10- The Chamberlain Families of Westmoreland, NH

Harry Ellis Chamberlain knew Spencer’s father was named John

In 1934, Harry Ellis Chamberlain hired a genealogist, Merton T. Goodrich, to search the records for “the discovery of the parentage of Spencer Chamberlain, born in Westmoreland, N. H.”1 He was looking for a John Chamberlain, who according to tradition, may be the son or grandson of “Paugus” John.

Harry knew from Spencer Chamberlain’s grandson, Alonzo Chamberlain Phillips and other relatives, that Spencer’s father was named John, and his mother was an Indian named Winona. Spencer was born about 1786 and according to his army discharge record of 1815, he was born in Westmoreland, New Hampshire. However, there were no birth records for either Spencer or his father John in Westmoreland.

The existence of another John Chamberlain, the son of Henry, was well established in Westmoreland. He was married to Eunice Edson, there are birth records of their children, and they all appear neatly in the 1790 U. S. Census. Goodrich studied the available vital records and cross referenced them with census. In his report he wrote: “these records prove that Spencer Chamberlain… could not be the son of this John Chamberlain” 1

Although there were six Chamberlain households found in the Westmoreland U. S. Census record of 1790, Spencer and his father could not be found. It was quite a challenge at the time to sort out these six Chamberlain families to find who was related to whom.

There were two Chamberlain families in Westmoreland

A huge break came when The Chamberlain Story recently received some letters by Ella E. Abbott, from Historical Society of Cheshire County.  This new information tells us that between 1750 and 1790 there were two Chamberlain families living in Westmoreland. These two families were separate, distinct and unrelated. Thomas Chamberlain’s family lived on the west side of town and Henry Chamberlain’s family lived on the east. Both families had a son named John.

PARK HILL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH- This church, built in 1762 was moved in sections by ox cart in 1779 to this location. A steeple bell was added in 1826.

Thomas Chamberlain and Abigail Pierce and their family came to Westmoreland from Middlesex County, MA. Thomas signed the covenant of the new Westmoreland Congregational Church in 1764 and transferred his membership from the church in Newton, Mass.

Henry Chamberlain and Susanna Hinds and their family came from Bridgewater, Plymouth County, MA. He was a descendant of Henry Chamberlain who emigrated from England. Henry’s family were Baptists. “The members of this (Baptist) society mainly came from Middleborough, (Plymouth) Mass.” 2

If Spencer is related to one of these families, it has to be the Thomas Chamberlain family. Our family’s Y-DNA test proves that we are not related to the Henry Chamberlain line.

John Chamberlain was born in Newton, Mass. about 1739

In 2016, internet sources listed a John Chamberlain born about 1734 as one of the sons of Thomas Chamberlain of Westmoreland. However, this information was not confirmed. Did John, the son of Thomas, really exist? Where did this information come from? And, on what basis was his birth year “about 1734” estimated?

I found that there were two John Chamberlains living in Westmoreland, but in the historical record, their identities had been combined into one, as if they were the same person.

The only published record I could find about Thomas’ son John was in the 1885 Cheshire County, NH Gazetteer. The following convoluted paragraph of the Gazetteer tells everything we know about him.  It is full of errors and is incredibly confusing, nevertheless, it contains some very valuable information when decoded:

“Thomas Chamberlain, a descendant of John, who came to this country in the Mayflower,” (this is not true),was one of several who united in signing the church covenant, September 26, 1764, the first step taken towards forming a Congregational church in Westmoreland,” (this is correct and Thomas transferred from the church in Newton, Mass). John Chamberlain, 3d, one of the original grantees of this town, was born in Newton, Mass.” (Yes! John is the son of Thomas and Newton is where Thomas came from! However, the term “3d” is nonsense.) September 17, 1767, and married Eunice Edson.” (What??? That is the marriage date of John Chamberlain and Eunice Edson, but we are now talking about a different John Chamberlain. This John Chamberlain’s father was Henry and they  were Baptists!) His fourth son, John, was born August 13, 1773.”(Obviously, now talking about the son of John and Eunice.)

Here is the corrected paragraph:

“Thomas Chamberlain was one of several who united in signing the church covenant, September 26, 1764, the first step taken towards forming a Congregational church in Westmoreland. John Chamberlain, one of the original grantees of this town, was born in Newton, Mass.”3

“His fourth son, John” is a phrase from the confusing paragraph above, which has given some the false impression that John was the fourth son of Thomas. However, this piece of information is irrelevant since it was referring to an entirely different person.

John was the sixth son of Thomas Chamberlain. He was born between the birth of Jedediah, who was christened on 12 June 1737 in Stoneham, Massachusettss8, and Increase Chamberlain who was born in Westmoreland in 1741.

Newton, Mass was the last location where Thomas’s family lived before they moved to Westmoreland. Job was John’s older brother who signed the Westmoreland charter in 1750. Only “adults” over the age of 12 signed. Due to this information and the known christening dates of Joshua and Jedediah, I was able to correct the birth years of these brothers. Joshua was born 1734, Job about 1736, Jedediah 1737 and John about 1739.

Thomas Chamberlain family signers and grantees of Westmoreland2

In 1750 “adult male citizens” signed the New Hampshire petition. Those who signed were apparently 13 years old or older. Those of the Thomas Chamberlain family and their estimated age at the time were: Thomas 47, Isaac 18, Joshua 16, Job 14, and Jedediah 13.

Two years later in 1752 the Chamberlains named grantees of Westmoreland were: Thomas 49, Isaac 20, Josiah 21, Joshua 18, Jedediah 15 and John 13.

Henry Chamberlain was not among the signers nor grantees, and his son John would only be ten years old at the time.

The Letters of Ella E. Abbott to Mrs. Chamberlain

Ella E. Abbott corresponded with a Mrs. Chamberlain for several years but never revealed her writing partner’s first name.  Her letters were to answer questions about the Henry Chamberlain line, but were filled with information about both families. Here are some selected quotes which tell about herself or give information regarding the Thomas Chamberlain family. Copies of these letters and other documents were provided to me by Alan Rumrill director of the Historical Society of Cheshire County.

“My Dear Mrs. Chamberlain,…

“You are the first one that has written to me about the Henry Sr. line. The other Chamberlain family I am very familiar with although none of them have lived in town for years and years. Most of them went to Vermont different parts of it and I have been able to follow many of them. Jedediah you mention belonged to that line and not yours. I have known all about him.” – June 17, 19274

“My father, a native, of Westmoreland was a Civil Engineer, a Justice of the Peace and a local historian of some reputation. He knew more about everything pertaining to Westmoreland and its inhabitants than any man living… He and I worked together on historical and genealogical lines during his life time and I continue the work. That is how I happen to know about those old families.” – August 1, 19274

“Speaking of George W. Chamberlain, I am sure he knows more about Chamberlains than any other person for no one else that I know has made such a study of the family. Not sure that he knows who was the father of Henry Sr… I gave him valuable data concerning the other family of Westmoreland Chamberlains and I know he appreciated it… I think that other family had many of the characteristics of those of your line. They did not leave records behind them that were easily followed or traced. And, he even had to jump, almost, at conclusions in regard to them sometimes. They evidently came from North of Boston and were evidently connected with the “Paugus John” the Indian Fighter.”  – June 27, 19284

(Note by Author, DDC) Abbott’s comment about Paugus John is both interesting and puzzling to me. I believe George Chamberlain must have got this information from corresponding with my Grandfather Harry Chamberlain, as Harry knew about the Paugus John story in 1927 or before. The only connection between the Thomas Chamberlain of Westmoreland and Paugus John, however, is that they both came from the same area north of Boston. There is no evidence that Paugus John Chamberlain, or any of his descendants, ever came to Westmorland. Nevertheless, in 1934 Harry Chamberlain did not know, and was still searching for his Chamberlain connection to Westmoreland.

“That other family of Chamberlains who were so numerous in town in early times were mostly or all children of Thomas. They were prominent while they lived in Westmoreland but all moved away, left not a vestige behind them. As far as I know they lived in the West part of the town while the Henry line were identified with the East part.” – March 7, 19304

“I have told you there was another entirely different line of Chamberlains in Westmoreland from your Henry line. I am sending some of it to you… A descendant of Thomas3 who was one of the very early settlers, wrote to me sometime and told me of the sons of Thomas and also said there was one daughter whose name was Abigail. This seems probable for the wife of Thomas was Abigail.” 

“The Thomas Chamberlain line claim that Increase was the 1st male child born in the town in 1741 or 2 which was under the Mass. Charter, and that there had been a female child born before he was.”

“There is no record that this Thomas3 died in Westmoreland and after his wife died he might have gone to Vermont to live with some of his sons who lived in Stockbridge.”

“As a matter of reference I am sending you the other line of  Westmoreland Chamberlains. William Chamberlain1 first of Wobern, settled in Billerica, wife Rebecca. Daniel2 b. 1671, lived in Billerica, wife Mary. Thomas3 b. 1703, 4th child of Daniel lived in Newton. Was grantee of Westmoreland as well as some of his children. His Children were Isaac, Josiah, Joshua, Jedediah, John and Abigail, and perhaps Job and Increase.” – March 21, 19324

This is the documentation I have been looking for to confirm that Thomas did in reality have a son named John Chamberlain. He was one of the grantees of Westmoreland proving he was alive and part of the family at age 13 in 1752. The two John Chamberlains of Westmoreland have often been confused as being the same person. However, neither the father Henry Chamberlain nor any of his sons signed the city charter in 1750, nor were they grantees in 1752.

Children of Thomas Chamberlain and Abigail Pierce

Thomas Chamberlain, b. 1703 in Billerica, MA and Abigail Pierce b. 18 May 1706, Woburn MA, d. 18 may 1769, Westmoreland, NH. They married 10 June 1730 in Concord, Middlesex, MA.10

I have done an extensive search for the source records of Thomas and Abigail’s children, their birth order and birth dates. Therefore, there are some differences in my record when compared with the prevailing records on the internet and in many genealogies. This new information, published for the first time on June 9, 2017 has cleared up earlier discrepancies.

1- Josiah Chamberlain b. 27 June 1731, Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts,6 d. 1782.
2- Isaac Chamberlain b. 30 October 1732, Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts,7 d. 1783 Westmoreland, Cheshire, New Hampshire.
3- Joshua Chamberlain baptized 22 Sept 1734 at First Church of Lynnfield, Essex, Massachusetts.8
4- Job Chamberlain born about 1736, location unknown. (I have found no information on the birth of Job. I chose this birth order because he was old enough to sign the petition of Jan. 30, 17502 and was considered an “adult male citizen of the town,” as was his 12 year old brother Jedediah.)2 d. 22 March 1825 Brewer, Penobscot, Maine.
5- Jedediah Chamberlain christened 12 June 1737 Stoneham, Middlesex, Massachusetts,8  d. 1828, Stockbridge, Windsor, Vermont.

6- John Chamberlain b. about 1739, Newton, Middlesex, Massachusetts. It has been reported that John was born in Newton,3 however, a fire in Newton destroyed church records in 17708 and no birth records have been found. His father Thomas moved from Newton to Westmoreland. This places his birth order between Jedediah and the youngest brother Increase. John did not sign in 1750 but apparently was old enough to become a grantee of the Westmoreland charter by 1752. This John Chamberlain is the father of Spencer Chamberlain. To see the new evidence for this, read Chapter 15- The Unusual Household of Increase Chamberlain.

7- Increase Chamberlain b. 1741, d. 24 August, 1813, Stockbridge, Windsor, Vermont.
8- Abigail Chamberlain b. 31 July 1748, d. before 1820 Stockbridge, Windsor, Vermont.

Abigail Chamberlain married Henry Chamberlain of the other Westmoreland family. They were married 26 Feb. 1767 in Westmoreland.

The Henry Chamberlain Line, Six Generations9

1- Henry Chamberlain b. 1595, Hingham, Norfolk, England, d. 15 July 1674, Hull, Plymouth, Massachusetts, m. 1615, Hingham, Norfolk, England, June Freeman.
2- Henry Chamberlain b.1619, Hingham, Norfolk, England, d. 3 Dec. 1678, Hull, Plymouth, Massachusetts; m. 1651, Hull, Plymouth, Massachusetts, Sarah Jones.
3- Henry Chamberlain b.1654, Hull, Plymouth, Massachusetts, d. 6 May 1706; m. 1682, Jane.
4- Henry Chamberlain b. 11 March 1686, Hull, Plymouth, Massachusetts, d. 1718, Hull, Plymouth, Massachusetts; m. 14 May 1714, Lydia Vinton.
5-Henry Chamberlain b. 1716, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA; d. 7 Dec. 1787
m. 16 March 1722, Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, Susanna Hinds, 1722-1811

Children of Henry Chamberlain and Susanna Hinds5

1- John Chamberlain b. 11 May 1742 location unknown, probably Bridgewater.
2- Hannah Chamberlain b. 1746, Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts
3- Henry Chamberlain b. 1747, Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts (Married Abigail Chamberlain of the Thomas Chamberlain family 26 Feb 1767)
4- Lydia Chamberlain b. 4 April 1750, Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts
5- Lucinda Chamberlain b. 20 March 1751, Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts
6- Elizabeth Chamberlain b. 25 Feb. 1752, Westmoreland, Cheshire, New Hampshire
7- Ebenezer Chamberlain b. 10 Sept. 1754, Westmoreland, Cheshire, New Hampshire
8- Abigail Chamberlain b. January, 1756, Westmoreland, Cheshire, New Hampshire
9- Calvin Chamberlain b. 1760, Westmoreland, Cheshire, New Hampshire

It is believed that the danger of living in Westmoreland during the French and Indian wars 1754-1760 caused Henry Chamberlain and his family to return to Massachusetts until the danger had subsided. Therefore, the birth location of the last three children at Westmoreland may be questionable.

There were six Chamberlain families living in Westmoreland in 1790 according to US census records. Spencer Chamberlain was about 4 years-old and was indeed living in one of these households. See Chapter 15.

To be continued….Chapter 11- Thomas Chamberlain, Westmoreland Pioneer

© 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, The Search for Spencer Chamberlain’s Ancestry, report to sent to Harry Chamberlain, November 3, 1934
2- History of Westmoreland, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, www.nh.searchroots.com
3- Hamilton Child, 1736-1885 Gazetteer, Cheshire County, N. H., 1885 Syracuse, N.Y., p.519 (my comments in brackets)
4- Ella E. Abbott, Letters to Mrs. Chamberlain, copies sent to Dennis D. Chamberlain by Alan Rumrill director of the Historical Society of Cheshire County.
5- FamilySearch.org.
6- Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Town Records, 1626-2001, Image 156 Familysearch.org
7- Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Town Records, 1626-2001, Image 207 Familysearch.org
8- Thomas Chamberlain (3) Daniel (2), William (1), Born at Billerica, Mass. Aug. 1703; died in Vermont. (Type writer document, undated and unknown author) from The Historical Society of Cheshire County.
9- Ancestry.com, Public pedigrees.
10- James Parker, Thomas Chamberlain’s wife Abigail Pierce, http://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/chamberlain/2676/

9- The Mystery of Chamberlain Lake

In 1853 Spencer Chamberlain told his grandson about the naming of Chamberlain Lake and the clearing of Chamberlain farm.

Chamberlain Lake was mentioned in the first paragraph of a document titled, “Spencer Chamberlain’s Ancestors”. This document presented the best information available about his family when Alonzo C. Phillips wrote it. This undated document was mentioned in a letter from Alonzo Phillips to his Chamberlain cousins in Spencer Iowa. The letter was dated December 21, 1927, when Phillips was 81 years old.

Spencer Chamberlain lived with his daughter Jeanette Phillips and her children in Glover, Vermont in his last illness in 1853. Her son Alonzo Phillips (Spencer’s grandson) was then 8. The document he apparently wrote many years later is an intriguing puzzle from its beginning. The last sentence of the first paragraph clearly shows it was from the memory of Spencer Chamberlain:

“The first Chamberlain that landed in this country of the Spencer Chamberlain family located on the east coast of Maine in 1700. One of the boys went up north in Maine not far from Moosehead Lake on a shore of a rather large lake and put it on the map as Chamberlain Lake. There he cleared up a farm and to this day it is known as Chamberlain Farm. Nothing of any further note is attached to his memory, only the naming of the lake and farm.1

Chamberlain Lake, Maine

This is true. There is a Chamberlain Lake in the Northern Maine Woods. It is 14 miles long and 2 miles wide and covers almost 11,000 acres. Chamberlain Farm is located on the east shore of Chamberlain lake even today, (2017).

Who named Chamberlain Lake?

I searched the history of Chamberlain Lake but had no luck finding how the lake and farm got their names. However, Spencer Chamberlain’s comment to his grandson from the 1850s may hold the answer to that mystery.

A land survey in the Allagash waterway of northern Maine was conducted from 1825 to 1833. They ran a monument line south of Apmoojenegamook Lake, (the lake’s original Indian name). This formed a base line for laying out townships to the north.2  When George W. Coffin published his map in 1835 the lake was labeled “Apmoojenegamook or Chamberlin L.”. (The last few letters are unreadable due to a crease in the map).3 Someone had “put it on the map as Chamberlain Lake”. This is just as Spencer Chamberlain described it!

1835 Map Showing Lake Named Apmoojenegamook or Chamberlin L.

The earliest white settlers began settling in the Allagash area in about 1837. A number of dams and locks were constructed on the Allagash River and various lakes beginning in 1841. These were built to facilitate the movement of lumber from the woods of northern Maine to the mills in Banger. Ebenezer S. Coe built Chamberlain Farm halfway up the eastern shore of Chamberlain Lake in 1846. The farm provided a source of hay and oats for workhorses, and winter vegetables for lumber crews. It also served as a lumbering depot on Chamberlain Lake.4

The Chamberlain who named the Lake was likely a prominent member of the survey crew that was working in the area some twenty years earlier. The survey took eight years. It seems reasonable that this work crew would also need a headquarters and a farm to feed its men and horses while they were working in the wilderness. Spencer said that “one of the (Chamberlain) boys” went up north, “cleared a farm and to this day it is known as Chamberlain Farm.” Eban Coe expanded that farm in 1846 to meet the needs of the lumber industry and kept the name.

Chamberlains settled on the east coast of Maine

Spencer believed that the first of his Chamberlain family line who landed in this country “located on the east coast of Maine in 1700.” This is not exactly correct, because Thomas and William Chamberlain arrived in Virginia in 1635 and re-located to Massachusetts in 1644. Our family’s Y-DNA test results prove that our paternal line through Spencer Chamberlain goes back to one of the Thomas, Edmond or William Chamberlain brothers.

Therefore, to find the time and location of the earliest Chamberlain settlements in Maine, I searched genealogical birth, marriage and death dates and locations.  I found settlements in Lebanon 1751, Hallowell 1767, and Brewer 1793. None of these were satisfactory because they were much later than Spencer’s description and more important, they were not on the coast.

Autumn on the rocky coast of New Hampshire

Then I found a Chamberlain settlement in Rye, New Hampshire. It is right on the coast adjacent to the New Hampshire-Maine border. All the early births were recorded in Rye, New Hampshire, but by the 1800s it was evident that the majority of the family lived in York County Maine, just across the river. This is the first Chamberlain family to locate on the east coast of Maine. They located there sometime between 1701 and 1704.

William Chamberlain, of Woburn Massachusetts was the son of the William Chamberlain who emigrated from England. He married Deliverance Ferguson and they had four children. Their third child, Sarah, was born about 1701 in Cambridge Massachusetts. Their fourth child, William, was born in Rye, Rockingham, New Hampshire in 1704.

William Chamberlain (the third) married Mary Rand in Rye, New Hampshire 7 Nov. 1729. They had six children, Lydia, Samuel, William, Mary, John and Thomas. William, John and Thomas died in Pepperelboro, York County, Maine in 1812, 1832, and 1798 respectively. Samuel died in Augusta, Kennebec, Maine in 1811. It is possible that a son or grandson of one of these brothers worked on the survey crew between 1825 and 1833, cleared a farm and literally put Chamberlain Lake on the map.

It is believed that Spencer Chamberlain was born about 1786 in Westmoreland, NH. There is no evidence that William (3rd) or any of his sons came to Westmoreland, nor that they are direct ancestors of Spencer Chamberlain. However, Thomas Chamberlain, who was one of the early settlers of Westmoreland, was a nephew of William Jr, the first Chamberlain to settle on the east coast of New Hampshire and Maine.

Thomas apparently lived in Rye Rockingham, NH for a while when he was a child. Records show his younger brother was born there. Therefore, it is likely that Thomas and his parents Daniel and Mary, were among the first Chamberlains who, Spencer Chamberlain said, “located on the east coast of Maine”. Daniel and his brother William may have moved there together with their wives and children to Rye, Rockingham, New Hampshire in 1703 or 1704. Daniel’s family, however, moved back to Billerica between 1708 and 1712 by the time Thomas was nine years old.

Some of Thomas’ family returned and settled in Maine before 1810. Therefore, it is possible that members of his family were the ones who cleared the farm and named the lake.

Family Line of William Chamberlain, Jr.,5 (Son of the William Chamberlain who came to America)

William Chamberlain, b. 3 March 1652, Woburn, Middlesex MA, d. 20 Jan. 1734, Lexington MA. Deliverance Ferguson, b. about 1656, Woburn, Middlesex, MA. d. unknown. William and Deliverance m. 20 December 1698. Children:

1- “Child” Chamberlain, b. about 1699 Lexington, MA, d 1703 Lexington, MA.
2- Rebecca Chamberlain, b 1700 Billerica, Middlesex, MA, d. unknown.
3- Sarah Chamberlain, b. about 1701, Cambridge, MA, d. unknown
4- William Chamberlain, b. 1704 Rye, Rockingham, NH. d. 3 June 1781.

William Chamberlain b. 1704 Rye, NH, Married Mary Rand b. 3 Oct 1709, Charleston, Boston, Suffolk, MA., d. 5 May 1753, Hampton Rockingham NH. Children:

1- Lydia Chamberlain, b. 3 April 1738, Rye, Maine, d. unknown.
2- Samuel Chamberlain, b. 18 August 1740, Rye, Rockingham, NH., d.1811, Augusta, Kennebec, Maine.
3- William Chamberlain, b. 17 May 1743, Rye, Rockingham, NH., d. Pepperelboro, York, Maine.
4- Mary Chamberlain, b. 20 July 1746, Rye, Rockingham, NH., d. 1819.
5- John Chamberlain, b. 14 July 1749, Rye Rockingham, NH., d. after 1832, Pepperelboro, York Maine.
6-Thomas Chamberlain, 15 October 1752, Rye Rockingham, NH., d. 1798 Pepperelboro, York, Maine.

Daniel Chamberlain6

Daniel Chamberlain b. 27 Sept 1671 Billerica Middlesex, Massachusetts f. William Chamberlain, m. Rebecca Addington, d. 22 November, 1725, Billerica, Middlesex Massachusetts; m. 1694 Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts to Mary Swain 1673-1713.

Children of Daniel Chamberlain and Mary Swain6

1- Isaac Chamberlain b. 3 Aug. 1695, Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
2- Ebenezer Chamberlain b. 5 September 1698, Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts.6
3- Ephraim Chamberlain b. 16 January 1701, Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
4- Thomas Chamberlain b. 9 August 1703, Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
5- Johnathan b. 21 February 1708, Rockingham, New Hampshire, d. 23 January 1790.
6- Mary Chamberlain b. 1712, Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, m. 1 December 1732, Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, to Johnathan Cram.
7- Dorothy b. 25 December 1713, Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts.

To be continued ….

 Chapter 10- The Chamberlain Families of Westmoreland

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

© 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. Alonzo Chamberlain Phillips, Spencer Chamberlain’s Ancestors, Unpublished document held by Chamberlain family.
  2. Dean B. Bennett, The Wilderness from Chamberlain Farm: A Story of Hope for the American Wild. Shearwater Books, Washington, London 2001, p. 54.
  3. George W. Cowen, Plan of the Public Lands of the State of Maine, surveyed under the Instructions from the Commissioners and Agents of the States of Massachsetts (sic) and Maine. 1 August 1835.
  4.  Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Allagash History, www.maine.gov
  5. Familysearch.org, New Hampshire Births and Christenings, 1714-1904, & New Hampshire Marriages 1720-1920.
  6. Familysearch.org

E2- The Tortoise Shell Comb Case of Butler Chamberlain

A tortoise shell comb case dated 1690 and bearing the Chamberlain coat of arms was located at a museum in Jamaica. Peter Lang, who was researching its fascinating history, read the following data in Chapter 3 of The Chamberlain Story: Thomas Hewetson & Butler Chamberlain married 5 Mar 1690.

Tortoise Comb Case Inscribed “Port Royal in Jamaica 1690” and “Butler Hewetson” (Institute of Jamaica)

Butler’s married name “Butler Hewetson” was engraved on the case along with the inscription “Port Royal in Jamaica 1690”. Butler was the daughter of Edward Chamberlaine who came from the county of Leicester in England.1 The comb case may have been a wedding gift from her family or her husband Thomas Hewetson.

Chamberlain Coat of Arms on Tortoise Shell Comb Case

One Variation of the Chamberlain Coat of Arms

On the back of the case was both the Hewetson and the Chamberlain Coat of  Arms. The inscribed version of the Chamberlain Coat of arms displayed the head of a donkey on the crest.

In 1690, Port Royal in Jamaica was a wealthy, thriving city of about 7000 inhabitants. Approximately 2000 buildings were built into a compact 51 acres. Its bustling economy was built on the slave trade, sugar exporting and privateering. On June 7, 1692, Port Royal was struck by an gigantic earthquake and literally sunk into the sea.2

The marriage of Thomas Hewetson and Butler Chamberlain was recorded in the parish records of Barbados. Their story, researched and written by Peter Lang, is told below.

Butler Chamberlain and her father are not descendants of Francis Chamberlain. However, some of the other Chamberlain’s listed in the parish records of Barbados may be.

Francis Chamberlain  emigrated to Virginia on the Marmaduke in 1621. His wife Rebecca and their new baby Francis followed a few months later. Francis is believed to be the father of the three brothers, Thomas, Edmond and William Chamberlain. It is unknown what became of their mother, Agnes Hayden, but Thomas and William left England and arrived in Virginia in 1635. (See Chapter 1 of The Chamberlain Story)

Thomas and William, apparently fleeing religious persecution, left Virginia and sailed to Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1644. (See Chapter 2‎).

There is strong evidence that Francis, Rebecca and Francis Jr. moved with their four servants, Richard Burton, John Forth, William Worlidge or Woolridge, and Sionell Rolston to the island of Barbados. The surnames for all five of these families are found in early Parrish records in Barbados. (See Chapter 3).

© 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- Vere Langford Oliver, Monumental Incriptions in the Churches and Churchyards of the Island of Barbados, Sidewinder Press, Glendale California, MCMLXXXIX.
2- The Underwater City of Port Royal, http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5430/

Captain Thomas Hewetson and Butler Chamberlaine

By Peter Lang

Butler Hewetson nee Chamberlayne was the daughter of Edward Chamberlayne of Barbados. We know that she was sent to England to be educated and then returned to Barbados where in 1690, the date on her case in the Institute of Jamaica, she married a ships commander, Captain Thomas Hewetson.

Hewetson’s star was soaring when he married Butler. Following an ignominious start to his adventures in The Americas during which he lost one of the five ships he was commanding on the shores of Chile, and another when it exploded outside Barbados, he was soon employed by Governor Charles Codrington to rout some French adventurers on the island of Marie Galante., which he achieved with some degree of success.

Hewetson Coat of Arms inscribed on 1690 Tortoise Shell Comb Case

Hewetson is an immensely colourful character. He was soon pursued by his investors in London to the tune of £42,000, an incredible amount at that time, for embezzlement. Also, he traded on his own account using his employers ships, in one example trading sugar both to New York and Lisbon, without the assent of his backers, and, at the point where we lose track of him in 169? he had recently entered into a contract with Sir James Castillo (Santiago del Castillo) the Spanish agent in Port Royal, to allow “his” ship, The Lion, to be used for the Asiento, a clandestine arrangement for England to supply African slaves to the Spanish West Indies. Perhaps he ended his days in this dangerous trade.

This contract may have been semi-official in the sense that TH was endeavouring to pay back his considerable debts, and had entered into this contract with Castillo, with the approval of the Crown. Hewetsons backers were very rich and powerful men, and it may have affected the bigamy trial to in order to let him off in order that he could claw back as much of his debts as possible. It simply was not practical to imprison him, in which event he would have no chance of paying anything back.

We also know that he was being pursued by Mary (nee Palgrave????), his former wife in England for bigamy, (presumably with Butler), and it was not long (17++), before we find Butler described as the wife of Manuel Manassas Gilligan. Hugh Thomas in his book “The Slave Trade” describes him as “the mysterious”.

Gilligan was the equivalent of a modern day secret agent, shuttling between the Caribbean, London and Madrid, negotiating deals between England and Spain. We hear of a Butler Hewetson just once more, when in 17?? she married a local man Robert Allen from a long established Barbados family, however, since Manuel Gilligan describes himself in his will as a widower in 17xx, it is more likely that this other Butler is a daughter of Thomas Hewetson And Butler Chamberlayne.

The comb case dated 1690 is not only inscribed with her name, Butler Hewetson, presumably a wedding gift either from her ships commander husband Thomas, or possibly from her family. The Coat of Arms from both families are faithfully engraved on the case.

1690-bh-ei

Initials EI on comb

The comb, although it fits well, may not be original due to the presence of some incongruous initials. A closer inspection has revealed the comb to be of the first period, although it is always possible that these initials “EI” (or “EJ”), were added later by a subsequent custodian. However on closer inspection it is thought that the comb is from the first period, and the case clearly from the second being dated 1690. One can only imagine the logistics in 1690 in the Caribbean, not only of the commissioning and customising with the 2 Coats of Arms, but also ensuring that the wedding gift arrived in Bridgetown on time!

When did Hewetson arrive in Caribbean?

Edward Chamberlaine purchased land in 1655 presumably soon after his arrival in Barbados. This became Chamberlaines Plantation (q.v.). From his will he leaves huge quantities of sugar either in one off amounts or in an annual legacy implying that he was a planter. Yes he was!

Although we know little of Butler herself, we know that her two husbands were both “colourful” characters. The will of Manuel Gilligan dated 17– states that he was a widower, although it does not mention his wife by name. Thus far can find no mention of their marriage or death of Butler. Perhaps these events happened in Spain where Gilligan was employed to negotiate a 30?? year Asiento contract with the Spanish King?? It would appear that he was in Madrid for some considerable time whilst these negotiations were progressing. He also visited many Spanish Caribbean ports, including Havana, Vera Cruz, Cartagena, and Campeche, presumably mainly on Asiento business. He does return to Barbados’ however, where his will was made in 17–.

More thoughts and confusing facts:
October 2016

In Edward Chamberlain’s will he asks to be buried “near my daughter Butler”. He then leaves money to his daughters Butler and Tanquerville, as well as to his sons Willoughby and Seagrave. Have now discovered that there were 2 Butlers. One (baptized 23 December 1662) and another baptised 8 May 1666. Presumably the first died in infancy and this would explain the entry in Edwards will. It was a custom to keep a “maiden” name and then to use it as a First name in order to preserve it within the family. This is why his second daughter was also named Butler.

Edward came from Leics. there is a Willoughby and a Seagrave very close to each other in Leics near Loughborough. And in East Norton, the Church had a lot of money lavished on it (albeit in the 19thC), by one Tankerville Chamberlaine a politician, who owned lands in Leics. it is tempting to link these unusual names although there is a gap of 200 years.

Did Edward come from East Norton near Uppingham?

Willoughby and a Seagrave were both educated at Merchant Taylor’s school then in the City of London. Willoughby was later knighted (why??) and ended his days in Chelsey (Chelsea), he died of distemper in 1697 and had recently converted to The Catholic faith, where a sermon by John King was read at his funeral service. He was buried in St James Garlickhythe in the City, why?

There is also a strange plaque in this church referring (wrongly I feel) to Seagrave. But I think Seagrave died and was buried in Barbados.

Of Tanquerville little is known, other than Edward asked that she and Butler be sent to “some school in England.”

Of Butler we know more, she was left money by Lady Willoughby of Parham in Suffolk. Lord Willoughby was at some point Governor of Barbados. She married Capt Thomas Hewetson in 1690, she was still married to TH in 1694 when her brother Willoughby brought a case in the Court of Chancery against Butler and Thomas H as well as the Wyndhams. Don’t understand but it will be about £££!!

How long she was married to Thomas Hewetson we don’t know. But in 17– she is married to Manuel M. Gilligan. That’s another story. Can find no record of her death but when MMG makes his will in 17– he is a widower.