My great-grandfather, William S. (Sylvester) Chamberlain, was born 4 July 1861 in
"Bengal" ME (though family tradition says it was Bradford or Bangor). I've
never been able to identify his parents, or determine his birthplace - can anyone help?
I think I found him in the 1870 census, living with the Hill & Mary Whitmore family in
Hudson, Penobscot Co., ME. He was recorded as 8 years old, which would be correct since
the census was taken before his birthday. But there is no clue to his parentage.
There are two large Chamberlain clans in the general area: James Chamberlain of Hudson and
William Chamberlain of Bradford. He could have come from either family - perhaps his
father went off to the Civil War and his mother died while he was young or something,
leaving the child with an aunt or cousin.
At any rate, by 1883 my William was in Anoka County, MN, getting married to Elizabeth
Milton, and from then on I know where he was (more or less). Can anyone help me find a
birth record?
Thanks!
Mary Chamberlain