The Chapman Family

of New London, Connecticut

My Chapman ancestry begins with my fourth great-grandmother, Mary Ann ("Polly" or "Patty") Chapman, daughter of John and Barthena (Button) Chapman of Ledyard, Connecticut. Mary Chapman was the fourth great-granddaughter of William Chapman, the earliest known ancestor in this family, who first appeared in New London, Connecticut records in 1657.           

There are at least two published genealogies that include information about William Chapman of New London and his descendants: The Chapman Family: or the Descendants of Robert Chapman, One of the First Settlers of Say-Brook, Conn. with Genealogical Notes of William Chapman, Who Settled in New London, Conn.; Edward Chapman, Who Settled at Windsor, Conn.; John Chapman, of Stonington, Conn.; and Rev. Benjamin Chapman, of Southington, Conn. by Rev. F. W. Chapman, A.M. (1854), and History of the Descendants of Peter Spicer, A Landholder in New London, Connecticut, As Early as 1666, And Others of the Name, compiled by Mrs. Susan Spicer Meech and Mrs. Susan Billings Meech (1911) (which contains a section on the William Chapman family as it relates to the Spicer family). While I have been able to find ample information on my line of descent from William Chapman of New London, details about the lives of my Chapman ancestors are scanty.

What is known is that William Chapman bought the Denison house lot in 1657, situated on what is now Hempstead Street in New London. Rev. F. W. Chapman recounted a deed of William Chapman's, dated 1663, as: William Chapman hath given him thirty ackers of upland bounded towards the south with Mr. Douglas his land, and towards the east with the small brook that leads the north with Arkuabukie* Meadow, and towards the west with a ledge of rocks and a tree marked on four sides. *F.W. Chapman included a note that there was some doubt about the orthography of this word. On August 25, 1691, it was voted at a New London town meeting that: whereas William Chapman had formerly allowed him by the town three pounds for his sexton's place by the yeare, they now add forty shillings more and order him five pounds per year for sweeping the meeting house and galleries and ringing the bell.

There appears to be no information on the ancestry or origins of William Chapman of New London, nor is the name of his wife known. The names of his children do not appear in New London town records and are known only by William Chapman's will, written April 1, 1696 and proved January 10, 1699. F.W. Chapman concluded that William Chapman of New London was probably not a kinsman of Robert Chapman of Saybrook.

What is known about the Chapmans of New London is that they intermarried with many of the early families of New London County: the Allyn, Ames, Avery, Ayers, Bill, Button, De Wolfe, Eddy, Hale, Heath, Jewett, Leffingwell, Lester, Rouse, Spicer, Stark, Stoddard, Tabor, Taylor, Thurber, Waterman and Wentworth families. They farmed the land, as did most of their townsmen, they served in various capacities in the military, and they were involved in town and religious affairs.

My line of descent, from William Chapman of New London down to my maternal grandmother, is as follows:

1 William CHAPMAN & ________

2 William CHAPMAN (1665 - 1734) & Hannah LESTER (1670/71 - 1701)

3 William CHAPMAN (1690/91 - 1760) + Mercy STODDARD (Abt. 1697 - 1777)

4 David CHAPMAN (1719 - 1805) + Patience ROUSE (Abt. 1720 - 1803)

5 Levi CHAPMAN (1748 - 1828) + Elizabeth STODDARD (1749/50 - 1844)

6 John CHAPMAN (1775 - 1844) + Barthena BUTTON (1776 - 1858)

7 Mary Ann CHAPMAN (1797 - 1886) + Amos HEATH (1786 - 1848)

8 Sarah HEATH (1822 - 1905) + Francis Brigham CLARK (1814 - 1875)

9 Levi Nelson CLARK (1863 - 1934) + Carrie Estelle LARKHAM (1855 - 1933)

10 Sarah Hannah CLARK (1884 - 1955) + Frank Rowland BURDICK (1885 - 1960)

11 Bertha Melissa BURDICK (1912 - 1976)