SAMUEL A. CHAPMAN.

ln the death of this gentleman, February 13, 1896, the city of Waterbury lost one of her best citizens, and his

 family a most indulgent head.  The coming of the Chapmans (one of the early New England families) to Connecticut dates back to a period beyond two and a quarter centuries ago, and to the territory of the present town of Tolland to approximately one and three-quarters centuries; the various members have been eminently distinguished in both civil and military life.

Edward Chapman, the first American ancestor of one branch of the Tolland Chapmans, came about 1660 to Windsor from England, where he married Elizabeth Fox. He settled in Simsbury (then a part of Windsor ), and lost his life at the storming of Narragansett Fort in December, 1675.

Simon Chapman, a son of Edward, born in 1669, lived in Windsor , but held lands in Tolland, of which town he was one of the great proprietors. He married about 1692, and his son, Captain Samuel Chapman, born in 1696, married, in 1717, Hannah Strong, and became the progenitor of all the Chapmans in the western part of the town of Tolland , which town began to be settled about 1725. He was the only justice of the peace in Tolland for nine years, and was selectman for eleven years. He died in the service of his country during the French war. Captain Samuel Chapman's several sons and daughters all married and also settled in Tolland, where the sons became the wealthiest men in the town and were among the most active, public-spirited and influential.

Colonel Samuel Chapman, son of Captain Samuel Chapman, born in Windsor a few years prior to his father's settling in Tolland, married, in 1750, Sarah White, of Bolton , Connecticut . He was a very remarkable man, and a very eminent citizen of Tolland. He served as captain in the French and Indian war, and as colonel of the Twenty-second Connecticut Militia during the entire war of the Revolution. His was the master spirit that brought the citizens of Tolland into unanimous and energetic action in the Revolutionary contest. His personal courage and astonishing hardihood were proverbial among his soldiers. Few men could be found so unflinching in moments of danger, and his firmness and energy never faltered under any circumstances. He was rather under middle stature, had blue eyes, and his voice was remarkable for its loudness and energy.

He was a great reader, taciturn and of studious habits. He never laughed, and it is said a smile seldom lighted his countenance.

Colonel Chapman was elected to the general assembly from Tolland forty-three times, when the election was held twice a year, and attended fifteen special sessions, of that body. He was a member of the convention in 1788, and voted for the adoption of the present constitution of the United States . He was several years a selectman, and for twenty-six years (1772-1797) served as justice of the peace.

Among other prominent men of the name in Tolland were: Deacon Elijah Chapman, elected several terms to the general assembly, and who also served as selectman; General Elijah Chapman, who several times was a member of the general assembly, and for twenty- three years served as sheriff of Tolland County; and Captain Ashbel, who was also several times in the general assembly, and a member of the convention, in 1818. which framed the constitution of the state. Of the five children of Colonel Samuel Chapman. Samuel, born in 1757, settled in Ellington , Connecticut . On October 24, 1782, he married Mary Carlton, and became the father of ten children, among whom was Cheater, the father of our subject.

Chester Chapman grew to manhood and in March, 1832, married Abigail Loomis, who bore him four children: Samuel A., our subject; Mary Carlton, born December 19, 1834; John Melvin, born December 23, 1836; and Emily Elizabeth, born January 17, 1839. On December 29, 1840, Chester Chapman wedded Elizabeth Bull, of Ellington , Connecticut , and five children came to this second marriage: Eustace Chester, born September 30, 1841; Florence Alicia, October 25, 1848; Leslie Clarence, February 16, 1845; Randolph Butler, November 16, 1848; and Edwin Dayton, July 15, 1851.

Samuel A. Chapman, the subject proper of this sketch, was born December 25, 1832, in the town of Ellington , the eldest in a family of nine children. While yet a boy he left home and began his business career in Hartford , Connecticut . In 1858 he came to Waterbury as a contractor with Rogers & Brothers, with which firm he remained about seven years. At the end of this period he accepted a position with the Holmes, Booth  & Haydens Company as superintendent, in which capacity he served that company for eighteen years, becoming after a time one of the directors of the company. In 1883 he organized the Chapman & Armstrong Manufacturing Company, of which he himself was chosen president; he was also president of the Hammond Buckle Company. As a brass manufacturer Mr. Chapman was considered one of the best in the country. For several years he was a member of the board of compensation in Waterbury , and was also at one time police commissioner of the city. On the question of values of property he was considered an expert, and his advice was frequently sought in a public capacity. Mr. Chapman, without being at all demonstrative, was exceedingly public-spirited, and watched with keen interest all public matters, and oft-times, without appearing to do so, exerted considerable influence. He was a councilman for many years, and in every way was a man of prominence, highly respected by all. As an employer of large numbers of men, he was considered to be just and considerate, winning the esteem and confidence of those who were associated with him. Fraternally he was a member of Harmony Lodge, F. & A. M., and of Clark Commandery, K. T., of Waterbury. In politics he was a republican. In addition to his other interests he owned an extensive dairy and sheep farm in Madison, Connecticut, on which were to be found all modern improvements, and he was also the proprietor of several seaside cottages.

On May 25, 1858, Mr. Chapman married Miss Mary E. Lancey (also spelled DeLancey), who was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, a daughter of William and Betsey (Herrick) Lancey, and to this union was born March 26, 1859, a daughter, Florence Mabel, who is living at home. Mr. Lancey was a native of Weston , Vermont , born March 10, 1801, and died in 1840. He was a son of Zacheus Lancey, who settled in Weston. Mrs. Lancey was born in Chesterfield , New Hampshire , a daughter of Silas Herrick, and died September 17, 1865. The first of this DeLancey family in America came from France and settled in one of the New England states some time in the eighteenth century. Mrs. Chapman, the wife of our subject, was one of a family of six children, as follows: William J., a dentist in Centralia, Illinois, who always writes his name DeLancey; Helen M., unmarried; George, who died in infancy; Sarah J., wife of Leroy S. White, of Waterbury, Connecticut; Mary E. (Mrs. Chapman); and John L., who died at the age of two and one-half years.

Mr. Chapman died February 13, 1896, at Waterbury , and a local paper of the time pays him the following well-merited eulogy: "In the death of Samuel A. Chapman, Waterbury loses one of its representative citizens. The news of his death came with startling and shocking suddenness, and to the many who loved him for what he was, it is experienced as a personal affliction. He was a noble and generous man, whose many unostentatious kindnesses and gracious deeds caused him to be held in high regard." –

[Source: History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley , Connecticut Volume III, by William Jamieson Pape, S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1918 - Pages 617 - 618]

Transcribed & Submitted by James D. VanDerMark