Source Information for Chester CHAPMAN and Orlando CHAPMAN
(sons of Jerard CHAPMAN, first settler in the interior of Nepean Township)
by Joy Watson
June 20, 2008:
Hi Al,
Here are some other tidbits of information I found and thought they might be useful for
any other Chapman researchers for their file.
Thanks again,
Joy
Excerpts from The Historical Atlas of Carleton County, Ont.
H. Belden &Co. 1879
-Duke of Richmond died today at Chapman's farm, 3 miles NE of Richmond.
-This Chapman, at whose place the Duke died, was the son of a United
Empire Loyalist who moved in from the St. Lawrence front and "squatted"
on his then location early as 1815- though the exact date is uncertain.
The above melancholy occurrence drew attention to his case, and he soon
afterwards received a grant of the lot whereon he was then settled ( 13,
V. Con. R.F. ,Nepean) It is now the well-known Byers' property.
-The Chapman family afterwards mostly emigrated to the United States,
though some of the descendants of the original settler still live in
Nepean; and a son of his occupied for many years a leading position in
the management of Township affairs.
-During this year Bytown was incorporated, and in 1848 Nepean commenced
to run its own affairs alone. There were 169 ratepayers in the Township
entitled to vote that year, and the Town Wardens were John Robertson and
Samuel Collins; Clerk, James Shanley; 1849 (last year of the old system)
- Town Wardens were Chester Chapman, John Scott; Assessor-James Spain;
Collector- E.L. Wood.
-The Town meeting to elect the first Council under the new system was
held at Bell's Corners, January 7, 1850 , when Frederick Bearman, J.P.,
Chester Chapman, James Spain, John Robertson, J.P., Michael Grady, John
Scott, G.W. Baker, William Foster and John Thompson ran for Councillors-
the five first-named being elected. These were all present at the first
Council meeting held at the same place, January 21, 1850, when Colonel
Frederick Bearman was chosen Reeve. He resigned in December 1850 and
Chester Chapman succeeded to the vacant position for the balance of the
term.
-The same Council were re-elected in 1851. Mr Chapman was again chosen
Reeve, and James Spain , Deputy- and the same gentlemen held the same
positions during 1852 and 1853. In 1854, Mr. Chapman was again chosen
Reeve, but declined to act and the place was filled by John Scott.
__________________________________________________________________________
1842 Canada West Census Reel C-1344
Chester Chapman
Owns Deed to farm
farmer
10 Natives of Canada of British origin
2 males under 5 years of age (John, David)
1 female under 5 years of age (Elizabeth)
2 males 5-14 years of age (Milo, Chester)
2 females 5-14 years of age (Maria, Laurie)
1 single male 18-21 years of age (?)
1 married male 30-59 years of age
1 married female 14-44 years of age
10 people on farm belonging to Church of Scotland
200 acres
40 acres occupied & improved
200 acres wheat in Winchester Bushels
40 acres barley
__________________________________________________________________________
1851 Canada West Census Reel C-11716 Nepean Township, District 2 Page
59-60
This shows Chester as living in a 1 1/2 storey stone house with Sarah,
42; Chester, 21; Milloh, 17; David, 14; Elizabeth, 12; John, 9; Isac, 7;
Gerard, 5; Orlando, 3; and Thomas, 1.
__________________________________________________________________________
THE CITY BEYOND - A HISTORY OF NEPEAN, BIRTHPLACE OF CANADA'S CAPITAL
1792-1990 by Bruce S. Elliott, 971.383 e465
Page 55-
The most impressive structures in the vicinity in the early 1850's were
the stone homes of Protestant Reeve Chester Chapman and Orangeman James
Smith, and both of the log taverns nearby were run by Protestants. Later
in the decade, following macadamization of the road, the taverns were
replaced by proper hotels run by two wealthy Catholics along the new line
of the Richmond Road. Edward Murray's was located some distance south of
the intersection and John Tierney kept a hotel and store in Chapman's
house, which he bought in 1854.
Page 68-69
The Catholics put forward (1850 township Election) two candidates, James
Spain and Michael O'Grady, both Fallowfield men, while Protestant
Frederick Bearman of Bells Corners was nominated by Capt. Collins (
Stephen ) of the Rideau and seconded by Chester Chapman. Chapman, an old
American settler at Fallowfield village and a Protestant, was himself
nominated and seconded by members of the Catholic Tierney family.
TOWNSHIP ELECTION POLLING 1850
The winners and votes received were:
Michael O'Grady (RC) Protestant 40 Roman Catholic 142 Total 182
James Spain (RC) Protestant 32 Roman Catholic 141 Total 173
Chester Chapman Protestant 73 Roman Catholic 95 Total 168
Frederick Bearman Protestant 106 Roman Catholic 31 Total 137
John Robertson Protestant 66 Roman Catholic 64 Total 130
The losers and votes received were:
John Scott Protestant 80 Roman Catholic 2 Total 82
John Thomson Protestant 68 Roman Catholic 0 Total 68
William Foster Protestant 39 Roman Catholic 4 Total 43
Geo. W. Baker ( withdrew ) Protestant 22 Roman Catholic 2
Total 24
Total Voters Protestant 130 Roman Catholic 146 Total 276
Votes Cast by Caths for Prots 198 for Caths 283 Total 481
Votes Cast by Prots for Prots 454 for Caths 72 Total 526
Source: First Nepean minute book, City Clerk's Vault. Each voter could
vote for five candidates.
In 1851 and 1852 Chester Chapman was reeve, so he must have been elected
for the southwest ward.
Page 390
"The Nepean Section of ' Nominal Returns of Militia Men of the First
Carleton Regiment Between the Ages of 19 and 39 Years inclusive ( 24 Dec.
1828)" lists Chester Chapman, 22; and Orlando, 26.
Page 399-
Under "Nepean Councillors 1850-1990" he is listed as Councillor 1850-51
and Reeve 1852-53.
__________________________________________________________________________
MEN OF UPPER CANADA MILITIA NOMINAL ROLLS 1828-29 Ontario Genealogical
Society
Nominal Return of Militia Men of the First Corleton Regiment between ages
19-39 years inclusive vol. 29, p. 17
# Age Regiment
271 Chapman, Orlando 26
272 Chapman, Chester 22
277 Park, Rob 25
__________________________________________________________________________
THE CITY BEYOND - A HISTORY OF NEPEAN, BIRTHPLACE OF CANADA'S CAPITAL
1792-1990 by Bruce S. Elliott 971.383 e465
Page 18
Another 50 pounds was spent that year (1833) connecting the Richmond Road
with the Rideau Road beyond Chapman's Mills; the Mill road is now known
as Jockvale Road.
Page 29
Some of the earliest (Tipperary Catholics) to come, such as the Tierneys
and O'Gradys, bought land along the Richmond Road in the Fallowfield
area, but those who came later settled to the east along the forced road
that from 1833 ran down to Orlando Chapman's Mills near the mouth of the
Jock.
Page 41
South of the Baseline the only links between the eastern and western
parts of the township were the road from Fallowfield to Chapman's Mills
(Jockvale Road) and another forced road that had been cut across the
sandy lands south of the Jock in the 1840's. Sections of it still
survive as Trail and Viewbank Roads.
Page 52
Between the Baseline and Richmond, Jerard B. Chapman and his son Orlando
had kept a tavern at Twin Elm during the early 1820's, but in 1832 a new
establishment opened its doors about a mile south of Fallowfield on the
farm of another American, Truman Miner.
Page 116
In the "Production of Ottawa River Sawmills 1851" table, the owner of
Chapman's Mills was Thomas Lyons; it had been established in the 1830's
(exact year not known); was located on Lot 12 Concession 2 Rideau; had
two employees and two saws. A comparison with the most successful
sawmill may be made as follows: the owner was Philip Thompson; it had
been established in 1837; was located on Lot 40 Concession A; was known
as the Old McLachlin Mill; had ten employees; had three saws and the
figure for production was 1,000,000 board feet.
P. 116
Production of Ottawa River Sawmills 1851
Owner Est. Lot /Conc. Loc. Employees Saws / Circ. Saws
Production
Philip Thompson 37 40 / A Old McLachlin Mill 10 3
1,000,000 BF
Nathan Burwash 42 40 / A Old Perkins Mill 8 ? ?
Nicholas Sparks 47 36? / A Little Chaud 4 23 1
6,000 ft/12 hr day
NG Robinson 45 20 / 1 Britannia Mills 2 ? ? Non
noted
Donald Kennedy 4? 17 / 2 John Park, Mgr. 2 1
Idle 3/4 year
William Hodgins 3? 5 / 1 Richard Kidd, Mgr 2 1
Fall & Spg only
Thomas Lyons 3? 12 / 2R Chapman's Mills 2 2
Page 117
In the "Production of Ottawa River Sawmills 1860" table, the owner of
Chapman's Mills was Orlando Chapman, he had invested $6000; had four
employees and the figure for saw logs was 4,000; the figure for
production was not given. A comparison with the most successful sawmill
may be made as follows: the owner was Perley, Pattee & Brown; it had been
established in 1859; was located at Chaudiere Island; the investment was
$65,000; there were 50 employees; the figure for saw logs was 45,000; the
figure for production was 9,000,000 board feet.
Production of Ottawa River Sawmills 1860
Owner Est. Location Investment Employees Saw Logs
Production
HF Bronson 52 Victoria Is. ng 75 23,500
6,000,000 BF
Levi Young 52 Victoria Is. ng 10 5,000
1,000,000 BF
John R. Booth 57 Victoria Is. $ 8,000 10 ng
1,000,000 BF
Perley, Pattee
& Brown 59 Chaudiere $65,000 50 45,000
9,000,000 BF
A. Baldwin ? Chaudiere ng 20 ng 1,000,000 BF
NG Robinson 45 Britannia Mills $ 500 1 500
100,000 boards
Reubin Perkins 53 23 / 1 OF $ 1,600 2 5,000
100,000 planks
John Hodgins 4? (form.) Kennedy's $ 400 2 1,000
250,000 sawed boards
Nicholas Sparks 47 Little Chaudiere (Saw Mill all to grist; no
stats)
Orlando Chapman 3? Chapman's Mills & 6,000 4
4,000 ng
Page 390
The "Nepean Section of Nominal Returns of Militia Men of the First
Carleton Regiment Between the Ages of 19 and 39 Years Inclusive" (24 Dec.
1828) lists Chester Chapman, 22 and Orlando, 26.
__________________________________________________________________________
BYTOWN GAZETTE March 16, 1837
Orlando Chapman, farmer of Nepean, aged 33 years, died on 11th instant.
... Joy
E-mail Joy Watson and Al Lewis
Back to Bytown or Bust - History and Genealogy in the Ottawa, Canada area -- Jerard Chapman of Chapman Mills