I'm not related to JS Chambers, that I know of but I live in SC and
always seek information on any Chambers families in the area. York is
only one county over. I know that every year they have a family reunion
for JS Chambers in about July. I attended one reunion, just to see if I
could gleam any information that may help me. As far as I know the
Chambers in York Co. came from Pa. I have a book with some information
in it and I'll try to get it out this afternoon. If any history or
names prior to JS, I'll copy them to this site. There were two JS
Chambers Sr. in York county and I have both of their wills. I've listed
them below.
Will of John Chambers
State of South Carolina
In the name of God Amen, I, John Chambers, Sen. of York District and
State of South Carolina (Farmer) being weak in Body but of sound mind
and memory, laying to mind that all men must die have thought fit and
proper to make the following distribution of the worldly property which
god in his providence hath blessed me with. But first I recommend my
Soul to god who gave me existence and my Body to be Committed to the
Earth to be decently buried by my Executors hereinafter named in....
First, I give devise and bequeath to my Daughter Sarah Wherrys children
and their heirs a Negro woman named Hab, and her Negro Girl child named
Rose:
Second, I will and bequeath to my son William Chambers, all my tract of
land in the Indian Boundary whereon I now reside: and a Negro man named
George; and a Negro boy named Andrew.
Third, I will and bequeath to my Daughter Mary a Negro woman named
Esther and a Negro boy named Leonard and a Negro girl named Tenah
Fourth, I will and bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth a Negro boy named
Jack and a Negro girl named Mary and also a Negro girl named Nance; I
will and bequeath all my household and kitchen furniture to my two
daughters Mary & Elizabeth to be equally divided between them I also
will and bequeath to my two daughters Mary and Elizabeth each of them
two cows & calves; I also will to my daughter Mary a sorrell mare named
Tally and to my daughter Elizabeth a bay horse named Isaac. I allow any
remaining part of my stock of cattle of any discription horses & hogs,
etc. not mentioned above to be sold and appropriated to the payment of
my just debts and any amount that may remain after the payment of my
debts, I allow to be divided amongst my children; I also allow my
daughters Mary & Elizabeth to be mentioned & supported off & from the
plantation whereon I now live and willed to my son William, I allow all
the above named Negroes to remain on the plantation until next Christmas
I do constitute nominate and appoint my son William Chambers and John
Latta Executors of this my last will & testament hereby revoking &
making void all or every other Will or wills at any time heretofore by
fme made do declare this to be my last will & testament, In witness
whereof I, the said John Chambers have hereunto set my hand & Seal this
Second Day of May in the Year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred &
twenty-four. Signed, sealed, declared & published by the said Jno.
Chambers as his last will & testament in presence of us subscribing
John Chambers, Sen. (L .S.)
Witnesses:
W.M. Dickson
Saml. Wherry
Probated October 18, 1824
Will Book G p140
Case No. 12
File No. 170
Will of John Chambers, Sr.
State of South Carolina
In the name of God, Amen, I, John Chambers, Sr. of the District of York
and State of South Carolina, being of sound and disposing mind and
memory and being desirious of disposing of all my worldly estate, do
make and ordain this my last will and testament, in manner and form
following, that is to say....
First - I will bequeath and devise to my beloved wife Margaret, all my
real estate, together will all my personal property of whatever kind and
discription together with the increase of the same to remain and be as
it now is to be hers during her natural life.
Second - It is my will that my Executor, hereinafter named as soon as
possible after the death of my wife Margaret, shall bring to public sale
all my real estate, and personal property, including negroes, horses,
cows, hogs, wagons, farming utensils, corn fodder, wheat, rye, oats,
potatoes, flour, meal, bacon beef, bank stock, rail road stock, and
whatever also may belong to my estate, whether herein enumerated or not,
and the proceeds arising therefrom to be equally divided between my
children, vis. Alexander H., John, Elizabeth Ann Spain, James S., Mary
S. McElmoyl, Serina L. Davis, Ptolomy P., Margaret C. Patterson, Mijamin
W. (?), Elvira J. Kuykendal and Benjamin W. Chambers, to be theirs
forever, share and share alike with the restriction out of the share
herein bequeathed to Mary S. McElmoyl, I will bequeath and devise one
fourth part of the same to my grand daughter Margaret, wife of John A.
Davidson, also from the same legacy the sum of fifty dollars to be
deducted, the same having been advanced to Daniel McElmoyl, Husband of
the said Mary S. McElmoyl by giving him ten acres of land at five
dollars per acre. Also out of the share herein bequeathed to my
daughter Elvira J. Kuykendal the sum of Two hundred & seventy five
dollars is to be deducted the same having been advanced tgo my daughter
Elvira J. and her husband S.J. Kuykendal by gift of the girl Emeline
Third. It is my will and wish that my beloved wife Margaret shall have
the exclusive control and management of the whole property herein
disposed of, so long as she lives, and the household & kitchen furniture
is to be hers absolutely & may be disposed of as she pleases...
Lastly, I nominate, constitute & appoint my son Mijamin & son in law
Samuel J. Kuykendal Executors of this my last will and testament, whose
business it shall be to pay all debts due at the death of my wife,
before the distribution of the estate. In the first line of the third
clause the word MY interlined before signing.....
Signed, sealed, published & declared as for the last will & testament of
the above named John Chambers Sr., in the presence of us
John Steedman John Chambers (S.L.)
James A. Scott
T.J. Bell
Codicil
Whereas, I, John Chambers, Sr. of York District South Carolina have made
and duly executed my last will and testament on twenty-ninth day of
April last, and thereby directed my Executers therein named as soon as
practicable after the death of my wife Margaret shall bring to public
Sale all my real estate together with all my personal property,
including my negroes, now in addition to my will in relation to the sale
of my negroes, I herebydirect & especially injoin it upon my Executers
not to separate by sale the boy Yogue from his wife Peggy, but the
same are to be sold together. I also direct and enjoin it upon my
executors aforesaid to sell my girl Martha and all her living children
under six years of age to the same purchaser & it is my will that Martha
& her children aforesaid shall not be separated by sale. In witness
whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal this the twenty third day of
May A.D. 1851. John Chambers (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, Published & declared
by the said John Chambers, Sen. as & for
a codicil to be annext to his last will &
testament & to be taken as part thereof
in presence of
Jno Steedman
James A. Scoot (Scott? - possible transribed error)
T.J. Bell
2nd Codicil
Whereas, I, John Chambers, Sen. of York District South Carolina have
made and duly executed my last will land testament in writing bearing
date the twenty ninth day of April A.D. 1851 and thereby given and
bequeathed to my daughter Margaret, wife of John A. Davidson, the one
fourth part of the share therein bequeathed and given to her mother Mary
McElmoyl and whereas the said Margaret has since died;; now I do hereby
give, bequeath and devise the said one fourth part back to the said Mary
McElmoyl to her and her living children at the time of her death in
witness, whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the sixth
day of February in the year of ouor Lord one thousand eight hundred and
fifty four. The words her heirs and assigns stricken out before signed.
Signed sealed published and declared a codicil to his last will and
testament and to be taken as part thereof in presense of
John Chambers (L.S.)
James A. Scott
John McClein
Jno Steedman
Probated Sept. 9, 1854
Will Book 3 p287
Case No. 21
File No. 1694
I hope this helps, Randy