John Baptist Cambron and Henry Cambron are father and son – my sixth and fifth great-grandfathers. The Cambron’s came from Maryland, specifically from Montgomery County, as per the information below, but I have also seen Prince George’s County as the home of the Cambrons, and Charles County – I think we can agree they lived in Maryland!
From The Centenary of Catholicity in Kentucky by Hon. Ben J. Webb, this account of their emigration is noted – “Among the most noteworthy of the Catholic emigrants to Kentucky in 1788, was Henry Cambron, previously a highly respected citizen of Montgomery County, Maryland. He was accompanied by his aged father, Baptist Cambron, and by a number of his brothers and sisters. After stopping for a few days at Bardstown, Mr. Cambron proceeded to Cartwright’s Creek, where he bought and settled upon a farm adjoining that occupied by John Waller, whose mill, built upon his land, was the only property of the kind in that part of the county. This mill, with the land of which it was an appendage, was afterwards sold by Mr. Waller to Rev. Edward Fenwick, and upon the latter stands today the church and convent of St. Rose.”
I’ve searched for wills in Maryland, but can’t seem to find anything that gives a lead to John Baptist Cambron’s father. However I did find a Duncan Cameron who, along with 18 others, was transported to Prince George’s County, Maryland, by Peter Walter, Esq. Those 19 people were indentured servants, giving seven years of their life in service to Peter Walter. This was dated April 8, 1742.
Eventually the name Cameron became Cambron. In addition to the Scottish reference of the name, there is a place in France called Cambron – in the Somme. Since I have seen John Baptist’s name spelled with the ‘e’ at the end, this could be a point to a French connection.
And, on Family Search, I found a John Camron, Duncan Camron and Oneal (?) Camron on a list of prisoners captured by the British Army during the Battle of Preston. John is prisoner #174. The ship GodSpeed (abbreviated GS) is the ship on which he was transported to America (specifically Maryland). The date for this battle was November 9-14, 1715. Could any of these men be a father or grandfather to John Baptist Cambron?
John Baptist Cambron was born in 1725, in Maryland. He married Nancy Heard in 1756 in Maryland. I am unsure of Nancy’s date of death, but according to the Hon. Ben J. Webb it must have been in Maryland before the family moved to what was then Nelson County, Washington became a separate county, taken from Nelson, in 1792.
In his will, dated May 23, 1814, and probated May 8, 1815, John Baptist Cambron lists son Basil Cambron, grandson Stephen Cambron, Elisha Montgomery – no relation given, nieces Anna Hagan and Margaret Montgomery – and money after payment of debts to be equally divided amongst all my children – not named. I do have the following list of children:
Priscilla Cambron married Jonathan Riney, bond March 18, 1788, married March 30, 1788, Nelson County. Consent by father, John Baptist Cambron.
Thomas Cambron married Jane Queen September 1, 1796, WC. William Montgomery was her guardian.
William Cambron married Rebecca Montgomery 1792, Nelson County. Henrietta Montgomery was listed on the bond/consent December 5, 1792, WC. William was in the War of 1812.
John Basil Cambron married Lucy Smith October 14, 1800, Nelson County.
Horace Cambron married Eliza Beaven.
Joseph Cambron married Martha (Patricia) Osbourn August 23, 1803, WC.
Stephen Cambron married Mary ?
Monica Cambron married William Osbourn.
Laura Cambron died an old maid in 1847 at the age of 82.
? Cambron married a Mr. Blandford.
John B. Cambron Will
Washington County Book B Pages 427-428
In the name of God, Amen. I, John B. Cambron, of the County of Washington and State of Kentucky, being in perfect health of body and perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God, calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say, first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of almighty God, who gave it and my body I recommend to the earth and buried in a decent Christian burial at the direction of my executor, nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the almighty power of God, and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, demise and dispose of it in the following manner and form.
First. I give and bequeath unto my beloved son Basil Cambron all my property if he keeps me till my death, to be freely possessed by him and his heirs forever, except my horse, bridle and saddle which I now ride, I give to my grandson, Stephen Cambron, to be freely used and by him and his heirs forever. The mare which I lent to Elisha Montgomery I give to him after my death to be freely disposed by him and his heirs forever.
I leave one feather bed and furniture to my niece Anna Hagan if she accepts (?) for it and if not to her sister Margaret Montgomery to be duly possessed by one of them and their heirs forever. All of my money after the payment of my just debts I leave to be equally divided amongst all my children. I also leave, constitute and ordain Basil Cambron the Executor of this my last will and testament and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other former testaments and wills, legacies, bequests and executors by me in any wise before named wills and bequests, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty-third day of May One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fourteen.
John B. Cambron
Signed, sealed, published and pronounced and declared by the said John B. Cambron to be his last will and testament in the presence
of us and in the presence of each other and hereto subscribed our names.
Teste. Joseph Carrico, Senior, Joseph Carrico, Junior
At a County Court held for Washington County on Monday the Eighth day of May 1815, this will of John B. Cambron, deceased, was partly proven by the oath of Joseph Carrico, Senior, one of the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be certified and at a county court held for said county on Monday the 13th day of June 1815, the same was fully proven by the oath of Joseph Carrico, Junior, the other subscribing witness thereto and was to be recorded and on the motion of Basil Cambron, the Executor therein named who made oath and executed and acknowledged said bond with security as the law directs and certificate is posted for him obtaining a probate thereof in due form. Attest. John Reed, CWC
Henry Cambron, son of John Baptist Cambron and Nancy Heard, was born about 1750, presumably in Charles County, Maryland. He married Margaret Harbin, before they came to Kentucky. Two daughters came on the journey to Kentucky – Henrietta and Susanna. Four children were born in Kentucky.
John Yates married Henrietta Cambron November 6, 1798, Washington County.
Edward McLain married Susanna Cambron September 8, 1806, Washington County.
John Hinton married Nancy Cambron November 21, 1812, Washington County.
Zephaniah Cambron married Catharine Grundy November 28, 1815, Washington County. Born 1793 at Waller Mills, Kentucky. Died at Uniontown, Kentucky, 1875.
Charles Cambron married Margaret Montgomery January 3, 1817, Washington County. Born 1791 on Cartwright’s Creek, Waller Mill Road Washington County, Kentucky, which is now near the present St. Rose Priory. Died at same place 1880.
Raphael Cambron married Mary Ann O’Daniel February 17, 1827, father of the bride was Joseph O’Daniel. Raphael was born February 22, 1798, a few miles from Springfield, Washington County, Kentucky, on Cartwright’s Creek which is now adjoining the present St. Rose Priory. Moved to Union County in 1834. Died at Uniontown, Kentucky, 1883. Buried at St. Vincents, Kentucky. Will recorded in Union County.
Henry Cambron left a short will. In it a granddaughter was listed – Treacy Yates, daughter of Henrietta Cambron and John Yates. His 6 children are named, all estate to be divided equally between the children and granddaughter Treacy Yates. I know Teresa (Treacy) Yates had a sister, Mary Yates, who married William Peter Montgomery, January 21, 1822, in Washington County. She probably had received something from grandfather Henry at her marriage.
Will of Henry Cambron
Washington County Will Book D, Page 405
In the name of God, Amen. I, Henry Cambron, of the County of Washington, State of Kentucky, being in sound mind and memory, but low in health, do make and ordain this my will and testament.
First. I give and bequeath to my Granddaughter Treacy Yates one bed and furniture, one bureau, also my brood mare (Dove), saddle and bridle to her and her heirs forever.
Secondly, my will and desire is that the rest and residue of my estate, both real and personal, be equally divided between all my children and my said Granddaughter Treacy Yates, namely Henrietta Yates, Susanna McLane, Ann Hinton, Charles Cambron, Zephaniah Cambron and Raphael Cambron, to them and their heirs forever. Lastly, I do hereby appoint my two sons, Charles Cambron and Raphael Cambron, my Executors. In testimony thereof I have set my hand and affixed my seal this 30th day of July 1827.
Henry Cambron
Test. Morgan Wright, William Cambron
At a County Court began and held for Washington County at the Courthouse in Springfield on Monday, the 28th day of July 18, 1828. This last Will and Testament of Henry Cambron, deceased, was exhibited in Court and proven by the oath of Morgan Wright, one of the subscribing witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded, which has been done accordingly in Will Book D, page 405.
John Hughes, Jr. CWC
Categories: Old Wills
John Baptist Cambron 1725-1815, is my 6th great-grandfather as well, married to Nancy (Ann) Head/Heard. I have her in my genealogy as born 1729 in Charles, Maryland, died 1788 in Nelson, Ky. Her parents were William Head from Kent, England and Ann Wheeler Egerton from Middlesex. That may be tentative information. I am NOT descended from a son of John Baptist, but from his daughter, Nancy Catherine Cambron 1760-1816 Washington, KY who married Charles T Blandford. Many ‘Blandfords’ in my tree 🙂 . I sure appreciate all the research you do, especially since I live in the Pacific Northwest and have little opportunity to wander through the locations that you visit. All of my mother’s family settled in Kentucky and Tennessee from Maryland and Virginia in 1700s and 1800s.
Thank you! I have a great aunt that married a Blandford, I’m sure of the same family!
John Baptist Cambron is my 6th
John Baptist Cambron is also my 6th great grandfather, through my father who is a Spalding. I am descended from his son Joseph Charles Cambron. I am back to Scotland with Thomas Cambron, 1625-?, I have not found his wife. If you have this information I would appreciate any info. Thanks for your post.
John Baptiste Cambron, Jr., was married to Nancy Heard, 1729-1788, born in Charles County, Maryland, died in Nelson County, Kentucky. John Baptiste Cambron, Sr., 1699, Frederick County, Maryland – 1789, Washington County, Kentucky, was married to Susannah Osborne, 170-1786.
I have another comment after digging through more of your comments. Your reference to the prisoners of Jacobite war after the battle in 1715. I am almost positive that John Baptist Cambron’s father WAS the person on the ship you referred. to. I have a ship in my Ancestry chart for the transportation of his father to Maryland, but it didn’t refer it as a prisoner transport. I have checked/cross referenced all information and dates. They are identical. I have listed his father as John Baptist “Andrew” Cambron born 1670, arriving in Maryland in July 1716 on Immigration lists titled “Directory of Scots Banished to the American Plantations, 1650-1775. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1984. 239p.” The ship apparently was the Good/Godspeed with Capt Arthur Smith. John Baptist “Andrew’ Cambron was married to Agnes Patersone born 14 Feb1656 in Ohyltree, Ayr, Scotland. Of course, there is always room for error in my research.
Thank you for all you do.
This is wonderful!! Do you have any documentation to share? I could not get to the first page of the list of passengers. I will add this! Thank you!!
I was thrilled to see this. I branch from the line of William and Rebecca Montgomery. I get to Kentucky about 2x/yr. As I named a son Andrew… would be thrilled again if that connection.
John Baptist is my 5th great grandfather. I am from the line of his son Basil and wife Lucy on my father’s side and son Joseph Charles and wife Martha (Patricia) on my mother’s side.
When I was a little girl, my grandfather, Joseph Bernard Cambron, told me that the first Cambron from our family came to America before the American Revolution when the King of England kicked that Cambron out of that country and banished him to the colonies. Then that Cambron’s son and grandsons kicked the King of England out of this country. “So, we’re even,” my grandpa would say.
Several years ago, I looked into this story. It turns out it was all true. I am a descendent of John Baptist Cambron and his son, Henry. Both men fought in the Revolutionary War (from Maryland) and were given land in Kentucky by the government of the newly formed country. Henry’s son Raphael is also my ancestor.
I remember the name Waverly as the closest town to the farm my grandfather and his nine (possibly ten) siblings grew up on.
Warm regards to all Cambrons.
Mary Sampson
New Member of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
Does anyone have info on the identity of the two nieces mentioned in John Baptist Cambron’s will? “I leave one feather bed and furniture to my niece Anna Hagan if she accepts (?) for it and if not to her sister Margaret Montgomery to be duly possessed by one of them and their heirs forever.” Also looking for identity of the “Elisha Montgomery” mentioned. Thanks!