The family name Trumble (originally Turnbull) traces its origin to a peasant named Ruel, who saved the life of the Scottish King Robert Bruce (1274-1329) by diverting the attack of a wild bull in Sterling Park. As a reward he was given the estate of Badyruel, near Peevles, and the name since carried by his descendants.
John Trumble (ca. 1615-1637)
The American branch of the family originated with John Trumble, who traveled from the port city of Newcastle-on-Tyne around 1637 and settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts. He was the son of James Trumbull (b.1584) and Elizabeth Straker (b.1588) of Northumberland, England. James was the son of John Trumbull (ca.1550-1603) and Elizabeth Brogden (b.ca.1560); John Trumble was the son of Thomas Trumbull (ca.1520-1563) and Elizabeth (ca.1530-1581). The immigrant John Trumbull brought with him from England his wife, Elinore Chandler, daughter of John Chandler of Northumberland. In 1639 they moved to Rowley permanently, where he was made a freeman in 1640. Their homestead was in the heart of the village, fronting on the common. Elinore died in 1648/49, after having given birth to five children including Ruth Trumble (born 1647), who later married Samuel Perley in 1664.
John Trumble remarried in 1650, to Ann (or Hannah) , widow of Michael Hopkinson of Rowley, by whom he had two more children. He died in 1657; his widow then married Richard Swan in 1658 but died that same year. John's family received payment following his death for his "keeping a scoolle." His estate, amounting to £225, was divided among the four children of his second wife by her first husband (Michael Hopkinson), his five children by Elinore Chandler (Ruth received £8), his two by Ann, and £55 to Ann, his widow.
A marble stone was erected in the Rowley cemetery in 1861 by the Rev. David Trumble in memory of his ancestor.