Jeanette Chamberlain Phillips and the anniversary of Runaway Pond

Fifty years had passed since the big flood of 1810. On June 6,1860 county residents gathered to Glover’s North Church to commemorate the historic event. Five surviving participants attended as honored guests.¹  There is no record, but I am quite certain that Jeanette Phillips was there along with her three boys Spencer 16, Alonzo 14, and Franklin 12. After all, she had heard her father tell his experience during this tramatic event many times.

Spencer Chamberlain’s children would often gather together around the fireplace and coax their father to tell them stories. Their favorite was the one about the Runaway Pond. Their eyes would widen as they listened to their father tell of his race to get ahead of the massive flood to save the miller’s wife. Spencer Chamberlain passed away in 1853, but Jeanette had memorized the story and continued the tradition for her children.²

The Reverend Pliny H. White arose to give the keynote address. Would he mention the part of her father in the event? She listened in anticipation. White described the layout of the land and the situation of that day in exquisite detail. Then after about twenty minutes into his discourse he began to describe the flood:

“As the waters rushed impetuously down the valley the trees of the forest fell before them like the grass before the mower’s scythe…”³

She listened intently as he continued:

“Indeed, after the waters had once descended into the valley, their course through the dense woods was no faster than an active man could, and actually did run. Solomon F. Dorr….”³

Solomon F. Dorr??? What??? Solomon F. Dorr???  Jeanette’s mind went numb as White continues to tell of the heroic run of Solomon F. Dorr:

“He increased his speed, again got in advance of the torrent ran rapidly to the mill, crossed the river on the dam, which was an upright dam with a broad flat top, and rushed into the mill, shouting as he approached, with all the breath he could spare…”³

White’s sermon sent shock waves through her family. Jeanette Phillips knew her father’s story by heart, but she had not written it down. She went home and immediately began to write out the story in the form of a poem, “thinking it would be of interest to her descendants as time rolled on. For Spencer Chamberlain, her father, was called the hero on that occasion.”⁴

Her poem was published that year,

There is no public record of the dispute for many years. However, in 1875 the Express and Standard published an article by Judge Parker of Coventry titled “Reminiscences of the Early times in Orleans County”. Again he told the story with Soloman F. Dorr as the runner.⁵ Then in 1887, O. V. Percival published a news article giving credit for the heroic run to Spencer Chamberlain.⁶

By 1889 the dispute concerning the facts about the story of Runaway Pond had reached a fever pitch. At that time, E. T. Wilson sat down with Jeanette Chamberlain Phillips while she related to him in great detail her father’s eye witness account of the flood and his run from the pond to the mill.⁷

Mr. Wilson states that the incidents in his report from the time the party left the mill until it was carried away, “all of which Chamberlain saw,” was obtained from his daughter Mrs. Phillips who was 77 years of age.⁷

For many years, the debate continued as many came forward to tell stories. They had heard these from the perspective of their grandparents who had witnessed the flood. Wayne H. Alexander compiled the written accounts into his book Runaway Pond: The Complete Story. The material was kept in “as close to its original state as possible… We hope that in a particular twist of grammar or awkward turn of phrase, some scholar may find a new window on some of the historical problems created by the pond that ran away.”⁸

Truth and Poetry

The following verse is from Harry Alonzo Phillips’ poem: History of Glover and Runaway Pond.

The waters sweep the forest dale,
Huge isles of trees begin to sail
Proud woodland kings, erect they stand,
Floating along with no command.
With mighty volume- power of spray,
Half-acre lots are wrenched away,
And borne upon the foaming tide,
With heavy cargos on beside,
With crumbling, soon became a jam,
Of rocks and trees that form a dam.
A lakelet gathers as before,
Then breaks away with fearful roar,
And thunders on down the dell,
A violent monster freed from hell.

The controversy on Runaway Pond continued through the 1910 centennial and into the twentieth century. Harry Alonzo Phillips, the great grandson of Spencer Chamberlain, wrote a poem that told the story of Runaway Pond. His father, Frank Samuel Phillips, signed a notarized document on June 15, 1929, declaring that a poem written about the event was factually correct. This made the poet Harry A. Phillips the third generation to defend Spencer Chamberlain as the hero of Runaway Pond.

His poem was a hit.  It has endeared the story of Spencer Chamberlain’s run to the hearts and minds of many of the residents of Glover and Orleans County. On Glover day each year the story of Runaway Pond is re-enacted in a puppet show to the verses of Phillip’s poem.

Jack Sumberg of Glover also loved Harry Alonzo Phillips’ poem. He knew it was good, perhaps too good to be true!

As the bicentennial celebration of June 2010 approached, Sumberg wrote a blog which revived the questions and controversy of the past.  He implied in the November 22, 2009 post of his blog that the Chamberlain-Phillips version of events may be more poetry than truth.

Sumberg wrote:

“Can we conclude that it was the power of poetry that ultimately caused the Chamberlain-Phillips version of the story to predominate in the public mind? If the Willson-Dorrs had fathered, or mothered, poets would the battle for the hearts and minds of Glover still rage today? Could a new film or TV docu-drama succeed in overthrowing the triumphant story?”²⁴

Sumberg’s blog raised some good questions. Questions that had never been answered to everyone’s satisfaction.

That is when I decided I had to find those answers. After all, there were about twenty Chamberlains of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh generations planning to make a trek from California, Utah or Connecticut to Glover for the Bicentennial.  Most were just learning the story of their ancestor Spencer Chamberlain. Most had never heard of Solomon Dorr. It would be quite an unpleasant shock to arrive in Glover to find that the 200 year history had dramatically changed over the course of the past year. Or, that the hearts and minds of the citizens of Glover had been persuaded that Spencer Chamberlain wasn’t a hero after all, and that his triumphant story had been overthrown.

All the clues were there in Wayne H. Alexanders resource, Runaway Pond: The Complete Story. I had five months to write and publish my book: Run Chamberlain, Run! Solving the 200-year-old Mystery of Runaway Pond.

The Children of Spencer Chamberlain and Millie French

What we know about Spencer and Millie’s six children and their families.

1- Jeanette Chamberlain, born 13 Oct. 1811
2- Amanda Chamberlain, born about 1813
3- Delana F. Chamberlain, born about August 1816
4- Alonzo Chamberlain, born May 7, 1818
5- Sarah Chamberlain, born about November 1820
6- Melissa M. Chamberlain was born about 1824

While looking for information about our antique family album, I found one similar to ours for sale, complete with (unidentified) photos, for $25.00! That is sad. I am attempting to identify photos of Spencer’s extended family in the Chamberlain album. There is some speculation involved, but I have been able to match most photos with likely family members.

1- Jeanette Chamberlain Phillips

Jeanette Chamberlain married Samuel Phillips in Glover Vermont on November 23, 1842. He was born in Glover, Vermont August 7 1812 and died there on February 4, 1894.⁹ Samuel was the brother of Betsy Phillips who married Alonzo Chamberlain. Therefore, the descendants of Samuel and Jeanette and the descendants of Alonzo and Betsy have both sets of Grandparents in common. I guess this makes the children of Betsy Norris Phillips Chamberlain “double cousins” with those of the Samuel Phillips family.

Their parents, Jonas Phillips and Dorothy Bean were married in Glover November 1, 1802. They had twelve children.

In 1892 three generations of the Phillips family lived together in harmony on their farm in Glover. These included Uncle Samuel and Aunt Jeanette, as they were familiarly called, their sons Alonzo and Franklin and their families. Alonzo and Franklin ran the farm of 15 dairy cows which supplied milk and butter for the multi-family of 10, plus $26 in weekly butter sales. Their large flock of hens supplied eggs for the family plus some 50 dozen per month surplus to sell on the market. They also raised prize winning sheep with wool measuring up to sixteen inches in length. The home was pleasantly surrounded by about 100 pines, lombardy poplars plus many other varieties of trees, flowers and shrubs.¹⁰

2- Amanda Chamberlain Winship

Spencer and Jeanette’s second daughter, Amanda was born about 1813. Amanda married Oliver Winship 26 February 1854 at Lexington Middlesex Mass. He previously had been married to Anna Fisk who died 15 October 1851 at about age 51-years-old. Oliver Winship was born November 12, 1794 and died April 18, 1874. Oliver and Anna had a son, Isaac Augustus Winship, who was born 4 July 1822 and died 12 October 1887. No children are known from the union of Oliver and Amanda.

The 1880 census of Hume Allegany County New York showed that A. Winship, a widow age 67 was living with her brother-in-law and sister Franklin and Melissa Somers. Amanda died in 1888 in Wiscoy, Allegany New, York.

3- Delana F. Chamberlain

Delana was born about August 1816 and died 10 Oct. 1850, age 34 years, 2 months according to Westlook Cemetery records.

4- Alonzo Chamberlain

Spencer and Millie’s fourth child and only son, Alonzo was born in a small log cabin in Glover, Vermont on 7 May 1818. Alonzo’s life in Glover and his activity with the Underground Railroad was covered in the previous chapter. He was married September 27, 1843 to Betsy Norris Phillips. They had two children, Amanda and Harry. In 1850 his father Spencer Chamberlain, age 63, lived with them in their West Glover home. Betsy died 25 April 1852. Alonzo later remarried Lydia Blanchard. He moved from Glover with his family on 1 May 1855. The life and times of Alonzo and his family in Shirland, Illinois 1855-1871 will be presented in the next chapter.

5- Sarah Chamberlain

Sarah was born about Nov. 1820 in Glover, Vermont and died 9 Jan. 1826 at age 5 years, 2 months. She was buried at Westlook Cemetery, Glover, Vermont.

6- Melissa M. Chamberlain Somers

Melissa was born in 1825 in Glover, Vermont. Melissa married William H. Somers on August 7, 1860 in Glover Vermont. After this marriage three more children were born, Frank, Charles, and Amanda.

Census history of the Somers family

In 1860 William F. Somers was living in the home of Lewis and Julia Bernas in Dick Johnson, Clay County, Indiana with his 4-year-old son Willie.¹⁵ William H. Somers was born in Vermont and may be Melissa’s son, I don’t know. 

In the 1870 census William F. Somers 49 and Melissa M. Chamberlain Somers 46  lived in Hume, Allegany, New York with their four children, William H. 14 was born in Vermont, Frank C. 7 was born in Indiana, Charles M. 5 was born in New York, and Amanda 3 was also born in New York.¹⁶

In 1880, the Somers still lived in Hume, Allegany, New York with the three youngest children and Melissa’s widowed sister Amanda Chamberlain Winship 67. The oldest son William H. Somers 24 lived in Belmont, New York.¹⁷

The father William F. Somers died in 1884, Amanda Chamberlain Winship died in 1888 and her sister Melissa Chamberlain Somers died on September 12, 1889. They were buried in Wiscoy Cemetery, Allegany, New York.¹⁸

Amanda Somers married Bert E. Granger April 25, 1899. They had two children Frank Arthur Granger 1904-1976 and Helen L. Granger 1907-1983. Amanda died March 20, 1926 at Silver Springs, Wyoming, New York.¹⁹

In 1900, William H. Somers had been married to Estelle, age 44, for 18 years (since about 1882). Their son Howard L. Somers 11 and daughter Ora A Somers 7 were born in Virginia. William’s brother Frank C Somers 38 was also living with the family in Guilford District Surrey, Virginia. William was a sheet metal worker and Frank was a paper hanger and painter.²⁰

In 1910, Charles M. Somers age 45  had been married to Mary O’ Neill age 44 for about 18 years, (since about 1892). They had a daughter Mildred A. Somers 13, a son William F. Somers 11, a daughter Anna Somers 9, and a son Charles 2.  Charles’ mother-in-law Anna O’Neill 75 was living with them. Mary had immigrated with her mother Anna from Ireland in 1876. Charles was working as a metal shop foreman.²¹

In 1920 William H. Somers lived in Panama City Bay, Florida with his wife Estella 63 and their daughter Ora E. Somers 26.²²

Family of Frank C. Somers and Mary Immel

Frank C. Somers married Mary Josephine Immel an May 15, 1892. She was born in Jay County, Indiana September 19, 1876 and died at the same location March 12, 1900. Their children were Charles H. Somers, Kenneth R. Somers and Grace Naomi Achsah Somers.²⁵

1- Charles H Somers b. August 9, 1893, d. May 22, 1912 Jay County, Indiana.²⁵

2- Kenneth R. Somers b. July 28, 1895, Jay County Indiana, d. August 2, 1983 Jay County. He married Minnie Alberta Trafzer (1901-1980) on July 29, 1916 in Jay Co. Indiana.  Children of Kenneth and Minnie Somers: Robert L. Somers 1917-2008. Everett Leroy Somers 1918-2004. Martha Alberta Somers 1923-2014. Mary Helen Somers 1926-2002. Edward L. Somers 1928-2009. Ester M. Somers 1931-2004. Norma Jean Somers 1932-2004.²⁵

3- Grace Naomi Somers b. October 12, 1897, d. June 1975 McHenry, Illinois. She was married on January 1, 1915, Jay County, Indiana, to Herman Progue Blowers 1895-1972. Children of Herman and Grace Blowers: Murl Blowers 1915-2001, Mary Jane Blowers 1917-2010, Jacquelyne Geneviere Blowers 1919-2000, Herman Blowers, Jr. 1921-1938, and William Martel Blowers 1922-2010.²⁵

Frank C. Somers died in 1923 and was buried in the Wiscoy Cemetery, Wiscoy, Allegany County, New York.  He was buried along with his father, mother and aunt,  William F Somers 1820-1884, Melissa M. Chamberlain Somers 1825-1889, Amanda. F. Winship 1814-1888.

The Children of Samuel Phillips and Jeanette Chamberlain

1- Spencer Chamberlain Phillips was born September 26, 1843 in Glover Vermont.

During the Civil War he joined the 15th Vermont Volunteer Infantry Regiment¹¹ under the President’s call of August 4, 1862. They were mustered into the U. S. service for nine months on October 22, 1862 and left Vermont for Washington on October 23. The Vermont 15th regiment became a part of the 2nd Vermont brigade stationed at “Camp Vermont” near Hunting creek. On December 12 they moved their location to one mile south of Fairfax Court House. At the time of Gen. Stuart’s raid in the rear of Fairfax Court House, Dececember 28, 1862, it picketed all the approaches to Centerville.¹² Spencer Phillips died of illness on April 24, 1863 at age 19. Seventy-eight of the 942 enrolled in the 15th Regiment died by disease. He was buried in Alexandria National Cemetery, Alexandria, VA.¹¹

2- Alonzo Chamberlain Phillips was born September 19, 1845 in Glover, VT. He married Olive Brown in St. Johnsbury, VT., 30 Nov. 1870.

Alonzo C. Phillips wrote Spencer Chamberlain’s Ancestors  where he gave his understanding of family history in about 1927.²

He was the second generation  to defend the legacy of his grandfather. In 1910 he wrote his version of the story of Runaway Pond. Also, in the above 1927 document, he wrote to the Chamberlain family in Iowa:

“And now I wish to correct a mistake made by White at the 50th anniversary address of the letting out of the pond…Mr White was misinformed… not knowing anything about the facts…This mistake was what caused my mother (to write) her piece giving her father the dues that rightfully belonged to him. There were but few that ever knew what ever lead up to this mistake.”¹³

Alonzo’s wife Olive (Dora) died on March 5, 1888. He later married a second wife Eudora Crosby. Alonzo C. Phillips died 10 April 1930.

3- Franklin S. Phillips, the third son of Samuel and Jeanette, was born 18 Dec. 1847. He married Nettie Drew on 1 Jan.1878.

Initials on Spencer’s rifle appear to be “FSP” indicating that he may have given it to his grandson Franklin S. Phillips. It seems likely that Franklin later gave the rifle to Alonzo’s son Mazzini (Zeke) who owned several hunting dogs and loved to hunt and fish. Franklin S. Phillips died 29 Oct.1929 in Glover VT. His wife Nettie was born on 1 May 1856 and died 27 Nov.1935 also in Glover VT.

4- Harry P. Phillips, Samuel and Jeanette’s fourth son was born on 3 July 1851 in Glover, Vermont and died three weeks later on 23 July 1851

Children of Alonzo C. Phillips and Olive (Dora) Brown

1- Gertrude Alice Phillips, born 9 Nov. 1871. Gertrude married Charles Arden Kelton in Glover on June 30, 1894. She died 25 Jan.1927. Her husband was born 24 August 1869 and died 12 Dec 1936. Their daughter Alice Ruth Kelton was born 27 November 1898 and died at age 15 on March 31, 1914. In 1900 Lydia A. Phillips Seaver was a boarder in the Kelton home. Lydia was Gertrude’s great aunt.

2- Mazzini Phillips, born 2 July 1875 married Gertrude Carter on 28 June 1897. They were divorced in 1901, there were no known children. Mazzini married again to Minnie Ella Dexter, 27 June 1906. Wendell A. Phillips 1908-2008 was their only son. 

In 1926, A. C. Phillips wrote: “My son, Mazzini Phillips, has (Spencer’s) old gun in his possession at the present time with the word London on the Lock”²  This is believed to be the rifle used by Spencer Chamberlain in 1814 during the battle of Plattsburgh.

3- Wendell C. Phillips was born 29 Sept. 1879 and died 5 Sept. 1885 at the age of five in Glover, Vermont.

4- Clarence Leo Phillips was born 1 May 1887. Clarence was a taxidermist in Glover. He married Alice Buswell and they had a son Alonzo Buswell Phillips 1914-2000 . Alice was born 20 August 1889 and died 8 Jan. 1939. Clarence died 23 Aug.1953. He and his family were buried in Westlook Cemetery, Glover, Vermont.

Children of Franklin S. Phillips and Nettie Drew

1- Elnora L. Phillips was born September 4, 1880. She married Fred E Simpson September 11, 1906. No children are recorded for Fred and Nora in the U. S. census. She died 15 May 1962.

2- Harry Alonzo Phillips was born 1 June 1883. He had a profound love of nature and loved to study birds and animals. He lived on Pine Shade Farm until he moved to Glover in 1941. His grandfather bought the farm in 1841, but it must have been in the family longer for he had heard stories of his ancestors sitting on the front porch listening to the roar of the running away of Long Pond in 1810. Alonzo was a poet. His most famous poem was “Runaway Pond and the History of Glover” written in 1929. Harry Alonzo Phillips died 10 April 1966.¹⁴

 Jonas Phillips, father of Betsy Norris Phillips

Jonas Phillips was born August 13, 1776 in Athol, Worchester, Massachusetts and was an early settler of Glover. He married in Glover, Dorothy Bean of Sutton NH on November 1, 1802. On March 7, 1808 he was among seven men in Glover who were elected Surveyor of Highways. All of their 12 children were born in Glover, VT.

Jonas Phillips was the son of Samuel Phillips and Joanna Stroud, Samuel was the son of Samuel Phillips and Martha Newton. Martha is the great-granddaughter of Richard Newton and Anne Locke. Richard, born in England, immigrated to America in 1639. It is  believed he was born in 1609, the Uncle of Sir Isaac Newton.²³

Children of Jonas Phillips and Dorothy Bean²³

1- Curtis Phillips born June 18, 1804 – died November 5, 1862. Never married.
2- Jonas Phillips, Jr. born December 2, 1805– died March 6, 1850. Married Hannah Hardy October 11, 1830.
3- Dorothy Phillips born January 26, 1808– died September 9, 1895. Married Rev. Nathan W. Scott.
4- Hiram Phillips  born December 17, 1809– died August 2, 1892. Married Lucy Ann Cook.
5- Samuel Phillips born August 7, 1812– died February 4, 1894. Married Jeanette Chamberlain November 23, 1842.
6- Josiah  Phillips born September 23, 1814– died August 1, 1864. Married Emily Blanchard
7- Rosannah P Phillips born August 10, 1817– deceased. Married Henry Blake III March 27, 1839
8- Charlotte  Phillips born June 7, 1819– died December 23, 1881. Married William Merriam.
9- Lydia A Phillips born January 18, 1822– died December 16, 1905. Married Hyman Dana Seaver 1843.
10- Betsy Norris Phillips born September 27, 1823– died April 25, 1852. Married Alonzo Chamberlain September 27, 1843.
11- Harry Walter Phillips born February 11, 1827– died July 2, 1930. Married Sabra Wilcox.
12- John E  Phillips born January 25, 1830– died March 23, 1907. Married Sarah Paige.

To be continued…..

Chapter 20- Alonzo Chamberlain’s Family Moves to Winnebago County, Illinois 

If you got this far, please click Goodbye or Table of Contents. This will simply tell me that someone looked at this post. Thank you! Dennis Chamberlain

© 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- Wayne H. Alexander, Runaway Pond The Complete Story, CR 2001, Second Edition, Glover Historical Society, Glover, VT 05839. p. 45
2- Abid…..Alonzo C. Phillips p. 56
3- Abid….Pliny H. White pp. 28-29
4- Abid….Jeanette Chamberlain Phillips p. 32
5- Abid….Judge Parker of Coventry p. 35
6- Abid….O. V. Percival p. 42
7- Abid….E. T. Wilson pp.47-51
8- Abid….The Editors p. iii
9- Descendents of Ebenezer Phillips, unpublished record sent to Dennis Chamberlain from Janice Airola (granddaughter of Mazzini Phillips from the Jonas Phillips’ Bible.
10- O. V. Percival, unidentified Glover news clipping
11- Vermont in the Civil War Search for a Soldier Http;//vermontcivil war.org
12- Fifteenth Vermont Infantry https://vermontcivilwar.org/units/15/
13- Alonzo Chamberlain Phillips, The Descendents of Spencer Chamberlain, unpublished family document
14- People Who Have Made a Difference in Glover History- Harry Alonzo Phillips, Glover Historical Society, Inc. 1994
15- 1860 US Census
16- 1870 U. S. Census Hume Allegany, New York
17- 1880 U. S. Census, Allegany County, New York.
18- Grave marker, Wiscoy Cemetery Allegany, New York.
19- Familysearch.org
20-1900 U. S. Census, Guilford District Surry, Virginia.
21- 1910 U. S. Census Nunda, Livingston NY.
22- 1920 U. S. Census Panama City Bay, Florida.
23- Familysearch.org., all 12 children names have been verified with information found in Jonas Phillips family Bible. Richard Newton, (the third great grandfather of Jonas Phillips), came over from England in about 1639, and he is according to Familysearch the uncle of Sir Isaac Newton. However, I have not verified this information.
24- Jack Sumberg, http//runawayponders.blogspot.com/ (blog dated 11/22/09.
25- MacNaught family tree, Ancestry.com