The Story of a Blisworth Rector, Revd. John Ambrose, as told by George Freeston

(a more detailed account of research into the life of Revd. J Ambrose will be provided in due course by historian, Barbara Hornby and will replace this short entry)

On April 19th, 1797, the Rev. John Ambrose, BA, was inducted at Blisworth.  His Patron was George Finch-Hatton.  During the next eight years the new Rector saw the completion of the canal and Blisworth tunnel.  He also met, through marriages, births and deaths, many of the new families whose men folk had come to work on the canal construction at Blisworth.  His record of keeping the registers is indicated by the inset photograph taken from the marriage register for the year 1800.   The Rev. John Ambrose occupied the rectory, which is now demolished [1], next to the Church.  His predecessor, Nathanial Trotter, had died at Blisworth on 15th February 1797, so there had not been a long period of interregnum.

It was customary for the Officiating Rector to sign the Registers whenever the Archdeacon inspected them.  At the March 1807 visitation, John Ambrose, Rector, duly signs, underlining his name with a delightful flourish of penmanship.

But this signature was not to appear again until the year 1836.

In 1810 the Archdeacon again inspected the registers but this time the entries are signed by the Curate, Joseph Sturges.  There must have been a dispute over this signing, for the Curate's name is crossed out and above it is written the name "Maria Ambrose[2]", who we must assume was the Rector's wife and who was signing for her husband - but where was he?

The next visitation, in 1812, was also signed by J. Sturges, as the Officiating Minister; this time there is no mention of either the Rector or his wife.  Soon afterwards the Rev. J. Sturges departs from Blisworth and his post is taken by another curate; the Rev, Wm. Butlin.  It is now obvious that the Rector had absented himself from the village, for at the 1811 assessment of the Rev. Ambrose's rates for £5, 12. 3d, the cash was not forthcoming and neither was he.  Also, at this same time, a sequestrator is appointed to handle the affairs of the Church in the Rector's absence.

In searching through the Registers, the Rev, Ambrose's signature disappears from the years 1807 - 1836, entries being signed mainly by the faithful Curate, the Rev, Dm. Butlin.

By way of explaining the absence . . .  At the beginning or the 19th Century, young Lord Althorp was a great sportsman, a Patron of Boxing and a gambler.  His companions not only included the great prize fighters and pugilists of the day, but also his associates included the Prince Regent, Lord Byron and “Parson Ambrose, Rector of Blisworth” being a man well known in sporting circles.  Because of our Rector's connections with such a mixed company, he was soon enveloped in debts through his gambling.  It was said that he disgraced a profession that he might have adorned, for he was clever and had a remarkably fine delivery.  On the death of the great actor, Charles Macklin, the Rev. Ambrose was left the exceedingly generous sum of £50 to preach the Actor's Funeral Sermon. Around the year 1808, Lord Althorp reports that Parson Ambrose of Blisworth is obliged to flee the country from his Creditors.  The law caught up with him, in France apparently - he was filed for bankruptcy in 1814 as indicated by the following court entries.

He was replaced as Rector of Blisworth in 1839.

January 6th 1814

The following persons being Prisoners for Debt since the Sixth November 1814

John AMBROSSE (sued by the name of John AMBROSE) late of Brighton in the County of Sussex and formerly of Blisworth in the County of Northampton, clerk, who on the 4th day of October 1813, was charged in the custody of the keeper or jailer of His Majesty's jail of Horsham in and for the County of Sussex, and removed from thence by habeas corpus, and committed to the custody of the warden of the Fleet prison, in the City of London on the 1st day of December 1813.  Second Notice 6th January 1814 p 80 Third Notice 11th January 1814 p 122

November 7th 1818

Whereas by an Order of the High Court of Chancery made in a Cause WHITE against the Bishop of PETERBOROUGH and Others, it was ordered that William COURTNEY, Esq. one of the Masters of the said Court of Chancery, should take an account of the incumbrances affecting the rectory of Blisworth in the County of Northampton, - All persons claiming any charge or incumbrance upon or affecting the said rectory of Blisworth, or the glebe lands, tithes madunes, compositions , or other ecclesiastical dues thereto belonging, are forthwith to come in and prove such charge or encumbrance before the said Master, at his Chambers in Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, or in default thereof they will be excluded the benefit of the said Order. December 15th 1818 p 2259 Notice Repeated. Claims to be in by 23rd January 1819.

[1]  The earliest rectory for which there is record is shown on the 1729 Grafton maps.  Its ridge was set north-south, also evident in the 1838 survey maps.  What we now called the Old Rectory has a ridge set east-west and was built in 1841-2 for the Revd. Barry and remained in use until about 1960 when a new rectory in brick was built in the grounds of the old one.

[2]  The use of the name with just one 's' probably indicates the more correct spelling.  Some have suggested the rector's use of a double 's' was to suit his time in France.