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Surnames: Chapin, Birch, Hartman, Walters
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/VRI.2ACEB/446
Message Board Post:
My g-g-grandfather was WILLIAM H. CHAPIN (1832-1936). He was born in MA, moved to WI
before he enlisted in the Civil War in 1861. He returned after the war and married
MARYETTE AMELIA BIRCH (1848-1921). She was born in NY and her family moved to WI in c.
1854. They had 6 children, all born in Fond du Lac, that I know of: ADELBERT JASPER CHAPIN
(my g-grandfather); MELVIN HERBERT CHAPIN (my adoptive g-grandfather); ALBERT A. CHAPIN;
WILLIAM H. CHAPIN; EARL H. CHAPIN; and CARRIE BERNICE CHAPIN.
ADELBERT JASPER CHAPIN (c.1870-1912?) worked as a well driller. He married ANNA HARTMAN
(c.1878-1960?) (my g-grandmother) who was born in Ludington, MI to German parents. They
had 2 children: IRENE CARRIE CHAPIN (1900-1963) and ALBERT DELL CHAPIN (1903-1920). For
reasons unknown, in July 1906, they signed over all custody of their children to
Adelbert's brother, MELVIN HERBERT CHAPIN and his wife, MATHILDA WALTERS. The adoption
papers give no mention of why this happened.
MELVIN, MATHILDA, IRENE and ALBERT CHAPIN left WI for Barker, TX where they lived for
several years. They then moved permanently to Los Angeles, CA. ALBERT died at the age of
17 in a hunting accident. IRENE corresponded with her mother, ANNA, until her death in the
1960s. MELVIN d. 1950 and MATHILDA d. 1953.
According the the 1930 Federal Census, ANNA is shown to be married to WILLIAM CHAPIN (her
previous brother-in-law?). The last letter written from ANNA that we have shows her last
name as being CHAPIN in 1954.
The adoption was not talked about much in the CHAPIN household, so my mother does not know
why it happened or any details about her birth grandparents. I am looking for any
information about this branch of the CHAPIN family in Fond du Lac and the CHAPIN family
left behind in MA. The old family papers show that they had received an invitation to be
in the Chapin Family Association book to be printed c. 1922; they were referred to as
"the descendants of Deacon Samuel Chapin". Would like to be able to proof that
is true.