Family and History of
James Fleming Chapman

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James Fleming Chapman (1822 - 1890)

James Fleming Chapman was born July 18, 1822 in Liberty County, Georgia, and died August 16, 1890 in Wayne County, Georgia. Grave just across Wayne County line from Thalmann, Georgia. He was the seventh son of Francis John and Mary Leigh Chapman. He was a farmer in Wayne and Glenn counties and later became the first elected sheriff of Wayne County.

James Fleming Chapman had four (or five) wives:

  1. Mildred C. Harrington m. 29 Oct 1846 d. 13 Sep 1850 (She was 21 years old when she died.) Mildred and James had a child, Mary, in 1848. No further info is known about Mary.
  2. Eliza Ann Burney m. 22 Apr 1853 d. 25 Dec 1856 (during childbirth of third son George.) Eliza was the daughter of William Burney and Rachel Ann Hunter. James and Eliza had the following children:
      M i James Fleming CHAPMAN Jr. was born 4 Apr 1854 and died 28 Feb 1936.
      M ii Miles J. CHAPMAN was born May 1855 and died June 17, 1923.
      M iii George Washington CHAPMAN was born 26 Dec 1856 and died 8 Dec 1929.
  3. Ester Ann STRICKLAND Pendarvas (brought 2 children to the marriage and was married to J.F. on Sep 12, 1857).
  4. Charlott (in the 1880 Ga census she is shown as married to James Fleming Chapman in 1880 and having two children, Alonzo and Don Carlos). There is real doubt that the wife of James Fleming Chapman was a Charlotte. Possibly a trascription error for Eller, his known last wife. Her birth year in the 1880 census is hard to read and subject to interpretation. Could possibly be the same as Ella's.
  5. Ella Gertrude Burney, with nickname "Eller" was born Dec. 25, 1862. Ella and James had four children.
      M i Alonzo Lamar CHAPMAN was born 17 Jan 1877 and died 5 Nov 1954.
      M ii Don Carlos CHAPMAN was born 12 Jul 1879 and died 5 Feb 1948.
      F iii Mary Etta CHAPMAN was born 14 Mar 1882 and died 7 Sep 1900.
      M iv Joseph Fleming CHAPMAN was born 8 Dec 1889 and died 19 Jan 1943.

A letter he wrote in 1862 to his younger brother Sheldon Madison Chapman described the hard times during the Civil War. James Fleming Chapman was a private in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He was a member of Rumph's Company, Georgia Cavalry (Wayne Cavalry Guards)

The following excerpt is from the Centinel - Anniversary Edition 1965 (Name of paper not given, probably Jesup paper)

At an earlier date, the court obtained the release of James F. Chapman after receiving an affidavit that he "was not subject to military service" and was being held "in the service against his will." A year later, Chapman became the sheriff of Wayne Co. Incidently, his service in the office is the first available record noting that the sheriff was elected. (dated 1864)

 

Mildred C. Harrington (1829 - 1850)
first wife of James Fleming Chapman (1822 - 1890)

James Fleming Chapman and Millie Harrington were married 29 Oct 1846 in Liberty Co., GA. Millie was seventeen when she married. She and James had one child, Mary, in 1848, but no further info is known about Mary. Millie died when she was 21 years old and is buried at the Jones Creek Baptist Church.

 

James Fleming Chapman Family Burial Site
(Containing James Fleming and five other unknown graves)

This family burial site is located just across Wayne County line from Thalmann, Georgia. The grave of James Fleming Chapman is surrounded by an ornate fence, outside of which are five or more graves. These graves originally had wooden markers that have long since deteriorated. It is speculated that some if not all of the wives except for Millie are buried here. It is unknown to whom the remaining graves belong to.