Walter E, Chamberlain, Jr. has written a new book titled The Chamberlain’s in New England, A History of My Family. It covers an unbroken 13 generation journey of his Chamberlain family line. The author included one or more biographical sketch for each generation.

The story begins with William Chamberlain who came to America in 1635, and extends to his present day family. The author assigned each person a generation number including himself, Walter E. (12). This clearly identifies alike names of different generations.

The book is an attractive,180 page paper back, printed by Rocky Heights Print and Binding, Birmingham, Alabama. It is full of illustrations and photos, most of which are in color. Though it’s reader audience focus is largely aimed toward the author’s present-day family/posterity, it is a valuable resource for every descendant of the early American Chamberlains.

William Chamberlain and his brothers come to America.

The Chamberlains in New England gives a concise, accurate report of how and when the three Chamberlain brothers arrived in America. It also reports the latest research as to who is the father of Thomas, Edmond and William Chamberlain. Modern Y-DNA tests exclude Henry as their father, however, Francis is still a matter of speculation.

It presents a detailed account of the settling of the town of Billerica, Massachusetts by William Chamberlain and others. There, William and Rebecca raised their family of 13 children.

The author credits research of The World Chamberlain Genealogy Society, The Chamberlain Story website, and his own family’s records and traditions for his information. Also, the late James Parker has contributed Chamberlain family research and information to many, including Walter E. Chamberlain.

Perhaps the most valuable feature of Walter’s writing is that it is in print. It is tangible asset in a digital world. I don’t know how many copies have been printed, but many of them will endure years into the future.

This is not true for much digital information. For example, The Chamberlain Story information and research will disappear from the public domain the day the annual light bill* is not paid. (Host site, Site backup, Domain name, Domain privacy protection and Sitelock security)*

I generally do not solicit donations, but if you feel the desire to contribute to The Chamberlain Story website, please purchase a copy or two of my own book, Run Chamberlain, Run!, Solving the 200-Year-Old Mystery of Runaway Pond. If you don’t need the book, please donate it to a library or thrift store. Thanks.

If you have comments or questions about Walter E. Chamberlain’s new book The Chamberlains in New England, here is his contact information: chamberlain.history@gmail.com

Historical Context

Walter’s love for history makes the names and dates come off the pedigree chart and become real people. He explains the religious movement in Europe which caused the “Great Migration”. Then he devotes a full 40 pages to the history of Indian culture and wars of New England, (interspersed with ancestor biographical sketches). The Chamberlains were in the middle of this. He correctly observed that “these were terrifying times lived by extraordinary people”.

In the midst of the Indian wars, the residents of Billerica, Massachusetts, including the Chamberlains, were afflicted by the Salem witch trials.

Walter included reference links to several posts of my website www.thechamberlainstory.com. This is very much appreciated. One specific side story from post Rebecca Chamberlain and the Salem Witch Trials caught his attention. Its mention was followed by a very generous complement:

Dennis Chamberlain has a section of his article that explains the irony of Mary Toothaker’s fate. The reader would be well served to read this post, (Chapter 5) and indeed, his entire site. He’s an excellent researcher and writer who brings the family alive.

Thank you Walter. That is my goal and it is really gratifying to hear this from a reader!

Jacob Chamberlain (1658) the son of William (1619)

Walter’s family pedigree extends through Jacob born in Billerica in 1658.

William and Rebecca Chamberlain had thirteen children, ten sons and three daughters. Jacob was their sixth child, fifth son.

Jacob married Experience French.

Walter’s book points out that Jacob bought 120 acres in Newton, Massachusetts in 1699. The property, purchased with buildings, was near Oak Hill, (now Ward V). He lived there until he died in 1712 at age 54. At that time, his five sons were about ages Jacob 20, John 18, William 15, Jason 11 and Ebenezer 8.

Newton is about 10 miles west of Boston and 20 miles south of Billerica.

In 1718, Jacob’s son William moved to Dover, New Hampshire, about 80 miles north. It became very unsafe on the outskirts of Dover during the Indian wars of 1724. So he returned to the safety of Newton where he bought a farm. He lived there until 1729.G

This connection to Newton is interesting to my own family research because Jacob’s nephew, Thomas Chamberlain (Chapter 11), moved to Newton a few years later. There, Thomas’ son John, (my 4th great-grandfather), was born in about 1739.

Lieutenant William Chamberlain (1697)

William Chamberlain, born 8 September 1697, was the third son of Jacob in Walter’s line. He learned the carpenter trade in Boston, then moved to Dover, New Hampshire in 1718. He married Mary Tibbetts a year later (about 1719).

They left their farm near Dover for his family’s safety in 1724 at the onset of the Indian conflict known as Father Rale’s war or (Governor) Dummer’s war. During this conflict, Colonel John Lovewell lead three expeditions against the Indians. Walter believes William and Mary’s move back to Newton was a wise decision which may have preserved their family line.

William returned to Dover in 1729, but later exchanged some land with his wife’s uncle and moved to Rochester, New Hampshire in about 1733. He was a prominent citizen in Rochester where he served as a constable, selectman and town clerk. First Church of Rochester admitted him to their communion on 12 February 1741.

The Saint Francis Indians attacked Rochester on 27 June 1746. William held the rank of lieutenant during the war with the Indians.

William died in Rochester NH at age 55 on 30 may 1753.

“Paugus” John Chamberlain

Walter’s book gives an excellent account of Colonel Lovewell’s third and most tragic expedition, and the duel between John Chamberlain and Chief Paugus. The duel ended the battle because the Indians had been conscripted by an outsider, the war chief Paugus. When Paugus was killed, the remaining Indians left the battlefield and went home. (Chapter 6)

Early news reports gave Ensign Seth Wyman well deserved credit for the victory. He was the leader by default when Colonel Lovewell and other officers were killed. An early ballad, The Song of Lovewells Fight written by an unknown author, was sung for many years in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It’s lyrics stated that Seth Wyman “shot the old chief Paugus which did the foe defeat”¹. However, this was not the case, and neither Wyman nor his family ever claimed this to be true.

John Chamberlain was not mentioned in the early news articles. However, the truth of the story was well known locally by word of mouth. In 1799, a historical publication, reported that the duel was between Paugus and John Chamberlain. This began a heated discussion across the country as to who really shot Chief Paugus. In an 1883 article, historian Samuel A. Green mentioned the controversy. “An attempt has been made in modern times to take from Chamberlain the credit of killing the Indian chief, but the earlier records and traditions seem to confirm the story.”

In 2016, The Chamberlain Story website, (Chapter 7) defended the Paugus John tradition against internet historians who didn’t have all the facts.

In Walter’s book, The Chamberlain’s in New England, he explains one reason we know for sure that John Chamberlain was the one who fought the duel with Paugus:

John Chamberlain had a first cousin of the same name. To mitigate confusion the two men were nicknamed. The above-mentioned John became “Paugus” John (for obvious reason), while his cousin became Souhegan John. Souhegan being so nicknamed because he owned property and opened the first mills in Souhegan Falls.

Paugus John contemporaries

William Chamberlain (1697) of Water’s line, and Thomas Chamberlain (1703) in my line were first cousins. They were contemporaries of the Chamberlain cousins Paugus John (1692) and Souhegan John (1706).

The two John Chamberlains were great-grandsons of the immigrant Thomas Chamberlain (1615). Therefore, they would be second cousins once removed to William (1697) and Thomas (1703)

Connection to Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain is unquestionably the historic hero of the Chamberlain family in America. Walter’s book encapsulates his profile in a single paragraph:

“Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was a Colonel in the Union Army and one of the heroes of the Battle of Gettysburg. He also accepted the surrender of arms of the Confederates at Appomattox at the end of the war. Later he became Governor of Maine, and the President of Bowdoin College.”

Walter’s ancestor William Chamberlain (1697), was the great-great-grandfather of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. This makes Lorenzo D. Chamberlain (1832), Colonel Chamberlain’s 3rd cousin. Therefore, Lorenzo’s progeny are 3rd cousins (x times removed) of the Colonel. Walter E. Chamberlain is Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain’s 3rd cousin 5 times removed.

My great-grandfather John Harry Chamberlain (1849) was Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain’s 5th cousin. This makes me his 5th cousin 3 times removed.

The Chamberlain Story’s first post on Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain covers his life through the Battle of Gettysburg:  Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, Path to Little Round Top

Jacob Chamberlain (1738)

Jacob Chamberlain, born in Rochester New Hampshire on May 18, 1738, was the son of William. (1697) and Mary. He married Alice Rollins about 1763. Jacob and his brother Ephraim settled New Durham Gore which became know and Alton, NH in 1770. Jacob and Alice’s son, Jacob Jr., was born there in November, 1771. He was the first white (non-Indian) child born in Alton.

Apparently, first child status in new settlements was often recorded. In my own family, Thomas and Abigail had a son in 1841. Increase Chamberlain was reported to be the first white, male child born in Westmoreland, NH. However, he was preceded by the birth of a white female.

Jacob (1738) and three of his brothers, William (1725), Ebenezer (1729) and Ephraim (1742) served in the War for Independence. Jacob (1738) served under General John Stark.

John Stark was a great military leader and the hero of the Battle of Bunker Hill. (Chapter 12) Walter points out in his book that the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought mainly by men from New Hampshire, (1200 compared to 600 for Massachusetts and 200 for Connecticut). The New Hampshire men served under Colonel Stark and Colonel Reed.

Jacob Chamberlain served in General Stark’s Brigade in the Battle of Bennington, August 16, 1777. This battle, fought in the south-west corner of Vermont, was a major victory for the American Army. It truly was the turning point of the Revolutionary war, as It weakened British forces and created momentum for the Americans who then went on to win at Saratoga.

George William Chamberlain (1857)

George William Chamberlain is number (8) in Walter’s direct Chamberlain line. Numbers (5) through (7) are Jacob Jr. (1771), Asa (1805) and Lorenzo D. (1832).

Born on 17 July (possibly 24 July) 1857, George was the last of Walter’s line born in the town of Alton, NH that was founded by his great-great-grandfather Jacob Sr. He was a teamster, farmer and carpenter.

What impressed me about George was his family. George’s parents divorced when he was six and he apparently lived with his mother. He married Pearly Teabo in Lowell MA on 11 December 1882. They had thirteen children, eight boys and five girls.

George is Walter’s great-great grandfather so Walter must have hundreds of third cousins that will recognize their Chamberlain family name and certainly be interested in Walter’s new book.

Walter E. Chamberlain’s family Chart

Walter’s book includes an easy to read family chart. It shows in bold type the names and year-of-birth of his 13 generation direct Chamberlain line. It also includes all of their siblings, his great uncles and great aunts.

The Chamberlains in New England by Walter E. Chamberlain, Jr. For questions or comments about this book, email the author at: chamberlain.history@gmail.com