Brittain Chumbley

BRITTAIN CHUMBLEY was born about 1815 in Powell Valley, Claiborne County, Tennessee. He died on 20 Jan 1851 in Pulaski County, Kentucky. He married MARGARET ELLEN “PEGGY” RUSSELL in 1834 in Claiborne County, Tennessee. She was born about 1817 in Claiborne County, Tennessee. She died sometime after Jun 1880 in Pulaski County, Kentucky.

In the early 1840s, Brittain and his older brother, Andrew moved to Kentucky and were in the 1850 Pulaski County Census, along with their wives and children. [1] Brittain and Margaret had 6 children together. The first 2 children were born in Claiborne County, Tennessee. All other children were born in Pulaski County, Kentucky.

(1) Their first child, Alexander Chumbley was born February 19, 1838, in Claiborne County, Tennessee. He died on 01 Jan 1895 in Sweat Box Community, Hunt County, Texas. He married Sarelda Ann Rainwater (daughter of Bartholomew Rainwater and Nancy McLaughlin) on 05 Feb 1859 in Pulaski County, Kentucky. She was born on 09 Dec 1841 in Pulaski County, Kentucky. She died on 16 Oct 1927 in Whitewright, Grayson County, Texas. [2]

The couple lived and farmed in Pulaski County for thirty years and brought forth eleven children into the world: John Perry, 1860; James Marion, 1862; Miles R., 1864; George A., 1866; Nancy Jane, 1869; Bartholomew, 1872; Robert R., 1875; Margaret Ann, 1877; Lewis Milton, 1879; Malinda C., 1883; and Josiah Wilson, 1886.

There is a wonderful website, The Rainwater Collection (https://www.therainwatercollection.com/index.shtml) “Why The Rainwater Collection?” who have posted their research for the purpose:
The purpose of The Rainwater Collection is to assist serious genealogical researchers in their research by providing an archive of well-documented, accurate and uninterpreted data related to the Rainwater family in America. It is the product of thousands of hours of work on the part of Susan and Steve Rainwater, and our many contributors. Avail yourself freely of all of the resources of the collection, but please give appropriate credit if you quote the site in a written work or database. The information supported by sources from The Rainwater Collection. [3]

Most of the Chumbley men served in the Civil War but Alexander Chumbley was not one of them. They say that Alexander had pro-Northern sympathies and voted for Lincoln twice. He was not on active duty in either army, but evidently his pro-Northern sympathies were well known. One day, the Confederates came looking for him. Alexander hid out in the woods for a couple of months until they left.

In 1892, Alexander and Sarelda’s first son, John Perry, moved his family to Texas, and his parents and siblings followed a year later, settling in the vicinity of Kentuckytown in Grayson County. In 1895, Alexander and Sarelda lived briefly in the tiny community of Sweat Box in Hunt County, about five miles south of present-day Ladonia. Alexander died there and is buried in Hope Cemetery.

Alexander Chumbley died on January 1, 1895, in Hunt County, Texas. Sarelda lived to be 106 and died on October 16, 1927 in Whiteright and was buried with numerous family members in Vittitoe Cemetery in Kentuckytown, Grayson County, Texas. [4] .

After Alexander’s death, the family returned to Grayson County. Two of the Chumbley sons, James Marion, and Lewis Milton, headed west to Arizona. The others remained to become part of the Whiteright community. Prominent among the descendants of Alexander and Sarelda were Rev. Cleophas Chumbley, a Baptist minister, and Caleb Chumbley, who was the 1921 Texas State Champion Checker player.

(2) Andrew Chumbley was born in 1840 in Claiborne County, Tennessee. He died about 1900 in Pulaski County, Kentucky at the age of 60. He married Mary Elizabeth Doss on 09 Apr 1865 in Somerset, Pulaski County, Kentucky. [5] She was born about 1848 in Pulaski County, Kentucky. She died sometime before 1880 in Kentucky. They had 4 children together.

(3) Their son, James Marion Chumbley was a corporal in the Kentucky 19th Regiment, Vol. Inf., Co. H on January 2, 1862, at Harrodsburg. The Kentucky 19th Infantry had been organized at Harrodsburg in the fall of 1861 by Col. William J. Landrum and Lieutenant Col. John Cowan. [6] The regiment soon marched to Somerset where they destroyed the entrenchments of General Zollicoffer and recaptured some of the property lost at the Battle of Mill Springs. From March 29 through June 18, they participated in movements which resulted in the capture of Cumberland Gap. Later in the year they suffered from a lack of food when they marched through eastern Kentucky to the Ohio River; mainly they subsisted on corn meal. In the spring of 1863, the regiment was transferred to the Department of the Gulf and was with General Banks on the Red River Campaign. At the battle of Sabine Crossroads, Louisiana, the regiment repelled five charges, but then the Confederate troops broke through its lines and on April 8, 1864, James was taken prisoner. The 19th returned to Baton Rouge until ordered to Louisville. On October 23, 1864, James was returned and on January 26, 1865, he was mustered out with the 19th Infantry Regiment of Kentucky in Louisville. The regiment had lost a total of 198 men. But that was not the end of the battle for James. Although he had survived imprisonment and the war itself, soon after his discharge he was admitted to Nelson General Hospital at Camp Nelson, 52 10 Mar 2011 8:33 AM Ky., for treatment for smallpox. A report of a lieutenant of his company showed that at the time the regiment was mustered out, “the Smallpox was prevailing, and that this soldier contracted said disease and was sick with it at the time he was mustered out January 16, 1865.” He died on March 20, 1865 and was buried at Camp Nelson National Cemetery, grave site 1054. [7] James’ mother, Margaret Chumbley, widow of Britton Chumbley, received a pension of $8 per month, admitted on June 3, 1869, but “commencing” or retroactive to March 21, 1865. [8]

(4) Malinda Chumbley was born in Apr 1844 in Pulaski County, Kentucky. She died on 16 Nov 1913 in Cains Store, Pulaski County, Kentucky. She married Milton Woods “Milt” Tarter on 07 Feb 1869 in Pulaski County, Kentucky. [9] He was born on 25 Sep 1845 in Pulaski County, Kentucky. He died on 19 Nov 1924 in Cains Store, Pulaski County, Kentucky. They had 3 children during their marriage.

(5) Robert Chumbley was born on 04 Feb 1846 in Pulaski, Kentucky. He died on 23 Jun 1929 in Harwood Township, Champaign County, Illinois. He married Mary Polly Eastham (daughter of Obediah Eastham and Mary Weddle) on 20 Oct 1864 in Pulaski, Kentucky. [10] She was born on 12 Jan 1849 in Somerset, Pulaski County, Kentucky. She died on 15 Dec 1927 in Champaign, Champaign County, Illinois. They had 3 children in 11 years.

(6) Brittain and Margaret’s youngest child, Lewis Chumbley was born on 18 Nov 1848 in Cains Store, Pulaski County, Kentucky. He died on 04 Nov 1931 in Somerset, Pulaski County, Kentucky. He is buried in Hopeful Baptist Cemetery in Nancy, Kentucky. [11] He married Elizabeth C Gossett, daughter of William Brent Gossett and Martha Jane Lester, on 18 Apr 1879 in Pulaski County, Kentucky. They were married at the home of Milt Tarter. Surety A. [12] Elizabeth was born on 28 Apr 1856 in Pulaski County, Kentucky. She died on 22 Dec 1894 in Pulaski County, Kentucky. [13]

Lewis and Elizabeth had 6 children together; Robert “R.J.” 1880, William Perry 1881, Margaret “Maggie” 1883, Martha Elizabeth 1886, George Britton 1887, and Luco Marion 1893.

Daughter Martha Elizabeth was born on October 26, 1886, in Pulaski, Kentucky. Her father, Lewis, was 37, and her mother, Elizabeth, was 30. She married John Thomas “Tommy” Spears on December 31, 1903, in Somerset, Kentucky. [14] They had ten children in 22 years. She died on January 17, 1948, in Somerset, Kentucky, at the age of 61, and was buried at Somerset City Cemetery. [15]

The following photos were shared with Chumley Researchers Mary New Held and her cousin Eugene Chumbley, direct descendent’s of Lewi and Elizabeth Chumbley:

Lewis and Elizabeth’s son, Luco Marion was born on July 12, 1893, in Pulaski, Kentucky. His father, Lewis, was 44 and his mother, Elizabeth, was 37. He then married Emma Francis Lee, and they had 11 children together. He died on May 23, 1980, in Hammond, Indiana, at the age of 86, and was buried at Elmwood Cemetery. [16]

Six of Luco and Emma’s sons served in the military. [17]

Endnotes:
[1] 1850 United States Federal Census – The National Archives in Washington, DC; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Division 2, Pulaski, Kentucky; Roll: 217; Page: 121a.
[2] Chumley Researcher contributions: Gloria Herbert, Mary Serra, Lewis Chumbley, Glenna Chumbley; Anne Chumbley McGrew, and Barbara Enloe, all direct descendants of Alexander and Serelda Chumbley.
[3] The Rainwater Collection website. The photo and biographical information supplied by Tracy Thompson. Additional biographical information was drawn from “The History of Grayson County, Texas” published in 1979 by Grayson County Frontier Village, Inc.
[4] Article found on Ancestry.com – Pritchett88originally submitted this to Pritchett Family History – From Virginia to Utah & Arizona on 19 Jan 2009.
[5] ANDREW MARRIED MARY DOSS Kentucky, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1783-1965 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Original data: Marriage Records. Kentucky Marriages. Madison County Courthouse, Richmond, Kentucky. Film Number: 000804052
[6] U.S., Burial Registers, Military Posts and National Cemeteries, 1862-1960. Archive Number: 44778151; Series: A1 627; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985; Record Group Number: 92.
[7] U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 Name: James Chumbley Age: 20 Enlistment Date: 1862 Rank: Private Military Unit: Nineteenth Infantry, Br-Da.
[8] Glenda Mounger, research records on Brittain and his family.
[9] Kentucky, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1867-1871. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Original data: Marriage Records. Kentucky Marriages. Madison County Courthouse, Richmond, Kentucky. Film Number 000804054.
[10] Kentucky, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1799-1870. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Original data: Marriage Records. Kentucky Marriages. Madison County Courthouse, Richmond, Kentucky. Film Number 001912849.
[10] Kentucky, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1851-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2001.
[11] Burial: Hopeful Baptist Church Cemetery, Nancy, Pulaski County, Kentucky Find A Grave Memorial# 28172199
[12] CHUMBLY, LEWIS 30 1st. b. PC. F.b. Tenn. M.b. Tenn. GOSSETT, ELIZABETH 23 1st. b. PC F.b. PC M.b. PC AHO Res. Milt Tartar. Sur. A. Russell Pulaski Co. Historical Society marriage book III, page 56 Elizabeth was born on 28 Apr 1856 in Pulaski County, Kentucky.
[13] Burial: Hopeful Baptist Church Cemetery, Nancy, Pulaski County, Kentucky Find A Grave Memorial# 28172199
[14] Pulaski County Marriages, Book V
[15] U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Find a Grave Memorial ID: 27924394.
[16] U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database
on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Find a Grave Memorial ID: 171946297.
[17] Photos shared by Researcher E.B. Chumbley, son of Luco and Emma.
[18] Photos shared by Researcher Rae Ann Chumbley, granddaughter of Luco and Emma.