History of William Chamberlain, 1620-1706
William Chamberlain, immigrant ancestor, was born in England, of an ancient and
distinguished family. William, Edmund, and Thomas Chamberlain, brothers, all settled early
in Massachusetts.
Thomas Chamberlain was one of the three original purchasers of the Dudley farm at
Billerica, but he settled at Chelmsford. Edmund was first at Woburn, but he too settled at
Chelmsford before 1656, removing late to Woodstock.
William was born about 1620; he was admitted an inhabitant of Woburn on January 6,
1648 and removed to Billerica in 1654, just about the time his brothers removed to
Chelmsford. He lived there until his death may 31, 1706, eighty-six years of age.
His house in Billerica (then Swanshin), was on a farm near the Woburn Road in the
southeast part of town. His name first appears on the records in October of 1654, on a
petition to enlarge the boundaries of the town and to change the name to Billerica
(Billerkay in the petition).
He married Rebecca ________, who died in the prison at Cambridge on September 26,
1692, where she was held on the preposterous charge of witchcraft.
William and Rebecca’s children are as follows:
1. Timothy, born at Concord – 13 Aug 1649
2. Isaac, born at Concord – 1 Oct 1650
3. John, died 3 Mar 1652
4. Sarah, born at Billerica; 20 May 1655-56
5. Jacob, born at Billerica – 18 Jan 1657-58
6. Thomas, born at Billerica – 20 Feb 1659
7. Edmund, born at Billerica – 15 July 1661
8. Rebecca, born at Billerica – 30 May 1669
9. Abraham, born at Billerica – 6 Jan 1664
10. Ann, born at Billerica – 3 Mar 1665-66
11. Clement, born at Billerica – 30 May 1669
12. Daniel, born at Billerica – 27 Sep 1671
13. Isaac, born at Billerica – 20 Jan 1681
distinguished family. William, Edmund, and Thomas Chamberlain, brothers, all settled early
in Massachusetts.
Thomas Chamberlain was one of the three original purchasers of the Dudley farm at
Billerica, but he settled at Chelmsford. Edmund was first at Woburn, but he too settled at
Chelmsford before 1656, removing late to Woodstock.
William was born about 1620; he was admitted an inhabitant of Woburn on January 6,
1648 and removed to Billerica in 1654, just about the time his brothers removed to
Chelmsford. He lived there until his death may 31, 1706, eighty-six years of age.
His house in Billerica (then Swanshin), was on a farm near the Woburn Road in the
southeast part of town. His name first appears on the records in October of 1654, on a
petition to enlarge the boundaries of the town and to change the name to Billerica
(Billerkay in the petition).
He married Rebecca ________, who died in the prison at Cambridge on September 26,
1692, where she was held on the preposterous charge of witchcraft.
William and Rebecca’s children are as follows:
1. Timothy, born at Concord – 13 Aug 1649
2. Isaac, born at Concord – 1 Oct 1650
3. John, died 3 Mar 1652
4. Sarah, born at Billerica; 20 May 1655-56
5. Jacob, born at Billerica – 18 Jan 1657-58
6. Thomas, born at Billerica – 20 Feb 1659
7. Edmund, born at Billerica – 15 July 1661
8. Rebecca, born at Billerica – 30 May 1669
9. Abraham, born at Billerica – 6 Jan 1664
10. Ann, born at Billerica – 3 Mar 1665-66
11. Clement, born at Billerica – 30 May 1669
12. Daniel, born at Billerica – 27 Sep 1671
13. Isaac, born at Billerica – 20 Jan 1681