Person:Benjamin Chapman (16)

Rev. Benjamin Chapman was the second pastor of the Congregational church of this town. All attempts to fix the time and place of his birth have proved unavailing … A granddaughter remembers hearing her father say that an 'Uncle Samuel' (brother to Rev. Benjamin) used to visit them at Southington, and that he lived somewhere east of the Connecticut river. Capt. S. S. Woodruff remembers hearing his grandfather speak of Mr. Chapman’s family beyond the river, and apparently not farther off than Haddam. Another fact seems to appear, that is, that he was early in life left without a father, and that he had property in his own right. From his youth his associations were in the western part of the State, and tradition says that he was in some way under the care of Dr. Bellamy. He went to the College of New Jersey with two companions, Noah Wadhams and Benajah Roots, both of whom were from Litchfield County. With them, he was licensed to preach. His marriage was at Derby. He had friends, and evidently lived for a time at Fairfield. He also held some landed property in the western part of the State, for once a year he visited there to look after it. Putting all facts, and traditions, and conjectures together, it seems likely that he may have been of the family of Samuel Chapman (see Chapman Gen., p. 269), who left Colchester and settled in Sharon. He had a son Samuel, born in 1726, which corresponds with the facts of the Samuel who visited him (Rev. Benjamin), who was born about 1724, according to his tombstone and the church records. There seems to be evidence that this Samuel removed back to Colchester, or to the vicinity of Haddam. A more careful search among town records may yet bring the matter to light, but it is doubtful. All the churches of a date before 1760 in their origin have been communicated with, and his name appears on none, either as baptized or admitted to membership. The only hope remains in finding his birth on a town record. He married Abigail Riggs, of Derby, whose mother was also named Abigail, as is seen from the following extract from Farmington town records, of date Oct. 19, 1770: 'Abigail Riggs, of Derby, for the love she bears to her daughters, Abigail R. Chapman, of Farmington, Mary (or Mercy) Hawkins, and Elizabeth Yale (wife of Thomas), of Derby,' gives 'land lying in Derby, Waterbury, and Willington, or in any other town in the Colony, to be equally divided.' Mr. Chapman is supposed to have given his son Samuel the farm he occupied in Blandford, Mass.

Rev. Benjamin Chapman, b. about 1724; m. Jan. 8, 1766, Abigail Riggs, of Derby; d. June 22, 1786, aged 61 says Mr. Robinson's church record, but the tombstone has it 60. He was buried on Burying-ground Hill. His wife died insane, the cause of which was the treatment her husband received at the hands of the Society and church. She was a woman of education and refinement, but of a very sensitive, retiring nature."

"Chapman, … Benjamin, ordained Mar. l7, 1756; dism. Sept. 28, 1774 [2:3]"
"Chapman, … Benjamin, Rev., ordained, Mar. 17, 1756; dism. Sept. 28, 1774 [4:3]"
"Chapman, … Benjamin, ordained Mar. l7, 1756; dismissed Sept. 28, 1774 [ 3:3]"
"Chapman, … Benjamin, Rev., d. June 22, 1786, Æ 61 [2:95; T:258]"

"Chapman, Benjamin, died June 26, 1786, age 62 yrs."