James, your question about where James Chapman (d. 1785, Frederick Co., VA)
came from is very interesting. A biography of one of his grandchildren says
he was "an Englishman." Another biographical reference says the family is
"of Scottish descent." My DNA test shows a connection to Ireland. I think
that it is likely that the family was from so-called "borderlands" between
Scotland and England, including Northern Ireland (re-settled by deported
rebels involved in the first Jacobite Rebellion before the English had the
bright idea of transporting the rebels to the New World). I have located a
James Chapman who was transported to Maryland after the second Jacobite
Rebellion, but I can't prove this is my James Chapman. I have my James
Chapman married to Jane and settled in Orange Co., VA in 1766 with "four
tithes" (perhaps sons Joseph, John, William and Thomas?). I can't place him
for sure anywhere before 1766 but his ownership of land and slaves by 1766
seems to make it more likely that he was from an established Colonial family
and not a recent immigrant, but this again is a pure guess and could be
completely wrong. He sells his land to someone from Caroline County, so he
may have a connection to that county. He may have come to Virginia from
Maryland or Pennsylvania, as many did. He may be associated with the
Culpeper Co., VA Chapman family but I can't prove a connection. He may be
associated with the Richard Chapman family of Frederick Co., VA, but again I
have found no connection. We have another Thomas Chapman (married Rachel)
in Frederick Co., VA living there at the same time as James who may be a
brother or a cousin (not to be confused with James Chapman's son Thomas
Chapman who married Sarah Bell). My hope is the DNA studies will give us
some help on sorting out these issues.
Mike Chapman (of Atlanta)
_____________________________________________
Michael L. Chapman
The Chapman Firm
One North Parkway Square, Suite 200
4200 Northside Parkway
Atlanta, Georgia 30327
Direct Dial 404-262-3320 - Fax 404-237-2150
-----Original Message-----
From: James Chapman [mailto:jchapman@pathwayz.com]
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2005 11:28 AM
To: CHAPMAN-DNA-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: Re: [CHAPMAN-DNA] New Results
I just read your "The Biography of James Chapman and Descendants" again, and
again I puzzle over which Joseph Chapman married Catherine Anderson. Your
analysis certainly gives some credence to it being Joseph Chapman, son of
James, but, as you say, cannot be proven by documentation. I am at the same
stage in my claim that she married Joseph Chapman, son of Giles. I hope
that someday we'll find an answer. Maybe DNA is our best bet, and learning
if any of the Frederick Co Va Chapmans were blood related would be the clue
we need. I'll let you know if I learn more. Do you know where your James
Chapman came from to America? James
It would be interesting to learn if any of the Frederick Co Va Chapmans were
blood related.
Do you know where your James Chapman came to American from?