Greenberry Chambers (abt. 1824 - 1898)

Born about 1824 in Barren, Kentucky, United States

Descendants

Died 16 Jul 1898 at about age 74 in Minnesota, United States

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Biography

Green Chambers is a part of US Black heritage.

Green Chambers was a Minnesotan.

Greenberry (aka Green) Chambers was born likely enslaved about 1824 in Barren, Kentucky, United States.

According to Stephen Lee of the Blaine Historical Society, Green Chambers, was enslaved in Barren County, Kentucky by Frank Chambers.

Green and Charlotte were married in 1851. Lottie was born about 1825 in Kentucky, United States. They apparently had 5 children, with only 3 surviving to Minnesota: Green, Jr, George and Sarah.

During the Civil War, Kentucky was a Union state and formed a regiment of U.S. Colored Troops. In July 1864, Green Chambers escaped from his owner. After hiding in the woods for a time, he was enlisted as a private in Company H of the 115th U.S. Colored Infantry. His owner, Frank Chambers, received a certificate for the $100 bounty normally paid to an enlistee and $300 in compensation for his value.

In the fall of 1864 Chambers was severely injured while helping to erect a stockade at Fort Cynthiana, Kentucky, an injury that plagued him throughout his life. He was sent to a military hospital In Covington, Kentucky where he worked as a supervisor cook until the end of the war.

In July 1865 Chambers was discharged from the Union Army. He went in search his children, two of whom were found, (Green Jr. and Sarah) and after some difficulty, were released from their master. The fate of his other two children is unknown. Note: George Chambers is found having enlisted at the age of 16 into the Colored Volunteer Army on 31 January 1865. ^[1]

In September 1865 the family left Kentucky and travelled by steamboat up the Mississippi River to Minnesota. Green purchased a farm in Anoka County near the present day Centennial School campus. Although the farm was profitable, in 1877 it was foreclosed on due to a $677.70 debt. The family then resettled on another farm, most likely in southeastern Blaine. Green Sr. served on the Blaine Township Board of Supervisors as a constable from 1878-1881 and as a road overseer in 1882. In 1870 African American men were granted the right to vote. An annual electoral register lists Green Sr. and Green Jr. as voters in the 1881 Blaine Township election.^[2]

In the 1870 census Green (age 61), Farmer, was in Centerville, Anoka, Minnesota.^[3]

In 1880, Green (56), was a married head of household, Farmer, in Blaine, Anoka, Minnesota, United States. ^[4]

On 11 Aug 1882, Green filed for a military pension. He was in the H. 115 USC Infantry.^[5]

In the 1895 census Green (age 70) was in St Paul Ward 5, Ramsey.^[6]

Green died on 16 Jul 1898. ^[7]He was buried in Oakland Cemetery, Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States.^[8]

Inscription
GREEN CHAMBERS
PVT CO H 115 USCT
CIVIL WAR
JUL 16 1898

Slave Owner

• Frank Chambers

Sources

1. ↑ Military: "U.S., Descriptive Lists of Colored Volunteer Army Soldiers, 1864"
   The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Descriptive Lists of Colored Volunteer Army Soldiers 1864; NAID: 1223643; Record Group Title: Descriptive Lists of Colored Volunteer Army Soldiers 1864; Record Group Number: 94
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2132 #8337 (accessed 10 March 2024)
   Birth Place: Mason County, Kentucky; Birth Year: abt 1849; Name: George Chambers; Age: 16; Enlistment Date: 31 Jan 1865; Enlistment Place: Maysville, Kentucky.
2. ↑ Bio courtesy of Stephen Lee, the Blaine Historical Society and the city of Blaine, Minnesota. https://www.blainemn.gov/653/Greenberry-Chambers
3. ↑ 1870 Census: "1870 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1870; Census Place: Centerville, Anoka, Minnesota; Roll: T132_1; Page: 67
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7163 #41647894 (accessed 10 March 2024)
   Green Chambers (61), Farmer, in Centerville, Anoka, Minnesota. Born in Kentucky.

   Name	Sex	Age	Occupation	Birth Place
   Green Chambers	M	61	Farmer	Kentucky
   Charlotte Chambers	F	85	Keeping House	Virginia
   Greenberry Chambers	M	18	Farm Laborer	Kentucky
   Sarah Chambers	F	16	At Home	Kentucky
   George W Chambers	M	19	Farm Laborer	Kentucky

4. ↑ 1880 Census: "United States Census, 1880"
   citing Volume: 1; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T9; Affiliate Line Number: 00037; Digital film/folder number: 005161045; FHL microfilm: 1254615; Image number: 88; Sheet number: 40; Sheet letter: D; Packet letter: C
   FamilySearch Record: MZM1-979 (accessed 10 March 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9YBW-K5N
   Green Chambers (56), married, Farmer, head of household in Blaine, Anoka, Minnesota, United States. Born in Kentucky, United States.
5. ↑ Military: "U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934"
   The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; U.s., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934; NAI Title: General Index to Civil War and Later Pension Files, Ca. 1949-Ca. 1949; NAI Number: 563268; Record Group Title: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773-2007; Record Group Number: 15; Series Number: T288; Roll: 78
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 4654 #696140 (accessed 10 March 2024)
   Name: Green Chambers; Unit: H. 115 Us.c. Infantry; Filing Date: 11 Aug 1882; Filing Place: Minnesota, USA; Relation to Head: Soldier.
6. ↑ 1895 Census: "Minnesota, U.S., Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905"
   Roll: V290_87; Line: 14
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1058 #864975 (accessed 10 March 2024)
   Green Chambers (70) in St Paul Ward 5, Ramsey.
7. ↑ Burial: "U.S., Veterans' Gravesites, ca.1775-2019"
   National Cemetery Administration; U.S. Veterans' Gravesites
   Ancestry Record 8750 #3911347 (accessed 10 March 2024)
   Green Chambers burial (died on 16 Jul 1898) in Oakland Cemetery, Minnesota, USA.
8. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #174025307 (accessed 10 March 2024)
   Memorial page for Green “Greenberry” Chambers (1813-16 Jul 1898), citing Oakland Cemetery, Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, USA (plot: Block: 1 Lot: 11); Maintained by KWH (contributor 48123018).