Person:Thomas Chappell (9)

From virginians.com Thomas's father was just 23 when he left Gravesend, England, 23 June 1635 on America. His father died in 1658. Having written no will, he invited Mr. Edward Fitzgerald and Mr. Ferdinando Austin to their home to tell them that he wanted each of the children to have two breeding cattle, and that Thomas, Jr, the eldest son, should receive his land. Of course the remainder of what the father owned went to Thomas's Mother who was married to Walter Darnham by 13 September 1658, the day the Charles City County court at Merchant’s Hope ordered Darnham to give Thomas his inheritance and for Mr. Aston to see that his brothers and sisters were educated. Thomas never heard what happened to any of them. He obtained a patent for 80 acres next to lands of John Tate in Charles City County 20 October 1665. His plantation was in Weyanoke Parish, near Kittewan Creek, north of where the town of Weyanoke is today. Thomas once served on a coroner’s jury — about a dozen upright citizens whom the county coroner would summon when someone died of unusual causes. They concluded on 7 May 1665 that when infant Katherine Lanier fell from her bed, the rail caught her head and she smothered in the bed clothes. Thomas was dead by October 1689 when his widow, Huldah, sold 100 acres that he had given her.

We have been unable to identify more about Huldah whose 1689-deed was acknowledged by Thomas Chappell and his wife, Elizabeth.

John Chappell of Petherton and Capt. John Chappell Also arriving in America within a month of Thomas was John Chappell, of Petherton, Somersetshire, England. At age thirty-eight he set sail on the Assurance 24 July 1635. If John and Thomas were closely related, we doubt they would have traveled separately to America. Although some have suggested Thomas was the son of John Chappell, the captain of the Speedwell that made one trip to America in 1635, there is no proof.

Another Thomas Chappell? Thomas Chappell was a headright for Richard Tye and Charles Sparrow for 2,500 acres in Charles City County 12 August 1659. Further, Anthony Wyatt paid passage for a Thomas Chappell for which he received a certificate 6 June 1664. This suggests another Thomas Chappell in the community. Indeed one Thomas Chappell had been a servant to John Richards. When Richards died, the court of 4 February 1665/6 ordered that corn and clothing customarily paid to indentured servants be given Chappell. We have yet to identify Samuel Chappell who left a now-lost will in Prince George County that Ann Bolling, executrix, presented 9 February 1713/14.

Lt. John Banister (-1661) Lt. John Banister left three cows and one heifer to a daughter of Thomas Chappell in April 1661. Although many have presumed that Thomas Chappell married a daughter of John Banister, later patent records show Banister died without heirs. Banister’s wife, Jane, was a midwife who, with Jane Thomas and Dr. John Jacob, testified in 1658 that Fortune Bayley had not been raped. Jane married second James Wallace. For more on James Wallace, see John Butler. Some have incorrectly reported that Lt. John Banister was the ancestor of Rev. John Banister, the naturalist, who married Martha Batte.

Chappell Creek Chappell Creek, named in a patent for William Barker, the captain of the America, in November 1635, is said to have been named for Thomas Chappell, who was in the Colony no earlier than August 1635. Considering the lengthy process for securing a patent, the creek is likely named for Merchant’s Hope chapel located nearby.

1. ↑ Virginians.com - The Family History of John W. Pritchett.