Rena Belle (Rennie) CHAMBERS

Other Events:

• _UID: 33CC0F1A452A477BBEC1CE3C48E923083ECB

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1900 Census
Name: Irena Chambers
Age: 7
Birth Date: May 1893
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
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
Grayson Chambers 4

1910 Census
Name: Rena Absher
Age in 1910: 19
Birth Year: abt 1891
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1910: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Charles H Absher
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
Charles H Absher 25
Rena Absher 19
Dewey Absher 4

1920 Census
Name: Rena Abshire
Age: 26
Birth Year: abt 1894
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1920: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Charley Abshire
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Speak English: Yes
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Charley Abshire 35
Rena Abshire 26
Dewey Abshire 14
Roy Abshire 9 years 7 months
Mattie Abshire 7 years 7 months
James T Abshire 5 years 11 months
Rosa E Abshire 2 years 9 months
Ardie A Abshire 3 months

1930 Census
Name: Rena Absher
Birth Year: abt 1893
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Virginia
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Home in 1930: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Age at First Marriage: 16
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Charles Absher 44
Rena Absher 37
Jim Absher 15
Rosa Absher 13
Artie Absher 11
Lloyd Wm Absher 6

Birth:
Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
Name: Rena Bell Absher
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birth Date: 5 May 1893
Birth Place: Shortt Gap B, Virginia
Father Name: Thomas Chambers
Mother Name: Edith Osborne
Type of Claim: Original SSN.
Notes: Sep 1963: Name listed as RENA BELL ABSHER

Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=36135378

Died:
Virginia, Deaths, 1912-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.
Name: Rena Belle Absher
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age at Death: 72
Birth Date: 5 May 1893
Death Date: 5 Jun 1965
Death Place: Richlands, Tazewell, Virginia
Registration Date: 15 Jun 1965
Father: Tom Chambers
Mother: Edith Osborne
Spouse: Charlie Absher

Rena married Charles Allen ABSHER. Charles was born 19 Sep 1884, Wilkes Co. NC; died 28 Jun 1949, Tazewell Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

1. Dewey ABSHER was born 10 Jul 1905, Tazewell Co. VA; died 07 Apr 1992, Richlands, Tazewell Co. VA; was buried , Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill, Tazewell Co. VA.
2. Roy ABSHER was born 21 Jul 1910, Tazewell Co. VA; died 04 Nov 1984, Richlands, Tazewell Co. VA; was buried , Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill, Tazewell Co. VA.
3. Mattie ABSHER was born 05 Jul 1912, Tazewell Co. VA; died 12 Apr 2003, Rockville, Montgomery Co. MD; was buried , Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill, Tazewell Co. VA.
4. James Thomas ABSHER was born 08 Aug 1914, Tazewell Co. VA; died 31 May 2005, Raven, Tazewell Co. VA; was buried , Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill, Tazewell Co. VA.
5. Rosa Ellen ABSHER was born 05 Feb 1917, Tazewell Co. VA; died 26 Aug 2010, Newton Co. GA; was buried , Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill, Tazewell Co. VA.
6. Artie Alifair ABSHER was born 05 Sep 1919, Tazewell Co. VA; died 01 Feb 2003, Tazewell Co. VA; was buried , Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill, Tazewell Co. VA.
7. Lloyd William ABSHER was born 29 Jul 1923, Tazewell Co., VA; died 05 Feb 1987, Richlands, Tazewell Co. VA; was buried , Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill, Tazewell Co. VA.
8. Georgia Nell ABSHER was born 17 Mar 1932, Raven, Tazewell Co. VA; died 07 Oct 2006, Fauquier Co. VA; was buried , Rock Hill Baptist Church Cemetery, Ruby, Stafford Co. VA.
9. Maxie Louise ABSHER was born 01 Nov 1934, Tazewell Co., VA; died 19 Oct 2004, Stafford Co. VA; was buried , Sunset Memorial Gardens, Four Mile Fork, Spotsylvania Co. VA.

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

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.

Other Events:

• _UID: 9F738053F8B2406992D90607550D1C46741A

Notes:

1830 Census, Russell Co. VA Thomas had one male age 20 thru 29 [himself], one female under age 5 [Lydia] one females age 15 thru 19 [Nancy] and one male slave under the age of 10.

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].

DOD given as 1849 in Russell Co. VA

Tazewell County Marriages
Feb. 27, 1855
CHAMBERS, REES (21) Single. Born in Tazewell Co. Farmer. Son of Thomas & Nancy Christian

Thomas married Nancy CHRISTIAN Abt 1827. Nancy was born Abt 1811, Tazewell Co. VA; died Aft 1880, Buchanan Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: B2B2D7B8AEE64E918B3C1BCFF541BF6D7902

Notes:

1830 Census, Russell Co. VA Thomas had one male age 20 thru 29 [himself], one female under age 5 [Lydia] one females age 15 thru 19 [Nancy his wife] and one male slave under the age of 10.

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 Census Russell Co. page 310A, Family #1250. Listed as Nancy Chambers, age 38, born in Tazewell Co, VA, head of household.

1860 Census Tazewell Co. VA, Cedar Bluff, page 837 has the following info:

Chambers, Nancy, age 60, district: Cedar Bluff, page 837. Nancy was living with Joanna, John, Douglas Chambers, age 3 [John's son Douglas Rees Chambers], and Caladina Chambers [Clarissa Shortridge, John's wife], age 15.

1870 Census Buchanan Co. VA, Garden District, Nancy Chambers, age 55, unable to read and write, is living next door to her son John Chambers. Living with her is her daughter, Joannah, age 33, occupation weaver, and her son William F. Chambers, age 5.

1880 Census, Buchanan Co. VA, Garden District, Nancy Chambers, age 73, mother is living in the household of John Chambers. She is unable to read or write.

Nancy died in Buchanan Co. was with son, John. This info came from Lori (ddoerr@houston.rr.com)

Birth:
1850 Census, Russell Co. VA, District 54, household 1250, information indicates she was born in Tazewell Co.

Died:
1880 Census, Buchanan Co. VA, Garden District, Nancy, age 73, was living with her son John Chambers.