CHAPMAN FAMILIES OF SOUTHWESTERN VA/WV

You are entering a website devoted to the research of the various CHAPMAN families that populate or have passed through the Cabell County, West Virginia area.  This body of work consists of original research by the author, verified work of other researchers, and work of others that has been passed on unverified.  As such, all information on this website should be viewed only as a guide to help you in the research of your particular families.

I have attempted to describe the flow of the various families to Cabell County, to follow their expansion in this area, and to relate where they relocated. Each family will be given a brief introduction followed by a report on at least two generations. In time, I plan to add annotated census information, name analysis, birth, death, marriage, wills, etc.   And as time permits, I will make myself available to researchers for work on their "direct" line.

Southwestern VA/WV includes the counties of Cabell, Kanawha, Putnam, Mason, Wayne, Logan, Lincoln, and Boone.  I have also monitored neighboring Central and Northern West Virginia, Northern Kentucky, and Southeastern Ohio families, due to their potential for interaction with and immigration to the Cabell County area.

Cabell County was established in 1809.   At that time, one and probably more CHAPMAN families were already in the area, with several more arriving shortly afterward.  I found a surprising number of separate CHAPMAN families in Cabell County before 1820, which made researching the group quite difficult.  I would find a record for a John CHAPMAN and would spend hours or days determining whether he belonged to my line.   So I decided to gather information on all CHAPMAN lines that were here or presented a high degree of probability of producing members of this community.  This was difficult, but provided an insight into this group that has been of great help both in my work and in my assistance to others with their lines.  This and a desire to relate an accurate picture of these families is what inspired this site.

 

The following pages list the CHAPMAN families in the approximate order of arrival and only include arrivals prior to 1900.  I should mention that there are individuals too numerous to list here that have not been identified as to what family that they belong.  Please feel free to contact me about anyone that I have left out.

I hope this site helps you in your research.  Any questions or corrections, should be addressed to:  Butch Johnson johnsonb45680@earthlink.net 

Copyright © 2004 by Burrus Johnson. All Rights Reserved.  Any replication of the information contained on this website requires the express written consent of the author.