Madaline,

Using Dee Ann Buck's /Abstracts of Frederick County, VA Wills, 
Inventories & Accounts 1743-1816/ I find:

Frederick Co., VA Will Book 1, page 182 contains the administrator's 
bond for John Chambers' estate. The amount of the bond was 150 pounds. 
John Frost was noted as the administrator and Richard Morgan and Robert 
Worthington were his surety.  The bond was signed and recorded on 8 Jun 
1748.

The fact that John Frost is the administrator indicates that John 
Chambers did not leave a will, or if there was one, the court did not 
allow it to be recorded (many different reasons why this could have 
happened).  If a will had been proven and recorded, John Frost would be 
identified as the executor of the estate.

Frederick Co., VA Will Book 3, page 44 contains the inventory and 
appraisal of the estate of John Chambers taken on 26 Mar 1762 and 
recorded on 1 Jun 1762.  The total amount of the appraisal was 10 
pounds, 10 shillings.

Frederick Co., VA Will Book 3, page 114 contains the 1762 account 
settlement for the estate of John Chambers.  This document was recorded 
on 2 Mar 1763.  The administrator is noted as William Chambers.

Check Nugent's /Cavaliers and Pioneers/ book series for the Virginia 
Patent or Grant that John Chambers may have received. It sounds like you 
have already checked the Northern Neck Proprietary grant books 
(available online at the Library of VA web site).  Have you checked 
Joyner's series of books for Northern Neck Surveys?  John Chambers may 
have surveyed land that he assigned to someone else to carry through to 
the grant.   I would also want to see all the county deed records for 
land owned by this family (Orange, Frederick, and Berkeley Counties).  
Deeds will often explain family relationships, etc., etc.

There could be any number of reasons why the administrator's bond was 
issued in 1748 and an inventory and appraisal of the estate taken in 
1762.  I wouldn't rule out the possibility that you have two John 
Chambers represented in these estate papers.  You should search the 
Frederick Co. court order and minute books to look for the court 
appointment of the administrators (John Frost in 1748 and William 
Chambers prior to March 1763), and other issues related to John 
Chambers' estate.  You may find some very helpful information there.   I 
would also recommend viewing the three original records in the above 
noted will books.  Buck does an excellent job in abstracting these 
records, but there may be other details in them that will be helpful to 
your research.  No matter what, it is always best to view the original 
records yourself.

Hope this helps a little,
Jane Ailes


On 12/28/2010 8:24 PM, Madaline Preston wrote:
> <snip>
>
> T. K. Cartmell wrote a book:  Shenandoah Pioneers and Their Descendants
> ...published in 1909.  In it he states "within 4 miles west of Winchester we
> find what is locally known as Chambers Mountain, so called as being a
> section of mountain land granted to John Chambers by the Governor and
> Council."
>
> I have not found this grant. All I have for John:
> 1.   Will Book I: "John Chambers, John Frost Adm. of will, 8 Jun 1748.  With
> Richard Morgan and Robert Worthington witnesses.
> 2.  Book 3, p. 44 - his appraisal dated 26 Mar  1762  valued by his
> neighbors
> 3.  Book 3, p. 114 - his settlement date 1762 - 2 Mar  1763 admin. by Wm.
> Chambers who later received Fairfax land grants for about 600 acres
> beginning in 1735/36 on Little North Mountain, essentially the same land
> area as John's<snip>
>    

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