Culpeper Co., VA abt. 1802
Our Culpeper County CHAPMANS are the descendants of John and Jane (DONOHO) CHAPMAN. A great portion of what is known about this family is due to the efforts of Mildred (CHAPMAN) GIBBS. Her book, From Culpeper to Teays
Valley, has saved researchers many years of work.
This family is connected to the William MORRIS family who I believe was the first settler of Kanawha
County. William had a son Joshua that
for some reason returned to Culpeper County
to live, for a time. During this period two of John and Jane’s boys (Cadawalader
& Henry) married daughters of Joshua & Frances (SIMMS) MORRIS.
The CHAPMAN and MORRIS families moved to Kanawha Co during the first 20 years of the 19th
Century. It appears that some of the family arrived in the area in time for Joseph
to marry Lucy Donoho MORRIS 1 June 1802 and Mary “Polly” to marry Andrew Layfette JORDAN
20 April 1802. This first
group probably consisted of Cadwallader & Mary MORRIS, Henry & Elizabeth (MORRIS), Nancy & John BALL, and possibly
their mother Jane (DONOHO) CHAPMAN. John L. remained behind until between 1817
and 1820. John bought land from his father-in-law Henry Menefee in 1815 which
he sold in 1817. I don’t know when he arrived in Cabell Co. but on the 22nd day of February he bought 100 acres from John Everette and wife Sally along Mud
River, Cabell Co., VA/WV.
I will include a short note about Jane DONOHO. Several
researchers have stated she was of Indian descent because DONOHO is an Indian name.
That may be, but I know that Margaret GIBBS investigated this connection and couldn’t document it. I was surprised when I first saw this because, clearly, there are no shortages of DONOHOES in Ireland.
Also
I have noted that some other researchers have listed various undocumented children to John & Jane’s family. William D, and William L come to mind. These
two men certainly aren’t sons of John and Jane. In fact both were born
after their prospective father’s death. That is based on the assumption
that John died about 1790 as has been reported. I believe that William D. is
connected to this family and am even more certain that William L. is, but not as sons of John and Jane.
Descendants of John Chapman
1 John Chapman
.. +Jane Donoho
....... 2 John L. Chapman b: Abt. 1770 in
Culpeper Co., VA d:
07 Mar 1858 in Cabell Co., WV
...........
+Elizabeth Menefee b: 22 Mar 1775
in Culpeper Co., VA
....... 2 Nancy Chapman b: 1770 in
Culpeper Co., VA d: 05 Sep
1859 in Cabell Co., VA/WV
...........
+John Ball
d: in res. Rock Camp Crk &
Kilgore Crk
....... 2 [1] Cadwalader H. Chapman b: 1773
in Culpeper Co., VA d: 05
Jun 1857 in Winfield, Putnam Co., WV
...........
+Mary Morris
d: Bef. 1816 in Cabell Co., WV
....... *2nd Wife of [1] Cadwalader
H. Chapman:
...........
+Sarah Cockburn b: 1780 d: 13 Jul 1852 in Putnam Co., WV
....... 2 Joseph E. Chapman b: 17 Apr 1774 in Culpeper Co., VA
d: 09 Nov 1869 in Hartford,
Mason Co., WV
...........
+Lucy Donoho Morris
b: 23 Jun 1782 in Culpeper Co., VA
d: 17 Mar 1866 in Hartford, Mason Co., WV
....... 2 Henry A. Chapman b: 01 Aug 1777 d: 22 Nov 1859 in Putnam Co., WV
...........
+Elizabeth Morris b: 28 Dec 1782 in Culpeper Co., VA d: 25 Apr 1860 in Putnam Co., WV
....... 2 Mary "Polly" Chapman
b: 22 Dec 1784 in Culpeper Co, VA or poss Greenbriar Co., VA d: 05 Nov 1869 in Cabell Co., WV
...........
+Andrew Layfette Jordan
b: 12 Jan 1785 in Greenbriar Co.,
VA d: 15
Nov 1872 in Cabell Co., WV
I have only circumstantial evidence but, I have included
Nancy and Mary “Polly” in this family, although, I know of no direct evidence to prove it.
This is a family that is well represented in this area,
and I am not going to publish (at this time) more than two generations. I would
encourage anyone working on them to contact me.
