Chapman Family History, Part I
The Chapman family begins with Samuel Chapman1, probably in Caroline County, Virginia, and then in Amelia County, southwest of Richmond. By 1791, Samuel's grandson, James3 moved west into Amherst County along Virginia's Blue Ridge and then to the Ohio River valley in Kentucky and Ohio. From there James' son John4 moved into Indiana by 1834 and on to Iowa by 1855. John's son Allen5 served with Iowa's "Graybeard Regiment" during the Civil War and later Allen's daughter Harriet6 married into the Fisher family, moved into southern and central Nebraska and then on to northern California.
- Part I - 1st Generation: Samuel Chapman1 (~1700-1773)
• and 2nd Generation: John Chapman2 (1737-1816) - Part II - 3rd Generation: James Chapman3 (1760-1839)
- Part III - 4th Generation: John Chapman4 (1791-1876)
- Part IV - 5th Generation: Allen Chapman5 (1819-1890)
- Part V - 6th Generation: Harriet J. Chapman6 (1844-1936)
Samuel CHAPMAN1 (~1700-1773)
1. Samuel Chapman1 was born around 1700 in Virginia. He fathered one son and five daughters:
| 11. | John Chapman2 | 1737 | 10 Oct 1816 | (79) |
| 12. | Tabitha Chapman | (1739) | -- | -- |
| 13. | Delpha Chapman | (1740) | -- | -- |
| 14. | Unity Chapman | (1743) | -- | -- |
| 15. | Anne Chapman | (1745) | -- | -- |
| 16. | Mary Chapman | (1748) | -- | -- |
In 1752 Samuel leased a 400-acre plot beside Sandy Creek in Amelia County, Virginia, from Samuel COMER. In that deed, Samuel Chapman was cited as a "planter of Drysdale Parish, Caroline County, Virginia."
Samuel Chapman died in Amelia County, Virginia, sometime between April 23, 1773 (the date he signed his will) and before June 15, 1773.
"In the Name of God, Amen. The twenty third day of April 1773. I, Samuel Chapman of the County of Amelia, being very sick and weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God, therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of almighty God that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discression of my Executors nothing doubting but at general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God, and as touching my worldly estate wherewith it has been pleased God to bless me with in this life I give and demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form."
"First, I give and bequeath to my loving son, John Chapman, half my cattle to equally divided by two men chose for that purpose, likewise a negro boy named, Joe."
"I give and demise to Delpha Green, one negro wench named, Bett. Likewise to Delpha Green, I give another negro girl named, Ester."
"I give to my loving daughter, Unity Loving, a negro girl named, Judo and if her husband should by any means by any lewd way by gameing or any other way to satisfy any of his debts part with the said negro girl, Judo, she shall be immediately recovered by the heir at law of my own body."
"Likewise I give to my loving daughter, Delpha Green, another negro wench named, Hanner."
"I give to my loving daughter Tabitha Meadors a negro fellow named, Harry."
"I give to my loving son, John Chapman, a negro girl called, Little Hannah."
"I give to my daughter, Anne Portwood, one shilling."
"I give to my daughter, Mary Cambell, one shilling."
"And my money I give to be equally divided among my son, John Chapman and Tabitha Meadors and Delpha Green and the rest of my estate likewise to be divided among John Chapman, Tabitha Meadors and Delpha Green only five cattle excepted and them I give to Delpha Green particular, John Chapman and William Ware whom I likewise constitute make and ordain my sole Executors of this my last will and testiment, and I do disallow hereby revoke and disannul all and every other former testaments, wills anyways before. By me named, willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal the day and year above written, signed, sealed, published and pronounced and declared by the said Samuel Chapman to be his last will and testament."
"Signed, Samuel (his mark) Chapman, (seal)
In the presence of: William Ware, William (his mark) Lovern and John (his mark) Akerson."
John CHAPMAN2 (1737-1816)
11. John Chapman2 was born in 1737 likely in Caroline County, Virginia. He married Nancy Ann Whitehead in 1757 and fathered eight children, all born in Amelia County. After Nancy died in 1798 John remarried to Oney League on December 18, 1799 and fathered one more son:
| 111. | John "Jack" Chapman, Sr. |
1758 | 1 Feb 1853 | (96) |
| 112. | James Chapman3 |
10 Nov 1760 | 14 May 1839 | (78) |
| 113. | Stephen Chapman | (1762) | (1785) | (23) |
| 114. | Benjamin Chapman | (1764) | (1820) | (56) |
| 115. | Nancy Ann Chapman | 7 Sep 1767 | 24 Aug 1831 | (63) |
| 116. | Sarah "Sally" Chapman | (1772) | (1816-1821) | (44-49) |
| 117. | William Chapman | (1773) | (1855) | (82) |
| 118. | Jane Chapman | (1774) | -- | -- |
| 119. | Jonathan Chapman | (1801) | -- | -- |
Starting about 1791, the Chapman children started branching out from Amelia County. First with son James moving west into the Virginia Blue Ridge mountains in Amherst County, on into Kentucky and Ohio. Next, eldest son John moved south to Spartanburg County, South Carolina, about 1792 and later followed by son William about 1800.
Nancy Ann (Whitehead) Chapman died in 1798 in Amelia County and about the age of 62.
John remarried to Oney League on December 18, 1799, fathered another son, and died 15 years later on October 10, 1816 in Amelia County. He was 79 years old.
