I was born in 1942 during the war. My dad and mother desperately wanted our family to be together that year for Christmas. If we are still together in December, dad promised, it will be our best Christmas ever.

My father, Lt. Ernest M. Chamberlain, left for Fort Lewis, Washington on December 31, 1941. My mother, Agnes Fay Barney Chamberlain, and my brother Martin moved in to her parent’s home in Salt Lake City. Dennis Chamberlain (aka me) became part of the Chamberlain family in March.

Ernest and Fay Chamberlain wrote to each other almost every day during World War 2. Fay saved every personal letter and card she ever received. She therefore preserved the story of our family during the war.

The World in March 1942

The world was not a very inviting place in March 1942. Nevertheless, I had been invited and was on my way. Gratefully, my destination was the USA, and to loving parents Ernest and Fay Chamberlain, and to the peaceful home of my grandparents, Archie and Livonia Barney.

In March 1942 the world was a mess and our freedom was in serious peril. The Imperial Empire of Japan scored a major victory in the naval battle of Java Sea, and they were well on their way to occupy all of Dutch East India, (Indonesia). They surrounded the Philippines. General Douglass MacArthur narrowly escaped with his family and staff. In Australia he declared, “I shall return.”

A German submarine near Cuba torpedoed and sank the USS Texan an American Cargo Ship. At Riga, in Nazi occupied Latvia, 3740 men, women and children (Jews, Gypsies and those who opposed the occupation) were taken into the nearby woods and shot.¹

This was the state of the world when I arrived.

March 16, 1942

On the morning of March 16, 1942 Fay Chamberlain opened the trap door in the bathroom floor and dumped the laundry through the hole. It fell into a basket on the floor in the basement. “At nine am”, she wrote in a letter to her husband, “the pains started and were every ten minutes apart. I went down and did the washing without telling anyone about them.“²

The washing machine hummed a soothing rhythm as the clothing swished back and forth. She took the clothes out of the water, placed them piece by piece through the ringer, then pinned them on the line to dry.

In her letter she continued: “By 11:00 the pains were quite hard and I decided I might as well tell them and get it over with.” Fay did not like to be the center of attention, especially during times of distress. Therefore, she always understated her pain and discomfort. “The pain got pretty good and I called the Doctor. He said ‘Go to the hospital Immediately!”²

Her pains were now 4 minutes apart.

Her father, Archie Barney, came home from work and got her and Livonia and they where on their way. There was one minor detour. Fay had to stop at the Bank in downtown Salt Lake to get money to pay the hospital. “So Dad took me to the bank to get the money. Wasn’t I crazy? I could have had it on Main Street! I hadn’t told them how hard they were and Mom and Dad figured there was plenty of time. We got to the hospital at 2:30”²

Archie and Livonia were unaware they were carrying a ticking time bomb. Fay preferred they were not present for the main event. So she told them everything was fine and sent them into town to run their errands. “Just as they left the room the water broke.” She called the nurse at 3:10 and at 3:15 she was in the delivery room.²

I arrived on the scene at 4:02 pm.

“Mom was sure mad when she got back… She was happy it was over but mad at me for sending her away.” Fay wrote to Ernest.

Archie wrote in his journal with a hint of disgust: “Fay told us to take our time not hurry. The baby boy was born between 3:30 and 4:00 pm while Livonia and I were at Z.C.M.I.”³

Our first family reunion, May 1, 1942

Ernest was lonely, especially on weekends. He wished Fay was there so he could take her to the occasional big dance party in town for the officers.

On April 8 Fay wrote: “I’m getting anxious and excited about coming up now. I am frightened every time the phone rings and it is for Mrs. E. M. Chamberlain. I’m afraid you are calling to say good bye. I don’t think I could stand it if I didn’t get to see you, and have you see your sons before they grow up too much.”⁴

Ernest wrote on April 12: “Let’s throw caution to the winds… If we gamble and I see you for but a moment, no money was ever spent better.”⁵

Ernest found a vacancy at the Holly Auto Court on the main highway about two miles east of Olympia Washington. Our plane left Salt Lake City on May 1 and we met Dad at the Seattle airport. It was wonderful to be together for the first time as a family of four.

Long Days for Fay

After three weeks together, Ernest had to leave Fay and us boys in the motor court. Three days later, Fay wrote:

“These have been the longest three days. I don’t know what the next two weeks will be like. Maybe if the sun would shine it would help, huh?”⁶

She complained that It rains whenever she puts the clothes on the line and soaks them.

Finally, Ernest returned on about June 15th. They were happy to be together for their fourth wedding anniversary on June 29.

However, Ernest soon received orders to take a Communications Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The course was TD (temporary duty) and would terminate in about three months. Upon completion he would return to Fort Lewis, Washington.⁷

Our family left Washington and we arrived in Salt Lake City at Fay’s parent’s home about August 24th.

Fort Sill, Oklahoma August 29, 1942

Ernest left us behind in Salt Lake with great hopes to get together soon. His train arrived at Fort Sill on August 29. He studied hard on his classes which included electricity, map reading, telephone, radio and secret codes and Morse Code.⁸

He missed his family and was counting the days until they would be together again. However, Martin needed to have his to tonsils out in Salt Lake. Also, Ernest wanted to buy their first car. This would solve some problems, but cash would be tight for a while.⁸

Big plans for Christmas

Fay was excited about the car and wanted to see pictures and know more about it. Hopefully, she could meet Ernest in Oklahoma, and at least come back with him. “When am I coming to see you?” she wrote. However, this dream was fading. The car down payment, insurance and $50 monthly payments, caused them to reconsider their plans to get together at Fort Sill.

“The money alone is not important, Ernest wrote, but the fact that to get to Fort Lewis will probably take all or more than we can save up and after we get there it will be December. I want this Christmas, if we are still able to be together, the best we have ever had”.⁸

The big day finally arrived and on Friday November 20, Ernest graduated from the army Communications Course. The next morning he went to the ration board to get a little extra gas and bade goodbye to old Fort Sill. He arrived in Salt Lake City about November 23.

Preparing for Christmas in Olympia, Washington

After their brief visit in Salt Lake, they loaded Fay’s sewing machine and supplies into the car. She was an excellent seamstress and liked to modify her own clothes and planned to make Christmas clothes for the children. She was delighted the family was together and that she would have something she enjoyed doing when Ernest was away.

When they arrived in Olympia, they found a motel along the highway near Fort Lewis. They decorated it and fixed it up. Fay was happy about her new home and sewing set up. Ernest was excited about Christmas. It was now only a few weeks away.

On Tuesday, December 8, Fay drove Ernest to Fort Lewis.  He wanted to be sure she learned the route so she could get back to the motel. Ernest watched as Fay, Martin and Dennis traveled two blocks and turned onto the highway.⁹

Ernest then walked up the stairs to headquarters, but found the building vacant except for two enlisted men. They told him his unit was training at the firing range in Yakima, Washington on the other side of the mountain.⁹ “Get on the kitchen truck, it is leaving in a few minutes!”¹⁰

He had told Fay he would be back for dinner, but instead he was now heading for the firing range in Yakama.⁹ 

It gets worse

Early the next morning Ernest was at a train station in Billings Montana frantically writing to Fay.  He knew she would be upset. He had to explain to her his incredible experiences of the last 24 hours, and why he didn’t call her sooner.

“Here is my story”, he wrote at 3 am, “I haven’t really had any sleep since I last saw you”.¹¹

He told her he had to leave for Yakima, “We finally managed to leave at 9:20 am”.

The trip should take about four hours. However, due to heavy rain and snow and an over turned gasoline trailer, the 180-mile trip around Mt. Rainier took 12 hours. They arrived at 9:30 pm.¹¹

When Ernest got to Yakima, he walked into the adjutant’s tent to report in. The adjutant looked at him and said, “Aren’t you at Fort Sill?”¹¹

Obviously, he was not.

“I just came from Fort Sill. I finished my course there and returned to my permanent station”, Ernest replied.^10,11

“We sent your orders to Fort Sill, didn’t you get our telegram?” They told Ernest that he is supposed to take another three month course at Fort Sill since he is already there. “School starts tomorrow morning, December 9, the soonest you can possibly get there is the 10th. You need to be on the next train to Fort Sill!”¹¹

Poor Ernest was a day late and $60.00 dollars short, for he had no money to buy his train ticket. When they got to the train station, Union Pacific had just left. Northern Pacific took a longer route, but now would arrive sooner. “Finally, miracle of miracles, I found a fellow that would take my check for $60.00.” he wrote. He then bought his ticket on NP.¹¹

What else can go wrong?

Ernest felt sick. It would have been just as easy to make the trip with the family back to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma as it was to go to Ft. Lewis, Washington.

Suddenly it dawned on Ernest that it was after 10 o’clock and Fay was waiting for him back in the motel in Olympia. And now, he was about to board a train for Oklahoma. Not only that, he didn’t know the phone number of the motel!^10,11

He looked through the phone directory. There was no listing for Hi Way Motor Court or the manager’s name Rowe. In desperation Ernest called the Switchboard in Olympia Washington. At that time, live operators conducted all telephone service. The operator was very patient and accommodating and connected him with the Highway Patrol. They read Ernest the long list of motels found between Fort Lewis and Olympia. None of them sounded familiar.^10,12

Ernest got the same operator back and she graciously began calling each of the motels along the highway to see if they had a Mrs. Chamberlain registered there. Finally, one manager told her that the Hi Way Motor Court might be listed under the name “Gibson”. And it was. They recently changed the name.^10,11

He called the number and the manager, Mr. Rowe answered. He confirmed that Mrs. Chamberlain was indeed registered there.^10,11

Where is Fay?

Ernest told Mr. Rowe he needed to talk to Mrs. Chamberlain. So, Mr. Rowe went and knocked on the door. He came back to the phone and told Ernest: “Mrs. Chamberlain is not home. The car is there, but the newspaper has not been taken in.“¹¹

Ernest said: “Please give her a message as soon as you see her. Tell her I am on my way to Fort Sill and won’t return.” He then rushed off to catch the train.¹⁰

As he boarded the train his mind was whirling. “Where is Fay?” He worried about all the possibilities. “Had she gotten back from the post OK? Was he sure her car was there? If that was our car, why wasn’t she home?”¹¹

Billings Montana, December 9, 1942

The Northern Pacific train pulled in to Billings Montana at about 3 am. It was over one hour behind schedule, so he missed his connection with the train to Kansas City. The next train would not leave for seven hours.¹¹

He immediately started writing to Fay. He wrote a quick note on a post card and mailed it before the morning pick-up. The post card note read:

Dearest Fay – I certainly have felt punk today worrying about you and thinking of how I messed up X-mas. Write me by airmail what you plan to do. Will send you complete letter soon as possible. Love, Ernest.13

He then composed a six page letter with the woeful details of his day. Since he missed the connection to Kansas City, he boarded the next train to Lincoln, Nebraska. The train finally left Billings, Montana and chugged its way to Lincoln where he missed his connection again.¹⁴

Abandoned at Hi Way Motor Court

The manger told Fay the message from Ernest the next morning. Last night she was exhausted and didn’t wake up when the manger knocked on the door. The paper on the porch was some free advertisements which she ignored.¹²

When she got the message she felt angry and abandoned. “I don’t know whether I’m more homesick, lonesome or plain scared, but the combination leaves my quite ill”, she wrote in her letter to Ernest.¹⁵

Fay spent that afternoon at the rationing board to see if she can get gas. And tomorrow she had to go to the fort to get authorization from some Colonel. “I’m using up all my gas trying to get more gas. If I do get the gas how will I get home?¹⁵

Fay had very little driving experience and driving alone with two small children was not an option.

Her mind was full of questions: How much money is in the checking account? Should she stay here? or go to Salt Lake? or go to Fort Sill? And how would she get there? Should she take a train and store the car in Washington? Would Ernest ever return to Fort Lewis?¹⁵

Fay was much happier the next day after she received the post card. She wrote on December 11: “Dearest Ernest. Hello again. How did you like the scorcher you received previous? I hope this one will not be quite as bad. Anyway I was happy to receive your card and am looking forward to the letter. Hope it is soon.”¹⁵

Dean Barney to the rescue, December 14, 1942

Fay called her folks in Salt Lake City. The long-distance call was $3.00 (about $44 in 2020). “Isn’t that terrible”, she wrote. However, she was pleasantly surprised that her call went through so quickly. It took only 45 minutes.¹⁵

She told her family her sad story and her seventeen-year-old brother Dean Barney said, “I will come up.”¹⁰

Fay, Martin and Dennis were soon on their way back to the home of Archie and Livonia Barney.

Ernest back at Fort Sill

Plans can change fast when there is a war going on and you are in the service of your country. Only three weeks ago Ernest was leaving this post and well on his way to filling his dream of “our best Christmas ever”. Now he is back at Fort Sill.

By December 16, Ernest was at his wits end and mad at the world. This was the day he received Fay’s self described “scorcher.” He flunked his first test that day, but he was especially frustrated with the many futile attempts and hours he had spent trying to contact Fay. Also, the mail back and forth took so long that the situation would change. For example, by the time Ernest was upset and responding to her letter of December 10, Fay was at home in Salt Lake and the crisis was over.

Later that day he wrote Fay another letter. “Sorry I sent the last letter” he said. “I was just trying so hard to be able to be with you and the boys for Christmas.” He was especially counting on watching Martin open his presents on Christmas morning.¹⁴

Fay was also very disappointed that their plans for Christmas didn’t work out:  “Every time I think of how we all have to be separated, I just wilt inside. We try so hard to be together and have what family life we can. Dennis was just beginning again to love his Dad and Martin misses you so much”.¹⁵

Ernest and Fay made urgent plans to get together at Fort Sill after the first of the year. Rumors abound, and the latest was that they would be sent overseas for the Spring 1943 offensive before Ernest even finished the course.

Christmas day December 25, 1942

While disappointed they were not together for Christmas, they also recognized their blessings. “I am happy knowing you are at least near and not “over there”, Fay wrote.¹⁵

Fay, Martin and Dennis spent a wonderful Christmas with Granddad and Grandma Barney. While Ernest went to a movie, “The Black Swan”, one which they had hoped to see together.

On Christmas Eve, Ernest wrote to Fay the following note expressing gratitude and hope for the future:

Here I am really not so far away, and above all whether I am far or near I have been granted the privilege of having three beautiful hearts tucked away safely in my bosom. And soon, God granting, I can have them all so very near to me. When the war is all over and Christmas comes around again that star on top the tree will really look like the Star of Bethlehem and truly shine out ‘Peace on earth, good will to men’. Then we can make up for what we miss now.- Love Ernest, December 24, 1942.¹⁴

Three years later

That star of hope will finally shine on the Chamberlain Christmas tree three years later. On that  magical night in 1945, Martin and I were sure we heard reindeer on the roof and couldn’t wait for morning. The war was over. Dad came home and the family is now together.

I still remember this year as our best Christmas ever.

The rest of the story….

Read the full story of Ernest and Fay Chamberlain in 1942. Chapter 29- Ernest and Fay Chamberlain During WWII 1942

Acknowledgments:

Thanks to Deanna Chamberlain Grant for publishing “Selected Journals of Archie Fay Barney” and DVD with the photos to make this information available. And to Lyle Brent Chamberlain for his 1984 interview with Fay and Ernest Chamberlain on DVD. And of course to Archie F. Barney, Ernest M. Chamberlain and Fay Barney Chamberlain for writing down and preserving this information.

© Copyright Dennis D. Chamberlain, The Chamberlain Story, 2020. 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- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1942

2- Fay Barney Chamberlain, Letters to husband Ernest M. Chamberlain, March 1942.

3- Archie F. Barney, Journal entry for March 1942.

4- Fay Barney Chamberlain, Letter to her husband Ernest M. Chamberlain, written April 8, 1942

5- Ernest M. Chamberlain, Letter to his wife Fay Barney Chamberlain, written April 12, 1942

6- Fay Barney Chamberlain, Letters to Ernest M. Chamberlain, April 25 through May, 1942

7- Orders from Headquarters IX Army Corps, Fort Lewis, Wash, 17 Aug 1942

8- Ernest M. Chamberlain, Letters to Salt Lake from Fort Sill, Aug 29- Nov 18, 1942

9- Ernest M. Chamberlain, “What More Can Happen” presentation given to seniors and family on July 5, 2012.

10- Ernest & Fay Chamberlain Personal Histories, Recorded 25 June 1984 in England by Lyle Brent Chamberlain.

11- Ernest M. Chamberlain, Letter to Mrs. E. M. Chamberlain, “Hi-Way Motor Court (Located on Highway between Ft Lewis and Olympia), Olympia Washington”. Postmark: Billings Mont. Dec 9, 1942 5 PM

12- Ernest Martin Chamberlain, Jr. Ernest Chamberlain’s Early Army Years, written November, 2001.

13- Ernest M. Chamberlain, Post Card to Mrs. E. M. Chamberlain, “Hi-Way Motor Court (Located on Highway between Ft Lewis and Olympia), Olympia Washington.” Postmark: Billings Mont. Dec 9, 1942 5 AM

14- Ernest M. Chamberlain, Letters to his wife from Fort Sill, December 13-26, 1942

15- Fay Barney Chamberlain, Letters to Ernest M. Chamberlain, December 10 & 11 & 20, 1942

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

and Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

and Merry Christmas again!

 

The Chamberlain Story tells the story of our family in the context of local and national history. I hope this review of the lives if Spencer, Alonzo, Harry, Harry and Ernest Chamberlain and their wives will refresh your memories. If you have read any of these stories, please take the time to send me a short note to let me know something that caught your interest.

I would really love to hear from more of my closer relatives, siblings, cousins (first, second and third), nieces, nephews, children, grandchildren etc. Of course everyone is welcome to respond. It would be especially great to hear from a few if the younger folks.

My website has a per month average of 414 visitors and 806 post views, (January through June of 2020). That’s OK. However, the vast majority of these are from the early Chamberlain generation stories and extra posts.

My more recent posts are of interest to a much smaller audience. So, I especially appreciate the comments I have received on these.  I encourage those who read my posts to tell their family about them and to place a comment on my Facebook notice and mention something that you found new or interesting.

Coming soon

Chapter 26-  Stories of Ernest and Harry Chamberlain’s family during the time they lived on 10th East in Salt Lake City where Ernest, Lois, Harry Jr., Richard and Robert were born. Also covers their extended family in Spencer Iowa at this time, (many great family photos). Quiz: What was happening in the Chamberlain family in the middle of the great stock market crash of 1929? 

Chapter 27- Coming soon. The courtship and early married life of Ernest Chamberlain and Fay Barney. Brief sketch of Fay Barney’s ancestors. New: The most beautiful photo of Fay Barney I have ever seen.

Review: The Chamberlain Story Part II History Time Line 1791-1942

I am really impressed by the things our forefathers accomplished, Spencer, Alonzo, Harry, Harry Ellis Chamberlain and Ernest Chamberlain and their amazing wives! Is there anything that captured your attention along the way? Please let me know your thoughts.

Chapter 9– A map from 1835 was found with “Chamberlain Lake” written on it just like Spencer Chamberlain told his grandson Alonzo C. Phillips in 1853. This post shows that Spencer still had connections to Maine as late as 1835 when he was living in Glover Vt. The historical significance of this post has made it my third most viewed.

Chapter 10– There were two Chamberlain families in Westmoreland, NH in the 1790s. Both had a son named John. The records, however, confused the two Johns as the same person. One of these John Chamberlains was the father of Spencer Chamberlain, The Chamberlain Story sorted out who is who and corrected the birth order of the sons of Thomas Chamberlain. Harry Chamberlain was trying to find this information in 1934.

Chapter 11– Thomas Chamberlain and Abigail Pierce were the grandparents of Spencer Chamberlain. They had 7 sons and 1 daughter. Five men from the Thomas Chamberlain family signed the Westmoreland Charter, and five men including John (the father of Spencer) were original grantees.

Chapter 12- After the Battle of Bunker Hill, Silas French (the father-in-law of Spencer Chamberlain) enlisted in the Militia. I researched and answered a couple of questions. Was Lieutenant John Chamberlain the son of Thomas Chamberlain or Henry Chamberlain? Also, our family has two different versions of a  tale of a wife who melted down the lead clock weight to make bullets for her husband. Which tale is correct?

Chapter 13- The History of the Town of Keene, New Hampshire tells us about life during the Revolutionary war for Silas French who enlisted on July 14, 1775. It tells of their march to Ticonderoga, the first celebration of the Fourth of July and the first national day of Thanksgiving at this location.

Chapter 14- Spencer Chamberlain had blue eyes, he also had close family ties to the state of Maine, and the Penobscot tribe was an ally to the US during the Revolutionary war. These facts show strong circumstantial evidence that Winona, (Spencer Chamberlain’s mother) was Penobscot. If so, we are likely descendants of Chief Madockawando and his son-in-law the French baron Jean-Vincent d’ Abbadie.

Chapter 15– New information from the Glover Historical Society indicated there was a connection between Spencer Chamberlain and Increase Chamberlain Jr. Both lived in Glover, VT 1802-1810. A copy of a letter from Cheshire County NH Historical society proves that Spencer Chamberlain was raised in the home of Increase Chamberlain Jr. He also appears in that household in the US census records of 1790 and 1800. A 45+ year old woman listed as a member of the household was most likely Spencer’s mother who we know as Winona. Increase Chamberlain Jr is the cousin and step-father of Spencer Chamberlain. Spencer’s father was John, the son of Thomas, the son of Daniel, the son of William Chamberlain who immigrated from England in 1835.

Chapter 16- This is the story of Spencer Chamberlain and Runaway Pond. I wrote this for the 2010 Bicentennial Celebration. This study was the first to show the exact path Spencer ran from the pond to the mill. My book Run Chamberlain, Run! Solving the 200-Year-Old-Mystery of Runaway Pond  gives the step-by-step proof that Spencer Chamberlain, and not Solomon Dorr, was the true hero of Runaway Pond.

Chapter 17- On September 11, 1814, Spencer Chamberlain was with the Vermont 31st Infantry. Their orders were to defend Fort Brown “to the last man”. Fort Brown was one of three forts across the Saranic River. Only about 2000 American ground troops were there to hold the city of Plattsburgh against the overwhelming force of 14,000 elite British soldiers.

Chapter 18- Alonzo Chamberlain was a secret agent for the Underground Railroad, hiding runaway slaves in his home and helping them on their way to Canada. This information was unknown to the family and his home town of Glover, Vermont until Lara Chamberlain discovered a newspaper article from 1900, and his story was published in The Chamberlain Story and other media coverage.

Chapter 19-  Jeanette Chamberlain Phillips and her family at the 50th anniversary of Runaway Pond in 1860 were stunned. The keynote speaker told the story of the hero who ran ahead of the flood to save those below. The hero- “Soloman H. Dorr!” This started the controversy which lasted 150 years. This chapter also shows photos and information about the families of the children of Spencer and Millie Chamberlain.

Chapter 20- Why did Alonzo Chamberlain move to Winnebago County, Ill and why was he broke when he got there? This chapter studies the history of this area. It was the center of action for an abolitionist like Alonzo. He experienced the beginning of the Republican Party (anti-slavery party), the rise of Abraham Lincoln and it was a prominent location where he may have continued his work on the Underground Railroad. This chapter also tells of William Warren’s (son-in-law of Alonzo) Civil War experience.

Chapter 21-  Harry and Alonzo Chamberlain’s adventures in homesteading. How Harry met Mary. The Warren family also moves to Clay County. Harry leaves farming and gets into politics. Harry’s son (Alonzo W. “Lonnie” Chamberlain) was a star football player for Spencer High School.

Chapter 22- Missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints returned to Iowa in 1897. The daily journal of Joseph Francis Thomas preserved the record of their meetings with Harry and Mary Chamberlain. They had a great impact on their family. Mary’s father Walter Ellis grew up thirty miles from Palmyra, New York where the Book of Mormon was published in 1830. The Ellis family was very religious. Mary’s brother Dennis Ellis was the minister who established the Christian Church in Spencer, Iowa.

Chapter 23– Harry Chamberlain had a happy childhood on the farm in Spencer, Iowa. Tragic death of his brother Ernest C. Chamberlain. The local newspaper reported Ernest’s vision of the afterlife. The family moved to California to be near Hal and Myrtle Keese. Harry saw the magnificent giant redwood forest and felt the great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. The missionaries baptized Harry a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1910. There are many family photos including “The French Twins” of two twin girls with their grandfather and his twin brother.

Chapter 24- The story of Annie Ankarstrand Chamberlain. Her mother and father Mathilda Erikson and Martin Trulson Ankarstrand were baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sweden. They came to America in about 1882.

Chapter 25- The story of Harry Chamberlain, Key Witness in Salt Lake Murder trial as it unfolded day by day in 32 newspaper articles. Most members of our family never heard this story before. My father Ernest was eight years old at the time. I once heard him talking about it with his father but I didn’t know what they were talking about. I would love to hear your thoughts about this story.

Chapter 26-  Stories of Ernest and Harry Chamberlain’s family during the time they lived on 10th East in Salt Lake City where Ernest, Lois, Harry Jr., Richard and Robert were born. Also covers their extended family in Spencer Iowa at this time, (many great family photos). Quiz: What was happening in the Chamberlain family in the middle of the great stock market crash of 1929? 

Chapter 28- After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Ernest Chamberlain, an officer in the ROTC, was soon called to active duty. Several strange events took place that determined where he would serve in combat that changed the course of his life.

Chapter 29- Ernest Chamberlain left for Fort Lewis Washington on December 31, 1941. He left his wife Fay and small son home. Another son was on the way. That was me. I was born in March 1942 during the darkest days of World War II. This chapter tells the story of a family who desperately wanted to be together as much as possible before the inevitable call came and Ernest was shipped off to war.

An 1870 steel engraved print titled “From Shore to Shore”, recently donated to the Hartland Historical Society, came with a bonus. It contained an intriguing clue suggesting the artist’s subjects were in real life the John Chamberlain family of Westmoreland, New Hampshire.

A faint pencil note on the cardboard backing was apparently written generations ago. Removed at one time and the piece saved, the note said:

“Taken from real life. Chamberlain family taken on the Conn. River. (3 unreadable words) country farm Westmoreland, N. H. Old man John Chamberlain. Mother had this before she was married.”

The artist, Clarence M. Dobell was born and died in England. No known record connects Dobell with New Hampshire or the Chamberlain family. Though entirely possible the artist traveled to the United States, evidence of such a visit is not available. The comment, “taken on the Conn. River”, however, seems to indicate that the artist’s inspiration came from a photograph.

1870 print “From Shore To Shore”

The first reproduction of a photograph occurred in 1880, and photography was not routinely published until 1919. Before that time, it was common practice for publishers to enlist artists to sketch and report on news.¹

E. C. Allen established a publishing company in Augusta Maine in 1869. His first venture was an eight page monthly sheet titled “The People’s Literary Companion”. He offered as a premium to subscribers, a fine steel engraving. Consequently, increase in circulation was so rapid it became necessary to engrave several copies of the steel plate to supply the demand. This was the beginning of E. C. Allen & Co. which made Augusta, Maine one of the leading publishing centers in the U. S. and Canada. His publications went to regular subscribers in every country in the world where English speaking people could by found.²

Allen was a patron of art. He purchased and then reproduced the works of the best artists in engravings and lithographs.³ The print “From Shore to Shore” from one of his steel engravings, included a reflective poem by artist and poet Clarence M. Dobell. Printed in 1870, it was one of the prints Allen used to promote his subscriptions.

The print captures the various moods of a family cramped together in a rowboat, which is being rowed by an older man. At left, an older couple sits in the boat, looking sullen. A man stands in the boat at center, a woman looking up at him, with a small child resting on her lap. A young girl, also at center, drags a rose in the water. A young man, attracted to the girl, sits behind her wearing a hat adorned with a flower. An older gentleman behind the young man is rowing the boat. On the right side of the boat, three children look forward toward their destination. There is a town in the distance on the left.⁴

At the bottom of the 1870 print centered and in bold capitals is the title “FROM SHORE TO SHORE”. To the left and to the right of the title are four lines of an eight line poem:

In CHILDHOOD’S hour with careless joy,
Upon the stream we glide;
With YOUTH’S bright hopes we gaily speed
To reach the other side,
MANHOOD looks forth with careful glance,
TIME steady plies the oar,
While OLD AGE calmly waits to hear
The keel upon the shore.

The Chamberlains of Westmoreland, NH

On April 10, 2019, Joanne Groth, a volunteer at the Hartland HIstorical Society, Hartland, Connecticut, messaged me about the donation of the print with the note. It was donated by the family of Jerry DeForest. Jerry was a community leader in Hartland for many years who had family roots tracing back to Keene, New Hampshire.

Joanne contacted me through my blog post Chapter 10- The Chamberlains of Westmoreland, NH. That chapter told of two different and unrelated Chamberlain families living in Westmoreland between about 1740 and 1795.

Thomas Chamberlain came from Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts and his family lived on the east side of Westmoreland. He is a descendant of the immigrant William Chamberlain. Thomas is my fifth great-grandfather.

Henry Chamberlain came from Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA and his family lived in Westmoreland on the west side of town. He is a descendant of the immigrant Henry Chamberlain.

Joanne asked if I knew anything about John Chamberlain, apparently a Westmoreland farmer in the 1800s.  Yes, after some quick research, there was indeed a farmer named John A Chamberlain in Westmoreland when the print was published in 1870.

Also, U. S. Census information shows clearly that in 1870  John A. Chamberlain’s mother and father were living in Keene, New Hampshire. His father, also named John, was age 69 in 1870. Could this be “Old man John Chamberlain”?

This John Chamberlain, married to Caroline Chamberlain, age 67, traces his ancestry back to the Henry Chamberlain family of Westmoreland, previously mentioned. His parents:

John Chamberlain and wife Lydia Brown 1773-1863. John born 13 August 1773 in Westmoreland, NH, died 16 August 1841. His parents:

John Chamberlain and wife Eunice Edson 1744-1814. John born 11 May 1742 in Bridgewater, MA, he died in Westmoreland 12 June 1822. And his parents:

Henry Chamberlain and wife Susanna Hinds. Henry born in 1716 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, died 7 Dec. 1787. Two of Henry’s sons, Henry and Ebeneezer fought in the Battle of Bunker HIll.  They are descendants of Henry Chamberlain the immigrant.

1870 US Census identifies nine “Real Life” persons in the print

John Chamberlain, age 69, lived with his wife Caroline (Farrar) Chamberlain, age 67, in Keene, Cheshire, NH recorded in the U. S. Census of 1870. These two older people in the print seem to match the census description quite well.

John Adams Chamberlain, the son of the older John, was a Westmoreland farmer as described in the note. Incredibly, every member of his household in the 1870 census can be identified by age and gender in the print! Only the smallest child and the oars man remain unidentified. This fact makes a quite convincing case that the print is from real life and portrays the family of John Chamberlain of Westmorland.

The description of John A. Chamberlain, age 42 and his wife Almira (French) Chamberlain, age 41 in the census again matches the engraving. The small child on her lap, however, is not listed in the census and remains unidentified.

The beautiful young lady with the flower is Ella M. Chamberlain, age 16. Her apparent admirer is not a member of the family. However, he is listed as part of the household. He is Owen Fowler(?) a farm laborer, age 19.

The man rowing the boat represents “TIME” in the poem and is likely unrelated to the family. His identity also is unknown.

The three children at the front of the boat again perfectly reflect the census information in both age and gender. Twelve-year-old Arthur French Chamberlain points toward the future destination, showing the way to his young sister, eight-year-old Carrie B. Chamberlain. In the mean time, their eleven-year-old sister, Anna Cora Chamberlain gazes off to the side.

The hills in the background

The hills in the background resemble the hills of New Hampshire along the Connecticut River. However, the town in the distance could not be Westmoreland which is set back in a valley. The artist’s inspiration for this may have been from the Park Hill Meeting house and surrounding buildings which are near Westmoreland, on high ground over looking the river.

The Pine Hill Meeting House built in 1762, moved in 1779 to the present location, section by section, by ox cart.

Thomas Chamberlain (from the author’s Chamberlain family) signed the covenant of this Westmoreland Congregational Church on September 26, 1764. Thomas and all his family left Westmoreland by 1795.

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, 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.

References:

1- Library of Congress and Illustrated Guide, Prints and Photographs http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/guide/port-2.html

2- Illustrated History of Kennebec County Maine, 1799-1892. H. W. Blake & Co., NY 1892, pp. 351-352.

3- Ibid, p. 353

4- https://www.worldcat.org/wcidentities/