I found this on my 2nd great grandfather. It kind of puts into
question
who I have as his father. I was wondering if anyone may have any
Chapmans in Stockton or Durham Co. England?
Dennis
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Daily Democrat (Sedalia, Missouri) 16 Dec 1872 page 3
First and last Railroad Engine.
We had a call on Monday from Mr. Thomas Chapman, an old citizen of
Rocheport, who came to Boone county in 1841. During our interview he
mentioned that he had seen the first and last rrilroad engine--the first
in 1830 or 1831, at Stockton, England and the last at the depot at
Columbia, that day. Mr. Chapman is a native of Stockton, and when quite
a boy saw the first train of carrying coal from the coal pits in Derham
county to Stockton on the Tees. The road was first constructed for horse
cars; but at the time named a rude steam engine was made and attached to
a coal train of 18 or 20 coal wagons, the train traveling at the rate of
only about two miles an hour.
What wonderful progress Mr. Chapman has witnessed in his time in steam
engines for railroads -- Columbian Stateman(?)
From 1850 US census:
Thomas Chapman Age: 26 Estimated birth year: abt 1824 Birth
Place: England
Gender: Male Home in 1850
(City,County,State): District 8, Boone, Missouri
From 1841 England census (Probably your Thomas's father):
Thomas Chapman Age: 53 Estimated birth year: abt 1788 Gender: Male Where
born: Durham, England Civil parish: Stockton Upon Tees Hundred: Stockton
(South West Division) County/Island: Durham Country: England
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas Chapman 53 - a foundry worker, born Stockton, Durham
Mary Chapman 49 wife, born Stockton, Durham
Mary Chapman 15 dau, born Stockton, Durham
Jane Chapman 10 dau, born Stockton, Durham
Ancestry Free BMDs:
George Chapman, born about 1790, died Aug-Sept quarter of 1872, Stockton
Registration District. Durham, age 82.
From: Wendy Chapman Bearman,
Tenerife, Canary Islands.