On September 11, 1814, 14,000 elite British soldiers invaded the town of Plattsburgh New York. Only about 2000 American ground troops were there to hold the city against the overwhelming force. Spencer Chamberlain was with the Vermont 31st Infantry. Their orders were to defend Fort Brown “to the last man”.

Sir George Provost watched the bay from the shore for the signal to begin the ground attack. The British were ready to cross the river, scale the steep  banks of the Saranic, escalade the walls of the American works, while their forces in Plattsburgh village showered the Americans with musketry and cannon balls.

Provost spotted the first British masthead as it came around Cumberland Head. That was the signal. He shouted the order and the land battle of Plattsburgh and great navel battle on Lake Champlain were now underway.

This would become one of the most significant battles of the war of 1812. It followed a number of humiliating US defeats. A victory here was against all odds.

The War of 1812

On June 18, 1812, President James Madison declared war on Great Britain. Britain was at war with France and had placed economic blockades to disrupt trade between them and the United States. They also had been stopping American sea vessels and, by impressment, forced American men into the British military. They figured that American soldiers, once subjects of the King, were always subjects of the King.¹

Great Britain was also providing arms to the Indians in the western frontier and violating American sovereignty by refusing to surrender western forts as promised in the Treaty of Paris after the Revolutionary War.¹ These basically were contentions lingering from the war of independence. A faction of Congress known as War Hawks had been advocating war for several years. They also viewed this as a opportunity to expand U. S. territory into the north.

Congress authorized President Madison to detach 100,000 militia organized, armed and ready to march at a moments notice. Vermont’s portion would be four divisions comprising 3000 men.^2a

July 12, 1812 US forces under General Hull invaded British Canada, (Canada did not become a nation until 1864). The poorly prepared U. S. Army met fierce opposition. American forces withdrew and Hull surrendered Detroit by August.⁴

Panic in Orleans County

Spencer and Millie Chamberlain were young parents with an eight month old daughter when the news of war sent a chill of fear through the county. Orleans county was on the northern border and therefore, vulnerable to border warfare.  A direct attack through the defenseless Lake Memphremagog seemed a likely possibility.  The threat of war became the center of conversation as old timers recalled vivid images of Indian atrocities, tomahawks and scalping.³

The people of Orleans County built up stockade forts, but when hostilities broke out many panicked. A general flight took place. Many abandoned their farms and took with them whatever they could carry. Fortunately, the more courageous residents of the county held firm. Therefore, they were able to retain possession of the territory and keep the institutions of civilization intact.³

Capture of the Sloops Growler and Eagle

June 2, 1813 Lieutenant Thomas Macdonough ordered the sloops Eagle and Growler to the north end of Lake Champlain where British gunboats were attacking some small crafts. The next morning the two ships left their port and headed north up the Richelieu River where they gave chase to three British gun boats. As they neared Ash Island, the two sloops soon found that both wind and current were against them.^2b

The Growler was a 112 ton ship armed with ten 18 pounders and one six pounder, while the Eagle was a merchant ship fitted for Navel service. The British saw their advantage in the situation and sent out three row-galleys with 24 pounders with superior range to those of the U. S. cannons. ^2b

The situation became even more critical as the British lined the woods along both sides of the river firing their muskets. The U. S. ships returned fire with discharge of grape and canister. A battle ensued from 7 am to 12:30 pm. About that time, a shot from one of the galleys struck the Eagle under her starboard quarter which passed out the other side. It ripped off a plank underwater and the sloop sunk almost immediately. Fortunately, it was in shallow water. Fifteen minutes later the mast of the Growler was shot away. The ship became unmanageable and ran ashore.^2b

Of the 112 men on both ships, one died and 19 were wounded. The officers and men were taken prisoners and sent to Canada. The loss of the British was never certain but was likely very severe. The men along the shore were destitute of shelter and received broadside after broadside of grape and canister. Though the estimate is likely an exaggeration, up to 200 British may have been lost.^2b

Refitted and transferred to service of British Navy

The two sloops, refitted and renamed Finch and Chub, were transferred to the service of the British Navy. On August 2, 1813 the two previously American ships accompanied by a galley were firing on Plattsburgh, Burlington and Swanton. They then retreated to avoid pursuit. ^2b

In a letter, one Burlington man expressed his frustration with the war. The Albany Register, August 5, 1813:

“The British have landed at Plattsburgh, burnt barracks, arsenal and public property…. Swanton has shared the same fate since. Last Monday, Burlington was cannonaded, shot thrown into buildings, the people of Water Street had to leave there homes…. The British came with two sloops (previously the Eagle and Growler) and one small row galley with a twenty-four pounder. We had twice the number of vessels, but in no state of preparation, and no officers but a captain. The British ere long moved still south unmolested, took three merchant vessels with a rich booty, and returned in our sight back (towards) Plattsburgh. We expect another visit every hour. We have no means of defense. Is this taking Canada?“^2b

British raid on Derby, Vermont

The major fields of battle of the 1812-13 campaigns had been centered around Lake Erie and the other Great Lakes. However, on December 27, 1813, British troops under Captain Barker crossed the line into northern Vermont. Derby Vermont is only twenty miles north of Spencer Chamberlain’s home in Glover.

A report from the British Captain told of the success of the expedition of The Frontier Light Infantry: “Against the enemy’s posts and deposits at Derby in the State of Vermont, which were taken possession at daybreak on the 27th of December; extensive barracks, lately erected, for 1200 men were destroyed, together with the stables and the storehouses, and a considerable quantity of valuable military stores have been brought away”^2c

The Campaign of 1814

The cabinet determined that the 1814 Northern campaign, like previous campaigns, would invade the British in the north. There would be three parts to this scheme.

1- General Croghan was to move against the British on the upper lakes;

2- General Brown on the Niagara frontier.

3- General Izard in the Plattsburgh and Champlain region, was to cut the connection on the Saint Lawrence between Montreal and Kingston. Izard led most of the Vermont troops. This included part of Col. Clark’s 11th U. S. Regiment, Col. Fassett’s 30th, Col. Dana’s 31st, and Vermont militia and volunteers.^2d

Spencer Chamberlain enlisted in the 31st Infantry Regiment

March 19, 1814 Spencer Chamberlain and his brother-in-law Barzilla French enlisted in the army, to serve in Captain Rufus’ company in Colonel Daniel Dana’s 31st Infantry Regiment.⁵ They enlisted at Glover Vermont.

The diversion Battle at La Cole Mill

March 29, 1814 It is possible that Spencer Chamberlain saw his first action at the Battle of La Colle Mill, under Colonel Isaac Clark. Clark commanded an advanced guard of the army riflemen under Major Forsyth’s 26th, and the 30th and 31st Vermont Infantry regiments totaling about 600 men. Clarks general mission was to cut the roots of a smuggling operation to prevent a daily supply of provisions from Vermont to the enemy.^2d

Clark, however, accompanied Major General Wilkinson in the expedition against the mill at La Colle in the providence of Lower Canada. The attack on the mill was to create a diversion for Major General Brown’s action in the Niagara frontier.

Colonel Clark’s troops  left the Missisquoi Bay and crossed to the western side of Lake Champlain. They joined forces with General Wilkinson at Champlain, NY about eight miles from La Colle. Wilkinson’s total force was now about 3000 men.^2d

The van left Champlain about 10 am on March 29. (Canadian sources have recorded this date as March 30). The roads were bad but it was nice weather considering the season. As they approached the mill they left the main road and traveled about four miles through the woods. Axe-men cut through trees and removed fallen timber to widen the path for the artillery. They had a mortar and two cannons, a twelve pounder and an eighteen pounder. There were some minor skirmishes along Odletown road as they drove light troops of the enemy before them. They arrived at about half past three.^2d

Vermont 31st Infantry encircles the mill

The mill was about 40 feet wide and 60 feet long with walls two to three feet thick made of heavy stones. It was three stories high with loopholes and apertures for muskery in all direction. Several log houses were adjacent to the mill.

The number of the enemy was unknown because they were undercover. However, information from deserters and prisoners indicated that their were 600-700 in and around the mill.^2d

Spencer Chamberlain’s unit, the 31st Infantry, was among Colonel Clark’s advance guard who nearly encircled the mill. They were about 100 yards from the mill, but pulled back to about 150 yards where they could find cover within range of their muskets. The infantry provided cover as the artillery battery set up. General Macomb held 800 troops in reserve.^2d

Fire power directed toward the artillery

General Bissell and General Smith set up the artillery 250 yards away. At about 4 pm they fired up the twelve pounder. The ground shook as a stream of fire hurled the steel ball toward the south wall of the mill. When the smoke cleared they could see their work left no impression on the mill’s heavy stone wall. The cannon was re-set and again opened fire. A direct broadside of the wall again made no visible impression on the structure.^2d

“Bring forward the eighteen pounder!” “Where is the eighteen pounder?” An investigation of its absence soon revealed that due to a broken carriage their big gun had been left behind.^2d

The British 13th flank companies, assessing the artillery battery to be their chief threat, made an attack on the guns. They charged General Smith’s left, but were repulsed with considerable loss. The enemy kept up a galling fire, which included congreve rockets. They directed a great portion of their fire power toward the artillery. Two artillery commanders were wounded in succession, retired and replaced by a third.^2d,6

Brisk fire and artillery continued for two hours with little effect. A company of Canadian Voitiguers from two miles away were ordered to reinforce the mill.  Upon their arrival, they made an immediate attack on the canonniers. The heavy US infantry support of the battery again checked the attempt.⁶

Retreat at sunset

At sunset, it was apparent that the Americans did not have the cannon power to get the work done. This, with the British reinforcements and cannon fire from nearby British gunboats, General Wilkinson gave the order to withdraw. The withdrawal was orderly, cannons first, then gathering of the dead and wounded. They left nothing behind.^2d

The Americans lost 13 men killed, 128 wounded and 13 missing. The British casualties were lighter with 11 killed, 46 wounded and 4 missing. Colonel Clark gave testimony that casualties within his own advance guard of riflemen and infantry were 9 to 10 killed and 30 to 40 wounded. Thus indicating they had shouldered a significant part of the battle.^2d,6

A Court Marshall of General Wilkinson fully investigated the affair. He was honorably acquitted. It was evident that he failed to take the mill because it was impervious to the artillery.^2d

Preparing for the Invasion of Plattsburgh, New York

Late in the summer of 1814, about 15,000 British troops arrived in Canada. Many of these were Wellington’s finest soldiers fresh from their victory over France.^2e They were contemplating an invasion of New York of such magnitude that it would surely overwhelm all opposition.⁷

The US General Izard stationed eleven regiments of about 4500 effective men just south of the border at Champlain. They watched as the British commander Sir George Prevost built up a concentration of forces on the Isle aux Noix (Ash Island) on the Richelieu River. Their Navel forces were also being reinforced on Lake Champlain. A massive invasion of New York was imminent.⁷

Nevertheless, with full understanding of the situation, and at that critical moment, the secretary of war ordered General Izard to march the larger portion of his force westward to the support of General Brown on the Niagara frontier. General Izard was livid!

Izard, scarcely restraining his indignation, wrote on the 11th of August:

“I will make the movement you direct, if possible, but I shall do it with the apprehension of risking the force under my command, and with the certainty that every thing in this vicinity but the lately erected works at Plattsburgh and Cumberland Head will, in less than three days after my departure, be in the possession of the enemy. He is in force superior to mine in my front; he daily threatens an attack on my position at Champlain; we are all in hourly expectation of a serious conflict… My little army will do its duty.”⁷

General Macomb commands forces remaining in Plattsburgh

August 29, 1814 General Izard carried out his orders and left Champlain and Chazy and headed west. He continued to protest against the movement as unwise and perilous hoping he would hear orders to return.⁷

The British occupied Champlain the next day and within a few days there was a force of 14,000 at that location. They only had to complete a massive augmentation of their flotilla before beginning their advance.^2e

General Alexander Macomb commanded the US army remaining at Plattsburgh. His force of twelve infantry regiments included Vermont’s 30th and 31st; two veteran companies of artillery under Captain Alexander Brooks; and another 250 infantry men serving on ships as marines. Also, left behind were about 1400 sick or invalid convalescing on Crab Island. The total effective force for the defense of Plattsburgh was about 2000 men.^2e

Macomb moved to Plattsburgh south of the Saranac River to command the territory between the river and the western shore of Lake Champlain. There he manned three forts, Fort Brown, Fort Moreau and Fort Scott. Spencer Chamberlain, among his fellow Vermonters of the 30th and 31st infantries, garrisoned Fort Brown which stood on the bank of the Saranac River.^2f,7

September 3, 1814  The Governor General of the British army, Sir George Prevost, implemented the 1777 plan of General Burgoyne. He avowed his intention to take possession of the country as far as Ticonderoga.  Like Burgoyne before him, he issued a proclamation inviting residents to cast off their allegiance to the US government and furnish him with supplies.⁷

Harassing British right column heading toward Plattsburgh

September 6, 1814  Early in the morning, the British army of 14,000 mostly veteran troops began their march toward Plattsburgh. They divided into two columns with the right heading for Beekmantown, and the left heading toward the lake shore and Dead Creek Bridge.⁷

A gallant and daring US Major John E. Wool led 250 regulars, including 50 men from Vermont’s 30th and 31st, to oppose the advance of the enemy.^2e Spencer Chamberlain may have been a part of this group. Their orders were to impede the advance of the right column and to set an example of firmness for thirty uninitiated militia that joined the group. They reached Beekmantown before the enemy, (about six miles north of the Saranac River), and took position there near the residence of Ira Howe.⁷

The British column was confidently and rapidly moving forward knowing they had over powering numbers. Suddenly, a burst of musketry erupted from Wool’s little band. This broke the enemy’s confident stride and slowed their advance. The less disciplined militia scattered and headed for Plattsburgh. Wool’s regulars held firm and amid desperate skimishes, slowly backed toward Culver’s hill to make a stand.

“They fired their guns and the British kept a coming”

The massive column of British ascended the slope of Culver’s hill. Wool’s band made another gallant attack. Some of the militia rallied and positioned themselves behind a stone wall along the road. There was a short but severe firefight. They drove the enemy back with several of their leaders killed or wounded.

The British resumed their advance pressing forward with irresistible force. Major Wool’s group fell back to Halsey’s Corners, about a mile and a half from the Plattsburgh bridge. Captain Leonard joined him there with two artillery pieces. They set up a battery at an angle in the road masked by Wool’s infantry and the few remaining militia. The heavy column of the enemy pressed ever closer. Captain Leonard opened fire sending cannon balls cutting through the enemy’s ranks. They loaded and fired their second and third rounds with deadly effect. However, the British kept coming.

The bugles sounded and the British threw off their knapsacks, fixed bayonets and began to charge full speed forward. Leonard ran for the village, occasionally turning his guns toward the pursuers to slow their advance. He crossed the Saranac River at the lower bridge and set up his battery near the stone mill. There he covered the other American’s crossing the bridge.

Retreat to get back across the bridges

The rapid advance of the British right column imperiled US units that had been falling trees to block the British left column. General Macomb perceived the danger and ordered them back to Plattsburgh at all speed to attack the enemy’s right flank. This they did, inflicting upon them additional pain. They reached the lower bridge before the rush of British on the right, barely avoiding being cut off.  Major Wool’s troops arrived at the same time and both groups crossed the bridge together. When all were over the river, the heavy fire tore up the bridge.⁷

The British left column crossed the Dead Creek Bridge and made their way along the shore of Plattsburgh Bay. Macdonough’s galleys at the head of the bay were waiting for them. The land troops and gallelys exchanged heavy fire. Macdonough sent an order to the galleys to return to the fleet.⁷ Midshipman Silas Duncan was severely wounded as he delivered the order.

General Mooer’s militia crossed the upper bridge and likewise tore it up. This stopped the British advance at the river. Aiken’s volunteers in the stone mill and General Mooer’s milita at the upper bridge repulsed several of their attempts to cross the Saranac. The enemy then took position in some storehouses along the river. Captain Brooks hurled some hot shot and burned them out.⁷

Finding immediate passage of the stream impractical, Provost ordered his troops to make their encampments north of the village on an elevated ridge about a mile from the river. They set up headquarters at Allen’s farm house an began vigorous preparations for an attack. Provost could see that, even with overwhelming numbers, his task would not be easy. At the end of the day he had lost, either killed or wounded, over 200 men compared to the American’s forty-five.⁷

Adding Insult to Injury

September 9, 1814 Everything had been quiet for three days. The British fleet and Prevost’s land forces planned to make a coordinated attack. The order came down to Vermont’s 30th and 31st Infantry: “Defend Fort Brown to the last man”

Storm clouds were gathering at sun set when the British were observed busily erecting a rocket battery across the river from Fort Brown. Spencer Chamberlain, known for finding himself voluntarily at the center of extreme situations, may have taken part in the following adventure.⁷

General Macomb gave the go ahead to Captain M’Glassin to carry out a bold attack on the battery construction. The weather was tempestuous. As night fell, wind blown rain splattered in the thick darkness interrupted occasionally by flashes of lightning and cracks of thunder. M’Glassin and about fifty men crossed the Saranac half way between Fort Brown and the upper bridge. Unobserved, they reached the foot of the hill where the battery was rising. M’Glassin divided his group into two parties and sent one toward the front, the other circled to the rear.⁷

“Charge! men, charge! upon the front and the rear!“ As M’Gassin shouted the order, his men rushed forward with frightful yells. The British believing they were being swarmed with overwhelming numbers, fled back to the main body. The Americans quickly drove spikes into the touch-holes of the cannons making them non-functional. They then carried off any item they could and made a hasty retreat across the river. Not a single man was lost. They had surprised and frightened off over one hundred-fifty veteran troops with only fifty men. Sir George Prevost was mortified.^2f,7

The Battle for Lake Champlain begins

September 11, 1814 In the early dawn Macdonough’s squadron of ships waited in Plattsburgh bay. The young commander had skillfully formed the American line of battle in the lake. His fleet extended completely across the the entrance to Plattsburgh bay from Crab Island to Cumberland Head.⁷

The enemy fleet Commanded by Captain George Downie would come around the head with bows forward, giving the Americans an early advantage. The four larger U. S. vessels, the Eagle, Ticonderoga, Preble and Macdonough’s flagship Saratoga were positioned so their broadside guns would be facing the enemy when they came bearing toward them. These ships were anchored into position. Twelve galleys formed a second row behind and filled the spaces between the larger ships. Skilled oarsmen held them in position.⁷

Sir George Provost watched the bay from the shore and waited for the signal to begin the advance of British ground troops. Major General Robinson was ready to press forward with a portion of their overwhelming 14,000 man force. They would push across the Saranac, climb the steep banks with ladders and escalade the American works on the peninsula. British batteries in Plattsburgh village would shower musketry and cannon balls on the American forts and defenses across the Saranac.⁷

Sometime before eight o’clock Provost saw the masts of Downie’s squadron sailing along the far side of Cumberland Head. That was the signal. General Robinson gave the order and the coordinated invasion of Plattsburgh and Lake Champlain was underway.⁷

In the hands of Almighty God

Macdonough was now thoroughly prepared to receive the enemy. His vessels were cleared for action and all was in readiness. At that moment he gathered his officers and men around him. He knelt down upon the deck of the Saratoga, near one of the heaviest guns, and asked Almighty God for aid, and committed the issue into his hands. The galliant young commadore arose from his prayer with assured courage.⁷

The Confiance side by side with the Saratoga

Commadore Downie’s fleet rounded Cumberland Head at eight o’clock. When he began the day at the Isle La Motte, he boasted that when he met the Saratoga, within ten minutes he would board her.⁴ The fleet consisted of Downie’s flag ship Confiance, the Linnet, and the two previously captured U.S. sloops renamed Chub and Finch; and twelve gun boats.  He gave final instructions for battle and then attempted to turn the Confiance side by side with the Saratoga. Meanwhile, the British Finch and gun boats would attack the Ticonderoga and Preble. Shifting winds compelled Downie to anchor his ship as it was getting too close to his opponent.⁷

The USS Eagle opened the action at 9 AM. It fired the first shot and then discharged its other three long eightteen pounders in quick succession. Commadore Macdonough personally set the sight of Sartoga’s long 24 pounder and gave the order. “Fire!” The ball entered the hawse hole of the Confiance crashing with deadly force through every obstacle the length of the ship, and demolishing the wheel.^2f,7

A freed gamecock an omen of American victory

The Linnet took several shots at the Saratoga’s broadside as it passed toward its objective target, the Eagle. One ball smashed into some hen houses filling the air fluttering with feathers. This released a gamecock, which some of the seamen had brought on board. The startled fowl flew up on a gun slide, clapped his wings and defiantly crowed proclaiming his new found freedom. The delighted sailors cheered as this appeared to them an omen of American victory.⁷

Commodore Downie crushed by 24 pounder

The Confiance secured her optimal position and produced a sheet of fire from sixteen 24 pounders. They all fired at once along her larboard side aimed point blank at the Saratoga. The great ship trembled and quaked from the terrible blast. Forty crew members were disabled or killed including the first lieutenant, Peter Gamble.

Recovering quickly from the stunning blow, Macdonough gallantly resumed the conflict. One ball sent from the Saratoga struck the muzzle of one of the 24 pounders on board the Confiance. This hurled the big gun inboard violently striking and killing Commodore Downie.⁷

Convalescents capture disabled Finch

The larger ships now exchanged a horrific and steady stream of fire power. The Chub received a broadside from the Eagle, she was crippled so badly she drifted aimlessly. Midshipman Platt from the Saratoga took possession of the severely damaged sloop. He towed and anchored her near the mouth of the Saranac. Almost half her crew were killed or wounded.⁷

The Ticonderoga drove off and damaged the Finch which drifted aimlessly until it grounded on the rocky shoal of Crab Island. The 1400 sick and wounded were on Crab Island for their recovery. Anyone able bodied manned their two gun battery. They turned the guns on the Finch, which then surrendered to the group of convalescents.⁷

Emboldened British Galleys swarm the Ticonderoga

The British gun-boats ganged up on the Preble. They compelling her to cut her cables and flee to a safer place near the shore, thus, putting her out of action. This success emboldened the British galleys which in mass then went after the Ticonderoga. The galleys, which carried about 50 men per boat, made a furious attack with the intention of boarding. Lieutenant Stephen Cassin walked the rail in a storm of grape and canister directing the firing of muskets and other light missiles. Several times the enemy was within a few feet of the sides, but each time vigorous action of the crew drove them back.⁷

Macdonough’s brilliant manuver

At the other end of the American line the situation had become critical. The Eagle lost  the springs of her cable and became exposed to the combined fire of the Linnet and Confiance. Captain Henley at once placed her between and a little astern of the Saratoga and Ticonderoga. He anchored there and opened his larboard guns on the Confiance and the British galleys. This however, left the Saratoga exposed to the whole broadside fire of the Linnet.⁷

The two flag-ships soon became disabled. The Saratoga was silent. It did not have a single serviceable starboard gun left. The Confiance was not much better off. Macdonough, here exhibited his splendid seamanship. Quickly and effectively, with the aid of his skillful sailing-master, they wound the ship around by means of a stream anchor and hawsers. These were attached in such away that by winding them tight, the head of the vessel would be turned around. This brought the guns of his larboard side to bear on the opponent. The Confiance made a vain attempt to imitate the manuver.^4,7

Acting Lieutenant Lavallette, opened up with the new set of guns with such destructive power on the British flag-ship that she soon surrendered. The Saratoga then turned her fire on the Linnet, and within fifteen minutes she also struck her colors. The Ticonderoga, a half mile away, had turned the tables on the British galleys. They had scattered and were attempting to give aid to their beleaguered fleet. However, seeing the colors of the larger vessels go down, they too dropped their ensigns. By a little past noon, not a single British flag was flying above its squadron on Plattsburgh bay.⁷

“The Almighty has been pleased to grant us victory”

The victory on the lake was complete and substantial. On the Saratoga, one half hour after the Linnet struck her colors and the British galleys fled to the north, Macdonough sent a dispatch to the Secretary of the Navy.  He gave credit to the source of power he had requested only hours before. He wrote: “SIR, – The Almighty has been pleased to grant us a signal victory on Lake Champlain in the capture of one frigate, one brig, and two sloops of war of the enemy.”⁷

The land Battle in Plattsburgh

While the roar of battle raged over the water, an equal drama of fire, smoke and thunder bellowed over Plattsburgh. The sails of the British fleet seen over Cumberland Head was the signal to the British land forces under Major General Robinson to begin their advance. The masts were sighted and Robinson gave the order. The ground troops began their move in three columns toward the Saranac. They positioned themselves at the two bridges and at the ford at Pike’s encampment three miles from the mouth of the river. They then prepared to force their way across the Saranac river and take the American works by storm.

Spencer Chamberlain was garrisoned with the 30th and 31st Infantries at Fort Brown between the lower and upper bridges. My guess is that the 30th and 31st were among those who went to defend the upper bridge location where riflemen and infantry aided by some of the militia repeatedly held back the advance of the enemy. Guards at the stone mill and cannon fire from the forts repulsed the enemy at the lower bridge.^2e,7

At Pike’s ford the militia were mostly new arrivals from Clinton and Essex Counties New York. They put up a strong defense and stopped the British. Again they came, and again they drove them back. The enemy made another bold charge. Several companies of British pushed across the river and began moving forward with overwhelming force.⁷

News of victory on Lake Champlain

The militia retreated.  Then, General Strong’s detachment of 2500 Vermont volunteers with an artillery field-piece joined in the defense. The militia and newly arriving volunteers rallied and took a stand. As they were preparing to meet the advancing  foe, they heard the thunder of horse hooves coming from the rear. The horse galloped into camp and the rider called out his urgent intelligence from General Moore: “The British fleet has surrendered!”⁷

Hearty and enthusiastic cheers erupted from the Americans. At that moment, the British turned and in all haste headed toward the Saranac with the Strong’s Green Mountain Boys in pursuit. The Americans shouts of joy reiterated as the knowledge of victory on the lake spread from corp to corp. Sir George Prevost experienced “extreme mortification to hear the shout of victory from the American works.”^2f,7

General Brisbane continues attack on Fort Brown

Essentially the battle was over. However, one British general was very persistent. General Brisbane offered to cross the Saranac in force and take the American works in twenty minutes. He kept his battery firing on Fort Brown until sunset. Fort Brown, under command of Lieutenant Mountfort, kept up such an excellent defense that the British believed the Americans had employed the French Artillery.⁷

Spencer Chamberlain was among the 30th and 31st infantry and others stationed at Fort Brown. They managed to keep the enemy in check until night fall. Sir George Provost soon gave the order to recall all his cannons. By 9 pm Provost and his entire army were heading toward Canada. Their retreat was so hasty, they left behind their sick and wounded and vast quantities of munitions.

At the dawn’s early light of September 12, the American Star Spangled Banner waved proudly over Fort Brown, just as it would two mornings later at Fort McHenry in Baltimore.

Victory and celebration of Plattsburgh and Lake Champlain

Provost wisely saw that further prosecution of the battle was impractical. Even though his numbers were over whelming, it was a wise decision. Provost was really in peril. There is little question that, at the cost of many lives, he could have crushed Macomb and captured the post at Plattsburgh. However, the lake was lost absolutely and his life line of supplies from Canada was cut off.

Volunteers from New York and Vermont continued to pour in. Governor Chittenden of Vermont had issued a patriotic address when the invasion at Plattsburgh began. He had called on the militia to rush aid of the American army. By the end of the day of the battle, 2500 of the Green Mountain boys were at the Saranic under Major General Strong.⁷ Many more volunteers watched the spectacular show in Plattsburgh from the east shore of Lake Champlain, finding a means of passage difficult.⁴

The victorious events on Lake Champlain and on the soil of Plattsburgh on September 11, 1814 sent a thrill of intense joy throughout the country. When Macomb announced the victory of his little army, spontaneous praise and honor was showered upon both him and Macdonough. The victory at the Battle of Plattsburgh coupled with the successful defense of Fort McHenry and the city Baltimore on September 13 restored American pride after the burning of Washington DC in August. The two victories also greatly bolstered the nation’s bargaining position at the Ghent peace talks which brought the war to an end.⁸

Honorable discharge of Spencer Chamberlain

June 3, 1815 Spencer Chamberlain was “honorably discharged from the army of the United States, having faithfully served out the full period of his enlistment...Given at the Inspector General’s office, Plattsburgh this third day of June 1815.”⁵

1816 the year without a summer

The Spring of 1816 arrived early bringing hope of a bountiful harvest, but on June 5 the weather turned cold. Severe frosts hit Northern Vermont on June 8th and 9th. Snow fell over one foot deep and drifted up to three feet in places. It damaged crops and foliage of the trees. Mysterious mists of darkness reddened and dimmed the sunlight bringing terror and fear of God’s judgement to the residents of Vermont.

Optimism returned toward the end of June and early July. A heat wave encouraged replanting of lost fields. Some days the temperature neared 100 degrees F. However, on July 6, northwest winds brought the arrival of another cold air mass with freezing temperatures damaging the replanted crops. Another spell of cold weather hit in mid August and lasted to the end of the month.⁹

There was now no hope of harvest and scarcity and famine was a real possibility. Some wheat cut in the milk stage was dried in the oven and baked into bread or boiled like rice. Corn and rye had to be imported from abroad from a long distance and cost up to $3.00 a bushel, and sometimes more. Fish and any kind of vegetable that was edible was used for food.

Spencer Chamberlain and his small family along with many in the North Eastern states suffered greatly through the summer, fall and winter. Residents moved out of the state in droves. Vermont experienced a decrease in population of between 10,000 and 15,000, erasing seven previous years of population growth.¹⁰

The cause of the unusual weather of 1816 was unknown at the time. It is believed to have been caused by the eruption of Mount Tambora on the island of Sumbawa, Indonesia in August 1815. This was one of the strongest eruptions in modern history. It sent tons of ash into the upper atmosphere, about 90 times the amount of the eruption of Mount Saint Helens in 1980.⁹

Spencer Chamberlain and his family

Spencer and Millie’s first child was born October 11, 1811, a daughter they named Jeanette. Before Spencer went off to war their second daughter was born, Amanda in 1813. During the non summer of 1816 their third daughter, Delana, was born between cold snaps on August 1, 1816. Their first and only boy, Alonzo, was born on May 7, 1818. Another daughter, Sarah was born in January of 1820. And their sixth child, Melssa was born in 1824.

Sometime in his young life, Alonzo was kicked by a horse dislocating his hip. It was never set right which caused him problems throughout his life. Another tragedy came on January 9. 1826, when their 5 year-old daughter, Sarah, died.

Work on the farm consumed much of the the family’s time. However, when the work was done, they enjoyed gathering around the fireplace to listen to their father tell stories of his many life experiences. Perhaps he told stories of his time during the war, we don’t know. However, we do know the family’s favorite story from a verse from Jeanette’s poem:

In after years, when winter was cold,
Piled high the wood fire the children at home,
In the light of the blaze, piped out the young fawns,
“Father, tell us about Runaway Pond!”

Spencer’s family also discussed the burning issue of the time. Slavery was a passionate subject of debate during these years.

In October 1835, abolitionist Samuel May, by invitation, gave a lecture series in Montpelier. However, forty civic leaders opposed the series. They threw stones and eggs at the building as he gave his lecture. He received threats, and placards were placed around town warning people not to attend. May continued his lectures anyway. The angry mob rushed him when he began to speak. Colonel Jonathan Miller, an abolitionist and Underground Railroad agent came to his defense. Miller stood up and threatened the mob with bodily harm if they persisted. He was a veteran of the Greek wars and they knew that he meant it.  The mob backed off.¹¹

The 17 year-old Alonzo Chamberlain apparently took notice of this situation.

To be continued……

Chapter 18- The Secret Life of Alonzo Chamberlain The story of Alonzo Chamberlain is told here for the first time. His story as an agent in the Underground Railroad was previously unknown to his extended family, his home town of Glover, and to the historians of Vermont. 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.

More stories about Spencer Chamberlain and his family 1802-1855

Chapter 15- The Unusual Household of Increase Chamberlain, Jr. In October 2014, I received an email from Joan Alexander, Secretary of the Glover Historical Society. It was the first big clue to what my grandfather, Harry Chamberlain, was looking for 80 years before- a major break in finding Spencer Chamberlain and his parents in Westmoreland.

Chapter 16- Spencer Chamberlain and the Runaway Pond 
The story of the day the pond ran away, June 6, 1810. In 1889  E. T. Wilson sat down with Jeanette Chamberlain Phillips who told the story she has known by heart since she was a small child.

Chapter 19- Spencer Chamberlain’s Family Before the Civil War Jeanette Chamberlain Phillips and the 50th anniversary of Runaway Pond. Photos and families of Spencer and Millie Chamberlain’s children.

© 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- http://mrnussbaum.com/causes-and-effects-of-the-war-of-1812/

2a- Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont, Vol. 6. p.466.
2b- Abid., pp. 481-484
2c- Abid., p. 491
2d- Abid., pp. 496-501
2e- Abid., pp. 516-517
2f- Abid., pp. 518-533

3- Pliny H. White, Orleans County, Vermont Historical Magazine, Volume III, Orleans and Rutland Counties, 1877.4- The Centenary of the Battle of Plattesburgh, 1814 September 11 1914, Albany, University of the State of New York. 1914
5-  Spencer Chamberlain’s U. S. Army discharge Certificate, June 3, 1815
6- Robert Henderson, The Battle of La Colle Mill, 1814, www3.sympatico.ca/dis.general/lacolle.htm
7- Benson J. Lossing, Events on Lake Champlain,  Lossings Pictorial History of the War of 1812, Chapter XXXVII, 1869
8- https://www.thoughtco.com/war-of-1812-battle-fort-mchenry-2361371
9- Derek Marout, The Year Without a Summer, Northeast Kingdom weather website.
10- L. D. Stillwell, en.wikapedia.org
11- Michelle Arnosky Sheburne, Abolition & The Underground Railroad in Vermont, The History Press, Charleston SC 29403, 2013, pp. 29-30

“‘Tis June the sixth – a lovely morn”

June 6, 1810, Spencer Chamberlain woke up early that morning anticipating an eventful day outside the normal farming routine. The men of the community were gathering at Willson’s mill with shovels and lunch boxes to make the five mile hike to a beautiful lake called Long Pond. It was a day of celebration, and if all goes well, at the end of the day there will be more water in the stream to run the grist mill.

Spencer and his wife Millie lived in a small log house in a settlement known as Keene Corner. Silas and Sarah French had moved there in 1804 with their seven sons and three daughters, including Spencer’s wife Millie.  Keene Corner was south-east of the modern village of Glover, about a mile up a steep and winding Dexter Mountain Road. The old “French Cemetery” is on the right hand side at the top of the hill just past a small fresh water spring.

Spencer’s life in Keene Corner was good, except perhaps for one enduring problem. This problem is truly legendary, as it has filtered down an unwritten course for five generations. That is, the wrath he had to endure from his mother-in-law who could not accept his Indian heritage.¹ Nevertheless, Spencer seemed to be accepted by others of the French family and the clan of settlers who had moved to Vermont from Keene, New Hampshire.

The 1810 census will be conducted later in the year. It will show Spencer and Millie living with a small male child. We know nothing about this child today. Perhaps he belonged to Spencer’s step-father and his wife who had raised Spencer since before he was four years old. Increase Chamberlain, Jr. died in Glover that month of June, 1810. His widow Susannah, therefore, later left Glover and moved to where her family lived in Stockbridge, Vermont.

Spencer and Millie’s first child will be a daughter named Jeanette. First in their family of five girls and one boy, Jeanette’s birth will be more than a year later, (October 13, 1811). However, she will one day commit to memory the events this day- June 6, 1810.

On that morning a future family was far from their minds. The possibility of having a family of six children assumes that Spencer Chamberlain will survive this extraordinary day. Knowing what is about happen, his odds are slim!

“Beautiful Lake with silvery wave”

Long Pond was a beautiful crystal blue lake cradled near the top of a hill about five miles south of Glover. The eastern shore was heavily timbered and elevated gradually from water’s edge. The western bank, however, was steep and rocky rising in places one hundred feet above the shore.² The hills on the east and west sloped down and converged at north and south ends. The south end was narrow and shallow for about five hundred yards extending to its outlet. There its water began to flow southwest in the Lamoille River toward Lake Champlain.

The lake was about one and one-half miles long and one-half mile wide. Its eighty foot average depth increased to one hundred fifty feet at its deepest part extending toward the north end. The northern shoreline was about one-half mile broad. A hard pan shell extended across the northern shore and rested on a foundation of fine sand. This limestone crust and its sandy foundation formed a barrier. It was all that kept the lake’s estimated two billion gallons resting peacefully at an elevation of 1400 feet.

“Its water flowed the other way”

Less than a quarter mile north of Long Pond and down a steep decline of nearly 200 vertical feet was another lake called Mud Pond, (today Clark Pond). The two lakes were completely separated by a thick forest. The waters of Long Pond flowed south, while Mud pond formed the southern headwaters of the Barton River which flowed north. Mud Pond also had hills rising from its east and west shores. Therefore, any water great or small released from the north end of Long Pond would necessarily pass through Mud Pond.

Water from Mud pond ran about a mile before coming to a delta plain. There it was joined in confluence with a branch of the river flowing east from lakes in the west. When these two branches of the Barton River came together, it continued its northern course. It then meandered with a very gentle decline for about two miles. Then the valley constricted into a narrow passage and the water began a steeper decent for about a mile down the gulch toward Aaron Willson’s grist mill. It then flowed on through Glover, eventually ending its twenty mile course at Lake Memphremagog. The shores of Memphremagog extend across the Canadian border.

“His name is Spencer Chamberlain”

Spencer Chamberlain was twenty-four and in the prime of life. He was described as “six feet high, light complexion, blue eyes, black hair and by occupation a farmer”.³ He also was a great wrestler and runner. In this capacity, he had no equal among the settlers near and far.⁴

In 1889, E. T. Wilson interviewed Jeanette Chamberlain Phillips. She told him the story of Runaway Pond as she had heard it from her father in her younger days. 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, Jeanette Phillips. She was 77 years of age at the time and living in Glover, Vermont.⁴

In my telling of the story, all quotations from E. T. Wilson’s report are in bold italics. All sub headings of this chapter are from the 1929 poem by Harry Alonzo Phillips.²

“Each bears his share of lunch and tools”

“The Spring of 1810 had been dry. Very little rain had fallen, consequently the streams were low and Mr. Willson, the owner of the mill, was much troubled from the lack of water power. The same difficulty had existed the year previous, and very little rain had fallen the previous year.  Consequently the streams were low, and Mr. Willson had contemplated cutting a channel through the bank of Long Pond to let the water into Mud Pond, hoping thereby to increase his water power. After talking the matter over with the settlers from Sutton, Wheelock, Sheffield and Glover, all of whom brought grain to his mill, it was thought best to have a bee and hands take hold and dig the channel. Accordingly they met at the mill by daylight on the morning of June 6, armed with shovels and axes, Mr. Wilson furnished the whiskey.”⁴

The bee of men (a social gathering to assist or work together to complete a project), met at Willson’s mill. The men met at a familiar location where all had previously done business. Some reports say the gathering met at Keene Corner.⁵ It is likely that many of the men met there first before going to the mill. Those coming south from Barton or north from Sheffield would come through Keene Corner first. They would then travel southwest down the hill to the mill. Anyone coming from West Glover would go east down the western hills directly to the mill.

“The only mill for grinding grain”

That morning, Mr. Ripley was scheduled to bring a grist to be ground at the mill.⁶. “Nathan Cutler was returning to his home in West Glover when he met a settler with a grist on his back headed for Willson’s mill. Being of generous disposition, Mr. Cultler loaned his horse. Arriving at the mill the settler found Willson and others about to start for the pond. Mrs. Willson was left to operate the mill. The horse was left tied outside and the settler joined the party.”⁷

This historical report explains why Nathan Cutler’s horse was left at the mill, and also the whereabouts of Ripley who had brought the grist that was to be ground that day by Mrs. Willson.

“Mr. Wilson left his wife to attend to the mill, and the men, about fifty in number, were ready for an early start. The weather being hot and sultry, they struck into the forest when the first morning sunbeams began to fall aslant through the tree-tops, streaking their dark shadows with threads of gold. Following the course of the river nearly the whole distance, they reached the pond about eight o’clock.”⁴

“Know everyone must be involved”

Most accounts say there were fifty to sixty men in attendance. Though it is hard to believe that anyone knew the precise number in the party, the Reverand Pliney White claimed there were 61 to be exact.⁶

Pliney White named the following 37 men and where they were from:

Barton: Joseph Owen;

Glover: David Bragg, Asa Brown, Joseph Brown, Spencer Chamberlain, Silas Clark, John Crane, Solomon Dorr, Barzilla French, George French, Jonah French, Lindol French, Nathaniel French Jr., Silas French, Silas French, Jr., Zenas French, Eber Frost, Loring Frost, Richard Goodwin, Joseph Gray, Jonas Morse, Levi Partridge, Isaac Stokes, Silas Wheeler, Aaron Willson, Aaron Willson, Jr., Clark Wilson, Oliver Wilson;

Sheffield: James Daniels, Stephen Drown, John Hawkins, William Hawkins, William Hawkins Jr., Joseph Hodgeman, Josiah Miles, Jacob Twombly, Samuel Twombly and others.

O. V. Percival named 21 participants including Hezekiah Bickford and Elijah Stone not listed above.⁸ In an 1890 publication Percival added another new name to his list: Solon Bragg.¹¹

Other records mention Daniel Bickford, John Crane Jr., David Flint, Daniel Frost, Daniel Frost, Jr. and James Vance. And in Baldwin’s centennial address there were four new names. This made 49 known names (though some duplication is possible): Archelaus Miles, Jr., Samuel Bean, Benjamin Hawkins and Robert Brown.⁹

My book, Run Chamberlain, Run- Solving the 200-year-old Mystery of Runaway Pond,  shows that Ripley tied up Nathan Culter’s horse at the mill, left his grain with Mrs. Willson, and then went with the men to Long Pond. Since then, I found the full name of “Smith Ripley” in Glover town notes and the 1810 U. S. Census. Smith Ripley was the 50th name to attend the event at the Pond.

Mr. Jenness of Sheffield, who feared that more might be accomplished during the project than was intended, refused to participate and stayed home.⁶ He was right.

“Beside the over-murmuring stream”

The men traveled south through the forest most likely along the “usual path” on the eastern side of the river.⁵ They traveled singly or in small groups. First to arrive at the lake were Loring Frost, Isaac Stokes and Aaron Wilson, Jr.. They used tin horns to help guide those who were coming behind, some being unfamiliar with the location.⁶

“At the northern end a lofty bluff”

The bank at the north end of the pond rose gently from the water for a few feet and then sloped gradually away toward the valley for about 100 feet and then declined sharply. The bank had the appearance of a windrow of hay extending along the north shore. Standing on this bank a few feet from the water’s edge one could look out and see over the tops of the trees growing in the heavy timbered valley below.⁶

Most of the vegetation along the bank consisted of small trees and shrubs that could be pulled from the ground by two or three men. A single cedar with a six-inch diameter required the use of an ax. They selected the site and after removal of sufficient vegetation, the digging commenced.⁶

“The hills throw back the ring of steel”

“The length of the ditch to be dug was about 20 rods, which they finished about one o’clock. An encrustation of clay a few inches thick had been formed against the quicksand on the inside the entire depth of the pond; that had kept the water in its place the past ages. This was broken through and the water began to run through the ditch. All sprung out and “slokened” their thirst from the jugs and proposed to begin their celebration, which soon began in a way they little expected.”⁴

Differing estimates for the length of the channel are given, but it was likely between 50 to 100 feet long. It was one foot wide, fairly level along the bottom, and seven feet deep where the bank was highest. Most of the bank consisted of a fine sandy material. However, one area a few feet from the water’s edge was a patch of thick compacted yellowish sand and gravel. That required the use of a pick ax to break through.⁶

“Fine whiskey passed around with toasts”

The men had walked five or more miles. After digging all morning to complete the channel, they were ready for a well deserved lunch break and to celebrate, while quenching their thirst with some homemade potato whiskey.

At the northeastern corner of the lake there was a small plain along the shore covered with a growth of alders and other vegetation. There, the shore was nearly level back about 300 feet.⁹ This area was close to where the men were working and provided a pleasant place where they could gather in celebration.

“Alas! ’tis lost in silvery sand”

Before the celebration could begin, however, an act occurred that puts the proverbial “straw that broke the camel’s back” to shame. Elijah Stone lifted the shovel that let the first drop of water trickle into the channel.¹⁰

As the water began to flow into the trench, the men began to speculate how much it would lower the water level. “It will hardly be noticeable at all”, some thought. “No, it will be down a foot by nightfall” said others. One member expressed the most extreme opinion, “The water level might soon drop by three feet!” He was severely ridiculed, “You (blank) fool, this might run for three weeks without lowering the pond that much.”⁶

The bed of the pond consisted of a deposit of fine gravel closely cemented and forming a solid crust of a few inches thick. The water poured over the edge of this crust and into the channel. But then, to the surprise of all, instead of flowing through the channel, it entirely disappeared into the sand.

“Rescued! with neither rope nor chain”

“Soon it was noticed that the water stopped running through the ditch and a deep heavy rumbling sound was heard, and the hill on which they stood began to tremble as though shaken from some cause underneath. This seemed to increase quite fast when one of their number, Spencer Chamberlain, jumped into the ditch to discover the cause. Instantly as the bottom began to sink under him, he shouted for help and one of the party reached down and caught him by the hair of the head and drew him from the channel, which began to deepen and widen very rapidly.” ⁴

Spencer Chamberlain, in his attempt to find the problem, had to be rescued as the sand at the bottom of the trench would no longer support a man’s weight. He tried to get out but only sank deeper. Throwing himself forward, Richard Goodwin¹⁷ was able to catch him by his hair. Others grabbed him by his arms while still others got hold of those holding Chamberlain. Then, by forming a human chain, they pulled him to solid ground.⁷ Another man clung to the roots of a large tree until pulled to safety by others.⁵

“Soon must thy liquid make dash for its goal”

The volume of water flowing into the channel over the crust was increasing as this exit was continually widening. Though only six to eight inches deep, the current flowing toward the trench became quite swift and difficult to cross. Several persons were on the opposite side of the channel from the majority. Though wishing to cross over, some individuals were unable. The fast water flowing over the crust presented danger of being swept into the ever growing channel. It was now about forty feet wide and forty feet deep. To solve this dilemma, they joined hands with the strongest man in the lead and rushed into the current. A similarly united party on the other side met them and pulled them across.⁶

Fifteen-year-old Zenas French left home that morning with a new pair of cowhide boots. They were the pride of his heart. To prevent any damage to them, he took them off and set them on a rock on the bank. Zenas found himself on one side of the fast moving current while his boots were on the other.¹² His boots were lost forever, but all the men were finally together on the same side of the channel.

Oliver Wilson and another man were holding onto a tree near the trench and leaning over to get a better view down into the growing chasm. Fixated on the sight, they failed to notice the top of the tree they were holding slowly swaying above them. A sharp scream from one of the party alerted them of their danger. Incredibly, as soon as they sprung back from their post of observation, the tree along with a considerable amount of earth fell into the abyss.⁶

“Each reddened face turns pale with fright”

“Large pieces of earth from either side with trees standing began to slide in, throwing up great sheets of water above their heads. All were much frightened; one of them afterward said; “We were too much dazed to comprehend what was passing before us. The land and trees seemed to be moving away or plunging into the deep chasm, where large trees would be broken with a sharp report distinctly heard above the great noise of the water.” The whole forest seemed to be whirling around us and sinking with the pond. The ground on which they stood began to move, when the spell was broken and all ran for higher ground.” ⁴

The men were in a state of shock and awe as they watched trees and earth fall into the channel.  Plumes of water shot into the air above their heads and the sharp crack of breaking trees resounding above the sound of the roaring water. Still they were not fully aware of the enormity of their problem. Because, the same force that had been so rapidly deepening the channel was also at work undermining the sand beneath the thin crust. That crust was all that was supporting the weight of all the water at the north end of the pond.

“While men behold, in deep dismay”

Some men standing on a fishing raft constructed of long cedar logs and lying along the shore enjoyed an observation point for a spectacular view as they gazed down into the channel. An outcry sounded the alarm and once again averted catastrophe by the narrowest of margins. Turning around, they could see a crack in the earth along the shore slowly widening. In all haste they jumped off the raft and leaped over the crack. The first off grabbed the last of the group by their shoulders and pulled to safety. They never saw the raft again. By the time they gathered their senses and looked back it had disappeared along with much of the shoreline.

“Two loons perceiving danger nigh”

It was as if someone had pulled the plug of a mile-long bathtub. The water now formed a giant vortex plunging with a mighty roar of thunder nearly straight down into the ravine below. This caused a violent shaking of the earth felt as far away as Sheffield several miles away. It rattled dished in Glover four miles north.⁶ Two loons attempted to rise off the surface of the lake. They quickly became sucked down and disappeared from sight.⁹

The rapid evacuation of water from the pond created an instant chasm in the center of the current. Suddenly, this filled again with a loud clapping sound as the waves came back together. This concussion threw mud and water high into the air and caused a small tsunami to spread throughout the lake carrying shock waves of muddy water far up the banks. The first wave caught Silas French Jr. and Loring Frost who had ventured into the bed of retreating water to see what they could see. One of these young men became wet up to the hips, the other not so high.⁶

The swift current toward the trench separated some men from the majority. They valiantly crossed the current so that the entire group was together. Therefore, we know that all the men were all on the same side of the channel. It is logical to assume that they would assemble on the side of the channel where they would normally begin there journey home. This was on the east side.

“My wife! I left her grinding corn!”

“Mr. Wilson was the first to speak: “My God, what will become of my wife?” He then started to run to get ahead of the water. A few others started also, but soon came back finding themselves wholly unequal to the undertaking. A number now cried, ‘Run Chamberlain, run!'”⁴

Spencer Chamberlain, the miller Aaron Willson, and the rest of the men on the east side of the water, suddenly realized the peril of those in the valley below. Especially Willson’s wife as she worked in the mill.

“‘Run Chamberlain, Run!’ he gives a bound”

“Quickly throwing off his jacket he sprang, it is said, over a fallen tree fully five feet from the ground and disappeared in the forest and in a few minutes passed Wilson. The channel now became dammed up from the great number of trees, but this soon gave way. The time occupied from the letting of the water into the ditch until the bed of the pond was seen, was about 25 minutes.” ⁴

Chamberlain’s run started on the eastern hills about 25 minutes after the water was let into the channel. Zenas French also started to run,¹²  but probably didn’t get far without his boots.⁹ 

“As the torrent now rushed down the decline towards Mud Pond, it cut a channel nearly 175 feet deep and fifty rods wide, taking along large rocks, one in particular, which may be seen today in a field, which is estimated to weigh not less than one hundred ton, being carried one mile. Pieces of land were taken up and carried away with trees standing on them, but were quickly torn to pieces. The speed of the torrent increased as it approached Mud Pond, into which it rushed with such great force as to lower the pond and land surrounding it nearly fifteen feet. On the east and west side of this pond are high and very steep hills approaching each other at the north in a circular form each ending in a sloping foot hill, one lapping by the other. Through this pass the pond had its outlet.”⁴

“This was no hindrance to the great column of water which swept away all barriers, and rushed into a narrow valley with steep wooded hills either side; here the water rose to a great height clearing the hill-sides of timber and lowering the surface to the level of Mud Pond under whose eastern hill Chamberlain was running, his path continually obstructed by fallen timbers from the high ledges. Here he was caught nearly to his knees by the water, but by climbing higher to his right he escaped. All this time he kept along side the water.”⁴

Here it is confirmed that Spencer Chamberlain was indeed running along the “eastern hill” above Mud Lake. The small bowl-like valley that contained Mud Lake filled so rapidly by the torrent from the larger lake that Chamberlain was caught in water up to his knees. As he was running north along the eastern hills, he escaped the water “by climbing higher to his right.”

The flowing water undermined the hard pan crust of the lake bed. The sheer weight of the lake broke through the crust and sent tons of water straight down. This caused a hydraulic explosion in the heavily timbered north shore and sent cedar trees flying through the air like matchsticks. This littered the shores of Mud Lake and obstructing Spencers path with “fallen timber from the high ledges.”

The water quickly ripped its way out of this small valley carrying much of the water of Mud Pond along with it. The sides of the hills were scraped clean of vegetation and the channel deepened.

“This stream, in Stone Pond takes a rise”

“From this narrow valley the water turned  somewhat to the west into another valley about 20 feet lower, at which point, Barton River, coming from Stone Pond, turns directly north, this narrow was covered with a dense growth of  soft wood timber from the edges of the river up the hill either side. The great amount of debris and broken trees which were carried into this dense growth dammed up the water which rose above the trees and again Chamberlain was caught, as he was on swampy ground in a depression between two hills. Again turning more to the right he had great difficulty in forcing his way through the thick, tangled under-growth.”⁴

Here is an amazing vista that only Chamberlain saw and described. The water exiting Mud Pond descended about 20 feet into a much larger valley. This valley was the delta plain where the western tributary of the Barton River flows east from Stone Pond until it meets the stream flowing north from Mud Pond. Their combined waters then continued in the Barton River’s northward course.

There were some small hills which narrowed the channel where the river came together and then went to the north. Also, there was a thick growth of soft wood timber growing in this area. Chamberlain saw the debris and broken trees being pushed along by the flood and jammed up into the forest and hills which temporarily dammed the lower Barton River. This caused the torrent to head west into the spacious valley of the western tributary temporarily reversing its flow.

What was the quickest way to the mill? Could he get there in time? Chamberlain, was “fleet as a deer and capable of great endurance,”⁸ but severely lacking in the fine art of risk avoidance. He now heads straight down into the Barton River. He attempts to cross the river a few hundred feet north and in the direct path of the massive flood. It is building tremendous pressure on the log jam. Again, he finds himself “caught” in the middle of the river. The river is simply described as “swampy ground in a depression between two hills,” for the river being dammed; much of the water has drained away. At least for the moment!

As he struggles through the thick tangled undergrowth along the river, he said that he then turned “more to the right.” Amazingly, this will head him toward the safety of the western foothills and in the northerly direction toward the mill.

“Then breaks away with fearful roar”

“He was soon safe and was near the head of the water and within about one mile of the mill. In a few minutes the jam again gave way with a terrific crash, sweeping everything before it, lifting pieces of land from the hill-sides and carrying them along with their trees standing on them.” ⁴

After his struggle to get through and out of the river he turned more to his right and headed northwest toward the western foothills. He declared with a great sense of relief that, “he was soon safe.” As he climbed the western hills he realized for the first time since he began running that he was actually out of immediate danger.

He knew from the beginning that at some point he had to cross the river ahead of the water to get to the mill. To run all the way on the eastern side along the river would be suicide. However, running higher on the eastern hills would greatly increase his distance from the mill. As he saw the water filling into the large delta valley he gambled that the log jam would hold and allow him time to cross. He won his life or death gamble with “a few minutes” to spare.

There is one thing that has been very hard to understand and probably the reason nobody before speculated that he crossed the river. This is, that after crossing a “swamp” he said that he was then “near the head of the water”. But, how could he cross the river and then find he was near the head?

When Chamberlain climbed high enough on the western foothills he could see that he was near the head of the flood which was still surging westward. This is the same direction that Chamberlain was going as he crossed the river. The head would continue to surge west until the water level reached the tops of the trees at the north and overpowered the log jam. This it did a few minutes after Chamberlain was safe on the hills and when he was about one mile from the mill.

The dam broke with a terrific crash releasing the torrent which swept away the forests and much of the hills which had defiantly slowed its progress. It quickly passed the mere human desperately running on the hills above its western flank.

“Of rocks and trees that form a dam”

“From this point the column turned more to the north-west for about one fourth of a mile, then again turning to the north where the hills approach each other, leaving a deep, long gulch between, at the north end of which was situated the mill. Here Chamberlain passed the water which rose to a great height. As it entered the channel it appeared to him like a wall seventy feet high. From the top large numbers of trees were dropping; small islands with trees on them would topple over as they reached the edge, which he described as being several feet in advance of the base.”⁴

The map of the Barton River is another confirmation of Jeanette Phillips’ accurate recollection of her father’s words. For the river indeed does run northwest for about a quarter of a mile before it turns north into the narrow valley.

As the flood reached the mouth of the narrow valley, again trees and all manner of debris formed a very compact blockage. Here the water had to collect until “the water rose to a great height”. This allowed time for Chamberlain to once again get ahead of the water at this location.

He then gives us a spectacular description of the flood as he sees it enter the valley. “As it entered the channel it appeared like a wall seventy feet high”. When the water rose above and ran over the compact dam which was blocking the channel it caused a huge waterfall 50 to 70 feet high which dropped straight down to the valley floor. These falls extended across the width of the canyon.  They were slowly moving forward through the canyon, much like a clog in a drain moves slowly as it is pushed along by water pressure from behind. Chamberlain saw trees falling from the top of the falls, and islands with trees growing on them floating until they went over the edge and then straight down, for the edge of the waterfall was moving “several feet in advance of the base”.

“Descending from a daunting race”

“Chamberlain was now exhausted, and, coming in sight of a house he ran to the door shouting, “Give me some whiskey, quick! Run for your lives the water is coming!” Looking around they saw the wall of water coming from the woods, trees falling and whirling end over end. The house being on high land, was not reached by the water.”⁴

His arrival at John Crane’s house is a very important piece of evidence. This proves that the runner actually made it there ahead of the flood. Mrs. Crane’s story which was frequently told to her children and grandchildren provides the only eye witness account of the runner after he leaves the Pond. Her story proves that the run actual happened!

John Crane’s house was on the west side of the river. One reason we know this is because when he came down on the east side of the river after the flood, he could not get to his home. He stayed the night with Mr. French who lives at Keene Corner on the east side.¹³ Also, Alonzo Chamberlain Phillips knew John Crane’s house was on the west side.  He used this fact to argue that Spencer Chamberlain ran on the west side.¹⁴ We now know that his argument was correct, at least once Spencer had crossed the Barton River.

One of her granddaughters, Sarah Barker, tells us that the runner gave Mrs. Crane her first warning of the pending danger. She said that in Grandmother Crane’s story, the men went that morning up to the pond with great anticipations, and “the next thing she knew came one of the men in great haste; he asked for a draught of whisky, and told her what had happen: the pond was coming”! Her grandmother gave him some of Grandfather Crane’s potato whisky and then “on he went with all the might he had”.¹³

Mrs. Crane then gathered her young children around her and took a hoe and laid the handle across a stump and looked to sight if the water was high enough to reach their level. She told her children to be ready to “flee to the hills”.

The Crane home was high enough to be spared by the flood, which came up to a rise of land just below their garden fence.¹³

“In a few minutes Chamberlain came insight of the mill, and seeing a horse hitched to a post by the door he knew some one was at work inside. The mill was at his left, down a decline about 30 rods.”⁴

Spencer approached the mill and began to go down the decline of about 30 rods, roughly 495 feet, to get to the mill. As he went down the hill, the mill would be on his left just as described.

“He met the Devil face to face”

“This was the moment that tested the courage and resolution of the man. He saw plainly that the attempt to reach the mill and to return was greatly risking his life; not an instant did he hesitate, but running down like a deer, and bursting through the door he shouted, “Run, run for your life!”⁴

Chamberlain seems entirely fearless acting again without thinking of danger as he did when he jumped into the trench to see where the water was going, requiring him to be pulled out by his long black hair. He had run four miles with a single goal, to save the life of a friend. There was no time to think of anything but to run down the hill and into the mill.

Again we can see that the mill was on the west side very close to some steep hills for he ran “down like a deer, and bursting through the door”. His plan was to “reach the mill and to return” again to the higher ground for safety.

“And conquered Death here in the dell”

“Mrs. Wilson who was tending the mill was frightened at his appearance and did not move. Seizing her with one hand and a bag of meal in the other, he rushed through the door but quickly dropped the bag, as the water was but a few rods from them. Mrs. Wilson was nearly helpless from the fright; this compelled him to literally drag her up the hill to the high bank, which he reached not a second too soon. He was caught to the waist in the water, but seizing hold of a sapling he drew himself and the woman from the water. The mill and horse were swept away and no vestige of either ever found.”⁴

Mrs. Crane’s eyewitness account recalled by her granddaughter Mrs. Barker confirms Spencer Chamberlain’s amazing description of the waterfall which was moving forward down the gulley. She said that when it hit, “the water rushed down upon the roof of the mill”.¹³ Mrs. Aaron Crane, a granddaughter-in-law, reported that Grandmother Crane said, the flood was “rushing along with an almost perpendicular front, so that literally it struck the top of the mill first.”¹⁵

Spencer Chamberlain gave us his eye witness account of his path on the eastern shores of mud pond littered with fallen timber; the damming of the lower Barton river causing the flood to temporally surge westward; the description of the nearly empty river as he struggled to cross its swamps and undergrowth; the direction of the hills where he would be safe; and a spectacular view of a waterfall moving down the gulley toward the mill. We have Mrs. Crane’s witness account that he arrived at her home ahead of the water and ran off again before the water arrived; and also her confirmation of the moving waterfall just as it had been described by Chamberlain. All this recorded eighty years after the event and without a major discrepancy. Absolutely amazing!

Alonzo C. Phillips reported that, “The miller left his wife in the mill to grind out a grist for a man from West Glover”.¹⁴ It is well documented that the horse that brought the grist was owned by Nathan Cutler, who was also of West Glover. ^7,14 He had loaned the horse to a neighboring settler. ⁷

In Pliny White’s account we learn that the man who brought the grist from West Glover on Nathan Cutler’s horse was Mr. Ripley who could not get to his home at the end of the day. Smith Ripley brought his grain on Nathan Cutler’s horse from his farm in West Glover. This is on the western side of the river. Willard C. Leonard was correct when he proposed that Ripley left the horse tied outside and joined the party that went to the pond.⁷ He would return, of course, on the east side and be unable to get home.

Arthur Willson related a story told by his great aunt Elizabeth Dorr (Solomon Dorr’s wife) about the man who brought the grain. She said, “the man who brought it on horseback had gone to watch the others who were digging the channel.” Smith Ripley is the 50^th named man who went to the pond.

The Chamberlain versions of the story always claim that it was the miller’s wife who was working at the mill. She was known to Jeanette Phillips as Maria. O. V. Percival refers to the person working there simply as the miller.⁸ This is not a contradiction, for his report was written in very general terms, and therefore, anyone working at the mill might be called the miller. In Percival’s later article he said it was the miller’s wife. He wrote: Spencer Chamberlain “hurried on to the mill of Willson. He ran into the mill and shouted to his wife, who was grinding a grist, to flee for her life.”¹¹

“Each nerve is strained to save her life”

The earliest known written document about the Runaway Pond affair was a letter from Joseph Owen to his sister. It was written on June 25, 1810 only a few days after the flood, and published in the Express some time much later. He describes the flood to his sister and tells her what he heard had happened at the mill:

“The Wilson Mill was two miles further down the stream and the man who was grinding there when he saw the water coming, took his grist and ran, but the water overtook him and he left his grist and just made his escape to the hill above. The water struck him up to his waist.”¹⁶

What Mr. Owen had heard could only be referring to the following experience of Spencer Chamberlain:

“Seizing her with one hand and a bag of meal in the other, he rushed through the door but quickly dropped the bag, as the water was but a few rods from them. Mrs. Wilson was nearly helpless from the fright; this compelled him to literally drag her up the hill to the high bank, which he reached not a second too soon. He was caught to the waist in the water.”⁴

“Located near the Aldrich Farm”

In my book, Run Chamberlain, Run -Solving the 200-Year-Old Mystery of Runaway Pond, pages 55-57, I discuss two possible locations for Willson’s mill. Both are on the west side of the Barton River. Harry Alonzo Phillips believed it was near Aldrich Lane.

“Located near the Aldrich farm,
Within a glad, secure from harm,
a grist-mill, so the story ran,
By Willson owned, a laboring man.”¹⁷

I have changed my mind and now believe the mill was near Aldrich Lane. (Just to the north of John Crane’s house) The reason for my change of opinion is that two granddaughters shared Mrs. Cranes eye-witness account. Mrs. Crane saw the water come down and hit the roof of the mill first. She would have to be very near the mill to clearly see this as it happened.

Wayne Alexander wrote: “This writer [W.H. A] was the fifth generation to live on this Aldrich farm and the family was quite specific that the location was near the entrance to Aldrich Lane. Some stonework is apparent, and it’s hard to believe it withstood the raveges of Runaway Pond. Of course the debris may have covered the mill site only to be exposed again by the 1927 flood.”¹⁸

“‘Tis over now; my tale is told”

In the last recorded event of the day, we find Spencer Chamberlain and Mrs. Willson sitting on the bank of the river of flowing muddy water. As the frantic Aaron Willson returns with the party of men, his great fear turns to joy as he sees that his wife is safe.

Alonzo Chamberlain Phillips, grandson of Spencer Chamberlain, writes the following account of Chamberlain’s arrival at the mill:

“When he came near the mill he saw a horse hitched, took out his knife, cut the hitch strap, rushed into the mill, told the woman to get right out to higher ground, for the whole pond was coming. She stood and seemed bewildered. He grabbed a bag of meal, and pushed the woman to safety”.

“There was much speculation by the returning party as to the probability of the miller ever seeing his wife again. Great was the joy of the miller on seeing Chamberlain and his wife seated on the bank watching the receding water and waiting the return of the party.”¹⁴

The rest of Chamberlain’s day must be left to the imagination of the author and the readers. Like many others, Chamberlain found himself separated from his home by the freshly carved out gully which was still flowing down a stream of thick muddy water and debris.

Spencer rested on the bank for a while to regain a fragment of strength. Then (judging his personality profile) he found some logs to cross or waded through the mud and headed toward home. He went up the hill to Keene Corner, stopped at the small spring on the hill and cleaned up the best he could, then ran the rest of the way to meet his wife Millie. He couldn’t wait to tell her the events of the day and couldn’t sleep until he told her every detail. Before falling asleep, he exclaimed, “What a story I now have to tell to our children and grandchildren!”

To be continued…..

Chapter 17- Spencer Chamberlain in the Battle of Plattsburgh Spencer Chamberlain enlisted in the Vermont 31st Infantry. Following the 31st gives us a good idea of Spencer’s experience during one of the most decisive battles of the War of 1812.

More stories about life in Glover, Vermont 1802-1855

Chapter 15- The Unusual Household of Increase Chamberlain, Jr. 
Where was Spencer living in 1790 and 1800? In October 2014, I received an email from Joan Alexander, Secretary of the Glover Historical Society. It was the first big clue to what my grandfather, Harry Chamberlain, was looking for 80 years before- a major break in finding Spencer Chamberlain and his parents in Westmoreland.

Chapter 18- The Secret Life of Alonzo Chamberlain The story of Alonzo Chamberlain as an active conductor on the underground railroad. His story was previously unknown to his extended family, his home town of Glover, and to the historians of Vermont. 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.

Chapter 19- Spencer Chamberlain’s Family before the Civil War  The big surprise at the 50th anniversary of Runaway pond. Stories and photos of the Phillips family in Glover. Also, life sketches of Spencer’s and Millie’s other children. Learn more about my book and the June, 2010 Runaway Pond bicentennial celebration.

Or, chose any single chapter from the Table of Contents 

© 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- This is unwritten folklore from my immediate family of the story told by our mother who had heard the story from my grandfather. My brother, sister and I were strongly impressed that Mrs. French was greatly opposed to her daughter marrying a half Indian.

2- Harry Alonzo Phillips, History of Glover and Runaway Pond. A Poem in Two Cantos, 1929. Great-grandson of Spencer Chamberlain. Run Chamberlain, Run – Solving the 200-Year-Old Mystery of Runaway Pond, pages 97-102 by Dennis D. Chamberlain

3- Spencer Chamberlain’s U. S. Army discharge papers, June 3, 1815

4- E. T Wilson, The Story of Runaway Pond, June 6, 1810, Barton, VT, January 2, 1890. Runaway Pond: The Complete Story (2001), compiled by Wayne H. Alexander pp. 47-51

5- Rev. S. Edwards Dwight, Letter to the Editor of the American Journal of Science. Description of the Eruption of Long Lake and Mud Lake, in Vermont, and the desolation effected by the rush of the waters through Barton River, and the lower country, towards Lake Memphemagog, in the summer of 1810. Boston, April 4, 1826. Runaway Pond: The Complete Story (2001), compiled by Wayne H. Alexander, pp. 14-23

6- Address of Pliny H. White at the 50^th Anniversary of Runaway Pond given before a meeting of the Orleans County Historical Society held at Glover, June 6, 1860. Published in Orleans County Monitor, February 1, 1911 and succeeding issues.  Runaway Pond: The Complete Story (2001), compiled by Wayne H. Alexander, pp. 24-32

7- Willard C. Leonard, Long Pond” from History of Glover, 1781-1860, 1940. Runaway Pond: The Complete Story (2001), compiled by Wayne H. Alexander, pp. 84-86

8- O. V. Percival, Runaway Pond, c. 1887 from Proceedings of the Orleans County Historical Society for the year ending August, 1888. Runaway Pond: The Complete Story (2001), compiled by Wayne H. Alexander, pp. 42-44

9- Pages 68-75. Frederick W. Baldwin, Historical Address given at The Centennial Celebration of Runaway Pond, June 6, 1910. Runaway Pond: The Complete Story (2001), compiled by Wayne H. Alexander, pp.68-75

10- An unpublished letter written by Mrs. Bessie E. Shields, Glover, Vermont, February 12, 1966 to Harry Ellis Chamberlain. (Mrs. Shields is a great-great granddaughter of Elijah Stone.)

11- Captain O. V. Percival “Runaway Pond” from The Bizarre Notes and Queries in Folk-lore, 1890. Volumes 8-9, pp. 130-132.

12- Letter written by Mrs. Villa Gray Rich of Newport, Vermont. Granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Crane. Runaway Pond: The Complete Story (2001), compiled by Wayne H. Alexander, p. 60

13- Letter written by Mrs. Sarah C. Bickford Barker of Monterey, California, May 12, 1910. Granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Crane. Runaway Pond: The Complete Story (2001), compiled by Wayne H. Alexander, p. 59

14- Letter written by Alonzo Chamberlain Phillips, Glover, Vermont, April 1, 1910. Grandson of Spencer Chamberlain. Runaway Pond: The Complete Story (2001), compiled by Wayne H. Alexander, pp 54-55

15- Letter written by Mrs. Aaron M. Crane of Norfolk, Virginia, April 26, 1910. Wife of the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. John Crane. Runaway Pond: The Complete Story (2001), compiled by Wayne H. Alexander, pp. 57-58

16- Joseph Owen’s letter to his sister written June 25, 1810. This letter was found sometime later by Mr. H. K. Dewey of Glover and published in the Express. Publication date Unknown. From the Proceedings of the Orleans County Historical Society. Runaway Pond: The Complete Story (2001), compiled by Wayne H. Alexander, pp. 10-12

17- Harry Alonzo Phillips, History of Glover and Runaway Pond. A Poem in Two Cantos, 1929. Great-grandson of Spencer Chamberlain. Run Chamberlain, Run – Solving the 200-Year-Old Mystery of Runaway Pond, pages 97-102 by Dennis D. Chamberlain

18- Runaway Pond: The Complete Story (2001), compiled by Wayne H. Alexander, page 8.

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.

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

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