Chapman Article

The Connecticut Nutmegger, by the Connecticut Society of Genealogists, Inc.
"John Chapman (1751-1814) of Sharon, Connecticut and New Marlborough, Massachusetts: Confusion and Errors Surrounding His Family" Vol. 55, No. 2, Spring 2023TCTExtsldkerhefjsdsdfshaCNCh

John Chapman (1751-1814) of Sharon, Connecticut, and
New Marlborough, Massachusetts: Confusion and Errors
Surrounding His Family
by Janet McDougall Buchanan, CSG # 21084
This article will clarify John Chapman’s birth family and origins; provide evidence
for two additional children born to John and his second wife, Dorcas,
and correct misinformation concerning her name and family. It will correct an
error on the death date of John’s father; and uncover further information on
his mother’s second husband, correcting his death date; and, finally, answer
the question of whether proposed son, Jesse, was a member of this family.
John5 Chapman spent his adult life in New Marlborough, Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
He was a sizable landowner at the time of his death and yet records for
his life are scarce. Both he and his wives died intestate. Town records that do exist
for New Marlborough indicated he had twelve children, two having died at birth,
and note the death of his first wife, Rachel (Jackson) Chapman during childbirth.
These records include the deaths of both John and his second wife, Dorcas
(Wright) Chapman.
A clue to the origins of John and Rachel was indicated by the addition of the
phrase ‘in Sharon’ in the records for the birth of Sarah, their first child. Sharon,
Litchfield County, Connecticut is twenty miles from New Marlborough.
The New Marlborough birth and death records give the following information
for the Chapman family:[1]
Children of John Chapman and Rachel (Jackson) Chapman:
i. Sarah, b. 20 Feb. 1774 at Sharon.
ii. Ashbel, b. 20 May 1775 at New Marlborough.
iii. Mary “Polly”, b. 6 Aug. 1777 at New Marlborough.
iv. John Jr., 12 August 1779 at New Marlborough.
v. A male, born and died 5 Nov. 1781 at New Marlborough. Rachel
died along with this son.
Children of John and Dorcas, all born and/or died at New Marlborough:
i. A male, b. 4 Jan. 1783; d. 5 Jan. 1783.
ii. Jonathan, b. 1 Jan. 1785.
iii. Rachel, 22 Jan. 1787.
iv. Betsey, 24 March 1789.
THE CONNECTICUT NUTMEGGER © SPRING 2023 Page 117
v. Asenath “Senay,” 17 Oct. 1791.
vi. Lucy, 5 Oct. 1794.
vii. Asher, 26 June 1796.
John and Dorcas both died in 1814 at New Marlborough.
John Chapman’s Origins
The earliest mention found of a John Chapman in Sharon who would fit with the
New Marlborough man of the same name was in the Estate of Peletiah Chapman
of Sharon, in the Probate Records.[2] Peletiah’s father-in-law, George White, was
appointed guardian on 9 January 1759, to the following children:
John ae. 7 12 May last
Peletiah ae. 5 10 July last
William ae. 3 6 December last
Sarah born 21 January last [1758]
John’s birthdate, calculated as 12 May 1751, fits with the age at marriage, on
censuses and the births of children for the John in New Marlborough.
The will for ‘Pellatick Chapman, Litchfield, CT’ (Sharon District),[3] was written
on 8 February 1758 and mentions: “Wife, Mary … Eldest son John, … son Pellatiah,
… 3rd son William” and daughter Sarah. Peletiah’s widow, Mary, and fatherin-
law, George White, were named executors. The will, admitted to probate on 3
April 1758, notes that Peletiah is “late of s’d Sharon deceased.” An inventory was
done at the same time, with an additional inventory completed in December 1758.[4]
According to the will, Peletiah was a large landowner, and his three sons all inherited
substantial pieces of land. John received an estimated ninety-five acres
in Sharon.[5] John sold approximately 107 acres from 1773-1789, to his brothers,
William and Peletiah and others.[6] It is unclear why the amount is slightly different,
but he could have ultimately inherited more, purchased extra, or received
land through his mother’s father at the time of the grandfather’s death. This would
have given him ample resources to purchase his land in New Marlborough.
The sons of Peletiah and Mary (White) Chapman chose their own guardians
as they approached adulthood. Peletiah Jr. and William chose to continue with
“their grandfather George White of Sharon,” while John Chapman “age 19 last
12 May, chose William Boland of Sharon on 20 March 1771” as his guardian.[7]
John would turn 21 on 12 May 1772. Their sister, Sarah, was not included in these
guardian records. No further evidence has been found for Sarah after her mention
in Peletiah’s will.[8]
Page 118 THE CONNECTICUT NUTMEGGER © SPRING 2023
Amenia, Dutchess County, New York, seven miles from Sharon, was a regular
destination for those from Sharon and surrounding areas for baptisms, marriages,
and burials. Peletiah was buried in The Boland District Burying Ground in
Amenia.[9] Mary was later buried with Peletiah, with her name being recorded as
Chapman despite having remarried. The stone was probably placed there after her
death.[10] According to the probate package, Peletiah died 14 February 1758, but
when the stone was placed, the date was given as 1759. Many researchers erroneously
use this date as his death date, but a careful reading of his probate package
makes the correct year clear.
John Chapman and his first wife, Rachel Jackson, were married in Amenia, on
23 September 1770.[11] A birth record for Rachel indicates she was born on 25
July 1752 in Sharon, the fourth of seven children born to Joshua and Eirene/Irene
(___) Jackson.[12]
John and Rachel Chapman’s first child, Sarah, was born in Sharon on 20 February
1774 and their second child, Ashbel, on 20 May 1775 in New Marlborough. This
gives an estimated timeline of the family’s move to New Marlborough between
those two dates. Rachel died in November 1781, along with her unnamed infant
son. With four young children to care for, John married, probably in early 1782,
as his second wife, Dorcas Wright, before she delivered their first child, a son, on
4 January 1783. This unnamed baby died the next day. The birth records indicated
John and Dorcas had an additional six children.
John Chapman’s Second Wife and Family Identified
John’s second wife, Dorcas, was listed as the third daughter and child of Caleb
and Sarah (Strong) Wright of New Marlborough in the Elmer I. Shepard collection
housed at the Berkshire Athenaeum.[13] The Wrights were married in Northampton,
Hampshire County, Massachusetts on 6 September 1745.[14] When Caleb Wright
wrote his will on 15 July 1807, Dorcas, daughter, was noted as “wife of John
Chapman” and listed second of seven surviving children of Caleb.[15] When Caleb
Wright’s will was probated eight years later on 28 February 1815, it was noted
that “To his heirs at law of Dorcas, deceased, late wife of John Chapman, dec’d,
to be equally divided between them….”[16] Caleb and Sarah’s likely first child, a
daughter named Sarah, was born about 1750,[17] which gives an approximate year
of birth for Dorcas of around 1756, and most likely in New Marlborough, where
her parents resided at the time. No birth record has been found.
Many researchers have John Chapman marrying a Dorcas Hunter on 27 November
1777 in Glastonbury, Hartford County, Connecticut, sixty-three miles from
New Marlborough.[18] John had no known connection to Glastonbury and he was
married to Rachel at that time. John’s and Rachel’s daughter, Polly, was born
three months earlier in August 1777. Considering his marital status at that time
THE CONNECTICUT NUTMEGGER © SPRING 2023 Page 119
and most importantly, Caleb Wright identified his daughter, Dorcas, as the wife of
John Chapman. The Dorcas Hunter of Glastonbury has no connection to the John
Chapman in New Marlborough. Dorcas Wright is identified as his correct second
wife, and her birth family revealed.
Two Additional Sons Identified
A study of the 1790 and 1800 censuses in New Marlborough provides additional
information on the Chapman family. Despite Chapman being a common name,
the only Chapman family in New Marlborough in 1790 was John’s family:[19]
One male over 16: John, b. 1751 – head of household.
Three males under 16: Ashbel, b. 1775; John Jr., b. 1779; Jonathan, b. 1785.
Five females: Dorcas, wife, b. ca 1756; Sarah, b. 1774; Polly, b. 1777;
Rachel, b. 1787; Betsy, b. 1789.
In 1800, again the only Chapman family in New Marlborough was headed by
John with the following family members:[20]
Males under 10: Asher, b. 1796; and two unknown males, not listed in the
vital records.
between 10-15: Jonathan, b. 1785.
between 16-25: Ashbel, b. 1775; John Jr., b. 1779.
between 26-45: John, b. 1751 – head of household.
Females under 10: Senay, b. 1791; Lucy, b. 1794.
between 10-15: Rachel, b. 1787; Betsey, b. 1789.
between 26-45: Dorcas, wife, b. ca 1756.
This family does not appear in any 1810 census for the area.[21]
The 1800 census provided evidence that there were two sons born after Asher, the
last child listed in the birth records. Additional information contained in John’s
probate package, along with the 1800 census record, indicates that two sons,
eventually identified as Asahel, born probably in 1798, and Ira, born July 1800,
were indeed John’s and Dorcas’s sons.
Page 120 THE CONNECTICUT NUTMEGGER © SPRING 2023
Evidence of Surviving Children in John’s Estate
An inventory of John Chapman’s estate in New Marlborough was completed on
4 September 1814. It showed he had a large estate totaling $3,055.66 which included
115 acres with buildings ($2,185).[22] Notices appeared in the Berkshire
Herald Star Newspaper of Stockbridge, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, over
the next six months and stated creditors had until “six months from the sixth day
of September inst.” to issue claims.[23] Since the death records indicated both John
and Dorcas died in 1814 and the probate papers did not mention Dorcas, it is
likely she died prior to John. Although he died intestate, numerous administrative
and division of property documents for John’s estate were in the probate package
along with the inventory.
The probate package included a guardianship record for Asahel Chapman dated 8
December 1814.[24] The last known reference to Asahel “of N. Marlborough” was
in the land deeds when he sold his 1/11th share of the inherited family land on 9
March 1821.[25] The Shepard collection lists Asahel as a member of this family.[26]
No supportive records have been discovered for him after the sale of his property.
Isaac Turner, named executor of the late John Chapman’s estate,[27] was chosen as
guardian for Ira Chapman on 8 December 1814 and again on 7 April 1815.[28] Ira
was also included with the family in the Shepard collection.[29] An Ira Chapman of
the right age appeared as head of household in the 1840 and 1850 censuses for New
Marlborough. The 1840 census image is difficult to read and appears incomplete.
It was possibly added later between two other listings. It stated that the household
of Ira Chapman had one female under 5, one female between 5 and 10, and a
female between 20-29, with no males (including an adult) listed.[30] In the 1850
census, it lists Ira, 49, with likely daughter, Ellen, 14.[31] There are no Chapmans in
the 1860 census for New Marlborough.[32] The 1865 Massachusetts State Census
for New Marlborough showed Ira as a laborer in the Hastings Brown household.[33]
No connection has been found for the Brown family and the Chapmans. A death
record dated 28 April 1868 for Ira stated his “age at 67 yrs, 9 mon” which indicated
a birth date in July 1800. John Chapman was listed as his father with no
mother named.[34]
On 5 April 1816, a document within John Chapman’s probate package provided
details concerning the division of his land in New Marlborough to his surviving
children.[35] They each received approximately “1/11th” of the estate. The following
eleven children were named: Sarah, Ashbel, “Polly”/Mary, John, Jonathan,
Rachel, Asenath “Senay,” Lucy, Asher, Asahel, and Ira. Missing was Betsy. This
probably indicates she died prior to this date, although no death record has been
found.
THE CONNECTICUT NUTMEGGER © SPRING 2023 Page 121
In the years after John’s death, several Chapman children sold their share of land
inherited from their “honored father John Chapman” of New Marlborough. The
following nine land records have been located to date:[36]
1815, Feb 9 – Jonas and Mary “Polly” Standish sold her stake in father’s land to
brother Jonathan Chapman.
1816, April 6 - Lucy Chapman sold her stake in father’s land to Isaac Turner.
1817, Mar 10 – Ezra and Sarah “Sally” Lane sold her stake in father’s land to
Solomon Fitch.
1817, June 7 - Ashbel Chapman sold his stake in father’s land to James Thorp
Rhodes.
1817, June 7 - John W. and Rachel Pollock sold her stake in father’s land to James
Thorp Rhodes.
1817, June 17 - Asenath Chapman sold her stake in father’s land to James Thorp
Rhodes.
1817, Nov 1 - Asher Chapman sold his stake in father’s land to Joseph Battell.
1818, Sep 8 – Jonathan Chapman sold his stake in father’s land to James Thorp
Rhodes (including his stake in sister Polly Standish’s share).
1821, March 9 – Asahel Chapman sold his stake in father’s land to James Thorp
Rhodes.
John Jr., and Ira are missing from this list. We know that Ira stayed in the area
until his death in 1868. No land records or a will for Ira have been found to date.
There is a John Chapman of the right age in Berkshire County during that time,
but information about him has not been corroborated. No burial records or graves
for any of this Chapman family in the New Marlborough area have been located.
They may be buried on what was Chapman land.[37]
A Second Husband for Mary (White) Chapman Identified
Mary Chapman, John’s mother, married Ashbel Goodrich as her second husband
after Peletiah’s death. Ashbel Goodrich married Mary as his third wife, sometime
after the death of his second wife, Mercy Brockway.
Ashbel Goodrich, seventh child of Ephraim and Hannah (Steel) Goodrich, was
born on 13 December 1729, probably in Wethersfield, Hartford County, where
his parents resided at the time.[38] The family was in Litchfield when their next
son, Abner, was born on 29 December, 1733.[39] Ashbel married on 5 June 1751
Page 122 THE CONNECTICUT NUTMEGGER © SPRING 2023
an unknown woman in Glastonbury, Hartford County.[40] They had one recorded
child, Joshua, born on 13 November 1752.[41] It is unknown where Joshua was
born, but he was christened on 18 January 1761 in Amenia.[42] Therefore, Ashbel
and at least Joshua, must have resettled to that area before 1751.
Ashbel Goodrich married second, Mercy (Lovell) Brockway, of Sharon on 11
March 1760,[43] the young widow of Timothy Brockway, who died before 10
November 1759, leaving her with three children.[44] In the Hale Collection, it is
noted: “Goodrich, Mercy, wife of Doctor Abigail [sic], died Mar. 10, 1761, age
27 yrs.”[45] Note the name Abigail is in error and should be Ashbel. Through the
years many people have erroneously contributed this date as Ashbel Goodrich’s
death date, not Mercy’s. Ashbel was noted as “Dr” in the Hale Collection entry
for his wife, Mercy. His marriage to Mary Chapman would be after the 10 March
1761 date of Mercy’s death and before Mary and Ashbel Goodrich were noted as
husband and wife in a complaint to the Courts, dated 28 March 1771.[46]
The 1790 Census for Litchfield County notes an Ashbel Goodrich with one male
and one female. This is likely Mary. They are listed near her sons, Peletiah and
William Chapman.[47] Ashbel died before 10 July 1795, when Mary Goodrich and
William Chapman were named executors of his estate. A will was not found, but
the administrative papers for the settlement of his estate exist, naming his executors
and paying debts to Mary Goodrich, William Chapman and John Chapman.[48]
Jesse Chapman Wrongly Attributed to this Family
Lastly, some researchers add another child, Jesse, as born to John and Rachel
Chapman, in either 1769 or 1771 in Sharon, before first daughter Sarah (1774)
was born. However, no documentation confirms this. If his birth year was 1769,
that would be before John (18) and Rachel (17) were married. This was not a usual
practice in the New England colonies at the time. Jesse was not listed in the New
Marlborough birth records, as Sarah was. He was unaccounted for in the John
Chapman households of the 1790 or 1800 censuses. He would have been an adult,
but unmarried in 1790. Most telling, though, is that a child named Jesse was not
named in the April 1816 document dividing land from the late John Chapman’s
estate to his surviving eleven children.
Jesse, as a child of John and Rachel (Jackson) Chapman, is unsupportable. There
was a Jesse Chapman living in Lenox, Berkshire County, and “of” Lenox, when
intention to marry Lucy Tracy was recorded on 31 December 1791.[49] This Jesse
Chapman died in 1819 in Sullivan, Madison County, New York.[50]
Conclusion
A birth record for his first child, Sarah, indicated John Chapman came from Sharon,
Connecticut, but spent his entire adult life in New Marlborough, MassachuTHE
CONNECTICUT NUTMEGGER © SPRING 2023 Page 123
setts. Additional research was needed to identify his birth family. Despite the vital
records in New Marlborough indicating the birth of twelve children, two additional
sons, Asahel and Ira, were identified bringing the total number of children born
to John and his wives to fourteen. John married twice, first to Rachel Jackson, and
second to Dorcas Wright. Dorcas’ last name was uncovered, and her birth family
identified. The death date for John’s father, Peletiah, is clarified. John’s mother,
Mary (White) Chapman married second, Ashbel Goodrich. A common misconception
confusing Ashbel’s death date with that of his second wife’s death date
is cleared up and a correct death date is verified. Finally, an alleged son, Jesse,
that some researchers attach to this family has been disproved. Though questions
remain about this family, research and newly found records now give us a more
complete, and correct, picture of the John Chapman family.
Genealogical Summary
1. Peletiah4 Chapman, son of Obadiah3 (John,2 William1) and Love (_) Chapman,
b. abt. 1730 at Colchester, New London Co., Conn., where his parents resided;[
51] d. 28 Feb. 1758 at Sharon, Litchfield Co., Conn., age 28.[52] He married
in Sharon where both families had resettled prior to their marriage, Mary White,
on 10 May 1750,[53] daughter of George and Sarah (Bumpas) White, born 4 April
1731 in Rochester, Plymouth Co., Mass.;[54] d. in Sharon 18 Oct. 1810.[55] Both are
buried in Boland District Burying Ground, Amenia, Dutchess Co., N.Y.
Children of Peletiah and Mary (White) Chapman:[56]
2. i. John5, b. 12 May 1751 at Sharon.
ii. Peletiah, b. 10 July 1753 at Sharon; d. aft. 1810, prob. Sharon,[57] m.
at Amenia, Mary Row, 25 Dec. 1774,[58] b. abt.1755, prob. at Amenia,
daughter of Nicholas and Susanna (Winegar);[59] d. aft. 1810, prob.
at Sharon.[60] They had at least three daughters, baptized at Amenia:[61]
1. Mary, bp. 4 Jan. 1778.
2. Helena, bp. 4 March 1781.
3. Tamar, bp. 30 June 1782.
iii. William Chapman, b. 6 Dec. 1755 at Sharon; d. 29 July 1818[62] at Sharon;
m. probably bef. 1783, Amy Lovell, prob. at Sharon.[63] Amy, b. 28
March 1760, daughter of John and (__) Lovell;[64] d. 29 July 1826[65] at
Sharon.
Children of William and Amy (Lovell) Chapman, all likely born in Sharon:[
66]
Page 124 THE CONNECTICUT NUTMEGGER © SPRING 2023
1. Rachel, b. abt 1783; d. 11 March 1812; bur. at Sharon; m. to Zina Bosworth,
prob. at Sharon.[67]
2. Betsy, b. 22 Aug. 1784; d. 16 Dec. 1816, likely in N.Y.; m. to Isaac
Sanford, b. 23 April 1786 at Redding, Fairfield Co., Conn.; d. 30
March 1832 at Catskill, N.Y., son of James and Sarah (Beach) Sanford.[
68]
3. Lois, b. 1791; d. 12 Sept. 1820; bur. at Sharon; m. Eli S. Jarvis.[69]
4. Marilla, b. 24 Oct. 1793; d. 21 Aug. 1849 at Palmyra, N.Y.; bur. at
Sharon; m. to Isaac Sanford.[70]
5. Amos, b. 11 Sept. 1788; d. 27 May 1830;[71] m. Priscilla (_), b. 1
April 1796; d. 16 June 1875; both bur. at Sharon.[72]
6. Chesterfield, b. 1794; d. 22 Aug. 1839;[73] m. Sophia (_), b. 1795; d.
29 Nov. 1869; both bur. at Sharon.[74]
7. Lovel(l) W., b. 31 Oct. 1798; d. 4 April 1868; bur. at Sharon.[75]
8. William. This child is mentioned in his father’s will; there are two Williams
buried near the other children, information is unsubstantiated.[76]
iv. Sarah Chapman, b. 21 Jan. 1758 at Sharon. No further information.
2. John5 Chapman (Peletiah4, Obadiah3, John2, William1) b. 12 May 1751 at Sharon;
d. bef. 4 Sept. 1814, at age 63, in New Marlborough. John m. (1) on 23 Sept.
1770, Rachel Jackson, at Amenia, dau. of Joshua and Eirene/Irene () Jackson,
b. 25 July 1752; d. 5 Nov. 1781 at New Marlborough; John m. (2) between
5 Nov. 1781 and early 1782, prob. at New Marlborough, Dorcas Wright, dau.
of Caleb and Sarah (Strong) Wright, b. abt. 1756, prob. at New Marlborough; d.
1814.
Children of John and Rachel (Jackson) Chapman:[77]
3 i. Sarah Chapman, b. 20 Feb. 1774 at Sharon; d. bef. 1850, prob. at Ira,
Cayuga Co., N.Y.;[78] m. at New Marlborough, Ezra Lane, 6 March 1793,[79]
bp. 6 March 1768 at Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Conn.;[80] d. 15 Jan.
1859 at Ira.[81]
Children of Ezra and Sarah (Chapman) Lane:[82]
1. Almira, b. 1794, Litchfield; d. aft. 1865, N.Y.;[83] m. James M. Watson,
abt. 1810,[84] b. 1 April 1788 in Canada; d. 18 April 1859 at Huron,
Wayne Co., N.Y.[85]
2. Lovina, b. 1796 at Litchfield; d. aft. 1823; m. William Earle. This
couple had a daughter named Adeline L. Lane.[86]
3. Roswell, b. 10 April 1798 at Litchfield; d. 28 Aug. 1870 at Hannibal,
Oswego Co., N.Y.;[87] m. at Sennett, Cayuga Co., Jerusha Rhoad(e)s,
19 June 1820,[88] dau. of David and Jerusha (Hitchcock) Rhoad(e)s, b.
THE CONNECTICUT NUTMEGGER © SPRING 2023 Page 125
16 Aug. 1802 at New Marlborough;[89] d. 9 Aug. 1877 at Hannibal.[90]
4. Jonathan “Dudley,” b. 20 Feb. 1800 at Litchfield; d. 21 Oct. 1863 at
Martville, Cayuga Co., N.Y.;[91] m. bef. 1824, Clarinda (_),[92] b. abt.
1805 in N.Y.; d. aft. 1875, prob. in N.Y.[93]
5. Laura, b. 1802 at Litchfield; d. aft. 1870, prob. in N.Y.;[94] m. bef.
1820, Richard P. Watson,[95] b. 1 June 1796, at Skaneateles, Onondaga
Co., N.Y.;[96] d. 12 Feb. 1867, Constantia, Oswego Co., N.Y.[97]
6. Jackson E., b. 30 Sept. 1804 at Litchfield; d. 17 April 1883 in Kansas;[
98] m. (1) 23 May 1828 at Ira, Sally Ann Parish,[99] b. 16 Feb.
1805; d. 8 May 1834 at Ira;[100] m. (2) aft. 1834 at Ira,[101] Catherine
(_), b. ca 1804; d. 1868 in Kansas.[102]
7. Thresia M., b. 4 April 1806 at Litchfield; d. 22 Sept. 1882 at Trading
Post, Linn Co., Kansas;[103] m. bef. 1842, Sidney Case,[104] b. 1805; d.
bef. 1855-60.[105]
8. Belinda, b. 5 Jan. 1807 in N.Y.; d. 13 Aug. 1841 at Sterling, Cayuga
Co., N.Y.;[106] m. bef. 1831, Heman Myers,[107] b. 1806; d. 23 Oct. 1889
at Sterling.[108]
9. Alzina, b. 27 April 1811, N.Y.; d. 2 Nov. 1869 at Geneva, Van Buren
Co., Mich.;[109] m. bef. 1829, Nile J. Parrish,[110] b. 17 April 1810 in
Onondaga Co., N.Y.; d. 11 March 1874.[111]
10. John Sheridan, b. 1812 in N.Y.; d. 29 June 1873; bur. at Fabius Twp.,
St. Joseph Co., Mich.;[112] m. (1) bef. 1840, Olive Eddy, b. 6 May 1821,
N.Y.; d. 9 Sept. 1855; bur. in St. Joseph Co., Mich.;[113] m. (2) Almina
Clark, bef. 1859, b. 6 June 1833, N.Y.; d. 8 Sept. 1870 at Constantine,
St. Joseph Co., Mich.[114]
11. Nelson C., b. 16 Feb. 1816 in Oswego Co., N.Y.; d. 5 Jan. 1898 at
Blue Mound, Linn Co., Kansas;[115] m. (1) bef. 1838, Caroline S.
(_),[116] b. 1817 in N.Y.; d.1873 at Trading Post;[117] m. (2) 9 May
1784 in Livingston Co., Mo., Julia A. Smith,[118] b. 23 April 1816 in
N.Y.; d. 27 May 1882; bur. at Trading Post,[119] m. (3) 17 Sept. 1882
in Kansas, Cynthia Connor,[120] b. March 1826, Ohio; d. aft. 1900.[121]
ii. Ashbel Chapman, b. 20 May 1775 at New Marlborough; d. 25 June 1865;
bur. at Copley Twp, Summit Co., Ohio;[122] m. 28 Aug. 1800 at Norfolk,
Litchfield Co., Conn., Polly Lane (parents unverified),[123] b. aft. 1780; d. 9
March 1862; bur. at Copley Twp.[124] Ashbel and Polly had thirteen children.
Note: Although some researchers give Ashbel the middle name of Elihu,
there is no evidence for this. In addition, some researchers state that Polly
Lane is the daughter of Roswell and Sarah (Dudley) Lane, making her a
sister to Ezra Lane. There is no evidence for this, and she is not mentioned
in the birth/baptism records with Ezra, his brother, Luman, and sister,
Sarah.
Page 126 THE CONNECTICUT NUTMEGGER © SPRING 2023
iii. Mary “Polly” Chapman, b. 6 Aug. 1777 at New Marlborough; d. bet.
1818-1826 at Lisle, Broome Co., N.Y.;[125] m. 1798 at Norfolk, Jonas
Standish, third son of Jonas and Sarah (Stedman) Standish,[126] b. 1776 at
West Stockbridge, Berkshire Co.;[127] d. aft. 1850 at Triangle, Broome Co.,
N.Y. [128] This couple likely had eight children.
iv. John Chapman, b. 12 Aug. 1779 at New Marlborough. No further information.
v. Unnamed Male, b. and d. 5 Nov. 1781 at New Marlborough.
Children of John and Dorcas (Wright) Chapman:
i. Unnamed Male, b. 4 Jan. 1783 and d. 5 Jan. 1783 at New Marlborough.
ii. Jonathan Chapman, b. 1 Jan. 1783 at New Marlborough; may have resettled
in New York City.[129] Further information is unsubstantiated.
iii. Rachel Chapman, b. 22 Jan. 1787 at New Marlborough; m. 24 Aug. 1816
at New Marlborough, John W. Pollock, son of William W. and Mary (Torrey)
Pollock,[130] b. 28 March 1785 at South Kingstown, Washington Co.,
R.I.[131] Rachel may have married a Mr. Warren before her marriage to
John Pollock.[132] No further information on this couple has been found.
iv. Betsy Chapman, b. 24 March 1789 New Marlborough; d. bef. 5 April
1816, prob. at New Marlborough.[133]
v. Asenath “Senay” Chapman, b. 17 Oct. 1791 at New Marlborough. No
further information.
vi. Lucy Chapman, b. 5 Oct. 1794 at New Marlborough. No further information.
vii. Asher Chapman, b. 26 June 1796 at New Marlborough; d. aft. 1858;[134]
m. (1) 11 March 1824 Troy, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio,[135] Polly Moon, dau. of
Lodowick and Elizabeth (Sweet) Moon,[136] b. 1808 N.Y.; d. 1 Nov. 1857
in Lorain Co., Ohio.[137] This couple had nine children. Asher m. (2) 5
March 1858 in Van Buren Co., Mich., Harriet (_) Priest.[138]
viii. Asahel Chapman, b. 1798 at New Marlborough; d. aft. 9 March 1821,
prob. at New Marlborough.[139]
ix. Ira Chapman, b. July 1800 at New Marlborough; d. 28 April 1868 at
New Marlborough.[140] Known likely daughter, Ellen Chapman, b. ca.
1836, prob. at New Marlborough.[141]
Janet Beckington McDougall Buchanan, 243 E. Glenn Dr., Phoenix, AZ 85020,
jbmb419@gmail.com. This article is dedicated to my great-grandmother, Mary
Ella Hazelton Childs (24 April 1857-1 May 1941). Ella is John and Rachel (Jackson)
Chapman’s great-great granddaughter through their daughter, Sarah Chapman
and her husband, Ezra Lane. I would like to thank my Writers Group, Diane
Scannell, and my husband, Bruce F. Buchanan, for all their editing help.