This house was likely constructed by Isaac and Ruth Chapman some time prior to 1778. He was born in 1747 in Old Saybrook, CT, and she was born in 1755 in Durham, CT. They were married in 1773. Their happiness would be short-lived. Isaac Chapman fought for the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and was killed at Ticonderoga in 1778. His widow Ruth owned the property for another 16 years. 

Ruth and Isaac had one daughter, Content Chapman, who married Rev. Timothy Mather Cooley in 1786. Rev. Cooley's portrait hangs over the fireplace in the Mabel Root Henry Historical Museum at the Granville Library.

Ruth Chapman eventually remarried (Capt. Jacob Bates). One son, Isaac Chapman Bates, became a United States Senator.

Subsequent owners included Capt. Cyrus Webster and wife Rhoda Russell Webster; Ephraim Root, Col. Dennison Parsons; Dwight Wheeler; Henry and Martha Peebles; then to Major Nelson in 1872.

A diagram of the house is shown here along with the farm layout, the first diagram being the property with the house west of West Hartland Road, the next being the land east of the road.

This page includes May Aldrich Hague's remarkable account of life at this farm during her childhood. It is among the best accounts of what country life was like during this time (early 1900's). Transcribed by Rene Ellinger, 2021.

Newer (color) photos taken 1971, 1998, Spring 2000 (note 2000 census form on front door), Dec. 12, 2000 and 2001, site photos taken 29 Dec 2020.

Cars:
1. 1917 Ford Model T
2. 1972 Plymouth

Location: 
Lat.  42.073518
Long.-72.960958

Location Reference Point: See 2020 site photos. The two large maples that were in front of the house are still there (as of Jan 2021). There is a fire pit (see photo) near the road. This was originally used for smoking. The house stood about 100' to the north of the fire pit (to the right in the photo). The cellar hole was filled in when the house was demolished.]]>
2. Newer Photos: 1971, 1998, 2000, 2001, 29 Dec 2020]]> Rene Ellinger, transcription of May Hague's document, 2021]]> 2000, 2001 & 1998 photos: Paul Jensen, digital images used here with permission of the photographer. No permission is given by the Granville Historic Image Library for further use. Contact photographer for further information.
29 Dec 2020: Granville Library Historical Room (Rowley)]]>