Wright Chamberlin (1758 - 1842)

Born 16 Jun 1758 in Litchfield, Litchfield, Connecticut

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah (Heath) Chamberlin — married 1782 in Litchfield, Litchfield County, Connecticut, USA

Descendants

Died 17 Jul 1842 at age 84 in Gibson, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, USA

Biography

Wright Chamberlin, born 15 June 1758, was a son of Jemima (Wright; 1717-1801) and Moses Chamberlain (1716-1796) of Litchfield, Connecticut. A full account of his life is found in the Wright-Chamberlin genealogy ^[1]

American Revolutionary War service: Wright Chamberlin served the cause for independence in the American Revolutionary War, attaining the rank of Sergeant in Capt. Simeon Stevens's company of Newbury, Vermont, from May 1779 to May 1781. Service was guarding prisoners.

Wright Chamberlin married first, about 1787 in Litchfield, Connecticut, Hannah (Heath; 1767-1797). There were 8 children of this family, all born in Litchfield, Connecticut.

Wright married second, 25 December 1797 in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Sally Holdridge [b. about 1780; d. 1815; daughter of Nathaniel Holdridge, who settled in Herrick, Susquehanna Co., Penn. as early as early as 1789; but afterwards removed to Wellingborough (now Great Bend) of same county, where he was constable in 1790]. There were 9 children of this family, all born in Gibson, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.

Wright married third, about 1820, Mary (Billings; 1799-1883). They had 9 children, born also in Gibson, Pennsylvania, where they were counted in census records of 1820 through 1840.

According to the Chamberlin-Wright genealogy, as transcribed from his diary, in May 1795 Wright Chamberlin sold his land in Litchfield, Connecticut, and set out with Denman Coe to visit Pennsylvania and find another farm. He "bought a possession at Hopbottom [now Brooklyn, Susquehanna County], and on the 11th of June 1795 [he] set out with Coe's family to carry them to Pennsylvania." Wright worked in Hopbottom from 26 June until 8 September 1795, then set out for Litchfield to move his family to Hopbottom. He passed through Nine Partners [Harford, Pennsylvania] on the way, and purchased land there from Joshua Jay. Wright and his family left Connecticut on January 21, 1796, arrived at Nine Partners, PA, 29 February, where they stayed until May. In May he sold his farm in Hopbottom, and bought a farm on Putts Hill (Gibson, Pennsylvania), where the family lived until 14 December 1796. His first wife died there in 1797.

In 1798, Wright received a license to keep a tavern, which was well regarded, convenient, and usually full. Many of their guests and lodgers were transient Tories, coming from New Jersey, moving up the Susquehanna river valley to Canada after the Revolution, and migrants from New England states destined to the Holland Purchase in western New York.

As early as 1800 he taught school for his and neighbors' children. An Academy was established and Wright Chamberlin was appointed as one of the 14 trustees. He and his wife were among the 10 persons who composed the 1st Congregational (later changed to Presbyterian) Society, organized by Revs. E. Kinsburt, M.M. York, and O. Hill. Wright and William Holmes were chosen deacons, a position he held for many years.

Wright Chamberlin died 17 July 1842 in Gibson, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. His grave is in Gibson Cemetery, Gibson Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, USA ^[2].

Notes

The second wife of Wright Chamberlin, not yet profiled, probably was a granddaughter of Abigail (Perigo; 1738-1822) and Samuel Holdredge Jr. (1734-1813), via their son Nathaniel, also not yet profiled.

Sources

1. ↑ Barber, Eunice Miena. The Wright-Chamberlin genealogy from emigrant ancestors to present generations https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcmassbookdig.wrightchamberlin00barb/?sp=49&st=image
2. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #24120713