Hi- Welcome to my website, “The Chamberlain Story.” My name is Dennis Chamberlain. I am a direct descendant of one of the three Chamberlain brothers, Thomas, Edmond and William who arrived in Massachusetts in 1644. If you have a Chamberlain in your direct family line, there is a good chance that we are cousins.
Dennis Chamberlain
I recently wrote out a time-line for the arrival and establishment of the Chamberlain brothers in the New World, adding related historical events to place them in the context of English and American history.
I wrote this for my immediate family, but then realized that there are literally thousands who are descendants of Thomas, Edmond and William Chamberlain. Therefore, I will be sharing this and other Chamberlain family stories on this website.
The view of American History through the eyes of our forefathers
The Chamberlain Story history timeline will show an unbroken chain of generations from Francis Chamberlain, who arrived in Virginia on the Marmaduke in 1621, to my father, Ernest M. Chamberlain, and his family during World War II. It will research the local and national history of their time. Students connected with the Chamberlain family will get a glimpse of history through the eyes of their forefathers, and see that American history is also their history.
My hope for this website is to show my grandchildren’s generation that the world where our ancestors lived was a different place. Therefore, people should not be judged by the world they were born into. Rather, they should be judged by what they did to make the world a better place.
America was born in a world where conquest and human bondage was the norm, and where one’s religion was determined by the Pope or a king. Our forefathers had to change their world step by step, by trial and error and by blood, sweat and tears. They ratified a Constitution for a free nation under God in order that “we the people” could establish “a more perfect union.” They gave gratitude and credit to God for their success in establishing a free nation.
“Every step, by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation, seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency.” George Washington
The U. S. Constitution and the freedom it guarantees us had to be won and has to be continually defended by good people including those of the Chamberlain family.
I would love to hear that some high school or college student studied The Chamberlain Story time line in conjunction with their study of American history. if you do, please contact me.
Posts for the Chamberlain Story website fall into four categories:
1- Family History Timeline. A chronological story of the Chamberlain family in the context of local and American history.
Part 1- Chapters 1 through Chapter 8 tells of the families of Francis Chamberlain and his presumed sons, Thomas, Edmond and William including the eventful life of Paugus John Chamberlain famed for his duel with Chief Paugus.
Part 2- Chapters 9 through Chapter 28 tell of the families of Spencer Chamberlain, from his grandfather Thomas Chamberlain of Westmoreland, through the generations to my father Ernest M. Chamberlain during World War II.
2- Extra stories and Updates. Chapters E-1 to E-15
3- DNA Studies– studies of the Chamberlain family through DNA tests. Chapter D1-D4
4- History of the family of Alexander Spowart Izatt. Africa to Sterling Castle and from coal mines of Scotland to Cache Valley Utah.
For a link to of all stories see Table of Contents.
The Top 10 Posts of The Chamberlain Story in 2021
11,316 views in 2021, up from 9,592 in 2020.
1- Chapter E5- Sir Isaac Newton, Our (Almost) Direct Ancestor (1,606 views). Best month, July 2021, 163 views.
2- Chapter 5- Rebecca Chamberlain and the Salem Witch Trials (900 views). Best month, July 2018, 155 views.
3- Chapter 1- The Arrival of Francis Chamberlain in the New World (460 views). Best month, January 2020, 52 views.
4- Chapter E4- The Legend of the Indian Maiden Winona (441 views). Best month, November 2020, 98 views.
5- Chapter D1- The Chamberlain’s in America Y-DNA Link to William de Tancarville (391 views). Best month, August 2021, 54 views.
6- Chapter 9- The Mystery of Chamberlain Lake (362 views). Best month, July 2020, 68 views.
7- Chapter 21- John Harry Chamberlain, Pioneer Life on the Prairie (309 views). Record for most post views in a single month, Feb. 2021, 282 views.
8- Chapter E6- Sir Isaac Newton: the Athanasian Creed and Bible Prophecy (303 views). Best month, December 2021, 49 views.
9- Chapter E8- Rebecca Chamberlain and the Puzzle of Sarah Shelley’s Will (286 views). Best month, March 2021, 44 views.
10- Chapter 4- Three Chamberlain Brothers in an Indian the Storm of Fire (259 views). Best month, December 2021, 33 views.
Website’s original insights and new evidence:
The thing that makes family history interesting and exciting is that you never know what you will find. It is what it is. My research is continually seeking new twists and surprises along the way. My website presents new information that challenges current historical concepts.
Chapter 1. Who maybe was and who was not the father of Thomas, Edmond and William Chamberlain? What we learn from Y-DNA. Evidence that the baby, Francis Chamberlain, Jr. was born during his voyage on the Bona Nova.
Chapter 3. Evidence that Francis Chamberlain’s family and his servants moved to Barbados.
Chapter 5. The Chamberlain Story write-up of the Salem witch trials has made this post my most popular chapter.
Chapter 7. Evidence of the reality of the “Paugus” John Chamberlain story at Battle of Lovewell’s Pond. And, evidence that the date of the Battle of Lovewell’s Pond was May 8, 1725. (not May 9 as Fanny Hardy Eckstrom claimed)
Chapter 9. New information on the naming of Chamberlain Lake and clearing Chamberlain Farm in Maine.
Chapter 10. There were two John Chamberlains in Westmoreland NH in the 1700s. They have been confused as the same person. One is the son of Thomas the other is the son of Henry. The Chamberlain Story has sorted out who is who.
Chapter 14. Why Spencer Chamberlain’s blue eyes and his family’s connection to Maine is evidence that his mother Winona was Penobscot. This chapter presents a consecutive history of the North Eastern Indian tribes. My answer to a controversy: Did Penobscot Chief Joseph Orono actually live to be 113?
Chapter 15. Discovered that Increase Chamberlain, Jr. lived in Glover, Vermont where he died in 1810. Also, evidence showing Spencer Chamberlain and others were living in his household in 1790 and 1800. Nevertheless, Increase and Susannah were not Spencer’s parents.
Chapter 16. What is the path Spencer Chamberlain ran from Runaway Pond to the Mill in 1810.
Chapter 18. Discovered evidence that Alonzo Chamberlain was an agent for the underground railroad, and that Glover, Vermont was an UGRR station between Hardwick and Barton.
Chapter 22. The inspiring story of two missionaries who opened a new area of Clay County, Iowa. They covered the whole County by foot and served without “purse or script.” It is the untold story of how they taught Harry and Mary Chamberlain the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Chapter 25. Harry Chamberlain took the stand on April 13, 1925. He was a secret witness for the defense. Mark Collins had already been tried in the press and found guilty. Though never convicted in a court of law, he was viewed by nearly everyone as a cold-blooded murderer and possibly a serial killer. Harry’s testimony sent shock waves through the Salt Lake Valley and beyond.
Original Insights in Extra and DNA studies posts
Chapter E6. Explains Isaac Newtons religious beliefs and why they were his deepest secret. Also proves that Isaac Newton was not an Arian, nor did he believe he was “called of God” to interpret Bible prophecy as some have claimed.
Chapter E8. What is the family and maiden name of Rebecca Chamberlain? Is it Shelley or Addington? The Chamberlain Story analysis determines which is most likely.
Chapter D1. The study of Y-DNA to find the Chamberlain family groups that father-to-son lines connect them to Normandy before the Norman conquest of England in 1066.
Chapter D2. The Chamberlain Story found segment on chromosome 9 from 23&me analysis that has been passed down from one of the parents of Thomas, Edmond and William Chamberlain who came to America in the 1600s.
Chapter D4. The Chamberlain Story documented the authors 0.1% African DNA segment traced to his fifth great-grandmother, Jean Mitchell, born in Scotland in 1755. Posted June 18, 2021.
The true identity of the father of Spencer Chamberlain
The father of Spencer Chamberlain (1786-1853) found! Be sure to study carefully Chapter 10 and Chapter 15. His father has been a subject of search and debate for over 80 years. This is based on new information found through the research of The Chamberlain Story. This information was confirmed by Ancestry DNA in Chapter D3.
Epic battles of American History told in detail in The Chamberlain Story website.
Chapter 6– The Battle of Lovewell’s Pond in Fryburg, Maine and the famous duel between the Indian Chief Paugus and John Chamberlain. 1725
Chapter 12– The Battle of Bunker Hill and the two Chamberlain brothers from Westmoreland NH who were in the middle of it. 1775
Chapter 17. The Battle of Plattsburgh and Lake Champlain was one of the most decisive battles of the War of 1812. The incredible story of how an optimistic British Navy was defeated by the American fleet and how 2000 American ground forces held off 14,000 elite British troops. In 1814, Spencer Chamberlain enlisted in the Vermont 31st Infantry.
The Chamberlain Story #76 on list of Feedspot.com’s Top 100 Genealogy Blogs (4-18-22)
The Chamberlain Story made Feedspot.com’s list of 100 Top Genealogy Blogs on April 17, 2018
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On April 17, 2018, The Chamberlain Story debuted on this list at #96.
Thank you for tuning in. I hope you enjoy my website.
Dennis Chamberlain
© Copyright Dennis D. Chamberlain, The Chamberlain Story, 2016. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of the written content of this site without express and written permission from the author and owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that credit is given to Dennis D. Chamberlain and direction to www.thechamberlainstory.com.
My Chamberlain connection is a DNA match with Paulina Burch Chamberlain, the Burch line.
She was married three times, one of her husbands she had children with, with was James Chamberlain, and he was born in Virginia, but I have been unable to connect him with Francis Chamberlain who came over on the Marmaduke. Do you have a James Chamberlain married to Paulina Burch?
Kandice Wallace
Hi Kandice, I am very interested in Chamberlain lines in Virginia. If they can be traced back at into the 1700s, they may be connected to Francis Chamberlain.
Thank you so much for these wonderful stories. We are from the William line of Chamberlains, I believe, and out family settled mostly around New York, Massachusetts, and then New Haven, CT. Alfred Chamberlain married a descendant of Samuel Huntington and settled us in New Haven. I am looking for more stories of our early ancestors and would love to hear more of your research. Can we post questions here, or do you have a preferred method?
Hello Thatcher, Thank you for information on your Chamberlain line. Yes, you are welcome to ask questions. I, or other readers, may be able to help.
This information is amazing and I plan to spend time reading it all. I believe I am “some number” great grand daughter of William and Rebecca “Shelley” “Addington” Chamberlain. My fraternal grandmother was adamant that she was related and through other family members and their family tree research I have details of their son Jacob and his wife? “Experience French” and the line through to me. I am hoping to fill in some blanks and possibly correct any mistakes.
Here’s the lineage I have: (Excuse my lack of ancestry verbiage knowledge.)
William and Rebecca Shelly “Addington” Chamberlain
Son-Jacob and Experience “French” Chamberlain
Grandson-Jacob and Suzanna “Stone” Chamberlain
1st GGson-Jacob and Lydia “Stone” Chamberlain (I found this odd considering the next one)
2nd GGson-Jacob and Lydia “Buck” Chamberlain
3rd GGson-Jacob and Deborah “Healey” Chamberlain
4th GGson-Jacob and Anne “Hunting” Chamberlain
5th GGdaughter-Ida “Chamberlain and William M Buzzell
6th GGson-Charles Abbot and Altha Blossom “Stetson” Buzzell
7th GGdaughter-Mernie Lida “Buzzell” and George Caswell Baker
8th GGson-George Caswell Jr. and Donna Kay “Carpenter” Baker
9th GGdaughter-Cassandra Marie “Baker” Crane (ME)
Hi Cassandra, Great genealogy information, thank you! Does your family have any information about Jacob, the son of William and Rebecca besides names and dates? That would be interesting. Not very much is known about the lives of the children of William and Rebecca Chamberlain.
From the record for I184 in the William Chamberlain tree, here is some information on Jacob.
There is more.
“He came to Newton with his father from Arlington about 1700. His name is among those on a protest dated May 20, 1720, against having but one school-house in the town. He was selectman in 1746.” [And many more offices.]
“CA News, Vol. 5, #3, p. 3, provides the following information. Jacob Chamberlain purchased the 120 acre Chamberlain homestead at Oak Hill, Newton, MA, of his mother and his brothers, on 16 Jul 1715, for which he gave bond for L300 for the settlement of the estate. On Jan. 25, 1720, he deeded Ebenezer Woodward five acres of land in Newton “at a place commonly called the River Meadows”, bounded on the south by the Charles River. In this deed his wife Susannah joined with [Middlesex Deeds, 21:239]. On 15 Jun 1725, he was one of the witnesses at Newtown to the deed from David Stowell of Newtown to William Chamberlain “of Dover within the provice of Main or Newhampshire.”
The Simon Stone Genealogy states, “On 22 Nov. 1723, Simon Stone, junior, Nathaniel Holden and wife Abigail, and Benjamin Stone (with advice and consent of his father), all of Groton, Stephen Farr and wife Sarah and Abraham Whitney and wife Mary, all of Stow, and Jacob Chamberlain and wife Susanna, both of Newton, convey to their brother Joseph Stone of Groton, all their rights in land in Groton late of their brother Isaac Stone, deceased, which he bought of John Davis of Groton on 16 Oct. 1721. (Original deed in possession of Hon. Arthur Parker(4) Stone of Belmont, Mass., a descendant of said Joseph(4) Stone).”
Cassandra,
Another Chamberlain site is https://worldchamberlaingenealogy.org/. They have a wealth of trees and articles from their 25 years of publication of the Chamberlain Key and the earlier publications of the two preceeding associations from the late 1800s on. I looked up your line in the William tree and tracked down to Charles Abbot Buzzell and Altha Blossom Stetson. That tree ends there with a note about 4 children. It would be great to have your information for the succeeding generations. Most of the generations have extensive notes, which includes sources and questions, etc. The Chamberlain Key is a good place to publish your genealogical articles. WCGS is a membership organization and has a annual membership fee. I think you can do a search as a guest.
Dennis,
thank you so much for the work you have done. My line is outlined in Clifford Smith’s book the Chamberlains and the Smiths @1934. My father’s brother Thad Chamberlain (1928-2020) was the last entry in the book. My father was Maurice Silloway Chamberlain Jr, (1938-1970) His father was Maurice Silloway Chamberlain Sr son of Thaddeus son of Nathaniel son of Nathaniel, son of Thaddeus of Worcester MA @ 1831, back to William and Rebecca then Francis Chamberlain of Billericay Essex England who died in Boston in 1623, I have ended my tree here even though the Chamberlain book I have goes back to the DeTanquervilles. Am I correct having Francis and Agnes Haiden as the parents of William, Henry and Edmond? I am trying to sort out where Smith’s book gets off track if it does. Also how can my brother and his sons enter into the Chamberlain DNA Project and since I was born a Chamberlain, can my son be a part of the project and do you have any other ideas for my DNA?
Hi Deborah, I also am descendant of William and Rebecca Chamberlain. Francis Chamberlain and Agnes Haiden may be the parents of Thomas, Edmond and William Chamberlain, but not Henry who is from a different line. Francis Chamberlain cannot be proven to be the father of the three brothers, however, he has not yet been disproven. If you are sure you are a descendant of William and Rebecca then your family’s Y-DNA will be similar to mine. My Y-DNA, based on my own study in chapter D1, shows my Chamberlain line may trace back to the De Tancarvilles of Normandy. You will need your brother, father or father’s brother Y-DNA to test your Chamberlain family line. Your son’s Y-DNA will show his father’s line.
Thanks for the comment and question,
Dennis Chamberlain
thanks, where can my brother upload his DNA/\?
The Y-DNA test is different than the regular DNA tests. It identifies markers on the Y chromosome. Only men have the Y chromosome which is always passed down from father to son.
On the index bar at the top of my website page, there is a link that shows various DNA tests. Click that link for more information. FamilytreeDNA labs do the Y-DNA tests.
If your brother has his Y-DNA test results, I will be able to tell you what is your Chamberlain line.
Good luck, Dennis
Right now is a great time to test as FTDNA has a DNA Day sale going on and prices are reduced. There is also a Chamberlain/Chamberlin/other spellings Project at FTDNA that can help with interpretation. We had three Chamberlains sign up for the Big Y test yesterday, which is a full sequencing of the Y chromosome.
Thank you for the information. I will be interested in the results of their “Big Y tests” if they want to share.
Dennis
Would the 23andMe test done by my brother give that information, or would he need to do another test?
What information are you looking for?
Dear Dennis, I am a Chamberlain by birth, I did the 23 & Me but it hasn’t really helped me find any ancestors. I know that a Great Grandpa was Fielding Chamberlain from Virginia but that is all I can find. I am interested in anything you might know! I also will share what I know.
Thank you, Loydaine Chamberlain Strock
Hi Loydaine, I am very interested in Chamberlain families who are from Virginia before 1800. Do you know if your family has been there that long? A Y-DNA test would tell which of 23 Chamberlain families your line is connected to. (See my Chapter D-1 The Chamberlain’s in America Y-DNA Link to William de Tancarville). The Y-DNA test would need to be taken by your father, brother or other Chamberlain male relative. Thanks for your post. Dennis Chamberlain
Yes I think so. I will need with to check my brother because at one time he took a DNA test, our Dad has passed away. From what I could find on my own it looked like we started from possible Thomas Chamberlain. I will go through what I know and send it to you.
Loydaine
There are many different Thomas Chamberlains both in Virginia and Massachusetts. There is only one kind of DNA test that will trace the family line from son to father to grand-father etc. to identify your Chamberlain family. It is called a Y-DNA test. Your brother or any of his sons could take the test to identify your Chamberlain family.
Fielding Chamberlain b. circa 1790 in Virginia is id I8551 in the files of the World Chamberlain Genealogical Society. Their trees have well over 100,000 Chamberlain entries. Fielding’s parents are listed there. There are other research materials and newsletters. Another resource is the FTDNA Chamberlain DNA project. I am a co-admin on that project.
Hi John, My brother is number 12318 in the FTDNA project. He had the Y DNA test in 2003. Thanks for your comments.
Dennis Chamberlain
Thanks Dennis,
Looks like you are deeply into data analysis! The FTDNA Chamberlain Project is getting deeper into using SNPs to inform us on family lines. Some of that information might shed some light on the STR analysis you have done. Most of the SNP info comes from folks that took the Big Y700 test. That also shows hundreds of STRs, by the way. I am working on a slide show for the September WCGS meeting and would be happy to share some of that if you were interested. You have my email.
My dad is gone and my brother is not really interested in this area. Leon Chamberlain III works with Vets who are in trouble! Fielding seems to be the favorite name of our great great grandparents! Until Great great grandpa named his only son Louis. My grandpa was then named Leon Early Chamberlain! so if this helps let me know. Loydaine Chamberlain Strock
Thanks Loydaine. Your lines ar in the WCGS database down through your children for the time when one of your family gets interested in genealogy. By the way you are I17246 in the trees.
My maternal grandmother was a Chamberlain. I believe my line goes 1) Thomas Chamberlain, 2) Samuel Chamberlain, 3) Samuel Chamberlain, 4) Samuel Chamberlain, 5) Thomas William Chamberlain, 6) Thomas William Chamberlain, 7) William Samuel Chamberlain, 8) Robert B Chamberlain 9) Godfrey Manse Chamberlain, 10) Hadley Godfrey Chamberlain, 11) Martha Isabelle Chamberlain, 12) Sandra Lee Peron, 13) Me
My 2x great grandfather Godfrey was an orphan at 3 years old. I believe that both his parents died of typhoid in 1847 in Bartholomew, Indiana. He was the youngest of 6. He and his siblings went to live with their maternal grandparents, James and Mary Reed after the death of their parents.
I would like to know more about my Chamberlain lineage.
Thank you
Renee,
Your mother is in the searchable files at the World Chamberlain Genealogical Society https://worldchamberlaingenealogy.org/ a footnote says she had 2 children. From her I can easily follow the line you mention back to your (7) William. There may be more of the tree with a little more searching.
So I am not your cousin?
Richard Chamberlain, of London
Birthdate: estimated between 1485 and 1545
Death: November 19, 1566
Place of Burial: London, Middlesex, England
Immediate Family: Husband of Chamberlain and Margaret Chamberlain
Father of Robert Chamberlain of London and John Chamberlain, “the letter-writer”
Occupation: ironmonger / politician / sheriff
John Chamberlain, “the letter-writer”
French: Jean De Tankerville, “the letter-writer”
Birthdate: estimated between 1545 and 1595
Birthplace: Braintree, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom
Death: 1611
Bedford, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom
Immediate Family: Son of Richard Chamberlain of London; Sir Richard Chamberlain; Chamberlain and Alice Chamberlain
Husband of Agnes De Tankerville
Father of John Richard Chamberlain
Brother of Robert Chamberlain of London
John Richard Chamberlain
Birthdate: 1595
Birthplace: Sandy, Central Bedfordshire, England, United Kingdom
Death: April 15, 1673 (77-78)
Sudbury, Middlesex, MA, United States
Immediate Family: Son of John Chamberlain, “the letter-writer”
Husband of Jane Chamberlain
Father of Richard Chamberlain
Interesting information. I don’t know if you are related to my line of Chamberlains. If you or one of your close family members have taken a Y-DNA test, the results would show how closely we are related. I wrote a post on my study of 26 Chamberlain family’s Y-DNA. http://www.thechamberlainstory.com/2018/07/20/chamberlain-dna-tancarville/
Dennis C
Hi Dennis,
My name is Renee Neale. I am researching my family history. My maternal grandmother’s name was Martha Isabelle Chamberlain. I have been working on Ancestry and have done AncestryDNA, I have recently done DNA, including mtDNA, with FamilyTreeDNA. I have not received notice that it has processed yet. I am in the process of transferring GEDCOM to WikiTree and MyHeritage. I have not done 23 & me DNA. I belong to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants through my fathers line and it looks like I descend from about 8 passengers there, and I am in the process of starting verifications on my mother’s line to another 5 or 6. I also belong to the DAR, initially through another maternal line. My mother and aunt were starting to research their lines before they passed away. From their notes they believed that there may be a link to the Mayflower passengers Edward and Samuel Fuller. I believe that I may have found one to Edward Winslow through the line of Olivia Jane Smith. I have DNA matches on Ancestry to cousins which have Thomas William as 5th Great Grandfather. 10 people are saying that the father of Thomas William Chamberlain is another Thomas William Chamberlain. But the info on both Thomas William Chamberlains are lacking especially the elder. I am going through the papers of my grandmother but there isn’t very much about her chamberlain line before her grandfather as he was orphaned at 3 and then lived with his maternal grandparents the Reeds. He was the youngest of 5 siblings.
From what I can tell my family line goes:
13…Renee Delphene Stucky (Weber, Neale) 1958 – present
12…Sandra “Sandy” Lee Peron (1941 California – 2008 California) – Leroy “Lee” Frank Stucky
11…Martha Isabelle Chamberlain (1914 California – 2001 California) – Arlen Wilfred Peron
10…Hadley Godfrey Chamberlain (1882 Ohio – 1969 California) – Mary Mahetabel Stewart
9…Godfrey Manse Chamberlain (1844 Indiana -1892 Missouri) – Olivia Jane Smith
8…Robert Chamberlain (1800 Indiana – 1847 Indiana) – Elizabeth Reed
7…William Chamberlain (1772 Virginia – 1854 Indiana) – Amelia McIntosh
6…Thomas William Chamberlain (1744 Virginia – 1820 Kentucky) – Prudence Hammond
This is where it gets a little sketchy and I am still working on it:
5…? Thomas William Chamberlain (1720 Virginia – 1765 Virginia) – Mary Hughes
4…? Samuel Chamberlain (1685 Massachusetts – 1769 Virginia) – Anna Gilson
3…? Samuel Chamberlain (1665 Massachusetts – 1722/1721 ) – Elizabeth Emerson
2…? Samuel Chamberlain ( 1640ish Massachusetts – ?) – ?
1…?Chamberlain (? – ? Massachusetts) – ?
I am hoping that my line may be of interest to you, and that you may be able to help me with the early generations.
Thank you,
Renee Neale
Hi Renee,
At the end of Chapter 4 of my blog, I list all the sons of Thomas, Edmond and William Chamberlain. Thomas Chamberlain and Mary Parker had a son Samuel born in Woburn, MA 7 Oct. 1645. He is the earliest Samuel Chamberlain that I know of in the TEW Chamberlain family.
Dennis Chamberlain
Well it sounds like we are probably cousins. Perhaps someone else from my part of the line can shed more light on my particular line.
Yes, Your descendant Thomas is the brother to my 7th great grandfather William Chamberlain.
Thanks for the information.
Dennis C
In the trees at worldchamberlaingenealogy.org I did more looking. They have id I2151 Thomas Chamberlain married to Prudence Hammond. Thomas’s father is given as William married to Mary Hughes. There are pages of notes with these records discussing sources and theories. The father of William is given as Samuel or Thomas. Again lots of notes that would likely be of interest. The WCGS is a membership organization but the annual dues is only $25. If you have not joined the FTDNA Chamberlain project that might be useful and free.
Cousin Dennis,
William and Rebecca are my 9th great grandparents. Thanks for these amazing stories! Last year, my 5th grade children went to Jamestown on a class field trip. They shared your story with several classmates. Thank you!
Stay healthy,
Terri
Thanks, that made my day!
Dennis
Hello, do you have information about a Chamberlain line in Pennsylvania? I am looking for information about an ancestor and have hit a dead end. My grandmother was Ruth Chamberlain (1911-2003), daughter of Charles Chamberlain (1887-1965), son of Thomas Chamberlain (1851-1927), son of Thomas Chamberlain (1810-1893), son of James Chamberlain (1782-1871), son of Thomas Chamberlain (1750-?) and that is where I’ve hit the roadblock. All but the Thomas of 1750 lived in Pennsylvania. I don’t know where that Thomas was born. Can you point me in the right direction?
My maternal grandmother’s maiden name was Anna Chamberlain and I’m pretty sure that I’m descended from William and Rebecca Chamberlain as long as the John that I found for my great grandfather’s grandfather is the same as the one that was listed as the son of a Benjamin III. The only difference was I couldn’t confirm the B as the middle initial of his my actual ancestor’s name.
I’ve been researching the ancestry of a friend who knows very little about the paternal line of her family, the Chamberlains of Massachusetts and Vermont, who eventually settled in Albion and Jackson counties, Michigan.
I’ve researched the ancestry for other friends (just because I really like it), and when she shared with me the little that she knew, I was happy that she accepted my offer to discover what I could about her Chamberlain line.
When I do this, my intent is not on how far back I can go into their history, but rather the accuracy of the information and documentation I’m presenting to them. So far I’ve reached her 3rd great grandfather, Alfred Benjamin Chamberlain Sr. (Benjamin). He was born 1758 in Templeton, Worcester, MA, and died 1844 in Dummerston, Windham, VT. His wife was Martha (Patty) Wheelock (1760-1817). My friend is a descendant of their son, Cyrus C. Chamberlain 1796-1867. Cyrus’ wife was Lefa Stockwell 1798-1861. They both died in Brattleboro, Windham ,VT.
I have a lot of documentation for Benjamin, but where things go grey is who his parents were. In the book titled Early Settlers of New York State, Their Ancestors and Descendants, Volume I, by Janet Wethy Foley, originally published in 1942, is published on page 685 additional family information for Reuben Chamberlain provided by Mrs. Grace E. Chamberlain, Reuben’s great granddaughter. Grace wrote that Benjamin Chamberlain was the son of John, John the son of Thomas, Thomas the son of Samuel, Samuel the son of Thomas Chamberlain, the emigrant. There are some records that read that Benjamin’s father is John, mother is Mary (Slanter-Stanton?), other information states his father was Abraham.
I’ve read much of your interesting and valuable information, as well as many other publications regarding the five Chamberlain emigrants that arrived in British Colonial America in the 17th century, and of course the publications on the Tancarville family of Normandy. It’s fascinating, but I’m not ready to leap to her familial relationship to Thomas the emigrant without much more documentation and evidence.
So….my question, have you come across this particular Chamberlain line (since there are, as you write, about 12 unrelated lineages), and if so, is it possible to direct me to where I might start digging again?
Thank you so much for your consideration.
My 7th great-grandfather was Edmund Chamberlain (1617-1696) who was married to Mary Turner (1626-1669). I’m wondering if my family connects with yours so I can find out more about my Chamberlain/lin line. Geni. com has Edmund’s parents as “Unknown Chamberlain (1589-1623)” and Agnes __?__ Chamberlin (1591- bef 1621).
My line going down from Edmund is : John (1653), Jacob (1690), Dea. Abiel (1734), Ephraim (1770), Ephraim (1808), Edward C. (1842) (my great grandfather)
I don’t mean to make a lot of work for you, but if you recognize Edmund & Mary or their son John & wife Hannah Burdett, as being on your tree, then I’d be able to figure out who “Unknown Chamberlain” was.
Thanks, “Heidi” C. Stevenson
Hi Harriet,
My 7th great grandfather was William, brother of Edmond. I tell a bit about Edmond Chamberlain in Chapter 2 and Chapter 4. (see Table of Contents).
If any of your Chamberlain male relatives have done the Y-DNA test, please let me know. (see Chapter D1). This may give some interesting information since you seem to have a well documented paper line from Edmond.
Thanks for your comment. Dennis Chamberlain
I am directly related to Henry and Jane Chamberlain, William’s parents. Thank you writing about our family. I have never heard about this before. Here is my Chamberlain line:
Henry and Jane
John 1633-1667 William’s brother
Henry 1658-1688
John 1688-1739
Richard 1723-1789
Stout 1757-1839
Isaac 1780-1868
William 1809-1871
Samuel 1832-1893
Robert 1871-1947
Marvin 1911-1997 My father
Hi Julie, Your family’s may be a different William. If your brother, father or other male Chamberlain relative has done their Y-DNA, it would be interesting. Thanks for your information and comment. Dennis Chamberlain
Hi Dennis,
My name is Shanna Chamberlain and I have a family tree book that was written by my family 1972 and it notes all of the initial names in this article: Francis (Marmaduke, 1621), Henry, Richard, Thomas, Edmund, William. It also notes the likely brothers Thomas, Edmund & William—but insufficient information was found on these three. It looks as though these link “through the female lines back of Otis Chamberlain’s parents. Let me know if this would be of interest to you. I would love to connect!
Hi Shanna, Yes it would be interesting to make a connection. How is Otis Chamberlain related to you? Do you know where and when Otis Chamberlain was born?
Thanks, Dennis Chamberlain
I am a direct descendant to William Chamberlain who came to America. His progeny my great-great-grandfather also a William Chamberlain came to Iowa in the 1840s specifically Marion, Iowa. His son Lowell Chamberlain my great-grandfather came to Des Moines, Iowa and started the Chamberlain medicine company. His son my grandfather started a real estate company here in Des Moines, Chamberlain Kirk and Cline real estate company.
His first daughter Mary Chamberlain married my father Donald Sherinian.
I am also a direct descendant of William and Rebecca, Daniel and Mary, Thomas and Abigail, John and Winona, Spencer and Millie, Alonzo and Betsy. My great-grandfather Harry Chamberlain, like your family, moved to Iowa. His story is in my blog Chapter 19.
If you know your line from William, I am sure many of my readers would be interested. Spouses, dates and locations would also be helpful.
Thanks for your comment,
Dennis Chamberlain
I had my DNA done and I am a descendant from both Henry and one of the 3 brothers, I can of course go clear back on Henry but I stop at my gr gr grandfather Chalian Chamberlain He married Lucinda Pierce and both were born in New Jersey I can find no one with that first name so Im wondering if his first name is really something else. There are all kinds of records of them in Pike County, Pennsylvania but I cant find any death certificates for them or birth in New jersey. I do have a marriage from New Jersey. I could really use some help here.
I believe that i descended from William. My great grandfather was Ford Chamberlain. My Grand father was Charles S Chamberlain he married a daughter of John Spencer named Ella Spencer. My father was Ernest Romaine Chamberlain, born in Pa in 1899, died in 1993. His parents both died in 1914. He had several (12) , brothers and sisters if I remember right. Even though many of the younger ones were adopted, my great grandfather John Spencer kept them in touch with one another and we Chamberlain family reunions while we were growing up.
Ford Chamberlin b Feb. 19 1841 is id I7653 in the files of the World Chamberlain Genealogical Society. It lists his ancestry as going back to Edmund, and you are id I13043 . There are interesting notes on your line. That tree shows your line going back to Edmund one of the three brothers which included William.