Charles Edward Stuart Chambers
Edinburgh, Scotland
"Non praeda, sed victoria"
On August 23, 1900, a letter was received from Charles Edward Stuart Chambers, Edinburgh, Scotland, who has been for several years the head of the Chambers Journal house, which was founded in 1820 by his grandfather and grand-uncle, Robert and William Chambers. This letter is given below in full:
W. D. Chambers, Muncie, Ind.
Dear Sir:
In reply to your letter of recent date, I have pleasure in giving any information I possess. Ephraim Chambers was no connection of my own family. (See Dictionary of National Biography by Leslie Stephens for available information.)
David Chambers flourished in Ross-shire, Scotland, during the 16th century, and died in 1592. (See Biographical Directory of Eminent Scotsmen by Robert Chambers). There is no other printed chronology of my own family than the above except the Memoirs of William and Robert Chambers, published by my own firm. This book can be obtained from my agents, J.B. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia. This work is widely read, and I am surprised that you do not have it. (Compare with letter of James H.)
I am sorry I cannot help you as to Reynolds Chambers, or others of the name who emigrated to America. About these I have no information. The first record of my own family is contained in our family Bible, now in my possession. This book contains the autograph of James Chambers, 1664, from whom I am 8th in descent; also many later autographs. James Chambers claimed descent from Gillaume de la Chambre, who signed the Regimen Roll or Bond of Allegiance to Edward I at Berwick in 1296, as Baillee of Peebles. My family belonged to Peebles until William and Robert came to Edinburgh and founded the firm of W. & R. Chambers (1820), publishers, of which I am now the head. They founded the Chambers Journal in 1832. I am about to publish an article myself with reference to ancestors of my family, in the Christmas part of Chambers's Journal. This may also be obtained from my American agents, when published.
Sir William Chambers, the famous architect, was no relation of my branch (that is, the Peebles branch). (See Chamber's Encyclopedia, published by my own firm, or the Dictionary of National Biography by Stephens, for information concerning him.) The beautiful portrait of Lady Chambers, by the celebrated artist, Sir Joshua Reynolds, is a very well known, and of this I possess a fine mezzo-tint engraving, and the same of Miss Chambers her daughter, who was also a beauty. These prints are still obtainable,--by paying for them! (See Leslie Gaylor's Life of Sir Joshua Reynolds for further information.)
I may mention that the name never was Chalmers, but always Chambers, a totally different name. My friend, Gen. James Grant Wilson, of New York, can give much interesting information regarding my grandfather, author of "Traditions of Edinburgh." His own father was at school with Robert at Peebles early in the century. "Stories of Old Families," by William Chambers, my grand-uncle, might also interest you.
Charles E. S. Chambers, the author of the interesting letter quoted above, was born in 1860 and became the head of the Chambers Journal House in 1888. He is well known as an editor and author, and it has given me more than twenty years of opportunity to hitch on to his ancestry, but there is still work to do before this claim can be made.
For a few years after receiving this letter I thought I had found in it reasons for the name Reynolds of my immediate lineage, but after hours and days of reading in the library it has been found that the facts do not warrant any direct relationship with either Sir Joshua Reynolds or the Chambers families of England. All of our traditions and what little available biography we have been able to find, point to Southern Scotland as the home of Reynolds Chambers, as well as the home of the ancestors of other branches of Scotch or Scotch-Irish descent.
Our ancestors, no doubt, were closely related to James Chambers, from whom Charles is 8th in descent, but the gap is wide, and we may never be able to connect with them, but as our problem has been to unify the American pioneers, bearing the Chambers name, I am content to rest with the facts as they are. James H. Chambers, in one of his letters, says all the generations of Chamberses are connected with the Lord Ross of Scotland. He further says that he belonged to the Ross Clan in America, which consists of over 100 of the most prominent men in Canada and the United States. This is another evidence of our common origin across the Channel.
Australia, India, the Philippines, and scores of other countries and states have welcomed the Chambers name, but these are all transplants, and, no doubt, have knowledge of just where to "hitch on" back home.
William Chambers (1800-1883) was a Scottish author and publisher. He was joint author with his brother, Robert, of Chambers's Cyclopedia, ten volumes, so popular in America for more than half a century. He visited the U.S. in 1853. He was born at Peebles, Scotland.
Robert Chambers (1802-1871) belonged to the Chambers Journal firm of William and Robert Chambers, of Edinburgh, Scotland. Robert wrote "Vestigaes of the National History of Creation." This great work prepared the way for such writers as Darwin, Huxley, and Doctor William James.
Charles H. Chambers was born in London, 1819. He was the author of many legal treatises.
Richard Chambers (1809) was a noted English mathematician.
George Chambers (1803-1840) was an eminent English marine painter.
Ephraim Chambers about this time (1680-1740) wrote a scientific dictionary that was an "invaluable treasury of scientific knowledge." He was not of the Scotch-Irish or of the earlier Scotch branch. He may, however, be a descendant of Gillaume, the Provencal, who signed the regimen roll of Edward I in 1296. If so, there is an earlier relationship.
Sir William Chambers (1726-1796) was born at Stockholm, Sweden. He wrote a treatise on the decorative art in civil architecture. This work is regarded as authority on English and Swedish art.
Charles Chambers (1755) wrote "Earthquakes at Madeira."
Sir Robert Chambers (1737-1803) was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Judicature in Bengal, India.
Richard Chambers (1710) wrote a noted series of sermons.
Charles Chambers (1715 to 1733) was a well known authority on the Bible. He was a brilliant sermonizer.
James Chambers, an eminent lawyer, was for many years the King's counsel at Dublin.
Brooke Rynd Chambers (1834) was a Major General in India. He was wounded at Lucknow in 1857. He won many medals for brilliant service.
Robert H. Chambers (1853) is a prominent educator of England.
Robert H. Chambers (1833) was a soldier in china, India, and Afghanistan. Many medals were given him for brilliant service.
H. Kellet Chambers (1867) is authority in dramatic art. He is the author of a number of books. He now resides in New York City.
Walter James Frederick Chambers (London, 1864) has long been in the Consular service of the British Empire.
George Frederick Chambers, King's College, England, is an eminent authority on astronomy. He is the author of a number of books.
George Chambers was a well known English Marine painter.
Richard Chambers (1809) was noted throughout the Empire as an expert mathematician.
Sir Newman Chambers is a high official at Londenderry Ireland.