Rev. James Alexander Chambers (28 March 1728 to 15 April 1828 Owen Co, In)
+ Nancy Windsor and/or Nancy Tracey – A Reconstruction
Reported born Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Comments on James A. Chambers
Reason for this review: The origins of Henry Chambers (ca1755 to 1812+) of Ashe County, North Carolina are still a mystery (2017). Both were members of the same Three Forks Baptist Church in Wilkes/Ashe/Watauga Counties, North Carolina at the same time. Both owned Ashe County land on Meat Camp Creek. A reasonable question arises – were they closely related? The answer to this question is still not known.
This family reconstruction is by James R. Murphy, last revision 1 December 2017
Problem: This writer has not encountered an original source which uses the middle name “Alexander” or initial “A.” Proof for this middle name could be helpful. “James A. Chambers” will be used here to separate our subject from others with the same name.
* A Family Report of Both Genealogical and Historical Interest to Loved Ones and Descendants, by Virginia Allee, 1974 as found on Google Books.
Past histories of James A. Chambers indicate he was born 28 March 1728 Scotland and died 15 April 1828 at the age of 100 years. One researcher suggests he immigrated to America with brothers David and Samuel in 1742*, but is this fact or fiction? Four or five of his children on their US 1850 Census stated they were born in Maryland.
To date, this reconstruction is able to trace James A. Chambers to year 1772 in Maryland. Earlier years are still a question. Two wives have been reported – Nancy Tracy and Nancy Windsor/Winsor/Winser. There is no further information to define them. Both or either may be his wife/wives. Furthermore, James Chambers was age 44 when his first known child was born. A question arises if he had been married earlier and had more children. Future findings could add to our understanding.
Family Records and 1855 Newspaper for James A. Chambers and Family
From a letter by Robert E. Chambers of Spencer, (Owen County), Indiana, undated (about 1907): “I was at the cemetery today where James Chambers was buried. He was born March 28, 1728 and died April 15, 1828. (James) was a Regular Baptist preacher for fifty years (and) is my great-grandfather. Elijah, my grandfather was born 30 September 1772 and died in 1854. Rebecca, the wife of Elijah, was born May 24, 1776 and died October 5, 1855. …Her maiden name was Moore. I have taken the above names and dates from their tombstones. James was born in Scotland and came to Maryland; from Maryland he went to N.C. and from there to Indiana. Isaac and Asa are two brothers of (my) grandfather (Elijah Chambers). They had a sister Rachel was married a Baptist preacher by the name of Brown.” *
* Robert E. Chambers from Chambers History: Trails of the Centuries, by William D. Chambers, 1925, on online at freepages.family.roosweb.ancestry.com
From the Bloomington Newsletter (3 March 1855): “Elijah Chambers – Died in Washington Township, Owen County, Indiana on 12 January 1855. Mr. Elijah Chambers…was born near Georgetown, Maryland on the 20th of September 1772….” ^ Georgetown became part of the District of Columbia in 1790 and earlier was a part of Montgomery County, Maryland.
^ Bloomington Newsletter (Monroe County, Indiana), 3 March 1855, page 3, as quoted from findagrave.com about Elijah Chambers (1772 – 1855) and credits to genealogyfever.
Details on Rev. James A. Chambers
Sightings before ~1772
There are no findings to report at this time.
Findings for James A. Chambers in Montgomery County, Maryland 1772+
(Montgomery County was established 1776 from Frederick County)
(Frederick County was established 1748 from Prince Georges County)
Evidence for Montgomery County, Maryland: Elijah Chambers (son of James Chambers) – “was born near Georgetown, Maryland on the 20th of September 1772.” ^
findagrave.com about Elijah Chambers (1772 – 1855) and credits to genealogyfever.
(consider) 1777 August 4 – Montgomery County, Maryland, abstracted; “At the request of James Chambers, the following lease was received February the 23th, 1778, to wit:” Indenture for lease of land this 4 August 1777 (in court) to James Chambers from Ninian Beall, both of Montgomery County, beginning near the spring and containing 100 acres, to keep said plantation and houses in good order…to commence from 1 November 1772 for 21 years and after 3 years pay said Beall 800 pounds of merchantable tobacco to one Cook at George Town with the first rent to become due 1 November 1776 and said Chambers oblige himself to find 200 apple trees and to plant same in a regular Orchard…. Signed – Ninian Beall and James Chambers. Witnesses: Will. Deakins, Jun., and Elisha Williams. This before Montgomery County Court 4 August 1777. (Deed Book A 101/102)
Apparently after several years, Chambers requested the terms of his lease to be filed with the county. This lease was placed in Montgomery County records when it was filed in 1777, but in 1772, it was in Frederick County. No location was given in the lease. Indexes for Montgomery County and Frederick County grantees or grantors (per Maryland State Archives indexes) before 1789 show no other Chambers, although a William Chambers owned multiple tracts of land in this county. These indexes can’t be relied to indicate who owned land. A John Chambers and Elizabeth Chambers (2 females and 1 “other” free person) do appear on the 1790 US Census of Montgomery County, Maryland; but there is no longer a James Chambers.
1777 August 13 – Montgomery County, Maryland: Ninian Beall of Wm. of Montgomery, Province of Maryland (deeded to) a Society of People called Baptists, one acre of land whereon is the meeting house…part of a tract of land called Bells Desire…to Mr. Thomas Cramptons, Jun. line…. (DB A/27-28)
1777 August 30 – Montgomery County, Maryland, Middle Battalion – 3rd Company: James Chambers and John Chambers in same company. These were local militia who underwent periodic training. Also, in the very same Company is Charles Tracy (1759-1834^) and Isaac Windsor/Winsor.
The Maryland Militia in the Revolutionary War by S. Eugene Clements and F. Edward Wright, 1987/2001
^ Maryland and Delaware Revolutionary Patriots 1775-1783 Military Records, CD #133, Genealogy.com.
Montgomery militia records for ~1780 show no James Chambers. In 1780, he was now age 52, of which the age 50 usually made a person too old for mandatory military service. On 15 July 1780, the Middle Battalion, 2nd Company had Henry Chambers (class #2), John Chambers of Hy. (Henry-?), John Chambers of Wm. (both 5th class) and Isaac Winsor (class 8).
1778 Montgomery County Oaths of Fidelity: Henry Chambers*, James Chambers, William Chambers, Isaac Windsor (as Winson) before Hon. William Deakins, Jr.
Maryland and Delaware Revolutionary Patriots 1775-1783 Military Records, CD #133, Genealogy.com.
* Henry Chambers lived in the Upper Part (southwestern) of Potomac Hd. and had (two taxables) in 1777 – from same above source.
1780 March 5 – Montgomery County, Maryland: “One John Chambers married Rebeccah Winsor in Montgomery County in March 5, 1780.”
“Revolutionary Patriots of Montgomery County, Maryland 1776-1783” by Henry C. Peden, Jr. 1996, page 62 as found on Family Tree Maker’s Family Archives CD #133 – “Revolutionary Patriots 1775-1783 Military Records.” Peden’s source for the John Chambers - Rebeccah Winsor record is “Maryland Records – Revolutionary, County, and Church from Original Sources” by Gaius M. Brumbaugh, volume 2, page 517, 1985.
Washington/Allegany Counties, Maryland – Findings for James A. Chambers
(Allegany County was established 1789 from Washington County)
(Washington County was established 1776 from Frederick County)
1783 Evidence for Allegany County, Maryland: One source for Isaac Chambers (probable son of James A. Chambers) states he was born in “Allegany County, Maryland.”
findagrave.com write-up for Isaac Chambers (1783 – 1843)
1783 Maryland Tax Record for Washington County: James Chambers, WA, Upper Old Town, 1 slave, 2 horse, 5 cattle, p.12, MSA S1161-10-8, 1/4/5/3. Also, Anthony Chambers, 5 cattle, same location and source. (Maryland State Archives & Nat. Soc. Sons of the American Revolution).
Upper Old Town is thought to be in today’s Allegany County, Maryland in the Georges Creek area. Also, a “William Tracy Chambers” is in these 1783 tax records for Montgomery County, Maryland on a location grouped together as Middle Potomac, Lower Potomac, and Georgetown Hundred. No other Chambers are in this grouping, but the 1783 tax records are very incomplete.
Eastern Tennessee and Northwestern North Carolina
1789 May 11 – Washington County, (future) Tennessee: Gerret Reasoner deeded to James Chambers 100 acres on Sinking Creek, 50 pounds, formerly NC Grant to Felix Walker 26 October 1786; to Reasoner 15 July 1788. Signed – Gerret Reasoner. On 1 February 1796, James Chambers sold this land to Jeremiah Dungan for 50 pounds and was entered into court November 1796. Witnesses - John Wild, George Lucas. This deed was repeated to Dungan in 1809 Carter County, Tennessee - see deed.
Washington County, Tennessee Deeds, 1775-1800 by Loraine Rae, 1991/2001, DB 4/42, DB 6/28.
This Washington County land is in future Carter County, Tennessee. Carter was established 1796 about when Tennessee became a State. Administration of these early eastern Tennessee lands was complicated. First was Watauga Settlements (1780-1784), State of Franklin (1784-1788), and then “Federal Lands South of the Ohio River” (1789-1792) which happened when North Carolina relinquished its claim in 1789. James Chambers moved about as a Baptist minister and church elder which explains multiple locations.
1790 Washington County, (future) Tennessee: Sinking Creek Baptist Church agrees “to send Brother James Chambers” to sit with the Church at Buffelow Ridge to try to remove…a grievance”
(Google Books snippet view of Early Tennessee Baptists 1769-1832, by Oury Wilburn Taylor 1957, page 140)
1790 – Washington County, (future) Tennessee: The Annual Register of the Baptists of North America to the First of 1 November 1790 – “Deceded” Territory of North Carolina had at its Washington County location on the Watauga River the following ministers – John Kelly and James Chambers.
(This Annual Register was published 1792 and found on googlebooks.com.)
1791 January 28 – Washington County, (future) Tennessee: Joseph Tipton deeded to James Chambers, 40 acres on Sinking Creek for 25 pounds Virginia money, adjacent to Francis McNabb, Humphreys. This land part of Tipton’s NC grant of 13 October 1783 or 572 acres. Signed – Joseph Tipton. Witnesses – Joseph Greet, Isaac Denton, Barnaba Hagine. On 1 February 1796, this 40 acres was sold to Jerimiah Dungan. Witnesses were Jessey Humphreys, John Wild, and George Lucas. Entered into November 1796 Court. Deed abstract miss-identified 14 October 1783 NC Grant to James Chambers instead of Joseph Tipton.
Washington County, Tennessee Deeds, 1775-1800 by Loraine Rae, 1991/2001, DB 4/151, DB/ 6/28.
1790-1800 – Three Forks Baptist Church membership, Wilkes/Ashe/Watauga County, North Carolina: includes James Chambers who is listed next to Anna Chambers.
1791 – Three Forks Baptist Church: Minister for 1791 were James Chambers and James Thomkins. In 1792, Joshua Chambers was named an “alteration for 1792.”
The Universal Register of the Baptist Denominations in North America, by John Aspluard, 1794, page 40 as found in Google Books
1792 April, last Saturday – Three Forks Baptist Church: The last Saturday in April 1792, was set apart as a day of fasting and prayer, and at the same meeting James Chambers was “approbated to exercise his gift in preaching.”
(A History of Watauga County, North Carolina by John Preston Arthur, 1915, page 76.)
1793 August – Three Forks Baptist Church: James Chambers, Ebenezer Fairchild and Samuel Wilcoxon were sent as delegates to the assembly at Eaton’s Meeting House, Dutchman’s Creek, near Daniel Boones’ old home.”
(A History of Watauga County, North Carolina by John Preston Arthurs, 1915, page 76.)
1794 February 1 – Wilkes County, North Carolina: Deed from Jesse Council to James Chambers…100 pounds money, 400 acres, Meat Camp Creek, to Reeces’ line, to Joseph Ayers line. Witnesses – Thomas Wade and William Brown. Signed – Jesse Council DB B1/344
(Wilkes County, N.C. Deeds 1778 – 1803 and 1795 - 1815 by Mrs. W.O. Absher 1989/2007 and 1990/2007)
1795 November 20 – Carter County, Territory of Tennessee: William Sharpe of Iredell Co., NC deeded to William Boyd of Washington County, Territory South of the River Ohio, for $400, 400 acres lying upon Gap Creek. Witnessed by Jesse Humphreys, James Chambers, Aaron Euland. Registered 4 October 1796. Gap Creek empties into the Watauga River very close to the earlier historic Watauga Settlements and Association and now within the Cherokee National Forest.
(“Carter Co., Tn. Deed Books A – B, July 1796 – October 1815,” by Vicky L. Hutchings 2002, Old DB A/3, Images 28-29, pages 3-4)
1800 July – Three Forks Baptist Church: James Chambers, James McCaleb and Shadrack Brown (son-in-law of James Chambers) were sent to the Association at Fox Creek County, Grayson County, Virginia.
History of Watauga County, North Carolina, John Preston Arthur, 1915, page 76.
1800 August 26 – Ashe County, James Chambers entered 100 acres NC land grant in Ashe County, on south side of Joseph Brown’s Spring Branch, on Landrene Egger’s line…
(Abstracts of Land Entries: Ashe County, NC, Part 2 (Jun 1809 to Sept 1823) by A. B. Pruitt, 1994.)
1800 US Census of Ashe County, North Carolina: James Chambers, 1 male 0-9, 1 male and 1 female 10-15, 1 male and 1 female 16-25, 1 male and 1 female 45+. The 1800 census is alphabetical and does not indicate who lived nearby. He is missing on the next 1810 Census. Using this census, members at home were possibly:
1 male and 1 female 45+: James Chambers (1720) and wife Nancy
1 male and 1 female 10-15: Asa Chambers (1785) and daughter Nancy Chambers (1788)
1 male and 1 female 16-25: Rachel Chambers (1776) and possibly Isaac Chambers (1783).
1804: “James Chambers moved from North Carolina to Jessamine County, Kentucky about 1804. He was called to the care of Clover Bottom Church, to which he ministered not more than two or three years. After this he returned to his native State, to take charge of a church which had invited him to its pastoral care. His children all being in Kentucky, he returned to (North Carolina) after two or three years. About 1818, he moved to Indiana where he died at a great age. He is said to have been a good preacher, and a man of high respectability.”
History of Kentucky Baptists from 1769 to 1885, Volume 2, by Burrilla B. Spencer, 1886
1809 October 2 – Carter County, Tennessee: James Chambers of Ashe County, NC deeded (once again) to Jeremiah Dungan of Washington Co., Tennessee, for $166, 100 acres lying on Sinking Creek bordering the original survey granted to Felix Walker and from said Walker granted to James Chambers. Witnessed by Andrew Taylor, John Love, Jonathan Buck. Registered 13 June 1810.
(Carter Co., Tn. Deed Books A – B, July 1796 – October 1815, by Vicky L. Hutchings 2002, Images 451-452 – DB B/252-253)
1814 November – Ashe County, NC: From minutes of the Cove Creek Church for November 1814 – “The Church made a request of the Globe Church to let them have the services of Elder James Chambers as often as they could send him.”
Cove Creek Church was established April 1799 and is west of Boone, Watauga County. Cove Creek waters empties into the Watauga River which flows through Carter County, Tennessee. Globe Church (Globe Mountain) is south of Boone and located in today’s Caldwell County formed 1844 from Wilkes and (mostly) Burke Counties.
(History of North Carolina Baptists, Volume 2, by G. W. Paschal, page 202)
Additional Chambers Notes for Three Forks Baptist Church:
1790 to 1800 – Three Forks Baptist Church: Members included James Chambers, Anna Chambers, Elijah Chambers, Martha Chambers, Nancy Chambers, Rachael Chambers, Elisha Chambers, Henry Chambers, Asa Chambers, and Margaret Chambers.
1797: Elijah Chambers was dismissed.
1800 November: John Brown and Elisha Chambers were elected singing clerks…
1816 February: Jonathan Boone was ordained by Reuben Coffey and Elijah Chambers.
1820 April: A grievance took place between Jesse Boone of Three Forks Church and Brother Jesse Coffey of the Globe Church. James Gilbert and Elisha Chambers, from the Globe Church were appointed and two from Three Forks…. This last Elisha Chambers may be someone else.
(A History of Watauga County, North Carolina by John Preston Arthur, 1915, page 31, 76)
1820 US Census of Owen County, Indiana: Elijah Chambers – 1 male and 2 females 0-9, 4 males 10-15, 1 male 16-18, 1 female 16-25, 1 female 26-44, 3 males 45+. Maybe, Rev. James A. Chambers is here.
Children of James A. Chambers – Incomplete List
Wife is Nancy Windsor or Nancy Tracey
1 - Elijah Chambers (20 September 1772 Maryland to 12 January 1855 per grave stone, buried at the Chambers and Lyman Cemetery, Spencer, Owen County, Indiana per findagrave.com). He married on 18 November 1796 Wilkes County, North Carolina (county record) to Rebeckah Moore (1776-1855) and moved to Owen County in 1818. According to findagrave.com, his father was James Alexander Chambers (1728-1828).
From Robert E. Chambers: “Elijah, my grandfather was born 30 September 1772 and died in 1854. Rebecca, the wife of Elijah, was born May 24, 1776 and died October 5, 1855. …Her maiden name was Moore. I have taken the above names and dates from their tombstones. …My father’s name was Zaccheus....” “My uncles were John, Jesse, James, and Elisha. My aunts were Biddie, Allie, and Rebecca.” Robert missed Isaac Chambers (8 October 1802 to 17 September 1853 Owen Co, Indiana) who was living next door to Elijah Chambers age 76 on the 1850 census. Some names do not match findagrave and may be more accurate.
Robert E. Chambers from Chambers History: Trails of the Centuries, by William D. Chambers, 1925, on online at freepages.family.roosweb.ancestry.com
From the Bloomington Newsletter (3 March 1855): “Elijah Chambers – Died in Washington Township, Owen County, Indiana on 12 January 1855. Mr. Elijah Chambers…was born near Georgetown, Maryland on the 20th of September 1772 and was at the time of his death, in the 83rd year of his age. …57 years was a preacher. In 1818, he removed to Owen County….”
Bloomington Newsletter (Monroe County, Indiana), 3 March 1855, page 3, as quote from findagrave.com about Elijah Chambers (1772 – 1855) and credits to genealogyfever.
Ivan Chambers adds “when the town of Spencer (Owen Co., Indiana) was laid out in 1820, Asa Chamber owned 8 lots, Elijah Chambers 2 lots, and Zaccheus Chambers 2 lots (son of Elijah).
Ivan Chambers from History: Trails of the Centuries, by William D. Chambers, 1925, on online at freepages.family.roosweb.ancestry.com
Details for Elijah Chambers
1796 November 18 – Wilkes County: Marriage of Elijah Chambers to Rebeckah Moore (county record).
(Consider) 1800 US Census of Burke County, North Carolina: Elijah Chambers – 1 male and 1 female 0-9, 1 female 10-15, 1 male and 1 female 26-44, 2 slaves. Be careful here, there are other Elijah and Elisha Chambers in the area, possibly sons of William Chambers of Wilkes County, NC. The slaves might point to a different Chambers line. This 1800 census is alphabetical and doesn’t permit us to see who is living next door. There is also a Burke County James Chambers, age 26-45 and is an unexpected surprise as there is similar one in 1820 Fayette County, Indiana living nearby to the Eggers and John Keeney, Sr. (wife Martha Eggers Chambers).
1820 US Census of Owen County, Indiana: Elijah Chambers – 1 male and 2 females 0-9, 4 males 10-15, 1 male 16-18, 1 female 16-25, 1 female 26-44, 3 males 45+ Maybe, Rev. James A. Chambers is here.
1850 US Census of Washington, Owen County, Indiana: Elijah Chambers 71 Maryland (maybe 76), Rebecca Chambers 75 Va.
2 – Rachael Chambers(1776 Maryland to 19 March 1864 Gosport, Owen County, Indiana and buried at Gosport Cemetery, Gosport, Owen County, Indiana per findagrave.com). She married Rev. Shadrack Brown (born ~1780). Findagrave.com states she was the daughter James Alexander Chambers (1728 – 1828) and Nancy Windsor (1745 – 1828) and had brothers Enoch Chambers (_ to 1850) and Elijah Chambers (1772 – 1855). According to Spencer: “Shadrach Brown was born in North Carolina about the year 1780. He…was baptized by James Chambers, under whose ministry he had been led to the cross. In his 23nd year, he married Rachel, daughter of Elder James Chambers, with whom he moved to Jessamine County, Kentucky in 1804.” *
* A History of Kentucky Baptists from 1769 to 1885, Volume 2, John H. Spencer, 2015.
1800 July – Three Forks Baptist Church: James Chambers, James McCaleb and Shadrack Brown were sent to the Association at Fox Creek, Grayson County, Virginia.
History of Watauga County, North Carolina, John Preston Arthur, 1915, page 76.
1850 US Census of Wayne, Owen County, Indiana: George Anderson 24 Indiana; Rachel Brown age 72 born Maryland is in this household.
3– Enoch Chambers (28 June 1778* Maryland to 8 June 1850, 71 years, 11 months, buried at Green Cemetery, Waterloo, Fayette County, Indiana per findagrave.com) was the son of James Alexander Chambers (1728-1828). According to History of Fayette County, he was the son of Rev. James and Nancy (Tracey) Chambers, but no dates mentioned. * Note this history has a different maiden name for wife Nancy. This history further states Enoch Chambers was born 28 June 1779* but his tombstone suggests the date should be one year earlier (1778). He married on 18 December 1798 Wilkes County to ‘Marget Brown’ (county record). He migrated first to Kentucky before settling in 1812 in Waterloo Township, Fayette County, Indiana. War of 1812-1814 muster rolls include Enoch Chambers in the Capt. William Holeman’s Company of Wayne County, Indiana Militia. ** Enoch and Margaret (Brown) Chambers had the following nine children – those still living in about 1885 were Martha Chambers, Rachel Chambers Dungan, Lydia Chambers, Rebecca Chambers; those deceased were Linnie Chambers, James Chambers, Jesse Chambers, and William F. Chambers. *
* History of Fayette County, Indiana 1885, pages 270-271
** Early Settlers of Indiana’s “Gore” 1803-1820, by Shirley Keller Mikesell, 2008
1800 US Census of Ashe County, NC: Enoch Chambers, 1 female 0-9, 1 male and 1 female 16-29
1807 June 7 – Jessamine County, Kentucky: Will of Walter Cunningham names witnesses: David Steel, Jr., Enoch Chambers and Samuel Steel
Abstracts of Early Kentucky Wills and Inventories, Jessamine County, Book A/136 on ancestry.com
1810 US Census of Jessamine County, Kentucky: Enoch Chambers – 3 males and 3 females 0-9, 1 female 10-16, 1 female 16-25, 1 male and 1 female 26-44.
1820 US Census of Brownsville, Fayette County, Indiana: Enoch Chambers – 1 male and 2 females 0-9, 1 male and 1 female 10-15, 1 male 16-18, 1 male 16-25, 1 male and 1 female 26-45
1850 US Census of Waterloo, Fayette County, Indiana: Household of Joseph Dungan 36 Ohio, and Rebecca Dungan 29 Indiana, as Enoch Chambers age 71, born Maryland.
4. Elisha Chambers (born 11 March 1780 Maryland to 13 March 1860 Benton County, Arkansas and buried Chambers Cemetery, Avoca, Benton County, Arkansas per findagrave.com). A findagrave.com write-up states he married Nancy Johnson Moore in 1804 and that Elisha Chambers was the son of Rev. James Alexander Chambers and wife Nancy Windsor. Children of Elisha Chambers and wife Nancy are: Asa Chambers, Elijah Chambers, John Chambers, Elisha Chambers “II,” Jesse Chambers, Abijah Chambers, and James Monroe Chambers. Daughters are Harriet Matilda Chambers, Alice Johnson (Alley) Chambers, and Mary (Polly) Chambers. Elisha is difficult to trace because there seem to be three different ones born in North Carolina about the same time. At least two were ministers.
1810 US Census of Burke County, North Carolina: There are 2 Elisha Chambers near but not next each other on same page. (1). Elisha Chambers 2 males and 2 females 0-9, 1 male and 1 female 26-45, 1 slave; (2). Elisha Chambers 5 males and 1 female 0-9, 1 male 10-16, 1 male and 1 female 26-45, no slaves.
One Elisha is next to James Gilbert who is mentioned in Watauga County History as representing the Globe Church in 1820. Our subject Elisha Chambers must be carefully separated here. The other may be from Fishers Creek in Wilkes County, son of William Chambers – American Revolutionary Soldier. Both appear to be ministers.
1850 US Census of Osage, Benton County, Arkansas: Elisha Chambers 65 Maryland, Nancy Chambers 64 NC, John Chambers 28 NC, James Chambers 22 NC.
(probably - 5). Isaac B. Chambers (27 December 1783 Allegany County, Maryland to 23 December 1845 Carroll County, Illinois and buried at Chambers-Frank Cemetery, Carroll County, Illinois per findagrave.com). The middle initial “B” Is from the 1830 Census. Wife was Ann __ (~1785 to 20 June 1847 and is buried same cemetery), as noted in findagrave.com. Children are not understood and census ages suggest a number of household members may not be their children. One original source states he was born in “Allegany County, Maryland” and others suggest he came from Pennsylvania (if the same person). Future information may change our understand.
From Robert E. Chambers: “Isaac and Asa are two brothers of (my) grandfather (Elijah Chambers).” * However, he and others did not know what happened to Isaac.
* Robert E. Chambers from Chambers History: Trails of the Centuries, by William D. Chambers, 1925, on online at freepages.family.roosweb.ancestry.com
Isaac Chambers first passed through Ogle County, Illinois in 1827 on his way to Galena (lead mines). He became Ogle County’s first white settler in 1830 when he first settled briefly at White Oak Grove, about a ½ mile from today’s Forreston. He moved on to Buffalo Grove where he built a hotel and tavern, the land of which was disputed with a Mr. Ankeney. In 1831, Isaac sold out and moved 6 miles north to “Chambers Grove,” which is near the present-day village/landmark of Brookville. Here in 1832, he built a “stage tavern” and in 1838 a mill on Elkhorn Creek. Brookville and Elkhorn Creek are on the boundary of line between Ogle and Carroll Counties.
History of Ogle County, Illinois, H. F. Kett, 1878
1820 US Census of Vigo County, Indiana: 3 males 16-25, 2 males and 1 female 26-45, 2 engaged in agriculture and 1 in manufacture.
1830 US Census of Jo Daviess County, Illinois: Isaac B. Chambers, 1 male 20-29, 1 male 30-39, 1 male and 1 female 40-49.
1840 US Census of Carroll County, Illinois: Isaac Chambers – 1 female 0-5, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 20-30, 1 female 40-50, 1 male 50-60.
6. Asa Chambers (born 21 January 1785 and died 18 October 1832 Owen County, Indiana. Asa Chamber married 18 December 1806 Jessamine County, Kentucky to Jane McCarty (county record). * In 1822, a lot was sold to Asa Chambers in Owen County. ** Robert E. Chambers adds “that when the town of Spencer (Owen Co., Indiana) was laid out in 1820, Asa Chambers owned 8 lots; Elijah 2 lots, and Zaccheus 2 lots.
* Kentucky Compiled Marriages 1802-1850 found on ancestry.com
** Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana: Historical and Biographical, 1884
*^ Chambers History: Trails of the Centuries, by William D. Chambers, 1925, on online at freepages.family.roosweb.ancestry.com
7 – Nancy Chambers (12 October 1788 North Carolina to 25 December 1859 and burial at Thompson Cemetery, Yountsville, Montgomery County, Indiana per findagrave.com). Nancy married on 6 July 1807 Jessamine County, Kentucky (county record) to Ebenezer Jackson (1786 to 1825 and buried at same cemetery). They had 8 children, with the first being “James Chambers Jackson, Sr.” (24 February 1809).
The North Carolina birth State for Nancy makes sense in that in 1788, earliest eastern Tennessee was part of North Carolina and the State of Franklin, if that is where she was born. Otherwise she was born in some other part of NC. Both Nancy and her brother Asa Chambers married within 7 months of each other in Jessamine County.
War of 1812-1814 – Wayne County, Indiana: 8th Regiment under John Farlow’ Company includes Ebenezer Jackson, John Jackson, John Seany.
Early Settlers of Indiana’s “Gore” 1803 to 1820 by Shirley Keller Mikesell, 2008.
1820 US Census of Wayne County, Indiana: Ebenezer Jackson; 2 males and 2 females 0-9, 1 male 10-15, 1 male and 1 female 26-44. Next to James Jackson and Daniel Jackson on census.
1840 US Census of Wayne, Montgomery County, Indiana: Nancy Jackson, 1 male and 1 female 15-19, 1 female 50-59.
1850 US Census of Guilford, Hendricks County, Indiana: Lazarus Kinney 28 Indiana + Maria Kinney 28 NC and family with Nancy Jackson 63 North Carolina, and Louisa Jackson 22 NC.