Nothing is known about the early life of Rachel. She is Ian's 7x great grandmother.

She married Jeremy Chambers (1626–1692)★ on 4 Jun, 1648 at St. Mary's Church in Cratfield, Suffolk, England^a1,b1,n1 . They had three children:–

• Joseph★ baptised on 10 Mar, 1649/50 at St. Peter's Church in Ubbeston, Suffolk, England^d1. Married Mary Edwards in 1674 at the Church of St. Peter & St. Paul in Fressingfield, Suffolk, England^e1 and Mary Hill★ in 1713 at All Saints Church in Woodton, Norfolk, England^f1.
• Sarah baptised about 1653 at St. Peter's Church, Ubbeston^d2.
• James baptised on 10 May, 1669 at St. Peter's Church, Ubbeston^d3.

In 1693, Rachel was jailed for witchcraft after she confessed to using supernatural powers to kill her husband and Lady Blois, wife of politician Sir Charles Blois. Known historically as Widow Chambers, Rachel was subjected to brutal treatment in Beccles Gaol, where she was forced to walk continuously for three days, deprived of sleep, and coerced into confessing to other murders, including those of people who were still alive. She died after the third day of this treatment before any trial was possible. Her story was later included in a 1720 pamphlet by Francis Hutchinson, who sought to debunk witchcraft, describing Rachel as a diligent, industrious woman who, like others of her time, may have believed she had supernatural powers due to ergot poisoning, a theory linked to wet harvests and rye cultivation in Suffolk and Essex.^g1,h1

Rachel was buried on 8 Jun, 1693 at St. Michael's Church in Beccles, Suffolk, England^k1

Timeline

1648

4 Jun

Married Jeremy Chambers★ at St. Mary's Church, Cratfield, Suffolk, England.^a1,b1,n1

1649

10 Mar

Son, Joseph Chambers (1649–?)★, baptised at St. Peter's Church, Ubbeston, Suffolk, England.^d1

about 1653

Daughter, Sarah Chambers (1653–?), baptised at St. Peter's Church, Ubbeston.^d2

1669

10 May

Son, James Chambers (1669–?), baptised at St. Peter's Church, Ubbeston.^d3

1692

7 Dec

Husband, Jeremy, buried at St. Peter's Church, Ubbeston.^k2

1693

8 Jun

Buried at St. Michael's Church, Beccles, Suffolk, England.^k1
Recorded as living in Ubbeston, Suffolk, England.^k1

Facts