William Chamberlin is my husband’s third great-grandfather. He was the son of Lewis Chamberlain (1712-1772) and Lucretia Woolsey. He ran through four wives and produced 23 children.

Birth

William was born in Amwell Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.

Marriage

William was married four times.

Elizabeth Ten Broeck (Tinbrook)

Elizabeth Ten Broeck was William’s first wife. They were married on June 8, 1758. She died on April 29, 1770, nine days after the birth of her last child, William.

Ann Park

About a year later, William married again, this time to Ann Park on March 3, 1771. She died eight years later, on November 12, 1779.

Margaret Park

William married again in 1782 to Margaret Park. (Perhaps a sister of Ann?) They were married for nine years. Margaret died on April 29, 1791.

Mary Ann Kemble

Lastly, William married Mary Ann Kemble of Union County, PA, on August 14, 1794. He was 58 years old. She died March 4, 1859. Here’s a transcript of her obituary from the Lewisburg Chronicle, Lewisburg PA, dated March 11, 1859.

Mary Ann Kemble, was born Nov, 28, 1769, and died March 4, 1859. She came of an old family of considerable standing, and was on terms of friendship with George Washington, Washington Irving and other people of note. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and a devout student of the Bible, many chapters of which she committed to memory.”

Obituary of a Venerable Lady — Died at the house of Mrs. John Chamberlin, in Lewisburg, Friday morning, 4th of March 1859, Mrs. Ann Mary Chamberlin, relict of Col. William Chamberlin, deceased, in her 90th year. The weakness of old age was her only disease; she was confined to her bed but a few days, and retained her senses to the last. The life and character of this admirable mother, afford materials for an interesting chapter of domestic history. Her maiden name was Kimble; her parentage of a French and German origin; her birthplace, New York City, in November 1769. When the British took possession of the city, the family — to avoid them — retreated to Hunterdon County, New Jersey, where, however their premises were afterward robbed by the Hessians. She had many reminiscences, of varied character, respecting those dark days in our country’s history. After peace was declared, the family returned to the city. Their residence was on Ann street, near William, where she daily saw President Washington, going to and from Congress, or driving out, and stated that, no matter how often he passed, all would press to the window to see his noble form — she thought the popular feeling for him approached idolatry, and that his death might have been a wise providence to check that tendency. Her memory was distinct of the persons many other Revolutionary worthies. Among their nearest neighbors was the family of Washington Irving, and she often carried the child, now the author of the “Sketch Book,” in her arms. His writings were among the choice treasures of reading. His sister, Miss Nancy Irving, Mrs. C. corresponded with her in her earlier years, and often expressed her regret that she had not preserved her letters, which were among the most elegant compositions she ever read — fully equal, she judged, to the literary productions of the brother. Not long before her death she said, “ Washington Irving must be getting old — as much as 75,” and on enquiry it was found to be exactly his age. In 1794, she married Col. William Chamberlin in Buffalo Valley, by whom she had eight children, (the five younger of whom are living,) and survived him 42 years. Her industry and judgment in rearing a numerous family, were happily rewarded, and she passed a good old age in the enjoyment of the love and esteem of a large circle of friends. From her youth up, Mrs. C. had a passion for reading, and perhaps few people have perused more books, or better retained their contents in memory. While a girl, she devoured everything accessible in the shape of letters, often at times and places unknown to her mother; and when three-score and ten, would sit at her spinning wheel with her book and before her both wheel and book were involved. For five years past, her eyesight failed, she used the eyes of others in pursuing her wanted past-time of reading. Her memory, especially of dates, was most extraordinary, and she was a living family record of all the old settlers in the Valley. Her intimate knowledge of the politics of the day was excelled by men; her early Whig training made her an ardent Republican and the religious progress of the world interested her to the last week of her life. She had no prejudice against innovations — did not esteem old times or old persons as necessarily better than new — but judged everything by reason and its merits. She could adapt herself to any company, and draw out and impart instruction on almost any topic. Mrs. C. was christened by Rev. Dr. John Rogers (who was converted under Whitfield’s ministry) of the Presbyterian church in New York city, but some time attended the Baptist meeting, on account of their having a stove in their house of worship — a piece of furniture then almost unknown in such places. Her church relationship was Presbyterian; her Christian character firm, cheerful and conciliatory. Among the celebrated preachers she had heard was Rev. Dr. Witherspoon, of Revolutionary memory. She had also witnessed commencements at Princeton, and could never forget the excessive fit of laughter into which at one time Pres. Witherspoon was thrown by the oration of one of the graduates; the narration of the incident always excited a similar influence upon herself. Thus has passed away one of the brightest links in the chain connecting the present age with the past — perhaps the most intelligent person who had any direct knowledge of the great men and stirring events of our Revolutionary era. No one in this region, probably was as well informed of the local history which came with her means of knowledge … gainable and interesting annals .. Cherished be her memory.

Children

William wore out his four wives with twenty-three children.

With Elizabeth Ten Broeck

Three children of this marriage died in infancy.

1. Lewis Chamberlin, born April 16, 1759; killed at Germantown on October 4, 1777.
2. Pelope (or Nellie?) Chamberlin, born September 13, 1761; married John Lawshee; died 03 Jul 1817.
3. Anne Chamberlin, born April 18, 1763; married John Boss.
4. Lucretia Chamberlin, born December 20, 1765; married Christian Neius; died 19 Jan 1841.
5. A daughter born on November 12, 1764, lived only one week.
6. John Chamberlin, born April 10, 1768; died on May 5, 1770.
7. William Chamberlin, born on April 20, 1770; died the same day as his brother, May 5, 1770.

With Ann Park Chamberlin

1. William Chamberlin, born July 17, 1772; married Nellie Sutphen.
2. Enoch Chamberlin, born October 30, 1774; died May 5, 1844.
3. Ten Broeck Chamberlin, born March 5, 1777; married Jane Hutchinson.
4. Sarah Chamberlin, born May 19, 1779; married James Wilson; died April 8, 1829.

With Margaret Park Chamberlin

This batch of children was born in Lewisburg, Union County, Pennsylvania.

1. Uriah Chamberlin, born June 21, 1783; died unmarried on February 4, 1853.
2. Elizabeth Chamberlin, born May 22, 1785; married William McCreary; died March 22, 1827.
3. Aaron Chamberlin, born May 24, 1787; married Elizabeth Dale; died on January 12, 1856.
4. Rachel Chamberlin, born September 16, 1789; died April 9, 1791.

With Mary Ann Kemble

1. Lawrence Chamberlin, born August 4, 1795; died January 16, 1802.
2. John Chamberlin, born February 8, 1797; married Elizabeth Hayes on February 2, 1826; died April 15, 1856.
3. James Chamberlin, born September 30, 1798; died August 30, 1801, at the age of 2.
4. Lewis K. Chamberlin, born April 4, 1803; died August 10, 1889.
5. Mary Francis Chamberlin, born September 29, 1804; died April 3, 1865.
6. Joseph P. Chamberlin, born September 1806; died February 13, 1873.
7. James D. Chamberlin, born October 28, 1809; died October 11, 1886.
8. Moses Chamberlin, born November 8, 1812; married Jane Hannah Watson September 15, 1840; died July 29, 1902. (Moses continues my Chamberlin line.)

Military Service

William Chamberlin fought in the Revolutionary War. Here is some info from my Chamberlin files:

A brilliant and courageous officer during the Revolutionary War, William Chamberlin served as Major of the Second Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, and on September 9, 1777, was commissioned a Lt. Colonel in this regiment. At the battle of Germantown, October 4, 1777, Col. Chamberlin’s eldest son, Lewis, then eighteen years of age, was killed by a cannon ball while standing near his father. For meritorious conduct and faithful discharge of his duty on the field of battle at the time his son was killed, Col. Chamberlin was assigned to some very important duty in connection with the purchase of supplies and munitions for the Continental Army. The assignment was made by Governor Livingston in November 1777.

Biography

William Chamberlin was a Colonel in the Revolutionary War. He commanded the Second New Jersey Regiment at the battle of Germantown in October 1777. His son Lewis was killed in that engagement. In 1791, he moved from New Jersey and bought a large tract of land in the Buffalo Valley in Union County, PA, where he died in 1817. He had four marriages and 23 children.

The following biography is from Floyd, J.L., Genealogical and Biographical Annals of Northumberland County, PA.

William Chamberlin, was a native of New Jersey, born Sept. 25, 1736, in Hunterdon county. He was a lieutenant colonel in the New Jersey militia, and served as such in the Revolutionary war. Having a soldier’s warrant, about 1792 he removed to Buffalo valley and purchased six hundred acres of land at what is Hoffa’s Mill, in what is now Kelly Township, Union county, where he lived in prosperity until his death. The original mill there was erected by his son William. He was a prominent member of the Baptist Church, and died Aug. 21, 1817.

William Chamberlin was four times married. On June 8, 1758, he married Elizabeth Tinbrook, who was born Aug. 23, 1740, and died April 29, 1770. This union was blessed with the following children: Lewis, born April 16, 1759, who was killed by a cannon-ball at the battle of Germantown, while on a visit to his father (his knee was shot away, and in that day of primitive surgery the injury necessarily proved fatal); Nellie, born Sept. 13, 1761, who died July 3, 1817; Ann, born April 18, 1763; a daughter, born Nov. 12, 1764, who died Dec 19, 1764; Lucretia, born Dec. 20, 1765, who died Jan. 19, 1841; John, born April 10, 1768, who died May 5, 1770; and William, born April 20, 1770, who died May 5, 1770. On March 3, 1771, Colonel Chamberlin married (second) Ann Park, who was born in 1762 and died April 29, 1791, the mother of four children: Uria, born June 21, 1783, who died Feb. 4, 1853; Elizabeth, born May 22, 1785 (Elizabeth McCrary died March 22, 1827); Aaron, born May 24, 1787, who died Jan. 12,1856; and Rachel, born Sept. 16, 1789, who died April 9, 1791. The Colonel’s fourth marriage on Aug 16, 1794, was to Ann Mary Kemble, who was born Nov, 28, 1769, and died March 4, 1859. She came of an old family, of considerable standing, and was on terms of friendship with George Washington, Washington Irving and other people of note. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and a devout student of the Bible, many chapters of which she committed to memory. She was the mother of eight children, namely: Lawrence, born Aug. 4, 1795, who died in 1802; John, born Feb. 8, 1797, who died April 18, 1858; James, born Sept. 30, 1798, who died Aug. 30, 1801; Lewis K., born April 4, 1803, who died Aug. 10, 1889; Mary F., born Sept. 29, 1804, who died April 3, 1865; Joseph P., born Sept. 18, 1806, who died Feb. 13, 1873; James D., born Oct. 29, 1809, who died Oct. 11,1886; and Moses, born Nov. 12, 1812.

William Chamberlin, eldest son of William by his second wife, married Nellie Sutphen, who was born Nov. 11, 1771, and they had children born as follows: Anna, July 15, 1793; Mary, March 19, 1795; John, Sept. 1, 1796; Nelly, March 23, 1798; John, Dec. 31, 1799; Sarah, Feb. 12, 1802; Lillen, Jan. 22, 1804; William, May 3, 1808; Lucretia, June 15, 1810; Aaron, Sept. 12, 1812.

Occupation

William Chamberlin was a farmer and grist mill owner.

Residence

On April 16, 1792, Col. Chamberlin sold his farm and grist mill in New Jersey and purchased a farm and mill in Union County, Pennsylvania, where he died.

Death

William died on August 21, 1817, in Union County, PA.

Burial

William was buried in a cemetery at Lewisburg, in Union County, PA.

Documentary Evidence