Emeline S. CHAMBERS b. 18 Jan 1830 Russell Co. VA d. 2 Mar 1898 Tazewell Co. VA: Appalachian Aristocracy

1830 - 1898 (68 years)

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Name	Emeline S. CHAMBERS
Born	18 Jan 1830	Russell Co. VA [1, 2]
Gender	Female
_UID	FFF7D11A2F354377B35F20FA34DF4D6CF7B7
Died	2 Mar 1898	Tazewell Co. VA [1]
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. [1, 3, 4]
Person ID	I3892	Master File
Last Modified	3 Sep 2012

Father	Thomas CHAMBERS, b. Abt 1811, d. Abt 1849, Russell Co. VA (Age ~ 38 years)
Mother	Nancy CHRISTIAN, b. Abt 1811, Tazewell Co. VA , d. Aft 1880, Buchanan Co. VA (Age ~ 70 years)
Married	Abt 1827
Family ID	F2759	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family 1 Thomas GILLESPIE

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.

Children

	1. Euphemia Alifair CHAMBERS, b. 29 Dec 1850, Virginia , d. 08 Jan 1923, Tazewell Co. VA (Age 72 years)
+	2. Elbert Wade CHAMBERS, b. 07 Feb 1853, Tazewell Co. VA , d. 08 Mar 1924, Boyd Co. KY (Age 71 years)
+	3. Thomas Douglas (Red Tom) CHAMBERS, b. 3 Feb 1858, Virginia , d. 19 Apr 1931, Buchanan Co. VA (Age 73 years)

Last Modified 16 Oct 2015

Family ID F2758 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Family 2 Chapman Spotts ELSWICK, b. 21 Feb 1836, Tazewell Co VA , d. 7 May 1897, Tazewell Co. VA (Age 61 years)

Married 10 Sep 1863 Tazewell Co VA [3]

Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940
Name: Chapman S Elswick
Birth Date: 1837
Birthplace: Tazewell County, Va
Age: 26
Spouse's Name: Emeline J Chambers
Spouse's Birth Date: 1832
Spouse's Birthplace: Russell County, Va
Spouse's Age: 31
Event Date: 10 Sep 1863
Event Place: Tazewell, Virginia
Father's Name: William Elswick
Mother's Name: Lucinda
Spouse's Father's Name: Thomas Chambers
Spouse's Mother's Name: Nancy
Marital Status: Divorced
Spouse's Marital Status: Single
Spouse's Previous Husband's Name:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M01695-4
System Origin: Virginia-EASy
GS Film number: 34214
Reference ID: Page 15Line22

Children

	1. James Buchanan ELSWICK, b. 7 Jan 1859, Tazewell Co. VA , d. 19 Jul 1923, Tazewell Co. VA (Age 64 years)
	2. Buena Vista ELSWICK, b. 10 Oct 1861, Tazewell Co. VA , d. 30 Sep 1926, Tazewell Co. VA (Age 64 years)
	3. Lillie B. ELSWICK, b. 1865, Tazewell Co. VA
	4. Nancy Lula ELSWICK, b. 1867, d. 24 Jan 1933 (Age 66 years)
	5. Fayette M. ELSWICK, b. 11 Nov 1870, Tazewell Co VA , d. 24 Nov 1933, Tazewell Co. VA (Age 63 years)
	6. Mary (Mollie) ELSWICK, b. 04 Jun 1873, Tazewell Co., VA , d. 13 May 1943, Jewell Ridge, Tazewell Co. VA (Age 69 years)

Last Modified 20 Feb 2014

Family ID F2763 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Sources

[S37] Tazewell Co. Heritage Book, info from Stephen McClintock, Kingsport, TN.
[S38] Rachel Alice Ferrell Szasz-aszasz@newwave.net.
[S61] Tazewell County, Virginia Marriage Book 1854-1866, Pauline Haga, (Mountain Press, p.32).
[S34] John W. McClintock, Jr., email correspondence.