Thanks, Cathy for the genealogy. My father had always said we were related
to him, but I could never find the connection until a few years ago when
Philip Chapman Ellsworth did his detailed and excellent study about the
confusion of the two Joseph Chapmans, one of Norwich, the other of
Colchester. The question was: was the Joseph who d in Norwich CT 10 June
1725 the son of William of New London or of Symon (Symonds, Simon) of
Ipswich MA? Both of them had sons named Joseph who lived for a time in New
London.
Both the F.W. Chapman book and Frances Caulkins' bk about Norwich CT assign
the Joseph who d 10 June in Norwich to William of New London, while in the
Jacob Chapman book he is described as the son of Symon Chapman. Philip's
work pretty much puts the question to rest, that he is Symon's son.
I'd always thought, having the F.W. Chapman book, that my line went back to
William. It took a bit of internal grinding of gears to get used to the idea
that no, my line goes back to Symon and his father, Edward of Ipswich. Which
makes my three-x grandfather, Ezekiel Chapman, a third cousin of Appleseed's
father. So, Dad, you were right!
I found it interesting that my Ezekiel, who was an armourer during the
Revolution, was living in Springfield MA and i was from there he enlisted. I
think it's very possible that he moved there from Westfield to work at the
Springfield Arsenal. He was there at the same time Johnny's father Nathaniel
was there. They were 3rd cousins. Did they know one another? Ezekiel was b
in Norwich, 26 Oct 1741.
I have a few dates different from yours, Cathy, but I need to look at my
sources to see exactly where we differ. Also, I have Martha Perley's first
marriage to Nathaniel Boardman (Bodman, Borman, Borland etc) of Topsfield, 1
Apr 17 1736. She was widowed 26 August 1736, and m John Chapman (called Jr)
1 Mar 1738/9.
Philip Chapman Ellsworth's work has been published in Chapman Chatter, #27,
Fall 1991, #39, Fall 1994, and #42 Summer 1995. I haven't been in touch with
him, but would presume that one of these days he will produce a book.
BTW, if any of you have young children or grandchildren, there is a
wonderful book illustrated and written by Steven Kellogg called Johnny
Appleseed (Morrow Jr. Books) which nicely separates myth from fact. Jean
Chapman Snow