Margaret Oliver Treays was born during 1826, the daughter of
Peter Treays and Margaret Oliver
and granddaughter of
Samuel Treays and Mary Souther.
She was baptised at Devonport, Princes Street – Independent Chapel. [Baptismal
record ‘Trays’.]
In 1846 she married Thomas Pearn Sambell in Stoke Damerel. Thomas appears to have been the son of Benjamin Sambell and Clarissa
Mary Pearn, was more or less the same age as Margaret and worked as a shipwright in Devonport. Around 1854 the family moved from Devonport
to Deptford, Kent where Thomas is recorded
in the 1861 census as working as a ship's carpenter. Sometime between 1863 and 1871 the family returned to Devonport where Thomas is
recorded in 1871 as carrying on the trade of shipwright.
Margaret died in Stoke Damerel in 1884 and Thomas died there in 1902.
Five children surviving infancy, two boys and three girls, have so far been traced from their marriage: -
- son William Edward was born in 1852 in Stoke Damerel. William pursued a naval career. The latest record of him found so far is in
the 1881 Stoke Damerel census when he is recorded as "Seaman RN" and living with his parents.
- daughter Emma Jane was born in 1854 in Deptford. In 1861 census she was recorded as living with her parents in Deptford. Nothing further
has been found of her so far.
- son Benjamin was born in Deptford and his date of birth per Royal Navy records was 6th April 1857. At the time of the 1871 Census he is
recorded as age 14, errand boy, living with his parents in Stoke Damerel. By 1881 he is recorded as an able seaman serving on
HMS Boadicea but not on board the evening of the census. In 1888 he married Susan Harriett Bourne in Maldon Essex. By 1891 he had become a Coast Guard Officer
living in Sidney Street Brightlingsea with his wife and daughters Mary aged 3 and Grace aged 2, both born in Brightlingsea. By 1901, Benjamin and Susan had
moved with their two children to 24 Byron Street Gillingham Kent and Benjamin has become a dockyard reserve labourer.
- daughter Clarissa Mary was born in Deptford in 1859 and in the 1871 census was recorded as a scholar living with her parents.
In 1878 she married George Robert Simpson in Stoke Damerel. Her husband was born on 5th August 1855 in Charlton, Kent and was a seaman. In the 1881
census Clarissa is recorded as head of the family and living at 25 Duke Street Stoke Damerel with daughter Blanche aged 3 whilst her husband
appears as Leading Seaman George Simpson on board
HMS Northumberland. In 1891 she is still
living in Duke Street with daughter Blanche and two sons Gibson W. , age 9, and George E. , age 7.
It appears that when George retired from the Royal Navy, the family
moved to Lambeth where in 1901 George is recorded as a Bank messenger and caretaker living at 465 Brixton Road, Lambeth, Surrey with his wife, daughter
Blanche who is unmarried and working as a waitress, and another daughter Gladys age 7 born in London - this implies they moved to London sometime between
1891 and 1894.
It is not known when or where Clarissa or George died.
- daughter Fanny was born in Deptford during 1863. Nothing more is known of her after the 1881 census when she was recorded as "dressmaker",
age 18, living with her parents.
References have been found to other possible children of this marriage but these have not been further investigated as it appears probable
that these children died in infancy.