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.
​
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.
​
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.
​
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.
​
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.
​
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In Memory
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LISTED IN DEATH DATE ORDER:
Rotcher Portland Chamblee, 1867-1900: Great, great great grandson of Robert Chamlee/Chamblee, compiled an important genealogy book in Wake County made available to us by Dr. John Sigma Chamblee, Sr.
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RESEARCHES WE HAVE WORKED WITH OR WHOSE WORKS WE HONOR
(Front Row L-R):
1. William Bryant Chamblee b. 1824 (son of John Chamblee & Olive Richardson)
2. Nancy Helen Griffin (Joyner) (2nd wife, widow of Calvin H. Joyner) b. 1839
3. Baby, John Griffin Chamblee b. May 1877
4. Mike Percy Chamblee b, 1873
5. Minda Dove Chamblee Hankins b. 1871
(Back Row L-R):
1. William Hardy Chamblee, b. 1867 (youngest son of 1st wife Martha Helen Hardy)
2. Sigma Van Thomas Chamblee b. 1869
3. Rochter Portland Chamblee b. 1867 (he had bad health; kept the family genealogy, later Minda Dove and Sigma Van Thomas entered family records)
Other child, Patti Belle Chamblee Harris was not yet born (1881)
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Owner: John Sigma Chamblee, M.D., 1913-2007
Alexander Bunn Strickland, 1887-1946: Very early research in NC before the archives was organized.
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Lillie Archer Chamlee, 1905-1981, mother of Tilmon Perkins Chamlee, Jr: Did very early research on the Chamlee line which is deposited in GA Archives
Margarette H. Glenn Griffin (1894-1981): Authored genealogy newspaper articles 1960's, genealogy book author, professional genealogist, has Johnston-Chamblee NC connection, worked with the Allreds in the 50's and 60's.
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Mabel Chamblee Motes (1904-1997): Early researcher on Isham and Robert Chamblee, brothers who migrated from Wake Co NC to Blount Co AL area, sons of James B Chamblee. Eventually Jack Chamblee, Jr. would inherit his great aunt's work from his uncle Charles R Chamblee and dig deeper in Alabama records than anyone before him.
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Jewel C. Knierim, 1919-1989: Important Lewis Chamblee/Mary Polly Burris Line
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​Ethel S. Updike, 1899-1991 & sister, Laura S. Mentzel, 1913-1998: Researched SC Archives intensely and wrote a book with record notations. Authored, Chamblee, Fisher, Grubbs, Hughes, Robinson, Shirley, Speer and Tribble families of the South, 1969. Important comments on a few facts in her book: Page 1, she is not saying that "Randall Chamble in Lancaster Co. VA" is a direct relative to the others. There are many such random people in Virginia we cannot connect with yet as records are not extant. On page 2 Ethel lists the children of George Chamblee b. ca 1740, please note that the children listed are incorrect. Benjamin, mentioned as a "legatee" in George's will is the proven son of Robert Chamblee, and George's probable nephew. Zadock, also a legatee, is a provable son of Isaac Chamblee, also George's alleged nephew. George, Benjamin, Zadock, Jacob and other relatives and neighbors in the Wake County/Johnston County, NC area migrated together to the northwest corner of SC.
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Mary Inez Pitts McNabb, 1912-1995: Chamblee researcher 1970's & 1980's in Wake Co NC
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Roscoe Lee Strickland, Jr 1917-1997: Professional historian, genealogy on illusive Robert/James/Nancy Chamblee (Strickland) line
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Sue Todd Holmes, 1913-1997: Important for Wake Co Todd-Chamblee connection.
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Allen Leonard Lambert, (1951-1997) Partnered with Jack Chamblee to find photos, history and cemeteries of Alabama ancestors from Robert Chamblee--> James B. Chamblee lines.
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Hallie Weems Neighbors, 1902-1999: Important to Wayne-Chamlee lines Georgia
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Mary Helen Strickland Buffaloe, 1925-2000: Important for John Chamblee /Olive Richardson descendants
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Bobbe J. Duvall, 1950-2001: Expert in Freeman S Chamblee and MS ancestors; core researcher from beginning.
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Marguerite Strickland Allred, 1921-2006, & T. Q. Allred, 1911-1993: Traveled coast-to-coast, solid foundation early research.
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John Sigma Chamblee, M.D. (1913-2007): Inherited Rotcher P. Chamblee genealogy, shared with us thanks to Cherrye Lane Davis.
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Carla Jones Tate, 1947-2011: Researched Bolton connection to Chamblee family
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Myra Hester Warren (1942-2014): Deep research on Hortons/Kings of AL, owns photo of Sarah Elizabeth Chamblee (m. Jesse Horton) and Kings used all over internet (provenance needs to be added by all those adding to family trees, etc).
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Tilmon Perkins Chamlee, Jr. (1933-2015): Along with his wife, Anne, core researcher from beginning connecting to other Chamlees, traveling to cemeteries, libraries and other repositories on the Chamlee line. His mother was Lille Archer (Chamlee) who
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Dorothy Falkner (1938-2017) & Jerry Reagan Chamblee (1941-2017): Walter Francis Chamblee & Desc (from William Chamlee/Dorcas Sego)
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Dr. Robert Phillip Upchurch: Upchurch & Allied Families Association; Rebecca Ann Chamblee, dau James B, marr Stephen Upchurch, born February 9, 1928 Wake County, NC, died May 27, 2020, St. Louis, Missouri.
Left to Right: Lille Archer (Chamlee), Ethel Speers (Dent, Updike), Laura Watson Speer (Mentzel), sister to Ethel Updike
Left to Right: Hallie May Weems (Neighbors), Tilmon Perkins Chamlee, Bobbe Jeanne Duvall
Left to Right: Mary Helen Buffaloe (Strickland and husband Wilfred Eugene Buffalo, Myra Virginia Hester (Warren), Martha Inez Pitts (McNabb), John Sigma Chamblee, Sr., MD
Left to Right: Roscoe Lee Strickland, Jr., Maguerite Mary Strickland (Allred) and husband, T. Q. Allred, Alexander Bunn Strickland
Still With Us
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Jane Hall Barfield: Dense research of James Burris Chamblee/Nancy Agnes Watson descendants
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Dana Chamblee Carpenter: Chamblees in Desoto, Montgomery, Marshall counties, MS
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George E. Chamblee, Jr: Joined with us 1990, Alabama Chamblees
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Jack F Chamblee, Jr: Expert on James B. Chamblee's descendants who migrated to Alabama, original core research partner. Deep into records, collected photographs and other documents.
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Mary Chambless: Queen of all Chambless research, she worked with us to look for connections; DNA now reveals we are not connected to Chambless/Chambliss nor to Chumbley people.
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Anne B. Chamlee : Original core research partner, photo documentation Jacob Chamlee bible, expert on Chamlee lines. Anne published, Jacob Chamlee (1752) and some of his descendants : a collection of Chamlee data, 1994
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Cherrye Lane Davis: Wake County NC research, Jarred Chamblee descendants. Core original researcher.
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Sandra Lee Estes: Expert Horton B. Chamblee connection and descendants; digs deep in records on this line.
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Ray Isbelle: Burris expert
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Paula Jones: Guru on Jacob (Jake) Louis Chamlee/Minnie Arminta Lemon, son of Newton Melvin Chamlee line
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William R. Kemp: Sidney Columbus Chamblee/Sarah Ella Hopkins; also surveyed cemeteries in the Nash/Wake area including Lee's Chapel. Core original researcher.
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Sylvia S. Skinner: important to Jarrett Chamlee line
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D.A. Stoddard: Keeps a database of all Chamblee, Chamlee, Shamley, et al researchers, digs deep on all lines in the U.S. Core original researcher.
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Angie Strickland: Nash & Wake Co research connections, as a young girl listened closely to old timers on Strickland, Chamblee
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*Rocky Strickland: Chamblee-Strickland connections in Nash County
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