William Andrew Chapman (1889 - 1969)

Born 3 Dec 1889 in Gore, Southland, New Zealand

Husband of Fanny (Hebbard) Chapman — married 8 Oct 1914 in Oamaru, Otago, New Zealand

Husband of Elsie Nellie (Gadd) Chapman — married 9 Mar 1926 in Balclutha, New Zealand

Died 21 Oct 1969 at age 79 in Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand

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Biography

William Andrew was born on 3 December 1889 at Gore, the son of Robert Chapman and Dorothy Sampson. ^[1]

William married Fanny Hebbard on 8 October 1914. ^[2]

From the Otago Daily Times dated 29 October 1914, Pg 6 -
MARRIAGE.
CHAPMAN – HEBBARD. On October 8, 1914, at St. Luke’s Church, Oamaru, by the Rev H. A. Walke, William Andrew Chapman, of Queenstown, to Fanny Hebbard, of Wellington. ^[3]

In the 1919 electoral roll this couple were living at Gorge Rd, Waimate. William was employed as a compositor. ^[4]

William and Fanny had a stillborn baby born in 1918, then two daughters named Dorothy Sampson Chapman born 31 March 1920 and Joan Phyllis Chapman born 15 April 1922.

The family moved from Waimate to Hamilton where William worked at the Waikato Times newspaper as a linotype operator. He was employed there for over 40 years. ^[5]

Wife Fanny Chapman died on 3 October 1923 aged 43 years. ^[6]

She was buried on 4 October at Hamilton East Cemetery. ^[7]

William Andrew Chapman then married Elsie Nellie Gadd on 9 March 1926 at the residence of Robert Chapman, Frances St, Balclutha. Their marriage certificate recorded William was a widower [Fanny's death incorrectly recorded as 4 Oct 1923], aged 36 and a linotype operator. He was born in Gore, the son of Robert Chapman, a labourer, and Dorothy Chapman nee Sampson. Elsie was a spinster aged 33 and a postmistress. She was born in Blackheath, Birmingham, England, the daughter of Herbert Gadd, a grocer, and Annie Gadd nee Cashmore. Both William and Elsie were living at Balclutha at the time of their marriage but their usual residence was stated as Hamilton. Their witnesses were Margaret Strachan Chapman, typiste of Balclutha, William’s sister, and Robert Chapman, labourer of Balclutha. ^[8]

This couple had three children named Heather Joyce born 28 March 1927, Wallace Robert born 14 January 1931 and David John born 21 May 1934, all born in Hamilton.

William was recorded living at Argyle St, Claudelands, Hamilton at the time of the 1928 electoral roll. An Elsie Chapman [no middle name] was residing at Dudley Tce, Frankton.

They then moved into their own home at 7 Howden Rd, Claudelands. ^[9]

William Andrew Chapman died on 21 October 1969 at Hamilton aged 79 years. ^[10] He was cremated and his ashes spread at Hamilton Park Cemetery.

His will read -
THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me WILLIAM ANDREW CHAPMAN of Hamilton in the Dominion of New Zealand Linotype Operator.
1. I HEREBY REVOKE all wills and testamentary dispositions at any time heretofore made by me and declare this to be my last Will.
2. I GIVE AND BEQUEATH to each of my children namely DOROTHY SAMPSON MCVEAGH [sic] JOAN PHYLLIS HEYWOOD HEATHER JOYCE FRASER WALLACE ROBERT CHAPMAN and DAVID JOHN CHAPMAN free of all duties the sum of Fifty pounds (£50.0.0).
3. I GIVE DEVISE AND BEQUEATH the rest remainder and residue of my property both real and personal of whatsoever kind or nature the same may be and wheresoever situate UNTO my wife ELSIE NELLIE CHAPMAN provided she survive me for her own use and benefit absolutely and I APPOINT her provided as aforesaid to be the sole Executrix of this my Will.
4. IF my said wife shall predecease me THEN I appoint DAVID JOHN CHAPMAN of Hamilton aforesaid Bank Clerk (hereinafter called “my Trustee”) to be the Executor and Trustee hereof and in such case the following provisions of this my Will shall take effect.
5. I GIVE devise and bequeath the whole of my property aforesaid unto my Trustee UPON TRUST to sell call in and otherwise convert into money the same with power to postpone for so long as he may think fit the conversion of any part thereof whatever and thereafter to pay my just debts and funeral and testamentary expenses.
6. AS to the rest remainder and residue of the moneys to arise from such conversion as well as my ready money I DIRECT my Trustee to hold the same UPON TRUST as to the sum of One hundred pounds (£100.0.0) free of duties for each of them the said DOROTHY SAMPSON MCVEAGH [sic] and JOAN PHYLLIS HEYWOOD and as to the remainder thereof UPON TRUST for each of them the said HEATHER JOYCE FRASER WALLACE ROBERT CHAPMAN and DAVID JOHN CHAPMAN as shall survive me share and share alike the said David John Chapman taking absolutely.
7. I EMPOWER my Trustee in any sale of my real or personal estate to sell or dispose of the same or any part thereof either by public auction or private contract either in one lot or in parcels and either for cash or on such terms as to credit as my Trustee shall deem expedient.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto subscribed my name this seventeenth day of November One thousand nine hundred and fifty-nine. William Andrew Chapman
SIGNED by the Testator the said WILLIAM ANDREW CHAPMAN as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us both being present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses: P Thompson, Law Clerk, Hamilton and [Signed], Solicitor, Hamilton ^[11]

Elsie Nellie Chapman died on 27 April 1970 at Waikato Public Hospital, Hamilton aged 76 years. Her death certificate recorded the following information. Nellie's cause of death was aspiration pneumonia, 6 hours; bulbar palsy, 2 days; cerebral vascular accident [stroke], 2 days and hypertension [high blood pressure], 3 years. Nellie was a widow and her home address at the time of her death was 7 Howden Rd, Hamilton. Her parents were named as Herbert Gadd, a grocer, and Annie Cashmore. Born in Blackheath, Birmingham, England Nellie had resided in NZ for over 43 years. She was married at Balclutha at the age of 33 to William Andrew Chapman. Her surviving children were 2 males aged 39 and 37 and one female aged 43. ^[12]

Elsie was buried at Newstead/Hamilton Park Cemetery on 30 April 1970. Her headstone [Magnolia Lawn 16-11] reads -
Elsie Nellie Chapman wife and mother died 27 April 1970. ^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ NZ Historical BMD Index Online
   https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/home
   Registration Number; Family Name; Child's Given Name(s); Mother's Given Name(s), Father's Given Name(s)
   Birth 1889/14993; Chapman; William Andrew; Dorothy; Robert
2. ↑ NZ Historical BMD Index Online
   https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/home
   Registration Number; Bride's Name; Groom's Name
   Marriage 1914/4236; Fanny Hebbard; William Andrew Chapman
3. ↑ Newspaper can be viewed at Papers Past - https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers
4. ↑ New Zealand Electoral Rolls
   Some rolls are available to view at Ancestry.com. New Zealand, Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010
5. ↑ Family knowledge
6. ↑ https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/home
   Registration Number: Family Name: Given Name(s): Age at Death:
   Death 1923/10301; Chapman; Fanny; 43Y
7. ↑ https://www.hamilton.govt.nz/our-services/do-it-online/cemetery-search/Pages/default.aspx?surname=chapman&forename=fanny
8. ↑ Marriage printout obtained from NZ Historical BMD Index Online
   https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/home
   Registration Number; Bride's Name; Groom's Name
   Marriage 1926/2206; Elsie Nellie Gadd; William Andrew Chapman
9. ↑ New Zealand Electoral Rolls
   Some rolls are available to view at Ancestry.com. New Zealand, Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010
10. ↑ https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/home
    Registration Number: Family Name: Given Name(s): Age at Death:
    Death 1969/37691; Chapman; William Andrew; 79Y
11. ↑ https://archway.howison.co.nz/viewer/?IE56451060
12. ↑ Death printout obtained from NZ Historical BMD Index Online
    https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/home
    Registration Number: Family Name: Given Name(s): Age at Death:
    Death 1970/32818; Chapman; Elsie Nellie; 76Y
13. ↑ New Zealand Society of Genealogists - New Zealand Cemetery Records