PART I.   

Thomas Chapman (John, Nathan) b. 1 Nov. 1788, South Carolina, died 12 Oct. 1853, Taliaferro Co., GA.  Married Sarah Hart (b. ca. 1778, North Carolina, daughter of Samuel and Susannah (Boring) Hart). 

Taliaferro Co. Roster of Militiamen 1827 (First County Census)

603^rd District G.M. (Captain Chapman’s)

THOMAS CHAPMAN

3 males under 18

1 male 18 to 45

1 female under 18

1 female over 18

2 slaves. 

1830 Census, Taliaferro Co., GA

THOMAS CHAPMAN

4 males, 1 female, 2 slaves. 

1840 Census, Taliaferro Co., GA

G.M.D. 601

THOMAS CHAPMAN

1 male, 1 female, 3 slaves 

1850 Census, Taliaferro Co., GA

Dwelling 163, Family 163

THOMAS CHAPMAN, age 61, Farmer, b. SC

SARAH, age 71, b. NC 

Children of Thomas and Sarah (Hart) Chapman:   

1.  William H. Chapman (Thomas, John, Nathan), b. ca. 1812, GA, d. after 1880.  Married 21 Sept. 1834, Taliaferro Co. to Ann (Connell) Andrews, widow of Marcus Andrews.  (See more later in Part II.) 

2.  Nancy Chapman (Thomas, John, Nathan), b. 25 Dec. 1814, GA, d. 27 Feb. 1851, Taliaferro Co., GA.  Buried in Crawfordville Baptist Cemetery.  Married (1) George W. Reynolds (aka Runnells) 19 July 1835, Taliaferro Co., GA.  Married (2) John W. Reynolds, 27 Feb. 1851, Taliaferro Co., GA.   

George W. Reynolds is listed in the 1840 Census of Taliaferro Co. in Militia District 607.  His household consisted of 1 male, 4 females and 1 slave.  He apparently died before 1850 since Nancy appears in the 1850 census as head of household with 4 minor daughters. 

Children of Nancy (Chapman) and George W. Reynolds 

(1)  Sarah Ann H. Reynolds, b. ca. 1836, Taliaferro Co., GA.  Married Edward A. Holmes, 2 Nov., 1854 Taliaferro Co.

(2)  Susan Ann R. (Rebecca?) Reynolds, b. ca. 1837.  No further info. 

(3)  Martha Ann Reynolds, b. ca. 1840, Taliaferro Co.  No further info. 

(4)  George Ann Reynolds, b. ca. 1841.  Mentioned in the will of her grandfather, Thomas Chapman, as Nancy’s “afflicted daughter.”   

1850 Census, Taliaferro Co., GA

Dwelling 137, Family 137

REYNOLDS, NANCY, age 36

Susan Ann R., age 13

Sarah Ann H., age 12

Martha Ann, age 10

George Ann, age 9 

1860 Census, Taliaferro Co., GA

Dwelling 321, Family 315

REYNOLDS, JOHN W., age (unreadable), b. GA, occupation: farmer,

Value of Real Estate, 5000, value of personal estate,18,000.

NANCY, age (unreadable), b. GA

Martha A., age 18, b. GA

P. Mo______, age 40, Merchant, b. Prussia 

(John W. Reynolds was married first to Dorothy Shorter, 7 Jan. 1838.  She was widow of Henry Shorter and a good deal older than John W. Reynolds.  Dorothy is buried in the Crawfordville Baptist Cemetery in the same section as Nancy and John W.  Her tombstone shows Dorothy age 64 when she died in 1850.)   

In the past a daughter Rebecca has been given for Nancy and John W. Reynolds.  However, it now seems doubtful they had any children.  In Mell Lunceford’s book he shows an agreement to divide and sell the property of Thomas Chapman (see below) which reads in part:  “. . . John W. Reynolds, gdn of Susan Ann, Rebecca, Martha Ann and George Ann Reynolds, THREE minor children of said Nancy Reynolds . . .”   Notice that there is a comma between Susan Ann and Rebecca which makes one think they are two separate children.  However, note also that they are called “THREE” minor children of Nancy, not four.  In the 1850 census, Susan Ann is referred to as Susan A. R. Reynolds and it’s likely that the “R” stands for Rebecca.  If Nancy and John W. Reynolds had a daughter together named Rebecca, she should show up in the 1860 census but only Martha A., age 18, is listed. 

Nancy (Chapman) Reynolds left a will in Taliaferro Co. dated 2 March 1867, probated 1 April 1867.  She names her husband, John W. Reynolds, deceased and sisters Pheriba [Reynolds] Pierce and Mrs. Emily [Reynolds] Jordan.  These were probably her sisters-in-law.  Also named in her will were nephew Jabez M. Lacy and his son Charles P. Lacy, niece Mary Frances Jourdan, brother-in-law S. L. Jourdan.  Others named were Mary, wife of Dr. John J. Kent (no relationship stated) and the Georgia Baptist Convention.   

(Taliaferro Co., GA Deed Bk. F, p. 98)  George F. Bristow and John J. Kent, excrs of Nancy Reynolds, decd, to Littleberry R. L. Jennings.  20 acres in Crawfordville “on the road leading from Crawfordville to Hello . . . it being the house and Lot purchased from Sylvester J. Farmer by John W. Reynolds, decd, and whereon the said John W. Reynolds and Nancy Reynolds resided at the time of their deaths.”  Test: GWM, JDH.  2/18/1868 (from book: Taliaferro County Georgia Records and Notes, by Alvin Mell Lunceford, Jr.) 

3.  James R. Chapman (Thomas, John, Nathan), b. ca. 1817, GA, d. after 1896, Taliaferro Co., GA.  Married 22 March 1836 to Nancy King, dau. of Richard and Rachel (Dearborn) King.   

Children of James R. and Nancy (King) Chapman:   

(1)  William Thomas Chapman, b. 1 Feb. 1837, Taliaferro Co., GA, d. 27 March 1920, Taliaferro Co., GA.  Married 8 Oct. 1859, Taliaferro Co., to Emeline Jane Gunn, b. 4 April 1840, Taliaferro Co., d. 19 April 1904, Taliaferro Co.  She was daughter of John Robert and Sarah (Chapman) Gunn.  (Sarah Chapman was daughter of Nathan and Elizabeth (Hart) Chapman.)  Emeline is mentioned in the will of her father, John Robert Gunn, as Emeline J. Chapman.  The will was dated 3 May 1887, probated 4 June 1888 and two of the witnesses were S. H. Chapman and S. W. Chapman.  A copy of the will was provided to me by Ross Kelly, of Snellville, GA. 

(2)  James Samuel Chapman, b. 3 June 1839, Taliaferro Co., GA, d. 10 April 1918.  Married Dec. 11, 1865, Taliaferro Co. to Mary Susan Greeson (aka Greison) (b. ca. 1843-44, probably daughter of Peyton and Narcissa (Battle) Greeson). 

1850 Census Taliaferro Co., GA

Dwelling 186, Family 186

Peton Gresian, age 35, b. GA

Narcisa, age 30, b. GA

SUSAN, age 7, b. GA

Masuria, age 5, b. GA

Lueze, age 3, b. GA

Talbot, age 5 mos., b. GA 

(3)  Mary Frances Chapman, b. 2 Oct. 1842, Taliaferro Co., GA, d. 28 July 1921, Taliaferro Co., buried Crawfordville Baptist Cemetery.  Married 8 April 1869, Taliaferro Co., to Wyatt A. Hill.  

James R. Chapman left a will in Taliaferro Co. dated 29 Dec. 1896 in which he named daughter Mary F. Hill, and sons W. T. and J. S. Chapman.   

(Sources:  Information from Ross Kelly, Snellville, GA, Taliaferro Co. Marriage Book A, Tombstone inscriptions, Taliaferro Co., Will Bk. B., “The Gunns” by Robert R. Gunn (1925-Clem G. Moore’s Print Shop, Crawfordville, GA).) 

4.  Nathan Chapman (Thomas, John, Nathan), b. ca. 1818, GA, after 1880.  Married (1) 27 Sept. 1838, Taliaferro Co., GA to Rebecca Allen, and (2) 6 May 1847, Taliaferro Co., to Jane A.W. McMikle.  Very little is known about Nathan.  He was mentioned as son in the will Thomas Chapman along with his daughter Elizabeth.  I have been unable to find him in the 1850 census but the following from 1860, 1870 and 1880 fits well and might be Nathan, son of Thomas Chapman.   

1860 Census, Cherokee Co., GA,

Fair Play District

Dwelling No. 450, Family No. 469

NATHAN CHAPMAN, age 42, b. GA, Occupation: Physician

JANE A., age 28, b. North Carolina. 

1870 Census, Kingston, Bartow Co., GA,

Dwelling No. 71, Family No. 71

CHAPMAN, NATHAN, age 51, b. GA, Occupation: Physician

JANE A.W., age 38, b. NC, Occupation: Keeping House

Cobb, Lorena, age 74, b. GA 

1880 Census, Rockmart, Polk Co., GA

NATHAN CHAPMAN, Self, age 61, b. GA, father b. SC, mother b. SC

Occupation:  Physician.

JANE CHAPMAN, Wife, age 48, b. NC, father b. NC, mother b. NC

Occupation: Keeping House 

(Thomas Chapman’s will sent to Rhoda Fone by Ross Kelly of Snellville, GA)

Will Of Thomas Chapman 

In the name of God, Amen!

I THOMAS CHAPMAN of the State of Georgia and County of Taliaferro being of sound and disposing mind and memory and being duly impressed with the uncertainty of life do make declare and publish this my last will and Testament touching all the property I may die possessed of hereby revoking and declaring nul and void all other wills heretofore made by me.  

ITEM 1st. It is my will and desire that all my just debts be first paid out of any ready money on hand at the time of my death or out of the proceeds of such notes as may be on hand or any demands that may be due me.  

ITEM 2nd. It is my will and desire that MY BELOVED WIFE SARAH CHAPMAN shall keep all my property both real and personal after the payment of my debts, have, hold, use and enjoy the same as long as she shall live and I do hereby will and bequeath all my aforesaid estates and property of every kind whatsoever to her for and during her natural life- It being my wish that she shall keep the Negroes together and cultivate the land and have the absolute control and use of all that is made. 

ITEM 3rd. At the death of my wife I wish all my property then disposed of as follows- that is to say I wish my Executors hereinafter named to take charge of all my estates both real and personal that may be left at the death of my wife and out of such property to raise the sum of fifteen hundred dollars in cash to be handed over at the end of twelve months after the death of my wife TO MY SON NATHAN CHAPMAN to have and use during his natural life and at his death TO GO TO HIS DAUGHTER ELIZABETH provided he will give bond and security to be approved of by my Executors to pay to his daughter Elizabeth the said sun of fifteen hundred dollars at his death which sum of fifteen hundred dollars in case my son Nathan shall give such bond I will and bequeath to him for and during his natural life and at his death to his said daughter Elizabeth but in case his said daughter Elizabeth should die leaving no child or children living at her death then it is my desire and will that the said fifteen hundred dollars at the death of my son Nathan or at her death as the case may be shall revert to and be equally divided between THE CHILDREN OF MY SON WILLIAM H. CHAPMAN, JAMES R. CHAPMAN AND NANCY REYNOLDS per-stirpes -  And in case my son Nathan shall refuse or fail to give the bond as herein set forth then it is my wish that my Executors shall take and hold said fifteen hundred dollars in trust for my said granddaughter Elizabeth Chapman daughter of said Nathan until she marries and has issue living and if she then die leaving no child or children living at her death then the same disposition is to be made of the said legacy as aforesaid.  

ITEM 4th. It is my will and desire that all the balance property both real and personal be equally divided into three parts - one of these parts I give TO MY SON WILLIAM H. CHAPMAN one of these parts I give TO MY SON JAMES R. CHAPMAN and the other I give TO MY DAUGHTER NANCY REYNOLDS during her natural life and at her death to be divided between her children and so divided AS TO GIVE GEORGIA ANN HER AFFLICTED DAUGHTER two hundred dollars more than either of the others- all the rest to be equally divided.  

ITEM 5th. In the division of my negroes I wish my negro woman Luna and her child Henry now a man grown to go together and also to have the privilege of choosing which one of my children aforesaid she may prefer to belong to. 

ITEM 6th. In case any accident should happen so as to depreciate my present estate or in case of the death of any of my negroes so that the value of my estate at the death of my wife shall be less than nine thousand dollars then I wish the said sum of fifteen hundred dollars mentioned in the third clause of this will to be lessoned in the same ratio. And I give my Executors full power to raise the said fifteen hundred dollars either by sale or in any other way that they may think best- they have full discretion. 

ITEM 7th. The part of my estate that I have given to MY DAUGHTER NANCY REYNOLDS in the fourth clause of this will during her life I hereby so qualify as to give it to her for her natural life as widowhood. In case she marries it is my wish that the property left her be immediately divided between her children as before specified. 

ITEM 8th. In case it should be deemed necessary to carry out the provisions of this my last will I constitute my executors trustees to hold my property in trust from my death to the death of my wife and until all the provisions of this will are executed- they are to hold all my estates in trust for the use of my wife as long as she lives giving her all the rents issues and profits and at her death are to execute all the other provisions of my will. 

ITEM 9th. Lastly I nominate Constitute and appoint my son WILLIAM H. CHAPMAN AND ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS THE EXECUTORS to this my last will and testament. ( The word "dollars" on this page interlined before signing) - This 25th Oct. 1852.

/s/ Thomas Chapman 

Signed Sealed declared and

published as -his last will and testament-in

presence of John L. Bird

Petis G. Rhorne

D.A. Williams 

By way of Codicil to my last will and testament made the 25th Oct. 1852. and witnessed by John P. Bird, Petis G. Rhorne and D.A. Williams I now further declare it to be my will and desire that the portion left TO MY DAUGHTER NANCY REYNOLDS in said will shall be for her sole and separate use during her natural life and it shall not in any event be divided amongst her children as therein directed until after her death whether she marries or not but the same is not to be subject to the control of any future husband she may marry or liable for any of his contracts. And it is also my desire that the fifteen hundred dollars LEFT TO MY SON NATHAN as therein directed shall be held by him without interest during his natural life.  I make this statement and declaration that there may be no mistake on that point- the amount to revert to my estate on the contingency there in act fourth is the fifteen hundred dollars and no more - This 8th Nov. 1852

/s/ Thomas Chapman (Seal) 

This acknowledges and declared to be       

A Codicil to his will in our presence

this 10th October 1853.

     JESSE SPIKES

     Benjamin Jones

     Greene Baker 

The following information from Taliaferro County Georgia Records and Notes, by Alvin Mell Lunceford, Jr (The Reprint Company, Publishers, Spartanburg, SC 1988). 

(Taliaferro Co., GA Deed Bk. E, p. 331)  William H. Chapman, excr of Thomas Chapman, decd, to James R. Chapman.  Test: WA, JDH.  12/22/1856 

(Taliaferro Co., GA Deed Bk. E, p. 334)  Sarah Chapman “to my children William H. Chapman, James R. Chapman, and Nancy Reynolds.”  Test: Wiley Jackson, William C. Veazey JP.  11/20/1856 

(Taliaferro Co., GA Deed Bk. E, p. 335) William H. Chapman; Nancy Reynolds; Edward Holmes in right of his wife Sarah A.H. Holmes, formerly Sarah A.H. Reynolds; John W. Reynolds, gdn of Susan Ann, Rebecca, Martha Ann and George Ann Reynolds, three minor children of said Nancy Reynolds; legatees of Thomas Chapman.  Sarah Chapman, widow.  Agreement to divide and sell property.  Test: Wiley Jackson, WCV, WMH.         11/20/1856