Heroes and Rebels in the Family Tree—William Peek Chapman and Ann Barber

 

Heroes and Rebels in the Family Tree—William Peek Chapman and Ann Barber

The following story was originally published in a program celebrating the Chapman’s 73^rd wedding anniversary.

“A remarkable record is that of Mr. and Mrs. William Chapman of 6 Prospect Place, who are 95 and 94 years of age respectively, and who in December [1929] celebrated the 73^rd anniversary of their wedding.

Both are in good health, are happy and healthy, and are proud of having lived in four reigns.  Mr. Chapman was, in fact, named after the reigning monarch William IV in July 1835.  Mr. Chapman celebrated his birthday on May 18^th and his wife’s was on April 10^th.

Both natives of Pakefield, they were married on December 18^th, 1856, at Pakefield Church, and have nine children.  Mr. Chapman was a fisherman from the age of 9, starting in the time of the old three-masted vessels, and eventually reached the position of skipper.

Catches Landed on Beach

In his earlier days the catches were landed on the beach, but Mr. Chapman, like many other fishermen of his day, lived long enough to see the introduction of more modern craft.  He recalls the hard life led by the crews of those days, their food afloat consisting largely of fish and bread.

Mr. and Mrs. Chapman have altogether 52 descendants. Their sons were all past the age limit during the war, but several grandsons served some being on minesweepers.  One of them lost a leg at Dover when his vessel was blown up.

Having lived in Pakefield all their lives they have watched all the changes which the coast of their luckless village has experienced.  They know of over ninety houses which have gone over the crumbling cliffs, most of them having disappeared in the last 35 years.  Beach street, in which they formerly lived, has disappeared altogether.

Seventy Years Lifeboat Service

For seventy years, from the age of 16, Mr. Chapman was a member of the Pakefield Lifeboat crew, and took part in many thrilling rescues.  He assisted in the saving of hundreds of lives during that time, including 51 men and a women, who during a severe gale were taken off an American barque which foundered off the coast.  He has seen seven or eight ships sink, one being a Sunderland brig, which was on her maiden voyage.  Not to be wondered at in such a long period of service, he had several narrow escapes from drowning, and on one occasion he had to swim for over three-quarters of an hour before being picked up.  This was early in Spring when thirty miles from land.  He left Pakefield in the lugger “Mosquito” to trade fish with another vessel, when the boat capsized, and one of his companions was drowned.

Mr. and Mrs. Chapman outlived all those who attended their wedding.

            William Peek Chapman was born on May 18, 1835 in Pakefield, Suffolk, England to John Clarke Chapman 1804-1894 and Rachel Peek 1802-1882.  He was baptised in the local Pakefield church on July 30, 1835. William was the second child of six children known to be born of his parents.  John Clarke and Rachel Peek’s children were:

1.      James William Chapman 1834–1834

2.      William Peek Chapman 1835–1931  

3.      James William Chapman 1836-

4.      John Chapman 1837–1912

5.      Rachel Ann Chapman 1840–1923

6.      Alfred Chapman 1843–1843

Ann Barber was born on April 10, 1836 in Pakefield to Thomas Barber 1806-1889 and Hannah “Ann” Spurgeon 1807-1882. Ann was baptised on December 28, 1836 at the local Pakefield church.  Ann came from a large family of 9 children.  Thomas Barber and Hannah Spurgeon’s children were:

1.      Sarah Barber 1830–1872

2.      Thomas Barber 1834–1841

3.      Ann Barber 1836–1935

4.      Margaret Barber 1837–

5.      Elvina Barber 1839–1903 (You may recall from an earlier story about the unfortunate demise of Elvina Barber)

6.      Eleanor Mary Barber 1843–1909

7.      Thomas Spurgeon Barber 1847–1902

8.      William Benjamin Barber 1850–1899

9.      Clara Jane Barber 1853–1888

William Peek Chapman married Ann Barber on December 18, 1856 in the Pakefield church.  They had nine children:

1.      William John Chapman 1861–1932

2.      Thomas Spurgeon Chapman 1864–1957

3.      Albert Edward Chapman 1866–1917

4.      Elvina Edith Chapman 1867–1952

5.      George Louis Chapman 1869–1889

6.      Sarah Chapman 1872–1957

7.      Nathaniel Benjamin Chapman 1874–1911

8.      Ann Chapman 1876–1910

9.      Eleanor Margaret Chapman 1878–1952

William Peek Chapman and Ann Barber had family ties to each other in our family tree.

Genealogy:  Ann Barber 1836-1935 was the daughter of Thomas Barber 1806-1889 and his son was William Benjamin Barber 1850-1899 and his daughter was Ruth Maria Elizabeth Barber 1880-1939 and her husband was Henry George Adams 1881-1915 and his father was Henry George Adams 1855-1920 and his father was Thomas Adams 1828-1911 and his father was Thomas Adams 1804-1878 and his father was Philip Adams 1763-1807 and his father was John Adams (Master Baker) 1730- and his son was John Adams 1750-1837 and his son was John Curtis Adams 1797-1873 and his son was William Frederick Adams 1848-1907 and his son was George "Pikey" William Welch-Adams 1867-1940.

Genealogy:  William Peek Chapman 1835-1931 was the father of William John Chapman 1861-1932 and his son was George Ernest Chapman 1889-1939 and his son was George Walter Ernest Chapman 1926-1979 and his wife was Hazel Doreen Duffield 1926-2002 and her father was Henry George William Duffield 1894-1982 and his mother was Richander Blowers 1866-1937 and her father was John Beckett Mobbs 1846-1891 and his father was James Mobbs 1813-1882 and his mother was Elizabeth Beckett 1789-1871 and her father was William Beckett 1766-1834 and his father was Sir John Beckett 1732-1810 and his daughter was Mary Beckett 1772-1847 and her daughter was Judith (Julie) Snowling 1795-1883 and her daughter was Eliza Dye 1835-1873 and her daughter was Caroline Forster 1864-1906 and her husband was George "Pikey" William Welch-Adams 1867-1940.