Ann Amie Matson

Sailed with her Husband on the Winthrop ships arriving in Boston in 1830.

Amy Chambers was admitted to Boston church as member #140 [Boston Church Records,14], which would have occurred in the autumn of 1632.

In a letter of 14 March 1632/3 to John Winthrop Jr., John Bluett of Groton, Suffolk, sent greetings to many of his former neighbors and acquaintances, including Anne Chambers (probably a misreading for "Amie") [Winthrop Papers, 1498-1654, 6 volumes, various editors (Boston 1925-1992), Vol. 3:108].

Following up on these clues, the will of Thomas Chambers, citizen and clothworker of London, dated 14 August 1638, was examined [Prerogative Court of Canterbury, England, 145 Lee]. Thomas Chambers died without surviving issue, and made bequests to his mother-in-law [i.e., stepmother] Alice Chambers, and to many siblings, including "my sister Amy Matson" (£55) and "my sister Abigall Chambers" (£20), and made his wife Mary Chambers the residuary legatee.

Thomas Chambers of London also named in his will "my nephew John Pickering." On 27 August 1660 "John Pickering, late servant of Theodore Atkison, feltmaker in Bostowne," made his will at Hartford, and, after providing for debts, bequeathed "the remainder of my estate, both in this Country & England, ... to my dear Ant. Matson of Bostowne, & her heirs forever, as a token of my love" [A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records, Volume One, Hartford Probate District, 1635-1700, Charles William Manwaring, comp. (Hartford 1904), Vol. 1:144].

Amy (Chambers) Matson was elder half-sister to the first wife of Theodore Atkinson Sr. of Boston and aunt to John Pickering of Hartford

Thomas Matson had wife Amy by October 1633 when his first child was baptized in Boston, whereas Theodore Atkinson apparently did not marry until about 1640. These dates are consistent with the 1638 will of Thomas Chambers of London. The wills of Thomas the father and Thomas the son clearly read "Amy," and so Thomas Matson married by 1633 Amy Chambers , daughter of Thomas Chambers, minister at Assington in Suffolk, and Theodore Atkinson married her younger sister Abigail, who was baptized at Assington on 5 December 1615. (No baptism for Amy was found at Assington. The reading of "Anne" in the published version of several New England records must be a misreading of "Amie," the spelling used in her father's will. From various clues in the English records, not detailed here, it is apparent that Amy was an elder half-sister of Abigail.)

In her will, dated 28 February 1677/8 and proved 1 May 1678, "Amy Matson of Boston ... widow, being aged and weak of body, ... considering that my loving husband Thomas Matson deceased did in his last will & testament leave me some small matter to dispose of" bequeathed to "my grandchild Amy Mattson the daughter of my son John Matson £8 ... and my black gown and mohair petticoat & all my cloaks and my two best scarves and my Bible"; to "my daughter-in-law Mary Matson the wife of my son Thomas Matson my cloth serge petticoat"; to "my grandchild Thomas Matson the son of my son Thomas Matson 10s."; to "my grandchild Hannah Mattson the daughter of my son Thomas Matson 10s."; to "my daughter-in-law Jane Matson the wife of my son John Matson my jumpe"; to "my grandchild Mary Matson my murray-colored [i.e., purple-red, like that of the mulberry] petticoat and one scarf"; to "my daughter-in-law Elizabeth Matson the wife of my son Joshua Matson my red cloth petticoat and my cloth waistcoat that hath a silver and gold galloone upon it"; to "my grandchild Abigail Wheatly the daughter of my daughter Abigail Wheatly deceased 20s. in money to help toward her bringing up"; "my grandchild Amy Matson may have a featherbed & bolster and two blankets and a rug"; to "my grandchild Martha Wheatly ... a long broad box which my daughter Abigail Wheatly deceased did often desire of me and I promised to give it her & now after her decease I do give the same unto my said grandchild Martha Wheatly her daughter"; remainder of clothing to "grandchild Amy Matson the daughter of my son John Matson"; "my trusty and well beloved friends Jeremiah Fitch and John Oldin Senior" overseers [SPR 6:233].