Wrote Johnny:
I have a friend that I have been putting together his Chapman history
from
what others have posted on the internet so none of the info other than what
he has given me can be verified by me. I don't have his permission to go any
closer to him.
His line goes:
Albert Galltin Jenkins Chapman ca 1864 & Malissa Conley ca 1868;
he was the s/o John Russell Chapman ca 1835 & Harriett Adams ca 1835;
he was the s/o Edward Chapman Nov 20, 1835 & Polly (Mary) Godby April 6, 1799;
he was the s/o John C. Chapman Nov 6, 1762 & Dicy Napier Nov 8 1762;
he was the s/o John Chapman Jan 18, 1739 & Sally "Sallie" Abbott ca 1744;
he was the s/o Isaac Chapman ca 1716 & Sarah Cole ca 1716;
he was the s/o Thomas Chapman March 26, 1690 & unknown.
Johnny, unless some new evidence connecting Isaac to Thomas (b. 1690)
has emerged, you should tell your friend that it is a myth. I've
tried many times to convince Chapman researchers that Isaac Chapman of
Orange Co. VA was NOT a descendant of Thomas Chapman of Jordon's
Journey 1610, or any of his namesakes. Here's my arguement again:
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Many descendants of Isaac Chapman, through the Giles County Chapmans
(including Isaac, John, Richard and Jemima) believe their line passes
through Thomas Chapman who came to America at Jordon's Journey in 1610
on the Tryall. I regard this as false, and believe it originated with
George Roberts' terribly flawed work Genealogy of Joseph Peck (1955)
which traces Isaac Chapman of Culpeper VA back to Thomas Chapman of
1610 Colonial Virginia. He lays out the following lineage:
Thomas Chapman I (b. 1590) came to Jordon's Journey VA on the
Tryall in 1610, m. Ann ? in 1618, had two children: Thomas II (b.
1619) and Ann (b. 1622), both in Jordon's Journey.
Thomas II settled Elizabeth River VA and had a son Thomas III b. ca. 1642.
Thomas III settled in Charles Co. MD in 1662? and supposedly m.
Elizabeth Craxon in 1689. Had two children: Thomas IV (b. 3-26-1690)
and Mary (b. 8-19-1693) before relocating to Stafford Co. VA in 1695.
Thomas IV ultimately settled in Orange Co, probably what became
Culpeper Co., VA
Thomas III would have 48 years old, and Elizabeth (b. 1644) would have
been 46, when Thomas IV was born; 51 and 49 respectively for Mary. I
know, 49 year old women in Colonial America, such as Elizabeth Craxon
Chapman in 1693, did have children - but it was quite unusual.
Referring to Thomas Chapman III, Brian Berry's Generations 1-5 of the
Family and Descendants of Thomas Chapman of Jordan's Journey notes
that after 1641 "for the next three decades, no records for Thomas
have been located." Two hypotheses seem more plausible: Thomas III
was really the grandfather of Thomas IV (with a lost generation
interceding), or Thomas IV was from a different line of Chapmans
altogether.
According to Roberts, the Thomas Chapman born March 26, 1690 in
Charles Co. MD is "probably" the same Thomas Chapman whose death
inventory we find in Culpeper VA dated Nov. 18, 1782. Later, says
Roberts, "it may have been his son, b. ca. 1810-12." (I assume he
intended to estimate this birthdate a century earlier:1710-12.) Is he
conjecturing a Thomas V? Would this be Isaac's father, or his
brother? Thus, we see that Roberts was uncertain that the Thomas
Chapman born in Charles Co. MD in 1690 was the same as the Thomas
Chapman who died in Culpeper VA in 1782.
According to Roberts, David E. Johnston's 1906 History of Middle New
River Settlements mentions an Isaac Chapman "born in Charles County,
Maryland," although there is no evidence of this birth in county
records. But, as we will see later, this is not what Johnston
actually said.
Culbertson's Hunter Genealogy, says Roberts, lists Thomas' children as
Nathaniel, George, John, and an unidentified daughter; no mention is
made of an Isaac. For some reason, says Roberts, "to this we would add
Isaac." And "we are certain that Isaac was a son of Thomas IV." But,
there is no evidence supporting this. Then, Roberts goes on to state
that there is "no recorded evidence that the other members (i.e.,
Nathaniel and George) were brothers of Isaac and John, therefore, they
shall not be considered further.. ."
So - we have no evidence of an Isaac Chapman born in Charles Co., but
he must be the undocumented son of Thomas IV born in Charles Co. in
1690, who is either the Thomas Chapman who died in Culpeper in 1782 or
another undocumented son. And although there is apparently evidence
that Thomas IV had children George and Nathaniel, there is no evidence
of Isaac being brother of George and Nathaniel - thus, we dismiss them
as Thomas' sons. This is very sloppy reasoning, supported by erroneous
assumptions and fabricated evidence! It leads me to suspect that
Roberts attempted to graft Isaac Chapman's family tree onto Thomas',
thus stretching the lineage back to 1610.
So, where did Isaac Chapman of Orange Co. VA actually come from?
Here, other historical documents are incomplete and contradictory.
Incorrectly cited by Roberts, Johnston actually writes "The Chapmans
were English people, and some of those who emigrated to this country
came from Connecticut to Charles County, Maryland, long prior to the
American Revolution. After the settlement in Maryland, and before the
beginning of the Revolution, some of them came to Culpeper County,
Virginia, and settled. Among those who came was Isaac Chapman, who
married, in Culpeper County, Miss Sara Cole, by whom he had three sons
and one daughter." So, Johnston had Isaac Chapman coming through
Charles Co. MD, but his ancestors being from Connecticut.
The Pearisburg Virginian in March 15, 1928 quotes Mrs. W. P. Miller
(apparently paraphrasing Johnston) at the unveiling of the D.A.R.
marker for the grave of his son John Chapman: "The Chapmans who were
of English origin, immigrated to America and settled in Connecticut
long prior to the Revolutionary War. From there they moved to Charles
County, Maryland. Leaving Maryland before the beginning of the
revolution, a part of them came to Culpeper county, Virginia. Isaac
Chapman was among this number. . ."
But, a letter by Isaac's grandson Henley Chapman reads "My grandfather
was named Isaac Chapman; he emigrated to Virginia from England, the
year unknown; he settled in Virginia, perhaps in Culpeper County."
My conclusion: it is genealogical mythology that Isaac Chapman of
Orange descended from Thomas Chapman of Jordon's Journey. Not that
myths can't one day be shown to be factual as well, but there is
currently no evidence for it.
Rees Chapman, Ph.D.
Dahlonega, GA