When the Indian massacre stunned Virginia in 1644, Thomas and William Chamberlain and other Puritans were already preparing to leave. They arrived in Massachusetts Bay Colony a month later. But what happened to Francis Chamberlain, Rebecca and their son? They seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth. We haven’t heard from them since 1625. This exclusive report is first to give an account of the Francis Chamberlain family after 1625.

Some pedigree charts claim that Francis went back to England and is buried there. This is possible, however, none that I have seen have presented any kind of documentation or even the reason for speculation. The Indian massacre in Virginia gave us cause to worry that they may have been among the casualties. Recently, however, I found evidence that Francis Chamberlain Jr., and most likely his entire family established residence on the Island of Barbados. I will explain why I believe they moved there several years before the Virginia tragedy of 1644.

A brief history of Barbados from 1625 to 1660

May 14, 1625 Captain John Powell landed on an uninhabited island now known as Barbados and claimed it for England.

February 17, 1627  Captain Henry Powell (John Powell’s Brother) landed on Barbados with a party of 80 settlers and 10 slaves. They had captured the 10 slaves from a Spanish ship they met along the way. When they arrived on the island, they began to clear and prepare the land for tobacco and cotton plantations. More settlers followed and the population grew to about 2000 by the end of 1628.¹ 

In 1637, sugarcane was brought to the island by Dutch Merchants that had been defeated in Brazil by the Portuguese. They helped the  English colonists grow sugarcane to make a market for their slaves and sugar processing equipment. Sugar production in Barbados became very lucrative by 1645. By 1650, some described Barbados as the richest location in the New World.²

Slaves were brought in large number from West Africa to work in the sugarcane fields, boiling houses and distilleries . Field slaves lived in huts without floors and worked 12 hours days, six days a week. Skilled slaves such as carpenters, blacksmiths, tailors, and also domestic slaves were treated somewhat better than the field slaves.³

30 Jan 1649  The Parliament tried King Charles for treason, and he was executed in England. Parliament was now in control and planters of Barbados were considered rebels. A fleet of ships under Sir George Ayscue blockaded the island to subdue it.⁴

Jan 1652 The Royalist governor of Barbados surrendered to Ayscue. The blockade was lifted when colonists agreed to recognize the rule of Parliament in exchange for continued self-government, free trade and return of their confiscated property. This formed the basis for the Charter of Barbados which guaranteed a freely elected local government and freedom from taxes without their consent.⁵

July 1660  The news reached Barbados that the Monarchy in England had been restored. Fortunately, the Barbados Charter provided them greater independence from the King than those of other British Colonies.⁶

Francis Chamberlain appears on Barbados Census List in 1679

December 20, 1679 Francis Chamberlain appeared on a census list. According to the list, he owned 20 acres and 16 negros in St. James Parrish, Barbados.⁷ It is highly likely that this census listing is the Francis Chamberlain Jr., the presumed little half brother of Thomas, Edmond and William. Therefore, Francis Jr. would be age 57 at time of the census.

The Chamberlain’s time of arrival on Barbados is a matter of examining available data blended with speculation. We have no information about this branch of the family between 1625 and the Barbados census of 1679. It is highly probable, however, that the family went together to Barbados in the 1630s or early 1640s when the white population of Barbados was rapidly increasing. The following chart shows the increase and decline of the white population and the steady increase of the black population.

Population of Barbados⁸
Year     White       %       Black         %          Total
1629    1,800      97%         50        03%       1,850
1643    37,200    86%     6,000      14%      43,200
1684    23,624    34%    46,502     66%      70,126
1724    18,295    25%    55,206     75%      73,501
1786    16,167    21%    62,115     79%      78,282

The time that the Chamberlains moved to Barbados was likely between 1629 and 1643 when some 35,000 whites stormed the island. If the Chamberlain move happened as late as 1640, the young Francis would be only 18 and very likely living with his parents. If so, of course, the whole family moved there together.

Barbados parish records 1637-1887

These Christening, Marriage and Burial records are from the various parishes of Barbados in the 1600s and 1700s.⁹  The Chamberlain name is well represented. I took the liberty to standardize the spelling of Chamberlain. The variations found are: Chamberlaine, Chamberlane, Chamberlayne, Chamberlen, Chamberien.
SM= Saint Michael, CC= Christ Church, SJ= Saint James, SP= Saint Phillip, f= father, m= mother

Christenings/Baptisms
Elizabeth Chamberlain 16 May 1655 f John Chamberlain, m Sophia
John Chamberlain, 6 Sep 1657 f John Chamberlain, m Sophia
Mary Chamberlain, 7 Sep 1659 f John Chamberlain, m Sophia
Butler Chamberlain, 23 Sep 1662 f Edward Chamberlain, m Sarah
Sara Forth, 1 Apr 1663 f Alexander Forth, m Diana
Willoughby Chamberlain Nov 1664 f Edward Chamberlain, m Sarah
Dorothy Chamberlain, 5 Nov 1683 f William Chamberlain, m Dory
Thomas Chamberlain, 7 Feb 1702 f Thomas Chamberlain, m Ellenr

Marriages
Jno Chamberlain & Susan Chamberlain 21 Jan 1649
Stephen Wolridge & Joan 21 Dec 1652
Edward Chamberlain & Mary Scott 31 Aug 1655
Thomas Chamberlain & Elizabeth Harris 5 Aug 1686
Thomas Hewetson & Butler Chamberlain 5 Mar 1690
Wm Chambrlain & Eliza Saunders 2 Aug 1702
Will Chamberlain & Margaret Briggs 24 July 1726
John Robert Rolston & Rebecca Cadogan 24 Apr 1845
William John Chamberlain & Charlotte Louisa Parry 16 Aug 1860

Burials
Thomas Chamberlain 3 May 1643 CC
Edw Chamberlain 24 July 1673 CC
Edwd Chamberlain 19 Aug 1678 SM
Thomas Rolston 7 Oct 1681 SM
Seagrave Chamberlain 24 Aug 1683 SP f Will Chamberlain
Wm Chamberlain 13 Mar 1684 SM
Wm Woolridge 21 March 1685 SM
John Chamberlain 10 Dec 1687 CC
Henry Chamberlain 5 Aug 1690 CC
Thomas Chamberlain 6 June 1691 CC
Thomas Chamberlain 25 May 1692 SM
John Chamberlain 12 Oct 1696 CC
Eliz Chamberlain 1 Dec 1696 CC
Wm Chamberlain 16 Dec 1701 SM
John Chamberlain 4 July 1703 SP
Thomas Chamberlain 29 Aug 1707 CC
John Chamberlain 25 Jan 1707 or 08 SJ f Middleton Chamberlain
Granville Chamberlain 30 Apr 1708 SJ f Middleton Chamberlain
m Dorothy
Elizabeth Chamberlain 30 Mar 1710 SM f Middleton Chamberlain
Tauterville Chamberlain 22 Mar 1712 SM
Ricd Chamberlain 14 Feb 1715 SM
Wm Chamberlain 8 June 1717 SM
John Chamberlain 16 June 1741 SM
Thomas Chamberlain 16 Jan 1791 SM
Thomas Chamberlain 29 May 1810 SM
William Chamberlain 19 Nov 1821 SM
Hester Chamberlain 14 Jan 1828 SM
George Chamberlain 16 Sep 1856 SM

Chamberlain, Burton, Woolridge, Rolston and Forth Surnames

I found no direct connection to Francis in these church records. Nevertheless, I am very confident that Francis Chamberlain, the plantation master of 1679 Barbados, is one and the same person as the three year old child in the 1625 muster in Elizabeth City, Virginia. The reason for my confidence stems from the four servants of Francis Chamberlain Sr. who were also present in 1625: John Forth, William Worlidge (Wolridge or Woolridge), Sionell Rolston and Richard Burton.

Barbados Church records show all four of these surnames. The name Burton is very common. The other three surnames, not so much.

U. S. Surnames Ranked by Quantity.¹⁰
Burton (Rank 227)
Chamberlain (Rank 1,098)
Woolridge (Rank 8,866)
Forth (Rank 12,663)
Rolston (Rank 13,939)

Amazingly, I found all four of the servant’s surnames! There were ten pages of Burtons so I didn’t touch them. However, information about the three very uncommon surnames are included in my list. Undoubtedly, the winning entry of the above list is Wm Woolridge buried 21 March 1685, whom I believe was the servant of Francis Chamberlain. He died at age 81.

It is possible that some of the Chamberlains on the list from the church records are descendants of Francis Chamberlain Jr., and/or perhaps, unknown siblings, considering the possibility that Francis and Rebecca might have had more children.  When we observe the parish records, however, it is apparent that most of the Chamberlain family left Barbados going to locations unknown by the mid 1800s.

The Chamberlain Bridge

This beautiful bridge, located in Bridgetown, Barbados, was originally built between 1865 and 1872 as a swing bridge. A great hurricane badly damaged the bridge in 1898. British Colonial Secretary of State, Joseph Chamberlain generated funds to replace it.¹¹ In 2005, the obsolete steel structure was dismantled and then rebuilt as a lifting bridge with state-of the-art modern technology.

Joseph Chamberlain (1836-1914) was born in London, the son of a prosperous shoe manufacturer.¹²  The relationship between Joseph Chamberlain and the Francis Chamberlain family of Barbados is unknown.

Thomas and William Chamberlain

Thomas and William Chamberlain apparently left England in 1635 on a quest for religious freedom in the New World. Yet, instead of heading directly for the Puritan haven of Massachusetts Bay, they chose to go to Virginia. Why? A possible reason for this choice was to find and get acquainted with their long lost father. (See Chapter 1 The Arrival of Francis Chamberlain in the New World)

We may never know If that connection was ever made, nor how that worked out for them. The only thing we certainly know is that Francis Chamberlain and his possible sons Thomas and William headed in different directions.

The Church of England considered the Puritans religious non-conformists and drove them out of Virginia. Thomas and William Chamberlain, and other Puritans led by Daniel Gookin, arrived in Massachusetts Bay on 20 May 1644. (See Chapter 2- Thomas and William Chamberlain Leave Virginia)

Thomas and William met up with their brother Edmond somewhere along their travels.  Within a few years, all three brothers were married and starting their families. And, for the first time, they were free to worship their God according to their own beliefs.  They were no longer required to follow the old litanies of the Common Book of Prayer and other rituals as decreed by the English church and its leader, His Majesty, King Charles 1. Life just seemed to good to be true. (See Chapter 4- The Chamberlains in the Storm of Fire)

In 1680, a massive hurricane hit Barbados. It killed many and destroyed plantations. It was devastating to plantation owners, and therefore, many of them left Barbados at that time. Ironically, this hurricane set off a chain of events that will also spell tragedy for the William Chamberlain family in Massachusetts. Samuel Parris, his plantation destroyed, will leave Barbados with his family and a slave named Tituba to start a new career as a minister in Boston. (See chapter 5- Rebecca Chamberlain and the Salem Witch Trials)

For more Chamberlain history stories see “Table of Contents”, or please click “Good Bye!”

© Copyright Dennis D. Chamberlain, The Chamberlain Story, 2016. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of the written content of this site without express and written permission from the author and owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that credit is given to Dennis D. Chamberlain and direction to  www.thechamberlainstory.com.

References:

1. Brett Callaghan, 1625-1627-The Early Beginnings of English Settlement in Barbados, www.totallybarbados.com
2. Elias & Elias, Cultures of the World- Barbados, MC Bench, NY, p. 21.
3. Abid., p. 23.
4. Abid., p. 22.
5. Abid., p. 22-23.
6. Abid., p. 23
7. John Camden Hotten’s Original Lists, p. 501.
8. James H. Stark, Stark’s History and Guide to Barbados and the Caribbee. Boston, p.70.
9. Barbados Church Records 1637-1887, Familysearch.org.
10. http://surnames.behindthename.com
11. http://www.barbados.org/chamberlain-bridge-barbados.htm#.V605VpgrK1s
12. www.britannica.com/biography/Joseph-Chamberlain
13.  Jason W. Warren, King Philip’s War, Encyclopedia Britannica, www.britannica.com
14. List of Atlantic Hurricanes of the 17th Century, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

In 1635, Thomas Chamberlain, age 20, and and William Chamberlain, age 16, sailed from Gravesend, England to Virginia. Thomas Chamberlain embarked on the Thomas & John in June,  and William on the Thomas in August.

They apparently desired to live in a Puritan community, so why did they chose to go to Virginia? Is it possible that they wanted to find their father who left England when they were ages 2 and 6?

The last information we have about Francis Chamberlain, his wife Rebecca and their three-year-old son Francis was the muster of 1625. Did the brothers ever cross paths with and renew their old and possibly strained acquaintance with their father?

We cannot say for sure that Francis Chamberlain who left England in 1621 is the father of Thomas and William. The only connection I can find between him and the young brothers Thomas and William is the name Daniel Gookin.

The household of Francis Chamberlain had been described as “next-but-one to that of Daniel Gookin.” ¹ I am not sure exactly what that means. Some say it means they were next door neighbors. In my opinion, it means that Francis’ wealth in Virginia was exceeded only by that of Daniel Gookin.

Daniel Gookin, Sr. returned to Ireland

Daniel Gookin Sr. emigrated from Ireland in 1621 and established a colonial settlement in Virginia. He brought with him fifty men to engaged in the enterprise of shipping cattle and goats from Ireland to Virginia. After the Indian massacre of March 22, 1622 an order was given requiring all settlers to retreat to Jamestown. Gookin chose to refuse that order and, with his fifty men, defend his plantation at Newport News. Daniel Sr. soon went back to Ireland, and apparently never returned. His son Daniel Gookin Jr. took over managing the plantation in Virginia.²

Daniel Gookin Jr. led a group of Virginia Puritans

On February 25, 1635 the general court granted Daniel Gookin 2500 acres on the south side of the James River in the upper county of Norfolk.³  It may not be coincidence that Thomas and William Chamberlain made the voyage from England to Virginia later that summer. Daniel Gookin, Jr. and the Chamberlain brothers were a part of the younger generation who expressed a religious fervor and passion for the Puritan cause. A cause which was not apparent in their fathers.

Puritans were a devoted group of Christians who sought to purify the Church of England by removing what they felt were non biblical practices, such as formal prayers and litanies held over from the Catholic Church. They believed that all people were born evil and that they could be saved only by the predetermined grace of God.  They sought to establish godly communities of fellow believers and to worship in churches free of extraneous ceremony.

Daniel Gookin was delighted that a considerable number of Puritan families had settled in upper Norfolk County, Virginia.  However, they had no qualified ministers and meager religious supplies, which probably consisted of “a rude chapel, a Bible and a few religious books.”⁴ Thomas and William Chamberlain were likely among this group of devout followers.

1642 Sir William Berkeley was one of the King’s inner circle. The king sent him to Virginia as the new governor and captain-general of the colony.

Virginia Puritans request ministers from Massachusetts

On May 24, 1642, seventy-four Virginia Puritans led by Richard Bennett, Daniel Gookin and John Hull addressed a letter to the elders of the colony of Massachusetts Bay “bewailing  their sad condition for want of the means of salvation and earnestly entreating a supply of faithful ministers whom upon experience of their gifts and godliness they might call to office.”⁵ The governor of Massachusetts Bay, John Winthrop, gladly granted this request for the “advancement of the kingdom of Christ in those parts.“⁶

July 15, 1642 Intolerance for the Puritans in Virginia was increasing. They were considered nonconformists disloyal to the Church of England. Puritan William Durand expressed his dissatisfaction with the way they were being treated in a letter to Rev. John Davenport. He wrote that God has condemned “many poore soules in Virginia” for their ungodly conduct, “if ever the lord had cause to consume the citys of Sodom and Gomorrah he might justly and more severely execute his wrath upon Virginia,”⁷

January 1643 In response to the letter of May 24 from Bennett, Gookin, Hull and their 71 Puritan followers, three minsters from New England, William Thompson, John Knowles and Thomas James, arrived in Jamestown.  They were warmly received “by some well disposed people who desired their company.” However, the group who desired their company did not include Governor Berkeley.⁸

Governor Berkeley opposed Puritans in Virginia

Governor Berkeley was fiercely loyal to King Charles 1. In 1643, Charles gave orders to oppose any religious non conformity in Virginia. The Governor and the General assembly agreed to legislation ordering “all nonconformists… be compelled to depart the colony with all convenience.“⁹

The three ministers left Virginia immediately and Daniel Gookin began to study the best course of action for him and his fellow Puritans. They would be welcome in Maryland, however, Daniel felt that that location was under Papist rule and was not the place for him. Massachusetts, on the other hand, held the powerful attraction of a Puritan community “having his affection strongly set on the truths of Christ and his pure ordinances.“¹⁰

Puritans were preparing to leave before the Indian attack of 1644

While the Puritans were preparing to leave Virginia, all hell broke loose on April 18, 1644. Opechancanough and his legions attacked the colony killing about 500 men women and children.¹¹ (This was the Indian attack mentioned at the end of Chapter 1).

May 20, 1644 One month after the terrible Indian massacre, a boatload of Puritan refugees fleeing Virginia arrived at Boston. However, the Puritans were not fleeing the Indians. Their colonial government dispelled them by decree of the King of England, Charles 1. They were driven out by the intolerance of Church of England loyalists.

Thomas and Mary Chamberlain and their two children, and also William Chamberlain were, presumably, among this group of refugees, which was led by Daniel Gookin. This group of Puritans was the first to carry the news of the disaster in Virginia to New England.¹²

Thomas Chamberlain and Daniel Gookin made Freemen in Boston

On May 29, 1644, nine days after they landed at Boston, Thomas Chamberlain, Daniel Gookin and others were made Freemen by the General Court at Woburn Massachusetts. Thomas was a “planter” who lived in Woburn from 1644 to 1655.¹³

Edmond Chamberlain married Mary Turner

Edmond Chamberlain first appears in the records of New England with his marriage to Mary Turner at Roxbury on 4 January 1647.²³  Edmond and his wife followed the other two Chamberlain brothers to Woburn, Chelmsford and Billerica Massachusetts.¹⁵

William Chamberlain married Rebecca Addington

William Chamberlain married Rebecca Addington in Roxbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts also on 4 January 1647. Assuming the records are correct, William/Rebecca and Edmond/Mary had a double wedding that day.  (Rebecca’s maiden name may have been Shelly. No one knows for sure.) She was born in England in about 1625 and lived in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts.¹⁴

William was first recorded as living in Boston October 30, 1647. There he took deed of a house and lot from Francis Smith. His house, garden, shop and out houses were bound on the north by (West Street), on the west (Mason Street), and on east (Washington Street).²³ He sold the Boston property on January 4, 1649. Two days later he was admitted as an inhabitant of the town of Woburn. William and Rebeca’a first son, Timothy, was born in Woburn on August 13, 1649.

Chamberlains move from Woburn to Chelmsford and Billerica

February 1652 Thomas Chamberlain, James Parker, and Isaac Learned, all of Woburn, bought 1500 acres of land lying on both sides of Concord River in Shawshin of His Excellency Governor Thomas Dudley. This grant was one of the largest ever made in Billerica. They divided it into twelve lots each containing 125 acres.¹⁶

May 1655 The town of Chelmsford was granted a town charter as were Billerica and Woburn at the same time. They changed the name of the settlement of Shawshin to Billerica. All three of these towns are significant in Chamberlain family History.

March 6, 1656 Thomas Chamberlain’s wife Mary of Chelmsford relinquished all her rights and interest in the “Dudley farm” in Billerica to ten parties including Edmond Chamberlain and William Chamberlain. And in 1665, Thomas Chamberlain and the two other Proprietors of the Dudley Grant gave deeds of different parts of the grant to William Chamberlain and four others.¹⁷ 

In Billerica today (2016), there is a Chamberlain Street which is at the approximate location of William Chamberlain’s land. Now part of Lowell MA, it is immediately north of I-495 near exit 37, just a few blocks east of the Concord River.

Thomas, Edmond and William Chamberlain’s families in 1656

In 1656 things are going well for the three Chamberlain brothers. All three are married and their families are growing. They live in towns named after where they may have lived in England, Thomas in Chelmsford, Edmond and William in Billerica.

Their families are growing fast. Thomas and Mary now have four children ages 11 to 17. Edmond and Mary have four children under nine-years-old including Edmund Jr. who was born that year. William and Rebecca now have five children under the age of eight.

They are all now living under a charter friendly to the Puritan cause, and able to worship God according their own understanding of the Bible. Life is good!

As a city upon a hill

The Massachusetts Bay Colony had managed to achieve a modicum of independence from Royal imposition of local government. They, by a shrewd and legally questionable move, transferred their management and charter to Massachusetts. They thereby paved the way for local management and established the assumption that a commercial company charter was in reality a political constitution for a new government with only indefinable dependence upon the King of England.¹⁸

Governor John Winthrop expressed great hope and a new vision for the Puritan cause in his 1630 address, A Model of Christian Charity:

“For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us.  ….we are commanded this day to love the Lord our God, and to love one another, to walk in his ways and to keep his Commandments and his ordinance and his laws, and the articles of our Covenant with Him, that we may live and be multiplied, and that the Lord our God may bless us in the land whither we go to possess it.”¹⁹

The reign of popes and kings, replaced by governors and reverends.

The Puritans had established a theocratic government. There was no separation between church and state. The church was the state. Citizenship was conferred on those who had been baptized and received the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.²⁰

This was nothing new. It was the only condition that any of them had ever known or understood. Now, however, the reign of Popes and Kings had been replaced by Governor John Winthrop, Deputy Governor Thomas Dudley, and the Rev. John Cotton.

They and their other leaders, as they zealously guide their new Christian flock, must seek to prevent any variation of religious views.²¹ Toleration is considered the child of doubt and a sin of the first magnitude. At this time in world history, few men have any doubt at all that they are right in their religious beliefs, and anyone who disagrees with them must certainly be wrong.²²

Religious persecution is the natural consequence.

To be continued…

What happened to Francis Chamberlain, his son Francis, Jr. and his servants  John Forth, William Worlidge, Sionell Rolston and Richard Burton?  See Chapter 3 

Or continue with the story of Thomas, Edmond and William in Massachusetts Bay Colony, Chapter 4- Three Chamberlain Brothers in an Indian Storm of Fire

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

© Copyright Dennis D. Chamberlain, The Chamberlain Story, 2016. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of the written content of this site without express and written permission from the author and owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that  credit is given to Dennis D. Chamberlain and direction to  www.thechamberlainstory.com.

References:

1. Prentiss Glazier, Chamberlain Families of Early New England., p. 151
2. Larry Overmire, A BIOGRAPHY OF DANIEL GOOKIN SR., May 2007.
3. Fredrick William Gookin, Daniel Gookin, His Life and Letters, Chicago, 1912. p. 62.
4.  Abid., p. 67.
5. Abid., p. 67.
6. Kevin Butterfield, Puritans in Colonial Virginia, Encyclopedia Virginia.
7. Abid.
8. Fredrick William Gookin, Daniel Gookin, His Life and Letters, Chicago, 1912. p. 69.
9. Kevin Butterfield, Puritans in Colonial Virginia, Encyclopedia Virginia.
10. Fredrick William Gookin, Daniel Gookin, His Life and Letters, Chicago, 1912. p. 69.
11. Abid., p. 71.
12. Prentiss Glazier, Chamberlain Families of Early New England, The American Genealogist, July 1975. p. 151.
13. George Chamberlain, ONE BRANCH OF THE DESCENDANTS OF Thomas Chamberlain OF WOBURN, 1644. p. 5.
14. Rebecca Addington or Shelly Chamberlain, www.findagrave.com
15. George Chamberlain, ONE BRANCH OF THE DESCENDANTS OF Thomas Chamberlain OF WOBURN, 1644. p. 5
16. Rev. Henry Hazen, History of Billerica Massachusetts, A. Williams & Co., 1883, p.24.
17. Abid. p.24
18. Massachusetts Bay Colony, Encyclopedia Britannica, www.britannica.com.
19. John Winthrop, A Model of Christian Charity, 1630
20. Fredrick William Gookin, Daniel Gookin, His Life and Letters, Chicago, 1912. p. 74.
21. Massachusetts Bay Colony, Encyclopedia Britannica, www.britannica.com.
22. Fredrick William Gookin, Daniel Gookin, His Life and Letters, Chicago, 1912. p. 73-74.
23. Familysearch.org Sources Listed:
    Chamberlain Association of America, Mss Gen., New England Historic Society, SG/CHA/49-14, Edmund of Roxbury [RC321-1 thru 4R, #1]. Chamberlain Families, by Prentiss Glazier, Vol. I, “Chamberlain Families in Connecticut, 1790,” P. 42; Vol. II, “Descendants of Edmund¹ Chamberlain of Roxbury,” pp. 27-28. The History of Woodstock, Connecticut, Norwood, MA, 1926, by Clarence Winthrop Bowen, Vol. III, P. 270 [RC 397]. A History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, by W. Waters, 1917, Three Volumes, Vol. 1, P. 27 [RC 285]. History of Peter Parker and Sarah Ruggles, by J.W. Linzie, 1913, pp. 147, 371, 374, 541. Cutter’s book on early Connecticut familes. Also see, the histories of Roxbury, Chelsea, Malden, Revere, Dudley, and Hopkinton, MA. And other sources listed upon request.
24. John Camden, Hotten’s Original Lists, pages 84 and 127

Have you ever wondered why you were born in America? Why did your family decide to leave their home to come here? And, what was their life like when they got here?  This is the true story of one family that emigrated to the New World and has expanded into the Twenty-first Century. The Chamberlain story begins with Francis Chamberlain and Agnes Hayden in England during the 1600s, when the world was a different place.

Francis Chamberlain and Agnes Hayden

1580 Francis Chamberlain was born, I presume, in England. Francis contributed to our family gene pool a sense of adventure, entrepreneurship and bold risk taking. His connection, as father of Thomas, Edmond and William, is based on circumstantial evidence and can not be proved. However, unlike other prominent Chamberlain American immigrants, his connection can not be disproved.

1614 Francis Chamberlain married Agnes Hayden in Ugley, Essex Co., England,¹ a small, (and quite lovely) village about 30 miles north-east of London. Agnes Hayden was a wonderful choice for our family. She seems to have brought a balance to our genetic base with her contribution of spirituality, integrity and moral courage. Francis and Agnes are likely my eighth great-grand parents.

I spell Agnes Hayden with a “y” even though it was spelled Haiden on the marriage record which reads:  “CHAMBERLAIN, Francis & perhaps Agnes HAIDEN; m 1613/14 Ugley, Essex”. I believe the “perhaps” was recorded because someone was not sure how to spell her name, (I do not believe this means “perhaps” they were married, or “perhaps” Francis married someone else!). Anyway, her father’s name was spelled Hayden, so I will go with that.

The date on the record 1613/14 is from the old/new calendar systems. To avoid confusion, I have adjusted all my dates to the new calendar system.

Y-DNA study rules out Henry and Richard as father of the three brothers

Genealogist Prentiss Glazier stated that Francis is “presumably the father of Thomas, Edmond and William.”²  This statement is given greater credibility by our family (my brother Martin’s) Y-DNA test results.³

What is Y-DNA? There are two things that a father passes down directly to his sons. His surname and a small chromosome called the Y chromosome, which determines that the child will be a male. The haplotype profile in my family closely matches those of documented descendants of Thomas, Edmond and William Chamberlain which proves that we are indeed direct descendants.

On the other hand, our Y-DNA  does not match descendants of Henry Chamberlain or Richard Chamberlain. This shows that they are not closely related to, and disqualifies them as parents of the three brothers. So, sorry Henry, “you are not the father!”

This leaves Francis as the possible father. The time-line for Francis Chamberlain, Agnes Hayden and their three possible sons is smooth and without contradiction. Nevertheless, the evidence is circumstantial and a direct connection remains elusive.

1615 their first son Thomas Chamberlain was born

1617 their second son, Edmond Chamberlain was born

1619 their third son, William Chamberlain was born

The Voyage of Francis Chamberlain to Virginia

On July 12, 1621 Francis Chamberlain set sail from London on the Marmaduke,⁴  probably arriving in Virginia in October or November. Of course we cannot be certain that this Francis Chamberlain is the same Francis who married Agnes Hayden.

We do not know what happened to Agnes Hayden. However, if the Francis Chamberlain sailing the Atlantic on the Marmaduke is the same one who married her, the three brothers were apparently left in her care and/or the care of servants.

The only evidence we have for this being the same Francis is the time line which shows no contradiction at this point as his departure is about two years after the birth of William.

The glaring question is why would Francis leave his wife Agnes and three small sons behind? As you read on, the plot thickens and a possible motive is manifest.

Powhatan Indians attack the English settlements

On March 22, 1622  a few months after Francis Chamberlain arrived in Virginia, Chief Opechancanough led the Powhatan Indians in a campaign of surprise attacks on the English settlements and plantations, mostly along the James River. Using clubs, knives or any tool available they killed about 347 men, women and children, almost one third of the 1200 colonists.

Jamestown was saved by the warning of a young Indian living in the home of one of the colonists, Richard Pace.  The Indian woke Pace and told him of the planned attack. Living across the river from Jamestown, Pace secured his family and rowed to the settlement to spread the alarm. Jamestown increased its defenses and was not attacked. Survivors flocked to the protection of the more fortified Jamestown.⁵

April 1622 William Newce, had previously made an offer to pay the expense of 1000 colonists’ voyage to Virginia by the summer of 1625. The massacre, however, brought this enterprise to an abrupt halt. Captain John Smith wrote: “This lamentable and so unexpected disaster drave them all to their wits end. It was twenty or thirty daies ere they resolve what to doe; but at last it was concluded all the petty Plantations should be abandoned, and drawne only to make good five or six places.”⁶

April 1622 Some time in April there was a second massacre of between twenty and thirty persons. Much sickness followed the uprising. A period of intermittent warfare continued through 1632.

Rebecca Chamberlain arrives in Virginia after deadly Indian attacks

Rebecca Chamberlain arrived in Virginia from London in April on the Bona Nova. Her emotions were intense as land appeared on the horizon. She had not seen her husband Francis since he left England in July!  Two of Francis Chamberlain’s servants accompanied her and cared for her on the journey. Rebecca had given birth to a new baby boy during the voyage. She named him Francis after his father.

When she stepped off the ship with her new baby, she was horrified to find her new home settlement still reeling from the horrific disaster that had struck a few weeks earlier.  The residents were still in a state of shock and panic.

Two surveys give information about Francis Chamberlain in Virginia

16 February 1623 Francis Chamberlain had survived the attack. A survey of the living and dead in Virginia listed Francis and Rebecca Chamberlain as living in Elizabeth City.

7 February 1625 Francis Chamberlain Muster at Elizabeth City, Virginia.⁷ This census ordered by the Crown in June 1624 was taken, showing a total population of 1232 settlers and included numbers of weapons, livestock, grain, etc.. Virtually all information we have about Francis Chamberlain and his family in Virginia comes from this census. The muster lists Francis age 3, as born in Virginia. *However, If the child was actually age 3 by the date of the muster, his birth occurred during the voyage on the Bona Nova.

Francis Chamberlin age 45, Marmaduke 1621; Rebecca Chamberlin age 37,  Bona Nova 1622; Francis Chamberlin age 3, Born in Virginia.*

Servants: John Forth age 16, Bona Nova 1622; William Worlidge age 18, Bona Nova 1622; Sionell Rolston age 30, God’s Guifte 1623; Richard Burton age 28, Swan 1624.

Events in England

In England, the reign of King Charles 1 began on March 27, 1625. Charles believed in the divine right of kings and governed according to his own desire. Many of his subjects opposed his policies, especially the levying of taxes without parliamentary consent, and perceived his actions as tyrannical. His religious policies and his marriage to a Roman Catholic generated the antipathy and mistrust in reform groups of Puritans and Calvinists. They grew increasingly dismayed by Charles’s diplomacy with Spain and his failure to effectively support the Protestant cause abroad.⁸

1633 King Charles 1 began a series of reforms that attempted to ensure religious uniformity by restricting non-conformist preachers. He prosecuted those who opposed his reforms.

1634 King Charles 1 imposed a feudal levy known as ship money on the coastal counties. This proved to be a very unpopular tax.

Thomas and William Chamberlain set sail for Virginia

June 1635 Thomas Chamberlain age 20 embarked on the Thomas & John from Gravesend, England to Virginia.¹⁰ The port at Gravesend served all of southeastern England. Thomas likely lived in or near Billericay, Essex Co, England about twenty miles north of the port and which was considered a “hot bed for dissent”.¹¹

August 21, 1635 William Chamberlain age 16 embarked on the Thomas from Gravesend, England to Virginia.¹²

April 1644 The Chamberlain family was growing. Thomas had found a wife, a beautiful young woman named Mary Parker,¹⁴ who at age 15 arrived in Virginia on The Constance, October 24, 1635.¹⁵ She was now 24. They had two small children they named Thomas and Anne. Thomas’ brother William was still single at the age of 25.

We don’t know if Francis and Rebecca had any more children. Their son Francis was now 22 years old.

On April 18, 1644, an Indian massacre in Virginia was again staged by Powhatan Chief Opechancanough. The attack killed about 500 colonists, about ten percent of the population. This leaves us the question: What happened to the Chamberlain family?

Thomas and William’s relationship to the Spencer Chamberlain Family

With the arrival of Thomas and William in Virginia, the emigration of our Spencer Chamberlain line to the New World is complete. Thomas is the great grandfather of “Paugus” John Chamberlain who for at least 90 years was believed to be a direct ancestor of Spencer Chamberlain. This is our traditional family line and will always be an important part of our family history.

Spencer Chamberlain is from the family line of William, Daniel and Thomas. Thomas, the grandson of William Chamberlain, left many descendants in the vicinity of Westmoreland NH and Stockbridge VT.¹³

To be continued.…..

See Chapter 2- Thomas and William Chamberlain Leave Virginia Or, see where I believe Francis Chamberlain went. (See Chapter 3).

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

© Copyright Dennis D. Chamberlain, The Chamberlain Story, 2016. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of the written content of this site without express and written permission from the author and owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided credit is given to Dennis D. Chamberlain and direction to  www.thechamberlainstory.com.

References:

1. Supplement to Torry’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700, p. 51.
2. Prentiss Glazier, Chamberlain Families of Early New England, The American Genealogist, July 1975 p.151
3. Study the Y-DNA of Ernest Martin Chamberlain Jr., conducted through The Chamberlain Association, Certificate signed by David E. Rothschild, M.D., October 28, 2003.
4. John Camden Hotten’s Original Lists, p. 254.
5. www.historyisfun.org/jamestown-chronicles/timeline.html
6. Fredrick William Gookin, Daniel Gookin 1612-1687, His Life and Letters, Chicago 1912, p. 42
7. John Camden Hotten’s Original Lists, p. 254.
8. wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles I of England
9. Index Project Batch Number PO1675-1, Familysearch.org.
10. John Camden Hotten’s Original Lists, P. 84
11. Prentiss Glazier, Chamberlain Families of Early New England, The American Genealogist, July 1975 p.151
12. John Camden Hotten’s Original Lists, P. 127
13. Prentiss Glazier, Chamberlain Families of Early New England, The American Genealogist, July 1975 p.153
14. Abid., p. 151.
15. John Camden Hotten’s Original Lists, p. 137.