Cathy: I'll enlarge upon the subject of the Chapman Ferry. I do recall reading somewhere that the Chapmans had a ferry in the early days of the county. I am descended from George Chapman and Johannah Lemaster, who settled in the northern panhandle (area of New Cumberland) in the late 1700s. Several of their children remained in the area. I'm not sure who ran the ferry, or the length of time the service was offered, or the exact location (or even if it was available to the public). I do know that George Chapman owned a lot of river front land (two and a half miles along the river, extending inland for two miles). I had forgotten about the ferry until I received a letter yesterday, which I will summarize as follows: A gentleman by the name of G.E.McCauslin of Washington County, PA (adjacent to the WV northern panhandle) drowned in the Ohio River in October of 1815. At the time, he was in his late 70's. He, or his horse, apparently slipped over a steep bank along the river, where he drowned. His descendant is seeking the location of the drowning. For some reason, the researcher seems to feel the drowning occurred near the site of the Chapman Ferry service. A document called The "Inquisition Taken on the Body of G.E. McCauslin" (sic: should be McCausland) was signed by John Edie, the Justice of the Peace, plus twelve others: William Chapman, sr; William Chapman, Thomas Chapman, George Chapman, John V. Swearingen, David Pugh, Lewis Cline, William W. Evans, Roger Hill, William Hales, Alexander McMillin, and Christian Brenneman. The inquisition was taken at Chapman's Ferry in (what was then) Brooke County. The document just stated, on their oath, that George McCauslin, on the 18th day of October, 1815, in a common river called the Ohio, was found dead, that he had no marks of violence on his body, and died of accidental drowning and not otherwise. It was signed by the twelve as jurors (not as witnesses to the drowning, although from the beginning phrases of the document, it appeared that the body was viewed at the site at the time the document was signed). Thanks for any assistance on this bit of Hancock history. Pat Pulasky (nee Chapman) ---------------------------------------------------- pigeonrock@earthlink.net wrote: > > P. Pulasky, Would appreciate it if you chose to let us all know > this one! I've never heard of the Chapman Ferry? Is this in Hancock county > or farther down the OH RIVER? Same area. > Cathy Raber > > > [Original Message] > > From: P. Pulasky <PULASKY1@worldnet.att.net> > > To: <WVHANCOC-L@rootsweb.com> > > Date: 9/5/01 7:47:03 PM > > Subject: Chapman Ferry & Blockhouse > > > > Does anyone on the list know the location of the Chapman Ferry? Also, is > > there a photo available of the old Chapman fortified house? I was told > > that the house was destroyed not too long ago. Thanks for your > > assistance. Pat Pulasky > > > > > > ==============================