Robert and Betsy Chumley

ROBERT CHUMLEYwas born in 1786 in Virginia. He died on 18 Jan 1853 in Bolivar, Polk County, Missouri.  He married Elizabeth “Betsy” about 1800 in Virginia. She was born in 1775 in Virginia (Both the 1830 census and 1840 census report list her age range as being born between 1781 and 1790.). She died about 1845 in either Tennessee, Arkansas, or Missouri.  They were married sometime around 1800.

When Robert was born in 1786, Virginia was a diverse and dynamic place, with a complex social fabric and a significant role in the early years of the United States. Its population, politics, and cultural achievements contributed to the shaping of the nation, leaving a lasting impact on American history. [1]

It is believed that Robert and Betsy with children Andrew, Lewis, and John Henry came to Powell Valley, Claiborne County, Tennessee from Giles County, Virginia sometime after 1812. [2] The rest of Robert and Betsy’s children were born in Claiborne County, Tennessee, and remained in that area for several years.

Research member, Sharon Ford, found the following record regarding Robert at the Los Angeles Family History Center. Interestingly, many of the other names of jurors were also some of Robert’s neighbors.

Researcher Glenda Bales Mounger found the following information from the 1826 Claiborne County, Tennessee, County Court Records (“Road work”) that showed Robert and Betsy and family were in Claiborne County, Tennessee in 1826. [4] They were not listed in the 1820 Claiborne County, Tennessee census, but were listed in the 1840 Claiborne County, Tennessee census. There appears to be an implied relationship with these and the other Chumley families in the 1830 Knox County, Tennessee census.

On 11 April 1826 in Claiborne County, Tennessee; Robert purchased 100 acres of land between Cumberland Mountain, Gap Creek, and Walker’s Line in Claiborne County, Tennessee. Currently the area is known as Tiprell, Tennessee.  Isaac Ely and Andrew Chumley, sworn chainers.  Surveyed 12 day of June 1827, Walter Evans, surveyor of Claiborne County, Recorded 12 November 1830. page 249, February 1839. [5] A copy of the deed was found in an old record book about surveys on top of shelves in vault where records of deeds are kept in Claiborne County, Tennessee Court House, Tazewell, Tennessee.  On page 94, entry #357, dated April 11, 1826, and signed by Tennessee Governor, Aaron V Brown. [6]

Although Robert and Betsy lived in Claiborne County, Tennessee in 1826, we found them listed in the Census of 1830 in Knox County, Tennessee [7]. Family members listed were Robert and Betsy with children Brittain, John Henry or Charles Ballard, Emily, Malinda, Sarah, and Elizabeth. Other mentioned on this census were John and Elizabeth Chumly, William Chumley, McCampbell, Crawford, and Shipe. This find was significant in our research to find Robert’s parents and siblings. Other Associated Surnames in the 1830 Knox County Census were John Ford age between 40-50, (bn 1781-1790), Wife 30-40 (bn. 1791-1800). We were never about to prove Betsy’s last name was Ford, however, finding the Fords in the same census gave hope that we could find a relation. At the time of this writing, we still have not found evidence of this relationship.

Through DNA testing, we found a match with our Chumley line and a Chumlea family line. There appears to be an implied relationship with these and the other Chumley families in the 1830 Knox County, Tennessee census. Since both of these ancestors were born in Virginia, just a few years apart, and both came to Tennessee in the same time frame and lived close to one another, and parentage has not been determined for either one, it is suspected that Robert and John are brothers. John Chumlea moved to Veedersburg, Indiana from Knox County, Tennessee, but 2 of his daughters stayed in Knox County, Tennessee. Years later in 1940, there would be a family reunion and present were many family connections to our Chumley ancestors and Mary Ann Ward’s Chumlea’s ancestors. Mary Ann shared a newspaper clipping of the reunion

The following newspaper clipping reports a family reunion in Veedersburg, IN in 1940:
Chumlea Reunion 1940
The 21st annual gathering, in honor of John and Margaret (Shipe) Chumlea, and Larkin Chumley, was held at Turkey Run State Park Sunday, September 15, with Mr. and Mrs. Ora Sample and family as hosts. A bountiful co-operative pitch-in dinner was enjoyed by about 80 descendants, relatives, and friends, after our thanks was ably expressed by Mrs. Artie Helms. In the absence of the president, M.C. Leonard, Ardy Helms had charge of the afternoon’s program, which included sone, “America,” by congregation; Lord’s Prayer in unison, with Charles Isley as leader; welcome address by Mrs. Florence Gookins; reading, “Grandmother’s Garden,” by Mrs. Martha Patton. Talks were given by Charles Isley, Hattie Williams, Geo. W. Chumlea, Alpha Keller, Edna Sample, Walter Brannon, Thomas Chumley, Martha Patton, Florence Gookins, Clarence Isley, William Gokins, Madge Reid, R.C. Chumley, Birdie Davies, Fannie Reath and Hardy Helms.

Business session was as follows: Reading of minutes of 1939 meeting, reading family history and communications from Mr. and Mrs. M.C. Leonard of Fairbury, IL and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Chumbley of Rantoul, IL. An offering of $2.47 for expenses. Two deaths were reported, that of Adella (Isley) Fowler, of Chicago, and Luther Mullen, Veedersburg; also one birth, Leonard Eldon Lightle, Veedersburg.

Election of officers were President, Hardy Helms; vice president, Mrs. Madge Reid, and Mrs. Ida Brannon was retained as secretary-treasurer for 1941. Motion was carried to hold the next reunion at the same place on the third Sunday in September. A standing vote of thanks was given the host and hostess for hospitality.

Those present were: Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Chumley and daughter, Miss Hazel Chumley; Mr. and Mrs. Willand Beechler and Robert C. Chumley of Indianapolis; Mr. and Mrs. L.N. Hall and daughter, Miss Mary Hall, of Champaign, IL; Mr. and Mrs. Deil Miller of Muncie; Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Isley; Mr. and Mrs. John Smith of Danville, IL route; Mrs. Onda Isley, daughters June and Jean, and Miss Mary McPherson of Danville, IL; Mr. and Mrs. Carl Davis and son Bobby of Attica; Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Keller and daughters Virginia, Louise, and Myeerah of Crawfordsville route; Mr. and Mrs. Lee Wimmer and family of Rockville; Mr. and Mrs. Roy Vaughn and daughter Anna Mae, George W. Chumlea, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Keller of Williamsport; Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Davies, Mrs. Frank Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Owen Norman, son Jackie and daughter Musetta of Bloomingdale;p Mrs. Fannie Reath of Wallace; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Isley, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Phipps, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Thomas and daughter Miss Lois, and Mrs. Sarah Sample of _; Mrs. Mary Bonebrake, Miss Mary Jane Hoagland and sister, Miss stuart of Veedersburg; Miss Helen, Mr. and Mrs. Mort Pattno, Mr. and Mrs.Walter Greenley, Mr. and Mrs. Hardy Helms, son Walter and daughter Mary, and Mr. and Mrs. Walter Brannon of Veedersburg route; and the Sample family.

Robert C. Chumley was the oldest member present, being 88 years of age, and Jean Isley the youngest present at the age of six years. [8]

According to the Tennessee Early Tax Records of 1783-1895 [9], in 1833 Robert and Betsy are living in Claiborne County again and their son Andrew is a neighbor. Tennessee in 1833 was a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities. [10] Native American tribes, including the Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Creek, had a significant presence in the region. African Americans, both free and enslaved, contributed to the cultural fabric of the state. European settlers, primarily of English, Scottish, and Irish descent, also played a vital role in shaping Tennessee’s identity. Agriculture was the backbone of Tennessee’s economy in 1833. Farmers cultivated crops such as tobacco, cotton, corn, and wheat. The state’s fertile soil and favorable climate made it an ideal location for farming. Additionally, industries like iron mining and manufacturing began to emerge, contributing to the state’s economic growth. Despite the challenges of frontier life, Tennesseans in 1833 found ways to enjoy leisure activities. Social gatherings, like barn dances, molasses stir-offs, church socials, and quilting bees, provided opportunities for community bonding. All day church services were common. Members would meet for morning services and then share “dinner on the grounds” where each family would spread a blanket and eat the meal that they had brought with them that day. An afternoon including children playing and grownups visiting, after which they would all return to the church for evening fellowship.

By 1840, Robert, Betsy and their 3 youngest children are living in Claiborne County [11]. The census also told us that Robert’s 4 oldest sons Andrew, Lewis, John, and Charles Ballard have homes close by. There are 2 large plantation owners living on each side of Robert and Betsy’s property: Colonial Daniel Huff from Virginia and James M. Patterson on the other side. The Huff Plantation owned 35 slaves, and the Patterson Plantation owned 13 slaves. These were working farms with large homes and numerous other buildings, until the Civil War, when the Huff Plantation was totally destroyed. Robert’s property was located in what is now Tiprell, Tennessee, directly behind the LMU Campus in Harrogate, Tennessee.

Elizabeth “Betsy” passed away in 1845 at the age of 70. She and Robert had been married 45 years. It is not known where Betsy was buried. Could she have died when they all lived on the Chumley Farm in Tiprell? We are currently exploring all theories in hopes of finding Betsy’s final resting place.

A couple of years after Betsy dies, their son Charles Ballard died on his way home from serving in the Mex-Tex war. He was severely wounded in battle, and he only made it home as far as Nashville, where he was buried at William Mastin’s home about 15 miles from Nashville, Tennessee. The story of Charles Ballard, the letters he wrote his family when he was in this war, the story of his family and how they survived Indian raids when Charles was away is very interesting. More about Charles and each of Robert and Betsy’s children by the following posts.

Robert had 3 more children die before he passed away in 1853. His daughter Emily died in Claiborne County, Tennessee in 1850. She was 24. His son John died in Claiborne County, Tennessee in October of 1850. He was 41. His son Brittain died on January 20, 1851, in Pulaski, Kentucky at the age of 36.

Sometime after Betsy died, Robert moved to Polk County, Missouri with his daughter’s Melinda and Eliza. Elizabeth Chumbley Lyngar, her sister Malinda Chumbley Slatten and their father Robert probably came to Greene County, Missouri at the same time. They are all buried in the King family cemetery in Polk County, Missouri about 1 1/2 miles from the Lyngar farm [12] Robert died on 18 Jan 1853 in Bolivar, Polk County, Missouri, and he was buried at King Cemetery in Polk County, Missouri.

On May 6, 1861, Robert’s land was sold again – Lazrous Dodson formerly of Claiborne County, Tennessee but now of Pulasky County, Kentucky, to David C. Cotterell for $100 “to me the said Lazarous Dodson paid in the year 1833 having then sold to David Cotterell a tract of land on Gap Creek known as the Robert Chumbley land who had entered said land and sold and assigned said entry over to me and when the grant issued it came out in said Chumley’s name and afterwards was assigned by my request to said Cotterell”…beginning at a white oak two poles below Walker’s line, crossing Gap Creek, etc…his mark Lazarus Dodson. Witness Lewis Chumbley, Andrew Chumbley. [13]

Endnotes:
[1] AncestryAI; What was Virginia like in 1786.
[2] The People’s Hist of Claiborne County, Tennessee 1801-1988” Publ. by Co Hist Soc.
[3] FHL 24620-TN-Claiborne Co-Records of Minutes of Court of Pleas-Quarter Sessions-1821-1824-court pg310-abstract pg 143
[4] 1826: Claiborne County, Tennessee, County Court Records (“Road work”)
[5] A paper copy of this survey found through Researcher Kathy Chumley among family photos and other records.
[6] North Carolina and Tennessee, U.S., Early Land Records, 1753-1931
[7] 1830 Census Knox County, Tennessee
[8] Article shared by Mary Ann Chumlea Ward, member of the Chumley/Chumbley Research Group and direct descendant of John Chumlea
[9] Tennessee, U.S., Early Tax List Records, 1783-1895
[10] AncestryAI; Living in Tennessee, USA in 1833
[11] 1840 Census, Claiborne County, Tennessee
[12] Cyndi Galati as listed on Chumley website: http://www.hebroots.com/chumney.html#OriginSurname
[13] Ack May 6, 1861, by Lazarus Dodson by appearance before James Allcorn, Clerk of Court in Pulaksi County, Kentucky Registered Oct. 13, 1870, Claiborne County