Robert Chambers 1841 : Short Biography

My maternal great grandfather Robert Chambers was born in the townland of Dromdrasdil Co Cork in 1841.

He was one of at least 10 children of Charles Chambers [ c 1800 – 1892], my GG grandfather and Mary - possibly Shannon- [1804 – 1891].

Robert Chambers married Eliza McGivern on Feb 19, 1881 at The Parish Church Desertserges, Co Cork.

Eliza was the daughter of Patrick McGivern and Eliza Sullivan.  She was born in 1859 at Lisnacunna, Desertserges Co Cork and died on March 26 ,1946 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Robert and Eliza had 13 children. Their daughter Violet died of bronchitis in 1899, aged 7 months. The other 12 all lived long lives in various parts of the world.

In the 1901 Census of Ireland the Chambers family was living on a farm in the townland of Ballinphellic [Dunderrow] Co Cork.

By 1911 the growing family was occupying 2 farms, at Ballinphellic  and also at Ballynora [Ballincollig] where some of the older siblings lived and worked.

My grandmother told of her mother arriving by horse and cart to the second farm - always without warning!  - and if the chores and work did not meet her strict requirements there was trouble. 

Robert Chambers died on August 12 1911 at Ballinphellic. His death certificate states the cause as Paralysis – 2 years.

11 out of the 12 surviving siblings emigrated from Ireland.

• The eldest son Charles emigrated to Canada in 1910
• Robert Henry went to New York in 1912
• Isabella went to Auckland New Zealand in 1916
• 3 sisters -  Daisy, Martha [Mattie] and Bessie Victoria [my grandmother] along with her husband James Cross Roberts – of Ballyshoneen, Co Cork and their baby daughter, Gertrude [my mother] all emigrated together to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in April 1923
• Soon after 2 brothers - Patrick [Jack] and Richard followed in Sept 1923 to Melbourne
• In Dec 1923 Mary Anne [Minnie Ann] along with her husband and 4 children and her mother Eliza Chambers [nee McGivern] emigrated to Melbourne
• Thomas [Albert] and Alec went to Melbourne also in Feb 1924.

None of the siblings who emigrated became farmers in their new homes.

Sarah Jane was the only Chambers sibling to remain in Ireland and she married Cornelius Forde and lived on a farm at Ballymurphy Co Cork.