Little is known of Alexander Chambers of Scotland, or his son, Reynolds, further than they are supposed to have lived on the line of the Clyde-Tweed Valley in Southern Scotland, and that they were not financially able to make the voyage to America with their families, so father and son remained in Scotland till the end came to each.
REYNOLDS
Reynolds Chambers was born about 1700. My Uncle Alexander, in one of his letters, wrote me that he was
familiarly called "Runnels" by his grandson and great-grandsons. For ten years or more I worked on the
theory there was a kinship between the Chambers family and the Sir Joshua Reynolds family. I still think there
is a relationship, but I find myself, with the books I have at hand, unable to prove it. As in other families,
so in our family there is a tradition of a soldier ancestor -- a soldier trained under the direction of that
matchless leader, William Prince of Orange, but after years of investigation, I find no such origin for my
own lineage, but I have a thought that Peter, the founder of the Rappahannock Scotch Settlement, was that
soldier.
Henry Chambers, whom succeeding events seem to prove to be a brother of Reynolds, and three young men, Samuel, David, and James, sons of Reynolds, and perhaps some girls of the families along with their husbands, at different times, set sail for America. Henry was doubtless the first to come. He may have come with the four brothers in 1726, but not having lands assigned him, he did not reside in Penn Territory. While he is reported to have lived in Maryland, no doubt he knew Peter, the founder of the Rappahannock Settlement, who had preceded him to the new world.
Of the sons of Reynolds, perhaps Samuel was the oldest; David, the second; James, the third. Samuel was born about 1720. As I see it, Samuel is the name of the lost ancestor of the Knox County branch, also, the ancestor of a large progeny in Tennessee and other points west. Proofs can be best shown by reverting to his son ALEXANDER, head of the Knox County Branch.
Note the following letter:
Lewis, P.O. Vigo Co., Ind.,
March 31, 1906.
Dear Relative:
In answer to your letter I will say that we have lost the name of our great grandfather. I am regarded as the historian of the Knox County Branch, but all I have been able to find out concerning him is that he came from Ireland to Philadelphia about 1765, leaving his oldest son, William, who had recently married, back in Ireland. My grandfather, Alexander, was fifteen years of age when the voyage was made, and was so delighted with the sea, that his parents thought it best to bind him out (by indenture) to a man eighty miles inland to keep him from becoming a sailor.
When Alexander was of age (1771) he went back to find his parents but to his great surprise the family had gone away. (On account of the cholera many families had left Philadelphia, never to return). Alexander never saw his folks again. He made many attempts to locate them, but never succeeded. When my father was about grown, he accompanied grandfather on two long trips through Virginia, Carolina and Georgia, and even down into Florida, making prolonged search for his parents, but they were everywhere disappointed. Alexander married a Miss Balden in Ohio moved to Carolina; then to Kentucky; then in 1808, to Knox Co., Indiana. He often visited the Chamberses at or near Gosport. The older set (Elijah and Asa) were cousins to Grandfather. I am now 75, and am the youngest of father's family. Now, if you ever heard of that lost boy, you may know something about my folks. I saw William and Samuel Chambers of Spencer, some years ago. I am sending you diagram of our family.
Yours truly,
SPIER BRUCE CHAMBERS
The fact that this family crossed the ocean as late as 1765 would seem to indicate that there is no relationship between them and David and James, but this letter of authority removes every doubt.
Samuel (?) no doubt was prevented in some way from leaving Ireland till he was almost fifty years of age, but his passion could not be assuaged. He finally came. Upon his arrival in America, the first thing he did was to secure a place for his oldest son, Alexander. Then the scourge of 1765-67 reported in history almost depopulated Philadelphia, and scattered this and many other families. Samuel, no doubt, learned of the Blue Ridge home of other relatives, and sought them, and finding them, lived among them. When search was made for them by a son and a grandson with bridle in hand and rifle on shoulder, the fact that there was an attractive "New Scotland" in the far west was overlooked. This accounts for the failure. No doubt search was made for Alexander, too, after his time had expired, but he, too, could not be found.
About the end of the century the Chambers families along with others heard of the wonderful Ohio River Country. David's descendants found a home in Jefferson Co., Indiana, in 1809; James, being younger and quite strong, accompanied his sons to Owen County in 1818, making several stops on the way; Samuel and his family had lost the spirit of adventure, and remained south of the Ohio, perhaps in Tennessee and Kentucky. The Madison Courier in an article on pioneer history speaks of Samuel as David's father. This fact, along with other good and sufficient reasons has convinced the author that Samuel was an older brother of David, and died in Tennessee, or not far on the way to the North back in the old century, thus causing this confusion in ancestry.
But Spier Bruce tells us in his letter that Alexander and Elijah were cousins. If so, the two Alexanders were
cousins, and the three branches are one. Alexander of Knox County was born in Ireland in 1749 and died in
Knox Co., Indiana in 1835. From current history it may be discovered that Ellick Chambers was a soldier under
the celebrated George Rogers Clarke. The name of Ellick Chambers does not appear in "Clarke's Grand,"
which was sent aside for the officers and soldiers, but the inference is drawn that when no actual service was
needed, he was always to be found with his family. From the Pension Bureau at Washington we obtained the
following facts:
Alexander Chambers enlisted in the Revolution in 1777;
Was with the Army of Virginia for three months as a private;
Became First Lieutenant and was placed in charge of the wagon guard at the battle of Germantown.
Moved to Washington Co., near Jonesboro, TN (then North Carolina) in 1779.
Application for pension on file in Pension Office -- Washington Gardner, commissioner.
Very early in the first decade of the new century he established his home near Vincennes, where he raised his family, David, Samuel, Polly, Joseph, John, James, and Levi. (It should not be forgotten that in 1798, another Alexander moved near Vincennes, but later returned to Shelbyville, KY.)
In the year 1906, I had the delightful pleasure of spending Saturday and Sunday with Prof. Walter H. Woodrow and wife at the home of this father-in-law, Albert chambers, who was a son of Benjamin, and a grandson of Samuel, the second son of Alexander. Visiting the "Friendly Grove Baptist Church," I was shown the tomb of Samuel Chambers, one of the heroes of his generation. In the afternoon the Clerk's records of the proceedings of the Maria Creek Baptist Church were read from which the following particulars were gleaned:
Maria Baptist church, organized May 20, 1809.
During the years 1812-13 the people on the frontier were exposed to the dangers and alarms of Indian warfare. They lived in small forts and blockhouses scattered over the country, and at all times wend armed whenever they went out of their forts -- whether they went into their fields to work, or to their places of meeting to worship, prepared to fight any indians who might be prowling around, watching for an opportunity to kill and scalp, or capture one or more they might find unprotected. They were subject to all these hardships of pioneer life, and to the difficulties of obtaining the necessary food and clothing for themselves and their families. Yet, notwithstanding all these trails and hardships, they maintained the organization of their church and, with one or two exceptions, kept up their regular meetings. Isaac McCoy, their pastor, trusting in God, and armed with his Bible and musket, traveled from fort to fort, preaching to the people, encouraging the brethren and sisters, warning sinners, and inviting them to come to Christ. And thus they passed through the war, maintained and organization; and prospered as a church. Not one was lost or hurt during the war, except their church clerk, William Polk, who received a wound at the Battle of Tippecanoe, from which he soon recovered.
In these Indian battles none were more active than the Chambers brothers. Samuel and Joseph followed the trail and engaged in most of the battles from Vincennes to Tippecanoe. Some of the younger men of the next younger generation accompanied their uncles and fathers in these wars.
In the church controversy of 1819 and afterwards, Joseph and Samuel Chambers were counsel for the Church in favor of the Missionary movement. Elder Daniel Parker, a member of Lamotte Church, and sustained by that church, let the other side. In 1820, Elder Daniel Parker published a pamphlet against missions. He regarded election and predestination as fundamental, opposed an educational qualification for the ministry, and regarded as unorthodox the appointment of Boards of Missions. The Chambers brothers won.
Samuel and Joseph and many of the younger brothers and nephews were engaged in the Indian wars of 1810-11, following the trail from Vincennes to Tippecanoe.
During the years 1812-13 the people on the frontier were exposed to the dangers and alarms of Indian warfare. When leaving their forts and blockhouses, either for work or worship, they went armed; their church organization was maintained continuously.
From 1811 to 1884 there were enrolled upon the church records of Maria Creek Church the names of seventy-one members bearing the Chambers name.
It is a joy to add to our roll of kinsmen this prolific family, so long separated by only a few counties. The fact that this branch had kept their records so well indicates that family ties are not lightly considered by them. May they join with us in the larger brotherhood of all men.
SPIER BRUCE'S DIAGRAM
Descendants of Alexander.
David (1776-1845)
Rachel married Spier Bruce; Margaret married Samuel Welch; Isaac, the preacher; Joseph, Levi, John,
Alexander, Christiana married Abraham Stark; Isabella married W. W. Hollingsworth; Martin died young; Spier
Bruce and a sister -- twins.
Samuel (1783-1865); Sarah, Letha, Emmett, John, Marshall, Benjamin, Polly, Rice, Samuel Scott, Thomas, Margaret.
Samuel was an ensign in the Knox County Militia in 1814; was made Justice of the Peace in 1814; was Lieut. of the 1st Regiment in 1815. He fought in almost every battle with the Indians along the line from Vincennes to Tippecanoe. (From history -- Author.)
Polly married Joseph Thomas; Joseph died in 1858; Polly married Nathan Robinson; Nancy married Edward Robinson; Alexander, Eli; Malinda married John Ferguson; Elizabeth married Warren Heath; Levina married David Bowers; Joseph, Albert B., Emily. (Hon Smiley N. Chambers, for years one of the leading lawyers of Indianapolis, was the son of Alexander.)John: Calvin, Samuel, Benjamin, Thomas, Jane, Nancy Ann, Sarah and Alexander--twins. (For years Benjamin was a prominent teacher in the schools of Clay County.)
James: Patsy, Levi, Lucinda, Jesse Perry, Charles. (Charles lived at Worthington, Indiana.)
Levi: Carey, Levi, and Tumbleson.
Judge Carl N. Chambers, of Oklahoma City, connects with this line.
No doubt, Spier Bruce Chambers was the only relative who possessed all the above facts. They are given to the reader just in time to escape oblivion.
Prof. W. H. Woodrow of the Indiana State Normal School, Terre Haute, Indiana, gave me as a reference J. B. Chambers of Olympia, Washington. In answer to a letter, J. B. made the following observations:
I will take a copy. I belong to the Knox County Branch as mentioned in your "prospectus." Will hand your letter to my brother, T. E. Chambers, who has some interesting records.
There is a large family of pioneers scattered over this coast country. These came out in the 50's and have taken no small part in the development of the country. I have been unable to connect them with my branch.
I am very much interested in your success, and will gladly help you all I can.
Below is the letter received a little bit later from the brother:
Olympia, Washington, R.F.D. No. 3
Nov. 1, 1924
Dear Mr. Chambers:
My father, Samuel Scott Chambers, died in 1883. He had in his possession all the private papers and records of his father so far as I know; I have them now, and can find no mention of his ancestors. I have records showing that he was Justice of the Peace for Lewis Township, Clay County, in the 30's and 40's.
I am told that Samuel Chambers and his wife, who was a Thomas, came to Vincennes by pack horse from Ohio, but I do not know the date, and that he served under William Henry Harrison in defense of Vincennes. It is the understanding among my people that two brothers came to this country from Ireland in an early day, and became separated, one going south, the other going west. There are a number of Chamberses in the West who tell the same story of their ancestors. The oldest record I have I will enclose in this letter. After having examined it, please return it.
Wishing you success, I am
Respectfully,
T. E. CHAMBERS
The records sent me by T. E. Chambers are as follows:
1. Samuel Chambers was appointed by Territorial Governor Thomas Posey, as Ensign of the First Regiment of Indiana Militia. His commission was signed by Thomas Posey and his Territorial Secretary, John Gibson, at Jeffersonville, IN on February 3, 1814.
2. Samuel Chambers, on June 11, 1814, at Vincennes, Indiana, took oath required of all officers, civil and military, to carry into force the duelling law, passed December 13, 1813, and certain other statutes.
The reader will easily observe that the Samuel Chambers herein mentioned is a brother of Joseph Chambers, and son of Alexander, pioneer of Know County, Indiana, previously honored in these notes.
The smallpox epidemic at Philadelphia explains the separation of Alexander from the rest of the family. The brother mentioned by T. E. doubtless spent the Revolutionary War period in western North Carolina with relatives, as stated elsewhere.
I tried to secure pictures to represent this neighboring family, but I could not get hold of any. I hope they will appreciate the book any way.