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Classification: Query
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Message Board Post:
This family long-time Detroit family has been identified in the 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
Census in Detroit, with considerable identifying information available for them, gleaned
just from these census records. Lydia A. appears to be the oldest child in the family,
with the next children: Louisa, b. c1841, Daniel, b. 1841-1843, Erastus, b. c1845, and
Charles M., b. c1847 (all in MI). In each census, Desire is listed without a husband, so
it is likely he died 1847-1850, probably in Detroit. The 1880 Census shows that he was a
native of Connecticut, as were Desire's parents.
I don't have any record here that Desire's surname was Thompson, as you have
listed it, though I do see one possible match in an IGI record, with a Desire W. Thompson,
b. 15 Jan 1811, NY, d. 20 Aug 1889 (place not stated), dau. of Daniel Thompson, b. 1787,
CT, and Susanne Bradley. I'd appreciate knowing what you have come up with in this
regard. This Thompson family might be related to the family that Desire's son Daniel
was living with in 1850:
- 1850 Census, Detroit City, Wayne Co., MI, Daniel Chamberlain, p. 139, #89/89, age 8, b.
MI, attends school, living w. Bradley Thompson, etc. The IGI lists a marriage of Bradley
H. Thompson to Eleonora St. Amour, 14 Mar 1844, Detroit, Wayne Co., MI.
Evidently Desire placed her two oldest children elsewhere in 1850, and kept the 3
younger children at home with her:
- 1850 Census, Detroit, 27th District, Desire Chamberlain (female), p. 039, #892/114, age
39, b. NY; Louisa, age 9, b. MI; Erastus, age 5, b. MI; Charles, age 3, b. MI
Lydia A. was evidently placed in the following family:
- 1850 Census, Detroit, 27th District, Wayne Co., MI, Lydia Chamberlin, p. 130,
#1570/1876, age 11, b. MI, attends school, living in boarding house, Samuel Barrett, etc.
Daniel and Lydia were both back home, living with their mother and siblings, once
again, in 1860.
So, If this Chamberlin family lived in Detroit in 1840, which is very likely, there
are only two families listed there who could be candidates: John Chamberlin, p. 177, and
Roger Chamberlin, p. 181: 0000001-100001. John appears to be age 50-60, operating a hotel
or institution of some sort, and I can't find anything more on him or his family. The
data for Roger's wife (age 30-40), and daughter (age 0-5), match pretty well with data
for Desire & Lydia A., and Roger is not listed in 1850 anywhere in the U. S. (I
double-checked this). So, best guess is that Roger was born in CT, he was the husband of
Desire, they were married about 1838 in CT, NY or MI, and he died 1847-1850, prob.
Detroit. But I can't find any way to identify/trace this Roger Chamberlin. This
needs to be done. Neither John or Roger appear in Detroit in the 1830 Census, and Roger
is not listed as head-of-household anywhere else in the U. S. in 1830, unfortunately.
It would certainly be helpful if you or someone else could obtain death records for
Desire, or birth, marriage or death records for any of her children, to see what
additional information they contain. Also, since Roger probably died 1847-1850 in
Detroit, his death record should also be requested. Land, probate and other Detroit,
Wayne Co., MI records (including early Detroit City Directories which I know begin in the
1830s) should also be examined.
Please contact me via Email if you wish to discuss this information in greater
detail.