John Chamberlain of Hardyston and Byram, proven brother of Benjamin Chamberlain Jr

~ karynfamilytree

For 274 years, John Chamberlain of Hardyston and Byram Townships in Sussex County, NJ has been a mystery.

Benjamin Chamberlain Jr of Hardyston, Sussex, New Jersey is a well-researched line of Chamberlain people in Sussex County, New Jersey.

One mention in Rev. Abraham Fretz’s book about Benjamin Chamberlain Jr caught my eye:

“It is said a brother came with him, named John Chamberlain, who also settled in Sussex County.”

https://archive.org/details/genealogicalrecofbc00fret/page/11/mode/1up?q=%22john+chamberlain%22

Naturally, that spurred me on to find out more about these Chamberlain folks in Sussex County who were NOT descendants of Benjamin Chamberlain Jr but still lived near him!

Because this Benjamin Chamberlain Jr line is so well researched, any OTHER Chamberlain record in Sussex has to be from another line. That helps us find the children of the other Chamberlain men who were alive around 1780: John Chamberlain, Jabez Chamberlain, James Chamberlain, and Zephaniah Chamberlain.

My mother was a Chamberlain and has lived in Sussex County all her life. But we’re from the Benjamin Chamberlain Jr side, and I never researched Benjamin’s siblings before.

Spoiler alert:

John Chamberlain and Benjamin Chamberlain Jr were brothers.

How do I know? Because John Chamberlain says so in a letter he wrote in 1814 (see PDF here, from NJ Archives in Trenton, #650 AM, “Petition of John Chamberlain to the Governor and Legislative Council requesting a pardon, November 1, 1814.” Note this is from the NJ State records, not Sussex County records – it’s in the NJ Legislature files.) Read about how he got sent to the New Jersey State Prison in the 1809 portion of the timeline.

As always, NEW records can change our conclusions about what we think our family tree looks like. Everything is speculative and “best, logical guess” until we have PROOF that we’re correct or incorrect in our guesses.

For those of you on Ancestry, here is Benjamin Chamberlain Sr’s tree. I’ve included all the people named below and put them where I thought they fit. As new records are uncovered, I can re-arrange these Chamberlain families.

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/110854964/person/140084247988/facts

Notable Researchers

Among many other researchers of this Benjamin Chamberlain Sr line are two noted ones who have published books: Rev. Abraham James Fretz and Julie Miller, PhD.

  • Rev. Abraham Fretz’ work helps eliminate all of Benjamin Chamberlain Jr’s line, leaving all the “extra” Chamberlain people to research. This unlocks the additional children of Benjamin Chamberlain Sr, and the children of his two additional sons, John Chamberlain and Jabez Chamberlain. He wrote a family book on the descendants of Benjamin Chamberlain Jr in 1907.
  • Julie Miller, PhD’s research on Amelia Norman, her parents Peter Norman and Rebecca Chamberlain, and Amelia’s grandfather John Chamberlain unlocks John’s court cases and criminal record. She wrote a book about the Amelia Norman murder trial. Without her work, we would never know what happened to John. She researched the paper archives at the New Jersey Archives building in Trenton, NJ for clues.
  • I’ve read all these books, plus many old history books, at least a dozen times, pulling out all the records, connections and guesses to put into this timeline. Some records weren’t appropriate to share here because they’re for Benjamin Chamberlain Jr’s line. There will be future blog posts for sure!

Rev. Abraham James Fretz

Rev. Abraham James Fretz wrote a book about the Benjamin Chamberlain Jr line, published in 1907. He is the one who mentions that Benjamin Chamberlain Jr had a brother, John Chamberlain.

His mother-in-law was Almeda Chamberlain, daughter of Abraham Chamberlain and Elizabeth Keepers. Almeda married Joseph Warren Headley. Abraham Chamberlain was the son of Benjamin Chamberlain Jr.

The annual family reunion of the descendants of Benjamin Chamberlain Jr started in 1905 (Chamberlain Reunion Association also formed). Fretz gave a presentation of the family history at this first meeting, so he may have been researching the Chamberlain family for his book at that time. Much of his 1905 speech material came from the History of Sussex and Warren Counties, which was published in 1882. He includes a list of family reunion attendees in his book, all descended from Benjamin Chamberlain Jr.

https://archive.org/details/genealogicalrecofbc00fret/page/224/mode/1up?q=reunion

This 1915 newspaper article says there were 1,000 members of this Chamberlain family branch alive at this time, of which 200 attended the reunion on August 9, 1915. A 2004 newspaper notes the 100th anniversary of the Chamberlain Family Reunion and Fretz’ book mentions the reunions began in 1905. The 2004 Family Reunion was held at the Brick House Farm Bed & Breakfast in Sparta, NJ — Benjamin Chamberlain Jr’s house.

These annual family reunions continued for many years and were probably the genesis of Fretz’ research into this Benjamin Chamberlain Jr tree. Rev. Fretz lived among them and interviewed them. You can see a list of attendees to the first family reunion in his book; many came from quite far away to attend.

The book is fairly accurate. The only big mistake he makes is about Hannah Chamberlain. She doesn’t marry William Buchannan, she marries William Bohannon, who lived next door to Benjamin Chamberlain Jr. (This couple sells the Benjamin Chamberlain Jr land they inherit to her siblings.)

His book is A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Benjamin Chamberlain, of Sussex County, New Jersey.

Julie Miller, PhD

Julie Miller, PhD, is the curator of Early American Manuscripts in the Manuscript Division at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. She has a PhD in United States History and is a noted researcher in antiquarian manuscripts.

In 2020, Julie Miller wrote a book about John Chamberlain’s granddaughter, Amelia Norman (daughter of Rebecca Chamberlain and Peter Norman). Her book is called Cry Murder on Broadway. She looked in the physical papers at the NJ Archives in Trenton, NJ for Sussex County Indictments, and read newspaper stories at the time of Amelia’s attempt to murder Henry S Ballard, the father of her child, in Nov 1843. The trial was held January 1844. (Yes, I plan to write a future blog post about the Amelia Norman murder trial!)

I will cite her research below, within the context of the timeline.

Note: Julie Miller is not a descendant of the Chamberlain family. Her research was on this specific 1844 murder trial and the cultural shifts happening at the time when young country girls like Amelia Norman left Sparta, Sussex, NJ and became a housekeeper for Eliza Cory Merriam in New York City (daughter of Job Cory and Jane Morrow of Sparta).

Her book is Cry Murder on Broadway.

Quick overview of John Chamberlain and his possible brothers

Two books say that these three Chamberlain men served in the Sussex County NJ militia during the Revolutionary War: the Official Register of the Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War soldier’s list in published in 1872 by New Jersey Adjutant-General’s Office and written by William Scudder Stryker, and the History of Sussex and Warren Counties book published in 1881 by James P Snell:

  • John Chamberlain
  • Zephaniah Chamberlain
  • James Chamberlain

These men would all be born around the time John and Benjamin Chamberlain Jr were born, between 1747 to when their father died in 1760.

Official Register of the Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War, 1872:

https://archive.org/details/cu31924103073692/page/536/mode/1up?q=chamberlain

History of Sussex and Warren Counties, 1881:

https://archive.org/details/historyofsussexw00snel/page/71/mode/1up

John Chamberlain is in the 1780 tax records living near to Benjamin Chamberlain Jr and their step-father, Japheth Byram, so we know John Chamberlain existed and was living near his family. Both John and Benjamin are noted as married in 1780. (Be careful, do not confuse Japheth Byram with his younger brother Jepthah/Jeptha Byram. It’s Japheth who marries Mary, the widow of Benjamin Chamberlain Sr. Japheth is sometimes noted as JAphET and Jepthah is sometimes noted as JEpTHA.)

In 1814, John Chamberlain writes a letter, and says he is 62 years old (born about 1752) and that he is the brother of Benjamin Chamberlain.

Let’s tie together the timeline. There’s one caveat: there are also several other brothers born around the same time who have Sussex records. Here are the likely male siblings of John and Benjamin, and all Chamberlain lines come from them:

  • Jabez Chamberlain – whose first land record is 1772 Sussex County, so born before 1751. In 1780 he is in Succasunna, Morris, NJ, and in 1791 in Pequannock, Morris County, and his last record is 1793 in Hardyston, Sussex, NJ. I’ll talk about him more in the timeline below.
  • Zephaniah and James Chamberlain – both in the Sussex County militia during the Revolutionary War per History of Sussex/Warren and Strkyer’s official list, but no further records in Sussex or Morris counties for either of them — and no further records at all, anywhere in the USA, for Zephaniah “Zeph” Chamberlain. Zephaniah has records under Captain James Bonnell’s New Jersey Levies on the Delaware River in 1782 fighting Indian incursions, then disappears. He may have died there or shortly afterwards. I don’t know what happens to James, either.

John and Benjamin also have sisters: Dorcas (who marries Isaac Decker), Molly (who marries Henry Brasted/Braisted) and Mary (who marries William Courtney).

Possible Children of John or Jabez

Because Benjamin Chamberlain Jr’s line is so well researched and proven through a land division in February 1819, any other Chamberlain record in Sussex County early one could be for children of John or Jabez.

Benjamin Chamberlain Jr land division and map show his children:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93Q-Y93L-7?i=154&wc=MQT7-2P8%3A338012601%2C340056901&cc=2018330&lang=en

Any Chamberlain men or women who marry or live in the Hardyston area could be a child of one of these brothers, but since James and Zephaniah have no further records in Sussex after the Revolutionary War, I think it’s safe to say they are either dead or moved away.

So, in this timeline, some of these extra Chamberlain people could be the children of John Chamberlain, or could be the children of Jabez (if born between 1772-1793).

The only known child of John Chamberlain is Rebecca Chamberlain who marries Peter Norman — the History of Sussex and Warren Counties tell us this:

https://archive.org/details/historyofsussexw00snel/page/405/mode/1up?q=%22peter+norman%22

Here are the “extra” Chamberlain people we need to place in the Sussex County Chamberlain tree as either children of John Chamberlain Sr or Jabez Chamberlain (note it’s John Chamberlain who owns land in Byram Township):

  • Edmund Chamberlain, born about 1777, marries Elizabeth Little or Littell in 1804, both of Byram by Simeon Dickerson, JP
  • Abigail Chamberlain, born about 1778, marries Samuel Lish  in Byram in 1798, by Silas Dickerson, JP
  • Elizabeth Chamberlain, born about 1781, marries Gilbert Lish in Byram in 1798 by Jepthah Byram, JP for Byram (Jepthah is the brother of Japheth Byram who married Mary, the widow of Benjamin Chamberlain Sr. Both Japheth and Jepthah Byram were Justices of the Peace.)
  • Rebecca Chamberlain, born about 1783, marries Peter Norman about 1803, possibly in Sparta. No marriage record available but based on the age of their first child (Phebe, born 1804, named in Peter’s will), we can assume they married around 1803 when Rebecca married around age 18-20. Peter is in Hardyston in 1830. Noted as a daughter of John Chamberlain in the History of Sussex and Warren Counties book.
  • John Chamberlain, Jr, born about 1781-1784, marries Mary Little in Newton in 1808 by Daniel Predmore, JP for Newtown Twp (who lived in today’s Hampton Twp, but marries people from the town of Newton, as well as Frankford and Augusta areas, too.) Her father, Mathias Little is from Hardyston and Newton, and her brother James Little is living in Hardyston in 1810.
  • James Chamberlain, born about 1788, marries Nancy McClennen in 1813 by Thomas VanKirk, JP for Hardyston. Nancy’s McClennen siblings and relatives marry other Chamberlain people.
  • Richard Chamberlain, born about 1792, marries Phebe Jane Black around 1825, likely in Sussex. He’s living in Hardyston in 1830 and her family is from Hardyston. He marries at age 33 and it’s possible he had a first wife.
  • Simeon Chamberlain, born about 1793, marries Sarah Follette in 1817 by Thomas VanKirk, JP for Hardyston

For those of you on Ancestry.com, I’ve put them all temporarily under John Chamberlain here until we can figure out which ones are Jabez’s kids (if any):

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/110854964/person/142220305589/facts

What does DNA Say?

  • DNA will tell if any of these other Chamberlain people from Sussex County are John Chamberlain Jr’s siblings or cousins. If you are from one of these lines and have a DNA kit on Ancestry, please let me know so we can research your DNA matching report for clues to your closest Chamberlain matches (the ones with the highest centimorgan number and closest shared, triangulated matches).
  • I have DNA matches through Edmund Chamberlain, Rebecca Chamberlain Norman and Richard Chamberlain, but not the other children of John or Jabez. (We know Rebecca is a daughter of John Chamberlain Sr, but we don’t know if Edmund and Richard are the sons of John or Jabez.)
  • A descendant of Edmund Chamberlain, likely son of John Chamberlain of Hardyston, has matches to Elizabeth Chamberlain Lish, Richard Chamberlain, and Simeon Chamberlain, which confirms that all these Chamberlains share the same DNA.

A Note About Townships

Sometimes people don’t move — sometimes township boundary lines move around them.

In the beginning of Sussex County in the 1750s when the Chamberlain family arrives from Connecticut, there were only two townships in this eastern region of the county, Hardyston to the north and Newtown to the south (yes, spelled “Newtown or “New Town” in records at first, then later “Newton” in records — it’s a township, not the village/town of Newton, NJ).

The entire area on the eastern side of this map was Hardyston to the north and Newtown to the south, including today’s Stanhope Township. Sparta Mountain was the boundary between Sparta/Hardyston in Sussex County to the west and Jefferson Township in Morris County to the east — Chamberlain family members can be found on both sides of the mountain were iron mining and forges abound.

This is not a big area — today, you can drive 20 minutes from Newton to any of these locations: Sparta, Stillwater and Branchville.

Sparta Township was created in 1845 from the southern half of Hardyston Township and Byram was created in 1798 from the southeast portion of Newtown Township. (Byram was formerly known as Lockwood and there is still a hamlet of Lockwood in Byram Township.)

You can see Japheth Byram’s on the east side of the Wallkill River on this 1769 map. (He married Mary Chamberlain, the widow of Benjamin Chamberlain, Sr.) Lubbers Run, which plays in important part in the Chamberlain story, is just south of the Wallkill River. Musconetcunk Pond is today’s Lake Hopatcong.

https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3811f.ar124500/?r=0.148,0.283,0.19,0.084,0

Byram's on Lubber's Run

Chamberlain land records are in Newtown Township and Hardyston Township early, and Sparta Township and the northern part of Byram Townships later.

Newtown Township is a defunct township in Sussex County. It was removed as a township in 1845 upon the creation of Sparta, Andover and Hampton townships, and the town of Newton.

See NJ Searchable Databases for all early land and Supreme Court cases.

Timeline – Part 1

In 1717, Edmund Chamberlain married Sarah Furbush in Reading, Middlesex, MA. His marriage record says he was of Billerica, Middlesex, MA at the time (15 miles away). Edmund and Sarah baptize their children in Reading, Middlesex, MA, including their son, Benjamin Chamberlain in 1725.

About 1746, Benjamin Chamberlain marries a woman named Mary (maiden name unknown), likely in the Mansfield, Windham, CT – which is now Tolland County. Benjamin’s family was living in that area around that time.

For this timeline, I’ll only include records that might pertain to Benjamin Chamberlain Sr’s OTHER children, and specifically John Chamberlain and Jabez Chamberlain. I’ll create a blog in the future outlining Benjamin Chamberlain Jr’s line. In 1819, after Benjamin Chamberlain Jr’s death, his kids divided his land, so all his kids are well documented.

This timeline outlines all the other Chamberlain records…let’s see what we discover!

Timeline

  • 1725
    • Benjamin Chamberlain Sr has a baptism record in Reading, Middlesex, MA, son of Edmund and Sarah Furbush Chamberlain. Edmund and Sarah baptize children there through 1728, then they move to Mansfield, Tolland, CT which was in Windham County, CT at the time (Tolland County was created in 1785). Edmund Chamberlain writes a will there in 1760 and dies around 1766.
  • 1746
    • Benjamin Chamberlain Sr marries a woman named Mary about this time, possibly in Mansfield, CT where his family is. He would be 21 years old. Her maiden name is unknown.
  • 1747
    • Benjamin Chamberlain Jr is born in 1747 per his gravestone in the Sparta Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Sparta, Sussex, NJ. His gravestone lists the death date of 29 Nov 1816, aged 69. He is likely born in Mansfield, Tolland, CT because Benjamin Chamberlain Sr’s first record in Sussex, NJ isn’t until 1757. Doing the math, he must be Benjamin and Mary’s first child if Benjamin Sr is born 1725, unless Benjamin Sr marries prior to age 21, which was rare but not impossible.
  • 1749
    • Jabez Chamberlain born about this time. His first record in Sussex County, living on Lubbers Run is 1772, so he’s at least 21 at that time, perhaps older, because it’s noted that he already has a house in 1772.
  • 1751
    • Dorcas Chamberlain born around this time (she marries in 1769, probably aged 17 or 18). Her 1830 census says she’s born 1751-1760.
  • 1752
    • John Chamberlain is born between 1751-1752 per several documents, including a letter he wrote in 1814 where he said he was 62 years old. He is probably born in Mansfield, Tolland, CT because the first record for his father, Benjamin Chamberlain Sr in Sussex County is 1757.
  • 1753
    • Sussex County is created from Morris County. There are two initial townships in what becomes Sussex County today: Walpack to the west and Newtown to the east. Benjamin Chamberlain Sr’s records are in Newtown Township.
  • 1755
    • Molly Chamberlain is born about this time. She later marries Henry Brasted (aka Braisted) of Hardyston around 1774 and she is in Sussex County through 1802. Her census records say born 1751-1760.
  • 1757
    • Benjamin Chamberlain Sr’s first record in Sussex County, a petition for help because the County is exposed to Indian raids during the French & Indian War (1755-1763). Japtheth Byram also signs this petition, and he later marries Mary, widow of Benjamin Chamberlain Sr. When Benjamin dies 3 years later, his estate is in Newtown Township (yes, correct spelling), Sussex County, NJ, a defunct township that covered today’s Byram Township among other townships.
    • James Chamberlain is born about this time, probably in Sussex County. He serves in the Sussex County militia during the Revolutionary War, though no exact date is given.
      • But going with the standard genealogy rule of “one child every two years” he would fit into the family around this time.
  • 1759
    • Zephaniah Chamberlain is born around this time. He’s in the Revolutionary War in 1782.
  • 1760
    • Mary Chamberlain born about this time. Her census records say 1751-1760, and she might have been born after Benjamin Chamberlain Sr dies (which would explain why his widow remarried so quickly, if she were pregnant when Benjamin Chamberlain died).
      • Mary later marries William Courtney, and names three sons after people in her family: John Courtney (after her brother), Byram Courtney (after her step-father who raised her from an infant) and Benjamin Courtney (after her father).
    • In Mansfield, CT, Edmund Chamberlain writes a will in October 1760, naming his son Benjamin (Sr).
      • This will is probated in 1766. (“The heirs of Benjamin Chamberlain” are named in Edmund’s widow’s estate in 1796, in Willington, Tolland, CT.)
    • Two month later in December 1760,  Benjamin Chamberlain Sr dies in Newtown Township, Sussex County, NJ.
      • His widow, Mary, remarries to Japheth Byram per Benjamin Chamberlain estate records. They have Byram children together: Ruth Byram and Seth Byram.
      • Here is one way to prove if you’re from this family: you should have DNA matches to both Mary’s Chamberlain kids and Mary’s Byram kids: Ruth Byram m. Ephraim Woodruff, and Seth Byram Sr m. Eleanor Newman and Sarah Quick. (I have DNA matches via both Ruth and Seth which also triangulate with “Chamberlain-but-not-Byram” matches.)
      • Japheth Byram had been in Sussex County since 1752 and was a was a Justice of the Peace and Overseer of the Roads. The rest of his Byram family is in the Mendham, Morris, NJ area, but purchase investment land in Hardyston and Byram Townships.
  • 1762
    • Hardyston Township created from Newtown Township. It includes today’s Vernon, Hardyston and Sparta townships.
    • Byram’s Mill and Byram’s Forge noted in Sussex County documents in 1762, owned by Japheth Byram, husband of the widow Mary Chamberlain and step-father to her Chamberlain children.
  • 1763
    • The French & Indian War ends, and opens up land west of the Appalachian Mountain range to settlers. Benjamin Chamberlain’s kids would be too young to take advantage of this in 1763, but later after the Revolutionary War, many move to New York and Pennsylvania to find cheaper land.
  • 1769
    • Dorcas Chamberlain marries Isaac Decker in Hardyston. She is the daughter of Benjamin Chamberlain Sr. They later move to Fairfield, Westmoreland, PA.
    • 1769 map of Sussex County
      • You can see Lubbers Run and Byram’s on the east side of the Wallkill River, just south of the budding village of Sparta on this map.
      • Japheth Byram owned a grist mill and a forge at this location and that’s likely how Benjamin Chamberlain Jr and John Chamberlain learned these trades.
      • Later, Benjamin Chamberlain Jr is noted as owning a grist mill and John Chamberlain is noted as owning a blacksmith shop. Their children are deeply involved with blacksmithing and forges (as well as farming) in later records.
      • Musconetcunk Pond is today’s Lake Hopatcong.
      • Note that by 1772, Jabez Chamberlain is noted as being on Lubbers Run and having a house there, so he’s just moved down the valley a bit. This valley is Brogden Meadow where Lake Mohawk now stands; the Wallkill River was dammed in 1926 to form Lake Mohawk, which sits between Sparta Township and Byram Township. This valley was called Brogden Meadow, part of the Brogden Tract which extends up through the Sparta area. See NJ Searchable Databases for all early land records and Supreme Court records.
  • https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3811f.ar124500/?r=0.148,0.283,0.19,0.084,0
  • 1774
    • Sometime around 1774, Molly Chamberlain marries Henry Brasted from Hardyston, per his Rev War application submitted by his son, Henry Brasted Jr (he says they were married “before the Revolutionary War”). Their first child is born around 1775, so it’s likely they married around 1774 and she’s born before 1756. She is the daughter of Benjamin Chamberlain Sr. Henry Brasted serves in the war from Hardyston and is in tax records there at the same time as Benjamin Chamberlain Jr and John Chamberlain. They go to Genoa, NY and Cuba, NY by 1820.
  • 1775-1783
    • Sometime during the Revolutionary War, three Chamberlain brothers serve in the Sussex County militia per History of Sussex and Warren Counties and Stryker’s official list of Revolutionary War Soldiers in New Jersey: John Chamberlain, James Chamberlain, and Zephaniah Chamberlain.
    • Benjamin Chamberlain Jr is listed on DAR as a patriot for selling shoes to the army.
    • John, Benjamin and Jabez Chamberlain also pay taxes to the “American” government by paying Sussex County taxes locally, which also qualifies them as patriots according to DAR and SAR because they supported the American Revolution.
    • Other Rev War pension application on Fold3 note that the Sussex County militia records were stored and destroyed by the Department of Treasury in Washington, DC. Most men are listed in county history books published in the 1880s (the Sussex County militia list is found in the History of Sussex and Warren Counties). A few straggling documents remain that help us to know who was in the Sussex County militia, typically other men’s pension applications which lists who they served with.
    • Zephaniah also serves in the NJ Levies under Captain James Bonnell in 1782, fighting Indian incursions in western Sussex County on the Delaware River as a Five Months’ Levy from April to September 1782.
    • Also of note: Jabez Chamberlain is selling munitions to the army in 1780 Succasunna, Morris, NJ. There is no record of him being a soldier. It’s more likely that he was a blacksmith.
    • Note: John Chamberlain of Hardyston is NOT the John Chamberlain who has a Rev War pension from Caswell, North Carolina. Per his Rev War pension application, John Chamberlain of Caswell, NC was in Prince William, VA in 1798. The NC man is from Winsor, Middlesex, NJ with becomes East Windsor and West Windsor in Mercer County, and is not from Hardyston.
  • 1777
    • John Chamberlain marries sometime between 1777 and 1780.
      • He is noted as married on his 1780 tax record
      • There is no known record for John Chamberlain’s wife (or wives). She is never named in deeds, marriages, death records, etc. There is speculation that she might be a Kinnan from Morris or Somerset County, but there is no proof. DNA should help those who descend from this line to discover her maiden name.
      • IF Edmund is John’s first son, and IF Edmund is around 26 when he marries in 1804, then John would marry sometime around 1777, age 26, which was noram for this time period. If Edmund is born later or is not John’s son, then John is still married by 1780.
      • There are FOUR “extra” Chamberlain women in records who might be John’s wife or Jabez’s wife — some seem like older women. I’ll include them in the timeline below:
        • Huldah Chamberlain of Morris County, NJ (connected to the Byram and Condict families) in 1789
        • Sarah Chamberlain of Morris County in 1795
        • Elizabeth Chamberlain of Montague, Sussex, NJ  in 1813 (after John goes to prison)
        • Catherine Chamberlain of Montague in 1814.
      • I’ll leave it up to the descendants of John and Jabez Chamberlain to research their wives, since DNA will be a huge factor in figuring out who these women were. (My line is through John’s brother Benjamin Chamberlain Jr, so there wouldn’t be a DNA match for me to those wives.) Look for your closest Chamberlain DNA matches with the highest centimorgans, and see if you have any Byram or Kinnan matches as well.
  • 1778
    • Edmund Chamberlain is born around 1778. He marries in 1804. If he’s 21 at that time, he’s born around 1783. If he’s 26 (which was a common age for men to marry in Sussex County) he was born about 1778. I’ll add him in both places for his birth in this timeline, just to keep track of him. John Chamberlain is noted as married in his 1780 tax record and would be 27 years old in 1778.
  • 1780
    • John Chamberlain (“Chamberlane”) on the Hardyston, Sussex, NJ tax list for May and August. (See PDF links to tax lists below.)
      • He has 25 acres of improved land and 54 acres of unimproved land, 1 log house, and is married per these tax records. Total of 79 acres.
      • May – page 6; August page 7
    • Brother Benjamin Chamberlain Jr (also noted as married) and step-father Japheth Byram on this same list, but Jabez Chamberlain is not — Jabez has a 1780 war record in Succasunna, Morris, NJ, about 15 miles away.
    • Zephaniah and James Chamberlain are not on the tax list. But Zephaniah serves in the 1st Regiment, Sussex County Militia, from April to September 1782, so perhaps they’re both in the army at this time. Neither show up on the 1793 militia lists.
      • The tax lists are for single or married men over 21 years old. Perhaps Zephaniah and James are not over 21 yet – so, born after 1759 (Zephaniah’s war record is 1782, so perhaps that’s a clue if he’s just turned 18). Or they’re living elsewhere; a search of 1780-1782 Morris County tax lists might uncover them.
      • Note: Not every tax list has a column for single men, but often single men are noted in a “comments” area.
    • Also on the Hardyston 1780 tax lists: Henry Brasted who married Molly Chamberlain before the war; William Bohannon who married Hannah/Phebe Chamberlain; Isaac Decker who married Dorcas Chamberlain.
    • Jabez Chamberlain has a war supply record in 1780 Succasunna, Morris, NJ, but NOT on 1780 Hardyston tax lists.
    • In 1788 it’s noted that John Chamberlain purchase land from Caleb Lindley prior to 1788, adjoining Ebenezer Byram. But Byram is created from Newtown Township not Hardyston, so the 1788 land is likely different land from this 1780 tax record in Hardyston.
    • https://nj.gov/state/darm/WebCatalogPDF/SAS00001_Tax_Ratables/Sussex_County/Book1794_SussexHardystonTownshipMay1780.pdf
    • https://nj.gov/state/darm/WebCatalogPDF/SAS00001_Tax_Ratables/Sussex_County/Book1795_SussexHardystonTownshipAugust1780.pdf
  • 1781
    • John Chamberlain on Hardyston, Sussex, NJ tax list. Page 5.
    • Here is a map of the area in 1781 where Japheth Byram’s house is located (step-father of John and Benjamin Chamberlain) near the head of Lubbers Run. You can see Robert Ogden further north up the road in Sparta area, east of the Wallkill River, and the many furnaces and forges in the area. Lake Hopatcong, previously noted in 1769 as Musconetcunk Pond, is now noted as the Great Pond:
    • So, by this time, some of the Byram and Chamberlain families have migrated to the head of Lubbers Run on the road that leads from Sparta into Morris County and Succasunna. (Or, they had land in both places: Lubbers Run crosses the Hardyston/Newtown Twp line at this point in time, and when Byram Township is created from Newtown in 1798, most of Lubbers Run is in Byram. For instance, Jabez Chamberlain is on Lubbers Run as early as 1772.)
Japtheth Byram and Robert Ogden

A Quick Pause in the Timeline to talk about John Chamberlain Jr

There is much speculation about the John Chamberlain Jr who marries Mary Little, and who his father and mother were.

I’ll outline what I know and my best, logical guesses.

Around 1781-1784, this John Chamberlain Jr is born. His 1830 and 1840 census records say he’s born 1781-1790.

From here forward, I’m listing him in this timeline as “John Chamberlain Jr” to distinguish him from the older John Chamberlain of Hardyston and Byram.

I don’t know if he’s the son of John or Jabez Chamberlain from Hardyston, or the son of Sgt. John Chamberlain of Dutchess, NY — though, logically, he’s from the Hardyston family because that’s who is in the area when he gets married and where his father-in-law and brother-in-law lived per records.

Who is the father of John Chamberlain Jr?

  • It’s unknown if he is a son of John Chamberlain of Hardyston or not, though it seems highly likely. His father-in-law, Mathias Little, is always in Sussex County, NJ (Hardyston, Frankford, Newton) and John would need to live nearby in Sussex County in order to meet Mary Little around 1807 and marry her in September 1808. (No father would let his daughter marry someone he didn’t know.)
  • One researcher who prefers to remain anonymous did research on John Chamberlain Jr and at first said he was the son of John Chamberlain of Hardyston. But she identifies John Chamberlain of Hardyston as Sgt. John Chamberlain of Amenia, Dutchess, NY. That is incorrect: by John’s own letter dated in 1814, he says he is the brother of Benjamin Chamberlain Jr.
  • IF John Chamberlain Jr of Walpack is the son of John Chamberlain of Hardyston, he’s likely born in Hardyston Township, as that’s where John Chamberlain Sr has tax and militia records. Mathias Little is in Hardyston at the same time. If his mother is Eleanor Kinnan, daughter of John Kinnan of Wantage, Sussex, NJ, then that would make sense…all the families are in Sussex County at the same time and living a few miles apart from each other.
  • IF John Chamberlain Jr of Walpack is the son of Sgt. John Chamberlain of Amenia NY, he’s likely born in Dutchess, NY, as Sgt. John is in Nine Partners (Amenia), Dutchess “at home” in 1782 awaiting news about whether his Rev War enlistment requirements for the New York militia are ended or not, per a letter from George Washington to Sgt. John’s commanding officer, Philip VanCortlandt. But…how would Sgt. John Chamberlain from Amenia, Dutchess, NY meet and marry a Kinnan woman from Wantage, Sussex, NJ during this time period? It’s 104 miles away and simply doesn’t make sense.
  • When John Chamberlain Jr marries Mary Little in 1808 in Newton, Sussex, NJ, he’s at least 21, so born before 1787. Men in Sussex County at this time generally marry about age 25 or 26, when they were established enough financially to support a wife and family, so possibly he’s born closer to 1782.
  • One descendant says she has a bible record that says he was born in Hardyston in 1784, but I haven’t seen that document. His gravestone does not list a date, and he dies before the 1850 census.
  • John Chamberlain and Mary Little Chamberlain lived in Walpack, Sussex, NJ before moving to Steuben, NY and Wisconsin.
  • His son, James A. Chamberlain says both parents were born in New Jersey per his 1880 census. (Descendants says his middle name is Atherton, but I didn’t see any record to confirm that.)
  • His daughter, Eliza, says both parents were born in New York in her 1880 census.
  • Mary Little Chamberlain was born in Newton or Hardyston, NJ in 1791 — her father has a militia census in 1793 in Hardyston — which is what son James A. Chamberlain says, that his parents were born in NJ. James and Eliza were both born in Sussex County, NJ but moved to Steuben, NY by 1827 as teenagers, so she might think the family is from NY because she was raised there.
  • DNA will tell if any of these other Chamberlain people from Sussex County are John Chamberlain Jr’s siblings or cousins. If you are from one of these lines and have a DNA kit on Ancestry, please let me know so we can research your DNA matching report for clues to your closest Chamberlain matches (the ones with the highest centimorgan number and closest shared, triangulated matches).
  • One researcher says she has a narrative from Milan Washington Serl about his great-grandfather, John Chamberlain Sr, which he got from his older relatives in 1855 when he was 19 years old. The narrative and associated family tree is undated and I haven’t seen them.  The researcher found much of the narrative to be incorrect (it says Sgt John Chamberlain left Yale College (University) to join the war, was captured at the Battle of Brandywine, was on the prison ship HMS Jersey, and that after the war he became a teacher — all incorrect). Was the tree incorrect, too? Since these are undated, when were they created?
  • Milan’s tree says: grandparents are John Chamberlain and Mary Little (that’s accurate), great-grandparents are Sgt. John Chamberlain Sr (II) of New York and Eleanor Kinnan, and great-great-grandparents are Dr. John Chamberlain (I) and Matilda Atherton. I have not seen a copy of this tree and don’t know whether it’s old or modern. But Dr. John Chamberlain never had a wife Matilda Atherton.
  • Milan’s parents are Stephen Dolson Searl and Eliza Ann Chamberlain, and his grandparents are John Chamberlain and Mary Little. Milan dies in 1914, so the story is shared sometime between 1855 when Milan heard the story, and 1914 when he died. Mary Little Chamberlain is living with Milan’s parents in 1860 and 1870, so she could have told him the story. But she’s a Chamberlain by marriage, not birth, so how well would she know the Chamberlain history if they’re always living in Walpack and not in Hardyston or Byram? And since we know John Chamberlain Sr of Hardyston goes to prison, how much of the family story/tree would be shared with descendants?
  • The Milan Serl story also says John Chamberlain Sr was a teacher after the war, but the two John Chamberlain men in Sussex County are blacksmiths and farmers (Dr. John Chamberlain from Poughkeepsie, Dutchess, NY owns property in Luzerne, PA in 1798 next to Cornelius Atherton. But it’s Cornelius Atherton who is the blacksmith, not Dr. John Chamberlain — plus John Chamberlain owns LAND in 1798 in Luzerne pA, but there is no house on the land, he doesn’t live there at that time.).
  • In a 1792 court case in Sussex County, John Chamberlain of Hardyston is noted as not being able to keep a regular account book, but keeps notes on loose papers, indicating that he was not an educated man, so unlikely to be a teacher. Records show him owning a farm and possibly a blacksmith shop in Myrtle Grove, Hampton, NJ, and there is no mention in the Sussex records of any Chamberlain man being a teacher in this time period. The blacksmith shop in Myrtle Grove does become a schoolhouse in 1806, but there’s no mention of who teaches at that schoolhouse.
  • It would be fascinating to see this hand-written narrative and family tree document and to know when it was created — is it old or more modern? Handwriting analysis should identify the timeframe when it was created.

Who is the mother of John Chamberlain Jr?

The short answer is: we don’t know, there is no proof, no records at all.

  • According to Milan W. Serl’s family tree, he says his grandparents were John Chamberlain and Mary Little, and that his great-grandparents were Sgt. John Chamberlain of New York and Eleanor Canaan/Kinnan.
  • Trees speculate that “Eleanor Kinnan” is the wife of John Chamberlain SR of Hardyston and the mother of John Chamberlain Jr. Trees suggest she is the daughter of John Kinnan who died intestate in 1784 in Wantage, Sussex, NJ.
  • There are no records naming the children of John Kinnan of Wantage, except Sarah Kinnan Putman on a Wantage land deal where her husband is selling the John Kinnan land, and no records naming the wife (or wives) of John Chamberlain Sr. The only way to know for sure is DNA: do you have Kinnan DNA matches or not? One descendant of Edmund Chamberlain and Elizabeth Littell has no Kinnan, Canaan (or any spelling) DNA matches. Since we know Edmund Chamberlain of Hardyston is NOT a son of Benjami Chamberlain Jr, he can only be a son of John Chamberlain or one of the other Chamberlain siblings.
  • At this point, it’s pure speculation that her name was Eleanor Kinnan. We don’t know if she was the wife of John Chamberlain Sr, nor do we know if she was the ONLY wife of John Chamberlain.
  • John Kinnan of Wantage dies intestate, does not leave a will, and the only land owned by him in Wantage is sold by Peter Putman and his wife Sarah Kinnan in 1808, and the name is spelled Kinan in that record. A history book spells her name Canaan.
    • Sarah Kinnan marries Peter Putman in Wantage (Beemer Meeting House, Beemersville) in 1780 per her Revolutionary War military pension application.
    • Their son, John Putman, was baptized in Sussex County in 1785, and the Dutch Reformed Church spells her maiden name as Canaan.
    • Trees speculate that Sarah has a sister based on who attended Sarah’s wedding, but her sister is never named on John Kinnan’s land records in Wantage and could be a cousin. (If John Kinnan’s heirs are selling the land, then ALL the heirs should be on the land document or a Power of Attorney should be included. It’s not.) No Chamberlain is mentioned in John Kinnan’s estate — even if Eleanor is dead, her children should be heirs to John Kinnan’s estate and included in hi estate records.
    • Trees speculate that Sarah has a brother, John Kinnan Jr, based on proximity and that his cousin, son of Peter and Sarah Kinnan Putman, is the administrator on his estate in Sandyston, Sussex, NJ in 1809. He is not named on the land deal in 1808 with Peter and Sarah, and should be if he was one of the heirs of John Kinnan who died in 1784.
  • If this Eleanor Kinnan exists at all, it is more logical that she marries a man from Sussex County rather than traveling 100 miles to Dutchess County to marry a man there, then coming back to Sussex County to raise her children.
  • Online trees quote Mark R. Putman’s research, so I reached out to Mark in March 2025 to find out what he knows and when he did his research. He sent me a PDF of his research, conclusions and best guesses for the Kinnan family of New Jersey.
  • He told me he was researching the Peter Putman (yes, correct spelling, a Dutch family out of New York) in Wantage and Sandyston, Sussex, NJ to see if Peter Putman was part of Mark’s direct line, and was doing this work around 2010-2015.
  • Later, Mark discovered through DNA that this wasn’t his direct line, so he stopped researching it. He says he wrote the Kinnan Family PDF around 2016,  based on what he knew or guessed at the time.
  • In his PDF, Mark Putnam speculates that John Chamberlain’s wife is “Eleanor Kinnan,” because other researchers are looking for a woman named that based on the Milan Serl tree, but there is no record of John’s wife’s name anywhere and there are no known connections between the Chamberlain family of Hardyston and the Kinnan and/or Atherton families of Wantage. He says that John Chamberlain was the step-son of Matilda Atherton, because someone online told him that was the couple they were looking for.
  • No Sussex County Chamberlain names a daughter Eleanor or Ellen, so guessing her first name based on “traditional family naming standards” doesn’t hold up in this case. The most common granddaughter names are Phebe, Eliza, and Mary, both on Benjamin Chamberlain Jr’s line and the other lines.
  • Rebecca Chamberlain Norman, a known daughter of John Chamberlain, names her daughters: Phebe, Jane, Harriet and Amelia. If Rebecca used the traditional family naming structure, she would have named her first daughter after her mother, Phebe.
  • Mark Putnam put Sgt. John Chamberlain of Dutchess, NY in his work because online researchers told him that was the correct man. But Dr. John Chamberlain of Dutchess, NY does not have a wife named Matilda Atherton and therefore Sgt John Chamberlain didn’t have a step-mother named Atherton. (Sgt John Chamberlain might have married a woman named Matilda Atherton, but Cornelius Atherton has no daughter named Margaret.)
  • John Chamberlain Sr of Hardyston is not the step-son of a Matilda Atherton — his mother is Mary, widow of Benjamin Chamberlain Sr and wife of Japtheth Byram (John’s step-father). Japtheth Byram doesn’t have a wife named Matilda Atherton. And Cornelius Atherton did not have a daughter named Matilda Atherton. It’s possible Matilda Atherton never existed.
  • Note that Mark’s Kinnan PDF says “The below is a working section” and lists how the Kinnan tree might possibly work, as he’s trying to connect the Putman, Kinnan,  Mowerson/Morrison, and Atherton people together, weaving in speculations from other researchers from online message forum conversations in 2016. He does not include records naming the wife of John Chamberlain, only a speculation of where she might fit into the tree if she existed.
  • It is not a family bible — it’s a working research document. Researchers need to be careful about quoting from it as if it’s all facts. It’s speculation.
  • Mark also notes the family could be spelled Canaan or Canon, and online message forums show Mark was researching Peter Putman’s wife, Sarah Kinnan, in 2009 through 2016.
  • https://www.ancestry.com/boards/surnames.putman/665.3
  • DNA will prove if John Chamberlain Sr had a Kinnan wife or if he had more than one wife.

Where does this leave us for John Chamberlain who married Mary Little? If the Milan Serl handwritten tree is accurate, you need to go back to New York and Pennsylvania to pick up the trail. If it’s not, then you need to look at the Sussex and Morris County Chamberlains. What is truly needed is strong, serious, triangulated DNA work.

Since all these Chamberlain lines go back to the same couple (William Chamberlain who marries Rebecca Addington), YDNA isn’t enough. You have to look at shared matches, build out trees, and look for the strongest matches, which might also uncover the wives of these men. That is the ONLY way you will know, for sure. DNA work is not horrendously complicated, but it is vastly time-consuming. (Benjamin Chamberlain Sr of NJ’s grandfather is Edmund Chamberlain Sr, who is the brother of Clement Chamberlain Sr — and Clement’s line leads to the Amenia, NY Chamberlain line.)

Let’s continue the Timeline – Part 2

  • 1782
    • Zephaniah “Zeph” Chamberlain is in the 1st Sussex County militia regiment, under Captain James Bonnell’s NJ Levies, guarding the land along the Delaware River at the far west of Sussex County against Indian incursions. He enlisted in April 1782 and was discharged in September 1782.
    • There are no further records for him anywhere in the USA after this date, and no record of him dying in battle.
  • 1783
    • Edmund Chamberlain marries in 1804. If he’s 21, he’s born around 1783. If he’s 26 which was a common age for men to marry in Sussex County, he was born about 1778. I’m putting both dates in this timeline.
    • After the Revolutionary War, many people moved away from Sussex County, looking for cheaper land.
      • It’s possible we’re missing some Chamberlain children if they move away directly after the war.
      • Dorcas Chamberlain, daughter of Benjamin Chamberlain Sr, and her husband Isaac Decker go to Fairfield, Westmoreland, PA.
      • Molly Chamberlain, daughter of Benjamin Chamberlain Sr, and her husband Henry Brasted go to Genoa, Cayuga, NY and Cuba, Allegany, NY
      • James Chamberlain, probably a son of John or Jabez, moves to Groveland, Livingston, NY with his in-laws, the McClennen family.
  • 1788
    • In a land record for today’s Byram Township (was Newtown Township before Byram Township was created in 1798), there is a mention of land that Caleb Lindley sold to John Chamberlain Sr, adjoining the lot of Ebenezer Byram, prior to 1788.
      • The land is noted to be at the head of Lubbers Run, which forms in today’s Sparta Township and runs south through Byram Township (see 1781 map above). So his land is on the Sparta/Byram border, just southeast of today’s Lake Mohawk, probably near Japheth Byram’s house on the 1781 map above (his step-father). Contrast that to the Wallkill River which flows northward through the town of Sparta, where Benjamin Chamberlain had a grist mill. Lubbers Run and the Wallkill River are often mentioned in Chamberlain land records.
      • This is probably a family land deal: Caleb Lindley married Hannah Byram, sister of Japheth Byram who married the widow Mary Chamberlain after Benjamin Chamberlain Sr died. Caleb Lindley was the step-uncle of John Chamberlain. See below for more about Caleb Lindley (Lindsley) and Ebenezer Byram III.
      • Also note that in 1772, John’s brother Jabez Chamberlain has a land record on Lubbers Run, and Ebenezer Byram’s land is also on Lubbers Run.
      • Japheth Byram owned a grist mill on the Wallkill and had a house on Lubbers Run (John and Benjamin Chamberlain’s step-father)
      • Benjamin Chamberlain Jr had a mill on the Wallkill River and land in both Hardyston and Newtown Townships, so he’s closer to today’s Sparta (and, indeed, Benjamin Chamberlain Jr’s house still exists on Newton-Sparta road and most recently as the Brick House Farm Bed & Breakfast, 125 Sparta Ave in Sparta, NJ).
      • Who are Ebenezer Byram and Caleb Lindley?
        • This is Ebenezer Byram III, nephew of Japheth Byram, John and Benjamin’s step-father, so step-cousin to John Chamberlain.
        • Caleb Lindley is the husband of Hannah Byram, Japheth Byram’s sister, so step-uncle to John Chamberlain.
        • Elias Byram, Japheth and Hannah’s brother, is the father of Martha Byram who marries Benjamin Chamberlain Jr. Therefore, Martha Byram Chamberlain is John Chamberlain Sr’s sister-in-law.
        • So, you can see how the Byram and Chamberlain families intermarried and had business dealings with each other.
        • Descendants of any of these Chamberlain families should look for DNA matches to the Byram families of Morris and Sussex counties.
        • This might be a clue that one of these families are John Chamberlain Sr’s wife’s family. DNA will tell. Both John Chamberlain Sr and Jabez Chamberlain would have known these Byram and associated families well — did they marry into kin?
        • https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4N-69CF-Z?view=fullText&keywords=Ebenezer%20Byram&lang=en&groupId=M9D6-VZS
  • 1789
    • Mystery Chamberlain woman #1: In 1789, Huldah Chamberlain witnesses a legal document in Mendham, Morris County, NJ. I’ve done an analysis of her, and the people involved in this transaction (all related to her, see below), and I believe this may be Huldah Byram who first marries Col. Ebenezer Condict and second marries George Phillips in Morris Township, Morris County, NJ.
      • Huldah Byram’s parents are Ebenezer Byram Jr and Abigail Alden (of the Mayflower Aldens). Ebenezer Byram Jr is the brother of Eliab Byram, whose daughter Martha Byram marries Benjamin Chamberlain Jr.
      • Ebenezer is also the brother of Japheth Byram who marries Mary, the widow of Benjamin Chamberlain Sr.
      • Ebenezer Byram Jr’s son, Ebenezer Byram III, owns land next to John Chamberlain Sr in Byram Township, Sussex County, NJ
      • Huldah Byram marries Ebenezer Condict in 1762. Ebenezer Condict dies in 1777.
      • She’s on the Morris Township tax lists through 1781 as Huldah Condict with 170 acres.
      • She marries George Philips in 1782 and he dies in 1784. Her step-son, Jonah Philips seems to be farming the 170 acres.
      • George Philips dies in 1784. She is 44 years old, and she likely remarries.
        • Note that Mary Chamberlain (who marries William Courtney) signs a document in Morris Township, Morris County, NJ in 1784 and marries William Courtney in 1786 in Morristown. She is the daughter of Benjamin Chamberlain Sr. It’s possible she was living with her brother Jabez Chamberlain in Morris County at this time (he has a record in Morris County in 1780 and 1791).
      • Huldah is on the Morris Township tax lists through 1788 as Huldah Phillips, but her son Silas Condict, doesn’t inherit this land until he turns 21 per his father’s will, and Silas isn’t 21 until 1787.
      • She disappears from taxes as Huldah Phillips in 1788, and in 1789 her step-son, Jonas Philips, seems to be farming her 170 acres. Her son, Silas Condict, is not on the Morris Township tax lists until a few years later. If she marries around 1788 or 1789 to a Chamberlain man, she’s about 48 years old and unlikely to have Chamberlain children.
      • Since John Chamberlain Sr doesn’t appear to have any big gaps in the ages of his supposed children, and doesn’t have Morris County records, I don’t think he is her husband. Instead, it’s likely Jabez Chamberlain, who is in Succasunna, Morris, NJ in 1780 and Pequannock, Morris, NJ in 1791, and finally in Hardyston, Sussex, NJ in 1793 then disappears. If true, Jabez would be her third husband and he might have had a first wife because he is born before 1751 and by 1789 would be 38 years old or older. If he dies after 1793, they might have only been married from 1789-1793. Her death record calls her Huldah Phillips.
      • The people involved in this 1789 legal document in Mendham, Morris, NJ are all relatives of Huldah Byram:
        • James and Ruth Pierson Cook of Mendham sell land to John Halsey
        • James Cook is the son-in-law of Judge Silas Condict via James’ 1st wife Elizabeth Phebe Condict — Ruth is his 2nd wife
        • Huldah Byram Condict, wife of Col. Ebenezer Condict who died in 1777. Huldah is Judge Silas Condict’s sister-in-law.
        • Her uncle is Japtheth Byram who married the widow Mary Chamberlain Byram
          • If Mary Chamberlain m. William Courtney is connected, Mary is the step-daughter of Japtheth Byram, and Mary might have been working for Huldah (or any of her Byram relatives in Morristown area).
        • Her aunt is Hannah Byram m. Caleb Lindsley, who sold land to John Chamberlain
        • Her niece is Martha Byram who married Benjamin Chamberlain JR
        • This is what makes me think this Huldah Chamberlain in 1789 is Huldah Byram. It’s my best guess, for now.
  • 1791
    • Oct 1791: Jabez Chamberlain (“Chamberlin”) in Pequannock, Morris, NJ (which becomes Jefferson Twp in 1804)
      • Image 8, right column
      • Has no land, just horses, hogs and cattle
      • I’m presuming he’s married, because below him is a list of single men and others have “Single” in the Certainties comments (what’s taxable beyond the other columns for land and animals) on other pages
      • This lends weight to Jabez being the husband of “Huldah Chamberlain” in 1789. He would be about 38 years old. It’s not the Jabez son of Benjamin Jr, who dies in 1821, that one is born around 1785 and is named on his father’s land division.
      • By 1793 he’s back in Hardyston, Sussex, NJ
      • https://nj.gov/state/darm/WebCatalogPDF/SAS00001_Tax_Ratables/Morris_County/Book1382_MorrisPequannockTownshipOctober1791.pdf
  • 1792
    • John Chamberlain (Sr) indicted for assaulting two relatives.
      • Age 40 (b 1752)
      • Sussex County Indictments, NJ Archives in Trenton, research by Julie Miller, PhD, Library of Congress
    • NJ Supreme Court case in Sussex County, Benjamin Chamberlain vs. John Chamberlain (see NJ Searchable Databases, Supreme Court cases)
      • John Chamberlain sues Benjamin Chamberlain and wins a judgement of 8 pounds and 7 pence (£8.0.7). Benjamin Chamberlain appeals the case to the New Jersey Supreme Court (then the Court of Appeals)
        • At the time, NJ Supreme Court cases were heard in the local counties with Supreme Court Justices traveling on a fixed schedule. The juries were local people.
        • Witnesses on behalf of John Chamberlain
          • Mary Masters
          • Benjamin Masters Jr
        • Witnesses on behalf of Benjamin Chamberlain
          • William Con or Carr
          • Benjamin Masters (doesn’t say Jr or Sr)
          • John Clay
          • William Bristed (Braisted, Brasted) I’m not sure how William Braisted could be both a witness and a jury member. There is both a William Brasted Sr and Jr in Hardyston at the same time (uncle and cousin to Henry Brasted who married Molly Chamberlain — and Henry also has a brother William, so three in Hardyston at the same time. William Brasted Sr dies in Hardyston in 1811.)
        • Jury
          • William Ayres (Ayers)
          • William Bristted (Brasted, Braisted)
          • Job Cory
          • Benjamin Hains (Haines)
          • Joseph Havens
          • Thomas Hill
          • Simon Howard (Lt. Simeon Howard)
          • John Johnston (John Johnson, later to become a JP)
          • James Morrow
          • James Morrow Jr
          • Burzel Osburn (Barzilla Osborn)
          • Richard Staet or Stact or Stutts
          • These are all Hardyston area men.
        • Attorney
          • Thomas Anderson (and also a JP, he lived in the town of Newton)
        • Sussex County Justices
          • Thomas VanKirk, JP for Hardyston
        • NJ Supreme Court
          • Chief Justice James Kinsey, in Trenton, NJ
          • Justice John Chetwood (he travels periodically to Sussex County to hear all criminal and civil cases for the region)
        • Constable
          • Michael Rorick
      • 28 Apr 1792 John Chamberlain vs Benjamin Chamberlain. Summons served by Michael Rorick, constable of Hardyston. A jury was demanded by the plaintiff (see Jury list above, all Hardyston-area residents). The jury awarded the plaintiff 8 pounds and 7 pence. Thomas VanKirk was the JP hearing the case in Hardyston.
      • Sept 1792 term, NJ Supreme Court: Benjamin Chamberlain vs John Chamberlain, appeal of verdict via Benjamin’s attorney, Thomas Anderson. NJ Supreme Court Justice John Chetwood agrees to hear the case.
      • 6 Nov 1792, Thomas VanKirk, JP for Sussex County, writes to the Justices of the Supreme Court that both men’s account papers were read to the jury, and the jury returned a verdict that VanKirk believed was in alignment with what the evidence the jury heard.
      • 30 Nov 1792, Benjamin Chamberlain appealed to the NJ Supreme Court at Trenton, NJ. Appeal (to Thomas VanKirk, JP for Hardyston) on a Judgment (£8.0.7) and Costs
      • Note: this Thomas VanKirk is the same Justice of the Peace who officiates the wedding ceremonies of James Chamberlain and Simeon Chamberlain later. He’s a member of the Sparta Presbyterian Church.
  • 1793
    • Three brothers on the militia census in Hardyston, Sussex, NJ: Benjamin Chamberlain Jr, John Chamberlain, and Jabez Chamberlain.
    • This militia census is for men age 18-50, born 1743-1775. All the sons of Benjamin, John and Jabez would be too young to be on this militia census.
    • No Zephaniah or James on this Sussex militia list, so presuming they are dead or gone.
    • Zephaniah or “Zeph” never has records anywhere in the USA after 1782.
    • There are lots of men named James Chamberlain to explore, looking for DNA matches. (This isn’t the younger James Chamberlain born abt 1788 who marries Nancy McClennen in 1813 Hardyston, NJ. But the younger James could be named for his older uncle.)
    • Note:
      • Matthias Little, future father-in-law of John Chamberlain of Walpack, is also on the 1793 Hardyston militia list.
      • Cornelius Atherton (“Autherton”) is on the 1793 Vernon militia list. But he is NOT the older Cornelius Atherton who was the founder of the town of Taylor, Lackawanna, PA in 1790 — he would be too old to be on this militia list (men 18-50) and not living in the right place. The older Cornelius Atherton is in Wilkes-Barre, PA by 1788, founds the town of Taylor, PA in 1790, has a 1790 census record in Luzerne, PA,  and has a son born 1793 in Taylor, PA). This must be a different Atherton family, perhaps from the Morris County Atherton families, or from the David or Job Atherton lines (who were in Sussex earlier). I note it here because trees speculate that John Chamberlain Jr’s step-mother is “Matilda Atherton” and that’s why he names a son James Atherton Chamberlain. Researchers would need to look into the Atherton families living in Sussex or nearby counties at this time. Note that in 1785 when Robert Ogden Sr writes his will, he notes Cornelius ALERTON (Allerton) lived on land owned by Robert Ogden in Hardyston. There are Allerton people in Hardyston through at least 1807, and there are Allerton people living in Rockaway and Morristown, Morris County, NJ at this time. It’s entirely possible this 1793 militia list is for Cornelius Allerton (it’s a typed list from handwritten records and contains spelling errors).
      • NOTE: In Sussex County, it was VERY common for people to give middle names to their children of friends or people they admired who were not related by blood or marriage. For instance, William Devore names a son Uzal C. Devore after Uzal C. Haggerty, the local sheriff. Elias O. Lennington, son of Thomas Lennington and Phebe Chamberlain, was named in honor of Major Elias Ogden of Sparta, but there is no family relationship among them. L’Hommedieu Simmons is named after Judge Elias L’Hommedieu in Sussex County, but not related by blood or marriage. I’ve seen several dozen cases like this in Sussex and Morris counties. Local admired figures included close friends, business partners, judges, sheriffs, and military heroes.
  • 1795
    • Mystery Chamberlain woman #2: Sarah Chamberlain petitions for a license to run a tavern in Morris County. I don’t know who she is. Huldah is still alive (she dies 1826), so it’s not her. The people who co-sign Sarah’s tavern license petition seem to be from Hunterdon County, which borders Morris County, so she could be a widow from one of the Hunterdon men.
  • 1796
    • The heirs of Edmund Chamberlain’s widow, Sarah Furbush Chamberlain, divide her estate in 1796, Willington, Tolland, CT.
    • Abigail Chamberlain of Byram marries Samuel Lish, by Silas Dickerson, JP
      • Note: Silas Dickerson was the brother of NJ Governor Mahlon Dickerson.
    • Elizabeth Chamberlain of Byram marries Gilbert Lish, by Jepthah Byram, JP for Byram
      • Note: Jepthah Byram was the brother of Japheth Byram, John and Benjamin Chamberlain’s step-father (essentially their step-Uncle). The Byram family and the  Chamberlain family are often in records together since Japheth Byram raised the Chamberlain children starting in 1760 when Benjamin Chamberlain Jr was 13 and John Chamberlain was 9.
      • The only Chamberlain person who owns land in Byram at this time is John Chamberlain Sr, who has owned land there since at least 1788. He does NOT have a tax record in Byram in 1803, but his son-in-law Gilbert Lish does.
  • 1798
    • Byram Township officially created from Newtown Township. It’s been known as Byram for several years before this, and sometimes referred to as Lockwood.
  • 1799
  • Strayed  or stolen from the pasture of the subscriber, on the night of Tuesday the 12th instant (November 12, 1799), a very handsome little sorrel MARE, five years old last spring, and about fourteen hands high. She was in fine order, and although not well broken, carries herself exceedingly well, and trots very light and square; her natural marks are not so well recollected — It is supposed she has a star in her forehead, and two white feet. There is on each hind leg, on the inner side of the hock joint, a small excrescence (an outgrowth), something resembling a spavin, but of which she does not go lame. Whoever takes up said Mare, and delivers her to the subscriber at Sparta, in the County of Sussex, and secures the thief so that he may be brought to justice, shall be entitled to the above reward, or ten dollars for the Mare alone, and all reasonable expenses. (Signed) Robert Ogden. Sparta, November 29, 1799. N. B. (nota bene – note well) She was taken to horse last spring (bred with a stallion), but is supposed not to be with foal.
  • Note: there is some online discussions that Oliver Norman “left abruptly” in 1799 or 1801 and moved to Ohio, and perhaps he stole the horse. That’s incorrect: Oliver Norman is still in Sussex County as a blacksmith and farmer through the time he sells his land in 1814 and moved to Ohio. His grandson’s biography says they moved to Ohio in 1816. Oliver Norman was never a tenant of Robert or Elias Ogden — Oliver owned over 200 acres in Hardyston plus a blacksmith shop. See analysis below about how Rebecca Chamberlain can’t be the wife of Oliver Norman.
  • See 1844, where the reporter found that John Chamberlain had gone to prison three times for stealing horses. He was not caught in the 1799 case, per the above ad. This 1801 case is the first, the 1805 case is the second, and the 1809 case is the third.
  • 1800
    • The History of Sussex and Warren Counties says that “before 1800” John Chamberlain built a blacksmith shop in Myrtle Grove, Hampton Township, New Jersey. By 1806, this log cabin was converted into a schoolhouse, so he didn’t stay in Hampton Township long.
      • This is likely John Chamberlain Sr. In order to buy or lease land upon which to build this blacksmith shop, he would need to be over 21 in 1800 (or over 21 “before 1800” so 1799-ish) — so he’s born before 1778. John Chamberlain Jr is born 1781-1790 (per his 1830 and 1840 census records) and possibly 1784 per some trees, and would be too young.
      • Why a blacksmith shop? Myrtle Grove is farming country, not mining country. But the entire Hardyston/Sparta/Byram area to the east of Myrtle Grove is littered with iron mining, iron forges and blacksmith shops — and the Chamberlain and Byram families are deep into the blacksmith and forge industries:
      • As early as 1762, John’s stepfather, Japheth Byram owned a forge in Hardyston.
      • Benjamin Chamberlain Jr’s son Joseph owned the Hopewell Iron Forge near Sparta as well as a forge on the other side of Sparta Mountain in Jefferson Township, Morris County, NJ.
      • Rebecca Chamberlain’s husband, Peter Norman, was a forgerman and farmer, and her brother-in-law, Oliver Norman owned a blacksmith shop in Sparta as well as a farm.
      • Richard Chamberlain purchased a forge from Robert Ogden in Hardyston.
      • Abraham Chamberlain, son of Benjamin Chamberlain Jr owned the Petersburg Forge.
      • The History of Sussex and Warren Counties talks extensively about the mining and forges in the region.
      • Note: a MODERN message forum thread suggested that Rebecca Chamberlain first married Oliver Norman, then when he left for Ohio in 1799, she married his brother Peter Norman.
        • It’s incorrect on three counts —
        • First: Oliver Norman doesn’t go to Ohio until 1814, after he sells 160 acres of land to James Ludlum in Hardyston, and 40 acres of land to his brother Peter Norman, who ran a farm and a forge. He has no records in Ohio earlier than this and is often buying and selling land prior to 1814 in Hardyston.
        • Second:Per Oliver Norman’s grandson in his biography, they arrived in Ohio in 1816. (There are no record of Oliver Norman in Ohio previous to this.)
        • https://archive.org/details/pastpresentofcit00suto/page/n540/mode/1up?q=%22oliver+norman%22
        • Third: Rebecca Chamberlain and Peter Norman have a son William, born in 1805. Oliver Norman has a son William born in 1791 who goes with him to Ohio. Rebecca does not have TWO sons named William. Peter’s children by Rebecca are named in his will, specifically saying “children of my first wife” and lists son William.
        • William of Peter dies in 1887 Sparta, Sussex, NJ, single, and his estate is divided among his siblings.
        • William of Oliver dies in 1878 in Hopewell, Muskingum, OH.
        • https://archive.org/details/historyofsussexw00snel/page/406/mode/1up?q=chamberlain
      • Note: I could find no land records for purchasing land for this blacksmith shop in Hampton Township and no records of this land/log cabin being purchased for the use of a schoolhouse.  A more thorough search of land records from 1799-1807 might yield something.
      • However: The 1795-1810 account book of Henry Bale in Hampton shows John Chamberlain, but no exact date of when these people purchased from Henry Bale.
        • The record says the account book of Henry Bale was for buyers from 1795 to 1810 in Hampton and includes names that are known to be from Frankford (Robert Adams, Peter Couse), Augusta (George Haggerty, John S. Haggerty, Samuel Price), Lafayette (John Lanterman, Caspar Snook, Abijah Hopkins), as well as people in the Balesville/Myrtle Grove area in Hampton Township. It also includes Daniel Predmore, the JP who marries John Chamberlain Jr and Mary Little in 1808.
        • So, sometime between 1795 and 1810, John Chamberlain Sr OR John Chamberlain Jr purchased from Henry Bale’s lumber mill or grist mill. If John Chamberlain Sr built his blacksmith shop in 1799 or 1800, then the timeframe is 1799-1806 when the blacksmith shop is converted to a schoolhouse. But if John Chamberlain Jr was born around 1784, he could have made purchases 1802-1810.
  • 1801
    • A mention of a small house occupied by Samuel Lish in Byram Township, husband of Abigail Chamberlain Lish. Is it possible they are occupying the John Chamberlain house? Adjoining the Lockwood Works aka Lockwood Forge.
    • John Chamberlain Sr is accused of stealing Robert Ogden’s male horse in Sparta, Sussex, NJ. Robert Ogden indicates it’s the same John Chamberlain who stole a female horse (mare) in 1799 from him and the reward includes both 20 dollars for the return of the current male horse and additional 10 dollars for the outstanding reward for stealing the previous female horse in 1799. (He had already paid the person who returned the horse $10, and was willing to pay an additional $10 to whoever secured the thief.)
    • He describes John as 50 years old (born 1751) and says he may have gone to Vermont, Redstone (Fayette County, PA in southwestern PA) or Reading, Berks, PA. An arrest warrant has been issued for this felony.
    • Three ads are run, the final ad is dated 11 Aug 1801, so he was probably caught shortly after this time.
      • Newspaper ad reads:
      • 20 Dollars Reward. Stolen from the pasture of the subscriber at Sparta, in the Township of Hardiston (Hardyston), in the County of Sussex in the State of New Jersey, on the night of Thursday, 9th July instant (July 9, 1801), a dark bay HORSE called Robbin; he is about 10 years old, 14 and a half hands high, with a black mane and tale (sic), a star in his forehead, one or both hind feet white. [Note: a male horse.] He trots and canters well, and is a handsome well made horse; but low in flesh, having been used in the plough the greater part of the season. There is a remarkable scar on his near fore pastern join [his leg], made by a cut of a scythe in an upward direction, about two years ago; the wound did not heal in six months, and although now quite well, the hair has not grown there since, so that if the other marks are not accurately described, he may be known by this. Whoever takes up said horse and return him to the subscriber, shall be paid by him eight dollars, and all reasonable expenses. If the thief is apprehended and secured so that he is brought to public justice, a further reward of twelve dollars shall be paid by the subscriber. (Signed) Robert Ogden.
      • N.B. (nota bene – note well) – A warrant for Felony, has issued against John Chamberlain for stealing the above horse. He is the same villain who stole a mare [Note: female horse] from the subscriber about two years ago (1799); and is a tall, strait (sic; straight), well made fellow; near 50 years old [born around 1751]; has light colored hair, and a sandy beard; is very fond of spirituous liquor, and very apt to get drunk; when a little intoxicated he calls himself John the Dickins; when drunk, John the Devil. Whoever apprehends the said John Chamberlain, or John the Devil, and shall secure him in any of the goals (jails) in the United States so that he may be brought to justice, will be entitled to receive from the subscribers, in addition to the above reward, Ten Dollars which remains unpaid, on his former advertisement, the mare only, having been taken and returned to him. Robert Ogden. The Printers in the  several states especially Vermont, Kentucky and Pennsylvania would render a service to the public, by inserting the above, as it is supposed he has gone to Vermont, Redstone [Fayette County, PA], or Reading in Pennsylvania.
      • Sparta, August 5, 1801.
      • (This gives the impression that Robert Ogden doesn’t know that John Chamberlain Sr is in Myrtle Grove)
  • 1803
    • About this time, Rebecca Chamberlain, daughter of John Chamberlain Sr, marries Peter Norman. Their first children are born in Sparta, so presumably they’re married in the area. Peter Norman is always in Hardyston or Sparta.
      • Per Peter Norman’s will written in 1851, he lists the children of his first wife (Rebecca Chamberlain) and the children of his second wife (Elizabeth Burr) – he literally says “children of my first wife” and “children of my present wife” in his will:
        • By Rebecca Chamberlain:
          • Phebe, wife of Phineas Dunn
          • William Norman (he dies unmarried in Sparta, NJ and his estate is divided among his siblings)
          • Charles Norman
          • Jane, wife of Peter Riker
          • Harriet wife of Silas Osborne
          • Oliver Norman (he gets in trouble with the law and goes to jail often, so missing some of his census records while he’s in prison)
          • Amena (Amelia) Norman
          • John Norman
          • Rebecca must die between John’s birth in 1820 and Peter’s remarriage to Ellen around 1824.
        • By Elizabeth Ackerson Burr:
          • Peter Norman Jr
          • Rebecca Norman
          • Robert Norman
          • Samuel Norman
          • Mary Norman
          • Mahlon Norman
    • John Chamberlain Sr is NOT listed on Byram Township tax list in 1803, but Gilbert Lish is listed (he married Elizabeth Chamberlain in 1799).
      • This gives some credence to John Chamberlain living in Myrtle Grove (Hampton Twp) at this time. But in 1844, a reporter researching Amelia Norman’s family says that John Chamberlain was sent to the State Prison three different times for stealing horses, so he might not be living in Byram at this time — he might be in prison — and his son-in-law might be on the John Chamberlain land.
      • Samuel Lish, husband of Abigail Chamberlain Lish, is not on this list but was there in 1801. There is a record of a Samuel and Henry Lish in Philadelphia, possibly brothers of Gilbert Lish.
      • Also on this 1803 Byram Township tax list: Jepthah Byram (Benjamin and John’s step-uncle), Nicholas Byram (their step-cousin), Eliab Byram, Susannah Byram, Elisha Wright (the farmer who owned the rye and wheat John Chamberlain Sr burns in 1809), Gilbert Lish, Asenath Lish (sister of Gilbert, who marries Joseph Hazen who goes to Minisink, Orange, NY — they marry in Byram in 1804).
      • https://archive.org/details/historyofsussexw00snel/page/462/mode/1up?q=%22ephraim+wright%22
    • Benjamin Chamberlain III owns a forge in 1803 Pequannock Twp, Morris County, NJ (Jefferson Twp is created in 1804 from Pequannock). I’m noting it here because most of Benjamin Chamberlain Jr’s children eventually move to Jefferson Township.
  • 1804
    • Edmund Chamberlain marries Elizabeth Little or Littell, both of Byram, by Simeon Dickerson JP for Byram.
      • Edmund is not mentioned in the Benjamin Chamberlain book, so is likely a son of John or Jabez.
      • He would be at least 21, born before 1783
    • 16 Oct 1804 – Samuel Chamberlain
      • Noted as delinquent from militia training practice
      • https://www.nj.gov/state/archives/guides/csuml001.pdf
      • Under Captain William Morris, 5th Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment of the Sussex County militia
      • This is Samuel Chamberlain, son of Benjamin Chamberlain Jr — I’m including this record to show that regular Sussex militia training was happening before the War of 1812, and there may be more paper records about these Sussex County militia regiments in the NJ Archives in Trenton, NJ
  • 1805
    • William Havens of Hardyston accuses John Chamberlain Sr of stealing his horse. He describes John Chamberlain as about 50 years old (b 1755), sandy colored hair and beard, much given to drinking strong liquor, and suggests he might have gone to the “Lake Country” (Finger Lakes in NY). There is only one ad, so John is likely caught around late July or early August, or at least the horse is returned at that time.
    • 20 Dollars Reward. Stolen out of the pasture of the subscriber, on the 6th ins (Jun 6, 1805), a black mare, natural trotter, 14 1/2 hands high, marked with a white strip down her face, white spot on each of her flanks, about 11 or 12 years old. The mare is supposed to be stolen by a certain John Chamberlain about 50 years of age, 5 feet 10 inches high; sandy colored hair and beard; much given to drink strong liquor, a little pockmarked, supposed he is gone to the Lake country [Finger Lakes, New York]. Whoever takes the said Chamberlain and mare, by delivering them to me, at my house in Sussex County, Township of Hardiston [Hardyston], and state of New Jersey, shall be entitled to the above reward, and all reasonable charges allowed, or for the mare alone ten dollars, and reasonable charges. William Havens, June 22, 1805.
    • Note: In his 1814 letter, John does say he wanted to visit his son in “Genesee Country” which is in northwestern New York, near the Finger Lakes.
    • Also in 1805, Robert Ogden is selling land to Oliver Norman (Rebecca Chamberlain Norman’s brother-in-law). Oliver Norman sells this same land to James Ludlum in 1814 before going to Ohio.
  • 1806
    • Per the History of Sussex/Warren, the blacksmith shop in Myrtle Grove that was built by John Chamberlain prior to 1800, is converted into a schoolhouse before 1806. This would make sense if he’s back in the Sparta/Byram area by 1805.
    • It would be helpful to find the land deeds for this property, but I haven’t seen them. Often it’s the Trustees of the local school who make the land deals to purchase school property. It’s possible these are leases, not sales, and not in deed records. A. M. Merring is Andrew M. Merring from Sandyston who is in Hampton Township as early as 1840. Looking for his deeds might supply the names of adjoining land owners. Andrew is born in 1808, so he’s not a land owner this early — the book is written in 1881 when he was a land owner in Hampton.
  • 1807
    • NJ Supreme Court case in Sussex County: John Chamberlain JR vs John Clay. It’s a ejectment case in Sussex County for 100 acres of Wantage Township land.
      • Note: This is a THIRD John Chamberlain, from Franklin County, PA (just west of Harrisburg, PA, nearly 200 miles away from Sparta, NJ). Later court testimony says he’s living in Franklin County, PA and he is “of Pennsylvania” in May 1808 when he sells the Wantage land. He has records in Fannettsburg, Metal Township, Franklin, PA from 1786 until his death is noted in a land deed in 1824, including census records for 1790, 1800 and 1810 in Franklin County, PA. Like many others, he is an absentee landlord. Some of these absentee land owners are in New York City and even London, England.
      • This John Chamberlain might be related to Lewis Chamberlain, from Hunterdon, NJ who moved to nearby Adams County, PA. The family could have purchased Sussex land as an investment while they lived in Hunterdon County, NJ — other landlords did.
      • This is not John Chamberlain Sr of Hardyston (his father is Benjamin, not John), and it’s not John Chamberlain Jr of Walpack (whose father could be John Sr of Hardyston, but is living in New Jersey, not PA — he has to be, in order to meet and marry Mary Little by 1808. Her father is in Newton, Sussex, NJ in 1806, Hardyston in 1810, and back in Newton through 1813 at least.).
      • This record is noted as “John Chamberlain JR,” so there is a John Chamberlain SR alive somewhere at this time who is the father of John Chamberlain of Franklin, PA. And indeed, there is an older John Chamberlain in Franklin County, PA in 1800 and 1810, and records there note him as a schoolmaster. He’s been there since 1792.
      • Also, this can’t be the Matilda Chamberlain in Kingston, PA at the same time, over 165 miles away. It’s two separate Matilda Chamberlain women. This one stays in Franklin County, PA through 1814.
      • The case is this: John and Matilda Chamberlain of Franklin County, PA lease 100 acres of Wantage land to Richard Fen. But Richard Fen doesn’t occupy that land: John Clay does. The court case begins in 1807 with Richard Fen as the defendant, and in Feb 1808 the plaintiffs and defendants agree that John Clay will be the official defendant. That’s why the case is called John Chamberlain vs. John Clay.
      • Also note that John Clay owns and rents a TON of land in Sussex County. John Clay is “of Frankford Township” when he sells this same Wantage land later. His records often say John Clay, Esq – indicating he earns his living by renting land to others, not by working the land himself. Esquire or squire means “gentleman” or man of leisure in land records, not attorney.
      • I’m putting this case here because Peter Putman ALSO has a case against John Clay, and Peter Putman’s wife is Sarah Kinnan. When Peter sells his Wantage land later to John Clay, it is noted as being the land formerly owned by John Kinnan (Kinan), likely Sarah’s father.
      • BUT when John Chamberlain and Matilda Chamberlain of Franklin County, PA sells his land to John Clay, it says that John Kean (Keen) was the former owner, likely related to John Keen and Andrew Keen of Stillwater, Sussex, NJ (The family name is spelled in Stillwater records as Kehn, Kihn, Keuhn, or Kehin (German) but sounds like Keen. Like with John Chamberlain and Mary Little, Daniel Predmore also officiates some of the Keen marriages around the same time, so they’re all living in the same area. There are Keen and derivate spelling people buried in Stillwater Cemetery.)

  • 1808
    • 26 May 1808 – The court case doesn’t have a clear conclusion about who wins the case. But in the end, John Chamberlain and Matilda Chamberlain “both of Pennsylvania” sell the Wantage land to John Clay.
    • 2 Sep 1808 – John Chamberlain marries Mary Little, by Daniel Predmore, JP for Newtown and Frankford townships.
      • I’m going to call him “John Chamberlain Jr” from now on, to distinguish him from the older John Chamberlain Sr in Hardyston. I don’t know if they are father and son or not, though it seems likely — there are no other Chamberlain people in Sussex County at this time.
      • He’s definitely not the John Chamberlain Jr from Franklin County, PA — that one is living in Franklin County, PA in 1800 and 1810 and his sister Matilda joins a church there in 1814. He has records throughout this time period in Franklin County, PA.
      • This John Chamberlain who marries Mary Little is having kids in New Jersey in 1810/1813 and serves in the militia in 1814 from Walpack, Sussex, NJ.
      • He’s at least 21 when he marries, so born before 1787. His census records both say 1781-1790.
      • Per the History of Sussex/Warren, Mary Little’s father is Mathias Little. In 1793, Mathias Little is in Hardyston. In 1801, Mathias witnessed a land deed in Hardyston. In 1805 he witnesses land deeds from both Frankford and Hardyston. By 1806 he’s renting a house in the Village of Newton, gets a tavern license in Hardyston in 1810, and eventually runs a tavern in Newton after 1813, on the site which will later become the Cochran House Hotel (in 1843) on the main square facing the green. Mathias Little is noted as living near Benjamin Hull’s — who lived on Smith Hill, just outside of Newton where the Sussex County Community College is today, in Hampton Twp. His son James, per his testimony, was living in Hardyston in 1810 for three year apprenticeship and then moved back to Newton in 1813.
      • John Chamberlain Jr could have known Mary Little when they were young together in Hardyston or could have met her when her family was living in the town of Newton, the county seat.
      • I would guess that they “dated” for about a year before marrying, as was the custom, so they met sometime in 1807. Mathias Little is living in Newton around 1807.
      • The Justice of the Peace, Daniel Predmore, marries people from the entire region of what’s now Branchville, Frankford, Hampton, and Augusta.
    • Gilbert Lish, husband of Elizabeth Chamberlain Lish, signs a tavern petition in Byram Township in 1808. This is John Chamberlain Sr’s son-in-law since they married in Byram and are living in Byram.
  • 1809
    • John Chamberlain Sr indicted for setting fire to a stack of wheat and rye of neighbor Ephraim Wright of Byram. (Ephraim Wright who lived in Byram in 1803 near Gilbert Lish).
      • Sussex County Indictments, NJ Archives in Trenton, research by Julie Miller, PhD, Library of Congress
      • Age 57, born 1752, so this is John Chamberlain Sr
      • Since the wheat and rye is stacked, it’s after the harvest, probably late summer/early autumn of 1809
    • 5 Nov 1809 – John Chamberlain Sr steals two horses to avoid going to his court date set for 7 Nov 1809, and takes off.
    • In his 1814 letter, he says he stole two horses: one from his brother Benjamin Chamberlain (he lived on Newton-Sparta Road above the town of Sparta) and one from Barzilla Osborn of Hardyston.
    • According to his letter, he was captured fairly quickly.
    • According to the court records researched by Julie Miller, PhD from the Library of Congress, John Chamberlain is sentenced to 17 years in prison: 7 years for burning the crops, and 5 years for each occurrence of horse theft. (Note: in 1844, the reporter investigating the family says it’s 15 years, not 17 years).
    • See 1814 for a further analysis.
  • 1810
    • The final mention of John Chamberlain Sr owning land in Byram Township. I don’t know what happens to this land that he’s owned since 1788. There is no record of his children living on this land. He might lose it to unpaid taxes, so looking at Sheriff Sale documents might identify it.
    • Sept 1810 – John Chamberlain Jr is noted as owing a bond dated 8 Sept 1810 to the estate of John Pemberton
    • Mathias Little applies for a tavern license in Hardyston in 1810. He is the father of Mary Little who married John Chamberlain Jr two years ago.
  • 1812
  • 1813
    • James Chamberlain marries Nancy McClennen in Hardyston by Thomas VanKirk, JP for Hardyston.
      • He is likely born around 1788, probably a son of John or Jabez. By 1820 he appears to be in Groveland, NY (was Ontario County, now Livingston), living next to David McClennen, brother of Nancy.
      • James’ brother-in-law is also John D. McClennen, brother of Nancy McClennen.
      • John D. McClennen married Susan Chamberlain, daughter of Benjamin Chamberlain III, son of Benjamin Chamberlain Jr of Hardyston.
      • Gabriel Chamberlain, grandson of Benjamin Chamberlain Jr married their niece, Mary McClennen.
      • FYI, Thomas VanKirk was part of the Sparta Presbyterian Church where Benjamin Chamberlain is buried.
    • Mystery Chamberlain woman #3: Elizabeth Chamberlain marries John Smith, both of Montague, Sussex, NJ
      • Which John Smith is this? There are no other Smith families marrying in Montague at this time, but there are Smith families in Walpack nearby. (Yes, I researched every single John Smith in Sussex County during this timeframe to remove those who were NOT this John Smith.)
        • In 1815, John Smith owns an adjoining lot to the lot being sold by John Chamberlain Jr of Walpack.
        • This is John Jacob Smith, son of Jonas Smith of Walpack. He is born in 1789 Upper Mount Bethel, Northampton, PA and his family comes to Walpack around 1800. John Smith would be 24 years old. John and his father Jonas ran the mill in Flatbrookville before selling to John Garriss. I’m not sure it’s the same John Smith who marries Elizabeth Chamberlain, but it’s likely.
        • If she’s roughly his same age or younger, she’s born around 1789-1795 and be 18 to 24 years old. She might have children by John Smith and there might be Smith DNA matches to explore.
        • Because John Smith owns the adjoining lot to John Chamberlain, she might be a daughter, ex-wife or widow of John Chamberlain Sr. (See Mary Chamberlain below, who appears to be older, and might be Elizabeth’s mother.)
      • Montague is 12 miles north of Walpack.
      • Or she’s from the Amity, Orange, NY Thomas Chamberlain family; they migrate back and forth between Amity and Wantage, but I don’t see that family in Montague or Walpack.
      • Note: It’s not General John Smith of Byram, nor John S. Smith of Wantage, they both have other known wives.
  • 1814
    • Mystery Chamberlain woman #4: Mary Chamberlain marries John Everitt, both of Montague
      • Likely she’s related somehow to the Elizabeth Chamberlain who married in Montague the previous year.
      • The only John Everitt in the area is an older man who was in the Revolutionary War; his nephew, John Davis Everitts marries a different woman in Montague.
      • She could be the wife or widow of John Chamberlain Sr.
    • John Chamberlain Jr of Walpack purchases Walpack land
      • From James VanKirk of Oxford, Warren, NJ to John Chamberlain of Walpack, Sussex, NJ
        • 6 acres and 60/100
        • $100
        • John sells this land in November 1815 for $50 — when he sells it, John Smith owns adjoining land.
        • This provides a clue: why would someone who could buy better, cheaper land anywhere away from Sussex County choose to buy land in Walpack, which is extremely mountainous and with little arable land? It’s one of the most difficult places in Sussex County for farming. He’s choosing to stay in Sussex County, and Walpack offers him the cheapest land in the region — and perhaps he or she still has family nearby and wants to stay in Sussex County. At this time, the Chamberlain families are still in Hardyston and Byram, and Mary Little Chamberlain’s family is still in Hardyston and Newton. Mary Chamberlain Everitt is likely in Montague, and Catherine Chamberlain Smith is likely next door in Walpack.
        • https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSHM-XTGW?view=fullText&keywords=Chamberlain&lang=en&groupId=M9D6-VH7
    • John Chamberlain Sr writes a letter from the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, NJ. In it, he says:
      • He’s 62 years old, born about 1752.
      • He stole a horse from Barzilla Osborn (of Hardyston)
      • He took a horse from his brother, Benjamin Chamberlain (of Hardyston), thereby proving John and Benjamin are brothers.
      • He said he wanted to visit a son in “Genesee Country” (northwestern NY – note: he says Genessee COUNTRY not COUNTY…meaning the entire NW NY area, like “Lake Country” means the Finger Lakes area) and that’s why he took his brother’s horse in 1809.
        • As far as I know, there are no Sussex County Chamberlain people in northwestern New York in 1809, but there are some there in 1820, perhaps they’re there as early as 1814 when he writes this letter.
      • He has already served his 5 year term at hard labor for stealing Barzilla Osborn’s horse and is asking for a pardon because he’s too old to be working at hard labor (for another five years for the sentence of stealing Benjamin Chamberlain’s horse).
      • He says his brother Benjamin Chamberlain is going to ask the New Jersey Legislature for a pardon for John. (Benjamin dies in December 1816 and I could find no pardon request by him in NJ Legislature documents available online. There might be something at the NJ Archives in Trenton, NJ. in their paper files.)
      • On the back of the paper, the word “postponed” is written. Presumably he does not get his pardon at this time.
      • This is the final record I have for him. I did not find anything about him being released or pardoned after this 1814 date.
      • Researchers can look at 1820 census records for his possible children, to see if they have an older man with them. Note that there is no 1820 census for New Jersey.
      • The Sparta Presbyterian Church does not have a record of him being buried there. This would likely require a trip to the NJ Archives in Trenton to look in their paper prison and legislative records.
  • 1815
    • 28 Nov 1815 – John Chamberlain Jr of Walpack sells land in Walpack to Abijah Myers of Walpack
      • 6.5 acres including allowances for the highway, so the road leads past this property
      • $50
      • Adjoining Robert Bell or Ball, Asa Rosencrance (Rosencrans)
      • Book G2, Page 258
      • https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSYH-69LL?view=fullText&keywords=Chamberlin&lang=en&groupId=M9DX-31D
      • Originally surveyed to Amos Buckley DD folio, page 29
        • In Dec 1813
        • TO: Amos Buckley (who lived in Knowlton, not Walpack, and died in Oct 1815 – he died in debt and the Sheriff sold off his properties. It’s likely John Chamberlain Jr purchased this property from the Sheriff’s sale.)
        • FROM: James VanKirk (Deputy Surveyor)
        • SURVEY. 6.5 acres. Walpack Township; Sussex County. [Warrant Date: 29 Mar 1717]. (See also: Book M, 6).
        • OTHERS NAMED: Robert Bell (Owner of adjoining land); Thomas Cadwalader (Attorney) (of the West New Jersey Society); Benjamin B. Cooper (Former owner of land); Charles Ellis (Former owner of land); William Griffith (Former owner of land); Asa Rosacrance (Owner of adjoining land); John Smith (Owner of adjoining lot); Robert Smith (Surveyor General) (Signatory); West New Jersey Society (Former owner of land); William Woolman (Clerk) (Signatory)
        • LOCATIONS: West Jersey; Sussex; Walpack Township; Lots, Allotments
    • 25 Dec 1815 – John Chamberlain (Jr) “of Walpack” purchases Walpack land from James and Mary VanKirk of Hope, Warren, NJ. This can’t be John Sr, he’s in prison. It’s John Chamberlain Jr who just served in 1814 from Walpack in the War of 1812.
  • 1817
    • Simeon Chamberlain marries Sarah Follette or Follet in Hardyston by Thomas VanKirk, JP for Hardyston. By 1820 he is in Caledonia, NY. He is born about 1797 per his 1850 census, likely a son of John Chamberlain Sr.
  • 1818
    • Samuel Deltz vs John Chamberlain, debt case (I think it’s Samuel Dilts of Knowlton; not sure which John Chamberlain this is if the debt case is in Knowlton)
    • 15 Sep 1818 – from John and Mary Chamberlain of Walpack to Andrew Hill of Walpack
  • 1825
    • 15 Jun 1825
    • About this time, Richard Chamberlain marries Phebe Jane Black.
      • He was in the War of 1812 and his census says he is born about 1790-1792. He is likely a son of John Chamberlain. His records are in Hardyston, not Byram, so he’s not living on the John Chamberlain land.
    • John Chamberlain Jr debt case
      • Walpack land
      • 150 acres
      • John called to show at court in August 1825 and Feb 1826, but never showed, so now they’re making a default judgement
      • “By virtue of an act of legislature of new jersey entitled an act for the better enabling creditors to recover their just debts from persons who may abscond themselves”
      • Land where he lately lived in Walpack Township, 150 acres, then in the possession of John W. Vanauken.
      • Rev. Thomas Teasdale, Joseph Miller and Thomas McIntire in August 1825 were appointed auditors to audit and adjust the demands of the creditors of John Chamberlain.
      • John Chamberlain was called at three terms of the court (August 1825, November 1825 and February 1826) and “made default” (didn’t show up or didn’t respond to the court petition). The auditors found that John Chamberlain owned money to his creditors: Andrew VanCampen, William Smith (brother of John Smith who married Elizabeth Chamberlain), Jacob Smith (brother of John Smith), George Overpack, William Dunn (his Captain from the War of 1812), John I Blair (John Insley Blair – for whom Blairstown, NJ was named), Jacon King, Nathaniel Vanauken Esq, Job S Halsted Esq (John’s attorney who handled the Abjiah Myers case), Francis Donlevy, David Shoemaker, John W. Vanauken.
      • Note: William and Jacob Smith are the brothers of John Jacob Smith who is likely the husband of Elizabeth Chamberlain from Montague.
      • To pay the debts, the auditors sell John Chamberlain’s land to Captain William Dunn, the man John Chamberlain served under during the War of 1812.
      • https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK3-MSCR-J?view=fullText&keywords=Chamberlain&lang=en&groupId=M9D6-K2K
  • 1827
    • By 1827, John Chamberlain Jr is in Woodhull, Steuben, NY per Mary Little Chamberlain’s pension application records.
    • Seth Chamberlain dies in Hardyston from excessive drinking. I don’t know who is a son of or how old he is. If he’s at least 21, he’s born around 1806. The only Chamberlain still living in Hardyston is Richard. Richard Chamberlain marries Phebe Jane Black when he’s 33 years old, so it’s possible he had a first wife and Seth is his son by her. It’s the only mention of a Seth Chamberlain in Sussex County, so I would guess he’s fairly young and never owned land.
  • 1830
    • Census – where is everyone in 1830?
    • Edmund Chamberlain appears to have died after 1819. His widow marries her cousin Joseph Perry and they’re living in Hardyston, Sussex, NJ. He is a forgerman.
    • I don’t know what happens to Abigail Chamberlain and Samuel Lish.
    • John Chamberlain Jr is in Woodhull, Steuben, NY
    • Elizabeth Chamberlain, widow of Gilbert Lish, is living in Byram, Sussex, NJ
    • Rebecca Chamberlain Norman is dead, Peter Norman has remarried and living in Hardyston, Sussex, NJ.
    • James Chamberlain and Nancy McClennen moved to Groveland, Livingston, NY by 1820
    • Richard Chamberlain is in Hardyston, Sussex, NJ
    • Simeon Chamberlain is in Caledonia, Livingston, NY by 1820
  • 1832
    • Phebe Jane Black Chamberlain, wife of Richard Chamberlain, joins the Sparta Presbyterian Church
  • 1840
    • Census:
    • Sussex:
      • Richard Chamberlain
      • Charles Chamberlin
      • Miss Phebe Chamberlain
    • Morris:
      • Amos Chamberlain
      • Gilbert Chamberlain
      • Jacob Chamberlain
      • Noah Chamberlain
      • Mary Chamberlain
      • Morris Chamberlain
      • Sally Chamberlain
      • Sarah Chamberlain (yes, both a Sally and a Sarah)
      • Benjamin Chamberlain III
      • Abram (Abraham) Chamberlain
  • 1842
    • Phebe Chamberlain Kimble, daughter of Edmund Chamberlain and wife of Moses Kimble (Kimball) joins the Sparta Presbyterian Church
  • 1844
    • During the Amelia Norman murder trial, it is noted that she was born 1818 in Sparta (to Peter Norman and Rebecca Chamberlain, and a granddaughter of John Chamberlain — she is listed in Peter Norman’s will as “Amena”.)
    • A reporter went to Sparta to find out more about the Peter and Rebecca Chamberlain Norman family. On 28 April 1844, he reports:
    • “I immediately inquired into the character of the parents [Peter and Rebecca], and was rather surprised on being informed that neither was known to possess any thing like a thievish propensity…I inquired into the character of the grand parents and was informed that their grandfather on their mother’s side [John Chamberlain Sr], had been sentenced at three different times to the State’s Prison for stealing; in all, for the term of fifteen years — one term of five years for stealing a horse from his own brother.”

So, that’s the timeline for John Chamberlain Sr and the extra Chamberlain people in Sussex County, NJ. Once we hit 1850, it’s easy to put families together because everyone is listed in the census records.

Because John Chamberlain Sr and Jabez Chamberlain have no documents naming their wives or children, I can only take a guess about who belongs to whom (except Rebecca Chamberlain Norman, we know she’s the daughter of John Chamberlain Sr).

As with all genealogy, new records can change what we know about a family and either confirm or deny previous guesses. That’s the adventure of it! Thank goodness for FamilySearch’s new AI full-text search of the hand-written documents, which made this Chamberlain timeline research much easier than ever.

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Published by karynfamilytree

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