James Chambers (1820 - 1862)

Born 1820 in Wainfleet, Welland, Ontario, Canada

Ancestors

Died Jul 1862 at about age 42 in Pacific Ocean, off Mexican coast

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Biography

James was a carpenter and lived in a two-storey frame house on the Chambers family lands. In 1848 his father deeded 130 acres in lots 18,19, and 20, Concession 5 to him. After his father's death and the distribution of the estate, James took part of his inheritance and went to California in 1860, possibly as a stagecoach driver, and headed for the goldfields. Returning home in July 1862, he took passage on the "Golden Gate" loaded with 500 passengers and a cargo of gold ingots and coins. However, the vessel caught fire and was wrecked in the Pacific, a thousand yards from the Mexican shore, and 350 passengers drowned. Apparently an alien member of the crew filled James' pockets with gold coins before he jumped overboard and the weight pulled him to the bottom of the ocean. James had married Matilda Hendershot (1825-1094) on April 20, 1837 and they had eight children.-From "Chronicles of Wainfleet Township: 200 Years of History" (Book)

James S. Chambers. Given Name: James S. Surname: Chambers. A Given name was found in addition to a first name in the NAME tag.

Buried WillsOnt. Cemetery,Wainfleet Twp.,Ont.,Can.

Note: 1 _UID 8CF6D035D38DD511A1EE4445535400008CDC.

Sources

• Ancestry.com Family Trees: "Chronicles of Wainfleet Township: 200 Years of History," P. 155 (Book)

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