Mary (Caldwell) Chambers (1735 - 1797)

Born 1735 in Pennsylvania, British American Colonies

Wife of Robert Chambers — married 17 Apr 1753 in Pennsylvania, British American Colonies

Descendants

Died 8 Jan 1797 at about age 62 in Buffalo Valley, Union Co, Pennsylvania, USA

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Biography

Mary was the daughter of Robert Caldwell and his wife Janet Breckenridge Caldwell. She was born on Robert's farm in 1735, the same year her father died.

Shortly after her birth, Mary's mother, Janet, married Andrew Culbertson, a local farmer who had just lost his spouse as well. After their marriage, Janet and Andrew headed a blended household, each with children from their first marriage, as well as five children they subsequently had together. The farm must have been teaming with activity.

At the age of 18, Mary became engaged and married Robert Chambers, a neighbor who had a farm adjoining the Caldwell Farm. At the time of the couple's marriage, Robert was 50 years of age, so there was a thirty-two year age difference between them.

Mary and Robert had nine children: James (who died in infancy), Robert Jr., Mary, James (the second), Keziah, Rebekkah, Joseph, and Benjamin and John. Mary gave birth to the children over a thirty-two year period. She had her first child at age 19 and her last child at age 44. All of the children, except for John, who was born in the Buffalo Valley, were born at Middle Springs in Cumberland County, PA.

in 1777, the family moved from Middle Springs to the Buffalo Valley and lived on a farm by the Sinking Spring three miles southwest of Mifflinburg. Her son, James, was killed in an ambush by the Delaware Indians on May 16, 1780. A short time later, Robert and Mary moved their family back to the relative safety of the Cumberland Valley, where Robert took up another homestead.

About two years later, in 1780, Robert died after suffering an accident. According to family tradition, he had a habit of mounting his horse by jumping up, even at his advanced age, but one day he jumped too far and injured himself. He died two days later.

A year later, Mary moved her family (the younger children) back to their home in the Buffalo Valley. In 1788, when Mary was 53 years of age, tragedy struck the family. Mary and her eldest son, Robert, were required to travel to Carlisle to settle her husband's estate. While they were gone, Mary's youngest son died after playing too close to the fire and burning himself. One of the other sons rode to catch up with Robert and Mary, and told Robert the terrible news. The story is that he decided not to tell his mother until they were on their return trip home, and that she bought a new cap for John while they were visiting Carlisle. Robert told her the news right before they arrived home.

Mary's death came in 1797, on January 8, at the age of 62.

Sources

• Birth, Marriage, Death: "A Brief Record of the Descendants of Robert Chambers," by James B. Chambers, 1928.
• An American Family; its ups and downs through eight generations, by Edward Nicholas Clopper, 1879, has a chapter devoted to the history of the Chambers Family, including Robert Chambers and his three brothers.
• Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801.
• Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-1999.
• Pennsylvania Land Warrants, 1733-1987.
• Chambers Family Records and History, as recorded by Joseph Chambers Clopper on a visit he paid to his Aunt Sally (Benjamin Chambers' widow) in October 1855.
• Find A Grave Memorial for Mary Caldwell Chambers.