In 1666, the three families of Thomas, Edmond and William Chamberlain live very close to each other in Middlesex Co., Massachusetts and share the experience of this time in history. Therefore, I will cover their history simultaneously in this post. 1656 to 1675 was a time of peace for the Puritans, with the exception of the 1668 dispute with the Ana Baptists. However, their tranquility abruptly ended and became a storm of fire with the beginning of the King Phillips Indian war.

In this chapter, names are marked with a superscript to identify parental line and generation number. Hopefully, this will help keep the identities of the different generations with the same name straight. A detailed list of the children of Thomas^T1, Edmond^E1 and William^W1 is at the end of this chapter.

The Spencer Chamberlain family

My own Chamberlain family is blessed with two lines of descendants from the three Chamberlain brothers to Spencer Chamberlain. Spencer was born in Westmoreland, New Hampshire in 1786.

Our traditional family line goes through “Paugus” John Chamberlain, famous for his duel with the Indian Chief Paugus. This John Chamberlain, a descendant of Thomas, was believed to be our family ancestor for over 90 years. The story of Paugus John has formed a special bond in our family tradition. Therefore, he will always be an important part of our family’s history. This is our traditional line: Thomas^T1, Thomas^T2, Thomas^T3, “Paugus” John^T4, John^T5 and John^T6,  the traditional father of Spencer Chamberlain.

However, new irrefutable evidence shows that Spencer’s family actually came through William. (See Chapter 10 ,  Chapter 15 and Chapter D3). This is our actual Line: William^W1, Daniel^W2, and Thomas^W3 and John^W4  the father of Spencer Chamberlain.

The TEW Chamberlain family 1666-1667

1666 Thomas^T1 and Mary, Edmond and Mary and William^W1 and Rebecca are now settled in their new homes in towns named after those far across the sea that they had known in their youth, Chelmsford and Billerica. This was a generally peaceful time filled with farm work, family gatherings and religious activities and discussions.

10 Aug 1666 Thomas Chamberlain^T2 now age 27, married Sarah Proctor. She is the daughter of Robert Proctor and Jane Hildreth.² Robert Proctor had purchased part of the Dudley grant in Billerica from Thomas Chamberlain.^{T1 4}

30 May 1667 The first son of Thomas^T2 and Sarah Chamberlain was born in Chelmsford. They named him Thomas.^T3  4

A public dispute with the Ana Baptists

14 April 1668 The hot topic of conversation this day was centered on the “public dispute” with the Ana Baptists being held at the meeting house in Boston.⁸ The Ana Baptists were Calvinists in theology, differing from the Puritans only in their denial of the validity of infant baptism. Their strict adherence to the letter of Scripture led them to reject the practice.

The Ana Baptist also were considering Roger Williams’ revolutionary new idea of having tolerance for the beliefs of others. Williams, though working within the limits of Calvinistic theology, helped to disseminate and implement his doctrine of soul liberty, and the concept of avoiding union with civil authority and coercion of the local church by secular authority.⁷

The Puritans had made a huge leap toward religious liberty by breaking ties with the Church of England. However, they had not yet grasped the concept that this freedom should be available to others. Especially, when a somewhat uneducated group disagrees with their highly educated ministers on a doctrine as important as the ordinance of baptism.

The debate with the Ana Baptists had been set to start at 9 o’clock that morning, “that it might be determined whither they be erroneous or not.” Six eminent clergymen had been nominated to manage the dispute on the Puritan side. It was an animated session. However, the Baptists were not able to convince their opponents.⁸

July 1668 Some of those who took part in the debate and denied the validity of infant baptism were imprisoned for heresy. The warrant for their arrest was signed by Daniel Gookin and five others.⁸

Chamberlain family 1669-1674

6 Dec 1669 Mary Turner Chamberlain, wife of Edmond died in Chelmsford.

20 Dec 1669 Three weeks later Mary Parker Chamberlain, wife of Thomas Chamberlain^T1 died in Chelmsford, she was 49.⁴

1670 Edmond Chamberlain married his 2nd wife Hannah (Witter) Burdett at Chelmsford.¹ They soon moved to Malden, Massachusetts where she had lived previously.¹¹

27 Sep 1671 Daniel Chamberlain^W2 was born in Billerica, the youngest of thirteen children born to the youngest of the three brothers, William Chamberlain^W1 and his wife Rebecca.³

In 1673 William Chamberlain was town constable of Billerica. This note is signed “William Chamberlain, Constable”

16 April 1674 Thomas Chamberlain^T1 married another Mary Parker. She was his twice widowed neighbor Mary Jones Poulter Parker. Her previous marriages were to 1-John Poulter, Sr. of Essex Co. England. She had two children in her first marriage, but  none by John Parker or Thomas Chamberlain.^T1 4

The King Phillips Indian War

On June 24,1675, in Plymouth Colony three Indian warriors were executed. They had been tried and found guilty of murdering John Sassamon, a Harvard educated Indian convert to Christianity.⁵

John Sassamon had served as an interpreter and adviser to the Indian chief King Philip, (the English name that had been given to Chief Metacomet). Philip had accused him of spying for the colonists. His murder and the subsequent execution of the three warriors ignited a tinderbox of tensions between Indians and whites that had been smoldering for 55 years over a number of issues including land claim disputes such as grazing of colonial livestock on Indian hunting and fishing grounds.⁵ This was the beginning of the King Philips Indian War.

Immediately the Indians killed or wounded several Englishmen at Swansey and burned the town. Philip and his warriors spread themselves over the country, devastating, burning, and plundering keeping New England in a constant state of alarm. They moved with stealth from place to place and disappeared into the swamps and thickets when being pursued.⁶

July 1675 Fifteen English were slain at Taunton.  Middleboro, Dartmouth, and other neighboring towns and villages were also attacked and burned.^6,9

Troops from Boston and Plymouth were hurried to the scene of action, but in less than a month Philip and his warriors had fled and taken refuge among the Indians in the interior. The terrible conflict had only just begun.⁶

About eight thousand of the English colonists were capable of bearing arms. Massachusetts made ready for service several cavalry companies, each composed of sixty men, plus officers. They were mounted, and armed with swords, carbines, and pistols. Training was always begun and ended with prayer.⁶

2 Aug 1675 Brookfield was destroyed 3 slain. Lancaster, Northampton, Deerfield, and Northfield also suffered during the summer.  Captain Beers was surprised and slain with most of his company.  Captain Lathrop and his ninety men were ambushed by about 700 Indians while marching to Deerfield. He and nearly all his men were killed at the place now known as Bloody Brook.^6,9

Constable Edmond Chamberlain summoned

Aug 1675 Edmond Chamberlain, who had been elected constable of Malden was summond: “These require you in his majestys name on sight hereof to Impress ten able horses well shod with bridles and sadles… to Capt. Davis’ house in Boston by eight of the clock in the morning… not to faile at yor perrill.”

On the other side of the paper is written in fine clear hand writing: “I have imprest ten horses for the use of the centre according to the temer of the warrant”, signed Edmond Chamberlin¹¹

 

 

The Indian war September and October 1675

18 Sept 1675 Captain Turner, with one hundred and eighty men, in a night ride across the country, surprised and routed about 350 Indians at some water falls in Connecticut. The Indians had congregated there to send out war parties from this location. Their ammunition and provisions were destroyed and Philip’s allies scattered every direction. Thirty of Turners men were lost in battle. This location was later named Turner Falls.^6,9

5 October 1675 Springfield was assaulted. Lt. Cooper and several others killed. Thirty houses were burned and other buildings were destroyed.^6,9

7 October 1675 This date was appointed as a day of general fasting and prayer which gave the people courage.⁹

19 Oct 1675 Hatfield, a small town on the West side of the Connecticut River, was furiously attacked by a swarm of 700 Indians. The place was preserved by the valor of the English. The Puritans saw this as a miraculous event and the act of Providence.^6,9

(Note: My desire to place events in chronological order may have, for the first time, made a connection between the two previous events.)

After the Indians stunning defeat at Hatfield, Philip’s warriors dispersed. Some of them fled to their friends of the massive tribe called the Narragansets. The English demanded that they should be given up. The Narragansets refused. The English, fearing that they would join with Philip against them, were determined to prevent it.⁶

Thomas Chamberlain Jr. stationed at Groton

30 Nov 1675 Thomas Chamberlain^T2 was stationed at the garrison in Groton, Massachusetts⁴

The Great Swamp Fight

The Narraganset had a large fort situated on an island in an extensive swamp in Rhode Island. Philip and his warriors intended to pass the winter there with all their women and children. There were about five hundred wigwams containing a population of about three thousand persons, as well as their grain and provision for the winter. The fort was strongly defended with sharp-pointed upright stakes and surrounded by a ditch. Tubs of corn, piled one upon another presented a bullet proof shield to the wigwams.⁶

19 Dec 1675 The colonies of Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, and Connecticut sent fifteen hundred men. Their mission was clear. They must strike a blow at the fort while the warriors were gathered there, and before the return of spring which would again enable them to renew their attacks on the settlements.^6,9

The English were required to run through a narrow causeway facing a blizzard of wind and snow to make the attack. Six captains and many soldiers had soon fallen from the intense shower of arrows coming from the thicket.⁶  Edmund Jr., the 19-year-old son of Edmond Chamberlain Sr., was a soldier in Capt. Samuel Moseley’s Company. He was one of those who perished in this battle.¹²

Once the English were inside the nest a terrible slaughter ensued which included men, women and children. No mercy was shown. The warriors fought with great energy driven by their desperate situation. The cabins were torched and all had to flee into the freezing thicket or perished in the flames.^6,9

Philip escaped with many of his followers. The Narragansets were decimated. It is estimated that about seven hundred of them were killed. The enemy was deprived of some 700 bushels of desperately needed corn. The English lost over eighty men and an even larger number were wounded.^6,9

Contempt for Indians, obsolete British tactics result in disaster

10 February 1676 Lancaster was burned to the ground, and fifty persons killed or captured. The Indians then struck at Medfield where fifty houses were burned, and twenty inhabitants slain.

2 March 1676 The Indians’ wrath was felt at Groton where 50 families deserted their homes and and when they returned only 15 were left standing. The destruction and loss of life soon followed in the towns of Chelmsford, Northampton, Springfield, Marlborough, Sudbury, Warwick, Rehoboth, and Providence.^6,9

At Pawtucket, Captain Pierce was ambushed. He and almost all his party of seventy were slain. These disasters were repeated in part owing to their careless contempt for the Indians and adhering to obsolete British tactics. After this they were more cautious.⁶

26 March 1676 Two captains with seventy men while marching to Marlborough were attacked and both killed with more than half their men. The Indians set the dry grass and woods on fire driving the English into the open and then overwhelmed them.^6,9

King Phillip shot by brother of John Sassamon

August 1676 At Mount hope, Philip was surrounded by Capt. Church’s Company. He was shot by John Arderman, who was a “praying Indian” (Christian convert), and the  brother of John Sassamon. The execution of Sassamon by order of Philip was the first spark that ignited the Indian war in June 1675.⁹

Captain Still’s march toward Indian headquarters at Pequawket

23 Sep 1676  Captain Joseph Sill’s company, including Thomas Chamberlain^T2 marched on toward Ossipee and Pequawket.⁴ This was the headquarters for the Indians in the North. The company of men under the command of Capt. Sill, Capt. Hunting and Capt. Hawthorn consisted of 130 English and 40 Indians. These also combined with another company led by Capt. Frost and Major Waldren.⁹

26 Sept 1676  Major Waldren’s regiment captured a gathering of 400 Indians. They were “hamsomly surprized” and surrendered without a single life lost, neither Indian nor English.⁹ The Indians had been led to believe they were there to sign a truce, but SURPRIZE!!!¹⁰ They sent them to Boston for trial. Eight, with English blood on their hands, were executed, the rest were re-located.

Thomas Chamberlain’s^T2 unit under Capt. Sill and the other units continued North until they came to four feet deep snow. They decided to abandon their objective and return because they had no “rackets under their feet,” (snow shoes).⁹  Ironically, Thomas’ grandson John Chamberlain under the leadership of Captain Lovewell with 34 men will complete this mission to Ossipee and Pequawket in Dummer’s Indian War fifty years later.  Chapter 6- John Chamberlain and the Battle at Pequawket.

Greatest proportion of life lost in American History

Skirmishes continued between the two foe through 1677 until peace was finally established in 1678. The cost of this war in lives was the greatest in proportion to the population ever in North America. A dozen or more towns were completely destroyed, one in twenty of the able-bodied men had fallen, and one family in twenty had their home burned to the ground. In addition to this the colonies had incurred a debt of half a million dollars. This was an enormous amount for those days, but the war broke forever the power of the Indians in southern New England.⁶

A chronological history of the Indians of New England from 1604 through 1692 is presented in Chapter 14.

 

The children of Thomas Chamberlain and Mary Parker.

1-Thomas Chamberlain^T2 born in Virginia in 1639, date inferred by age of baptism about seventeen in 1655.² .
2-Anna Chamberlain b. probably in Virginia, date unknown.
3-Samuel Chamberlain b. 7 August 1645, Woburn, Middlesex, MA¹³
4-Mary Chamberlain b. 3 November 1648, Woburn, Middlesex, MA¹³

The children of Edmond Chamberlain and Mary Turner¹

1-Mary Chamberlain b. 16 Apr 1648, Roxbury, Suffolk, MA. She likely died before 1675 as a second Mary Chamberlain was born to Edmond and his second wife.
2-Sarah Chamberlain b. 18 Oct 1649, Woburn, Middlesex, MA, d. 25 Dec 1717 Roxbury MA. She married Joseph Davis, 28 October 1670 at Roxbury, MA.¹³
3-John Chamberlain b. 12 Jan 1651; d. 3 Mar 1653, Woburn, Middlesex, MA.¹³
4-Elizabeth Chamberlain b. 11 Mar 1652, Wobrun, MA, d. 1678 Woburn, MA. Her birth record calls her “daughter of Edmond Chamberlin” Her baptism in 1656 with her siblings identifies her as “Elizabeth about 5 years old”. She married Thomas Wheeler, 5 May 1673 at Charlestown, MA.
5-John Chamberlain b. about 1654 Woburn, MA, d. 27 December 1721 Chelsea MA. He married Hannah, about 1677 probably in Middlesex Co. MA.
6-Edmund Chamberlain b. 30 May 1656, Chelmsford, Middlesex, MA. d. 19 December 1675 in “The Great Swamp Fight” (see story below). He was never married.
7-Jacob Chamberlain b. 15 Oct 1658, Chelmsford, MA. d. 7 Nov 1721 Roxbury, MA. Married twice: Mary Child, 24 Jan 1684, Roxbury MA and Sarah (Faxton) Weld, 29 April 1719, Roxbury, MA.

The children of Edmond Chamberlain and Hannah Witter Burditt¹²

1-Susanna b. June 1671 Malden, Middlesex, MA. d. 6 May 1672, Malden, MA.
2-Ebenezer b.1 April 1672, Malden, MA., d. 6 December 1672, Malden, MA.
3- Susanna b. June 1674 Malden, MA., d. 16 December 1713 Boston, Suffolk, MA. Married as his second wife to John Tuckerman, 14 November 1693, Boston, MA.
4- Edmund Chamberlain III b. 31 January 1675, Malden, MA., d. 18 December 1751 Woodstock, Windham, Connecticut. He married Elizabeth Bartholomew, 21 November 1699, Woodstock, Windham, Connecticut.
5- Mary Chamberlain bp. 22 September 1678, Roxbury, Suffolk, MA. Married James Leavens, 21 November 1699, Woodstock, Connecticut,

The children of William Chamberlain and Rebecca Addington (or Shelly)³

1-Timothy Chamberlain b. 13 Nov 1649, Woburn, Middlesex, MA¹³
2-Isaac Chamberlain b. 1 Oct 1650, Woburn, Middlesex, MA
3-William Chamberlain b. 9 April 1652
4-John Chamberlain b. 22 Jan 1654
5-Sarah Chamberlain b. 20 May 1655, Billerica, Middlesex, MA
6-Jacob Chamberlain b. 18 Jan 1657, Billerica, Middlesex, MA
7-Thomas Chamberlain b. 20 Feb 1659, Billerica, Middlesex, MA
8-Edmund Chamberlain b.15 Jul 1660. Billerica, Middlesex, MA
9-Rebecca Chamberlain b. 25 Feb 1662, Billerica, Middlesex, MA
10-Abraham Chamberlain b. 6 Jan 1664, Billerica, Middlesex, MA
11-Ann Chamberlain b. 3 Mar 1666, Billerica, Middlesex, MA
12-Clement Chamberlain b. 30 May 1669, Billerica, Middlesex, MA
13-Daniel Chamberlain^W2 b. 27 Sep 1671, Billerica, Middlesex, MA

To be continued……

Chapter 5. Rebecca Chamberlain and the Salem Witch Trials. The William Chamberlain family and the town of Billerica, were greatly affected by what was happening in a nearby town called Salem Village in 1692. (Published, September 23, 2016).

For more Chamberlain history stories see “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. 1. Prentiss Glazier, Chamberlain Families of Early New England, p. 152.
   2. Chamberlain Family – The First Six Generations
   3. Rebecca Addington or Shelly Chamberlain, www.findagrave.com
   4. George W. Chamberlain, One Branch of the Descendants of Thomas Chamberlain of Woburn, Worccester Mass, 1897
   5.  Jason W. Warren, King Philip’s War, Encyclopedia Britannica, www.britannica.com
   6. The King Philips War, www.heritage-history.com
   7. Herbert Lee Osgood, The Treatment of Baptists in Seventeenth Century New England, 1904. www.baptisthomepage.com
   8. Fredrick William Gookin, Daniel Gookin, His Life and Letters, Chicago, 1912.
   9. William Hubbard, Indian Wars in New England, Roxbury, Mass, MDCCCXV.
   10. Samuel Drake, Extensive notes: Indian Wars in New England, Roxbury, Mass, MDCCCXV.
   11. David C. Chamberlain, Sr., Edmund of Woburn, www.woosnap.com

   12. 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.

   13. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L979-HYCF?i=8&cc=2061550

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