Robert Chapman Letter

A treasure in the R. Stanton Avery Special Collections offers new clues to the origins of a founder of Saybrook, Connecticut.  In 1687 Robert Chapman wrote a letter to his children, and the 18th century copy of this letter was given to NEHGS in 1917 by Miss Mary Chapman.  The twenty-six page letter had been considered lost, by Rev. Frederick W. Chapman in his 1854 genealogy of the descendants of Robert Chapman.

 In his letter, Robert Chapman wrote “after a long and dangerous voyage ar[r]ive[d] at Boston in new England the 26 day of December 1635 and my Self with several others lovingly Entertained on Shore and had our entertainment that winter at governour winthrops farm.”  Chapman wrote that he arrived in Saybrook in April, 1636.  Other records show he served as town clerk, representative to the General Court, and lieutenant of the train band.  He married Ann Bliss on 29 April 1642, and he died on 13 October 1687.  He owned land in Saybrook, East Haddam, and Hebron.

In the letter, Chapman gave details of his youth in England, including, at age 15, serving an apprenticeship 30 miles from home. When the young Chapman’s Christian faith and habits were challenged, Mr. Higginson, a preacher, helped keep him “from being deceived.”  In 1635 he “wrought Jorney work with one Tillinghust.” Before departing from England, the young man “spent some time in visiting my friends in Kent and Sussex.”  In much of the letter, Chapman repeatedly affirmed the pious messages of the day, and he admonished his children to live a Godly life.  This letter gives many valuable clues to guide researchers seeking his elusive English origins.

More information on this manuscript appears in the October, 2005 Register.

Judith H. Halseth, Ed.D. (judith.halseth@wmich.edu) is a trustee of NEHGS and a tenth-generation descendant of Robert Chapman.

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Capt Robert Chapmans Legacie to his Children. Left to them in writing before his decease who departed this Life the 13th day of October 1687 [T]O leave Something with my Children that may be of use [to] them whilst they are passing [t]hrough a perilous worl[d] the design of this writing The first Part of my time till I was about 15 or 16 years of age I lived with my parents   [ ] was Educated in the way they then called puretansme in observ- ance of gospell rules and especially of the Sabath which [ ] no Little tryall to me to see [many?] others of neighbors

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[aro]und about me to have their plays and Sports on the Sabbath and my Self held in by the rains of family Government to the du -tys of the Sabbath: When I was about 15 years of age I had a mind to be put out to Learn a trade great care was taken to Place me in Some Godly famaly and because there was not of that trade then known near my fathers house I was bound out to a man that Lived about 30 miles off who in a formall Shew had the name of [ ] Christian but in truth and real[ ]      a poor man. when I had been there a while I had my Liberty as other boys had to play on the Sabbath days and improved my Liberty Some time till the Lord was pleased to make me to remem -ber the way of Education at hom and how just it was with God to Leave me now to have my [ ] to be vain and profain as others by the Good hand of God upon [me] it  So prevented that I left of that course and attended the [S?] as well as I Could  Remem[ber]

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Children be not wanting to your children when they are young be- [g]in betimes to teach them the know lege of the god of their fathers  you will finde the first of time to be the Best of time: and though not much Encouragement may at present appear yet be assured there is a blessing anexed thereto that Shall in due time appear : After I had Somtime refrained my Self from those Sabath daye Sports Providentially there was a Scotch Minister who traviling through The town on xxx xxxxx xxx the Last [d]ay of the week was persuaded by Some Christians to Stay in town and preac[h] to them on the morrow which was the Sabbath: which he yielded unto and  did preach f[r]om those words : put you on the Lord Jesus Christ :  which words was in the opening and prose- cution  Such words as I thought I never heard before as to inward Soul Concernments and this did give a Second lift to me : After Some years Service with my master the way was opened for me as that I Returned home to my fathers house then was the great name and fame of new:England

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Sounding about the Country: then Also liberty and Sports upon the Sabath publickly allowed then. Great numbers appeared to Embrace the Same and make a scoff at those that would not fall in with them : then the signs of a black and dark time did appear inso much that it Caused Great  thoughts of heart amongst the Godly what was their way whether to go for new:England there being then an open door Some chose to keep their Standing and others to great numbers from all parts of England of all Sorts of persons with their familys cast th[em] Selves upon the providence of God by Shiping themselves for new Eng land in which time it being the year 1635 : I wrought Jorney [?] work with one Tillinghust for the Space of half a year and untill I Came for new:England a blessed change it was to me to fall into such a Godly family where I had my desire of Christian Comunion and so as that I grew apace in Knowledge and Stability with Such warmed affections as that

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I thought my Estate was Good but my purpose for Newengland being setled and the time drawing near of taking Ship after I had Spent Some time in visiting my friends in Kent and Sussex in the beginning of September was dismissed from them to the blessing of God and tooke Ship and after a long and dangerous voyage arive at Boston in new England the 26 day of December 1635 and my Self with Several others lovingly En- tertained on Shore and had our entertainment that winter at Go venour winthrops farm : When I had been Some time on Shore I had a Great fit of sickness and many terrors with it as Concern ing my Estate : could make no Com- fortable work of what I had thought I had been wrought in me before but many discourag ments and heart mis-givings that  Surely here must be Something more done then yet I had found: the Lord was pleased to raise me up again and from thence brought me to this place in the beginning of April 1636 where I have remained to this day ---- after

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After I had been here Some time that black and dark day of the pequod war fell upon us in such Sort that our lives were in hazard night and day and when we Saw one taken away one day 2 at another 4 at another out of our little number and the Enemy rage and insult that he will have us all :  now comes home two questions what do I hear :and what must I do here :  here after much Strugling I was Satisfied in that that I was in the Place that God had Set me in that I did not bring my Self into it no further then I was advised by my friends Especially by my faithful Loving mother who I know did lay up a Stock of prayers for me Remember this Children your obediance to parents may Stand by you when you have Little Else to relieve you 2dly what must I do here the voice of God to me both in his word and works was prepare thy Self the son of man Comes in an hour when you look not for him

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I Saw it So by others and to help on this Great work the Lord was pleased to Send mr. Higginson amongst us to be preacher unto us whose labour in the work of the ministry was Suitable Seasonable profitable according to the then present Dispensation of providence all which to gether put me upon more ear- nest indeavours then formerly by prayer hearing and laying up the word Studying the Scriptures ac- quainting my Self with the principles of the oracles of God unto which all truths may be refered and have found the benefit of that Study even to keep me Stedy from being decieved by the cunning and Subtle contrivances of Such as would be accounted to be angels of Light and yet in truth ar[e] the children of darkness who can cry up the Scriptures with great zeal and Solemnity even those that favour the lu[st?] of their hearts and others will Slight for this my time hath been a perilous age when So many false Christs hath appeared in the world to deceive Some they must have [Imediate] Revelations from heaven or else of no value others do affirm that though the Spirit doth witness

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witness according to the word yet without any condition or qualifica- -tion wrought in us : another Sort are those that Say there is nothing required of them but to believe that Christ hath done all for them and therefore neither Repent or obey the Gospel in the Sumery part there of ------- another Sort and they are such as have gone creeping up and down the Country to gain Disciples who have and do teach that the Light that is in a person  if it be tended to is sufficient to Salvataion :these with Some others of Like import pass hard under Soaking awakenings to be Embrused ? as to bring rest to the Soul which through divine assistance upon tryall  I found them to lead off from Christ and so from rest for as much As they all have a tendancy to Cast off Christs yoak and therefore far off from bearing his Cross the nescesity of  which is So often urged by Christ himself otherwise we cannot be his disciples  his being prest[ ] hard upon me and the Sweetness of Communion with christ that I found in private prayer brought me up to a Settled resolution to be for Christ to

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Stand for christ to take up his Cross and follow him in what capacity he Should bring me into which resolution I have found to abide and be helpfull to me Especially when I have Seen the cross coming to me and waies before me to Escape the Same o then ? do not deny Christ[?] hath Said that voice within me blessed by God that hath been my helper that in those criticall times and turns I have met withall that I have not imprisoned the truth when it hath come to my turn neither wickedly departed from my God :  my children I insist the more? here for this is foundati tion work it being laid upon christ Christ as a crucified Christ:  Christ As he is revealed in the Gospel Not coming with outwarn observa- -tion but with inward demonstra- -tion of the word and spirit of Christ thus lay your foundation and the building will Stand and in all matters you are called forth to attend  Let your business be with God  what Shall I do in this and that case, do not Confer with flesh and blood but Study the Good word of God  be proving what is the good and acceptable will of the Lord and keep close there to although you See the cross make

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make fast toward you  flinch not for in due time you Shall reap if you faint not but Especially See that your foundation be laid upon Christ the discovery of his Love and rich Grace for this will allways be of a constraining nature to follow Christ. We Love him because he loved us first Gracious discovery begets love and love resolution as Some times he Said Should Such aman a I flee according to the Discoveries of free Grace So will be Our love : according to our love  So Our resolution for God ye Scripture is Plentifull in this 116 psam : I will love the Lord and the reason was because he had heard his Suppli cation and inclined his ear : but when was that when the Sorrows of Death compassed me about  and the pains of hell gat hold upon him as if david Should Say oh here is matchles love indeed when death and hell come together even then for God to hear and then to deliver this hath begotten love in my Soul  therefore hath thy Servant found in his heart to pray oh Says he I love the Lord and will call upon him so long as I live Children look to your

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your Selves : on this account Strong resolutions for God  Speake out Gracious discoverys of God : weak resolutions argues weak work and no resolution Seems to render a person as having yet his choice to make Standing upon an Indifferent point with god it is that wich which Some times you know I have hinted at when persons have been presented as fit for church comunion and to be en- -roled amongst the Saints they have Spoken Some more and Some less according to what God hath done for them but very little if anything at all what they will do for god which Seems to fall Short of all the examples both Christ himself and of the most Eminant of Saints and is a mongst many others  arguments an argument of declention and of pitifull low Spirits when Christ was asked whether he were a King Says Christ to this and was I born and for this Cause came I Into the world So Paul I go bound in the spirit to Jeru- -Salem : I have Sworn Says David and will perform that I will keep thy righteous Judgments :  See therefore what resolution and purpose of heart you are come to for as a man thinketh

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thinketh in his heart  So is he the times coming on do call for Settlement See your foundations be Safe:  I have Insist -ed the more upon this because Scripture and experience Lays So much weight thereon  the church of Ephesus [haveing] fallen is commanded for her recovery to repent recover her first love and do her first works : I Shall now Come to Give Some hints Concerning the Build ing upon this foundation that is a Spirituall building, as the foundation is So must the building be : First then Remember that in this build- -ing there must be an agreement with the foundation in all the causes’ thereof the Eficient meritorious formall and finall causes : first the Eficient which is the Spirit of God without which you can- -not Strike a Stroke to the building aright : we know not how to pray as we ought but the Spirit helpeth our in firmities   it is not Grace received in the habit that will do but the operation is of the Spirit Secondly you must agree with the meri- torious cause and that is the righteous -ness of Christ that there is any good look from heaven upon a Sinfull Soul is the purchase of Christ : away then with that Self conceited righteousness of our own and feel and Say when we have done all we can we are

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unprofitable Servants Thirdly we must agree as to the formal cause faith in God and observance to God a believing hart and a Godly life you are no more Strangers and forainers Says Paul but fellow citizens with the Saints and of the household of God and are built upon the foundation of the  Apostles and prophets Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief corner Stone fourthly.: you must agree with the foundation as to the finall cause which is to build a Spirituall and So an Eternall house and hence this building is called a building of God an house not made with hands Eternal in the heavens : now where-Ever there is this foundation laid upon Christ there is a grow -ing Spirituall building there upon which Shall grow So high as to reach into heaven and there remain a holy temple through the Spirit unto the lord notwith Standing all the powers of darkness and the gates of hell that Shall not prevaile Fifthly that the guilding and the found- -ation may agree whatever you do Labour to keep up uprightness to God and to man a citizen of Sion is one that Speaks the truth in his heart : his heart and his tongue doth Sweetly agree then this Spirituall building

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Spiritual building and foundation will agree also there is nothing that the Devill and his Instruments do more Set themselves against then the uprightness of the Saints and it is rare if one day pass but that a discerning Spirituall builder may See Subtile and crafty and many times undiscerned working of Sin Satan and the world to drive aman off from his up-rightness which if they can attain that they know the man is conquered and Like to have his portion with hippocrites  Now to leave with you my Children  Some of my obser-vations and experiences in my time of Snares and dificulties that I have been brought into and helped thereon First I have often met with 2 ways the one a way of uprightness with the Cross, the other away of falshood wth worldly advantage  I have Chosen the first Secondly : I have met with 2 Sorts of persons Saints and Sinners : by Saints I mean Such who are called faithfull and true and are like minded unto Christ :  by Siners I mean garnished profesors and yet Like minded with the world rising high in forms and outward Shews of holiness but as deeply bespoted with the filth of this world as others. were were there  visard taken off I have loved the first and been Shy of the Second try me o God and know my heart

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try me and know my thoughts and See if there be any wicked way in me and Lead me in the way Everlasting Thirdly I have met with temptations both from Saints and Siners who have delt In- juriously with me and ungratfully to have revenged my Self which I have had op- -pertunity to do : but the lord hath Said vengance is mine and I will repay believing that it Shall So be: have quieted my Self and been Still : fourthly : I have met with temptations on worldly preferments to conform to the Customs of the changing times it being the way to get up and hold out in honourable Employments but the Snares and temp- -tations that ly thick and Strong in such capacities have been fearfull to me I have not to my Knowledge used any indirect means for Such attainments lest the temptations Should be too hard for me and a trembling thing to me when God hath Called me forth upon the Stage of action Fifthly I have Seen the time when it was Joy to me to do that which was right and habve indeavoured to do So to mine enemies as well as friends: of Spiritual and Soul concerns  in these particulers First I have Seen the time when Secret communion with Christ

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Christ hath been Esteemed by me as the most precious time in this world Secondly I have Seen the time that I have longed for the Sabbath before it came and when come Esteemed them honourable and holy unto the Lord Thirdly I have heard and recieved the word many a time with this prayer lord make this word Good to thy Servant: Fourthly : I have found a Difference in the Solemnity and awfullness of my heart betwixt the reading of the pure word of God and other mens works there from fifthly I have found great benifit in the comunion of Saints Specially in those days when Spiritual Experimentall things were brought forth: that which comes from the heart usually reaches the heart: Sixthly: I have thorow the Grace of god in dificult Cases which were beyond me been able to Commit my Self in the Sense of my own insifficientcy into the hands of him who is alsufficient and have had the accomplishment of that promise both in doing and suffering my Grace Shall be sufficient for thee Secondly The change of times in my time acording to my observation may not be unusefull to you if my time be divided into 3 parts I lived almost a 3rd part in Eng- -land before I Came into these Parts : that was a declining

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time as to the life and power of religion few there were in most places and Great places too that kept up religion in their families and things grew worse and worse: profanation of the Sabaths allowed by the  prelates bowing the bodys of the congre- -gation when the name of Jesus was mentioned with Severall other Injunct -ons to the Subverting of Souls : te Godly of the land grieved and not be- -ing able to help them Selves the others discouraged  So as they were Seen to walk on Every Side : then a time to make that prayer help Lord for the Godly  man ceaseth and the faithfull fail from among the children of men this I Saw in my first part of time in England and it was an Evil time that the Shadows of the Evening were Streched over the people of God A Second change of time in my time was in the morning of new England I may Say the first 20 years and it was a rising time glorious things were then reported of our Sion  newenglands morning clear and beau tifull though not altogether without clouds of herisie which acationed trouble but yet Soon crushed the persons being found no better then

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then wandring Stars and their doctrins Like Empty clouds without  water them had the Churches rest in New England and were Edified walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the holy ghost were multiplyed then was the glory of our first temple  such as its doubtfull whether Ever it will be recovered to : then were the churches organised with teaching Elders [Ruleing] Elders deacons all fixed in their places then were there to be found in the Churches men able pious men who could and did in the absence of their officers instruct the people out of the Scriptures to their edification and good sattisfaction then there were Signal testimonies of God hearing the prayers of his people with Speedy an- -swers there unto then God rebuking kings for the Sake of his people he broak their laws and cut their Spears assunder Saying be still and know that I am God  I will be exalted among the heathen -------- The Last 3d part of my time or there abouts nigh 20 years accord- -ing to my observation hath been a declining time from those first ways as in general all or the most part do grant that after God hath done So well by us we have

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Iesuran like waxed fat & kicked the heel and therefore have all those Evils come upon and over taken us : and that Seem to Increase upon us one year after another as if the Lord were resolved not only to make us Sick with Smiting but to give us a deadly wound that Shall not be healed : I Shall leave with you my Children Some perticulars of my observation and who wee may be compared unto  Surely in our first days to Capernaum lifted up to heaven and in our last days with those in malachies time inclineing downward towards hell : The first Sign of declention is loss of love and affection to God and his ways Saith Christ to the Church of Ephesus thou hast left thy first love their declention first begins in cooling the affections  and then diverting the judgement and practice So Say they the table of the Lord is poluted and his meate is contemptable as if they should Say it is poor beggerly living upon the provision God hath provided in his house, oh how many have there been in Churches who have for a considerable time well aproved of the doctrine of