Elizabeth (Andrus) Chappell (abt. 1793 - 1869)

Born about 8 Dec 1793 in Pawlet, Rutland, Vermont, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 5 Jul 1869 at about age 75 in Martin, Allegan, Michigan

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Biography

This profile is part of the Andrus Name Study.

Betsey (Andrus) Chappell was a Vermonter.

Preface

Elizabeth "Betsey" Andrus, who married Erastus Hatch Chappell, has traditionally been placed as the daughter of Jacob Andrus and Sarah "Sally" Phelps. Betsey's inferred birthdate, however, predates Jacob and Sally's marriage by seven months. Several Andrus researchers agree that Jacob and Sally had a daughter named Betsey, but this daughter was born around 1818 and married Horace Dodge.^[1] Moreover, the Jacob Andrus family lived in Massachusetts in the 1790s, while Betsey (Andrus) Chappell was reportedly born in Vermont.

Circumstantial evidence suggests that Betsey was the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Allen) Andrus who was born in Pawlet, Vermont on December 8th, 1793.^[2] Note that this Pawlet birth matches the day and month of birth (but not the year) that is inferred from Betsey Chappell's headstone inscription. Moreover, Erastus and Betsey (Andrus) Chappell's first son's name was Allen, which is the maiden name of William Andrus' wife.

Life Story

Elizabeth "Betsey" Andrus was born on February 1st, 1793 in Pawlett, Vermont to Captain William Andrus and Elizabeth Allen (see preface).^[2][3] Her father died when she was just three years old.^[4]

She married Erastus Hatch Chappell about 1811, and they lived in Williamson, New York by 1820. Erastus was enumerated with a like-aged female (likely Betsey) and three boys under the age of ten.^[5][6]

In 1830 the household had expanded to eight individuals (likely children) under the age of 20.^[7]

Erastus died intestate in 1838, leaving Betsey a widower at the age of 43.^[8][9] She remained in Williamson for more than a decade and eventually moved in with her son Allen and his family.^[10][11]

In July 1848 she traveled to Lenawee County, Michigan, likely to visit her son A. J. who had purchased land there earlier that year.^{[citation needed][12]}

By 1860 she had moved permanently to Michigan, settling with her daughter Mary Pratt and family in the town of Leighton.^[13]

Betsey died on July 5th, 1869 in Martin, Michigan from dropsy.^[3][14] She was buried in West Cooper Cemetery in Cooper, Michigan.^[15]

Marriage & Family

Spouse: Erastus Hatch Chappell (1787–1838)

Children:

1. Almira Chappell (French) (1811–1890)
2. Allen Darwin Chappell (1813–1899)
3. Albert Jay Chappell (1825–1901)
4. Mary Chappell (Pratt) (1827–1897)
5. Alma M Chappell (Lewin) (1831–1911)
6. Sarah M Chappell Underwood (1831–1878)

Research Notes

• Date of Birth - Betsey's death was recorded on 03 June 1870 in the Allegan County, Michigan Death Returns, which lists her death date as 05 July 1869. This is corroborated by the 1870 Mortality Census, which shows her dying in July 1869. The inscription on her headstone, however, mistakenly reads 05 July 1871. All three of these sources suggest a different birth date as well. Her age at death is inscribed on her headstone as 75 years, 6 months, and 27 days, suggesting a birth date of 08 December 1795. The death return lists her age at death as 76 years, 5 months, and 4 days, leading to a date of birth of 01 February 1793. Her age is enumerated as 67 in the Mortality Census, suggesting that her birth occurred between 1801 and 1802. The most trusted source in this case is the death return.

Sources

• Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950: Name: Betsey Chappell; Gender: Female; Spouse: Erastus Chappell; Child: Sarah M Underwood; Household Members: Name: Sarah M Underwood; Betsey Chappell; Erastus Chappell

• Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950: Name: Betsey Andrus; Gender: Female; Spouse: Erastus H Chappell; Child: Allen D Chappell; Household Members: Name: Allen D Chappell; Betsey Andrus; Erastus H Chappell; Mary M Hopkins

• Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952: Name: Betsey Andrus; Gender: Female; Spouse: Erastus H Chappell; Child: Allen D Chappell; Household Members: Name: Allen D Chappell; Betsey Andrus; Erastus H Chappell; Mary M Hopkins

• Michigan, County Marriages, 1822-1940: Name: Betsey Chappell; Maiden Name: Andrus; Gender: Female; Spouse: Erastus H. Chappell; Child: Allen D. Chappell; Film Number: 000984142; Household Members: Name: Allen D. Chappell; Betsey Chappell; Erastus H. Chappell; Mary M. Stratton Hopkins

1. ↑ The Descendants of Lieut. John Andrews of Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts, Betty Andrews Storey, digital publication (2009), accessed online at https://ipswich.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/descendants-of-john-andrews.pdf on 26 September 2020.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch Elizabeth Andrews Birth, 004542938 > image 2877 of 3718; Citing Secretary of State. State Capitol Building, Montpelier.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "Michigan Deaths, 1867-1897," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DZZQ-Z96?cc=1452402&wc=MJS7-VZ9%3A1041526501 : 21 May 2014), 004207816 > image 871 of 1469; citing Department of Vital Records, Lansing.
4. ↑ "Vermont, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1732-2005," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPQF-79PG : 29 November 2018), William Andrus, 10 Apr 1797; citing Death, Pawlet, Rutland, Vermont, United States, various town clerks and records divisions, Vermont; FHL microfilm 005427904.
5. ↑ "History and Biographical Record of Lenawee County, Michigan; by William A. Whitney and Richard I. Bonner, Published in 1879, Lenawee County, Michigan; pp 476-477, accessed online at GoogleBooks.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYYG-RYT?cc=1803955&wc=3L7F-79H%3A1586986403%2C1586987032%2C1586987039 : 16 July 2015), New York > Ontario > Williamson > image 2 of 5; citing NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYY8-S3FX?cc=1803958&wc=35Y4-KF6%3A1588472203%2C1588471304%2C1588475701 : 14 August 2015), New York > Wayne > Williamson > image 1 of 22; citing NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
8. ↑ Find A Grave, Erastus H. Chappell Headstone, Memorial ID93125757, Pleasant View Cemetery, Williamson, Wayne County, New York
9. ↑ New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999: Name: Erastus H Chappele; Probate Date: 12 Mar 1838; Probate Place: Wayne, New York, USA; Inferred Death Year: Abt 1838; Inferred Death Place: New York, USA; Item Description: Letters Testamentary and Admin, Vol A-B, 1830-1852; Household Members: Name: Erastus H Chappele
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYY8-9SV4?cc=1786457&wc=31SV-SP6%3A1588669322%2C1588666414%2C1588669629 : 24 August 2015), North Carolina > Montgomery > East Pee Dee River > image 3 of 31; citing NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-67J7-FHZ?cc=1401638&wc=95RF-TQF%3A1031313801%2C1031568501%2C1031605201 : 9 April 2016), New York > Wayne > Williamson > image 7 of 57; citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
12. ↑ Diary of Hannah Pierce, Transcribed by M. Diana Davis, accessed online at http://www.migenweb.org/lenawee/diary.html
13. ↑ "United States Census, 1860," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9BS3-9VS?cc=1473181&wc=7QGH-YB1%3A1589428970%2C1589429206%2C1589429975 : 24 March 2017), Michigan > Allegan > Leighton > image 17 of 17; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
14. ↑ U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885: Name: Petsy (sic) Chappell; Gender: Female; Race: White; Marital Status: Widowed; Estimated Birth Year: abt 1802; Birth Place: Vermont, USA; Age: 67; Death Date: Jul 1869; Cause of Death: Dropsy; Census year: 1870; Census Place: Martin, Allegan, Michigan, USA; Line: 5
15. ↑ Betsey E. Chappell Headstone, West Cooper Cemetery, Cooper, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, FindAGrave Memorial ID#60260465 accessed online at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60260465 on 23 June 2020.

Acknowledgments

• Thanks to Lynden Castle Rodriguez for starting this profile.