Charity (Evans) Chapman (1801 - 1862)

Born 19 May 1801 in Colony of New South Wales

Wife of Thomas Edward Nott — married 31 Aug 1823 in Parramatta, Colony of New South Wales

Descendants

Died 25 Mar 1862 at age 60 in East Maitland, Colony of New South Wales

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Biography

Charity (Evans) Chapman was born in the Colony of New South Wales (1788-1900)

Charity Bidwell aka Evans was born in New South Wales, Australia on the 19th of May, 1801^[1] and baptised at St Phillips Church, Sydney, on the 17th of December, 1908. She was the daughter of soldier William Thomas Evans and convict Judith Bidwell.

Charity was placed in an Orphans home in Parramatta after her father's death, and remained there for several years. She conducted domestic duties for the Institute. She later conducted the teachings of Dr. Wells of education, then became senior teacher - a position she held for several years. She was one of the very first teachers in the Colonies.^[2]

She married convict Thomas Nott at Parramatta on the 31st of August, 1823.^[3] He died in 1841.

Charity married again to Samuel Chapman at the Scotts Church, Sydney, in - she was registered under the name Clarina Nott.^[4]

She died at her son's home in East Maitland on the 27th of March, 1862.^[5][6] She was interred 27th March 1862 at the Church of England Lochinvar Burial Ground.

Sources

1. ↑ NSW BDM: birth reg nos: V18011980 1A & V1801284 6 BIDWELL, CHARITY, father THOMAS, mother: JUDITH
2. ↑ Email: From: Toni Phillips Date: 10/22/04 06:44:27 To: Florence Howarth Subject: Charity Evans Hi Florence, I thought I would tempt you with the information I have on Charity. This is the result of some twelve years of work. Let me know where you fit into Charity's family and I can send you relevant information. Toni Charity was the fourth child of William Evans and Judith Bidwell. Charity was placedin the Orphan School at Parramatta following her father's death and she remained there for several years. She had at first principally conducted the domestic concerns of the Institute during the superintendency of Mrs. Ward. Later she began teaching Dr. Wells system of education and then became the Senior Teacher, a position she held for several years. Charity is believed to have been the first Australian born teacher. Charity applied for permission to marry Henry Price in Parramatta on 6 July, 1821. Henry was a convict who had arrived in Australia on the "Morley". She applied again 11 April, 1823. This time Henry's name was given as John Henry Price and application was made in Windsor. She married Thomas out of the Female Orphan School and in November, 1824 after the death of her first baby, Charity applied to become the Matron. At that time she had been a teacher for nearly nine years. Rev. W. Reddall, the Director General of Public Schools had personally applied for Charity to renew her services at the Orphan School and said that he knew of noone in the Colony as well qualified nor whose character stood more correct. Other references mentioned were Mrs. Hannibal Macarthur and the two Mrs. Palmers of Parramatta who were highly approving of her abilities and conduct. In 1826 however, Charity was to appear before the Magistrates Court. Thomas had given a Mr. Potts a promisory note and when Mr. Potts' agent came to collect the money, Charity would not pay because there was a contra amount owing by Mr. Potts. He took the matter to the Magistrates court where it was found that Charity had done nothing wrong other than an error in judgement for which she apologised in court. Thomas then placed an advertisement in the Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Gazettestating that he apologised on behalf of his wife and stating that a further note had been given to Mr. Potts. Charity was furious and in righteous indignation, she placed her own advertisement stating that she revoked any apology made by her husband and that Mr Potts would hear further on the matter. She repeated the advertisement two weeks later. Charity wrote to the Commissioner of the Female Orphan School 28 June, 1830 to apply for a girl to work as Nursery Governess in her family and to occasionally instruct the junior children at their school. The girl "would be treated with kindness and her moral conduct strictly attended to." There was an unfortunate accident in 1831. According to the Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Morning Herald of Monday May 16. 1831 - "A dreadful accident occurred at the house of a person named Nott, in Castlereagh Street. On Friday last, a little girl about ten years of age, who was hired for the purpose of jobbing about the house, on putting the kettle on for breakfast, her clothes caught fire, and in a few seconds was entirely in flames. The poor girl ran screaming into the air which only increased the fury of the devouring element, when some of the neighbours coming to her assistance, succeeded in extinguishing the flames. She expired a few hours after in her father's arms." The girl was Anna Fowler, the daughter of a timber dealer in Darling Harbour. She was in fact fourteen years old. The inquest into her death said that Charity had tried very hard to save the girl, "notwithstanding every exertion made by Mrs. Nott (who was much burnt in her praiseworthy exertions)..." It was just two months later that her fifth baby was born and died just four days later. After Thomas's death Charity struggled to bring up the boys alone. She attained the position of Infirmary Nurse at the Female Orphan School but this only paid a small salary. On 24 January, 1842 she wrote to Sir George Gipps for permission to place Charles, then eight years old into care at the Male Orphan School. By 2 February, 1843 her circumstances had sufficiently improved and she applied for his return. An attached letter from John Betts of Vineyard states "I have known the Petitioner for about twelve years and believe her to be a very correct praiseworthy character and from constant observation latterly have every reason to think she is quite able to support her son." Charity then married Samuel Chapman under the name Clarissa Nott. The wedding was performed by Rev. James Fullerton in the presence of John and Emma Neill. The next we hear of Charity was in 1851. She had moved to East Maitland and wrote for a copy of a letter enquiring after her first husband. The original letter had been sent in 1831. She was apparently about to look after some property that Thomas owned at the time of his death. Charity was widowed a second time in 1859. She died three years later from Serous Apoplexy and Anasarca. A notice in the Maitland Mercury dated 27 March 1862 states: 'On March 25th, 1862, at the residence of her son Mr Edward Nott, East Maitland, Charity Chapman, aged 57 years leaving four sons to deplore their loss. May she rest in peace. - Victoria papers please copy.'
3. ↑ NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages marriage V18233185 3B/1823 NOTT, THOMAS, EVANS, CHARITY, church code: CB
4. ↑ NSW BDM: marriage 176/1847 V1847176 78 CHAPMAN, SAMUEL, NOTT, CLARINA, church code: JA (Presbyterian, Sydney, Scotts Church.
5. ↑ NSW Death Index. CHAPMAN CHARITY 4163/1862 SAMUEL ELIZABETH WEST MAITLAND. Accessed at [1] NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages
6. ↑ Family Notices (1862, March 27). The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), p. 1. Retrieved February 9, 2019, from [2]
   On March 25th, 1862, at the residence of her son, Mr. Edward Nott, East Maitland, Charity Chapman, aged 57 years, leaving four sons to deplore their loss. May she rest in peace. — Victoria papers please copy. 1878

1821 Jul 2,6 Re permission to marry Henry Price at Parramatta (Reel

6008; 4/3504 p.138)

1823 Apr 11 Re permission to marry John Henry Price at Windsor (Reel

6010; 4/3508 p.35)

1823 Nov 12 Brand to be purchased for her by Female Orphan Institution and two cows and their increase marked and kept in trust for her at the Orphan Farm (Reel 6040; 4/403 p.109)

1824 Nov Seeking appointment as Matron in the Female Orphan School (Reel 6060; 4/1775 p.184)

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Kym Briscoe for creating WikiTree profile Fryer-296 through the import of Burke Lavender Patterson.ged on Feb 6, 2013.

Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Kym and others.

Mark Spooner created WikiTree profile Evans-7415 through the import of Spooner.ged on Dec 19, 2013.