the chignecto isthmus and its first settlers-第24章

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tly　to　see　the　church；　which　was　built　by　my　great…grandfather。　When　Sabbath　morning　came　I　went　to　the　church；　reached　it　just　a　little　after　the　minister　in　charge　had　commenced　the　service。　Seeing　that　I　was　a　stranger；　with　somewhat　of　a　clerical　appearance；　he　came　out　of　the　pulpit　to　the　pew　where　I　was　sitting；　and　said；　among　other　things；　'We　are　going　to　have　the　Sacrament　of　the　Lord's　Supper　to…day；　and　I　would　be　glad　to　have　you　stay　and　assist；'　which　I　did。　At　the　close　of　the　service　I　remarked　to　the　minister　that　I　was　very　much　interested　in　being　present；　as　I　was　informed　that　the　remains　of　my　ancestor　were　in　the　vault　under　the　pulpit；　and　that　I　was　his　great…　grandson。　He　seemed　much　surprised　and　announced　the　fact　to　the　congregation；　and　further　said　that　I　would　preach　in　the　afternoon；　which　I　did。　He　then　directed　the　sexton　to　show　me　down　into　the　vault。　In　this　vault　there　were　the　remains　of　three　ministers　in　their　separate　coffins。　One　was　a　coffin　containing　the　remains　of　the　immortal　Whitfield。　In　the　coffin　just　opposite　was　the　remains　of　the　Rev。　Joseph　Prince；　and　in　another　the　remains　of　another　former　pastor　of　the　church；　Rev。　Mr。　Parsons。　I　certainly　was　very　much　impressed　by　my　surroundings；　for　it　was　a　scene　the　like　of　which　I　never　hoped　to　look　upon　again。　This　vault；　I　was　told；　had　been　visited　by　thousands；　who　came　to　look　upon　George　Whitfield's　bones；　for　there　was　nothing　but　bones。　Whitfield　died　a　very　short　distance　from　the　church；　and　the　window　of　the　house　where　he　breathed　his　last　was　pointed　out　to　me。　I　remember　with　what　strange　feelings　I　lad　my　hand　on　the　shade　of　my　ancestor。　This　man　had　twelve　sons；　and　there　was　one　thing　about　them　the　pastor　said　he　knew；　and　that　was　'that　they　were　all　Princes。'

〃We　can　trace　our　ancestry　back　three　hundred　years；　and　the　head　of　the　family　was　Rev。　John　Prince；　Rector　of　a　parish　in　Berkshire；　Eng。　I　have　a　photograph　of　the　stone　church　where　he　ministered。　His　sons　were　Nonconformists；　and　John　Prince；　the　first　to　come　to　this　country；　was　persecuted　and　driven　out　of　his　country　by　the　cruelty　of　Archbishop　Laud。。

〃Yours　very　truly；

〃JOHN　PRINCE。〃

CHAPMAN。

William　Chapman　was　one　of　the　Yorkshire　emigrants　that　came　to　Nova　Scotia　in　the　spring　of　1775。　He　brought　with　him　his　wife　and　family　of　eight　children；　four　sons　and　four　daughters。　He　purchased　a　large　block　of　land　near　Point　de　Bute　corner；　with　the　marsh　adjoining；　and　on　this　property　at　once　settled。

William　Chapman　was　one　of　the　early　Methodists；　and　it　was　in　1788；　on　an　acre　of　land　given　by　Mr。　Chapman；　and　deeded　to　John　Wesley；　that　the　first　Methodist　church　was　built　in　Point　de　Bute。　Later；　Joseph　Chapman；　Esq。；　a　grandson　of　William；　gave　an　additional　piece　of　land；　and　the　whole　at　the　present　time　comprises　the　cemetery　at　Point　de　Bute。

The　following　letter　from　James　Chapman；　in　Yorkshire；　to　William　Trueman；　at　Prospect；　will　perhaps　be　interesting　to　some　of　the　descendants。　It　was　written　in　1789：

〃Dear　Friends；What　shall　I　say　to　you？　　How　shall　I　be　thankful　enough　for　that　I　have　once　more　heard　of　my　dear　old　friends　in　Nova　Scotia。　When　John　Trueman　let　me　see　your　letter　it　caused　tears　of　gratitude　to　flow　from　my　eyes；　to　hear　that　you　were　all　alive；　but　much　more　that　I　had　reason　to　believe　that　you　were　on　the　road　to　Zion；　with　your　faces　thitherward。　I　am　also　thankful　that　I　can　tell　you　that　I　and　my　wife　and　ten　children　are　yet　alive；　and　I　hope　in　good　health；　and　I　hope　most　of　us　are；　though　no　earnestly　pressing；　yet　we　are　feebly　creeping　towards　the　mark　for　the　prize　of　our　high　calling　of　God　in　Christ　Jesus。　My　son；　Thomas；　now　lives　at　Hawnby；　and　follows　shoemaking；　he　is　not　married；　nor　any　of　my　sons。　I　have　three　daughters；　Ann；　Mary　and　Hannah。　Ann　succeeds　her　uncle　and　aunt；　for　they　are　both　dead。　Mary　and　her　husband　live　on　a　little　farm　at　Brompton；　and　Hannah　at　Helmsley。　My　son　James　is　in　the　Excise　at　London。　William　and　John　are　with　me　at　home　and　George　has　learned　the　business　of　Cabinet　maker。　Prudence　keeps　a　farmer's　house　in　Cleaveland　and　Betty　is　at　home　and　she　is　Taller　than　her　mother。　Thanks　be　to　God　both　I　and　my　wife　enjoy　a　tolerable　share　of　health　and　can　both　work　and　sleep　tolerably　well。　________　died　about　last　Candlemas；　which　has　made　the　society　at　Hawnby　almost　vacant　for　a　class　leader；　but　I　go　as　often　as　I　can　and　your　friend；　Benjamin　Wedgewood；　speaks　to　them　when　I　am　not　there。　Tho　most　of　the　old　methodists　at　Hawnby　are　gone　to　Eternity；　yet　there　is　about　thirty　yet。　James　Hewgill　is　married　and　both　him　and　his　wife　are　joined　in　the　society。　There　us　preaching　settled　at　Swainby　and　I　believe　a　yearnest　Society　of　aboyt　Seventeen　members。　I　often　go　there　on　Sundays　to　preach。　There　has　just　been　a　Confirence　at　Leeds　and　good　old　Mr。　Wesley　was　there　among　them；　very　healthy　and　strong；　though　86　years　of　age。　At　our　Hawnby　Love　Feast　I　had　Mr。　Swinburn　and　his　wife　2　nights　at　my　house。　They　seem　to　be　people　who　have　religion　truly　at　heart　and　both　earnestly　desired　me　to　remember　them　Both　to　you　in　kind　love　and　also　to　all　their　religious　friends。　I　saw　Nelly　very　lately　at　her　house　in　North　Allerton。　She　desires　you　all　to　pray　for　her；　which　she　does　for　you　all。　My　dear　friends　what　Shall　I　say　more　to　you；　But　only　desire　you　to　continue　in　the　good　ways　of　God；　and　never　grow　weary　or　faint　in　your　minds；　and　then　we　hope　to　meet　you　in　heaven。　Pray　give　our　kind　loves　to　our　old　friends；　your　father　and　mother；　and　tell　your　Father　when　I　see　my　Tooth　drawers　then　I　think　of　him；　for　he　made　them。　My　dear　friends；　farewell；　our　and　our　Family's　kind　love　to　you　and　all　your　Family；　and　also　all　the　Chapman　Familys；　James　and　Ann　Chapman。　Mary　Flintoff　and　Sara　Bently　are　Both　alive　and　remains　at　their　old　Habitations；　But　Mary　never　goes　to　the　meetings。　Their　children　are　all　alive；　But　Sarah　Flintoff　and　she　died　at　York　about　three　or　four　years　Since。　James　Flintoft　is　with　his　unkle　George　Cossins　at　London。〃

The　Chapmans　were　very　fond　of　military　life；　and　in　the　old　muster；　days　took　an　active　interest　in　the　general　muster。　As　a　consequence　there　was　usually　a　colonel；　a　major；　an　adjutant　or　a　captain　in　every　neighborhood　where　the　name　was　found。

A　story　is　told　of　Captain　Henry　Chapman；　on　his　way　to　general　muster；　meeting　a　man　with　a　loaded　team；　whose　hope　was　to　get　clear　of　mustering　that　day　on　the　plea　that　he　had　not　been　long　enough　in　the　district。　The　captain　ascertained　the　man's　views　on　the　matter；　and　then　with　an　emphasis　that　indicated　he　was　in　earnest；　he　said；　〃If　you　are　not　on　the　muster　field　by　one　o'clock　I　will　have　you　fined　to　the　full　extent　of　the　law。〃　　One　who　witnessed　this　interview　said　it　was　laughable　to　see　the　frightened　look　on　the　man's　face；　and　the　rush　he　made　to　unhitch　the　team　and　get　away　to　the　muster　field　within　the　time　stated。　This　same　Captain　Chapman　was　one　of　the　kindest　of　men；　but　duty　to　Queen　and　country　must　not　be　neglected。

There　was；　too；　a　good　deal　of　the　sporting　instinct　in　the　family。　A　horse　race　or　a　fox　hunt　appealed　to　something　in　their　nature　that　stirred　the　pulse　like　wine　and　furnished　material　for　conversation　on　many　a　day　afterward。

Like　a　good　many　of　the　first　generation　born　in　this　country；　the　Chapmans　were　men　of　grand　physique。　The　five　sons　of　Colonel　Henry　Chapman；　of　Point　de　Bute；　each　measured　six　feet　or　over；　and　were　finely　proportioned。　Two　of　the　sons；　Joseph　and　Stephen；　were　among　the　volunteers　in　the　war　of　1812；　and　they　both　lived　to　pass　the　four…score　mark。

The　children　of　the　first　Wm。　Chapman　were：　　William；　who　married　a　Miss　Dixon；　of　Sackville；　and　settled　in　Fort　Lawrence　on　a　part　of　the　old　Eddy　grant；　and　Thomas；　who　married　Miss　Kane；　formerly　a　school　teacher；　from　New　England。　They　settled　beside　William。　John　married　Sarah　Black；　of　Amherst；　and　settled　in　Dorchester。　Henry　married　Miss　Seaman；　of　Wallace；　and　remained　on　the　farm　at　Point　de　Bute。　Mary　married　George　Taylor；　Memramcook。　Jane　married　John　Smith；　of　Fort　Lawrence；　and　was　the　mother　of　nine　strapping　boys；　all　of　whom　proved　good　men　for　the　country。　Sally　married　Richard　Black；　of　Amherst。　They　settled　first　at　River　Philip；　but　later　came　back　to　Amherst　and　lived　on　the　farm　his　father　first　purchased　in　Cumberland。　Nancy　was　twice　marriedfirst　to　Thomas　Robinson；　and　after　his　death　to　James　Roberts。　Her　home　was　in　Amherst。

James　Dixon；　in　his　〃History　of　the　Dixons；〃　says　he　thinks　the　descendants　of　William　and　Mary　Chapman　now　number　more　than　the　descendants　of　any　of　the　other　Yorkshire　families。　Rev。　Douglas　Chapman；　D。D。；　Rev。　Eugene　Chapman；　Rev。　Carritte　Chapman；　Rev。　W。　Y。　Chapman；　and　Ephraim　Chapman；　barrister；　are　of　this　family。

The　late　Albert　Chapman；　of　Boston；　U。S。；　was　very　much　interested　in　looking　up　family　history；　and　spent　a　good　deal　of　time　in　gathering　information　about　the　Chapman　family。　The　following　letters　and　extracts　which　were　received　by　him　some　years　before　he　died　may　add　interest　to　this　sketch：

〃13　CHIPPING　HOUSE　ROAD；　〃SHARROW；　SHEFFIELD；　ENGLAND；　〃Jan。　15th；　1881。

〃MR。　CHAPMAN；

〃SIR；You　will　no　doubt　be　surprised　to　receive　a　letter　from　an　unknown　relative。

〃We　were　much　pleased　to　learn　you　had　made　enquiries　about　the　Chapman　family　after　so　long　a　silence。　We　often　heard　father　speak　of　uncle　who　left　Hawnby　Hall　for　America　and　could　not　get　any　letter　answered。　Most　of　the　Chapman　family　have　passed　away　since　he　left。　We　have　the　four　grandchildren　left　belonging　to　Thomas　Chapman；　brother　to　your　grandfather。　The　grandfather　has　been　dead　eighty　years；　and　our　father　has　been　dead　forty…five　years。

〃We　should　be　glad　to　see　you　or　any　of　the　Chapman　family　if　you　could　take　a　tour　and　see　the　place　where　your　ancestors　lived。　The　house　and　farm　are　still　in　the　family　and　should　be　glad　to　accommodate　you　if　you　could　come　over；　and　we　shall　be　glad　to　hear　all　the　news　about　the　family　who　lived　and　died　in　America。

〃With　best　wishes　to　you　and　your；

〃I　remain　yours；　〃MARY　WALTON。〃

Extract　from　a　letter　from　Thos。　J。　Wilkinson　to　A。　Chapman；　Boston：

〃YORK　UNION　BANK；　〃THIRSK；　YORKSHIRE。

〃I　have　visited　Hawnby　a　few　times；　it　is　most　romantically　situated　about　ten　miles　from　Thirsk；　rather　difficult　of　access　on　account　of　the　steep　ascents　which　have　to　be　climbed　and　precipitously　descended　before　it　can　be　reached。

〃As　I　am　acquainted　with　the　clergyman　who　has　been　there　many　years；　the　Rev。　O。　A。　Manners　（connected　with　the　Duke　of　Rutland's　family）　I　wrote　him　and　received　the　following　letter：

〃April　2nd；　1880。

〃DEAR　SIR；

〃I　have　examined　the　register　and　found　frequent　mention　of　the　name　of　Chapman　of　Hawnby　Hall；　viz。；　'March　22；　1761John；　son　of　William　Chapman；　Hawnby　Hall；　baptized。　Feb。　3；　1763Thomas　Chapman；　of　the　Hall；　died　aged　75　years。'

〃It　would　seem　that　the　foregoing　William　Chapman　was　the　son　of　Thomas　Chapman　and　the　man　who　landed　in　Halifax　in　1775。

〃About　the　latter　date　a　family　by　the　name　of　Barr　came　to　reside　at　the　Hall。

〃James　Cornforth　of　this　place；　who　i