Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records
(Hartford District),
Charles W. Manwaring,
Hartford, 1902,
Vol 2, p 173-174
CHAPMAN, Capt. John, Haddam. An agreement made among the heirs of Capt. John CHAPMAN, late of Haddam, decd.: Know all men by these presents: That we, Joseph CHAPMAN of Saybrook in the County of New London, and David CHAPMAN of Haddam in the County of Hartford, and Samuel CHAPMAN of the aforesd. Haddam, the only natural sons now surviving of Capt. John CHAPMAN, late of Haddam, decd., and Stephen CHALKER of Saybrook, and Joseph SELDEN of Lyme in the County of sd. New London, and Lemuel RICHARDSON of Stoningtown in the County of New London, sons-in-law of the the abovesd. Capt. John CHAPMAN, decd. (by affinity with his three daughters, Elizabeth, Anne and Mehetabell CHAPMAN), and Lydia CHAPMAN of Haddam, do hereby declare that for ourselves, our heirs and successors, mutually and firmly agree to the dist. of or dividing the whole sd. inheritance. Moreover, it is hereby agreed upon that Jabez CHAPMAN, with the approbation of the Honoured Court of Probate, is chosen to administer on sd. estate and to pay all the just and lawful debts due from the sd. estate out of his own part of the estate, the rest of the heirs to be freed from all entanglements whatsoever.
Signed: Joseph CHAPMAN, L.S.
Jabez CHAPMAN, L.S.
Samuel CHAPMAN, L.S.
Stephen X CHALKER, L.S.
Joseph SELDEN, L.S.
Lemuel RICHARDSON, L.S.
Lydia CHAPMAN, L.S.
Witnesses: William SPENCER and Alexander SPENCER
Court Record, Page 68 -- 8 April, 1712: An agreement of the children of Capt. John CHAPMAN, late of Haddam, decd., for a division of the estate, ws now exhibited in Court by Joseph CHAPMAN, Jabez and Samuel CHAPMAN, sons of the deceased, and Stephen CHALKER and Lemuel RICHARDSON, sons-in-law. These appeared in Court and acknowledged this to be their free act and deed.