Thanks to the kind and generous transcription of Gloria Blanchard, Nova
Scotia,
I am able to post two pages from the following book regarding the family of
Stephen CHAPMAN (William, William C., Edward) (married Zerviah Sanger)
Hope this information is helpful to others on the list--Diana Chapman Owen
"Newport, Nova Scotia: A Rhode Island Township"
by John Victor Duncanson
Mica Publishing Co. 1985 (out of print)
<>THE CHAPMAN FAMILY
STEPHEN CHAPMAN
owned property at Dudley, Worcester Co., Mass. And Woodstock and
Ashford, Windham Co., Conn.; died between 12 March 1765 and 7 Nov. 1770;
he was one of the origianl grantees at Newport, N.S. in the Crown grant
of 21 July 1761; it isnot known when the Chapman fam. Arrived in the new
settlement and the Chapman name does not appear on the government ration
list when Indian corn was being distributed to the new settlers between
20 Dec. 1761 and 30 Apr. 1762; Stephen Chapman's name was drawn on 18
Feb. 1762 for Newport Farm lot C 2^nd Div. No. 3 and the Township
Meeting records have a number of references to his requests in 1763 to
exchange lots; he was appointed a collector regarding the layout of lots
in the Grand Village at the meeting in April 1765 but shortly after he
met with difficulties regarding an appearance efore the General Sessions
of the Peace; in this connection he granted a quit claim deed to 200
acres on the Kennetcook River to James Weeden and John Harvie who had
posted the bond for his appearance (HCReg. Bk. 4/225); at a Justice
Court on 18 Apr. 1765 Stephen Chapman was charged with forging a
promissory note for f2/15 by Robert Westcott Jun.; the case is a good
example of the difficulties of transacting business when the amount of
currency in circulation was extremely limited by government authorities
when settlers were obliged to use promissory notes to buy and sell; on
27 Dec. 1764 at Dr. John Day's house Robert Westcott Jr. had put his red
ox in pledge to Stephen Chapman for the sum of f4"17"7 which said
Chapman paid to Samuel Bentley for "Ye said Westcott and gaveWestcott 2
months time to redeem said ox at same time Westcott put his brown ox in
pledge that he would bring and deliver unto said Chapman a cewrtain note
and which he gave to Richard Card on Westcott's account Ye sum of said
note is f3:16:8 notwithstanding all this Westcott causes Chapman to be
summoned"; there is no indication in the Chipman Papers regarding the
outcome of this case but the quotation seems to indicate that the
officials did not consider Westcott had much of a chance of winning the
case; Stephen Chapman made his will on 12 March 1765 which was proven
at Windsor, NS on 7 Nov. 1770 (HCEP 4A); when an inventory was made of
Newport estates on 30 Dec. 1772 there was no land shown as belinging to
the Chapman family although the family did not sell their Newport lands
until 1783; this probably indicates that the property had been leased
prior to 1772; it seems likely that the Chapman family returned to New
England shortly after the death of Stephen Chapman the grantee; in a
deed dated 1783 William Chapman of Situate, RI, son of Stephen Chapman
sold the Newport property included in Stephen's Royal grant; Jonathan
Card, mariner of Newport, NS purchased theproperty (HCReg. Bk. 4/139);
Stephen Chapman's will of 1765 provided that his wife Zxerviah could
sell his lands a the Town of Dudley, Co. Worcester, Mass. And Woods5ock
and Ashford, Windham Co. Conn; he provided that his wife's deed would
represent full title to the property which probably indicated that
Zerviay had inherited the property.
_Married Zerviah__________
_Children:_
1. Stephen 2
2. Zerviah probably the Zuriah Chapman who m 29 Jan. 1772 Amos
Kendall at
Ashford, Windham Co., Conn. (Early Conn. Marr.)
3. Hannah
4. William 2, b c1753; he was living at Situate, Rhode Island on 10
Oct. 1783 when he deeded part of Stepyhen Chapman grant lands at
Newport, NS to Jonathan Card, mariner for f300 (HCReg.Book 4/139);
William inherited under his father's will stock and horses and land laid
out and undisposed of "if he takest good care of his honoured father and
mother in their old age and giveth them a decent burial"; the will
provided that the Newport lands not be sold until (William) "is 30 years
of age:.
5. Nathaniel (inherited the " lands in Newport not belonging to my
right", presumably properties which Stephen had purchased as opposed to
the Royal grant lands.)
6. Rufus (inherited the "lands in Newport not belonging to my
right", presumably properties which Stephen had purchased as opposed to
the Royal Grant Lands.)
7. Mary
8. Anna
9. Dorcas
10. Luci
11. Lemuel d. 26 Mar. 1770 (Newport Township book); not listed in
father's will of 1765 which probably indicates that he was born after
that date.
SOURCES: Newport Township Land B99k; L.S. Loomer Notes; Hants County
Estate Papers 4A, Hants County Registry, Book 4/225, 4/139, Frederick W.
Bailey,_ Early Connecticut Marriages As Found in Ancient Church Records
Prior to 1800, _Reprinted, Baltimore, 1982