FAMILY LINE AND HISTORY
HARRISON CHAMBERLAIN
7th of 7 children of Reuben Chamberlin & Mary “Polly” Sumner
Born: Dec 22, 1812, Genesee Co., New York
Died: Dep 22, 1890 (age 77), Wyoming, Wyoming Co., New York
Buried: Wyoming Cemetery in Wyoming, Wyoming Co., New York
Occupation: Farmer
Married: Nov 21, 1841, CAROLINE VAN SURDAM, Wyoming Co., New York
Five children: FINLEY McLAREN “FRANK” CHAMBERLIN, Adelaide “Addie” Chamberlain, Grace E. Chamberlain, Adah Melissa Chamberlain, Irene Anna Chamberlain
CAROLINE VAN SURDAM
5th of 11 children of Seneca Surdam and Anna Bump
Born: Jan 4, 1823, Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York
Died: Nov 21, 1877 (age 54), Wyoming, Wyoming Co., New York
Buried: Wyoming Cemetery in Wyoming, Wyoming Co., New York
Married: Nov 21, 1841, HARRISON CHAMBERLAIN, Wyoming Co., New York
Five children: FINLEY McLAREN “FRANK” CHAMBERLIN, Adelaide “Addie” Chamberlain, Grace E. Chamberlain, Adah Melissa Chamberlain, Irene Anna Chamberlain
1. Finley McLaren “Frank” Cahamberlin
Born: Sep 22, 1845, Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York
Died: Aug 9, 1905 (age 59), Rifle, Garfield Co., Colorado
Buried: Rose Hill Cemetery in Rifle, Garfield Co., Colorado
Married: Aug 23, 1871, Emily S. Hoy, Anderson Co., Kansas
Six children: NELLIE BELLE CHAMBERLIN, Frederick Laurence “Fred” Chamberlin, Ada Agnes Chamberlin, Roy Valentine Chamberlin, Mary Agnes “Mamie” Chamberlin, Willard Joseph “Joe” Chamberlin
2. Adelaide “Addie” Chamberlain
Born: Feb 18, 1848, Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York
Died: Dec 14, 1935 (age 87), Lansing, Ingham Co. Michigan
Buried: Dec 19, 1935, Summit Cemetery in Williamston, Ingham Co., Michigan
Married: Sep 8, 1869, Elliott Bennett Kinne, Williamston, Ingham Co., Michigan
One child: Harrison Adelbert “Bert” Kinne
3. Grace E. Chamberlain
Born: Sep 1, 1853, Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York
Died: May 6, 1936 (age 85), in Baptist home for aged in Fairport, Monroe Co., New York
Buried: May 8, 1936, Village Cemetery in Wyoming, Wyoming Co., New York (shares headstone w/parents)
Never married
4. Adah Melissa Chamberlain
Born: Feb 23, 1858, Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York
Died: Nov 1, 1927 (age 69), Rochester, Monroe Co., New York
Buried: Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, Monroe Co., New York
Married: abt 1882, Edson Leroy Cory, prob Monroe Co., New York
Two children: Seward Edson Cory, Sumner Allen Cory
5. Irene Anna Chamberlain
Born: Aug 15, 1866 or 1868, Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York
Died: Apr 4, 1902 (age 35 or 33), Williamston, Ingham Co., Michigan; peritonitis
Buried: Summit Cemetery in Williamston, Ingham Co., Michigan
Married: Nov 29, 1898, George A. Kinne, Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan
Two children: Grace E. Kinne, Irwin Elliott Kinne
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Timeline and Records
Seven children of Reuben Chamberlin & Mary “Polly” Sumner:
1. Fanny Chamberlin
1795 –
2. Lucina/Lucinda Chamberlin
1799 – 1825
3. Luther Sumner Chamberlin
1800 – 1879
4. Laurel Sumner Chamberlin
1804 – 1887
5. Orson Sumner Chamberlin
1806 – 1886
6. Laura Chamberlin
1809 – 1863
7. Harrison Chamberlain
1812 – 1890
Eleven known children of Seneca Surdam & Anna Bump:
1. Jane Surdam(1)
1814 –
2. Maria Surdam
1818 – 1901
3. Melissa Surdam
1820 –
4. Melina/Malina H./Ann Surdam
1821 – 1903
5. Caroline Van Surdam
1823 – 1877
6. Delia Surdam
1824 –
7. Jane Van Surdam(2)
1826 – 1908
8. Morgan Surdam
1829 –
9. Younglove Surdam (male)
1830 – 1903
10. Freelove Surdam (female)
1831 – 1853
11. George Foote Van Surdam
1834 – aft 1908
Origin of Surdam Name
With reference to spelling the name Suydam, father says that it was always spelled Surdam as far as his recollection and records go, and that it should be prefixed with Van—that is, the name should be Van Surdam. His father and uncles wrote their names in that way and so did his grandfather. About twenty years ago an old resident of this place wrote “The Annals of Hoosick.” They appeared in a weekly paper that was published here at that time… One contained a reference to the Surdam family and asserted that the original name as it came from Holland was Van Dam.
Source: Family Traditions (pg 41)
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A note to me regarding the spelling of the Chamberlain/Chamberlin name:
“What we do know was that Chamberlin was generally the preferred spelling in the first several generations, and in the last several generations in your own line, with some confusion in the middle generations, where/when records definitely show both spellings. We also know that other co-lateral branches of this family, in recent generations, used Chamberlin in some lines and Chamberlain in others.” ~Jim Parker, a Chamberlain historian, May 23, 2008
Researchers and various branches of this family line use two different spellings (Chamberlain and Chamberlin), and records often reflect either or both.
Dec 22, 1812: Birth of Harrison Chamberlain, 7th of 7 children of Reuben Chamberlin & Mary “Polly” Sumner, in Genesee Co., New York
Mar 16, 1816: Death of Mary “Polly” (Sumner) Chamberlin (age 43), wife of Reuben Chamberlin, in Middlebury, Genessee Co. (now Wyoming Co.), New York. Mary Sumner is buried in Wright’s Corners Cemetery in Wyoming, New York. She left behind seven children, the oldest about age 21, and the youngest, Harrison, age 3.
Wrights Corner Cemetery
Jan 4, 1823: Birth of Caroline Van Surdam, 5th of 11 children of Seneca Surdam and Anna Bump, in Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York and future wife of Harrison Chamberlain
1830: Federal Census for Middlebury, Genessee Co., New York:
Rueben Chamberlain: Males 1 (age 15-20), 1 (age 60-70); Females 1 (age 10-15), 1 (age 50-60)
Note: Harrison Chamberlain (age 18), Reuben Chamberlain (age 60), female (?), Nancy Chamberlain (age 53)
Note: Reuben’s son Luther is living next door.
1840: Federal Census for Middlebury, Genessee Co., New York:
Reuben Chamberlain: Males 1 (age 20-30), 1 (age 40-50), 1 (age 70-80)
Females 1 (age 20-30), 1 (age 60-70)
Note: Harrison Chamberlain (age 28), Reuben Chamberlain (age 70), female Nancy Chamberlain (age 63)
Nov 21, 1841: Marriage of Harrison Chamberlain (age 28) & Caroline Van Surdam (age 17), in Wyoming Co., New York, by the Rev. Jesse Elliott
Sep 22, 1845: Birth of Finley “Frank” McLaren Chamberlin, the first child born to Harrison Chamberlain & Caroline Surdam, in Middlebury Township, Wyoming Co., New York
Feb 18, 1848: Birth of Adelaide “Addie” Chamberlain (family records reflect 1847), the second child of Harrison Chamberlain & Caroline Surdam, in Middlebury Township, Wyoming Co., New York
Aug 31, 1850: Federal Census for Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York:
Chaberlain, Harrison: age 36, M, Farmer, Value of Real Estate Owned $3,200, born New York (Chamberlain)
Caroline: age 27, F, born New York
Finley: age 5, M, born New York
Adalaid: age 4, F, born New York (Adelaide)
Reuben: age 81, M, no business, born New Hampshire (Reuben Chamberlin, father of Harrison)
Nancy: age 72, F, born New Hampshire (Nancy Chamberlin, step-mother of Harrison)
Bump, Andrew: age 16, M, Farmer, attended school within the year, born New York (Caroline’s maiden name is Bump, unknown relationship to Andrew)
Note: Reuben and his second wife Nancy are living in the household of his son, Harrison Chamberlain
Feb 17, 1852: Death of Reuben Chamberlin (age 83), father of Harrison Chamberlain, in Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York. Reuben is buried in Wright’s Corners Cemetery in Wyoming, Wyoming Co., New York along with his first wife, Mary “Polly” Sumner, the mother of their seven children.
Sep 1, 1853: Birth of Grace E. Chamberlain, the third child of Harrison Chamberlain & Caroline Surdam, in Middlebury Township, Wyoming Co., New York
Feb 23, 1858: Birth of Adah Melissa “Ada” Chamberlain, the fourth child of Harrison Chamberlain & Caroline Surdam, in Middlebury Township, Wyoming Co., New York
Jul 7, 1860: Federal Census for Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York:
Name: H Chamberlain (Harrison Chamberlain)
Age: 48
Birth Year: abt 1812
Gender: Male
Birth Place: New York
Home in 1860: Middlebury, Wyoming, New York
Post Office: Wyoming
Occupation: Farmer
Real Estate Value: 5000
Personal Estate Value: 1600
Attended School: 3
Household Members: Name and Age
H Chamberlain 48 (Harrison Chamberlain)
Caroline Chamberlain 38 (wife)
Finley Chamberlain 15 (son)
Adalade Chamberlain 13 (daughter)
Grace E Chamberlain 8 (daughter)
Ada Chamberlain 2 (daughter)
Julius Palmater 17 (farm hand)
Nancy Chamberlin 82 (stepmother, Nancy Chamberlain)
Nov 6, 1860: Abraham Lincoln is elected as the 16th President of the United States
Apr 12, 1861: Start of the American Civil War, also known as the War of the Rebellion. Confederate troops attack Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina.
Aug 15, 1861: Finley McLaren “Frank” Chamberlin (age 15 yr, 11 mo) enlists in the Union Army, 9th Regiment Michigan Infantry, as a Private Company I in Brighton Township, Livingston Co., Michigan. The records state he is 18 years of age.
May 26, 1865: Civil War ends with the last Confederate troops surrender surrendering in Mississippi
Aug 15, 1866: Birth of Irene Anna Chamberlain, the fifth child of Harrison Chamberlain & Caroline Surdam, in Middlebury Township, Wyoming Co., New York
Jun 16, 1870: Federal Census for Kansas City, Jackson Co., Missouri:
Chamberlain, F: age 25, M, R.R. Breakman, born New York
Note: Finley Chamberlin is in a boarding house, working for the railroad, as are most of the residents on this census page
Jun 24, 1870: Federal Census for Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York:
Chamberland, Harrison: age 56, farmer, value of real estate 6250, value of personal property 680, born New York (Chamberlain)
Caroline: age 46, keeping house, born New York
Grace: age 19, at home, born New York
Ada: age 11, attends school, born New York
Irene: age 3, born New York
Nov 21, 1877: Death of Caroline (Van Surdam) Chamberlain(age 54), in Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York. Caroline is buried in the Wyoming Village Cemetery in Middlebury.
Jun 8, 1880: Federal Census for Middlebury, Wyoming Co., New York:
Chamberlain, Harrison: age 68, widowed, farmer, born in New York, father born N.Y. mother born Conn
Grace: age 27, daughter, single, keeping house, born New York, father born New York, mother born (Mass?)
Ada: age 22, daughter, single, at home, born New York, father born New York, mother born (Mass?)
Irene: age 13, daughter, single, at home, born New York, father born New York, mother born (Mass?)
Sep 22, 1890: Death of Harrison Chamberlain (age 78), in Wyoming, Wyoming Co., New York. He is buried with his wife, Caroline (Van Surdam) Chamberlain in the Wyoming Village Cemetery in Wyoming, Wyoming Co., New York.
Sep 22, 1890: New York Death Index:
Name: Harrison Chamberlain
Death Date: 22 Sep 1890
Death Place: Wyoming, New York, USA
Certificate Number: 27752
Feb 15, 1940: Letter from Mrs. Grace E. Chamberlain to her cousin, Fred Chamberlin, son of Finley “Frank” Chamberlin & Emily Hoy:
#166 Grant Ave. East
Highland Park, Michigan
February 15th, 1940
Mr. Fred L. Chamberlain-
#343 East Gage Street,
Los Angeles, California.
Dear “Cousin”:-
For a long time I have been interested in writing up my Chamberlain family history, or at least genealogy, and locating all the members I could for the rather voluminous “family tree.” Your branch have been rather difficult to corral, and as is usual, one waits to get these family details till all have passed on who might have given aid.
I should say we are straight second cousins. Our grandfathers were brothers. You come from Harrison, and I from his brother Orson. I have often heard my father speak of his Cousin Finley, and I believe they occasionally wrote each other as boys. If I can find an old letter of your father’s I will inclose it. I know I did see some in my father’s old papers.
I had the pleasure of being quite well acquainted with your Aunt Grace, who only died quite recently, and with your Aunt Addie Kinne, whom I greatly admired. She too has been gone just a short time. I did have lovely obituaries of both these aunts and if I can find one will include it. But in all these talks with them, I tried to get their memories to go farther back than your father, so asked few questions about Finley’s family, though I did have the names of his children.
We are quite a tribe, and most of our ancestors were extremely worthy of emulation. I found we had plenty of Revolutionary ancestors. Both the Elder Henry Chamberlain, father of Reuben, who was the father of Harrison, and also Capt. Ebenezer Sumner, who was the father of Mary Sumner, the wife of Reuben C. were Revolutionary soldiers. I got all the proof, and was readily accepted. Then in going back, I found that we have a direct Mayflower lineage. I also joined this, and submitted proof, so that would know it was all authentic. They are very particular but we made the grade all right. I am delighted to pass onto you so fine a lineage and if any of you ever want to join any of these societies – I will be glad to tell you more about it. In these days, with every alien well organized, I think it might be well if we Americans were a little more conscious of our Americanism. I became quite interested, and have used it as a hobby, doing all my family lines. I think it appealed to me more because I was born a Chamberlain, and married a Chamberlain and often wondered about possible relationship. We have different emigrant ancestors: Then behold my amazement to find that our ancestor the Rev. Henry Chamberlain of Vermont, had done the same thing- he had married an Abigail Chamberlain, so I had to trace her out, and she has still a different emigrant ancestor. Whether these C’s were related before coming from England, I do not know.
I wrote up my notes for a little genealogical magazine our society gets out, and as I had extra pages, am sending you a full set, not exactly full either, for our gt. grand father Reuben Chamberlain had two wives, and in a later edition I added the descendants of the second wife. But you and I come through the first wife, Mary Sumner.
I have spent several lovely vacations in and around Wyoming, N.Y., locating old graves, records, etc, and have come to know the family of Amos Chamberlain very well. He was a splendid man, and he too was quite interested in the family tree. He just died last year, but his widow and sons live in the community still. I found the old obituary of our great grandfather Reuben, and you see he was an early settler there. This Amos Chamberlain was the grandson of Luther Chamberlain, an older brother of Harrison.
Lest I give you too big a dose of family matters at one setting, I will not write more now, but leave you to digest the outline I am sending. My idea was to write up the family of Henry Chamberlain, Sr. of Westmoreland, N.H. and his wife Susannah Hinds. It was some undertaking! What a lot of writing and researching I did. I have also visited the old ancestral home on Westmoreland, N.H., and all the places in Vermont where our Rev. Henry Chamberlain preached. He was a Baptist minister.
If your mother is living, I suppose she has heard of Hinds Chamberlain, who was the first settler in LeRoy, N.Y. I have rounded up all his family, the graves, etc. He was uncle to Reuben, tho’ there wasn’t much difference in their ages. Maybe you never knew where your father got his name- Finley of Findley. Well—–this Hinds Chamberlain married the widow McLaren. She had two children, a girl and a boy, by her first husband Malcom McLaren. The boy was named Finley McLaren. I suppose Hinds Chamberlin raised him – in fact I know he did, and Hinds C. used to go out to see Reuben and Harrison, and Harrison thought this little McLaren boy was the finest youngster ever, so he later named his own son Finley McLaren Chamberlin. Addie told me this. But the old Genesee and Wyoming county histories mention the McLarens, as Scotch, and coming from Scotland about the time Hinds C. settled in LeRoy.
Now I wish you would take some time off, and write me a big letter, tell me the names, dates of birth, etc, of your brothers and sisters, who they married, etc. Also I wish I knew more about your father’s life, after he came out of the army. This Amos C. used to have your Aunt Grace come and visit them, and she told him more of your fathers life, but I do not know it. And feel free if you are interested, to ask me anything you care to about the others. Your first cousin Bert Kinne lives in Spokane, Wash. and your first cousin Elliott Kinne (this is your aunt Irene’s boy) lives in Chicago.
Letter (undated) from Mrs. Grace E. Chamberlain to her cousin Willard “Joe” Chamberlin or his brother Fred:
You must have a lot of second cousins somewhere on your grandmother Surdam’s side of the family.
Your great grandfather was Seneca Surdam, and his wife was Anna. I submit this data for your family record.
Seneca Surdam was born April 27th, 1790 ) I don’t know where
Ann Surdam ” May 25th, 1790 )
Seneca Surdam died April 13th, 1859 ) I suppose they are buried around
Anna, his wife, died May 8th, 1867 ) Wyoming, N.Y. I never have looked for their graves
Children of Seneca and Anna Surdam, as follows:
Jane born June 4, 1814
Maria ” Oct 22, 1818
Melissa ” July 1, 1820
Caroline ” Jan 4, 1823 This is the one who married your grandfather, Harrison Chamberlain. They are both buried in village cemetery, Wyoming, N.Y. and have markers.
Delia ” Oct 16, 1824
Jane ” May 26, 1826
Morgan ” Nov 28, 1829
Younglove ” Feb 24, 1830
Freelove ” Feb 14, 1831
Malina ” May 8, 1832
George ” Sept 11, 1834
Quite a sizeable family! I don’t know if any one of this name still lives around Wyoming. I assume not, for I never heard either your aunt Grace or Aunt Adah speak of any such relation. Your Aunt Grace never married‚ I think lived to be 88. Think to ask me to show her your obituary. I have one of both Addie and Grace. Aunt Grace died in a Baptist home for the aged in the suburbs of Rochester, N.Y.— Fairport, where she lived for many years. She was brought back to be buried with her father and mother, Harrison and Caroline, there in Wyoming, but at the time of the funeral I did not hear of her having any relatives present except on the Chamberlain side. Yet you see she must have had Surdam relatives a plenty.
Your father’s middle name is MacLaren. He was named for Finley McLaren, a Scotchman. The first Finley MacLaren married Betsy Stewart (or Elizabeth, I suppose). I think they were married in Scotland. Came to the vicinity of LeRoy, had two children, Finley MacLaren and Helen Mary MacLaren, when their father died— one of the earliest deaths in that vicinity. His widow soon married Hinds Chamberlain, and these children were raised by him as his own. They used to visit at Reuben C’s, and Harrison C (your grandfather) thought this MacLaren boy the finest he ever knew, and gave that name later to his only son, and according to the girls nearly always called him by both names, i.e. Finley MacLaren.
Note: This letter was written to Fred Chamberlin or Willard “Joe” Chamberlin (the sons of Finley & Emily) from Grace Chamberlain, a descendent of Orson Sumner Chamberlain, the brother of Harrison Chamberlain.
Note: Seneca Surdam died in Middlebury, Wyoming County, New York
Note: Originally the name was Van Surdam, and at some point during Seneca or Reuben’s generation, the Van was dropped from usage.
Nov 24, 1940: Letter from Mrs. Grace E. Chamberlain, cousin to Willard “Joe” Chamberlin (Frank and Emily’s youngest son):
Nov. 24th, 1940
Dear Cousin Joe:
We are back to “home plate” for a day or so, and as we were just talking of you, will try and get off a note, with enclosures which I hope will satisfy the Mayflower Soc. We are not through with our “project” in Williamston, but have got to a point where it is not so terribly bothersome. It was too much for either of us to take on at our ages, but once into it we must see it through for better or worse. Having had total losses with our bonds we just felt we must keep what real estate we had. Can go out and look at it, at least.
Ditto with us, for all the emotions you had over election results. I do hope FDR keeps in mind that some twenty three million votes were against him, and give some consideration to their representatives. We surely thought Congress would change in the shuffle, but alas! How can we ever pay the debt, or how can the generations to come? Yet with it all, we must have deep gratitude that we are yet in a land not drenched with blood. I hope England may hold out. I think she will, yet I cannot see it, except with eyes of faith.
Now, I think you have enough data for Mayflower, and I hope you persist and go through. You see we of this generation can establish the proof better than generations to follow, and once in, it becomes history. Added to other worries I am heartbroken that I seemingly have lost the pages from the Harrison bible. Your Aunt Grace had simply taken the four sheets out of her father’s bible, which contained the records, and gave them to me. I have preserved them so carefully. I took them down here to have photostat copies made of each sheet, and had one each of three of the sheets. The other was all the Surdam family. Then I happened to think why have more copies made here, as I have a friend in Williamston who is in an office that does that work. I will just take it out to him and have several copies made of each page for less than cost of one here. I had the original at the farm, and remember having it in a large envelope all ready to take down town, but in the melee have simply mislaid or lost it. I cannot think it is lost, but “hid” as I have a faculty for doing. Maybe it will show up. BUT I am so glad I have these three, and Frank thinks you can have another photostat made from this. Please do if you can, and do include an extra set for me, for I wanted them for my family book, but wanted you to have the original, as you see it takes in even Reuben, and his second wife Nancy.
Now this bible record I think shows that Finley is son of Harrison, as he is recorded on page with other children. The death certificate of Harrison shows him to be son of Reuben and Mary Sumner C. Sorry Amos ever undertook to correct the record with town clerk in Wyoming for he had it wrong. Neither Mary Sumner of Reuben C. were born in Vermont. Reuben, according to obituary, was born in Westmoreland, and Mary Sumner was born in Middletown, Conn. (Middletown Vital Records, Vol. 2, pg. 134, if you haven’t this reference). I guess it should be stated “Conn. Vital Records, Middletown Vol. 2, pg.134.” Reuben’s obituary may be referred to for a lot of proof, for it states his birthplace, his marriage to Mary Sumner, his death, etc.
Now if this bible record does not satisfy them as to Finley being son of Harrison, write to the county clerk in the county in which your father died, and get his death certificate. It would seem that as late as 1905, that death certificates required the names of parents of deceased. If he died in Colo. it may be the Vital records at the State capitol have it, but most often I find it quicker right in the county where death occurred. Or if a small town, and you know someone who has access to cemetery records, name of cemetery, etc. probably this information is in their records. This would be indisputable proof of his parentage. Don’t be discouraged if you have to do a lot of writing here and there – usually out of the answers we find a lot we didn’t know. And wasn’t there an obituary in some local paper at time of his death. That probably stated his parentage, and it may be his pension papers in Washington, D. C. gave them. An inquiry to the “Veterans Bureau” Washington, D. C. will be answered in time, and they will tell you if he stated his parentage. My father did not, but sometimes it is woven into the various material they had to submit for pension. However, I think the bible proof will do the trick. AND, unless you find you can have copies made from this photostat, that is, other photostats, why not keep these, and just make typewritten copies, and have them notarized? I do hope photostats can be made from these. If I wasn’t going back to farm tomorrow, and could get down town, I’d find out here, for we have good shops where this is done.
Then you see this gives the marriage of Harrison and Caroline, as well as your father’s marriage to your mother, but this date must be an error for weren’t some of you kids born before 1871? I suppose someone made these entries years after the happening of some of the events.
I think you have done fine on your papers, and with these additional proofs all will be accepted. If you need anything else, DO write me for any aid I am able to render, and I enclose letter from Lovina C. She is Lee Chamberlain’s wife. They live two miles from Wyoming, and if you have occasion to need anything more from there she will be glad to help you. They are much interested in family matters of genealogy, etc., and will gladly give aid. Too bad you didn’t have time to drive out to Wyoming when you were in Rochester. The road sign in the little town of Wyoming says “Rochester, 37 miles” – This is a very plain snap of Harrison’s tombstone, and this will furnish proof of birth and death, as well as marriage to Caroline. She put in the films so you can have another made if you desire. I think I always inclosed one in each set of papers.
I am so ashamed to think of mislaying the original bible sheets, but perhaps they will show up somewhere, but if these will stand a photostat do get a set for me.
Don’t you imagine we will be actively, and openly in the war ere long? I think so.
With best wishes and do write if I can do anything more. I think it will be splendid to have this branch of the C’s proven Mayflower descendants. It’s a little irksome to make the proof, but you can see they have to be very exacting else many would get in who do not belong.
Grace
Grace E. Chamberlain
Jan 16, 1944: Letter from Mrs. Grace E. Chamberlain to Willard “Joe” Chamberlin:
Sunday
Jan. 16, 1944
Dear Cousin:-
We were speaking of you only yesterday, and hubby chided me for not having written earlier in response to your Christmas greetings. Christmas does not seem quite the same to us as we grow older. We could not even be with the doctor boy in Cincinnati – however, I had a week with them in November, but dare not “clutter” traffic in Dec.
I am wondering what you think of war conditions now, and how soon we may reasonably expect victory. That we shall have it, I doubt not, but some of our best informed commentators think it may be some distance off. BUT how can Germany stand much more bombing, if we are doing even half of what we are told we are? Its a heartache when we read of the numbers of our lovely bombers lost, and of the personnel that go down with them. Yet I think we get off much better that we would trying to accomplish the same task with a land army. We had another casualty among our C’s in the person of young Paul C. my nephews son – he was badly wounded in Tunisia. Has been sent back to a hospital in Butler, Pa. where he has been in a cast over six months- was wounded by shrapnel in back and in head, and both limbs have been paralyzed since. He says he is getting wonderful treatment, having all sorts of things done for him, and is given hope that he may walk again
In going through old papers I come across letters from your aunt Addie. I will inclose some, so that you may sort of get acquainted with her, even at this late date. When she speaks of Middlebury- that is the township in Wyoming co., N.Y. the village of Wyoming is about two miles from Reuben’s old place, is where Harrison, your grandfather was born, and is buried. There was an academy there early, one Jabez Warren was one of the founders. He enters our line, via. his marriage to one Hannah Sumner, she is a sister to Reuben’s wife, Mary Sumner- in other words a brother-in-law of Reuben, and the one with whom he made the trek from Vermont to Western N.Y. in 1601 or 02. You will find much of this Jabez Warren and Hannah Sumner. Jabez was a rev. soldier, and both he and wife arc buried in East Aurora, N.Y. just a few miles from Wyoming. In fact Jabez Warren owned 1750 acres of around the present village of East Aurora, later made most famous by the colony of “Roycrofters” under Fra Elbert Hubbard. I just relate this in case you ever go through there, you would want to look it up. To ever get at the C’s I virtually had to run down all their relatives, and it is interesting too, for the son of this Jabez Warren, was the Gen. Warren of the war of 1812, the burning of Buffalo, etc. Both this Gen. Warren and his father Jabez were marked by DAR {their graves} some years ago, and I have write up from Buffalo papers. Father often spoke of his Warren relatives, and I did not know until I went into matters myself, but what he always had reference to Gen. Joseph of Bunker Hill fame.
But to return to this early academy in Wyoming- I think it ranks with our present day high school, being so near Harrison’s farm, it gave his children the privileges of education, that few in rural communities had in those days. All were better educated than the average of their day.
Addie Kinne was a wonderful reader, and a retentive memory, and was a most interesting person. I am told that at the woman’s club, church meetings, etc. she was an interesting speaker always. Was very blunt in any statement she made, or position she took, and could defend any position she took on any matter. I would say that was a trait in which all of those in my father’s generation shared. She was a faithful member of the Baptist church, and her old home is immediately adjacent to it, and the church now own and occupy it as a parsonage, which I think was her desire. She was tall and never overweight, had very sharp, piercing dark eyes, and an engaging smile. I think she was better looking perhaps than either of her sisters, Adah or Grace.
Another item I am glad I have remembered for your sake. Some years ago, I think probably 1900, the State of Mich. appropriated money to publish a history of the services in the civil war of the various Michigan regiments – therefore I am trying to see if I can get one in which your father served the 9th Mich., as I recall. Each soldier was supposed to have one. I know my father got his, and also the one of his brother Edward who was killed in the battle of Spottsylvania, so I am hoping to get one for you. Tell me, shall I mail it to you where you are? I have been a little uncertain of your address.
I enjoyed a letter from Hope, and trust we may get a satisfactory crest for her. I think with various Chicago connections and the benefit of Newberry library there we will Come out the proud possessors of a splendid coat of arms. Heraldry is a study by itself.
Sometime I want to give you addresses of some Mass. Chamberlins in our line – most I have only known through correspondence, but were you to go east you might wish to include them.
The famous Samuel Chamberlain (I don’t know whose line he is in) lives in Marblehead, Mass. Remember Marblehead is the home of the Mavericks in our Mayflower line. “Fair is our Land” is one of Samuel’s books.
We are just reading “Under Cover” and it makes me shiver. Also “Journey Among Warriors” Eve Currie’s latest book.
Best Wishes, Grace
circa 1944: Undated letter from Mrs. Grace E. Chamberlain to Willard “Joe” Chamberlin:
I have only recently located the old farm owned by our great grandfather, Reuben Chamberlain, near Orwell, Vermont. I have been in Orwell twice, but did not think I had time to try and find his land. The land around Orwell is good for Vt., and the histories say that Orwell was famous for its Merino sheep in the days of our Reuben.
However, the librarian in the Orwell library sent me an old snap shot, and said her father owned this farm between 1885 and 1900. So I had some shots made from it. Now it is typical of the old places of New England. BUT look at the barn just beyond. This is brick and when Reuben sold to one Appolus Austin, this barn was made into a store, and he conducted a general store in it for years, so we may be certain Reuben used this.
I am sending it on for your Chamberlain collection and do hope you get this global mess cleaned up soon, and that we may be able to talk a trip East and include Orwell.
Sincerely, Grace
Note: Willard is serving in WWII at this time.
Joe Chamberlin, WWII
Summer 2008: Chamberlain Key (excerpt), by James B. Parker
A Quarterly Publication of the World Chamberlain Genealogical Society
Volume XIII, Number 3 http://www.chamberlain-society.org
In earlier decades, this was a pioneer family in New York State. Harrison Chamberlin and his farm family were listed in the 1850-1880 census records in Middlebury Township, Wyoming County, New York, the second generation to reside there. The ancestral line of descent is listed as Reuben(7), Rev. Henry(6) Jr., Henry(5), Henry(4), Henry(3), Henry(2), Henry(1) Chamberlin of Hingham and Hull, Massachusetts. Henry was the oldest of the five original Chamberlain/lin immigrant ancestors in early New England. Of Reuben(7) Chamberlin, originally of Westmoreland, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, and of Orwell, Rutland County, Vermont, it was written by Mrs. Grace E. Chamberlain, that he was “one of the first settlers in the Holland Purchase … descendants of this family still reside in Wyoming, New York, 1933.” She also stated that “Reuben Chamberlain born 1769 in Westmoreland, New Hampshire came to Le Roy (Ontario Co., later Livingston Co., New York) in 1802, where he met his uncle, Deacon Hinds Chamberlain who helped them on their way to Middlebury, cutting their way through woods where no white man had yet traveled. The land, just outside the village of Wyoming, now the George Herman farm, was purchased at an earlier date from the Holland Land Company. Jabish Warren and Jonas Selleck, Reuben’s brother-in-law were listed as the purchasers. They returned to Vermont after building a log house and came back in the spring with their families.”[1]
End Notes
[1] Reuben Chamberlain obituary, Wyoming County Mirror, Wyoming County, New York, Feb. 1852. Reprinted: Janet Wethy Foley, “Early Settlers of New York State: Their Ancestors and Descendents,” A Monthly Magazine, (Akron, New York: Thomas J. Foley, Publisher, 1938), pp. 611, 627. Re-reprinted: Janet Wethy Foley, Early Settlers of New York State: Their Ancestors and Descendents, 2 vol, (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., c1993). It covers, in great detail, his journey with Messrs. Warren and Selleck, in the winter of 1802-03, to “the wilds of Western N. Y”, hardships and clearing of the land, serious disease (bilious fever), his recovery, two marriages, etc. Photocopy of pages 611 & 627 (which two pages appear to be the complete text of the obituary), is an attachment to the lineage of Catherine Sevenau, per her 12 May 2008 to James B. Parker.
2020. Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau and Gordon Clemens.