Ralph Chapman (abt. 1655 - aft. 1704)

Born about 1655 in Marshfield, Plymouth Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Abigail (UNKNOWN) Chapman — married before 1693 in Plymouth Colony

Descendants

Died after 4 Nov 1704 after about age 49 in Newport, Rhode Island

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Biography

Ralph Chapman, son of Ralph Chapman and Lydia (Wells or Wills) Chapman of Marshfield, Massachusetts, and two of his siblings, were baptized together in Scituate 27 September 1657. (His birth year of 1655 is an estimate based on the birth year of his siblings, his baptism date, and the birth date of his first child.)

He was married three times. By 1679 he had married Mary____ who died May 22, 1688. They had a child born January 7, 1679/80 in Scituate. We know that by 1693 he had married Abigail ____, because they signed deeds at Newport on May 24, 1693 and January 13, 1693/4. His third wife was Mary Clark, the daughter of Walter Clark and the widow of Daniel Gould.^[1][2]

Ralph Chapman, Quaker and Newport shipwright, died some time after 1704. His will, made 4 November 1704 and proved in 1711, mentions:^[3]

• sons Ralph Chapman, John Chapman, and Isaac Chapman
• son-in-law Jeremiah Gould [step-son, in modern language]
• daughters Abigail Chapman, Mary Chapman, Lydia Chapman, and Catherine Chapman
• wife Mary Chapman
• son Walter Chapman

His wife was executrix.

Children of Ralph and Mary

1. Ralph b. 7 Jan. 1679-80
2. John b. 5 Aug. 1682.
3. Isaac b. 29 Dec. 1684
4. William b. 7 March 1686-87

Children of Ralph and Abigail

1. Abigail b. Sep. 1691.
2. Lydia b. 1694.^[4]

Children of Ralph and Mary Clarke Gould Chapman

1. Walter b. after 1694. Mentioned in a deed his father signed in 1704 and in his mother's 1711 will.

Sources

1. ↑ Robert Charles Anderson, “The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England 1634-1635”, Boston, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1999-2011, Vol II C-F, page 53.
2. ↑ Descendants of Ralph Chapman. By Charles B. Gerard] Pages 4, 11,12.
3. ↑ Fiske: Item 20
4. ↑ Children page 11, 12 Gerard.

Fiske, Jane Fletcher Gleanings from Newport Court Files, 1659-1783 (Boxford, Mass., 1998).

Rhode Island Land Evidences, Vol. I, 1648-1696: Abstracts, Volume 1, pages 240-241.

Newport Historical Magazine, Volume 1, 248 - 249.