COLONEL JOHN¹ AMBLER^{1, 2} was born September 25, 1762 in Little York, York County, Virginia³, and died April 08, 1836 in Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia⁴. He married (1) FRANCES ARMISTEAD⁵ May 31, 1783 in Henrico County, Virginia⁵, daughter of GILL ARMISTEAD and ELIZABETH ALLEN. She died 1787⁶.

More About COLONEL JOHN AMBLER:
Burial: 1836, Shockoe Hill Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia⁷
Education: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania⁸
Military service: Served in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812^9,10
Property: "Jamestown," "The Maine," and "Powhatan," James City County; "An Estate," Surry County; "Westham," Henrico County; "Cottages," Hanover County; "Mill Farm," "Lakeland," and "Nero's _," Louisa County; "Glen-Ambler" and "Saint Moore," Amherst County, Virginia¹¹
Residence: "Jamestown," James City County, Virginia; Richmond, Virginia^12,13

Children of JOHN AMBLER and FRANCES ARMISTEAD are:
i. EDWARD² AMBLER¹⁴, b. May 1783, Jamestown, James City County, Virginia¹⁵; d. July 10, 1846, White Sulphur Springs, Fauquier County, Virginia¹⁶; m. SARAH TAYLOR HOLCOMBE¹⁷, May 15, 1807, Amelia County, Virginia¹⁸; d. 1867¹⁹.

More About EDWARD AMBLER:
Burial: 1846, "San Jacinto," Culpeper County, Virginia¹⁹
Education: William and Mary College, Williamsburg, York County, Virginia²⁰
Military service: Served in the War of 1812²¹
Public Office: Represented Henrico County in the Virginia legislature²²
Residence: Jamestown, James City County, Virginia; Lynchburg, Campbell County, Virginia; "Ambler Forrest," Henrico County, Virginia; "Reality," Culpeper County, Virginia; "San Jacinto," Culpeper County, Virginia²²

ii. MARY CARY AMBLER, b. May 1787²³; d. September 25, 1843, Dinwiddie County, Virginia²³; m. JOHN HILL SMITH²³, September 07, 1808, Richmond, Virginia²⁴; d. March 28, 1843, Dinwiddie County, Virginia²⁵.

More About JOHN HILL SMITH:
Appearance: Handsome and elegant²⁶
Occupation: Attorney²⁷
Public Office: Member of the Virginia Legislature; Member of the Executive Council of Virginia²⁷
Residence: Williamsburg, York County, Virginia; Lynchburg, Campbell County, Virginia; "The Cottage," Hanover County, Virginia; Richmond, Virginia; Dinwiddie County, Virginia²⁷

Child of COLONEL JOHN AMBLER is:
iii. GABRIELLA BROCKENBROUGH² AMBLER²⁸, b. May 18, 1815²⁹; d. May 30, 1874, "St Julien," Spotsylvania County, Virginia²⁹; m. JUDGE FRANCIS EDWARD BROOKE³⁰, November 23, 1837³⁰; d. May 1874, "St Julien," Spotsylvania County, Virginia³¹.

Notes for GABRIELLA BROCKENBROUGH AMBLER:
"Died.--At St Julien, near Fredericksburg, May 3, 1874, Mrs. Francis E Brooke, in
the 59th year of her age. Mrs. Brooke, the youngest child of Col John Ambler, of
Richmond, was born in that city, May 18, 1815. On the 25th of November, 1837, she
became the wife of the late Francis E Brooke, Esq. (he died two weeks before his
wife), and after spending fifteen years partly at Millfarm, Louisa County, Va., and
partly in Richmond, removed in 1852 to St Julien. It is not easy to convey to those
who did not know her well a just idea of this admirable woman. Endowed by nature
with a fine intellect, a discriminating judgment, and a sympathetic heart, she
early became a follower of the Lord Jesus, and from that time forth exhibited in
every relation of life such fidelity to duty, such gentleness of spirit, such
unfailing sympathy with the joys and sorrow of her family and her friends, as
served at once to glorify her Savior, and to win for herself the love and esteem of
all who knew her. As a mistress, kind and considerate; as a friend, sincere and
faithful; as a wife, worthy to walk beside her lamented husband; as a mother,
affectionate, gentle, unwearied in exertion for the children's good, she appeared
at all times, and in all places, a Christian lady.

Nor was she unrewarded. The fidelity of her servants, the high regard of her many
friends, the unwavering affection of a husband in every way worthy of her love, the
tenderness and reverence of devoted children, untied to tell how lovely was her
life, and now in death they form her monument.

Her last illness was long and painful, but no murmur fell from her lips. Her
husband, over whom she had so long watched with an affection which neither sickness
nor suffering could abate, was taken from her on the 16th of May. And now she
seemed to think only of him and her Savior. Her prayers went up continually to
Him, that he would bless her childrn and take her to be with Him and with her
husband. Amid sufferings the most cruel and protracted she looked continually to
Jesus. She trusted only in Him; and He whose 'strength is made perfect in weakness
upheld her with His truth, and made her to realize, even in the Valley and the
Shadow of Death, that underneath her were the everlasting arms.

Her death was calm and peaceful, as befitted her life. So quiet, so noiseless was
the flight of her spirit, that they who stood around knew scarcely when she
breathed her last."
[Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907, 77-78.]

More About JUDGE FRANCIS EDWARD BROOKE:
Residence: "St Julien," Spotsylvania County, Virginia³²

1. Barnes, Robert, Indexed by, Genealogies of Virginia Families, Volume IV, (Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, Maryland, 1981.), 18.
2. Virginia Genealogical Society, Some Marriages in the Burned Record Counties of Virginia, (Southern Historical Press, Greenville, S C 29602-1267, 1972), 2.
3. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 28, 35.
4. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 39.
5. Virginia Genealogical Society, Some Marriages in the Burned Record Counties of Virginia, (Southern Historical Press, Greenville, S C 29602-1267, 1972), 2.
6. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 40.
7. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 40, "John Ambler's tombstone is a high shaft, with coat-of-arms, and this simple inscription: John Ambler of Jamestown, Va. Born September 25, 1762. Died April 8, 1836. Erected by his widow and children."
8. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 35.
9. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 37, "When he removed to Richmond to live in 1807, he was made major in the 19th Regiment of Virginia Militia. And with this rank surrounded the troops who were sent to Norfolk in what was called the Chesapeake War, caused by British ships of war firing in the frigate Chesapeake and forcibly taking out some of her crew.On his return he was promoted to the rank of Colonel of the 19th Regiment--and in this rank he served through the War of 1812. He was stationed at Camp Bottoms Bridge about fifteen miles below Richmond on the road leading to the old City of Williamsburg, Virginia. His headquartres were at what has since been known as Frazer's Tavern."
10. Wingfield, Marshall, A History of Caroline County, Virginia, (Trevvet Christian & Co, Richmond, VA 1924), 437.
11. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 36.
12. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 37, "Crossing Clay Street with a bias in the direction from we have just come, we reach the University School of Medicine founded by the late Dr Hunter McGuire. It replaced a quaint English structure, the home of Col. John Ambler. (I am sorry not to be able to reproduce it, but Hon. Wm Marshall Ambler, of Lakeland, Louisa Co, Va., had a picture of his father's Richmond home, but it was destroyed at Lakeland, when the home was burnt, during the Civil War.)The old Ambler homestead, which I think was wooden, was destroyed a good many years before the opening of that medical school. It had plenty of porches and vines, and was comfortable and commodius inside. After the death of Mr Ambler, his family continued to abide in it; it was the delight of my mother, Catherine Ambler Moncure, to be with her grandmother, Mrs Catherine Ambler; in fact, she stayed half of the time at her grandmother's. At length, Mr Henry Wood Moncure (my grandfather, L P du Bellet), whose wife was one of Col John Ambler's daughters, removed thither, from Marshall Street, near Seventh. Finally, Mrs Bruce, of Halifax, bought the lot, pulled down the house, and built the large brick residence which is now part of the University of Medicine."
13. Wingfield, Marshall, A History of Caroline County, Virginia, (Trevvet Christian & Co, Richmond, VA 1924), 437.
14. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 39.
15. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 40, 53.
16. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 40, 55.
17. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 40.
18. Family Tree Maker, Marriage Index: KY, NC, TN, WV, 1728-1850 (FTW CD #229).
19. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 55.
20. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 53.
21. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 55, "Edward Ambler lived at Jamestown with his family until the War of 1812 broke out with England, when the family was removed to Williamsburg, and he joined the army at Norfolk; at which time he held the rank of first Lieutenant of Cavalry, in the troop commanded by Captain Robert Snowden."
22. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 55.
23. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 40.
24. Family Tree Maker, Marriage Index: KY, NC, TN, WV, 1728-1850 (FTW CD #229).
25. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 56.
26. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 57.
27. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 56.
28. Nanney, Frank L, Jr, Some Prominent Virginia Families, Volume II, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 362.
29. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 42.
30. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 76.
31. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 79.
32. Du Bellet, Louise Pecquet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, (J P Bell, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1907), 80, "Saint Julien, as I remember it, was one of the most delightful of the many country homes of that fair region. It was seven miles below Fredericksburg, on the right of the main stage road to Richmond, situated in a lovely valley embowered in fine old shade trees, and surrounded by acres of choice fruits and flowers. The vegetable garden was closely guarded by a cedar hedge, which a cat could not penetrate, while away to the left stretched a meadow bordered by a clear running brook, a tributary of the Massaponox, along which my brother and I (Gen'l Dabney Maury), escorted by old John, the carriage driver, used to hunt, with Old Orcon, a black and white pointer, to help us.A generaltion later, Jackson's family and Pelham's guns thundered along that stream, until its waters ran red with human blood.Here, my uncle Frank Brooke made his home for many years, and my brother and I were ever most welcome guests. Aunt Brooke was a Miss Mary Carter, a beauty of Blenheim, in Albemarle Co, Va., and was the most exquisite of Virginia hostesses. Rarely have I enjoyed a table so dainty as hers, with its old blue India China, and handsome silver and napery. Every dish had been the especial care of old Phyllis, the best cook on the Rappahannock.The walls of the parlor were covered by old-fashioned landscape paper, depicting the adventures and death of Captain Cook. Over the mantle hung a portrait of my great-grandfather, Mr Richard Brooke, in his scarlet coat, buff waist-coat, and lace ruffles; over the door the portrait of the beautiful Miss Fannie Carter, a famous belle of her day, who married Rosier Dulaney, kinsman of the Colonel Dick Dulaney, so well known and loved in Virginia, and distinguished in the Army of Northern Virginia, for his lofty bearing, gentle nature, and daring courage."