The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879
BIOGRAPHY OF DAVID CHAMBERLAIN JAMES CHAMBERLAIN

NINIAN AND ELIZABETH (EWING) CHAMBERLAIN, the progenitors of the family by that name in Cayuga County, were natives of Adams County, Pa., where the former was born October 1st, 1751, and the latter, in 1768. They were married July 5th, 1789, and pursued the vocation of farmers. They enjoyed fair scholastic advantages, such as the schools of that period afforded.

Ninian Chamberlain was employed in the Continental army during the war of the Revolution as ? aster of transportation, and shared in all the vicissitudes and hardships so nobly borne in the struggle for independence. His brother James was a Colonel in the same army. Both had the pleasure of meeting and knowing George Washington, about whom they related many interesting incidents to their children, which show how familiar they were with the triumphs and diseasters that fell to the lot of that noble army.

After the close of the war Ninian resumed his occupation of farming. In 1807 he came to Cayuga County and settled on lot 8 in the town of Niles, which then formed a part of Sempronius, on 325 acres purchased of Lucas Elmendorf, of Albany, N. Y., for $5.50 per acre. The entire region was then an almost unbroken wilderness. With a stout heart and resolute purpose he, with the aid of his sons, commenced the work of subduing the giant forest trees, and at the expiration of twelve years had many acres around his rude log dwelling covered with wheat, oats and corn. A generous reward for the labor and privation of the previous toilsome years was being realized; but the title to his land proved defective and he, like many others who early settled upon the Military Tract, was suddenly deprived of this rich fruitage. This blow was very disheartening, but, with the aid of his many children still remaining at home, he set to work to retrieve the loss resulting from his misfortune. He again bought a portion of the land he had already thrice earned, and, by the united efforts of himself and children, supported and encouraged by an abiding trust in the Covenanters' faith, with the blessing of Almighty God and the maintenance of a strict integrity, their early losses have proved to be the seeds of good fortune, and in the harvests of many years their earthly store has been largely increased. Upon this site of their pioneer labors and misfortunes these pious parents lived many years, enjoying every needed comfort.

Mr. Chamberlain was a modest and consistent man in all the affairs of life. He was kind and charitable to the unfortunate poor, and was never appealed to in vain for his assistance in aid of worthy objects. He was an honored and upright member of the Reformed Church in Owasco village, then a mere hamlet. He gave of his means in aid of the construction of the house of worship erected by that society in 1813-'15. In politics he was a Whig, and although he was never an aspirant for public honor and trust, he advocated the principles of his party with earnestness and zeal. During his life he was entrusted with the settlement of many estates, and his opinion was frequently sought by those who needed counsel and advice. These facts suffice to show that he was respected and esteemed by those who enjoyed the pleasure of his acquaintance. His wife was a worthy helpmate, and it was owing in great measure to her assistance and encouragement, extended in his hours of need and distress, that he bore up under the misfortune consequent upon the loss of his farm. She was a kind and affectionate wife and loving mother, and the nobility of character displayed by her children fully attest that her influence for good was not lost. She was a member of the same church as her husband, both joining by letter at the same time. Ninian died December 20th, 1833, aged 82 years, and his wife, March 15th, 1855, aged 87 years. All his children were present at the funeral of the former, and all, except one, who had passed on before, at that of the latter.

They reared to lives of usefulness and honor a family of thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters, four of whom are living, two sons and two daughters. Their names are given in the order of their birth; Samuel, born March 16th, 1788, married Mercy Cotton of Onondaga County, December 27th, 1814, and died November 1st, 1865; Margery, born May 28th, 1789, married George Rippey of Seneca, Ontario County, May 10th, 1812, and died January 3d, 1870; Jeremiah, born August 24th, 1790, died, unmarried December 30th, 1862; John, born September 1st, 1792, married Mary Ann North of Tompkins County, N. Y., January 7th, 1817, and after her death, married Elvira Baldwin of Tompkins county, N.Y., in May, 1855, died September 3d, 1874; Rachel, born October 25th, 1794, married John Rippey of Seneca, Ontario County, N.Y., February 4th, 1818, died April 16th, 1850; James, born January 10th, 1797, still living, unmarried, aged 82 years, and a portrait of whom appears on this page of the work; Robert, born March 11th, 1799, died unmarried June 12th, 1867; Betsey, born June 23d, 1801, married Robert Knox of Scipio, Cayuga County, November 9th, 1830, died December 16th, 1875; Sally, twin sister to Betsey, born June 23d, 1801, married David Wilson of Niles, Cayuga County, May 4th, 1848, died October 23d, 1856; David, born May 16th, 1803, married Eliza Smith, of Nelson, Madison County, N.Y., September 4th, 1828, is still living in the town of Niles, and a portrait of whom appears on this page; Polly, born October 30th, 1805, still living, unmarried, and a portrait of whom appears on the opposite page; Hamilton, born April 22d, 1808, died unmarried November 24th, 1872; and Margaret, born November 22d, 1810, is still living unmarried, and a portrait of whom appears on the opposite page of this work.

Return to the Index of The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 by Elliott Storke
Return to the Cayuga County NYGenWeb Project Home Page