Tom McCabes Genealogy 2022

Document From Internet (No Author Listed)

John Chapman b. 1750 – d. 1811 married Nancy (West)? 1787 Abbeville, South Carolina

I know so little about John Chapman’s life. However, I know a great deal about him after he died. I held documents in my hand in the courthouse Covington, La. That reveal a great deal about him and his family. I have transcribed the original documents and will attach them to ancestry.com. Here are the facts as I know them.

John Chapman Born 1750 Charleston, SC 1769 census – Charleston, SC 1787 married Nancy (West) b. 1765 in Abbeville, SC Abbeville was a burned courthouse and they have no records of marriage dating back that far. 1790 census - Greenville, SC 1800 census – Chesterfield, SC – his son John Jr. is also listed as a head of household. 1810 census - Opelousas, La. 1811 – John Chapman died in December– his wife Nancy and sons John and Jesse take inventory of his belongings. No will.

Nancy died in March between 1812 and 1815.

John Chapman,Jr. petitions the court saying Nancy died and did not do anything regarding the disposition the property of John Chapman. John Jr. is requesting the court to allow him to use the property for the minor children. It is ordered that William West be appointed tutor and John Chapman, Jr. under tutor for Nancy Chapman and that John Chapman be appointed curator for William Chapman This document is not dated

There are 4 documents dated 8 Nov. 1815. They are confusing but here is my best estimate of what happened. Document 1. William West and Littleberry West petition the court for Zilla Chapman a minor over 14 years. The document was torn and that was all the info.

Document 2. Zilla, heir of William West?, petitions the cour. to have her brother John be her curator

Document 3. John Jr. and Jesse petition court for Zilla over 14 and Wiley under 14

Document 4 Wiley petitions ct. to have John Jr. be his curator

I don’t understand what happen in court that day. William West must have died and the Chapman brothers then became curators for their little sisters and brothers. Also, Document says Wiley is over 14 and he is listed as under 14 in the other documents.