Washington

CHAPIN, William

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, p 68

William CHAPIN, of Middlesex [Washington County, Vermont], was born 07 
December 1831, son of Joseph and Catherine (HOLDEN) CHAPIN. Mr. CHAPIN comes 
from a line rich in historic associations. On his mother's side he is fourth 
in descent from William HOLDEN, who was with the Colonial troops at the 
capture of Louisburg in 1745, and served under the immortal Wolfe upon the 
heights of Abraham in 1759. A soldier of the patriot army of the Revolution, 
he was present at Stillwater and Saratoga and witnessed the surrender of 
Burgoyne. The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch came to 
Middlesex as one of its earliest settlers shortly after the Revolutionary 
War, in which he had fought under Washington. Together with his oldest son, 
Joseph, he marched to Plattsburg and again encountered the dangers of the 
battlefield in behalf of his native land.

Receiving only the instruction of the common schools of his native town, the 
early training of Mr. William CHAPIN was eminently practical. After an early 
experience in district school teaching during the winter at Middlesex and 
Waterbury [both in Washington County, Vermont], he was employed as a clerk in 
a store at Swampscott [Essex County], Massachusetts, and later in 1858-1859 
in the Union store at Montpelier [Washington County, Vermont]. With these 
exceptions, he has always lived upon the farm where he was born. He is a 
very successful operator in real estate, besides being a large holder of the 
same. He is an enthusiastic breeder of Jersey cattle and Shropshire sheep, 
owning one of the best flocks in the county.

After holding many town offices, he [William CHAPIN] was sent to the 
Legislature in 1880 and was a member of the State Equalizing Board in 1882. 
In 1884 he was honored by an election to the Senate and re-elected in 1888. 
He has also been a member of the Board of Agriculture from 1887 to 1892. 
Hon. William CHAPIN is a unique and original character, possessing a fund of 
quaint and genial humor with an inimitable gift of drollery in story telling. 
When he is convinced of the righteousness of his cause, "he knowing, dares 
maintain," and in brief is an excellent specimen of a good old-fashioned 
Green Mountain farmer.

On 15 May 1860 at Worcester [Washington County, Vermont], he [William CHAPIN] 
was married to Catherine, daughter of Deacon Jonas and Minerva E. (VAIL) 
ABBOTT. Of this union [of William and Catherine CHAPIN] there were five 
children: Henry Lee; Joseph Abbott; William Allen; Hinckley R.; and Edgar 
L., who is deceased.

[The following is from a section on the history of Jericho, Chittenden 
County, Vermont. "The CHAPIN family consisted of three brothers. Lewis 
CHAPIN, first town clerk [of Jericho], served in that office many years, and 
was [town] representative. He and his descendants are distinguished for 
liberal munificence. He gave four acres for the site of the first meeting 
house, and afterwards gave the site of the academy. He [Lewis CHAPIN] died 
in 1827, aged seventy-three." Excerpt from Vermont Historical Magazine, No 
XI, October 1867, page 834. Relationship of William to Lewis CHAPIN unknown 
to submitter, who is not researching this surname.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly