Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

WILLIAM CHAMBERS, died c. 1837

Treasurer of the Eastern Shore, 1802

William Chambers, a long-time resident of Centreville, Queen Anne's County, was married first to Esther Nicholson Hindman. Esther was the widow of John Hindman (?-by 1794), a physician, and the daughter of Joseph Nicholson Jr. (?-1786), a legislator, and his wife Elizabeth. After Esther died, Chambers married Ariana Price. William and Ariana had four children: Joseph, James, Mary Ann, and Margaret Ariana.

William Chambers was a merchant and for many years kept a store in Centreville. He was also an agent for Easton's Star newspaper, 1802; superintendent of the books for the Chester Bridge Company, 1805; commissioner for incorporating the Union Bank of Maryland, 1804; commissioner for the Easton branch of Farmers' Bank of Annapolis, 1805; and commissioner of a lottery to raise funds for a bridge over the Chester River, Queen Anne's County, 1812.

William Chambers held a number of public offices. At the local level he was the postmaster of Centreville from 1800 to 1803, director for Queen Anne's County in the Easton Branch of Farmers' Bank from 1807 until 1809, and a delegate from Queen Anne's County to the democratic convention to choose a presidential elector in 1812. At the state level he served as Treasurer of the Eastern Shore from 1802 until 1813, when he was removed from office during the Federalist sweep of 1812-1813. During this time he was also a senate elector from Queen Anne's County. From 1813 until 1817 Chambers was the U.S. Collector of Revenue for the 2nd Maryland District.

In 1816 William Chambers petitioned the county court for insolvency because he owed $25,586 in debts arising from his merchandising business. In May 1817 the court declared Chambers an insolvent debtor and all his property "except wearing apparel and bedding for himself and his children" was sold at public auction to pay his creditors.

William Chamber's will was proven on April 18, 1837, and in it he declared that he "had very little left to give."


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