The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-07-08
TIE oUrNBYs.
The Bancroft Branch of tho 0ulnby Family.
A Paper Read by Mrs. Caroline v. Brown, o ( York
ana, Pa, at the Reunion at Bulls
Island June 49, 1891

The reunion OF the descendants of an
ancestor prominent among the residents of
district more than $50 years ago, natur-
| ally embraces many families and many
names. The counties of Bucks and Hun
terdon are particularly closely connected
and this is shown by the gathering here
of the ''children's children of Isaiah
| Quinby. Inter-marriage has brought to-
gether under the ties of a common relation
ship many OF the names most prominent
STAGE the settlement of this section, almost
or quite two centuries ago.
And SO it happens that we, the descend
ants of Ambrose Bancroft who in 1854 one
of the pioneers of this one of the three or
| iginal counties of Pennsylvania, should
have cause to join in celebrating a reunion
OF the Quinbys, who were cotemporaneous
in occupying Amwell township just across
the Delaware.
Ambrose Bancroft, OF Lincolnshire, Eng.
must have been close on the heels of VIM.
Penn, as he appears to have reached this
country in 1854 and to have settled at
Plumstead some time subsequently. There
is believe, no record showing as 10 whom
he married, or II indeed he was not marri-
ed 10 the old country. 1t is known that he
had three sons, Ambrose, William and
John. In 1724, while attempting to ford
the Delaware, about four miles above
Trenton, he was drowned.
To quote the quaint language of the
eoroner's jury which is extant among the
county records, Newtown being at that
time the county seat, 1t is stated that
the jury found that the deceased on De-
cember 90, in company with his son Am
brose, about thirty miles from Solebury,
was riding through the river and then aud
there by reason of the stumbling OF his
horse, whereon the said Ambrose the father
then rode, the said Ambrose fell from his
horse into the river aud was instantly
drowned His son, Ambrose(2), lived
in Plumstead. lie seems to have been a
quiet citizen, who perhaps was useful in
his day and generation as he taught school,
and the schoolmaster In those early days
was a parsonage Of no little repute. We
have no further record of him or his family
except that he left son Ambrose 60.
But we have quite recently ascertained
thanks TO the researches that have been
made in relation to the Quinbys that bis
wfew Phoebe, fourth daughter of Isaiah
Quinby.
Ambrose go was married three times.
First to Warehouse, who died leaving
one son: then to Davis who lett three sons,
and then to a Francina Opdyko Hogeland,
who by her first husband also had four sons
Nine more children blessed this union,
four girls and five boys, the records of
which are extant in an old Bible which Is
thus inscribed: "Fracna Bancroft, her
GNI rt,r h,~ har f.,1 x,ly
Again an Ambrose Qhe 4th) is represent
ed IN this generation. He was the eldest
of the five sons and was born Mar. 81,
1898. lie married in 1916, between
Christmas and New Years, Ann Wolvtr-
ton, granddaughter of John Wolverton and
Rachel, his wife, fifth daughter of Isaiah
Quinby. He and his wife we're both born
in Rosemont, and resided there during the
greater part of their married life, bringing
up n family OF six children, sons and
daughters.
But in 1864 they moved to Fairfax
County, Va, in order to be near the old
est son, DIR. John Wolverton Bancroft,
who had removed thither from Rosemont
10 1850 "Grandpa and grandma as We
speak Of Ambrose Bancroft aud Ann, his
wife, lived together for almost the space of
life accorded in the Bible. he dying at his
son Johns residence at Yorkana, Penna.,
on February Goth, 1881, almost SO years
after his wedding, and aged 80 years.
Grandma died at her daughters, Martini
Rowell in Washington. May 18th, 1888,
having attained the age of 81 years. All
but two Of their six children are now liv-
Ing, and with their children and grand
children constitute no small army. They
are separated widely in abode; Kansas,
Missouri, Illinois, Virginia, District OF
Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, aud
New Jersey number them among their
inhabitanls.