Joseph Lemuel Chester
Encyclopedia
Joseph Lemuel Chester (1821–1882) was an American genealogist.
on the April 30, 1821. His father, Joseph Chester, was a grocer, who, after dying in 1832, left little property to his family. His mother was Prudee, the daughter of Major Eleazer Tracy. After the death of her first husband, she married the Reverend John Hall, of Ohio's Ashtabula Episcopal Church. At an early age, Chester became a teacher at a school in Ballston, New York, and in 1837 he was appointed clerk of a land agency office in Warren, Ohio. In 1838, at age seventeen, he moved to New York in order to study law. But he ended that pursuit and became employed as a clerk by Tappan & Co., a silk merchant firm.
Joseph Chester's literary tastes developed at an early age. While in New York he contributed articles to newspapers and magazines of his day, chiefly of a poetic character. The Knickerbocker for January 1843 contains a poem by him, entitled Greenwood Cemetery, and signed Julian Cramer, his best known pseudonym. The same year his first volume, Greenwood Cemetery and Other Poems, was published in New York and Boston.
He also lectured and visited many of the States as an advocate of temperance. Around 1845, Chester moved back to Philadelphia where he obtained a job as a merchant's clerk. In 1847, and for some years subsequently, he was a commissioner of deeds. From 1845 to 1850 he was also the musical editor of Godey's Lady's Book. In 1852, he became one of the editors of the Philadelphia Inquirer and of the Daily Sun
; and on the consolidation of the city of Philadelphia, Chester was elected a member of the city council in 1854.
During several sessions of Congress in Washington he visited the city as a corresponding editor and as an assistant clerk in the House of Representatives. He was appointed by the Honor James Pollock
, who was the governor of Pennsylvania
from 1855-8 as one of his aides-de-camp. Chester was given the military rank of colonel, an appellation by which he was afterwards always known.
While in Washington he was employed to sell patent rights in England, and leaving his native country landed at Liverpool on September 6, 1858. Various causes prevented him from succeeding in his undertaking, but he settled in London
and made it his residence till his death.
For a time he kept up his connection with the American newspaper press and for about three years furnished a weekly letter from London to the Philadelphia Inquirer. His first work in his new home was John Rogers, the Compiler of the First Authorized English Bible, the Pioneer of the English Reformation, and its First Martyr, a book of labor and research at last told on his constitution.
Joseph Lemuel Chester died at his residence, 124 Southwark Park Road, London, Mary 26, 1882 and was buried in Nunhead Cemetery on May 31.
had broken out and while he was thinking of returning to America, Chester received a commission from the United States government for a service which he could render in England. In the following year, he obtained free access to Doctors' Commons as a literary inquirer to examine all wills recorded previous to 1700 to make copies. He continued with this position for twenty years collecting materials illustrating the ancestry of American families. In the meantime he made special searches for clients and investigated the English descent of noted Americans. Some of these monographs have been printed by himself or others, but most likey the greater number remain in manuscript in the hands of his clients. Unfortunately, Chester did not live long enough to publish a pedigree of President George Washington
, a favorite subject of his for many years; he was unable to satisfy himself as to the actual emigrant whence the American family descended.
In pursuance of his genealogical labors he made extensive extracts from parish registers. At his death, Chester left eighty-seven folio volumes of such extracts each more than four hundred pages with seventy of the volumes carefully indexed. The matriculation register of the University of Oxford, another source of his information, was copied by him between 1866 and 1869. He next made extensive extracts from The Old Marriage Allegations in the Bishop of London's Register, extending from 1598 to 1710. His major work in London was the editing and annotating of The Marriage, Baptismal, and Burial Registers of the Collegiate Church or Abbey of St. Peter, Westminster, dedicated to Queen Victoria. He spent ten years on this book and allowed the Harleian Society
to issue it as one of their publications. In recognition of his work, Columbia College of New York City conferred on him the honorary degree of LL.D. in 1877, and on June 22, 1881 the university of Oxford granted him the degree of D.C.L.
Chester was one of the founders of the Harleian Society in 1869, a member of the first council of the Royal Historical Society
in 1870 and a member of many other learned societies both in England and in America. He generously spent half his time replying to the inquiries of his numerous correspondents.
Chester's literary executor, George Edward Cokayne, Norroy King of Arms, sold the manuscript of the Matriculations at the University of Oxford for £1,500, and five volumes of Marriage Allegations in the Bishop of London's Register, &c., for £500 to Leonard Lawrie Hartley. When Hartley died, these manuscripts were purchased (1885) by Mr. Quaritch. The Matriculations were printed in eight volumes (1891) and the Marriages in one volume (1887) under the editorship of Joseph Foster
. The Harleian Society also printed the Marriages from a duplicate copy of Chester's manuscript in 1887.
He was also a contributor to the Register, the Heraldic Journal, the Herald and Genealogist, Transactions of Royal Historical Society, Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, the Athenæum, the Academy, Notes and Queries, and other publications.
Biography
Chester was born in Norwich, ConnecticutNorwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
on the April 30, 1821. His father, Joseph Chester, was a grocer, who, after dying in 1832, left little property to his family. His mother was Prudee, the daughter of Major Eleazer Tracy. After the death of her first husband, she married the Reverend John Hall, of Ohio's Ashtabula Episcopal Church. At an early age, Chester became a teacher at a school in Ballston, New York, and in 1837 he was appointed clerk of a land agency office in Warren, Ohio. In 1838, at age seventeen, he moved to New York in order to study law. But he ended that pursuit and became employed as a clerk by Tappan & Co., a silk merchant firm.
Joseph Chester's literary tastes developed at an early age. While in New York he contributed articles to newspapers and magazines of his day, chiefly of a poetic character. The Knickerbocker for January 1843 contains a poem by him, entitled Greenwood Cemetery, and signed Julian Cramer, his best known pseudonym. The same year his first volume, Greenwood Cemetery and Other Poems, was published in New York and Boston.
He also lectured and visited many of the States as an advocate of temperance. Around 1845, Chester moved back to Philadelphia where he obtained a job as a merchant's clerk. In 1847, and for some years subsequently, he was a commissioner of deeds. From 1845 to 1850 he was also the musical editor of Godey's Lady's Book. In 1852, he became one of the editors of the Philadelphia Inquirer and of the Daily Sun
Daily Sun
Daily Sun is the biggest daily newspaper in South Africa. With over 400,000 sales in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and Northwest provinces, the national expansion of the paper to KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and the Eastern Cape will add to the existing circulation.Daily Sun targets readers in and...
; and on the consolidation of the city of Philadelphia, Chester was elected a member of the city council in 1854.
During several sessions of Congress in Washington he visited the city as a corresponding editor and as an assistant clerk in the House of Representatives. He was appointed by the Honor James Pollock
James Pollock
James Pollock was the 13th Governor of the State of Pennsylvania from 1855 to 1858.- Political career :James Pollock graduated from the College of New Jersey at Princeton before setting up a law practice in his home community, in Milton, Pennsylvania...
, who was the governor of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
from 1855-8 as one of his aides-de-camp. Chester was given the military rank of colonel, an appellation by which he was afterwards always known.
While in Washington he was employed to sell patent rights in England, and leaving his native country landed at Liverpool on September 6, 1858. Various causes prevented him from succeeding in his undertaking, but he settled in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and made it his residence till his death.
For a time he kept up his connection with the American newspaper press and for about three years furnished a weekly letter from London to the Philadelphia Inquirer. His first work in his new home was John Rogers, the Compiler of the First Authorized English Bible, the Pioneer of the English Reformation, and its First Martyr, a book of labor and research at last told on his constitution.
Joseph Lemuel Chester died at his residence, 124 Southwark Park Road, London, Mary 26, 1882 and was buried in Nunhead Cemetery on May 31.
Genealogical career
After the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
had broken out and while he was thinking of returning to America, Chester received a commission from the United States government for a service which he could render in England. In the following year, he obtained free access to Doctors' Commons as a literary inquirer to examine all wills recorded previous to 1700 to make copies. He continued with this position for twenty years collecting materials illustrating the ancestry of American families. In the meantime he made special searches for clients and investigated the English descent of noted Americans. Some of these monographs have been printed by himself or others, but most likey the greater number remain in manuscript in the hands of his clients. Unfortunately, Chester did not live long enough to publish a pedigree of President George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, a favorite subject of his for many years; he was unable to satisfy himself as to the actual emigrant whence the American family descended.
In pursuance of his genealogical labors he made extensive extracts from parish registers. At his death, Chester left eighty-seven folio volumes of such extracts each more than four hundred pages with seventy of the volumes carefully indexed. The matriculation register of the University of Oxford, another source of his information, was copied by him between 1866 and 1869. He next made extensive extracts from The Old Marriage Allegations in the Bishop of London's Register, extending from 1598 to 1710. His major work in London was the editing and annotating of The Marriage, Baptismal, and Burial Registers of the Collegiate Church or Abbey of St. Peter, Westminster, dedicated to Queen Victoria. He spent ten years on this book and allowed the Harleian Society
Harleian Society
The Harleian Society was founded in 1869 for the purpose of publishing manuscripts of the heraldic visitations of the counties of England and Wales, and other unpublished manuscripts relating to genealogy, armory, and heraldry in its widest sense...
to issue it as one of their publications. In recognition of his work, Columbia College of New York City conferred on him the honorary degree of LL.D. in 1877, and on June 22, 1881 the university of Oxford granted him the degree of D.C.L.
Chester was one of the founders of the Harleian Society in 1869, a member of the first council of the Royal Historical Society
Royal Historical Society
The Royal Historical Society was founded in 1868. The premier society in the United Kingdom which promotes and defends the scholarly study of the past, it is based at University College London...
in 1870 and a member of many other learned societies both in England and in America. He generously spent half his time replying to the inquiries of his numerous correspondents.
Chester's literary executor, George Edward Cokayne, Norroy King of Arms, sold the manuscript of the Matriculations at the University of Oxford for £1,500, and five volumes of Marriage Allegations in the Bishop of London's Register, &c., for £500 to Leonard Lawrie Hartley. When Hartley died, these manuscripts were purchased (1885) by Mr. Quaritch. The Matriculations were printed in eight volumes (1891) and the Marriages in one volume (1887) under the editorship of Joseph Foster
Joseph Foster (genealogist)
Joseph Foster was an English genealogist whose transcriptions of records held by the Inns of Court and Oxford University are still important historical resources.-Life and career:...
. The Harleian Society also printed the Marriages from a duplicate copy of Chester's manuscript in 1887.
Works
- Greenwood Cemetery and other Poems 1843
- A Treatise on the Law of Repulsion 1853
- Educational Laws of Virginia, the Personal Narrative of Mrs. Margaret Douglas 1854
- John Rogers, the compiler of the First Authorised English Bible 1861
- The Marriage, Baptismal, and Burial Registers of the Abbey of St. Peter, Westminster 1876, which, besides being brought out in the Publications of the Harleian Society, was also Privately Printed for the Author.
- The Reiester Booke of Saynte Denis Backchurch parishe 1878
- The Parish Registers of St. Mary Aldermary, London 1880
- The Visitation of London 1880, in which he assisted J. J. Howard, LL.D., in editing
- The Parish Registers of St. Thomas the Apostle, London 1881
- The Parish Registers of St. Michael, Cornhill, London 1882
He was also a contributor to the Register, the Heraldic Journal, the Herald and Genealogist, Transactions of Royal Historical Society, Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, the Athenæum, the Academy, Notes and Queries, and other publications.