James Ottaway Chapman 1831

James Ottaway Chapman was born in Ulcombe 1831, the fourth child of seven. James was the only Chapman to adopt a double barrel surname. When completing census documents or birth registrations he was always James O Chapman or James Ottaway Chapman.

On October 20th 1860 James married Mary Ann Huntley in the parish of Woodchurch. At the time of his wedding James was working as a farm labourer, the wedding record mentions his father Richard as a Farm labourer and the brides father (George) as a painter. The wedding was witnessed by younger brother William and by a Charlotte Cole. After the wedding, James moved in with his in laws, he was counted in the 1861 census at their Red Brook Street, Woodchurch address.

I have searched for a record of James in the 1851 census (when he was no longer living with his parents in Ulcombe) and again in the 1871 census but without success, where was he?

In the 1881 census (below) James, with his wife and their children to date, were in their own home at 2 Grove Cottages, Tenterden, Kent, England. James was working as a horse omnibus driver. While the county of Kent was being opened up by the railway companies (who also provided horse bus services) the Tenterden area wasn't served by rail at this time and it seems likely that James Ottaway Chapman worked for a local road transport provider. Messrs R. and J. Bennett ran a horse-bus service between Tenterden, Headcorn and Maidstone at this time, there was also a regular horse bus service between Tenterden and London.

In the 1891 census James was still at Grove Cottage but has returned to farm labouring. His mother in law Ann Huntley has moved in with the family following the death of her journeyman painter husband George.

In 1901 the census recorded James living with wife, mother in law, daughter Kate and granddaughter Emily M Chapman at Lower Green Woodchurch. James, whose age was given as 66, was still working as an agricultural labourer. By the time of the 1911 census James and his wife Mary were living alone at Lower Green, James aged 76 was still working as a farm labourer.

James Ottaway Chapman died in August 1924 and was buried at All Saints parish church, Woodchurch, Kent. His age at time of death was given as 90 and date of birth as 1834, so I need to review his stated date of birth. Mary Ann Chapman died some seven years later in 1931, her address at that time was given as School Cottages (previously known as Grants Cottages), Woodchurch, she was also buried at the nearby All Saints church.

Father: Richard CHAPMAN

Mother: Mary Ann OTTAWAY

Birth: 1831, Ulcombe, Kent, England,

Census: 1861, Woodchurch

Census: 1881 and again in 1891, 2 Grove Cottages (Hopes Grove), Tenterden, Kent, England

Census: 1901, Lower Green, Woodchurch, Kent, England

Death: August 1924, Woodchurch, Kent

Partnership with: Mary Ann HUNTLEY. Marriage: October 20th 1860, Woodchurch, Kent

Child: William Henry CHAPMAN Birth: born 19 April 1867, Tenterden, Kent, England

Child: Annie Louisa CHAPMAN Birth: born 24 February 1870, Tenterden, Kent, England

Child: Fanny CHAPMAN Birth: <1873>, Tenterden, Kent, England

Child: Kate CHAPMAN Birth: <1875>, Tenterden, Kent, England

Child: Charles CHAPMAN Birth: <1878>, Tenterden, Kent, England

Child: Emily Mary CHAPMAN Birth: <1880>, Tenterden, Kent, England

Child: Albert George CHAPMAN Birth: 1885, Tenterden, Kent, England