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.

E1 “Souhegan” John Chamberlain Provincial Assembly

“Souhegan” John Chamberlain and Paugus John were cousins, so nicknamed to keep their identities distinct.  “Souhegan” John Chamberlain married Hannah Farwell, the daughter of Lieutenant Josiah Farwell and Hannah Lovewell. Hannah was the sister of Captain John Lovewell. John’s wife’s father and her uncle were prominent leaders who perished in the Indian fight at Pequawket.1

John was a large land owner and, in 1734, erected the first mills at Souhegan Falls. He also built the first bridge across the Souhegan River at the village at his own expense. He defended his family against the Indians by surrounding his log cabin with pickets and took his family with him for safety when he work in the fields.3

He was also called Captain John Chamberlain as he was commissioned a captain in 1746.

John was a politician who served as a member of the provincial assembly from Merrimack, New Hampshire from 1756 to 1775.1 The Colonial governments had a Governor appointed and sent from England by the King; a Council usually upper class members chosen by the King or by the Assembly; and the Assembly chosen by vote of 50% of white, male colonists.4

his-majestys-council-in-session

His Majesty’s Council in session

“Souhegan” John Chamberlain was a member of the Assembly. He demonstrated his quick wit when a Councilman, frustrated at the Assembly’s refusal to concur on a certain point, said in disgust– “I wish the Assembly were all in heaven.” To this came Chamberlain’s quick reply– “I should not object to that, sir, were it not that we would lose the pleasure of the company of His Majesty’s Council”.3

Family Line of “Souhegan” John Chamberlain:

Thomas Chamberlain  b. about 1639; d. 28 March or May 1727, (Grandfather of Paugus John and Souhegan John). Sarah Proctor b. 12 October 1646 in Concord MA, d. 27 March 1727). Children of Thomas and Sarah (Proctor) Chamberlain (Married 10 August 1666):2

  1. Thomas, b. 20 May 1667 Chelmsford MA; m. Elizabeth Hall
  2. Samuel, b. 11 Jan 1679, Chemlsford, MA
  3. Jane, b. 19 Nov 1682
  4. Elizabeth, b. 21 July 1685

Samuel Chamberlain b. 11 January 1679 in Chelmsford MA; d.12 April 1767, (father of Souhegan John). Abigail Hill, b. 26 December 1683 in Billerica; d. 16 May 1760, daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Holmes) Hill. Children of Samuel and Abigail (Hill) Chamberlain (Married about 1703):3

  1. Benjamin, b.11 August1704 in Chelmsford, MA; m. Esther Fasset
  2. John, b. 11 February 1706 in Chelmsford, MA
  3. Abigail, b.28 December 1707 in Chelmsford, MA
  4. Elizabeth, b. 8 January 1710 in Chelmsford, MA
  5. Jonathan, b. 11 February 1712 in Chelmsford, MA; m. Elizabeth Cram; resided in Chemlsford MA and Lyndeboro NH.
  6. Samuel, b. 15 July 1714 in Chelmsford, MA
  7. Joseph, b. 25 July 1716 in Chelmsford, MA
  8. Thomas, b. 28 March 1718 in Chelmsford, MA
  9. Jane, b. 6 August 1723 in Chelmsford, MA
  10. Aaron, b. 23 August 1725 in Chelmsford, MA
  11. Jacob, b. 25 April 1729 in Chelmsford, MA

John Chamberlain b. 11 February 1706, d. 1792 (Souhegan John). Children of John and Hannah (Farwell) Chamberlain:

Abigail (Nabby), m. 11 June 1761 to Joseph Whiting; resided in Merrimack NH; d. 19 April 1799.
Rachel, d. 16 Jan 1828
Susannah (Susie), resided in Merrimack NH;
Josiah b. about 1740
Silas, settled on Isaiah Herrick’s place and afterward removed.

Find other stories of “Paugus” John Chamberlain in chapters 6, 7 and 8 in the  Table of Contents

© 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. George W. Chamberlain, John Chamberlain, The Indian Fighter a Pigwacket. Weymouth, Mass, 1898.
  2. George W. Chamberlain, One Branch of the Descendants of Thomas Chamberlain of Woburn, 1644, Weymouth, Mass., 1897.
  3. Ancestors of the Chamberlain Family of Merrimack NH. www.nh.searchrootss.com
  4. Government in England and the Colonies, www.digital History.uh.edu