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We now know DNA studies match kin who lived in Northern England who went by the name Chomley, Cholmley, or Chamley. Our kin might have lived in Ireland or Scotland before England but no DNA matches in those areas yet. Whatever the cultural or historical issues of the day, our ancestors definitely wanted to leave the British Isles and go to America.
Given a timeline of records PERHAPS our ancestors left because of cultural events leading up to the Battle of Culloden. The first verified record is in Bertie County is 1744, then 1757 on a tax list. First of the DNA 1st cousins or brothers was Isaac Chamblee, Hertford Co NC on a tax list in 1779, obviously of legal age. The oral history that 6 came from Ireland or Scotland (or England) would then fit the years surrounding the Battle of Culloden. One can wonder.
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Scottish Immigration to America increased as Scots gained access to America as Indentured Servants Scottish Immigration to America in the 1700's was undertaken by angry Scots following defeat at the hands of the English at the 1746 Battle of Culloden... In 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie, the the Stuart heir, attempted to claim the British throne but was defeated in 1746 at the Battle of Culloden. The defeat at the Battle of Culloden prompted large scale emigration from Scotland to America and the history of Scottish Immigration to America began in earnest, although Scots had first emigrated during the Colonial era of American history. More on this at Scottish Immigration to America.
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Boat and immigration lists and other early American records including indentured servants have not yielded results. We have have done a surname survey of these immigration records, but there is no pattern or conclusion. We looked at the Chambliss, Chumbly, etc. lines for a few years but after DNA studies we now rule that out. No paper trail from Chambless/Chambliss/Cumbly substantiates anything in our ancestry anyway.
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Where did we first find them on record in America? Bertie County, North Carolina--which was later split into Hertford County in December 1759. We think some of the early records ended up in Hertford County, which unfortunately suffered two fires and most early holdings were lost.
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What is more important is where our ancestors migrated in America. Our ancestors needed and desired many acres of land to support their families. As land was advertised or given as military warrants, our ancestors began to migrate.
We now know DNA studies match kin who lived in Northern England who went by the name Chomley, Cholmley, or Chamley. Our kin might have lived in Ireland or Scotland before England but no DNA matches in those areas yet. Whatever the cultural or historical issues of the day, our ancestors definitely wanted to leave the British Isles and go to America.
Given a timeline of records PERHAPS our ancestors left because of cultural events leading up to the Battle of Culloden. The first verified record is in Bertie County is 1744, then 1757 on a tax list. First of the DNA 1st cousins or brothers was Isaac Chamblee, Hertford Co NC on a tax list in 1779, obviously of legal age. The oral history that 6 came from Ireland or Scotland (or England) would then fit the years surrounding the Battle of Culloden. One can wonder.
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Scottish Immigration to America increased as Scots gained access to America as Indentured Servants Scottish Immigration to America in the 1700's was undertaken by angry Scots following defeat at the hands of the English at the 1746 Battle of Culloden... In 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie, the the Stuart heir, attempted to claim the British throne but was defeated in 1746 at the Battle of Culloden. The defeat at the Battle of Culloden prompted large scale emigration from Scotland to America and the history of Scottish Immigration to America began in earnest, although Scots had first emigrated during the Colonial era of American history. More on this at Scottish Immigration to America.
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Boat and immigration lists and other early American records including indentured servants have not yielded results. We have have done a surname survey of these immigration records, but there is no pattern or conclusion. We looked at the Chambliss, Chumbly, etc. lines for a few years but after DNA studies we now rule that out. No paper trail from Chambless/Chambliss/Cumbly substantiates anything in our ancestry anyway.
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Where did we first find them on record in America? Bertie County, North Carolina--which was later split into Hertford County in December 1759. We think some of the early records ended up in Hertford County, which unfortunately suffered two fires and most early holdings were lost.
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What is more important is where our ancestors migrated in America. Our ancestors needed and desired many acres of land to support their families. As land was advertised or given as military warrants, our ancestors began to migrate.
EARLIEST ANCESTORS & MIGRATION
There are many assumptions and guesses on family trees and websites, the information here is based on deep diving in the records over many years, many miles, and many hours.
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Some interesting facts:
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DNA
Chamblee/Chamlee yDNA generally match with the migrating ancestors of someone from Australia. This person can take his line back to Henry Cholmey (or Chamley) born ca 1708, and died 1760 in Little Strickland, Westmoreland County, England. Henry's son, John Cholmey born ca 1742 Westmoreland, died 1817 in Belcamp, Dublin, Ireland. We DO NOT KNOW the direct relationships and connections of our American ancestors to his, but the oral history coming from the Chamlee and Chamblee lines all says some brothers came from England/Ireland/Scotland area, so the yDNA matchces the tale.
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EARLIEST VERIFIED ANCESTORS
Robert, Isaac and John Chamblee are on record in early Bertie County, North Carolina. NO Chamblee/Chamlee et al family have been found anywhere in the U.S. before 1744. People in nearby areas were Chomondeley [known as "Chumbley" in the UK] and other variants. Our yDNA does not align with Chumbley or Chambless.
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Many people connect us to Henry Chambliss/Mary Moor in (burned) Prince George County, Virginia. This is probably because back in 1990ish we were looking at these people closely to ascertain if there were records that connected to us. Was "Chambliss" a spelling variant? The word got out as questions we asked, some people added this connection to the Chamblee/Chamlee trees. Through DNA we know we are not related.
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Trees, websites, etc. show random individuals as the parents of the Bertie & Wake County group. Reading "Myths & Errors" in this website will help you understand why those could not be true.
Bertie County, NC in 1745, notice boundaries of Edgecombe County adjacent. Robert sold land in Edgecombe 1767, but no record reflects where he obtained the land.
MIGRATION: HOW DID THEY GET TO WAKE COUNTY?
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It is important to know the trail of the gentlemen who were found in Bertie County. Robert Chamblee/Chamley [earliest records use "Chamley" more consistently] is the easier to follow because there are more extant records.
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1761, Bertie Co, Robert Chamblee on trial docket, (Bertie Co MDCCLXI, 010.310.5)
1762, Edgecombe Co, Robert Chamblee, grantee in deed, (Edgecombe Book 1, 325)
1766, Bertie Co, Robert Chamblee in lawsuit (Sec of State Papers, loose papers)
1767 Oct, Edgecombe Co, sold land as "grantor in deed" (Edgecombe Co Min Bk II, 183)
1767, Nov, Bertie Co trial dockets, Robert with two other people (NC Archives, Misc. Dockets 010.310.5)
1768, April Bute Co, Robert purchases land in (defunct) Bute (Bute Co, NC Deed Book 2)
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June 10, 1764, Bute County formed from part of Granville County. Bute County was expanded in 1766, when part of northwestern Northampton County was annexed. Bute divided along Shocco Creek, into two parts: the northern county of Warren and the southern county of Franklin. With the incorporation of Warren and Franklin counties on January 20, 1779, Bute County ceased to exist.
(Above North Carolina in 1762): WHEN ROBERT PURCHASED LAND IN EDGECOMBE CO: Bute Co formed from Granville Co; notice proximity of Hertford/Bertie which was formed in 1759 when they split Bertie Co; Robert Chamlee having himself signed a petition for the new county. In 1757 Edgecombe Co was much larger, even adjacent to Bertie Co. Abbreviations: Ed=Edgecombe, But=Bute, Her=Hertford, Brt=Bertie, Jst=Johnston Gvl=Granville.
Given a timeline of records perhaps our ancestors might have left because of cultural events leading up to the Battle of Culloden. Do you historians have any other ideas? The first verified record is in Bertie County is 1744, then 1757 on a tax list. First of the DNA 1st cousins or brothers was Isaac Chamblee, Hertford Co NC on a tax list in 1779, obviously of legal age. The oral history that four or six came from Ireland or Scotland (or England) would then fit the years surrounding the Battle of Culloden. One can wonder.
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Scottish Immigration to America increased as Scots gained access to America as Indentured Servants Scottish Immigration to America in the 1700's was undertaken by angry Scots following defeat at the hands of the English at the 1746 Battle of Culloden... In 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie, the the Stuart heir, attempted to claim the British throne but was defeated in 1746 at the Battle of Culloden. The defeat at the Battle of Culloden prompted large scale emigration from Scotland to America and the history of Scottish Immigration to America began in earnest, although Scots had first emigrated during the Colonial era of American history. More on this at Scottish Immigration to America.
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Boat and immigration lists and other early American records including indentured servants have not yielded results, but not all boat lists have been indexed and printed. Surname surveys of these immigration records show no pattern or conclusion. Why did they come? Well, if the oral history and yDNA is pointing to Ireland, Scotland and England, perhaps this is why.
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Life was difficult economically for poor Lowland Scots [Scotland]. Some moved to Ulster in Northern Ireland. King James I of England made it government policy to settle additional Scots in Ulster. His purpose was to pacify a turbulent region with Protestant Scots loyal to the crown.
Life in Ireland was no better. Lowland Scots settlers who worked as tenants on land awarded to Scottish and English noblemen lacked power to stop higher and higher rent increases, and the Scots remained segregated from the Native Irish, with whom they had cultural and religious differences.
Higher rents, famines and difficult relations with the Native Irish caused the Scots to move again. America, providing opportunities for land and freedom, pulled them. Close to a quarter of a million Ulster Scots migrated to America between 1715 and 1775.
Ref: nps.gov)
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Many of these Scot-Irish settled in the Cape Fear area far south of where we find the first Chamblee/Chamlees. We have assumed they arrived in Virginia or north and moved south for land.
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Our ancestors were first on record in Bertie County, North Carolina. We have never found them in early Virginia or any other place. Bertie was split into Hertford County in December 1759. We know some of the early Chamblee/Chamlee records ended up in Hertford County after the division. Hertford unfortunately suffered two fires and most early holdings were lost.
Above 1770 map: Wake Co was formed 1770 from Cumberland, Johnston and Orange Counties. Robert's land in Wake Co was near the Johnston Co border. His son, Jared Chamblee received a land grant (Book 91 p565 #1370 or film film 295,095, FHL), 150 acres Snipes Creek) on the Johnston Co side per land records and tax lists. He was on the 1800 census but had taxes in Johnston Co. Aug. 7, 1794 was first known land purchase of Jared, Johnston Co.
Robert Chamblee timeline
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1768, June, Bertie Co Court, lawsuit
1769 Bertie Co Court List: Robert or any Chamblee listed [maybe part of the list was not extant]
1769, Feb, purchases land from John "Honnicutt", Bute Co.
1769, March witnesses deed in Bute Co.
(first two deed books of Wake Co NC are missing, so his first land transaction after Wake created is unknown)
Robert Chamblee moved from Bertie to Hertford to Bute Co.
April 19, 1768, Johnston Co NC, John Hunnycut, Bute Co NC to Drury Cade, Bute Co 40L proc., 138 acres in Johnston Co on the SS Crooked Creek it being part of a deed granted to Thomas Child, Granville Agent, to Augustin Honncutt and John Honnucutt, executor of said Augustin Honnicutt, deceased, as by said deed may appear beg. at a pine near Bute Co. line running S267p to a pine: along the E line to the Great Branch: down said Branch to Powell's line, along Powell line to the first station.
Wit: ROBERT CHAMLEE, William Manford. (Johnston Co Deeds, Trns. 2 & 3, also, 1764-1791, Vol II, W. Haun)
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NOTE: There are a few Chamlee/Hunnicutt records and there might be a family connection. John Honeycutt on the May and Aug term 1789 Misc Tax Insolvent Records of those who could not pay tax in Johnston Co NC.
(Johnston Co Journal Dec 2001 p 62).
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LAND ENTERED FEB 1769, BUTE Co NC
Deed of bargain and sale from John Honnicutt to ROBERT CHAMLEE was proved by oath of James Alford a witness thereto and on motion the same is ordered to be registered. (Bute Co NC Court Minutes)
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LAND BUTE CO NC, 25 Sept 1773
Robert Chamblee, planter of Wake Co NC, to John Amos of Bute Co, NC. money for land in Bute Co (amount not given) where said Chamlee DID LIVE including Manor Home proclamation money, 40 pounds, on south side of Flat Rock Creek to mouth of Rocky Branch, adj. William Mainer. Wit: Lodwick Alford, Isaac Ross. Proved by Lodwick Alford, Bute Co Feb Court 1775, Ben McCulloch, C.C. Reg: 9 April 1775 by James Johnson, P.R. (Ref: Deed Book 5, page 196, Bute Co NC)
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Johnston County formed from Craven County in 1746. There was no Wake Co at this time. The fact that Robert Chamblee's name is on land deals indicates he was residing inside the county boundaries.
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1764 eastern part Granville reassigned to new Bute Co NC
1766 Bute Co expanded to include northwest part of Northampton Co NC
1779 Bute Co divided along Shocco Crk with Warren to north Franklin Co NC to south, Bute Co ceased to exit
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TO SOUTH CAROLINA: The Jacob Chamlee family left Wake County and lived temporarily in eastern Tennessee eventually migrating to Pendleton County, SC to join relatives. Thereafter, descendants spread to GA as land became available. Jacob b. 1752, Benjamin (son of Robert b. ca 1738), George (alleged brother to Robert), Zadock (son of Isaac) and other relatives and neighbors from Wake County, North Carolina, are enumerated in the 1790 census in SC.
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MARCH 3, 1775, TN
"This office to JACOB CHAMBERLAIN 280 a. Bleavens Branch of Watauga Riv adj George Rives." (Old Book A p 28-29). This is really Jacob Chamlee, probably due to accents, the clerks recorded what they heard. Jared Chamblee in tax records listed as Chamberlain, and others in various early enumerations.
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March 19, 1775 Petition of Washington District (TN) to become part of NC, signed, Joshua Houghton, Jordan Reeves, Tho. Houghton, JACOB CHAMLEE...(Raleigh Archives)
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1778, East Tennessee: JACOB CHAMBLE listed as taxpayer, 191L 4 shillings (amount of estate); 1L 9 shillings 4 pence (to pay). Joshua and Thomas Houghton and Jordan and George Reeves also on list.
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TO MICHIGAN: Richard Chamblee left Wake County for Iredell County where he lived for a few years before migrating to Indiana where he living for a few years and then settling in Allegan County, Michigan. The spelling changed to Shamley en route. Some of Richard's children ended up in interesting places such as IL then to MO. Richard's daughter went to IA. Richard descendants fought for the Union side during the Civil War.
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TO MISSISSIPPI: Children of Jarrod (Jordan) Chamblee (grandchildren of Robert Chamblee of Wake County) migrated to Itawamba Co MS and northern MS counties. Robert Chamblee's daughter, Sarah (m. Jesse Hinton) migrated to Perry Co MS. Riley Chambly/Chambley/Shamley, (father unknown) was born July 31, 1813 in North Carolina. He and his large family lived in Carroll Co MS. John David Chamblee, oldest son of Lewis Chamblee (who was son of Isaac of Wake Co) migrated from SC to Leake Co before the 1850 census. Children and grandchildren of William Chamblee, son of Robert of Wake Co, migrated to Marshall, DeSoto, Montgomery, and Tate.
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TO ALABAMA: Many people migrated to Alabama including children of James B Chamblee, grandchildren of Robert Chamblee, and others. There were major migrations of Wake Co people and Chamblee kind in Pickens and Greene counties Alabama.
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As time went on migration continued westward, even to early Texas, Washington state, Oregon, California.
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If you have lost your ancestors in the records, please contact us, we probably have them in our database.
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rev 7-2020
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