A few months ago, whilst prepping my research for my post on Nicolas Gambier (Language; An Original Refugee) I came across another Ancestry user, whose doubled barrelled last name included the name Gambier, and appeared to have my 5x great granduncle Robert Gambier in their tree. Curious to chat with another Gambier ancestor, especially one who still uses the name, and share research, I sent them a message, fully aware that the chances of me getting a reply any time soon were slim. Surprisingly I got a reply the very next day, but I was not prepared for the bigger surprise contained within the reply. I was not prepared, but I should have been.
My 5x great grandfather was John Gambier. His grandfather was the Nicolas Gambier mentioned above; a Huguenot refugee, who was born in Caen, Calvados in 1650, and who fled to England following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. The Gambiers were not the famous silk weaver type Huguenot, but instead were great mariners, and probably arrived in England with some amount of wealth and status. John Gambier's father, James (1691-1745) was Warden of the Fleet, the infamous debtor's prison. This was a nominal position that was generally bought, and which helped to establish a position of status and would have created connections. This endeavour certainly worked, because my 5x great grandfather John Gambier was given the position of acting lieutenant governor of the Bahamas twice. It did not escape me that as a white European male, with wealth, status, and power in the 1700s, he would likely own slaves, but I have to admit that this was one part of my family history I was happy to ignore. And ignore it I did, until I got this reply.
'My 6x great grandfather was an emancipated slave of Captain Robert Gambier. So, he was not a biological descendant at all, rather he was bequeathed with the family name under English law as part of Robert's will.'
'My 6x great grandfather was an emancipated slave of Captain Robert Gambier. So, he was not a biological descendant at all, rather he was bequeathed with the family name under English law as part of Robert's will.'
This was the wake up jolt I needed. It was time to face the reality of my ancestors' role in the slave trade.
Captain Robert Gambier was a younger brother to my 5x great grandfather John. Whilst John (born 1723) had headed across the Atlantic to the Bahamas, Robert Gambier (born 1727) had headed east, to India, with the East India Company. While in India, Robert was stationed in Bombay, and in 1782 he was a member of the council there, working under the governor at the time, William Hornby.
Captain Robert Gambier was a younger brother to my 5x great grandfather John. Whilst John (born 1723) had headed across the Atlantic to the Bahamas, Robert Gambier (born 1727) had headed east, to India, with the East India Company. While in India, Robert was stationed in Bombay, and in 1782 he was a member of the council there, working under the governor at the time, William Hornby.
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| A Map of Bombay, circa 1782 |
When he returned to England, he brought with him two men servants; slaves Burkut and Thomas. When Robert died in 1787, in Knightsbridge, Kensington, he made clear plans in his will for these two men.
'Also I give to Burkut and Thomas my Black Servants which I brought with me from India perfect Liberty and be my ffriend Sir Charles Middleton will take them under his Care and Protection. Also I give and bequeath unto the said Burkut the Sum of three hundred pounds to be paid to him from time to time under the disposal and direction of the said Sir Charles Middleton together also with all his Cloaths of every kind and Chests and Boxes to him belonging.
Also I give and bequeath unto the said Thomas the Sum of one hundred and fifty pounds to be paid to him from time to time under the disposal and direction of the said Sir Charles Middleton together also with all his Cloathes of every kind and Chests and Boxes to him belonging.'
The aforementioned Ancestry user, and descendant of Thomas, remarked in a further message that 'Obviously the link to Sir Charles Middleton was significant given his role in the abolition of the slave trade in 1807 and then slavery itself in 1833.' This remark piqued my interest, and gave me a further route to investigate. Rather surprisingly, my research into Charles Middleton brought me right back to the Gambiers.
Margaret Gambier was Robert and John Gambier's younger sister. Her exact birth date is unknown; a problem with women in history, even for those of wealthy families. It is estimated that she was born sometime around 1730. Sometime in her teens Margaret was visiting her uncle, Captain Mead (a brother of her mother, Mary Mead) and met a young naval man from Leith, Scotland, named Charles Middleton. Margaret and Charles, so the story goes, fell in love, and despite him coming from lowlier beginnings than her own, they planned to wed. Margaret's parents disapproved of the match. Charles had no fortune and in her parent's minds, wealth and status meant more than love.
Despite her parents' disapproval Margaret was determined; a part of her character that we will see again, in her later life. Instead of complying with her parents' wishes, and societal norms, Margaret cut off ties with her family, and went to stay with her friend Elizabeth Bouverie, at Teston House, in Teston, Kent, until Charles had made his fortune and was considered marriageable by her family.
'Also I give to Burkut and Thomas my Black Servants which I brought with me from India perfect Liberty and be my ffriend Sir Charles Middleton will take them under his Care and Protection. Also I give and bequeath unto the said Burkut the Sum of three hundred pounds to be paid to him from time to time under the disposal and direction of the said Sir Charles Middleton together also with all his Cloaths of every kind and Chests and Boxes to him belonging.
Also I give and bequeath unto the said Thomas the Sum of one hundred and fifty pounds to be paid to him from time to time under the disposal and direction of the said Sir Charles Middleton together also with all his Cloathes of every kind and Chests and Boxes to him belonging.'
The aforementioned Ancestry user, and descendant of Thomas, remarked in a further message that 'Obviously the link to Sir Charles Middleton was significant given his role in the abolition of the slave trade in 1807 and then slavery itself in 1833.' This remark piqued my interest, and gave me a further route to investigate. Rather surprisingly, my research into Charles Middleton brought me right back to the Gambiers.
Margaret Gambier was Robert and John Gambier's younger sister. Her exact birth date is unknown; a problem with women in history, even for those of wealthy families. It is estimated that she was born sometime around 1730. Sometime in her teens Margaret was visiting her uncle, Captain Mead (a brother of her mother, Mary Mead) and met a young naval man from Leith, Scotland, named Charles Middleton. Margaret and Charles, so the story goes, fell in love, and despite him coming from lowlier beginnings than her own, they planned to wed. Margaret's parents disapproved of the match. Charles had no fortune and in her parent's minds, wealth and status meant more than love.
Despite her parents' disapproval Margaret was determined; a part of her character that we will see again, in her later life. Instead of complying with her parents' wishes, and societal norms, Margaret cut off ties with her family, and went to stay with her friend Elizabeth Bouverie, at Teston House, in Teston, Kent, until Charles had made his fortune and was considered marriageable by her family.
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| Teston House, Kent, created by Richard Bernard Godfrey, 1777-1790 |
Charles meanwhile, had a sparkling naval career. Starting out as a captain's servant, to Margaret's uncle, Captain Mead, he quickly rose through the ranks. In 1761 he took command of HMS Emerald, with whom he captured 16 French ships and several privateers, garnering the gratitude of the Barbadian merchants. This was the source of the majority of Charles' fortune; one large enough for him to return to England and marry the woman he so loved.
Margaret Gambier and Charles Middleton married, finally, on 21st December 1761, at St Martin in the Fields, Westminster. After their marriage Margaret returned to Teston, and Elizabeth Bouverie, and Charles returned to the sea, this time patrolling the coast of Normandy in the frigate Adventure, in which he had command. In 1763 Charles returned to land, and joined Margaret at Teston, where he farmed the land for Elizabeth, and took on the role of country gentleman.
When the American Revolutionary War began in 1775, Charles returned to the navy. He rose to become Comptroller of the Navy, and in 1781 he was created a baronet. Whilst still in the employ of the Royal Navy, Charles was elected as a Tory Minister of Parliament in 1784, for Rochester, Kent. He resigned from the navy in 1790, but continued to receive naval promotions, finishing up as First Lord of the Admiralty in 1805, at the age of 79.
During his time sailing for the navy in the West Indies, Charles had captained a ship called HMS Arundel. The ship's surgeon on Arundel was Dr James Ramsay, who later took holy orders. As Reverend James Ramsay, rather than Doctor, he served the community on an island now known as St Kitts (then St Christopher's). It was on St Kitts that Rev James Ramsay witnessed and was appalled by the treatment of slaves. On his return to England in 1777, Rev James Ramsay stayed with Charles and Margaret in Teston, Kent. He later wrote a pamphlet, published in 1784; 'Essay on the Treatment and Conversion of African Slaves in the British Sugar Colonies'. This publication, apparently had a great effect on Margaret. The character that she showed earlier in her life, when she determined to marry Charles against her family's wishes, was in evidence again.
Charles Middleton knew that the road to the abolition of slavery would be a long one; it would take the strength and vitality of a young man to push this through Parliament. William Wilberforce was suggested by Sir Charles, and in 1787 he was invited to Teston, where he met with many other abolitionists, such as the aforementioned Rev James Ramsay, and Thomas Clarkson, who was a founder member of the Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade.
I'm not entirely clear when Elizabeth Bouverie died, but I understand that after her death Charles and Margaret remained at Teston, at first as tenants. Later Charles and Margaret inherited the property, after which they used the name Barham Court for the estate, Charles being then known as the 1st Baron of Barham. Barham Court was used by the Testonites (a collective term used for the group of abolitionists that met regularly at the estate to plan the campaign. Whilst Charles and Margaret were never directly involved in the political machinations that eventually ended the slave trade (in 1807) and in slavery itself (in 1833), they both played an instrumental part in the overall campaign. In fact, according to a few sources, Margaret seems to have been credited with being the backbone of the abolition movement, and was apparently responsible for convincing William Wilberforce into taking on the issue, and staying the course. Hannah More (writer and philanthropist) was also a stalwart member of the Testonites, and in a private letter to Margaret, wrote;
'You have the first title to every prize on the whole slave subject.'
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| HMS Emerald was a frigate; a sailing warship which were used extensively in the Seven Years War. |
Margaret Gambier and Charles Middleton married, finally, on 21st December 1761, at St Martin in the Fields, Westminster. After their marriage Margaret returned to Teston, and Elizabeth Bouverie, and Charles returned to the sea, this time patrolling the coast of Normandy in the frigate Adventure, in which he had command. In 1763 Charles returned to land, and joined Margaret at Teston, where he farmed the land for Elizabeth, and took on the role of country gentleman.
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| The current building for St Martin's in the Fields was completed in 1726. |
When the American Revolutionary War began in 1775, Charles returned to the navy. He rose to become Comptroller of the Navy, and in 1781 he was created a baronet. Whilst still in the employ of the Royal Navy, Charles was elected as a Tory Minister of Parliament in 1784, for Rochester, Kent. He resigned from the navy in 1790, but continued to receive naval promotions, finishing up as First Lord of the Admiralty in 1805, at the age of 79.
,_by_Isaac_Pocock.jpg) |
| Sir Charles Middleton, later Baron Barham, painted by Isaac Pocock |
During his time sailing for the navy in the West Indies, Charles had captained a ship called HMS Arundel. The ship's surgeon on Arundel was Dr James Ramsay, who later took holy orders. As Reverend James Ramsay, rather than Doctor, he served the community on an island now known as St Kitts (then St Christopher's). It was on St Kitts that Rev James Ramsay witnessed and was appalled by the treatment of slaves. On his return to England in 1777, Rev James Ramsay stayed with Charles and Margaret in Teston, Kent. He later wrote a pamphlet, published in 1784; 'Essay on the Treatment and Conversion of African Slaves in the British Sugar Colonies'. This publication, apparently had a great effect on Margaret. The character that she showed earlier in her life, when she determined to marry Charles against her family's wishes, was in evidence again.
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| James Ramsay, by Carl Frederick von Breda |
Charles Middleton knew that the road to the abolition of slavery would be a long one; it would take the strength and vitality of a young man to push this through Parliament. William Wilberforce was suggested by Sir Charles, and in 1787 he was invited to Teston, where he met with many other abolitionists, such as the aforementioned Rev James Ramsay, and Thomas Clarkson, who was a founder member of the Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade.
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| William Wilberforce, by George Richmond, 1833 |
'You have the first title to every prize on the whole slave subject.'
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| Hannah More, by Henry William Pickersgill |
Christian Ignatius Latrobe was a Moravian clergyman, artist, musician, and composer. he spent more than 3 months at Barham Court in 1786, and stated that the 'abolition of the slave trade was... the work of a woman', and continued to say that Margaret Middleton 'was the honoured instrument of bringing the monster within range of the artillery of the executive justice of this kingdom.'
Quite apart from her ability to make friends and influence people, with regards to the abolition movement, Margaret was a talented portrait artist. She wrote to the above mentioned Hannah More, in 1788, to offer her a portrait of either 'the Archbishop or of the Moralist', but Hannah replied, suggesting that Margaret paint a living sitter instead; either Elizabeth Bouverie, Sir Charles Middleton, or even herself, Margaret Middleton. It is thought that this was the encouragement needed for Margaret to paint this self portrait, completed in 1784.
When I read this, I was reminded of a small portrait painted sometime in the mid 1700s, that my family owns. We know that it was passed down to us from the Gambier side of the family, but have no idea who the sitter for the portrait is, nor who it was painted by, I recall a time when my parents had an antiques expert visit our house. He was interested in the portrait, and said something about it perhaps being painted by a known painter. My memory of this is fuzzy, being only a teenager with many less important things on my mind. Perhaps he was thinking of Margaret Gambier/Middleton. We can only wonder, but after seeing the self portrait of Margaret Gambier/Middleton, some in the family note a similarity between the older Margaret, and the younger portrait we have. Could they both have been Margaret, as a young woman and as an older woman?
Margaret, her friend Elizabeth Bouverie, and her husband Charles Middleton were all highly motivated to take pivotal roles in the abolition movement, by their Christian faith. Hannah More wrote of the inhabitants at Teston,
'Nothing can exceed the goodness of the inhabitants whose lives are spent in acts of beneficence... such an enchanted country, such books! Such nightingales! Such roses! Then within doors such goodness, such charity, such piety! I hope it is catching and that I shall bring away some of the odour of sanctity about me.'
Margaret and Charles only had one daughter, Diana, who inherited the baronetcy, but they raised other children, including James Gambier (1st Baron Gambier, my 4x great granduncle, who I wrote about in the Witness to History week.) Margaret and Charles also adopted the eldest son of Charles' older brother; Robert Gambier Middleton.
Clearly Margaret's activities had some effect on her brother Robert's ideas about slavery and slave ownership. He died in 1787, fairly early in the Testonites campaign. But what of the emancipated slaves, Thomas and Burkut?
Nothing is known about Burkut, but Thomas' story is fairly well documented. Whilst Thomas was free, his liberated life was not an easy one. He married in 1806, and with his wife Sarah Killingback, he had two daughters, Eliza and Mary. All three, wife Sarah and both daughters died in 1816, possibly as a result of the life of poverty they were destined to live. Clearly the money he inherited, along with his freedom, was not sufficient for their needs. In 1819 he married Ann Bolton, and together they had 12 children. Thomas died in 1848, outliving 4 more of his children. Of the other 8 children, only 2 lived to, what we would today consider a reasonable old age. His longest living son, William Edward Gambier (who died at the age of 70) lived in poverty all his life; working heavy labour jobs for little pay. Life for Thomas and his descendants was free from slavery, but not free from the prejudices of society, much of which was brought about by the act of slavery.
Margaret Gambier/Middleton died in 1792, before she was able to witness the abolition of the slave trade, or slavery itself, which finally came about in 1807, and 1833 respectively.
When I first suspected that some of my ancestors participated in slave ownership I admit that I actively ignored that part of my ancestry. But when I was forced to confront it, I found this other unexpected story- one of a determined woman, dedicated to making a change. Her actions do not forgive the actions of my other ancestors, by any means, but if I had not confronted the 'S Word' in my ancestry, I would never have found her story. It just goes to show that, no matter how ugly our ancestry is, we should always force ourselves to look. #Newell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Clarkson
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Middleton,_1st_Baron_Barham#:~:text=Admiral%20Charles%20Middleton%2C%201st%20Baron,during%20the%20Seven%20Years'%20War.
https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp160505/margaret-nee-gambier-lady-middleton
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Middleton,_1st_Baron_Barham
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannah_More
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Ignatius_Latrobe
Quite apart from her ability to make friends and influence people, with regards to the abolition movement, Margaret was a talented portrait artist. She wrote to the above mentioned Hannah More, in 1788, to offer her a portrait of either 'the Archbishop or of the Moralist', but Hannah replied, suggesting that Margaret paint a living sitter instead; either Elizabeth Bouverie, Sir Charles Middleton, or even herself, Margaret Middleton. It is thought that this was the encouragement needed for Margaret to paint this self portrait, completed in 1784.
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| Self portrait, Margaret Middleton |
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| Unknown Young Woman, by Unknown Artist; could the sitter and/or artist have been Margaret Gambier? |
'Nothing can exceed the goodness of the inhabitants whose lives are spent in acts of beneficence... such an enchanted country, such books! Such nightingales! Such roses! Then within doors such goodness, such charity, such piety! I hope it is catching and that I shall bring away some of the odour of sanctity about me.'
Margaret and Charles only had one daughter, Diana, who inherited the baronetcy, but they raised other children, including James Gambier (1st Baron Gambier, my 4x great granduncle, who I wrote about in the Witness to History week.) Margaret and Charles also adopted the eldest son of Charles' older brother; Robert Gambier Middleton.
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| Margaret's nephew James, who she raised, with Charles, became Admiral of the Fleet, and was the 1st Baron Gambier. |
Clearly Margaret's activities had some effect on her brother Robert's ideas about slavery and slave ownership. He died in 1787, fairly early in the Testonites campaign. But what of the emancipated slaves, Thomas and Burkut?
Nothing is known about Burkut, but Thomas' story is fairly well documented. Whilst Thomas was free, his liberated life was not an easy one. He married in 1806, and with his wife Sarah Killingback, he had two daughters, Eliza and Mary. All three, wife Sarah and both daughters died in 1816, possibly as a result of the life of poverty they were destined to live. Clearly the money he inherited, along with his freedom, was not sufficient for their needs. In 1819 he married Ann Bolton, and together they had 12 children. Thomas died in 1848, outliving 4 more of his children. Of the other 8 children, only 2 lived to, what we would today consider a reasonable old age. His longest living son, William Edward Gambier (who died at the age of 70) lived in poverty all his life; working heavy labour jobs for little pay. Life for Thomas and his descendants was free from slavery, but not free from the prejudices of society, much of which was brought about by the act of slavery.
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| In a couple of census report, William Edward Gambier was recorded as a drayman. Draymen delivered beer from the brewery, to public houses in the area. It was hard and poorly paid work. |
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| This portrait of Margaret was painted by Jeremiah Meyer, and can be seen hanging in the National Portrait Gallery, in London, UK. |
When I first suspected that some of my ancestors participated in slave ownership I admit that I actively ignored that part of my ancestry. But when I was forced to confront it, I found this other unexpected story- one of a determined woman, dedicated to making a change. Her actions do not forgive the actions of my other ancestors, by any means, but if I had not confronted the 'S Word' in my ancestry, I would never have found her story. It just goes to show that, no matter how ugly our ancestry is, we should always force ourselves to look. #Newell
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https://www.artwarefineart.com/gallery/self-portrait-lady-middleton-nee-margaret-gambier-1730-1792-artist-abolitionist-anti-slavery
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Clarkson
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Middleton,_1st_Baron_Barham#:~:text=Admiral%20Charles%20Middleton%2C%201st%20Baron,during%20the%20Seven%20Years'%20War.
https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp160505/margaret-nee-gambier-lady-middleton
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Middleton,_1st_Baron_Barham
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannah_More
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Ignatius_Latrobe
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