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July 2008

Thanks to the work of family researchers, most notably Paul REKOW, whose work is heavily "borrowed."

Drysdale Parish, a subdivision under the Church of England, was the portion of King and Queen County that lies north of modern-day Highway 360 and adjacent to Caroline County. Drysdale Parish was formed from the dividing of St. Stephen's Parish in 1723.

Will Book 2 page 81, Amelia County, Virginia.

"In the Name of God, Amen. The twenty third day of April 1773. I, Samuel CHAPMAN of the County of Amelia, being very sick and weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God, therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of almighty God that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discression of my Executors nothing doubting but at general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God, and as touching my worldly estate wherewith it has been pleased God to bless me with in this life I give and demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form."

"First, I give and bequeath to my loving son, John CHAPMAN, half my cattle to equally divided by two men chose for that purpose, likewise a negro boy named, Joe."

"I give and demise to Delpha GREEN, one negro wench named, Bett. Likewise to Delpha GREEN, I give another negro girl named, Ester."

"I give to my loving daughter, Unity LOVING, a negro girl named, Judo and if her husband should by any means by any lewd way by gameing or any other way to satisfy any of his debts part with the said negro girl, Judo, she shall be immediately recovered by the heir at law of my own body."

"Likewise I give to my loving daughter, Delpha GREEN, another negro wench named, Hanner."

"I give to my loving daughter Tabitha MEADORS a negro fellow named, Harry."

"I give to my loving son, John CHAPMAN, a negro girl called, Little Hannah."

"I give to my daughter, Anne PORTWOOD, one shilling."

"I give to my daughter, Mary CAMBELL, one shilling."

"And my money I give to be equally divided among my son, John CHAPMAN and Tabitha MEADORS and Delpha GREEN and the rest of my estate likewise to be divided among John CHAPMAN, Tabitha MEADORS and Delpha GREEN only five cattle excepted and them I give to Delpha GREEN particular, John CHAPMAN and William WARE whom I likewise constitute make and ordain my sole Executors of this my last will and testiment, and I do disallow hereby revoke and disannul all and every other former testaments, wills anyways before. By me named, willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal the day and year above written, signed, sealed, published and pronounced and declared by the said Samuel CHAPMAN to be his last will and testament."

"Signed, Samuel (his mark) CHAPMAN, (seal)
In the presence of: William WARE, William (his mark) LOVERN and John (his mark) AKERSON."

"In the name of God, Amen. I John CHAPMAN of Amelia County being weak in body but of sound mind and memory do make this my Last Will and Testament, and as to what worldy goods it hath pleased the Almighty God to giveth me unto I dispose of in the following manner. I lend to my wife Oney the tract of land I now live on and two negros to wit Bob and Liza with one ______ and Cubbard during her natural life of widowhood reserving to my son Jonathan when he arrives to the age of twenty-one years he shall be equally benefitted in the aforementioned land as my wife Oney and after he death should my son Jonathan survive her and arrive to the age of twenty-one years my will is he shall enjoy the aforesaid land and negros together with a negro boy Moses but should my son Jonathan die without lawful heir the aforesaid land and negros shall be sold and the money equally divided amongst my surviving children. I give to my wife Oney one bed and furniture and sadle and bridle ____. I give to my son Jonathan one bed and furniture, my long stock gun and ____. I give to my sons John and Benjamin each of them one bed and furniture my other children having their before given. I give to my son James one negro boy Joe which he hath in ____ to make him equal with his brothers in land. I give to my daughter Sally WEBBER ten pounds to be raised out of my estate. My will is that my sons Benjamin and Jonathan shall divide all my shop tools equally between them. My will is in consequence to the loan of the aforesaid negros Bob and Liza to my wife Oney she is to have no part of the other negros it being her choice. My will is the balance of my estate not particularly mentioned shall be equally divided between my wife Oney and my children and grand children namely John, James, Benjamin, William, Jonathan, Ann, Jane and my grand children above mentioned now named Stephen and Mary CHAPMAN orphans of my son Stephen decd. they are to have one ninth part of that that is not specific Stephen to have six pounds more than Mary. Lastly I appoint my son Benjamin CHAPMAN, Allen JETER, Rodophile JETER executors of this my last will. Witness my hand and seal this 11th day of April 1814 his John x CHAPMAN mark"

Although John's father was also named John, John, himself having a John Jr., referred to himself with the epithet "Sr."

BOOK D Page 278-279, August 17, 1795, Absalom STOKES, Spartanburg, to John CHAPMAN, Spartanburg, for 100 sterling sold 200 acres on BROWN's Br of TIMMOM's Mill Cr of North Tygar River; border of Robert GOODLETT, KNOX and John PRINCE; grant to John MCELHENNY who sold to Absalom STOKES.
Witnesses: James JORDAN, Brittain WILLIFORD and Thomas MOORE, J.P.
Signed: Absalom STOKES. Recorded: 16 May 1796.

BOOK I Page 437-438, 8 Sept. 1804, James KNOX of Wilkes County, Georgia, to John CHAPMAN of Spartanburg, South Carolina, for $400 sold 300 acres on the waters of the North Fork of the Tygar River; border, David KNOX, John BROWN and John MCTHENNES (or HENNES); grant 28 Apr 1768, Gov. William TRYON (NC) to James KNOX in Mecklinburg County, North Carolina.
Witnesses: Isham FOSTER, William TRAYLOR and Robert FOSTER. Signed:
James KNOX. Certified (not dated) by Isham FOSTER. Recorded 9 Oct 1804.

BOOK S Page 136-137, 28 May 1822, David FOSTER of Spartanburg, South Carolina to John CHAPMAN Jr. of Spartanburg, South Carolina, for $600 sold 152 acres on West side of Wilson's Creek bordering Laurence branch, John CHAPMAN, Sr., road from widow MCMIKEN to the Court House, Blackstock Road and widow GRAY, 421/2 acres was David FOSTER's share ("lot #3") of estate of Peter GRAY desceased laid off by Commissioners.
Witnesses: Ann CHAPMAN and Peter F. GRAY. Signed David FOSTER. Wit. oath 11 July 1822, Ann CHAPMAN to F.H. LEGG. Recorded 6 Jan 1823. Dower renounced 11 Jul 1822, Frances W. FOSTER to F. H. LEGG.

"While John WOOD, one of our ancestors, was engaged in serving in the American Revolution on the far western front in Pennsylvania and upper South Carolina, another ancestor, John CHAPMAN, was engaged in the war elsewhere. He was in the siege of Charleston, SC. and also the second battle for Charleston and he helped drive the British out of all of South Carolina and Virginia. A monument to his memory stands near the Mount Zion church in Spartanburg, SC. for his war service."

"John Chapman, Sr. was made a Deacon of this church and acted in that office from its organization to his death. Truth, honesty and purity of life ornamented his Christian character. He was an obliging and pleasant neighbor noted for visiting the sick and those in distress. He donated the land upon which Mt. Zion church is now located. His departure to another world was remarkable. He was anxious for his hour to arrive, and whilst the candle of life was sinking slowly down, he was heard to say 'Why does he tary? Why does he not come to take me home?'"

"The old Mt. Zion church is still standing. John CHAPMAN gave part of the land for the church and the cemetery. However, John CHAPMAN and his second wife, Amey, are not buried in the cemetery, but on the original plantation he owned, which is nearby, and is still owned by the CHAPMAN family descendants of Spartanburg, SC. However, the well kept cemetery across the road holds the descendants of many of the CHAPMAN and WOOD families who have passed on. It is an historic place. Worship services are still held in this church, and recently a descendant of John CHAPMAN gave more land to build a parsonage beside the present church."

"Among the early settlers in Spartanburg county was John CHAPMAN, Sr., who settled on the waters of North Tyger about one-half mile west of the historic Fort Prince. He was born in Amelia County, VA. from which state he emigrated to South Carolina. He is still remembered by many who yet survive the period of the latter years of his life, among whom is the writer, who can testify to his excellent character as a citizen. He was industrious and progressive as a farmer, kind and gentle in his manners, and a devout member and deacon of the Baptist Church. Living near Mt. Zion (Baptist) Church, of which he was numbered among its founders, he donated the land on which said church is located, in all about ten acres.

He was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Dodson, by which marriage he had two children, viz: Edmond who married a Miss WOOD, daughter of John WOOD (sister of Captain Coleman WOOD); and Elizabeth (Betsy), who married Moses RICHARDSON. He married a second time to Mary (Polly) SEAY, sister to Mrs. John WINGO, Mrs. John WOOD, and Mrs. William POLLARD,..."

In the name of God, Amen. I, John CHAPMAN, Sr. of the state of South Carolina and District of Spartanburg, being in health and sound mind and memory praised be God for same, do make this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following.

1st I give and bequeath unto my son, Edmund Wilson CHAPMAN, one hundred and three dollars and eleven cents to him and his heirs forever.

2nd to my daughter, Elizabeth RICHARDSON I give and bequeath one hundred and twenty eight dollars and eleven cents to her and her heirs forever.

3rd I give and bequeath unto my sons John CHAPMAN and Lorenzo CHAPMAN the tract of land whereon I now live containing 200 acres more or less, also one other tract containing 65 acres more or less it being the tract I purchased of the estate of my son M.N. CHAPMAN Dec'd, the tracts taken together to be equally divided between them as they can agree and make it best to suit them, to them and their heirs forever.

4th I give and bequeath further to my son Lorenzo D. CHAPMAN one bed and furniture.

5th I will and devise that the whole of my personal estate not otherwise conveyed in this will consisting of my Negros, household furniture and kitchen furniture, stock of all kinds, farming tools, crop on hand and growing and whatsoever also of property I may die possessed of be sold to the highest bidder and the amount added to the cash on hand, if any, and the amount of cash notes due, taken together and disposed of in the following way:

1st that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid.

2nd the Legatees above named to Edmund Wilson CHAPMAN and Elizabeth Chapman RICHARDSON be paid and thirdly the whole of my estate remaining as the result of the above named sales, notes and cash to be divided into six equal parts- To my son, Beverly R. CHAPMAN, I give one-sixth part to him and his heirs forever. To my son John Chapman one-sixth part to him and his heirs forever. To my son Lorenzo D. CHAPMAN one-sixth part to him and his heirs forever.

To the children of my daughter Ann EVANS, Dec'd, one-sixth part to be divided between them equally and paid to them by my Executors as they arrive to the age of 21 years, to them and their heirs forever. To the children of my daughter Mahala TURNER, Dec'd, one-sixth part to be equally divided between them and paid to them by my Executors as they arrive at the age of 21 years, to them and their heirs forever. To the children of my daughter, Polly LEGG, Dec'd, one-sixth part to be divided between them equally and paid to them by my Executors as they arrive to the age of 21 years, to them and their heirs forever.

Having disposed of all my estate both real and personal I nominate and appoint my sons Beverly R. CHAPMAN and John CHAPMAN Executors to this my last will and testament, revoking all and every other will or wills heretofore by me made at any time, and I do declare this to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I the said John CHAPMAN, Sr. have hereunto set my hand and seal this _ January, 1849.

John CHAPMAN (Signed)
Witnesses: Hezekiah POLLARD
John G. LANDRUM
Isaac POLLARD

"...It was at [Anderson's] house [in Prestonville] his mother, Phoebe CHAPMAN, wife of James CHAPMAN, died in about 1844 and was buried in either the corner of the door yard or the corner of the garden. The house was on a small tract or lot of land, near the Kentucky River and lay so low that, when the river rose in case of high water, it was often inundated."

"Calvin CHAPMAN, a nephew of Anderson's, who now resided in Prestonville, writes that the land has been sold many times and owned by many different persons since Anderson owned it, and that they work or plow right over the grave and no one can determine exactly its location, no stone ever having been erected at the grave."

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