John Chamberlain (1847 - 1902)

Born 2 Feb 1847 in Kentish Town, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Elizabeth Ann (Howard) Chamberlain — married 28 Sep 1875 in Marryatville, South Australia, Australia

Descendants

Died 29 Oct 1902 at age 55 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Chris Willoughby [send private message]

Biography

John CHAMBERLAIN was born about 1847. I believe he was christened as John ABBY - see Research Notes below.

He emigrated with his parents on the Star Queen arriving in Port Adelaide on the 30th December 1854. He is listed as 7 years old, and from Middlesex.

ARRIVED.

Saturday, December 30—The ship Star Queen, 836 tons, Manning, master, from Southampton October 1. Goverment emigrants—...Alfred, Fanny, and John Chamberlain....^[1]

His father, a carpenter, passed away on the 31st October 1866 in hospital at Adelaide at the age of 55.

John CHAMBERLAIN married Elizabeth PALMER on the 28th September 1875 at the residence of Christopher Howard in Marryatville. John was registered as 25, single, and the son of Alfred CHAMBERLAIN. Elizabeth was registered as 28, widowed, and the daughter of Christopher HOWARD.^[2]

CHAMBERLAIN—PALMER.—On the 28th September, at the bride's father's, by licence, by the Rev. H. J. Lambert, John Chamberlain, of Kapunda, to Elizabeth Ann Palmer, of Marryatville. No cards.^[3]

John Chamberlain's occupation on the marriage certificate is given as a butcher. The marriage was witnessed by Elizabeth's brother Charles who was a carter living in Marryatville.^[4]

John and Elizabeth had the following children:

• CHAMBERLAIN, Thursa Malia, 03-Sep-1876, F, Kapunda, Kapunda, 173/6
• CHAMBERLAIN, Alfred Christopher John, 04-Dec-1878, M, Gawler South, Port Gawler, 211/186
• CHAMBERLAIN, Charles Howard, 02-Nov-1880, M, Mount Gambier, Grey, 251/60
• CHAMBERLAIN, Thomas Francis Spencer, 19-Apr-1883, M, Rosewater, Port Adelaide, 303/384
• CHAMBERLAIN, Ella May, 23-Mar-1886, F, Terowie, Burra, 371/246
• CHAMBERLAIN, Gertrude Myrtle Lillian, 13-Dec-1887, F, Mount Bryan, Burra, 410/134
• CHAMBERLAIN, Nellie Frances, 29-Mar-1891, F, Knightsbridge, Norwood, 477/58

John CHAMBERLAIN passed away on the 29th October 1902 in the basement of the Jubilee Exhibition Building, North Terrace, Adelaide. He was registered as 54 and living in Plympton at the time of his death.^[5]

Mr. John Chamberlain, the well-known caretaker of the plumpton, who had been connected with coursing for many years, dropped dead at the Jubilee Exhibition on Wednesday morning. He had been ill for some time.^[6]

FOUND DEAD.

Shortly after 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning Mr. John Chamberlain, well known to sportsmen as the caretaker of the Plumpton since its establishment, was found lying dead in the basement of the Exhibition Building. The deceased had been clearing up the building after the recent wine show, and rang up the firm of Penno & Co. for assistance; but, upon an assistant arriving 10 minutes after the message had been received he found Chamberlain lying on the floor in a pool of blood. Mr. Chamberlain is known to have suffered from a heart affection for some time.^[7]

Metropolitan Police Station.

Adelaide

29th Oct 1902.

11-30 am.

Sir,

I have the honor to inform you that Joseph Riley of Park Terrace, Wayville, notified this station this date that a man named John Chamberlain, believed about 60 years of age died suddenly at the Cellars under the Jubilee Exhibition Building, North Terrace Adelaide this forenoon [29th Oct.1902].

Mr. Riley adds that the deceased had been under the Medical Care of Dr. Todd for some time past and believes he suffered from heart trouble.

I have the honor to be Sir.

Your obedient servant.

W. A. James.

To Ramsay Smith Esq.

City Coroner.

Adelaide.^[8]

Police Station.

Adelaide

Oct 29th 1902.

Sir,

I have the honor to report for your information that I have made further enquiries in this case, and I have interviewed Dr. Todd, who states that he has been attending to the deceased for several years, for heart disease and he the Doctor, is prepared to give a certificate, that death was due to natural causes.

I have the honor to be Sir.

Your Obedient Servant.

S. M. Walsh.

To Ramsay Smith Esq.

City Coroner.

Adelaide.^[9]

He is buried in the West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide.

THE FRIENDS of the late Mr. JOHN CHAMBERLAIN are respectfully informed that his Remains will be removed from his late residence, Plympton, on THURSDAY, at 1 p.m., for interment in the West-terrace Cemetery, arriving there about 1.45 p.m.

PENGELLEY & KNABE,

Undertakers and Embalmers. Rundle-st. east.^[10][11][12]

Is this John PEACOCK?

There are three births in the 1880's for which John is the suspected father.

The first of these is of Edith Matilda Rosabell CHAMBERLAIN born 10-Jul-1884 to John CHAMBERLAIN and Emma PEACOCK in Adelaide ^[13].

The other two are:

• John William Frank PEACOCK, 26-May-1887, John PEACOCK, Emma BONHAM, Adelaide, Adelaide, 397/61
• Olive Myrtle PEACOCK, 4-Feb-1890, John PEACOCK, Emma HOWARD, Adelaide, Adelaide, 454/31

All three name their father as Donatus HERBERT later in life, but all three were born before the wedding of Emma PEACOCK and Donatus.

There are two reasons to name this John Chamberlain as the father:

• A DNA match to a descendant of Edith Matilda Rosabell (CHAMBERLAIN) (HERBERT) MARCH and Willoughby-2066 suggests a link through his CHAMBELAIN line
• The alias of Emma PEACOCK at the birth of Olive Myrtle PEACOCK is Emma HOWARD — the surname of John's wife.

Research Notes

Given that John is born years before the suspected marriage of his parents, I believe John was born to his unwed mother on the 2nd February 1847 at Kentish Town. He was baptised at St. Pancras Old Church, St. Pancras, Middlesex on the 27th February 1847. The parents recorded at the baptism are Alfred and Frances ABBY. Alfred is, of course, likely to be Alfred CHAMBERLAIN, not ABBY. Alfred is described as a piano-forte maker - which fits his later profession of carpenter. St. Pancras Old Church is where his parents marry in 1854 before emigrating to South Australia. Both his parents are living in New Hampstead Road (now Castle Road) in Kentish Town, when they marry.^[14][15][16]

I have found no other births to the Alfred and Frances ABBY couple, nor have I found a marriage that matches - leading me to the conclusion that John CHAMBERLAIN is John ABBY/ABBEY.

DNA analysis suggests that John is, at least, the father of Edith Matilda Rosabell (Chamberlain) (Herbert) March (1884-1967). He may also be the father of her sister and brother.

Sources

1. ↑ SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. (1855, January 1). South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), p. 2. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49305013
2. ↑ SA Marriage Registration, District: Adelaide, Book/Page: 104/930
3. ↑ Family Notices (1875, October 8). The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), p. 4. Retrieved January 6, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31961077
4. ↑ Information gained from micro fiche copies of B.D.M. at S.A.G.H.S.
5. ↑ SA Death Registration, District: Adelaide, Book/Page: 290/36
6. ↑ #NLANews
   Express and Telegraph Wed 29 Oct 1902, page 1
   The Advertiser Thu 30 Oct 1902, page 6
   Chronicle Sat 8 Nov 1902, page 27
7. ↑ #NLANews
   The Register Thu 30 Oct 1902, page 4
8. ↑ Letter to Coroner, Ramsay Smith Esq., from W. A. James.
9. ↑ Letter to Coroner, Ramsay Smith Esq., from S. M. Walsh
10. ↑ #NLANews
    The Advertiser Thu 30 Oct 1902, page 2
11. ↑ #ACA

    Surname: Chamberlain

    Given Names: John

    Date of Interment: 30/10/1902

    Age: 54 Years

    Cemetery: West Terrace Cemetery

    Location: Road 1 South, Path Number 12, E/W/-Count W, Site number 24

12. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/158046370/john-chamberlain : accessed 06 January 2022), memorial page for John Chamberlain (unknown–29 Oct 1902), Find a Grave Memorial ID 158046370, citing West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, Adelaide City, South Australia, Australia ; Maintained by Dwight Baker (contributor 47306645) .
13. ↑ SA Birth Registration District: Adelaide, Book/Page 331/442
14. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/MSGB-S33
15. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NYYS-QM6 : 5 February 2023), John Abby, 1847.
16. ↑ "England, Middlesex Parish Registers, 1539-1988", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:66DG-4VMR : 11 July 2022), John Abby, 1847.

• Adelaide Cemeteries Authority
• Trove Newpapers