Descendants of
Robert J. Chapman
and Atness E.Link
of Hoosick Falls

Information on this page was researched, compiled, written and submitted to the Rensselaer County, NY GenWeb site by Lisa K. Slaski, who is the Co-ordinator of the Hamilton County, NY GenWeb site. Lisa describes her work as "a short study of this family" and points out that it is not intended to be a complete record. She has contributed the information to us because the subject, Robert J. Chapman, was a resident of the village of Hoosick Falls, in the town of Hoosick, Rensselaer County, NY. Lisa advises, "In order to obtain an accurate family history, this information should be confirmed using primary sources where available." (I would add that this is excellent advice for ALL "information" found in any secondary source, whether in print or online.) Lisa also notes that she is not related to this Chapman family. Many thanks for your research time and effort, Lisa, and also for sharing your findings with us!

Descendants of ROBERT J. CHAPMAN and Atness E. LINK of Hoosick Falls

Lisa Slaski writes:

I started this research in order to fulfill my curiosity about a Robert CHAPMAN who has a gravestone/memorial in the town of Long Lake, Hamilton County, NY (see number 1.1.2. herein). I have found only limited information on him and would enjoy learning more! One thing that I quickly discovered was that he was a descendant of Robert J. CHAPMAN, a US Civil War veteran of Hoosick Falls. As I'm putting together biographies of various US Civil War veterans for Hamilton County, I decided to research this family as well in order to provide my findings to the Rensselaer County, NY GenWeb site. It is primarily due to the wonderful information provided on your site as well as census information now available online (on fee sites) that this work has been possible for this family! Thank you so much to all those who have donated material, and I hope you enjoy my small contribution!

- Lisa K. Slaski, Co-ordinator
Hamilton County, NY GenWeb site


1. Robert CHAPMAN was born in September 1845 or 1846 in England and died in 1915. In 1864, Robert enlisted in Company D, 21st NY Volunteer Cavalry. He was mustered out in 1865. He was married in about 1869 [1900 census - first child born earlier, so possibly he had married earlier?] to Atness E. LINK, who was born in June 1847 in NY state and died in 1933. They are both buried in Maple Grove (Old) Cemetery in the town of Hoosick, Rensselaer County, NY.

Robert's parents were William and Mary CHAPMAN from England. William CHAPMAN was a blacksmith in Hoosick Falls. It appears that William left England from Liverpool, arriving in New York City on 2 June 1852 on the ship States Rights. His wife, Mary CHAPMAN (age 26), with their five young children:-

  • Robert CHAPMAN (9),
  • Corhett CHAPMAN (7 - female),
  • William CHAPMAN (5),
  • Maria CHAPMAN (2), and
  • George CHAPMAN (1)
    - followed from London, England, arriving on 15 August 1853 on the ship Julia. There were also a Thomas CHAPMAN (33) and Frances CHAPMAN (28) on the same ship.

    By 1860, William CHAPMAN's family had settled in Hoosick Falls, and little Corhett and little George had apparently died young, as they are not enumerated with their parents in the 1860 US Census.

    William and Mary had the following children born in NY state:

  • George E. CHAPMAN, born in about 1855;
  • Frederick CHAPMAN, born in about 1858 (he may have died young, as he wasn't on the 1870 US census with his parents); and
  • Benjamin F. CHAPMAN, born in about 1860.

    US Civil War Service Records for Robert J. CHAPMAN:

  • Enlisted as a Private on 27 August 1864 at the age of 18.
  • Enlisted in Company D, 21st Cavalry Regiment, New York on 2 September 1864.
  • Mustered out from Company D, 21st Cavalry Regiment, New York on 30 May 1865 in Alexandria, VA.

    US Civil War Pension records:

  • Applied for an invalid's pension on 20 April 1891 in NY state (Appl #1016841, Cert #805877).
  • Atness E. CHAPMAN applied for a widow's pension on 3 June 1916 in NY state (Appl #1057996, Cert # 807162).

    1890 US Census, Veterans' Schedule:
    CHAPMAN, Robert, Private, Co. D, 21st NY Cav., 29 Aug 1864 - 30 May 1865, address P. O. Hoosick Falls.

    Occupations as given in US Census records:

  • 1870 Hoosick: "M. M. S."
  • 1880 Jackson, Greene County, IA: farmer.
  • 1900 Hoosick Falls village (listed under Chatman): Packer Mfg.
  • 1910 Hoosick Falls village: Packer, Machine Shop.


    Robert CHAPMAN and Atness E. LINK had the following children:

  • 1.1. Frederick H. CHAPMAN, born in May 1866 in NY state.
  • 1.2. Charles B. CHAPMAN, born in April 1868 or 1869 in NY state.
  • 1.3. Merritt Eugene CHAPMAN, born in March 1870 in NY state.
  • 1.4. Jessie CHAPMAN (female), born in about 1874 in IA.
  • 1.5. William G. CHAPMAN, born in April 1879 in IA.
  • 1.6. Zelma Z. CHAPMAN, born in August 1885 in NY state.

    1.1. Frederick H. CHAPMAN was born in May 1866 in NY state and died in 1952. He was married in about 1899 to Nettie J. JACOBS, who was born in November 1878 in NY state and died in 1954. They are both buried in Maple Grove (Old) Cemetery in Hoosick. In 1900, Nettie had borne no children; by 1910, Nettie had borne two children, of whom both were still surviving. Her parents were obviously of a German background, as in some census years, they are listed as having been born in Germany, while in other census years, they are listed as having been born in NY state. His mother, Atness CHAPMAN, widow, was living with them in the 1920 US Census in Hoosick. Frederick H. CHAPMAN's occupations as given in US Censuses:

  • 1900, Hoosick Falls village: Foreman, Mfg (married within the year).
  • 1910, Hoosick Falls village: Foreman, Farm Machine Works.
  • 1920, Hoosick Falls village: Foreman, Factory.
  • 1930, Hoosick Falls village: "shofer" [chauffer], automobile.

    Frederick CHAPMAN and wife Nettie JACOBS had the following children:

    • 1.1.1. Homer Henry CHAPMAN, born 8 July 1900 in NY state.
    • 1.1.2. Robert J. CHAPMAN, born in 1902 in Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer County, NY.
    • 1.1.3. H. Lynn CHAPMAN, born in about 1913.

      1.1.1. Homer Henry CHAPMAN was born on 8 July 1900 in NY state. He is described as a man of tall height, medium build, blue eyes and brown hair in his First World War draft registration; his permanent residence was Hoosick Falls. He died in January 1989 with a last residence of Rochester, Monroe County, NY. In 1918, he was a student at Syracuse University.

      1.1.2. Robert J. Chapman was born in 1902 in Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer County, NY and died on 20 December 1936. He is buried in Maple Grove (Old) Cemetery in Hoosick. There is a gravestone/memorial for him in the town of Long Lake, Hamilton County, NY, which has the following inscription:

      "Our Pal, Robert Chapman, December 20, 1936, A Real Woodsman, A Native of Hoosick Falls, N.Y."

      US Census entries:

    • 1920, Hoosick Falls village: Clerk, office - living with his parents.
    • 1930, Hoosick Falls village: "shofer", "taxi proprietor" - living with his parents.

    1.2. Charles B. Chapman was born in April 1868 or 1869 in NY state and died in 1949. He was married in about 1892 to Edith May KING, who was born in November 1871 in NY state and died in 1925. They are both buried in Maple Grove (New) Cemetery in Hoosick.

    US Census entries:

  • 1900, Hoosick Falls village: Machine Packer.
  • 1910, Hoosick Falls village: Foreman, Agricultural Machine Works.
  • 1920, Hoosick Falls village: Foreman, Machine Shop.

    Charles B. CHAPMAN and Edith May KING had the following children:

  • 1.2.1. Volney W. CHAPMAN, born 14 Jan 1893 in NY state.
  • 1.2.2. unknown CHAPMAN, born between 1900 and 1910, died before 1910.
  • 1.2.3. unknown CHAPMAN, born between 1900 and 1910, died before 1910.

      1.2.1. Volney W. CHAPMAN was born on 14 January 1893 in Hoosick, NY and died in 1954. He was married to Bertha G. HAMILTON, who was born in 1894 in NY state and died in 1985. In his First World War draft registraiton, Volney was single and was described as a man of medium height, medium build, blue eyes and light-brown hair. They are both buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Hoosick. Volney's occupations:
    • 1918, Hoosick Falls: Dentist (self).
    • 1920 US Census, Hoosick Falls village: Doctor, Dentistry.

    1.3. Merritt Eugene CHAPMAN was born in about March 1870 in NY state and died in 1948. He married in about 1902 to Mary STEWART, who was born in 1876 in NY state and died in 1955. They are both buried in Maple Grove (New) Cemetery in Hoosick. Merritt's occupations as listed in US Censuses:

  • 1900, Hoosick Falls village: Police (listed with parents).
  • 1910, Hoosick Falls village: Janitor, State Armory.
  • 1920, Hoosick Falls village: (occupation illegible).

    Merritt Eugene CHAPMAN and Mary STEWART had the following children:

  • 1.3.1. Jessie E. CHAPMAN, female, born in about 1903 in NY state.
  • 1.3.2. John S. CHAPMAN, born 14 May 1905 in NY state and died in November 1972. Last resided in Hoosick Falls.

    1.4. Jessie CHAPMAN, female, was born in about 1873 in Iowa and died on 3 December 1891 at the age of 18. She is buried in Maple Grove (Old) Cemetery in Hoosick.

    1.5. William George CHAPMAN was born on 12 April 1879 in Iowa and died in 1966. He is buried in Maple Grove (New) Cemetery in Hoosick. He was married in about 1904 to Grace WARHURST, who was born in 1878 in NY state and died in 1950. She was a daughter of James WARHURST and Anna E. WILCOX and is buried in Maple Grove (New) Cemetery in Hoosick. In his 1918 First World War draft registration, William is described as a tall man of medium build, with blue eyes and brown hair. William and Grace apparently had no children. William's occupations:

  • 1900 US Census, Hoosick Falls village: Packer Mfg (listed with parents).
  • 1918 Hoosick Falls: Foreman, W. A. Wood Co.
  • 1920 US Census, Hoosick Falls village: Foreman, Machine Wks.

    1.6. Zelma? Z. CHAPMAN was born in August 1885 in NY.

  • 1910 US Census, Hoosick Falls village: Bookkeeper, grocery store; residing with parents.


    Sources:

    1. US Federal Census records as listed.
    2. Interments in Rensselaer Co., NY Cemeteries, part of the Rensselaer Co., NY GenWeb at http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyrensse.
    3. History of Rensselaer Co., New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, by Nathaniel Bartlett Sylvester, published in 1880.
    4. US Civil War Pension and Service indices from Ancestry.com.
    5. First World War Civilian Draft Registration records from Ancestry.com.
    6. The Social Security Deaths Index.
    7. New York Passenger Lists 1851-1891, from Ancestry.com.

    © Copyright 2004, Lisa K. Slaski



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