Here's an edited version of my Nathan Chapman narrative. It appears that he resided in Wilkes and later Taliferro Counties, but that he may have spent some time in Hancock.

What is probably "my" Nathan is listed on the 1797 tax rolls for Captain Samuel Wilkerson's District of Wilkes County, Georgia. No owned property is shown. This is the first appearance for Nathan Chapman on the tax rolls indicating that he has either just moved into the district or just reached the age of twenty-one. As his birth date is known (from his obituary), a reasonable conclusion is that he has just immigrated. The military district is on the waters of Little Creek and Middle River south of the town of Washington and is now the 176th Georgia Militia District.

A Nathan Chapman is listed on the 1798 tax rolls for Captain William Murray's District of Wilkes County, Georgia. No owned property is shown. The military district was formed from other districts, includes the area now east of the town of Washington to the Lincoln County line, encompassed the community of Metasville and is now the 175th Georgia Militia District.

A Nathan Chapman is listed on the 1799 tax rolls for Captain William Murray's District (175th G. M. D.) of Wilkes County, Georgia. No owned property is shown.

A Nathan Chapman is listed on the 1800 tax rolls for Captain William Murray's District (175th G. M. D.) of Wilkes County, Georgia. No owned property is shown.

Nathan Chapman and Elizabeth Hart were married 20 February 1800, probably in Georgia, perhaps in Washington or Hancock county. (Elizabeth's father had received Georgia bounty land in Wilkes, Washington and Hancock counties, filed for indian depredations in Greene county and participated in the 1805 Land Lottery of Georgia as a resident of Hancock County).

The 1800 federal census of Georgia has been lost.

A Nathan Chapman is listed as a defaulter on the 1801 tax rolls for Captain William Murray's District (175th G. M. D.) of Wilkes County, Georgia. While there was a requirement for males entering a district to report to the captain within three weeks of arrival, there was no requirement for reporting departure from the district. A defaulter was not one who failed to pay a tax, but one who failed to make a return, and many of those recorded as defaulters owed no taxes. Based on other information, Nathan Chapman was probably in South Carolina from about 1801 to 1803.

On 16 March 1802, in Laurens County, South Carolina, a John Chapman of Edgefield District sold 125 acres of land on the Saluda River to a Nathan Chapman. (DBG:391)

John Hart was born to Nathan and Elizabeth Chapman 25 July 1802, in South Carolina (according to the 1850 census).

A Nathan Chapman is listed as a defaulter on the 1802 tax rolls for Captain Jonathan Todd's District (175th G. M. D.) of Wilkes County, Georgia.

A Nathan Chapman participated in the 1803 Georgia Land Lottery while living in Wilkes County, Georgia, where he received two draws.

There is no current record of the 1803 tax rolls of Wilkes County, Georgia.

The 1804 tax rolls of Wilkes County, Georgia do not list Nathan Chapman.

Sarah "Sallie" Chapman was born to Nathan and Elizabeth Chapman 11 January 1805, probably in Georgia.

A Nathan Chapman, registrant number 1796, participated in the 1805 Land Lottery of Georgia as a resident of Wilkes County, drawing two blanks. The lottery formed five districts of Baldwin County, three districts of Wayne County and five districts Wilkinson County. Lots in Baldwin County were 202 1/2 acres, Wayne 490 acres and Wilkinson 202 1/2 acres. Fortunate drawers were to pay a grant fee of $8.10 per 202 1/2 acre lot and $19.60 per 490 acre lot. A free white male, married with wife and/or child under 21 years of age, one year resident of Georgia was entitled to two draws.

A Nathan Chapman is listed on the 1805 tax rolls of Captain Wilborn's District (177th G. M. D.) of Wilkes County, Georgia. No owned property is shown. The militia district is south of the town of Metasville between the town of Washington and the county lines of McDuffie and Lincoln Counties.

On 5 August 1806, in Laurens County, South Carolina, a Nathan Chapman sold 125 acres of land on the Saluda River. Elizabeth Chapman relinquished dower. (DB H:211)

Nancy was born to Nathan and Elizabeth Chapman 12 May 1807, probably in Georgia.

On 2 January 1809, the Ordinary Abbeville, South Carolina, received the accounting by Nathan Chapman and Benjamin Chapman of the estate of John Chapman, deceased. Included in the accounting was money paid Thomas Chapman, 8 December 1808. Benjamin Chapman swore to the accounting.

Susanna "Susan" was born to Nathan and Elizabeth Chapman 14 March 1809, in Crawfordville, then Wilkes now Taliaferro County, Georgia.

Nathan Chapman, Benjamin Chapman (probably his brother), and John Hart (perhaps his brother-in-law) were witness to the will of a William Thetford executed October 11, 1809, in Hancock County, Georgia.

The 1810 federal census of Georgia has been lost.

Elizabeth was born to Nathan and Elizabeth Chapman 11 July 1811, in Georgia.

Mary was born to Nathan and Elizabeth Chapman 22 May 1814, in Georgia.

Emily was born to Nathan and Elizabeth Chapman 16 February 1817, in Georgia.

Samuel Whatley was born to Nathan and Elizabeth Chapman 16 December 1819, in Wilkes County, Georgia.

The 1820 federal census for Wilkes County, Georgia, page 162, lists Nathan Chapman as head of household of one free white male under 10 years of age (probably Samuel); two free white males 16 to 18 years of age (Nathan Jr and ?); two free white males 16 to 26 years of age (probably John Hart and ?); one free white male 26 to 45 years of age (Nathan); three free white females under 10 years of age (Elizabeth, Mary and Emily); three free white females 10 to 16 years of age (Sallie, Nancy, Susan); one free white female 16 to 26 years of age (probably Janey); one free white female 26 to 45 years of age (Elizabeth); and three slaves. Three household members are engaged in agriculture. The census was taken as of 7 August 1820.

On 18 February 1820 in Wilkes County, Georgia, Nathan Chapman and Samuel Hart were witness to a deed of land from Collin Wooten to George Tilley.

On 24 October 1820 in Wilkes County, Georgia, Nathan Chapman attested that he and Samuel Hart had been witness to the deed above.

Nathan Chapman participated in the 1821 Land Lottery of Georgia as a resident of Bryant's Militia District of Wilkes County. He was a fortunate drawer of land lot 34, section 2 of Dooly County. The fourth, or 1821 Land Lottery opened the portion of Georgia between the Ocmulgee and Flint Rivers for settlement. This area, comprised of the original Fayette, Henry, Monroe, Houston and Dooly Counties, extended from today's Roswell on the north to Ashburn on the south. The tract was ceded to the United States by the Creek Nation of Indians on January 8, 1821 at the Treaty of Indian Springs. Approximately four months later, by Act of May 15, 1821, the drawing was held at Milledgeville, the State Capitol.

John Hart Chapman, a son of Nathan and Elizabeth Chapman, married Hepzibah Elizabeth "Sue" King 10 January 1822, in Wilkes County, Georgia.

Jane "Janey" Chapman, a daughter of Nathan and Elizabeth Chapman, married John Sanford 5 February 1822, in Wilkes County, Georgia.

Sarah "Sallie" Chapman, a daughter of Nathan and Elizabeth Chapman, married John Robert Gunn, date and place, probably in Georgia, currently unknown.

Martha was born to Nathan and Elizabeth Chapman 25 November 1823, in Georgia.

On 31 January 1824, Nathan Chapman signed receipt for the legacy to his wife Eliza from Samuel Hart, deceased. (Speculative, the signature is torn from the receipt, but it was filed with other papers of Nathan Chapman.)

On August 9th 1826, Nathan Chapman paid a bill in Augusta, Georgia.

The 1827 roster of militiamen of the 601st Georgia Militia District (Captain Justice's), the first county census for Taliaferro County, Georgia, lists Nathan Chapman as head of household of one free white under 18 years of age (perhaps Samuel Whatley); one free white male over 45 years of age (probably Nathan); four free white females under 18 years of age (probably Mary, Emily, Martha, and Susanna); four free white females over 18 years of age (probably Janey, Sarah, Nancy, and Elizabeth); and six slaves.

Susanna Chapman, a daughter of Nathan and Elizabeth Chapman, married Simeon Whatley Meadows 30 August 1827, in Taliaferro County, Georgia.

Elizabeth Chapman, a daughter of Nathan and Elizabeth Chapman, died 16 November 1827, place currently unknown.

Nancy Chapman, a daughter of Nathan and Elizabeth Chapman, died 5 October 1828, place currently unknown.

The 1830 federal census for Taliaferro County, Georgia, page 355, lists Nathan Chapman as head of household of one free white male of 10 years to 15 years (probably Samuel W.); one free white male of 50 years to 60 years (probably Nathan); one free white female of 10 years to 15 years; one free white female of 50 years to 60 years (probably Elizabeth); four male slaves; and, three female slaves. The census was taken as of 1 June 1830.

John Hart Chapman, a son of Nathan and Elizabeth Chapman, married Rachel B. Colclough, widow of Thomas Morris, 27 January 1831, in Taliaferro County, Georgia.

Nathan Chapman participated in the 1832 Georgia Cherokee Land and Gold Lotteries when living in the 601st Georgia Militia District, Taliaferro County, Georgia. He was entitled to two draws of a gold lot as a married man, head of family, but was not a fortunate drawer. The 1832 Land Lottery of Georgia, the last, made available for distribution and settlement that part of the Cherokee Indian Nation which was in Georgia. This was a large area generally north of the Chattahoochee River in the north west and north central parts of the state. There were two distinct areas involved in this Lottery. One part was the area referred to as the gold lots, lying along the south boundary of the subject area, and the other part was referred to a land lots.

On 15 March 1836, Nathan Chapman sold seven bales of cotton in Augusta, Georgia. On that same date, he bought provisions which included "1 pr hand irons".

Emily Chapman, a daughter of Nathan and Elizabeth Chapman, married Martin Farmer 22 March 1838, in Taliaferro County, Georgia.

Mary, a daughter of Nathan and Elizabeth Chapman, died 26 July 1838, place currently unknown.

On 13 November 1838, in Crawfordville, Georgia, Nathan Chapman paid for the 22 August 1838 purchase and delivery of iron bar, hoop and plate stock.

On 1 December 1838, Nathan Chapman paid for 195 days tuition at 5 cents per day totaling $9.75 plus $1.00 extra charge for grammar.

The 1840 federal census for the 601st Georgia Militia District of Taliaferro County, Georgia, page 243, lists Nathan Chapman as head of the household of one free white male of 20 years to 30 years (probably Samuel Whatley); one free white male of 60 years to 70 years (probably Nathan); one free white female of 15 years to 20 years (possibly Martha); and, one free white female of 60 years to 70 years (probably Elizabeth). The census was taken as of 1 June 1840.

On July 23 1840, in Augusta, Georgia, Nathan Chapman was paid for six round bales of cotton.

On 23 December 1840, in Crawfordville, Georgia, Nathan Chapman, Snr paid six dollars and thirty one and one-quarter cents to Gustus Luckett for his store account for the year 1840.

On 20 October 1842, Nathan Chapman's store account to date with G. Luckett was settled for fifty cents.

Martha Chapman, a daughter of Nathan and Elizabeth Chapman, married Absalom "Abner" Rhodes 4 January 1844, in Taliaferro County, Georgia.

Samuel Whatley Chapman, a son of Nathan and Elizabeth Chapman, married Missouri Ann Morris 11 January 1844, in Taliaferro County, Georgia.

Janey Chapman Sanford, wife of John Sanford and a daughter of Nathan and Elizabeth Chapman, died 11 October 1847.

On 30 October 1848, Nathan Chapman bought a large amount of what appears to have been finished lumber paid for 4 December 1848.

On 23 October 1849, in Augusta, Georgia, seven bales of cotton totaling 2819 pounds were sold for Nathan Chapman at 6 cents per pound. Part of the proceeds of this sale were used to pay for coffee at 9 cents per pound, molasses, sugar and bar iron. The net proceeds were paid Nathan Chapman on 24 February. At the time of sale, cotton was bringing 5 1/2 - 6 3/4 cents.

The 1850 federal census for Census District 78, Taliaferro County, Georgia, Page 60, lists Nathan Chapman, age 73, born in Virginia, married to Elizabeth, age 70, born in North Carolina; with children Daniel, age 16, born in North Carolina; and Nathan 8, born in North Carolina. Nathan is a farmer with real estate valued at $3000. The children attend school. I believe that these children are not those of Nathan and Elizabeth, but are grandsons or nephews. Nathan has been on the census of Georgia continuously since 1820; their known children were born either in South Carolina or in Georgia. The census was taken as of 1 June 1850.

The 1860 federal census for Crawfordville, Taliaferro County, Georgia, page 707 lists Nathan Chapman, a farmer, age 83, born in Virginia, married to Elizabeth, age 79, born in North Carolina. Nathan's real estate is valued at $2500 and his personal estate, $7630. The census was taken as of 1 June 1860. Eight owned slaves are listed on page 5 of the 1860 Slave Schedules for Taliaferro County, Georgia.

Elizabeth Hart Chapman, age 83, died 29 May 1863, in Taliaferro County, Georgia.

Nathan Chapman, age 91, died 8 July 1868, in Taliaferro County, Georgia Georgia.

Russell Henderson
August 2003