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Classification: Query
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Yes, Montague is French, some records show that the Chapins were originally French
Huguenots, who fled to Holland and associated themselves with the Puritans there, as you
might already know, the original Chapin, Deacon Samuel Chapin was a Puritan, Samuels wife
Cicelly is a French name.
As for Lt. Chapins military record, what I have is as follows: Lt. Chapin was in the
battle near Lake George, Sept. 8th 1755 and served Dec. 11th 1755 to Oct. 18th 1756 in
Capt. Israel Williams company. This was during the French and Indian war. He also held the
same rank during the Revolutionary War.
There is an excellent genealogy library here in West Palm Beach, one of the finest in the
State. They have extensive records of those that fought in the Revolution, my G.G.G.G
Grandfather was at Bunker Hill. Since a lot of Chapins fought in that war, I'm sure
Lt. Chapin is listed,, but I've researched only those that are a direct line to me,
and didnt go into Uncles and Cousins etc.
I am the 11th generation to Deacon Samuel Chapin, he would be my 11th great grandfather. I
have the Chapin books which contain literally thousands of names of which they are all
related in someway even if they dont share the name Chapin.
While I do have photos of some Chapins, they would be mostly of my immediate family.
However, I have plenty of postcards of the statue of Deacon Samuel Chapin in Springfield,
Mass. I also have photos of numerous Chapin headstones that were taken by members of my
family during their travels. Deacon Samuel Chapin had 7 children, of which one was Japhet
Chapin born in Roxbury, Mass. its his line that I'm from.
I have heard of rumors of Indian ancestry, but no proof, but theres no doubt that during
the Indian wars, and at other times, because those were the times that the early Puritans
were constantly at odds with the local Indians, that the Indians captured children and
women, and that they would have been made part of the Indian tribes, I'm sure a few
Chapins were captured. I've heard that the Indian ancestry might come from Canada,
since the states that the Chapins settled in were close to the Canadian border.
The next time I go to the library, I'll try to research more on the military record of
Lt. Chapin.