User:WilyD/William Case/Wyatt Chamberlayne

Wyatt Chamberlayne (c. 1788) was a Methodist Elder and circuit rider. His brother, Israel Chamberlayne was also a Methodist Elder and circuit rider. He was raised in Unadilla County, New York. He converted to Methodism is 1808, and was baptised in Butternet Creek. He was received as a trial circuit rider in 1814. In 1815, he was assigned to the Lycoming Circuit. That year, he received deacon's orders In 1816, he was assigned to the St. Lawrence Circuit, alongside John Dempster. Membership in the Methodist Church on that circuit increased by 120 people that year. In 1817, he met the daughter of Reverend William Hallock at a Methodist Conference in Elizabethtown, Ontario, and they subsequently married.

In 1817, he was assigned to the Hallowell circuit, working alongside Ezra Adams. In 1818, he was moved to the Augusta circuit, where his wife's extended family was located. In 1819 and 1820, he was assigned to the Chenango circuit in New York.

In 1821 he returned to Upper Canada, and was assigned to the Augusta circuit where he rode alongside Geroge Farr. In 1822, he was assigned to the Bay of Quinte circuit, where he rode alongside James G. Peale. Peale died that winter, and the circuit membership decreased by nineteen. In 1823, he was assigned to the Bay of Quinte and Kingson circuit, where he rode alongside David Brackenridge Jr..

In 1823, Chamberlayne came into conflict with the district's presiding Elder, Henry Ryan. The pair had differing views on the role of the church, moreover, when Chamberlayne was elected to the General Conference and Ryan was not, Ryan was jealous, and brought Chamberlayne up on charges, the day before the conference, and had him suspended. Chamberlayne regarded the action as illegitimate, and travelled to the Conference in Baltimore anyhow.