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Author: DanielsWhimsey
Surnames:
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.chamness/216.1/mb.ashx
Message Board Post:
Hi,
I have been researching the Chamness family for many years. I believe that Frances was
the first or second oldest daughter of Stephanus Chamness and Hannah Curl based on the
ages given in the 1800 and 1810 census of Chatham County. The offspring of most of the
other Chamness families in that area at that time are well documented.
Some sources list Stephanus as the son of Anthony Chamness. However Stephanus is not
listed in Anthony's will and was born about a year before Anthony's death in 1777.
Anthony's second wife was Rachel Beeson Haworth, the widow of Stephanus Haworth. She
married Anthony Chamness in 1766. She brought several young daughters into the Chamness
household. She died in 1775. Anthony married his third wife, Margaret Williams, in 1776
and died the following year. One of Rachel's daughters, Rachel, was dismissed in 1775
for having a child out of wedlock. I think Stephanus Chamness was probably that child.
His first name came from his maternal grandfather. I think he took (or was given) the
name Chamness because he grew up in the household of Anthony Chamness. Charity, another
daughter of Rachel, had to marry her step-brother John Chamness. One of Margaret
William's daughters, Rachel, had to marry her step-brother Joshua Chamness. I think
it is safe to say that things were n!
ot closely supervised in the Chamness household during that time. (Source is the
Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol. I, North Carolina, by William Wade
Hinshaw.)
There is a marriage bond for Stephanus "Chaness" and Hannah Curl in Chatham
County dated 18 Oct 1813. This occured on the same date as one of Hannah's brothers,
and was probably many years after they had become a couple.
There is also a marriage record in Chatham County for F. Richardson and Nancy Johnson on
23 Nov. 1854 by S.T. Culberson, JP - Book 1, p. 30.
Stephanus died in 1858 in Chatham County. His will left everything to a granddaughter
named Nancy Richardson, wife of Frederick Richardson, with William Cook named executor.
There is a suit brought by William Cook, executor for "Fanny Chambliss," against
M.J.Maddell and Frances Fennell for debts in 1860 in Chatham County.
Good Luck with you search,
David W. Chamness
Holland, MI
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