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by Philip Chapman Ellsworth, a Fourth Great Grandson...
Copyright August 1994This writing is to unveil the actual wife of Uriah Chapman, Senior of Norwich, New London County, Connecticut, and later Palmyra, Pike County, Pennsylvania. Uriah Chapman's wife's given name was Sibel, and she was married to him for approximately 55 years (1752-1807). She was the mother of their 13 children. Uriah was the eldest son of Moses and Sarah Chapman, who was a son of Joseph and Mercy (Wentworth) Chapman of Norwich. Joseph Chapman of Norwich was a grandson of Edward Chapman of Ipswich, Massachusetts, the emigrant ancestor of this branch of the Chapman family.
Most Uriah Chapman descendants known to the author show Sibel's (or Sybil's) maiden name as Olmstead, with unknown parentage. However, the late Grace Louise Knox of West Hartford, Connecticut maintained the likelihood that the Sibel who married Uriah Chapman was actually the daughter of Nathaniel Cook of Preston, Connecticut. Miss Knox was a professional genealogist of many years, and a direct descendant of David Chapman, brother of Uriah. This writing is dedicated to the memory of the late Grace Louise Knox, whose untimely death in the spring of 1991 stopped short her search for additional evidence confirming Sibel Cook as the actual wife of Uriah Chapman, Sr.
The author intends to show that Miss Knox was correct in her belief that Sibel Cook was the wife of Uriah Chapman, Sr. of Norwich, Connecticut. The basis for this conclusion is that it can be established from proof beyond a reasonable doubt, which in this case is provided by circumstantial (indirect) evidence. Such evidence comes from either primary or secondary sources. Primary sources are essentially original records, or those created at or near the time of the event by those with actual knowledge of it. Secondary sources are those created from the testimony of others or heresay, and often well after the event has taken place. Evidence copied from either of these sources has potential value to the extent it is copied correctly.
Evidence both supporting and not supporting Mrs. Sibel Chapman, both as an Olmstead and as a Cook, will be presented hereafter. The types of evidence presented are direct evidence from secondary sources, circumstantial evidence from primary sources, and circumstantial evidence from secondary sources. Direct evidence from primary sources has not been found, apparently due to missing records. Because of this, it is recommended that the evidence be considered collectively, and not just individually. The question should be asked, "Does this evidence, viewed together with the other evidence, provide a reasonable basis to believe that Sibel was an Olmstead or a Cook?"
What you have just read is the opening to a well researched document. Due to space limitations, we will now jump to the authors' conclusions. [A transcript of Uriah's will was also published with the article.]
Summary and Conclusions
The search for genealogical truth cannot always be facilitated with direct evidence from primary records. This is the case with the search for the actual wife of Uriah Chapman, Senior. In the absence of such evidence, as in courts of law today, circumstantial evidence providing proof beyond a reasonable doubt has been used as a means of establishing facts not otherwise discernable.
The fact that many descendants of Uriah Chapman in different parts of the United States list Sybil Olmstead as his wife is, on the surface, strong evidence that she was his wife. However, a careful review of all of the D.A.R. membership application sources supporting this position, and many other sources, show that the above conclusion is not supported by evidence from primary sources.
There does exists direct evidence from secondary sources supporting Sibel as an Olmstead, notably the book American Ancestries and the manuscript "Biography of William Brooks Chapman." However, the evidence about Uriah and Sibel Chapman from these references is not without errors or inconsistencies, casting doubt upon the accuracy of the information in these accounts and their undisclosed sources.
It is interesting that the D.A.R. applications sources listing Sybil Olmstead as Uriah Chapman's wife originate, for almost all D.A.R. applicants, from family histories of Williams Brooks Chapman, a great-grandson of Uriah through his son Uriah Chapman, Jr. It appears that these histories have become a wide spread source for Sybil Olmstead being named as Uriah Chapman, Sr.'s wife.
The circumstantial evidence supporting Sibel Cook as Uriah Chapman's actual wife comes from direct and circumstantial evidence from both primary and secondary sources. The direct evidence, from a secondary source is the 1899 published query mentioning Sibel Cook as the wife of Uriah Chapman. The circumstantial evidence, from primary sources, includes the 1790 Will of Nathaniel Cook, the 1807 gravestone of SIBEL Chapman, and various documented historical facts showing how Uriah and Sibel could have met, and why they lived where they did. Another important evidence is the giving of the name Hannah to Uriah and Sibel's first daughter. This was also the first name of Hannah Parish Cook, mother of Sibel Cook.
In the author's view, a comparison of the evidence supporting Sybil Olmstead as wife of Uriah Chapman, with that supporting Sibel Cook, favors Sibel Cook. There appears to be a more reasonable basis for supporting Sibel Cook as the actual wife of Uriah Chapman. It should be noted that, from all records reviewed, Uriah Chapman was not first married to a Sibel Olmstead and then to Sibel Cook. All of his children appear to have come from one wife.
Current D.A.R. instructions for those applying for membership include the statement that: "Revolutionary ancestor records are constantly reviewed and revised as better documentation is received; therefore, service shown in DAR Lineage Books, the DAR Patriot Index and other publications may now be challenged." This commitment to accuracy helps to improve the integrity of the genealogical and historical information maintained by the D.A.R. Such should be the desire of all family historians.
To be remembered is a universal desire of mankind. We help to fulfill this desire of our forbearers by preserving their histories, and sharing them. It is the author's hope that this article will help the reader to have a greater desire to learn more about his or her family, and to preserve and share accurate histories and information about them. Such was the commitment of the late Grace Louise Knox.
If you are interested in reading The "Sibel" Truth: Unveiling the Actual Wife of Uriah Chapman, Sr. Of Norwich, Connecticut in its entirety or Ellsworth's work titled Life Sketch of Moses and Uriah Chapman - Two Generations of Connecticut Separatists, Patriots and Pioneers contact the author:
Philip C. Ellsworth
2748 South 8500 West
Magna, Utah 84044