Ambler Letters

Letters from mostly from Ann Ambler to her cousin's children, principally to Thomasin Ibbetson but also to her elder sister, Mrs. Isabella Cole. The collection also includes a single letter from Henry Ibbetson, written from Bath in 1760, to his two daughters. A list of the letters compiled by a previous owner of the correspondence, under the heading 'Letters regarding the Fenton family given to my father by Denzil Fenton' is included with the letters. Some of the letters have also been annotated in pencil in the same hand.
The content of the letters suggests that by 1772 Thomasin was at school in London and her married sister, Isabella Cole, was living in Yorkshire. It would appear that Ann Ambler acted in the role of a guardian to Thomasin in matters relating to her school, her clothes and living expenses and accommodating her during the school holidays. She obviously prides herself on her abilities in overseeing Thomasin's education and welfare and advising on the delicate and important business of equipping a young woman with the necessary attributes for a respected place in society while at the same time being mindful of financial limitations. The letters written to Mrs Cole were therefore mainly reports on Thomasin's progress and any expenses incurred by Mrs Ambler in providing for her. After Thomasin had left school and was about to embark on a public social life, Mrs Ambler's letters contain more about concerns for the propriety of her behaviour and advice on the correct way to introduce young women into 'the world''. While it appears from her letters that Mrs Ambler has particular affection and admiration of Thomasin she also takes a great deal of interest in the lives of the other young people of her acquaintance and family including Ibbetson siblings and her own nieces and nephews. She takes a Miss Martin who appears to be of a similar age to Thomasin, under her wing and also has her brother Nicholas' daughter, Nanny, to live with her for several months in order to finish her education.
Overall, her letters, provide a vivid picture of the lives of two generations of women in the eighteenth century, illustrating their experiences and attitudes in relation to their families and society and including intriguing details of their wardrobes, entertainments and social activities.

Ann Ambler (nee Paxton) was born 3 August 1719, sister to Elizabeth (b 1716), |Nicholas (b 1714), Harrey (b 1720) and William (b 1723) and was baptised at St. Andrew, Holborn. She was the wife of Charles Ambler (1721-1794) barrister and politician, Attorney General to Queen Charlotte from 1782-1794, residing at 3 Queen's Square, London and of Stubbings House, Maidenhead. Thomasin Ibbetson (b c 1757) and Isabella Cole (b c 1742) were the daughters of Sir Henry Ibbetson of Yorkshire and his wife Isabella, daughter of Ralph Carr, and were orphaned by 1769. Lady Isabella Ibbetson was Ann's first cousin, sharing grandparents Nicholas and Deborah Paxton of Durham. Ann Ambler was childless and clearly took a strong interest in the welfare of her cousin's daughters. Isabella married Major Thomas Rea Cole in Leeds in 1764 with whom she had a daughter also named Isabella. Isabella's younger sister Thomasin is at school when the correspondence begins but in 1778 marries James Fenton of Otley, Yorkshire on 2 February 1778 at York and by the end of the correspondence, in 1788, has at least three daughters, Thomasin (b 1779), Jane (b 1780), Isabella (b 1782) and two sons, William Carr (b 1783) and James (b 1784).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Ambler_(barrister) (accessed 26 September 2012)

Additional biographical information courtesy of a family descendant

The letters to Thomasin Ibbetson, later Fenton, and those to Isabella Cole have been grouped separately and each group of letters, where dated, have been arranged chronologically and where they are undated fitted into the chronology by their content.

Open. Access to all registered researchers.

These letters were purchased in 2005

Please see full catalogue for more information.

Fragile, torn paper

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