Rosa Kansas CHAMBERS

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1920 Census Records
Name: Rosa Chambers
Age: 14
Birth Year: abt 1906
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1920: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital Status: Single
Father's name: John Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's name: Eugor Chambers
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Speak English: Yes
Attended School: No
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
John Chambers 36
Eugor Chambers 26
Ramie Chambers 16
Rosa Chambers 14

1930 Census
Name: Rosie Stilwell
Birth Year: abt 1906
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Virginia
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Homemaker?: Yes
Home in 1930: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Age at First Marriage: 22
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Square Stilwell 26
Rosie Stilwell 24
James M Stilwell 1
Rosie Stilwell 14 [sister-in-law]

OBITUARY

Rosa Kansas Chambers Stilwell

Rosa Kansas Chambers Stilwell, 87,of North Tazewell Virginia passed away Tuesday at a Richlands Virginia hospital.

She was born in Buchanan County Virginia and was a daughter of the late John Thomas and Lucinda Newberry Chambers.

She had been a resident of the North Tazewell area for the past thirty-seven years and was of the Protestant faith.

She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

She was preceded in death by her husband Squire W. Stilwell and brother Ramey Chambers.

Survivors are three daughters Trudy Stilwell and Jean Stilwell both of the home and Wilma Stilwell Harman of North Tazewell Virginia; three sons--James Mervin Stilwell and Adolphus Andrew Stilwell, both of North Tazewell Virginia and Michael Wayne Stilwell of Bristol Tenn; eleven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be Thursday at two at Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands Virginia with the Revs. Darrell Ray and Leon Yost officiating.

Burial will be in the Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Claypool Hill Virginia.

Birth:
Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
Name: Rosa Kansas Chambers Stilwell
SSN: 225922610
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birth Date: 7 Dec 1905
Birth Place: Shortts Gap, Virginia
Father Name: John Chambers
Mother Name: Cindy N Chambers
Death Date: 4 May 1993
Type of Claim: Original SSN.
Notes: 23 Aug 1972: Name listed as ROSA KANSAS CHAMBERS STILWELL; 28 May 1993: Name listed as ROSA K STILLWELL

Buried:
Grave location and obituary:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=chambers&GSiman=1&GScid=50447&GRid=75082047&

Died:
Virginia, Deaths, 1912-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.
Name: Rosa Kansas Stilwell
Death Date: 4 May 1993
Death Place: Tazewell Co. VA

Social Security Death Index
Name: Rosa K. Stillwell
SSN: 225-92-2610
Last Residence: 24630 North Tazewell, Tazewell, Virginia
BORN: 7 Dec 1905
Died: 4 May 1993
State (Year) SSN issued: Virginia (1973)

Rosa married Squire Washington Stilwell. Squire was born 17 Dec 1902, Buchanan Co. VA; died 12 Jun 1973, Richlands, Tazewell Co. VA; was buried , Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill, Tazewell Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

1. James Mervin Stilwell was born 29 Mar 1929, Tazewell Co. VA.
2. Dorothy Wilma Jean Stilwell was born 26 Oct 1942, Tazewell Co. VA.
3. Dolphus Andrew Stilwell was born 28 Nov 1930, Tazewell Co. VA; died 23 Jul 2000, Tazewell Co. VA.
4. Michael Wayne Stilwell was born 26 Mar 1959, Tazewell Co. VA.
5. Trudy Stilwell
6. Jean Stilwell

Other Events:

• _UID: 19B6F98A17BF4A9AA848C36107C5B892368D

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1900 Census
Name: John M Chambers
Age: 15
Birth Date: Feb 1885
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Son
Marital Status: Single
Father's name: Thomas D Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's name: Eady Chambers
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas D Chambers 47
Eady Chambers 56
John M Chambers 15
Mallee E Chambers 13
Jinie L Chambers 11
Robert G Chambers 9
Irena Chambers 7
Grace Chambers 4

1920 Census
Name: John Chambers
Age: 36
Birth Year: abt 1884
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1920: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Eugor Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Miner
Industry: Coal Mine
Employment Field: Wage or Salary
Home Owned or Rented: Own
Home Free or Mortgaged: Free
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
John Chambers 36
Edgar Chambers 26
Ramie Chambers 16
Rosa Chambers 14

Buried:
Grave location:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=148473533

Died:
Virginia, Deaths, 1912-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.
Name: John M Chambers
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age at Death: 45
Birth Date: 6 Feb 1881
Death Date: 26 Feb 1926
Death Place: Red Ash, Tazewell, Virginia
Registration Date: 27 Feb 1926
Father: T D Chambers
Mother: Edady Osborne
Spouse: Edgar Helbert

John married Lucinda (Cindy) Newberry Jan 1903, Russell Co. VA. Lucinda (daughter of Anderson T. Newberry and Candice (Kansas) Crouse) was born Oct 1884, Russell Co. VA; died Bef 1907, Russell Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1900 Census
Name: Louisenda Newberry [Lucinda Newberry]
Age: 15
Birth Date: Oct 1884
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Swords Creek, Russell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital Status: Single
Father's name: Antney Newberry [Anderson]
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's name: Candess A Newberry
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Anderson Newberry 49
Candess A Newberry 45
Zechariah Newberry 17
Louisenda Newberry 15
Julie A Newberry 13
Sparl T Newberry 10

Notes:

Married:
Russell County, Virginia Marriages, 1900-1923, Randy F. McNew Crouse, Lulu.com, Dec 21, 2014, p. 128.

Other Events:

• _UID: FE44085490FA44E09BCF7BB890F0AE52694F

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1870 Census
Name: Thomas D Elswick
Age in 1870: 14
Birth Year: abt 1856
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1870: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Knob
Household Members:
Name Age
Chapman Elswick 38
Emeline Elswick 38
Elbert W Elswick 16
Thomas D Elswick 14
James B Elswick 11
Buanavesta Elswick 8
Dellie B Elswick 5
Nancy L Elswick 2

Note: He and his brother, Elbert Wade, are using his stepfather's last name, but Thomas and Elbert Wade return to their mother's maiden name for the rest of their lives.

1880 Census
Name: Thomas Chambers
Age: 23
Birth Year: abt 1857
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1880: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Sallie Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Occupation: Farmer
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas Chambers 23
Sallie Chambers 27
Alafim Chambers 5 [Alafair]
Thomas C. Chambers 1

1900 Census
Name: Thomas D Chambers
Age: 47
Birth Date: Feb 1853
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Eady Chambers
Marriage Year: 1880
Years Married: 20
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas D Chambers 47
Eady Chambers 56
John M Chambers 15
Mallee E Chambers 13
Jinie L Chambers 11
Robert G Chambers 9
Irena Chambers 7
Grayson Chambers 4

1910 Census
Name: Thomas W Chambers
Age in 1910: 54
Birth Year: abt 1856
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1910: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Eady Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas W Chambers 54
Eady Chambers 44
Grace Chambers 17

1920 Census
Name: T D Chambers
Age: 64
Birth Year: abt 1856
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1920: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Street: Ridge Between Levisa River And Grassy Creek
House Number: Farm
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Eady Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Native Tongue: English
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Farm Labor
Industry: Home Farm
Employment Field: Own Account
Home Owned or Rented: Own
Home Free or Mortgaged: Free
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
T D Chambers 64
Eady Chambers 54

1930 Census
Name: Thomas D Chamber [Chambers]
Birth Year: abt 1856
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Virginia
Marital Status: Widowed
Relation to Head of House: Father-In-Law (Father)
Home in 1930: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Age at First Marriage: 20
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members:
Nathan W Wade 52
Mallie E Wade 45
Carl Wade 18
Vennie Wade 12
Gladis Wade 7
Rufus Wade 4 years 10 months
Clarie Orsborn 19
Thomas D Chambers 74

PARENTS

Thomas' death certificate is the only one of his three siblings born out of wedlock that give the name of Thomas Gillespie as the father. Alifair Chambers Christian's death certificate gave Chapman Elswick as her father, Elbert Wade Chambers had no names for his parents. For Alifair's descendants, her real father's name was not known, but evidently for the children of Emmeline and Chapman Elswick, the name was known but not talked about outside the family. John McClintock, Jr. told me what the family stories were, but there was no confirmation until Thomas D. Chamber's death certificate.

Buried:
Grave location, portrait, and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10737998&ref=acom

Died:
Virginia, Deaths, 1912-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia

Name: Thomas Douglas Chambers
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age at Death: 75 years 2 months and 16 days
Birth Date: 2 Feb 1876 [Note: It looks like the registrar wrote in his birth year as 1876, when in should be 1856 according to his age]
Death Date: 19 Apr 1931
Death Place: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia, USA
Registration Date: 20 Apr 1931
Father: Gillespie Thomas [Thomas Gillespie]
Mother: Emmyline Chambers
Certificate Number: 1931009027
Informant: N. W. Wade, his son-in-law.
[Note: Thomas was living with Mollie and Nathan in the 1930 census]

Thomas married Edith OSBORN. Edith was born 10 May 1865, Buchanan Co. VA; died 10 Mar 1928, Buchanan Co. VA; was buried , Chambers Cemetery, Shortt Gap, Buchanan Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: B838C896412F4D798960C7B880C3A38F61F2

Notes:

Her father Chapp Osborne was a guard at the Raven Red Ash Coal Comp and in 1920 he was appointed a Tazewell Co deputy. He was killed in a gun battle near Richlands on 22 March 1927. It is said that he shot 15 men, eight of whom died.

CENSUS RECORDS

1900 Census
Name: Eady Chambers
Age: 56
Birth Date: May 1864
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Thomas D Chambers
Marriage Year: 1880
Years Married: 20
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother: number of living children: 7
Mother: How many children: 7
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas D Chambers 47
Eady Chambers 56
John M Chambers 15
Mallee E Chambers 13
Jinie L Chambers 11
Robert G Chambers 9
Irena Chambers 7
Grayson Chambers 4

1920 Census
Name: Eady Chambers
Age: 54
Birth Year: abt 1866
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1920: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Street: Ridge Between Levisa River And Grassy Creek
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: T D Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Native Tongue: English
Able to Speak English: Yes
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
T D Chambers 64
Eady Chambers 54

Buried:
Grave location, portrait, and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10737612

Died:
Virginia, Deaths, 1912=2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.
Name: Eady Chambers
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age at Death: 62
Birth Date: 10 May 1865
Birth Place: Buchanan Co. VA
Death Date: 10 Mar 1928
Death Place: Buchanan, Virginia
Registration Date: 26 May 1928
Father: William Osbon
Mother: Mary Keen
Spouse: T D Chambers

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1860 Census
Name: Anderson T Newberry
Age: 10
Birth Year: abt 1850
Gender: Male
Home in 1860: South Western District, Franklin, Virginia
Post Office: Long Branch
Family Number: 74
Household Members:
Name Age
Jno A Newberry 46
Elizabeth Newberry 40
Julia A Newberry 18
Sparrel F Newberry 16
Wm M Newberry 14
John D Newberry 12
Anderson T Newberry 10

1880 Census
Name: Anderson T. Newberg [Newberry]
Age: 29
Birth Year: abt 1851
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1880: New Garden, Russell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Arcansis Newberg [Newberry]
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Occupation: Laborer
Household Members:
Name Age
Anderson T. Newberry 29
Arcansis Newberry 30
John A. Newberry 6
Elbert W. Newberry 4
Charles J. Newberry 2
Mary J. Newberry 3 months

1900 Census
Name: Antney Newberry [Anderson Newberry]
Age: 49
Birth Date: Dec 1850
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Swords Creek, Russell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Candess A Newberry
Marriage Year: 1876
Years Married: 24
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
Anderson Newberry 49
Candess A Newberry 45
Zechariah Newberry 17
Louisenda Newberry 15
Julie A Newberry 13
Sparl T Newberry 10 [Sparrell]

1910 Census
Name: H E Newbury [A T Newberry]
Age in 1910: 59
Birth Year: abt 1851
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1910: New Garden, Russell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Kansas Newberry
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
H E Newbury 59
Kansas Newberry 59
Sparrel T Newberry 19
Hattie Newberry 15

Buried:
Grave location, portrait and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GScid=2382268&GRid=63383745&


Died:
Virginia, Deaths, 1912-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.
Name: Anderson T Newberry
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age at Death: 63
Birth Date: 19 Dec 1850
Death Date: 22 Apr 1914
Death Place: Russell, Virginia
Registration Date: 30 Apr 1914
Father: J A Newberry
Mother: Elizabeth Cockerham

Anderson married Candice (Kansas) Crouse 14 Dec 1875, Russell Co. VA. Candice was born 13 Jul 1849, Ashe Co. NC; died 29 Dec 1933, Russell Co. VA; was buried , Newberry Cemetery, Swords Creek, Russell Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1850 Census
Name: Candis Crows [Candis Crouse]
Age: 1
Birth Year: abt 1849
Birthplace: North Carolina
Home in 1850: Ashe, North Carolina
Gender: Female
Family Number: 65
Household Members:
Name Age
John Crouse 28
Charlot Crouse 32
Matilda Crouse 9
Mary Crouse 5
Elizabeth Crouse 3
Candis Crouse 1

1870 Census
Name: Candace Crowse [Candace Crouse]
Age in 1870: 21
Birth Year: abt 1849
Birthplace: North Carolina
Home in 1870: Cherry Lane, Alleghany, North Carolina
Race: White
Gender: Female
Post Office: Cherry Lane
Household Members:
Name Age
John Crowse 50
Charlette Crowse 55
Candace Crowse 21
Sally Crowse 17
Franky Crowse 13
Joseph Crowse 12
John Crowse 7

1880 Census
Name: Arcansis Newberg [Newberry]
Age: 30
Birth Year: abt 1850
Birthplace: North Carolina
Home in 1880: New Garden, Russell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Anderson T. Newberg [Newberry]
Father's Birthplace: North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina
Occupation: Keeping House
Household Members:
Name Age
Anderson T. Newberry 29
Arcansis Newberry 30
John A. Newberry 6
Elbert W. Newberry 4
Charles J. Newberry 2
Mary J. Newberry 3 months

1900 Census
Name: Candess A Newberry
Age: 45
Birth Date: Jul 1854
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Swords Creek, Russell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Antney Newberry [Anderson]
Marriage Year: 1876
Years Married: 24
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother: number of living children: 9
Mother: How many children: 10
Household Members:
Name Age
Antney Newberry 49
Candess A Newberry 45
Zechariah Newberry 17
Louisenda Newberry 15
Julie A Newberry 13
Sparl T Newberry 10

1910 Census
Name: Kansas Newberry
Age in 1910: 59
Birth Year: abt 1851
Birthplace: North Carolina
Home in 1910: New Garden, Russell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: H E Newbury [A. T. Newberry]
Father's Birthplace: North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina
Household Members:
Name Age
H E Newbury 59
Kansas Newberry 59
Sparrel T Newberry 19
Hattie Newberry 15

1920 Census
Name: Kansas Newberry
Age: 70
Birth Year: abt 1850
Birthplace: North Carolina
Home in 1920: New Garden, Russell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Mother
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina
Able to Speak English: Yes
Able to Read: No
Able to Write: No
Household Members:
Name Age
Spirah Newberry 30 [Sparrell]
Hattie Newberry 25
Kansas Newberry 70

1930 Census
Name: Candes Newberry
Birth Year: abt 1852
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Virginia
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Mother
Home in 1930: New Garden, Russell, Virginia
Street address: Horton Ridge
Age at First Marriage: 25
Able to Read and Write: No
Father's Birthplace: Virginia [North Carolina]
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia [North Carolina]
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Sparil Newberry 40
Hallie B Newberry 34
Candes Newberry 78

Birth:
Death certificate has her YOB as 1849, which reflects her age in the 1850 census, but her tombstone has 1850.


Buried:
Grave location, portrait, and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=63383838

Died:
Virginia, Deaths, 1912-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.
Name: Kansas Newbery [Newberry]
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age at Death: 84
Birth Date: 13 Jul 1849
Place of Birth: Alleghany Co. NC
Death Date: 29 Dec 1933
Death Place: Swords Creek, Russell, Virginia
Registration Date: 31 Dec 1933
Spouse: A T Newbery [Newberry]
Informant: S. T. Newberry
[Note: Alleghany Co. was formed out of Ashe Co. NC in 1859. She was actually born in Ashe Co. NC]

Notes:

Married:
Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.
Name: Anderson Newberry
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Single
Age: 24
Birth Date: 1851
Birth Place: Patrick
Marriage Date: 14 Dec 1875
Marriage Place: Russell, Virginia
Father: John A. Newberry
Mother: Elizabeth Newberry
Spouse: Candice Crous
FHL Film Number: 33850
Reference ID: p 44 line 107

Other Events:

• _UID: 39FEB522E5614E62BB57485DB3DA159CF951

Notes:

Several sources have come forward with information that the Emeline's first three children was a Gillespie from Pounding Mill or the community of Gillespie" between Pounding Mill (about two miles to the west) and Cliffield in Tazewell Co. Va.

It seems that Emeline was living in Liberty and the gap or short cut over the mountain leads over to Laurel Gap from the Pounding Mill area and then to Liberty. This would have been been less than three miles by horseback.

A granddaughter of Emeline remarked to her grandson as they were traveling through Pounding Mill that Emeline's first children was fathered by a Gillespie, but did not know his first name. Emeline and this man reportedly traveled to see each other.

Why didn't she marry the father of these 3 children? He possibly was married, unwilling to marry her, or he died before they could marry.

Further research is needed, and the key will be maps of the census districts for Tazwell Co. to see exactly which male Gillespies on the 1850 Tazewell Co. Maiden Spring District were living near Laurel Gap in Pounding Mill or the community of Gillespie.

Thomas married Emeline S. CHAMBERS. Emeline (daughter of Thomas CHAMBERS and Nancy CHRISTIAN) was born 18 Jan 1830, Russell Co. VA; died 2 Mar 1898, Tazewell Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: FFF7D11A2F354377B35F20FA34DF4D6CF7B7

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1840 Census, Russell Co. VA Thomas had two males under 5 [John and Hugh], one male 5-10 [Reese], one female under 5 [Joanna], one female 5-10 [Emeline], and one female 10-15 [Lydia].

1850 United States Federal Census
Name: Emeline Chambers
Age: 19
Birth Year: abt 1831
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1850: District 54, Russell, Virginia
Gender: Female
able to read and write, is living in household number 1250 with her mother Nancy Chambers, along with Emeline's daughter, Allifair, age 6 months.

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Emiline J Chamber [Emiline J Chambers]
Age in 1860: 28
Birth Year: abt 1832
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1860: Western District, Tazewell, Virginia
Gender: Female
Post Office: Cedar Bluff
Household Members:
Emiline J Chambers 28
Euphemia Chambers 11
Elbert W Chambers 7
James B Chambers 1
Chapman Elsick 23 [farm laborer]

1870 United States Federal Census
Name: Emeline Elswick
Age in 1870: 38
Birth Year: abt 1832
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1870: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Post Office: Knob
Household Members:
Chapman Elswick 38
Emeline Elswick 38
Elbert W Elswick 16
Thomas D Elswick 14
James B Elswick 11
Buenavista Elswick 8
Dellie B Elswick 5
Nancy L Elswick 2

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Emaline Elswick
Age: 48
Birth Year: abt 1832
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1880: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Chapman Elswick
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Chapman Elswick 43
Emaline Elswick 48
Bunevista Elswick 18
Nancy L. Elswick 13
Lafayette Elswick 10
Mary Elswick 6

MARRIAGE RECORD

"Tazewell County (VA) Marriages", Register #3, Year 1863, transcribed by Pauline Haga.

Chapman S. Elswick, age 26 yr, 7 mon, 19 days, born in Tazewell Co, VA, son of William and Lucinda Elswick, married on 10 Sep 1863 Emeline S. Chambers, age 21, born in Russell Co, VA, daughter of Thomas and Nancy Chambers. Married by Patton J. Lockhart.

STORIES

It was said she was a "red-headed,full-blooded Irish woman," according to contemporary accounts. While her husband, Chapman Elswick, was fighting in the Shenandoah Valley, his family was facing uncertainty and hardships.

Emeline and another lady by the name of Polly Griffiths, wife of Martin Griffiths (29th VA Infantry CSA) dug coal to fill ox carts, and during the summer months, leaving their children behind, drove the carts pulled by oxen and they came down from the ridge [Pleasant Hill, Reynolds Ridge] between Big Creek and Middle Creek from Stinson Ridge to Cedar Bluff, then up to Frog Level, then across the mountain and down the valley to Saltville, Va. (which would have been 40-50 mile), where they traded the coal for salt.

On the way back they would stop and trade the salt for staples and supplies they needed on the farm. They would trade salt for food and vegetables with neighbors who would be able to tend their farms.

It was a long, arduous trip and demonstrated the fortitude and perseverance of women and what they had to do to survive.

Notes:

John McClintock, Jr., a descendant of Emeline and Chapman Elswick, told me the family stories were a Thomas Gillespie was the father of Emeline's children. Thomas would travel over the mountain to visit "Red headed Emmie" at Liberty.

Until the death certificate of Thomas D. Chambers there was no proof of this. Thomas' death certificate is the only one of his three siblings born out of wedlock that give the name of Thomas Gillespie as the father. Alifair Chambers Christian's death certificate gave Chapman Elswick as her father, Elbert Wade Chambers had no names for his parents. For Alifair's descendants, her real father's name was not known, but evidently for the children of Emmeline and Chapman Elswick, the name was known but not talked about outside the family.

When Emeline married Chapman Elswick, she put her marital status as divorced. More than likely, Thomas Gillespie was a married man and was not free to marry Emeline.

Which Thomas Gillespie could be the father? One researcher has William Thomas Gillespie who was in his 60's during the time Emeline's children were conceived. I think a younger man is more likely since he was traveling over the mountain to Liberty on horseback. Here are the candidates from the Tazewell 1850 Census for Thomas or Thos:

Thomas Harrison Gillespie Nov. 19, 1812-Oct. 14, 1891, husband of Mary Ann Radar. In 1850 Thomas was 38 years old.

Thomas Simpson Gillespie 13 Dec 1807-1857,1862 or 1866, husband of Mariah Peery. In 1850 he was 43 years old. Thomas moved to Genry Co. MO in 1854, but later returned and died in Tazewell Co. This Thomas is a possibility based on the ages of Emeline's children. Alifair and Elbert Wade are three years apart, but there is about a 3 year difference between Elbert Wade born in 1853 and Thomas Douglas born about 1856. So it's possible Thomas Douglas was conceived when Thomas Gillespie returned from Missouri. Why did he return to Tazewell leaving his wife and children in Missouri?

Until DNA tests are done, this is all speculation as to which Thomas Gillespie is the father of Emeline's first three children.