William Chambers alias Ireland

A document in the Dudley Archives shows that there was a Deed Poll in about 1550 by a William Chambers Alias Ireland assigning ancient ecclesiastical land of the Priory of St John’s at Halesowen. A number of his descendants for the next 150 years appear in the local records of Rowley Regis and Dudley, using the names ‘Chambers alias Ireland’  These include intermarriages with the Darby family discussed on the website. The name Ireland is sometimes spelled ‘Ierland’ or ‘Yearland’. The same document demonstrates that they owned ex-monastic lands at Rowley called Freebodies, and this reference recurs in a number of later Darby wills.

It would appear that the trail of descendants leads from William (fl 1540-1560) to his son or grandson John Chambers alias Ireland who marries Alice Darby in about 1570. She was the daughter of Edmonde Darby. and it mentions their seven children in his will. All were ‘Chambers alias Ireland’

A will of John Chambers alias Ireland 1598 does exist but it is not the same John Chambers alias Ireland as he appears to only have two children Christopher Chambers and Joan Curtler. His wife also has a different name. It is likely therefore that the latter John Chambers is the Uncle of the first.

John Chambers the elder in his will of 1598 gives his wife’s name as Joyce and his brother-in-law as Thomas Willetts. Edmonde Darby in the same year names his wife as Joan and talks of his brother also Thomas Willetts. It seems likely that Joan and Joyce were sisters. Joyce Underhill married John Chambers in 1592 in St John’s Halesowen and it would appear to be a second marriage for both. John Chambers names the children of his Wife as Elinor, Ann and John Underhill.

Sources:

  • DSCAM/2/3/1/1: Deed poll assignment (14 May 1550) by William Chambers alias Ireland of Langley and Walloxall in the parish of Halesowen, Salop, yeoman, to John Chambers alias Ireland, of the same, his son, of all his interest in the within recited lease of 8 June 1527 by William, Abbot of the monastery of Our Lady and St John the Evangelist of Halesowen, of lands at Rowley called Frebodies. Endorsed (10 Oct. 1597) assignment by John Chambers alias Ireland the elder of Rowley, Staffs., yeoman, of the lease to his son, William Chambers.
  • Parish Register of St Giles, Rowley Regis (BMGSH transcript)
  • Parish Register of St John’s Halesowen, Parish Register Society, 1910
  • Will of Edmonde Darby, of Oldbury, Worcester Archives, 1598
  • Will of John Chambers alias Ireland, National Archives PCC, 1598
Last updated on 11 June 2018 by JJ Morgan