Essex Chamberlains - need answers!

[catmaygilmore]

Hello everyone - I'm new here and was wondering if someone could help me figure out a family mystery.
My GGGrandfather was Percy Edward Austin Chamberlain  (1856-1925) of Great Bentley. We always thought in unusual that he had two middle names and knew there was an Edward Austin related (an uncle possibly?) to the family. According to family lore, Percy's father George Chamberlain  (1827-1860) had died rather young and Percy had possibly gone to live the the Austin family.
There was a discussion here dating back a few years (posted by user Madraykin - we are a distant relation but I can't yet send her a msg!) that Mary Elizabeth Chamberlain  (1818-1895) (Percy's aunt) had married an Edward Austin, but I can't find anything to support that. In fact, our records show that Mary Elizabeth Chamberlain had married a Lewis Fieulleteau Wilson  (1804-1873). Or perhaps we're not talking about the same Mary Elizabeth? Anyway, I'm just trying to figure out the Austin/Chamberlain family connection.

[AMBLY]

Hi catmaygilmore

Welcome to Rootschat   

I'm sure you have this - but for our reference:

FREEBMD: Index his birth as : Fleck Purser Edward Austin Chamberlain
Mar Qtr 1856 - Lexden Essex (the image of the record is very poor quality)

Search Labs record him as:
http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#start
Fleck Pusey Edward Austin CHAMBERLAIN
Birth 29 Apr 1856
Chr: 8 Jun 1856, Brightlingsea, Essex
Parents: George CHAMBERLAIN & Mary Ann

PARENTS MARRIAGE appears to be:
1854, Portsea Hampshire - George CHAMBERLAIN and Mary Ann STOVELD

1871: RG10 - Piece: 1124 / Folio: 20 / pg 3
Nephew: Percy CHAMBERLAIN 15, b Brighlingsea Essex and his brother Robert 12, b Bosham Sussex in household of married Aunt, Sophia WALLACE nee STOVELD, plus Sophia's parents Christopher &  Dinah STOVELD - in Bosham Sussex. Sophia's husband is William WALLACE.

1861:
Robert is with his STOVELD grandparents Christopher &  Dinah, age 2 in Bosham Sussex - but no sign of Percy or their mother Mary Ann (according to prior census she was born abt 1838 Bosham).

Cheers
AMBLY

[AMBLY]

According to records found online, one place being:
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/k/i/n/Jimmy-A-King/GENE1-0023.html]

Louis Feuilleteau Wilson (1804 - 1873)Was born in North Carolina, USA on 10 Aug 1804 to Lewis Fieulleteau Wilson and Margaret Hall. He was a Reverend minister and married 3 times.  His 3rd wife was  Mary E Chamberlin or Chamberlain  with whom he had 4 children . He died 1873 in West Virginia, USA.   Mary Elizabeth CHAMBERLIN was born in 1815 West Virginia and died 1895.

Was Percy's aunt Mary Elizabeth CHAMBERLAIN born in the US 

Cheers
AMBLY

[catmaygilmore]

Thank you for the information.

As for Mary Elizabeth Chamberlain, I'm wondering if these are two different people or there are some incorrect records out there. I have a Mary Elizabeth Chamberlain born in 1818 in Great Bentley, Essex, and the other was born in Virginia? But oddly they have the same marriage and death date (1895). Perhaps she was born in England and emigrated at a later date?

I'm still very curious about the Edward Austin connection to the Chamberlain family (and didn't know Percy's given name was Fleck - odder still!). The Edward Austin name features very prominently in the Chamberlain line but I don't know if that connection was through marriage or just a family friend. There was an Edward Austin born a few miles away in Witham, Essex in 1821 that would put him at about 34 years old at the time of Percy's birth.

[catmaygilmore]

Also, user madraykin has an Edward Austin marrying a Mary Elizabeth Chamberlain in 1837. That would certainly prove a connection but just adds more confusion regarding her birth location and marriage(s). Does anyone have a birth or marraige certificate for Mary Elizabeth?

[AMBLY]

Hi

The Mary Elizabeth CHAMBERLAIN who married Loius F WILSON was, according to the US Census 1870 and 1880 born in West Virginia.  According to various references online (google) She married Mr WILSON (his 3rd marriage)  after 1841 (when his 2nd wife died)  and had 4 children by him between 1843 and 1863.  By all accounts she died in 1895 in WV . They lived  in Hedgesville, Berkley Cty West Virginia.

Somehow it would appear that this Virginian woman with her birth & death dates, has been pegged incorrectly as Percy's English aunt (sister of his father George). Possibly the faulty connection is simply because the 2 women have the same name and a  similar birth year. From what I see, I'd say it's pretty safe to completely discount Mrs Louis F WILSON as being Percy's aunt (sister of his father).

Did any of your information come off the IGI? If it did, it's likely they are submitted records  which were not transcribed  from original documented data ( as opposed to extracted records which are), and are often erroneous   and in this case highly unreliable.

As far as I can glean from the UK records (Census, Record Search and FreeBMD)  and by working through the information in the 2006 topic of madraykin (here):
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,182331.0.html
...it looks as if  Percy's aunt Mary Elizabeth, after being widowed by Edward AUSTIN (if that was her) was remarried in 1852 to NASSAU, widowed by him in 1867 and was working for her keep at least in  1871 and 1881 census in England.

It's  documented or good circumstantial evidence, and will require further UK documentation to  fully prove links or to discover missing pieces.

I'll post what I've found, maybe some of it you have - but since you were unaware of the (unusual) full name of Percy's registered birth, maybe some of it is new and helpful!

Percy's name as I posted above is from 2 documented online sources (FreeBMD and SearchLABS) both of which are transcripts.  I'd be very inclined to purchase  his birth certificate to really see what his name is written as - the 'Fleck Pusey' part is quite odd - maybe it's a total misread or maybe will prove to be a clue to his ancestry somewhere along the line). His birth Cert will also confirm his parents names and perhaps have some helpful clues (such as address').

Cheers
AMBLY

[AMBLY]

Percy immigrated to the US in 1888 with his wife & children and settled in Salt lake City, Utah  - he died & was buried in 1925 in Utah.

http://www.freebmd.org.uk/
MARRIAGE: Jun Qtr 1881, Westbourne District, Sussex.Percy Edward CHAMBERLAIN & Ellen GARDENER
(The marriage probably occurred in Bosham, which is within the Westbourne registration District). This is a transcript of the index. The full document has to be purchased to gather extra information from the record, such as name of father, address' and witness - all of which may be helpful.

IMMIGRATION: Arrived New York, 2 Jul 1888 on the ship, Wyoming (in After Steerage class)
Percy CHAMBERLAIN 31, Lab,
Ellen CHAMBERLAIN 29,
Albert CHAMBERLAIN 4, child
Ellen CHAMBERLAIN 3, child
Mabel CHAMBERLAIN infant
Archibald CHAMBERLAIN 7, child
Robert CHAMBERLAIN Infant

TRAVEL: He also made (at least) 4 trips back to the UK, and is shown returning to the US after each trip. You should be able to find these (including the images) on the Ellis Island website:
http://www.ellisisland.org/

Arrived New York, 14 Jun 1906 on the Oceanic (2nd Class)
Percy E A CHAMBERLAIN 50, widower, married, Gardner,
Last Permanent Residence: Bosham
Destination, Wife & Family, Mrs Chamberlain, Salt Lake City (note this appears to be an error - his wife is deceased and he is listed as a Widower in the first part of manifest).

Arrived New York,  21 July 1910 on the SS Adriatic
Percy E A CHAMBERLAIN 53, widower, Gardener, Non-immigrant Alien
Last permanent address: Bosham
Contact in UK: c/of Post Office, Bosham, nr Chichester
Destination: (home) Salt Lake, Utah
Description:5', 6"  Fresh complexion, Fair Hair, Blue Eyes
Place of birth: Essex, England

Arrived New York, 23 Sep 1911 on the SS Philadelphia
Percy E A CHAMBERLAIN, 55, widower, Gardener, Non-immigrant Alien
Last Permanent address: Salt Lake
Contact in UK: Friend: George BROWN, Mill House, Bosham
Destination: (home)  Salt Lake, Utah
Description: 5'5", Fr. complexion, Dk Hair, Blue eyes.
Place of Birth: Brightlingsea

Arrived New York, 19 Jun 1914 on the SS Lusitania
Percy Edward Austen CHAMBERLAIN, 56, widower, Gardener,
Last Permanent address: Salt Lake
Contact in UK: Uncle W WALLACE, Well Wittering, nr Chishester
Destination: (home) Salt lake Utah
Description: 5', 5", Fresh Complexion, Brown hair, blue eyes
Blace of Birth: Brightlingsea, England
[He had arrived in the UK on the same ship, in April 1914]

The 3 important clues from his travels are: Place: Bosham, birthplace: Brightlingsea, and Uncle W WALLACE.

His wife Ellen, died the year after they arrived in the US - in 1889, records of Salt Lake Utah Cemetery list her as: Ellen R G CHAMBERLAIN, b abt 1859, Bosham  England. A tree on A***ctry lists her as nee Ellen Reynolds GARDENER.

Cheers
AMBLY

[AMBLY]

This is the old topic  from madraykin:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,182331.0.html

Some of the following information is from that topic, which in turn has been pulled from original and reliable records:

1837 MARRIAGE:  Edward OSTIN full age, a carpenter,  married Mary Elizabeth CHAMBERLAIN, a minor spinster in  Dec Qtr 1837 Great Bentley. Her father named as William CHAMBERLAIN, labourer. His father as John OSTIN. They had a daughter, Thirza born 1838 Great Bentley Essex   - her birth in parish records as :
Baptism 2 Sept 1838 Thryrya OSTEN 
parents Edward & Mary (Carpenter
When Thirsa married 1862 to Robert Francis HODGSON, she stated her father as Edward AUSTIN
 
1841 CENSUS:  Mary Elizabeth's mother Mary nee COWELL or CONNEL (parish records, IGI) (now widowed by her late husband William CHAMBERLAIN) and her (Mary Elizabeth's) younger brothers are in  the 1841 Census. Little Thirsa  therein is  AUSTIN and a Grand-daughter, though the 1841 doesn't state relationships (the IGI has submitted records stating Thirsa is CHAMBERLAIN & a dau of William & Mary's but this is almost certainley a mistake based on an assumption owing to the fact she has no separate surname listed)  Note the boys: George 13 (b abt 1828) and Charles 16. I think George is Percy's father?:

Burgess(?) Green, Great Bentley, Essex
HO107-Piece 338 /Book 4 / Folio 10/ page 14
Mary CHAMBERLAIN 44
Thomas                 20 Lab
Charles                 16 Lab
George                 13 Lab
Francis                  10 Lab
David                      9
Thirsa                     2
(all are dittioed as surname CHAMBERLAIN)

Next but one after them, are Benjamin (75) and Sarah (60) CHAMBERLAIN with a Lodger, Peter HART (40) a Cooper.  Suggested as being Mary's in-laws and her future 2nd husband.

1841: Where are Thirsa's parents - Edward AUSTIN and Mary Elizabeth nee CHAMBERLAIN? Is Edward already dead? Mary may be working somewhere and not easily identifiable with such a common name.

1843 MARRIAGE:   Mary CHAMBERLAIN nee COWEL/CONNEL, widow of William,  married Peter HEART (HART) in 1843.

1851 CENSUS: On the Green, Village of Great Bentley, Essex
HO107 / Piece: 1779 / Folio: 128 / Page: 14
Head: Peter HART 52, Ag Lab, b Gt Bentley, Essex
Wife: Mary HART 53, b St Osyth, Essex
Lodger: James CHAMBERLAIN, 35 unm, Ag lab, b Gt Bentley, Essex
Lodger: Francis CHAMBERLAIN 21, unm, Serv(ant), b Gt Bentley, Essex (male)
Gran-Dau: Thurza AUSTIN 12, Scholar, b Gt Bentley, Essex

1851 CENSUS: Is this  Mary Elizabeth AUSTIN  nee CHAMBERLAIN (Thirsa's mother)?
HO107 / Piece: 1781 / Folio: 503 / Page: 13
George Inn, High Street, Colchester, Essex:
Servant: Mary E AUSTIN 32, widow, Chambermaid, b Gt Bentley

1853 MARRIAGE:  Mary Elizabeth formerly AUSTIN nee CHAMBERLAIN, widow -  married widower John Augustus NASSAU , Mar Qtr 1853, St Martin in the Fields, Middlesex.  They had a son, Rochford Augustus NASSAU, born also in 1853, in St Osyth Essex.

Cheers
AMBLY

[AMBLY]

1861 CENSUS: Where is Percy (age abt 4)? And his mother Mary Ann CHAMBERLAIN nee STOVELD? Is his father already dead - did he die 1860? Is his mother also deceased?

1861 CENSUS: Rochford NASSAU  is with the HART (CHAMBERLAIN) grandparents in 1861 and some Chamberlain cousins:
Plough Road, Great Bentley, Essex
Head: Peter HART 64, Ag Lab, b Great Bentley
Wife: Mary HART 63, b St Osyth, Essex
Brother: James HART 58, unm, Groom, b Great Bentley
G-Dau: Ann Maria CHAMBERLAIN 9, b Brightlingsea Essex
G-Dau: Elizabeth CHAMBERLAIN 8, b Brightlingsea Essex
G-Dau: Jennett CHAMBERLAIN 5, b Brightlingsea Essex
G-Son: Herbert Edward CHAMBERLAIN, 3 b Brightlingsea Essex
G-Son: Rockford Agustes. 7, b St Osyth, Essex

FreeBMD Birth registrations in Lexden district (cover Brightlingsea):
Elizabeth Austin CHAMBERLAIN 1853
Janet Blanche Nassau CHAMBERLAIN Mar Qtr 1856
Herbert Edward CHAMBERLAIN 1858

From Search Labs:
Elizabeth Austin CHAMBERLAIN's  birth registered in 1853, but chr not until 1865 in Stepney; parents Charles & Maria.

Janet Blanche Nassau CHAMBERLAIN's birth registered Mar Qtr 1856 &  parents are : Charles Chamberlain and Ann Maria (christening, search labs).

1867: John Augustus NASSAU died  in London, Mile End Town
1871: His widow is working in a London Hospital in London.
1881; His widow is working as a Nurse to a family  in London
1882: Mary Elizabeth NASSAU,  b abt 1820, died 1882, in London, Mile End Town (FreeBMD).

I looks to me as if, George CHAMBERLAIN, Percy's father was born abt 1827/28 to William CHAMBERLAIN and Mary nee CONNEL/COWEL, later Mrs Peter HART) and had:
   1) A sister Mary Elizabeth who married 1) Austin, 2) Nassau
   2) A brother named Charles who married 1) Ann Maria

There seems to be disposition of naming children after siblings' spouses
Eg1) Charles CHAMBERLAIN gave his daughter Elizabeth the middle name of Austin, the first married surname of his sister Mary Elizabeth.
Eg1) Charles CHAMBERLAIN gave his daughter Janet a middle name of NASSAU, the present (in 1856) re-married name of his sister Mary Elizabeth.
Eg2) George CHAMBERLAIN gave his son "Percy", the middle names Edward Austin, after the late first husband of his sister Mary Elizabeth

1881: Percy not found for sure on UK Census. But he married Ellen GARDENER in Jun Qtr of that year in Westbourne district Sussex. The marriage must have occurred after the Census - because his future wife, Ellen GARDINER age 22 is lodging in the household of his Aunt & Uncle William (37) & Sophia (43)WALLACE.  Sophia's STOVELD parents are still there too, now in their 80's.
RG11/ Piece: 1135/ Folio: 26/ Page: 14

Suspect Percy was at sea or at least on a ship in 1881 - perhaps a local Fishing boat as opposed to an ocean sailing ship.  He may be listed as just Edward CHAMBERLAIN on a vessel - there is one in the IOW listed as a Cook, age 24, b Brightlingsea.

So, all we know of Edward AUSTIN, is:
He was of full age in 1837 (according to his marriage lines),
Occpation Carpenter (and this could be a ships carpenter, too)
Had a father named John.
Died sometime between  1837 and 1853 (probably before 1851 since his wife looks to be a working widow that year, and seeing as it looks as if his daughter Thirsa b 1838 was an only child, likely he died nearer to 1841 than 1851?).

There is a chance the purchase of his  marriage certificate to Percy's Aunt Elizabeth would hold some clues such as address, or witness names.

Cheers
AMBLY