My grandfather, Harry Ellis Chamberlain, and other family members have been trying to find the parents of Spencer Chamberlain for more than eighty years. In 1934, Harry hired a genealogist to help him find Spencer and his parents in Westmoreland, NH. Merton T. Goodrich studied the 1790 U. S. census record and compared it with known birth records. He suggested Spencer might be the son of Amos Chamberlain, Increase Chamberlain, Jr., or Job Chamberlain. In his twenty-two page, hand written report he presented the following conclusions:
“All of these records prove these points. Spencer Chamberlain may have been the son of Amos, Increase Jr., or Job Chamberlain. The name of his father cannot be limited to one of these three until we can prove that his parents remained in Westmoreland until after 1790. It seems most reasonable to assume that they did. If so, Spencer’s father nor grandfather was a John Chamberlain”.1
Harry Chamberlain did not accept these conclusions because he had listened to many stories from his grandfather and other family members and was certain that Spencer’s father was named John.
Spencer Chamberlain died in 1853 and was buried in Westlook Cemetery in Glover, Vermont. Some years later, the Phillips family made the following notation in Westlook Cemetery records for Spencer Chamberlain: “67 yrs. ‘Runner for Run Away Pond’ Son of John E. & Winona (War of 1812 f/h)”.18
The son and grandson of Paugus John
Harry Chamberlain, disappointed that he was unable to find Spencer’s father in Westmoreland, then studied the descendants of Paugus John Chamberlain to see if a connection with Spencer could be made.
Everyone loves the story of Paugus John the Indian fighter. It has been a part of our family tradition for almost 100 years. In 1925, John Harry Chamberlain mentioned Paugus John in his memoirs. A. C. Phillips told the story of Paugus John in his article, “Spencer Chamberlain’s Ancestors”. And, in 1929, Harry Alonzo Phillips told in poetry of John Chamberlain who “was of Indian fighting fond, and joined the crew at Lovewell’s Pond”.2
I believe that the story of Paugus John is, and always will be, an important part of our family history. The story of the battle of Lovewell’s Pond and John Chamberlain’s duel with Chief Paugus has been retold and defended in The Chamberlain Story in chapters six through eight.
Paugus John(1) had a son, John(2) who also had a son John(3).3 Hundreds of hours have been spent by family members (myself included) in an attempt to connect one of these Johns to Spencer Chamberlain in Westmoreland.
John(2) was born in 1719 in Groton MA and would be 67 when Spencer was born. He married Rachel Lawrence and they had four children including a boy named John(3) born in 1752. Unfortunately, records indicate John(3) died in 1773 in Pepperell, Mass., about 13 years before Spencer Chamberlain was born. Rachel died in 1756 in Pepperell, and John(2) remarried Mary Patch in 1758 in Groton, MA. They had three children born between 1762 and 1770.3 I have not verified this information, but unless there are major errors in time and location, the odds of one of these men being the father of Spencer are slim.
There are no records that show any of these John Chamberlains were ever in Westmoreland, New Hampshire.
The Increase Chamberlain, Jr. family connection
In October 2014, I received an email from Joan Alexander, Secretary of the Glover Historical Society. She was working on some Glover, Vermont town notes where she found the following obscure message:
June 18, 1810: “Voted that there be a committee of three chosen to take care of the Widdow (sic) Chamberlin and take measure to remove her to Stockbridge if she will go”.4
This is what Harry Chamberlain was looking for 80 years ago! It was a major break in connecting some parents to Spencer Chamberlain in Westmoreland! However, it was only the first piece of the puzzle. Who was widow Chamberlain? and where is Stockbridge? I didn’t know.
Joan sent another email: “Have you ever heard of Increase Chamberlin? Perhaps he was the widow’s husband?”5 I didn’t have a clue.
My daughter Lara reminded me that she had found a record which showed that Jedediah Chamberlain had owed money to Increase and Spencer Chamberlain. “Widow Chamberlain” was Susannah Chamberlain who was the daughter of Jedediah Chamberlain and the widow of Increase Chamberlain, Jr, (Susannah and Increase Jr. were first cousins). Jedediah and his family lived in Stockbridge, Vermont.6
Increase Chamberlain, Jr also showed up in other Glover town meeting records. He took the Freeman’s Oath in September 1806. Also, in March, 1808 he was voted in as a Surveyor of the Highways.5 All genealogical records in Ancestry.com showed Increase Chamberlain, Jr. died in Stockbridge. I now held a piece knowledge completely unexposed to the world wide web. Increase Chamberlain, Jr. lived in Glover, Vermont, where he died in June, 1810.
Was Harry Chamberlain’s genealogist, Mr. Goodrich right? Was Spencer Chamberlain living in the household of Increase Chamberlain, Jr.?
Yes. In 1790, Increase, Jr. and his wife Susannah were both only 24 years old. They were heading a household of six in Westmoreland NH. The census record showed for the household of Increase Chamberlain, Jr.: (males 16 & over = 1), (males under 16 = 2), and (all females = 3).7 Who these people were was a mystery.
Miss Etta Chamberlain’s 1896 letter from her Aunt Pamelia Cutler
I took six months off from publishing my blog to search for additional information on this and other stories. In March 2017, I received a packet of information and documents from the Historical Society of Cheshire County, New Hampshire. The letters of Ella E. Abbott came through with exactly what I was looking for– confirmation that Thomas Chamberlain of Westmoreland had a son named John.9
In addition to this confirmation, was an unexpected bonus. In 1896, in a letter to her niece, Pamelia S. Cutler of Randolf, Vermont wrote:
“Your grandmother Dickerman’s (Tryphena Chamberlain Dickerman’s) father was my father’s (Jotham Chamberlain’s) oldest brother (Increase Chamberlain, Jr.) He married my grandfather’s (Jeddediah Chamberlain, Jr’s) sister Susan (Susannah Chamberlain). She was my mother’s aunt. They had five children; Lottz (Charlotte), Spencer, Tryphena, Vilors (Villars) and Milly.”10
While I do not believe that Increase Jr. and Susannah are Spencer’s father and mother, it is now certain that he was living with them in Westmoreland when he was four years old as recorded in the 1790 census, and at age 14 in Stockbridge, in 1800. Pamelia Cutler, in her letter, proves that this Spencer Chamberlain is our relative when she added: “Spencer married and lived in Glover, Vt.”10
Increase Chamberlain’s Stockbridge Winsor Vermont 1800 Census
The 1800 census for Increase Chamberlain Sr. and Increase Chamberlain Jr. may be hard to find because the hand writing was hard to read and the indexer recorded both names as Incran Chamberlain.
The 10 column headings for this census are Free White Males ages 0-10, 10-16, 26-45, 16-26, 26-45, 45 or over, and for Females the same.
The Increase Chamberlain Jr. household members showed in the following categories: Males 0-10 = 2 unknown males, 10-16 = 2 Spencer age 14 and another unknown male, 26-45 = 1 Increase Jr. age 34, Females 0-10 = 2, Susannah and Milly ages 2 and 0, 16-26 = 1 Charlotte, 45+ = 1 Winona.
Increase Chamberlain, Jr’s household in 1800
The Chamberlains left Westmoreland and a large group of them moved to Stockbridge, Vermont sometime between 1795 and 1800. The 1800 census shows eight Chamberlain households in Stockbridge including Jedediah Chamberlain, his sons Jedediah Jr. and Josiah; and also Increase Chamberlain Sr., and his sons Amos, Thomas, Isaac and Increase Chamberlain, Jr.
Stockbridge, Vermont
The Pamela Cutler letter, and the 1800 census for Increase Chamberlain, Jr. give us a clue of who was living in the that household in 1790 Westmoreland.
The 1790 Westmoreland census record showed: (males 16 & over = 1) Increase Chamberlain Jr. age 24; (males under 16 = 2) Spencer and unknown male child; (all females = 3).7 These are likely Susanna the wife, Charlotte possibly Spencer’s older sister, and Winona Spencer’s mother. Increase’s wife was for some unknown reason missing in the 1800 census. Two more boys and two more girls were added to the household between 1790 and 1800. The two baby girls were Susannah born in 1798 and Milly born in 1800. However, the two males have not yet been identified.
There was a 45+ aged female in the 1800 Stockbridge census who apparently was also a part of the Increase Chamberlain Jr. household in 1790 Westmoreland. In 1800, Increase’s wife Susannah was 34. The mother of Increase and the mother of Susannah were living with their husbands. So, who was this 45+ woman?
Spencer Chamberlain’s mother
We know Spencer was part of the Increase Chamberlain household. If Spencer’s mother was living, we would certainly expect her to be with her young son. The 1790 and 1800 censuses both account for the location of Spencer’s mother. No other known person would fit her age category.
The 45+ woman in the household presents a strong case that Spencer’s Indian mother Winona was living with him. This information provides more evidence that Increase and Susannah were not his parents, and for Harry Chamberlain’s understanding that Spencer’s father’s name was John. It also shows that Winona was of the older generation born in 1755 or earlier and therefore 31 years old or older at the time of Spencer’s birth.
It was widely known in his day that Spencer Chamberlain was of Indian descent. He had long black hair and blue eyes.12 Spencer’s daughter, Jeanette Chamberlain Phillips, wrote in her poem in 1860, “Though fair in the face and soft was his hair, the blood of the red man still lingered there”.13
It is clear that Susannah, daughter of Jedediah Chamberlain and Ester Clark, was not Spencer’s Indian mother.
Spencer Chamberlain’s father
If Spencer and his mother were living with Increase Chamberlain, Jr. it is natural to assume that he would be a close relative. Increase Jr. and Susannah were first cousins. Both were grandchildren of Thomas Chamberlain of Westmoreland. John was the son of Thomas and therefore the uncle of Increase Jr. Increase Chamberlain Jr. and also of his wife Susannah and Spencer. They were all first cousins, though Spencer was 20 years younger.
I wrote previously, The Chamberlain families of Westmoreland. There were two Chamberlain families in Westmoreland and both families had a son named John. Thomas’ son John was one of the grantees of Westmoreland in 1752. He was born in Newton, MA which places him as the sixth son Thomas and Abigail Chamberlain and therefore, born about 1739. That means he was about 47 when Spencer was born.
We have no record of John after 1752, other than knowing that his son Spencer was born about 1786. Apparently, John died or left the family for unknown reasons between 1785 and 1790.
Did Spencer Chamberlain have a sister?
Charlotte Chamberlain must be one of the three females living in Increase, Jr.’s 1790 household. In the 1800 census she was age 16 to 25. Therefore, she was born 1784 or earlier. We learned her identity in the letter of Pamela Cutler. “Lottz married Uriah Smith and lived in Enfield, (New Hampshire).”10 Her full married name was Charlotte Chamberlain Smith, born about 1784.
She was the third wife of Uriah Smith. He was born in 1771 and his wives were Catherine Vail 1777-1803, Susan Peck 1788-1828, and Charlotte Chamberlain 1784-1853. He and his first wife had at least two children Stephen Smith b. 1796, and Abraham Vail Smith b. 1799.
Apparently, Charlotte did not have any children. In the 1840 Enfield, NH U. S. census there were 2 males and 1 female between age 15-20. In 1850, Charlotte was 65 and Uriah 79. One child, Helen Smith age 6, apparently Uriah’s granddaughter, was living with them.
Increase Sr. died in 1813, three years after the death of his son Increase Jr. The wording of Increase Sr’s will seems to put Charlotte in a different category than either the children of Increase Senior or the heirs of Increase Junior. Charlotte was unmarried and apparently living with Increase Chamberlain Sr. in 1813. Unfortunately, the will did not mention Spencer nor list Increase Jr’s heirs.
Increase Sr. left ten dollars to each of his living children and then: “To the heirs of my son Increase late deceased to be equally divided among them the sum of ten dollars.”
In June 1815, some of Increase Sr’s living heirs were listed: “It appears that the deceased in his life time took receipts of the following, heirs full of their legacies…viz of Nathaniel Whitcomb the husband of Betsey (Chamberlain) Whitcomb- of Jotham Chamberlain- of Isaac Chamberlain- of Amos Chamberlain and of Abigail (Chamberlain) Packard. That said Executor has paid to Charlotte Chamberlain her share of a legacy.“
Spencer Chamberlain’s move to Glover, Vermont
In her 1896 letter, Pamelia Cutler confirmed that Increase Chamberlain, Jr. married Susannah Chamberlain. She then listed five children that lived in their household. The list included “Spencer” who got “married and lived in Glover, VT”.
John Harry Chamberlain (Harry’s father) reported in a short biography: “It was in the year 1802 that the Chamberlains removed from Keene, New Hampshire.”16
We had always believed that Spencer Chamberlain moved to Glover, Vermont from Keene NH with the French family. However, we now know that Spencer moved from Westmorland to Stockbridge and then to Glover with Increase Chamberlain Jr. and his family. It appears, however, that 1802 is the correct year that they moved to Glover.
1802 Increase Chamberlain, Jr and his wife moved from Stockbridge to Glover, VT. This move included the 16 year-old Spencer.
June 10, 1802 Increase and Susannah’s daughter Tryphena Hodgkins Chamberlain was born in Glover, Vermont.14
September 18, 1804 Silas French purchased a large farm. This was probably the land east of the town of Glover that became known as Keene Corner. The document begins: “Know all men by these presents that I Joseph Skinner of Glover in the County of Orleans the State of Vermont, for and in considertion of the sum of Eight hundred and fifty Dollars current money of the United States received in full to my satisfaction of Silas French of Keene in the County of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire….”Signed sealed & Delivered in the presence of Silas French, Jr. and Ralph Parker” Signed-Joseph Skinner
July 17, 1805 A property in Glover was transferred for $150 to John Conant from Timothy Blood, Jr. It was signed by Timothy Blood, Jr. in the presence of witnesses Millie French and Ralph Parker.
1805 In a meeting held at Parker Settlement West Glover, Silas French took his freeman’s oath. These oaths were usually given in September.5
September 1, 1806 Increase Chamberlain took his freeman’s oath at same location in West Glover.5
1807 Daughter Villars Delia Chamberlain was born to Susannah and Increase, Jr.
March 7, 1808 Seven men were elected as Surveyor of Highways including Jonas Phillips and Increase Chamberlain.5
September 1, 1808 Fourteen men took their freedom oath including Spencer Chamberlain.5 The age of 21 was required. This is evidence that Spencer was born between September 1, 1786 and September 1, 1787.
March 28, 1809 Five men including Spencer Chamberlain were chosen town Haywards.5
June 6, 1810 A group men with shovels opened an outlet to Long Pond to encourage the operation of the local grist mill. Quicksand in the new channel soon became a chasm that let the whole lake of 2 billion gallons run down the valley toward the mill other structures.
June 18, 1810 In the Glover town meeting a vote was taken “that there be a committee of three chosen to take care of Widow Chamberlain (widow of Increase Chamberlain, Jr.) and take measure to remove her to Stockbridge if she will go.”5
1810 The U. S. Census was taken after the death of Increase Chamberlain. Spencer Chamberlain’s household in Glover included himself, his wife and a male child under the age of 10. Could this be another child of Increase and Susannah? It is believed that Spencer and Millie’s first child was their daughter Jeanette born in 1811. There are now four census male children who can not be identified.
Susannah Chamberlain (Increase Jr’s widow), was in the 1810 census in Stockbridge, Vermont. This included Susannah and three females age 10 or under. These girls would be Milly b. 1800, Tryphena b. 1802, and Villars b. 1807.
Census records for members of the Increase Chamberlain, Jr. Household, 1790, 1800 & 1810
Increase Chamberlain, Jr. b. 22 January 1766 in Westmoreland, NH, f. Increase Chamberlain and m. Rachel Davis. Increase, Jr., married Susannah Chamberlain b. 8 April 1766 in Westmoreland, NH, f. Jedediah Chamberlain, Sr. and m. Ester Clark.
Increase, Jr. b. 22 January 1766 (1790 Westmoreland and 1800 Stockbridge census)
Susanna b. 8 April 1766 (1790 Westmoreland census, 1810 Stockbridge census)
Charlotte b. 1784. (1790 Westmoreland and 1800 Stockbridge census)
Spencer b. 1786 (1790 Westmoreland, 1800 Stockbridge, 1810 Glover census)
Possibly Spencer’s mother Winona b. 1755 or before, (1790 Westmoreland and 1800 Stockbridge census)
Unknown male b. 1785-1790, (1790 Westmoreland, 1800 Stockbridge census)
Unknown male b. 1791-1800, (1800 Stockbridge census)
Unknown male b. 1791-1800, (1800 Stockbridge census)
Unknown male b. 1800-1810 (1810 Glover census)
Susannah b. 1798, (1800 Stockbridge census)
Milly b. 25 March, 1800, (1800 & 1810 Stockbridge census)
Tryphena b. June 10,1802 (1810 Stockbridge census)
Villars b. 1807 (1810 Stockbridge census)
Oliver Chase was married to Susannah Chamberlain, then to her daughter Milly
My daughter Lara had been trying to figure out the relationships of Oliver Chase, Susannah, Milly and Villars. The letter of Pamela Cutler shed light on this subject: “Increase Chamberlain died and his widow (Susannah) married Oliver Chase. In a few years she died and he married her daughter Milly… Villars married a Mr. Sheldon and lived in the State of N. Y.”10
After Susannah died, Oliver Chase married her daughter Millie Chamberlain 8 May 1836 in Stockbridge, Vermont.17
“Villars married Mr Sheldon and lived in New York”
Hiram Spear Sheldon b. Feb 1800, Poultney, Rutland, Vermont, married Villars Delia Chamberlain b. about 1807. Children of Hiram Sheldon and Villars Chamberlain:
1- Eliza L. Sheldon b. abt. 1827 Hampton, Washington, NY.
2- Hiram Increase Sheldon b. abt. 1829.
3- William Sheldon b. 15 November 1830 Stockbridge VT. d. 11 Feb 1902 Broadhead, Green, WI.
4- Dillon Darius Sheldon b. September 1833, Stockbridge, VT., d. 23 August 1923 Little Falls, Morrison, MN.
5- Increase Jeremiah Sheldon b. Abt. 1835 Hampton, Washington, NY, d. 14 Apr 1894 Burke, Franklin, NY.
6- Edward Sheldon b. 1837 Hampton, Washington, NY; George W. Sheldon 1841 Hampton, Washington NY.
Millie Chase f. age 70 and Villars Sheldon f. (not male) age 63 shared a household in 1870 census, Chateaugay, Franklin, New York. Millie and Villars are sisters.
Family of Jedediah Chamberlain Sr.11
Jedediah Chamberlain is the son of Thomas Chamberlain , b. 1703 and Abigail Pierce b. 1706.11a Jedediah was christened at Stoneham Congregational Church 12 June 1737. He married Ester Clark born 4 May 1739. They were married about 1758.
Children of Jedediah Chamberlain and Ester Clark:11
1- Sibel Chamberlain, b. 3 April 1759, Westmoreland, NH.
2- Josiah Chamberlain, b. 20 May, 1760, Westmoreland, NH.
3- Ephraim Chamberlain, b. 23 Sept 1762, Westmoreland, NH.
4- Jedediah Chamberlain, Jr., b. 20 March 1764, Westmoreland, NH.
5- Susannah Chamberlain, b. 8 April 1766, Westmoreland, NH.
6- Eunice Chamberlain, b. 28 March 1768, Westmoreland, NH.
7- Hudah Chamberlain, b. 9 July 1770, Westmoreland, NH.
8- Isaac Chamberlain, b. 31 Aug 1772, Westmoreland, NH.
9- Sally Chamberlain, b, 28 Sept. 1774, Westmoreland, NH.
10- Ester Chamberlain, b. 28 March 1776, Westmoreland, NH.
Children of Jedediah Chamberlain and Submit Osgood, b. about 1763. They were married about 1800, Stockbridge, VT.11
Correction: I have read that some genealogists believe that these children belong to Jedediah, Jr. However, the census records show these are the children of Jedediah, Sr. Also, these were listed as children of Jedediah Sr. by Pamila S. Cutler in her 1896 letter. Her mother told her that Jedediah Sr. had 19 children by his two wives.10
1- Abner Chamberlain, b. about 1801, Stockbridge VT.
2- Daniel Chamberlain, b. 10 January 1802, Stockbridge VT.
3- Asa Chamberlain, b. 15 December 1803, Stockbridge VT.
4- Roxy Chamberlain, b. 1 January 1807, Stockbridge VT.
5- Elijah Chamberlain, b. Stockbridge VT.10
Family of Increase Chamberlain, Sr.15
Maplewood Cematery, Stockbridge VT
Increase Chamberlain, Sr b. 1741 in Westmoreland, NH, d. August 24, 1813, m Rachel Davis b. 1739, d. 20 March 1813 Stockbridge, VT. Children of Increase Chamberlain Sr., and Rachel Davis:
1- Rachel Chamberlain- b. 15 July 1764, m. Samuel Dean
2- Increase Chamberlain, Jr. b. 22 January 1766 Westmoreland, d. June, 1810 Glover, VT.
3- Amos Chamberlain b. 10 December 1767, d. 4 July 1844.
4- Abigail Chamberlain b. 15 September 1769, d. 16 April 1819, m Joseph Packard
5- Thomas Chamberlain b.29 March 1772
6- Elizabeth Chamberlain b. 17 May 1774, m. Nathaniel Whitcomb
7- Benjamin Chamberlain b. 5 April 1776
8- Azubah Chamberlain b. 10 April 1778, m. Lot Whitcomb
9- Jotham Chamberlain b. 28 Aug 1780, d. 15 Aug 1847, m. Susan Chamberlain
10- Isaac Chamberlain b. About 1781, m. Arvilla Bailey
To be continued…. Chapter 16- Spencer Chamberlain and the Runaway Pond
Other stories about life in Glover Vermont
Chapter 17- Spencer Chamberlain in the Battle of Plattsburgh The Chamberlain family and Orleans County, Vermont during and after the War of 1812. Spencer Chamberlain joined the Vermont 31st Infantry in 1814. Following his unit gives us a good idea of what he experienced before and during the Battle of Plattsburgh.
Chapter 18- The Secret Life of Alonzo Chamberlain The story of Alonzo Chamberlain, told here for the first time, was previously unknown to his extended family, his home town of Glover, and to the historians of Vermont. This chapter includes a tour of the house and farm today, where Alonzo Chamberlain lived 1843-1855. Also, see the surprising significance of Alonzo’s 1860s photo album.
© Copyright Dennis D. Chamberlain, The Chamberlain Story, 2017. 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.
References:
1- Merton T. Goodrich, Genealogist, Search for Spencer Chamberlain’s Ancestry, To Harry Chamberlain, November 3, 1934.
2- Harry Alonzo Phillips, History of Glover and Runaway Pond, 15 June 1929
3- Familyserch.org
4- Early town notes of Glover, Vermont. Email from Joan Alexander, Secretary of the Glover Historical Society, October 22, 2014
5- Abid., October 31, 2014
6- Windsor Co. Probate Hartford Dist. Woodstock, VT 1837, Vol. 12 p399.
7-1790 U. S. Census, Westmoreland, Cheshire County, New Hampshire
8- Familysearch.org. Thomas Chamberlain 2 August 1703, (notes, Park Hill Congregational Church records, Book 1 of Westmoreland NH at HSCC.)
9- Ella E. Abbott, Letter to Mrs. Chamberlain, 1932, Copy of hand written letter from the Historical Society of Cheshire County.
10- Pamelia S. Cutler of Randolf, Vermont, A letter to her niece, 1896, Type written copy provided by Miss Etta Chamberlain. From The Historical Society of Cheshire County.
11- Jedediah Chamberlain, http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com Updated 2005-02-05.
11a- CORRECTION of a correction!!: Source #11 gave a “correction” to the parents of Jedediah Chamberlain which is wrong. It states: “Jedediah’s father was Thomas b. 1714 and his mother was Loes Waters”, yet it gives no explanation, reason or source for this information. Jedediah was the son of Thomas b. 1703 and Abigail Pierce who lived in Westmoreland. Jedediah was with his father and brothers when they signed the petition for the NH grant January 30, 1750. He was about 13 years old, so he would be still living in the same town as his father. Ella E. Abbott knew the Chamberlain’s of Westmoreland and confirmed in her letters that Jedediah was the son of Thomas Chamberlain and Abigail Pierce. (For more information, see Chapter 10 The Chamberlain Families of Westmoreland, NH.)
12- Spencer Chamberlain Army discharge papers, 1815
13- Poem by Jeanette Chamberlain Phillips, daughter of Spencer Chamberlain
14- Edward D. Dickerman, Descendants of Thomas Dickerman, New Haven, 1897
15- Increase Chamberlain, Sr. Find a Grave Memorial, www.findagrave.com
16- Northwestern Iowa, Its History and Traditions, 1926. Iowa History Special Project, Http://iagenweb.org
17- Vermont vital records 1760-1954
18- Glover, Vermont Westlook Cemetery, Gravestone Inscriptions & Other Genealogical Data, Glover Historical Society, Glover, VT 05839, 2nd Edition, 2002, p46. Remarks from Phillips family records, compiled by Dick Brown, based on information from various family members, Phillips family Bibles, and vital records, etc., unpubished. p.240
I’ve search the Sheldon Magazine 1857 vol 5 pre-digital listings but found no Ascha or Hyde married to a Sheldon. So went to the Allen County Library site with its amazing digitization of Sheldon Family Association millions of original card files. Quite a bit on Hiram and Villars’ descendants, but no Ascha.
So tried Family Search. Sure nuff. Lots and lots – even connections to Chamberlain. Seems grandmother Ascha Arlene Hyde married Gerald Warren Sheldon, 7th? generation descendant of Jonathan and Mary Woodford? Sheldon. Jonathon is famous as last child 14th” I think, of progenitor Isaac 05 of Northampton MA. and the only child of Isaac’s 2nd marriage . There is some duplication of both Ascha and Gerald’s names on family search but good documentation so it can be straightened out. Also if the Welsh connection is through the Chamberlain line, that make a bit more sense to me as I have been trying for years to find some Welsh Sheldons. An old map shows a Job Sheldon owning a large hunk of land which seems to be a thriving ore mine.
Dennis – What a fascinating evening by-pass I have had in simply trying to recall the name of Hiram and Villars Sheldon’s son, Elder William Sheldon’s biographer. What worlds you have unfolded in the reporting on Villars’ parentage. I had long ago given up on just trying to keep her name properly spelled. Her husband Hiram is the son of my ancestor Thaddeus Sheldon and his first wife Ellis Green., thus brother (I think) to my ancestor Alba Sheldon who married Eliza Sanford of Poultney Rutland VT.
(At 89 I can fully appreciate Debra’s frustration with the digital and genetic world’s assurance of answers to our familial questions, but winced a bit at the hoped for Welsh Sheldon Native Indian connection. )
Thanks so much for your carefully researched approach to Villars complicated but interesting family.
Hi Ruth,
Thanks for your comment. I am glad you where able to find my site.
Dennis C
Hi Dennis! Sarah Bolton Thrasher just wrote in her notes that Increases Chamberlain Grandmother was an Indian princess, meaning a daughter of a chief. That Increases father was thought to be indian.
We could very well come from chief Joseph orono. His wife was full blood indian and the other Penobscot chief you mentioned.
She only got to Increase chamberlain and she did not get all names and towns. No mention of Glover, vermont.
Although she did know the Tribe very much so. They misplaced the note. A lady I talked to on the phone a few years ago that worked with Sarah Bolton Thrasher said they they knew but the lady at the time I spoke with her was very old. She said the Tribe is not far from me. I sent you pictures of both chiefs in your Facebook messenger.
I have other lines of naive indian lineage. I can be very difficult to impossible. Even many full bloods cannot find their tribes. I am proud Native indian / white mixed blood. But it would be nice to know the Tribes. Did you find Wales ancestry? Sarah Bolton Thrasher wrote Wales and indian descendent. Thank you Dennis. I wish I could do more. I am not well. At all. No cure. But this means alot to me. I want to know everything that is in me. The history. The culture. Yes, it can be painful. Emotionally.
Increase Chamberlain Sr’s father was Thomas Chamberlain. Thomas’s wife was Abigail Pierce.
Yes, Chief Joseph Orono was 3/4 French but married a full Indian. I believe they had two children but his son died quiet young. So there is a small chance.
No one know anything about the Glover connection unless they have read my post Chapter 15.
Dennis
Me Too!
Dear Dennis is Joseph orono your greatssss…grandfather he was chief. Penobscot tribe. Maybe he is mine too??. He had blue eyes and white but he look like full Penobscot. He had much features as them . He was Penobscot just some white too. Maybe french
Hi Debra, I glad you enjoyed this post on the family of Increase Chamberlain, Jr. My family has been looking this information about Spencer Chamberlain for 80 years. Much of the information in Chapter 15 and Chapter 10 when I wrote it was unknown. So these chapters probably contain the most up to date and accurate information available on Increase Chamberlain Jr. and his family, as well as Spencer Chamberlain and his father John. Also on the sons of Thomas Chamberlain and Abigail Pierce.
Spencer’s mother is known to our family as Winona. I wrote my speculation about her is in Chapter 14. Chief Joseph Orono of the Penobscots was 3/4 French. He had a French father and his mother was half French and half Indian. He had blue eyes. A French baron married two daughters of Chief Madockawando and was the father of about 14 children. I believe Winona was a descendant of Chief Madockawando and of Jean-Vincent de Abbadie who became third French Baron of Saint Castin.(Chapter 14) Thanks again for your comments, Dennis
I am related . My name is Debra L. Pray. I am related to chamberlain through my grandmother Achsa Hyde Sheldon . Increase chamberlain I guess had Native American indian in him also. I guess came from a daughter of a chief. Do not know the Tribe. I would love to know. Lineage
Hi Debra, Yes we are related, I am glad you wrote. Hiram Sheldon married Villars Chamberlain and they had five sons. Apparently, your grandmother, Achsa Hyde Sheldon, is a descendant of one of these sons. Villars’ father, Increase Chamberlain, Jr. was a cousin and step-father of my ggg grandfather Spencer Chamberlain.
I found a lot of new information on Increase Chamberlain, Jr. from my connection in Glover, Vermont. I learned that Increase lived in Glover from 1802 to his death in 1810. Therefore, Villars was most likely born in Glover, VT.
If you ever do your DNA on 23&me, let me know. It would be interesting to see if we have a connection.
Thank You, Dennis Chamberlain
Hi Dennis! It is wolder full to meet you. Many names are not on the genealogy I have that was written by Sarah Bolton Thrasher. She wrote in notes that Increases Chamberlain grand mother was daughter of a chief who married the first white man. Do you know what Tribe it may be? It means the world to me.
Also, she wrote Wales ancestry of Chamberlain.
She also wrote Increase chamberlain wife Rachel Chandler. I am not sure if it Jr or sr.
Sarah Bolton Thrasher passed away a few years ago. I did speak to a lady that worked with her and they did know the Tribe but misplaced the note.
You have names they did not get.
There may be Graves on South Lympus. Which might be in Bethel, vermont heading towards Randolph, Vermont. I may branch from Amos Chamberlain. Could you tell me more about this DNA. I have a older brother living in . What is number 23.? I have heard it is better to do DNA through a male.
I am 55 and disabled and not very well. This means alot to me. Thank you.
Hi Debra, My write up on Spencer Chamberlain’s Indian mother (Chapter 14) is speculation based on three facts. 1- Spencer Chamberlain had blue eyes, so his mother carried a blue allel. 2- Spencer Chamberlain had a close family connection to Maine, (Chapter 9). 3- Penobscots were friends of Americans during Revolutionary war.
I found two records that shows Amos Chamberlain married Sally Rogers in Maine Jan 1, 1788. See if you can find who in your family is the child of the Native American.
There are different DNA tests which give different types of information. Y-DNA will tell you if your
male Chamberlain relative is or is not a descendant of Thomas, Edmond or William Chamberlain. If he is, his test will be almost exactly the same as mine, (actually my brother’s Y-DNA test). An autosomal DNA test will give you an estimate of where all your various family ancestors came from. It will let you know of others who share some DNA with you. It may be an unknown sibling, cousin, 2nd cousin or more distant cousins. 23&me is the name of the DNA Test company my family has been using. I like 23&me because it shows your 23 chromosomes with an estimate of the nationality where each part of your chromosome originated. It will show if you share a segment of a chromosome with others who have taken the 23&me test. It may show that you have DNA markers from know Native Americans. I figure you and I are sixth cousins and it is possible we will share a small piece of DNA which came from our common ancestor Thomas Chamberlain or his wife Abigail Pierce. (Chapter 11). This could be useful information in solving family puzzles. Thanks for your comments. Dennis Chamberlain
Nice to meet you dennis. Forgive me of my writing. I am 55 and disabled but not very well. I live a very painful life. A Sarah Bolton Thrasher who passed away a few years ago worked on the genealogy among some others. She wrote in notes Wales Ancestry and Indian Descent through Increase Chamberlain whose Grandmother was full Indian daughter of a chief and that his father was thought to be Indian . Do not remember Tribe but knew the Tribe. I myself spoke with a lady who worked with Sarah Thrasher and she said they knew the Tribe but misplaced the note. Plus they there old age got their memory. She had Increase Chamberlain wife as Rachel Chandler. This might be increase Sr. I am not sure but I may come through Amos Chamberlain wife Caroline Baker. His father was Grandsire Isaac chamberlain sr. Wife Arvilla Bailey. They may be buried in Bethel, vermont on Lympus cemetery. But they could not find isaac but only his wife. I have older brother. As I would love our whole DNA done. As it will show everything in you I was told. I don’t know. Dennis how is it done if I get my brother to do it. ? They say it is better for a brother to do it. Then a female for some reason. Thank you. If you know the Tribe could please let me know. It means alot to me. I wish I could do more but I am too unwell.
Hi again, Increase Chamberlain Sr., married Rachel Davis. He is the brother of my gggg grandfather John and Increase Sr. is the father of Amos Chamberlain. See if you can find any written information on your Indian ancestor. It could help both of us.
A male relative is only needed in the Y-DNA test. (See my previous comment to you).Thanks, Dennis