in 1826. Looking at her father’s will he is a market gardener. And her brothers are all dairymen – so they could have worked at the farm with Henry.
Henry, Sarah and her sister Mary Madocks are listed in the 1841 census at a home on Peckham Rye Common – which I assume is Homestall farm.
Henry lived until he was 76 in 1845. In it he is described as a Gentleman and he leaves everything to his wife Sarah who is 54. In the 1851 census she is described as a boarding house keeper living on Rye lane. It seems likely that Sarah sold the farm to a London City Attorney Charles Stevens after Henry died. Sarah lived to the age of 81 and her census entries describe her as a fundholder.
The Will of Francis Maddocks 1825 – father of Sarah Madocks
Description:
Description:
This document is a Last Will and Testament for Francis Maddocks, a market gardener from the Old Kent Road area of London. You can see it was written on January 19, 1825, and subsequently proved (probated) on November 2, 1826, which tells you that Francis died between these two dates. The document outlines the distribution of his estate, specifically his lease, stock, implements, and household furniture, among his ten children.
Historically, this document provides a wonderful snapshot of a working-class tradesman in early 19th-century London. You will notice the archaic use of the double lowercase ‘ff’ (e.g., ‘ffrancis’, ‘ffuneral’), which was a traditional way of writing a capital ‘F’ in older English scripts. The probate clause at the bottom indicates the legal validation of the will by a surrogate of the ecclesiastical court, granting administration (‘Admon’) to his son, Francis, as the executor (‘Exor’).
Transciption:
Francis In the Name of God Amen Maddocks I Francis Maddocks of the Old Kent Road near the Turks Head Market Gardiner being sound mind do make this my last Will & Testament as follows After paying my just deps & ffuneral expences I leave to my Son ffrancis Maddocks for the bennifett of my daughter Mary my daughter Sarah & my Son John the Stock & Implyments of whatever discription during the term of my lease for theare sole use & bennifett the Lease expiring & the Implements valued with the unexpired term of the lease of my dwelling House It is my wish that my son ffrancis upon paying such valuation shall remain on the premises the sum valued to be divided share & share alike amongs my Children that is to Samuel Richard William ffrancis John Elizabeth Mary Ann Abigall & Sarah Maddocks the ffurniture Bed & Table Linen in my dwelling house I will to my son ffrancis my Son John my daughter Mary & my daughter Sarah Maddocks Individuly Witness my Hand this 19th day of Jany in year of our Lord 1825 In presence of P Croxford of 18 Webb St St Olave Southk. Francis Maddocks – Witness John Ely London Street Greenwich // Proved at London 2d Novr 1826 before the Worshl. Henry Danne Salusbury Dr of Laws & Surr. by the Oath of ffrancis Maddocks the Son the Exor according to the tenor to whom Admon was granted being first duly to administer //
Records describing Henry and Sarah’s life
The Will of Henry Brown 1845
Description:
This document is a Last Will and Testament, a legal instrument in which the testator, Henry Brown, dictates the distribution of his assets upon his death. The document is written in a standard English legal clerk’s script typical of the 18th or 19th century. The designation of Henry Brown as a ‘Gentleman’ is historically significant, as it indicates he was a man of independent means, property, or high social standing, rather than a manual laborer. The text reveals that he held real and personal estate, as well as properties in trust or as a mortgagee, all of which he transferred to his wife, Sarah.
Transcription:
This is the last Will and Testament Henry Brown of me Henry Brown of Peckham Rye in the County of Surrey Gentleman I give devise and bequeath unto my dear wife Sarah Brown all and singular my real and personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature and kind soever which I now am or shall or may be possessed of or entitled to at the time of my decease or over which I have any disposing power To hold to her my said wife her heirs execu tors administrators and assigns And I appoint my said dear wife sole Executrix of this my will And I devise all the lands and hereditaments vested in me as trustee or mortgagee for an estate of inheritance unto and to the use of my said dear wife her heirs and assigns upon and subject to the several trusts and equities affecting the same here ditaments respectively And I hereby revoke all former wills by me heretofore made and do declare this only to be and contain my last will and testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twenty fifth day of November one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine – Henry Brown – Signed published and declared by the above named Henry Brown as and for his last will and testament in the pre sence of us present at the same time who in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto Ann Hows – M H Gillingham 32 Finsbury Circus. Proved at London 3rd May 1845 before the worshipful ffrederic Thomas Pratt Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the oath of Sarah Brown widow the relict the sole Executrix to whom Admon was granted having been first sworn duly to administer ––
Homestall farm hit the news once more in 1896 as there was a bid by Peckham council to buy the farm from Charles William Stevens and Alfred Stevens sons of Charles Stevens. The Council wanted to extend Peckham Rye common and create a park.
In the end it was agreed that they would sell most of the land but kept a small portion (right in the middle of the park) with Homestall farm and a couple of other houses on it until they both died.
Alfred finally died in 1907 and Homestall farm was demolished shortly afterwards in 1908. A garden known as Sexby gardens (named after a famous park builder in Victorian London) was built on the site and also a bandstand. They are still there today.
So in conclusion this post has ended up being a dance through about 300 years of history of this small farm on Peckham Rye Common.
Things I’d still like to know are how John Chambers came to be in possession of the land ? Who were his family? Had they just always farmed there or were they incomers ? I would love to find Nathan and his wives wills as they would explain more about how Henry Brown took over the property and became a gentleman. I would also like to know more about Joseph Brown the third brother – who was he married to and where is his will? What happened to his daughter Rebecca Brown? And what did happen to Joseph Brown son of Nathan Brown – he never seemed to get a look in.
I suspect I need to do some visiting of the Surrey archives to work some of this out! So as ever in family history this bit of research has answered some questions – I feel I know a lot more about the Chambers family now. But there is still plenty more to learn.
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