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ins at London。〃
The Chapmans were very fond of military life; and in the old muster; days took an active interest in the general muster。 As a consequence there was usually a colonel; a major; an adjutant or a captain in every neighborhood where the name was found。
A story is told of Captain Henry Chapman; on his way to general muster; meeting a man with a loaded team; whose hope was to get clear of mustering that day on the plea that he had not been long enough in the district。 The captain ascertained the man's views on the matter; and then with an emphasis that indicated he was in earnest; he said; 〃If you are not on the muster field by one o'clock I will have you fined to the full extent of the law。〃 One who witnessed this interview said it was laughable to see the frightened look on the man's face; and the rush he made to unhitch the team and get away to the muster field within the time stated。 This same Captain Chapman was one of the kindest of men; but duty to Queen and country must not be neglected。
There was; too; a good deal of the sporting instinct in the family。 A horse race or a fox hunt appealed to something in their nature that stirred the pulse like wine and furnished material for conversation on many a day afterward。
Like a good many of the first generation born in this country; the Chapmans were men of grand physique。 The five sons of Colonel Henry Chapman; of Point de Bute; each measured six feet or over; and were finely proportioned。 Two of the sons; Joseph and Stephen; were among the volunteers in the war of 1812; and they both lived to pass the four…score mark。
The children of the first Wm。 Chapman were: William; who married a Miss Dixon; of Sackville; and settled in Fort Lawrence on a part of the old Eddy grant; and Thomas; who married Miss Kane; formerly a school teacher; from New England。 They settled beside William。 John married Sarah Black; of Amherst; and settled in Dorchester。 Henry married Miss Seaman; of Wallace; and remained on the farm at Point de Bute。 Mary married George Taylor; Memramcook。 Jane married John Smith; of Fort Lawrence; and was the mother of nine strapping boys; all of whom proved good men for the country。 Sally married Richard Black; of Amherst。 They settled first at River Philip; but later came back to Amherst and lived on the farm his father first purchased in Cumberland。 Nancy was twice marriedfirst to Thomas Robinson; and after his death to James Roberts。 Her home was in Amherst。
James Dixon; in his 〃History of the Dixons;〃 says he thinks the descendants of William and Mary Chapman now number more than the descendants of any of the other Yorkshire families。 Rev。 Douglas Chapman; D。D。; Rev。 Eugene Chapman; Rev。 Carritte Chapman; Rev。 W。 Y。 Chapman; and Ephraim Chapman; barrister; are of this family。
The late Albert Chapman; of Boston; U。S。; was very much interested in looking up family history; and spent a good deal of time in gathering information about the Chapman family。 The following letters and extracts which were received by him some years before he died may add interest to this sketch:
〃13 CHIPPING HOUSE ROAD; 〃SHARROW; SHEFFIELD; ENGLAND; 〃Jan。 15th; 1881。
〃MR。 CHAPMAN;
〃SIR;You will no doubt be surprised to receive a letter from an unknown relative。
〃We were much pleased to learn you had made enquiries about the Chapman family after so long a silence。 We often heard father speak of uncle who left Hawnby Hall for America and could not get any letter answered。 Most of the Chapman family have passed away since he left。 We have the four grandchildren left belonging to Thomas Chapman; brother to your grandfather。 The grandfather has been dead eighty years; and our father has been dead forty…five years。
〃We should be glad to see you or any of the Chapman family if you could take a tour and see the place where your ancestors lived。 The house and farm are still in the family and should be glad to accommodate you if you could come over; and we shall be glad to hear all the news about the family who lived and died in America。
〃With best wishes to you and your;
〃I remain yours; 〃MARY WALTON。〃
Extract from a letter from Thos。 J。 Wilkinson to A。 Chapman; Boston:
〃YORK UNION BANK; 〃THIRSK; YORKSHIRE。
〃I have visited Hawnby a few times; it is most romantically situated about ten miles from Thirsk; rather difficult of access on account of the steep ascents which have to be climbed and precipitously descended before it can be reached。
〃As I am acquainted with the clergyman who has been there many years; the Rev。 O。 A。 Manners (connected with the Duke of Rutland's family) I wrote him and received the following letter:
〃April 2nd; 1880。
〃DEAR SIR;
〃I have examined the register and found frequent mention of the name of Chapman of Hawnby Hall; viz。; 'March 22; 1761John; son of William Chapman; Hawnby Hall; baptized。 Feb。 3; 1763Thomas Chapman; of the Hall; died aged 75 years。'
〃It would seem that the foregoing William Chapman was the son of Thomas Chapman and the man who landed in Halifax in 1775。
〃About the latter date a family by the name of Barr came to reside at the Hall。
〃James Cornforth of this place; who is in his 80th year; is related to this family。 The said William Chapman being his great…uncle (maternal)。
〃The Hall is now; and has been for many years; a farm house。
〃_O。_ _ A。_ MANNERS。〃
The following names appear in the directory among the residents of Billsdale:
Joseph Chapman; Farmer Robert Chapman; Farmer Robert Chapman; Shoemaker Robert Strickland Chapman; Farmer Garbuth Chapman; Farmer; Dale Town。
CARTER。
John Carter (the first) came from Yorkshire to Nova Scotia in 1774。 His wife was Jane Thompson。 They settled near Fort Cumberland; and had a family of three sons; Thomas; Christopher and John。 Thomas married Miss Siddall and settled first at Westcock; Sackville Parish; but afterwards moved to Dorchester。 Christopher married a Miss Roberts and settled at Westmoreland Point; near his father。 John married Miss Anne Lowerison and remained on the homestead。 The three brothers all had large families; the boys outnumbering the girls; which is the reason; no doubt; that the Carter name is more in evidence in the district than any other Yorkshire name。
John Carter's descendants still own the farm their great…grandfather first purchased in Nova Scotia。 John Carter; sen。; was drowned while fording the Missiquash River while on his way home from Amherst。 His widow afterward became the second wife of William Chapman; of Point de Bute。 Mr。 Carter and his sons were honest men; and the name still stands well for fair dealing。 Inspector Carter; of St。 John; N。B。; Herbert Carter; M。D。; of Port Elgin; N。B。; Titus Carter; barrister; of Fredericton; N。S。; and Councillor Carter of Salisbury; N。B。; are members of this family。
TRENHOLM。
There were three Trenholm brothers in the Yorkshire contingent; Matthew; Edward; and John。 Matthew settled at Windsor; Edward at River Francis; in the Upper Provinces; and John at Point de Bute on the Inverma Farm。 This farm was probably confiscated to the Crown after Sheriff Allan left the country。
Just where Mr。 Trenholm lived before he got possession of Inverma I