Shep's Place Family Tree

­http­://­en­.­wikipedia­.­org­/­wiki­/­St_Dionis_Backchurch­

It may be the influence of the French during the 13th century that the church was dedicated to St Denys who was the patron saint of France. St Denys, or St Dionysius, has been since the 9th century had been identified with Dionysius the Areopagite. The term Backchurch possibly arises from the fact that the church was set back from the main line of Fenchurch Street although it may have been from St Gabriel Fen church which until 1666 stood in the centre of the roadway and was referred to as Forechurch.
The earliest mention was at the beginning of the 11th century when it was 'St Dionis in Lime Street'. In 1250 it was known as 'St Dionis of Bakecherche' and as 'St Dionisius Batcherch' thirty years later. The church was rebuilt during the reign of Henry VI ‎(1422-61/ 1470-71)‎. In the Survay of London ‎(1598)‎, John Stow, writes "at the south-west corner of Lime Street standeth a fair parish church of St Dionys called Backe Church, lately new built in the reign of Henry VI."
It was burnt in the Great Fire and rebuilt by Wren in 1674 although the tower was not erected until 10 years later. The church which stood close by Lime Street was demolished in 1878 under the Union of City Benefices Act to make room for shops and warehouses. The parish was united with that of Allhallows, Lombard Street. The bells were transferred to this Allhallows and when this was demolished were supposed to go to St Dionis Parsons Green but went to St Paul's, Westminster Bridge Road, by mistake.. The proceeds of the sale, £7,000, was used to build St Dionis Parson Green.
There is a partial index to baptism and marriage in the IGI.
Baptism: 1538 to 1877; Marriages: 1538 to 1877 ‎(accounts 1829-42)‎; Burial 1538 to 1849.
­http­://­www­.­steeljam­.­dircon­.­co­.­uk­/­churches­/­londonchurchlocation­.­htm­
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44 High Street
David Chapman, head, 22, carpenter journeyman, born Oakington
Lucy, wife, 22, born Histon

The UK marriage certificate reveals that David and Lucy were married at St Dionis Backchurch, London, by Banns. David Chapman, full age, bachelor, carpenter of Paul's Head Court, father Francis Chapman, carpenter. Lucy Carter of full age, spinster of Fenchurch Street, father James Carter, butcher. Witnesses John Williamson and Louisa Mott.

On David's death certificate, he is given the rank of profession of undertaker, contractor and builder.

David, Lucy ‎(who was pregnant)‎ with their boys Alfred and Charles plus David's parents Francis and Ann Chapman sailed from London on August 10, 1854 on the "Albemarle," a 704 ton ship with 95 passengers. The ship arrived in South Australia on November 27 of that year.

David's wife, Lucy Carter Chapman, died on the voyage to South Australia, two weeks after having given birth to a baby girl, Elizabeth Ann, who survived two months of the journey but died about a month after the family's arrival in South Australia. Lucy's two boys, Alf and Charlie, would have been cared for by their grandmother, Ann Willson Chapman, who was on the voyage with them.

Two years later, David married Anna Boyd Waters Moulton, and they had seven children, five of whom survived infancy.

From the Aldine history of SA, p. 563:
"David Chapman was born at Histon, Cambridgeshire, England...and was educated there. After leaving school he was apprenticed to the trade of a builder, etc., and learnt every branch of the trade; his father being in this line of business, he worked with him until 1854, when he came to South Australia. On arrival in Adelaide he sought and found employment there, but only remained a short time, and then came on to Nairne, where he took a farm, on which he worked for twenty-five years, and at the same time carried on his business as builder, blacksmith, and wheelwright, etc. About eighteen years ago he sold the farm, but continued to work at his trade, now the largest in Nairne, to which he has added coach building, and he also contracts for the erection of buildings, having studied architecture in all its branches. Mr Chapman has been district councilor for twenty-two years, having held the position of chairman ‎[Nairne Council]‎ for a long period; he was at one time a Justice of the Peace, but saw fit to resign the post; he always works hard in the interest of the district, taking a prominent and active part in any movement calculated to tend to its advancement...."

In the Nairne Council Account Books ‎(Mount Barker Library)‎ it states that on 3 May 1886, David Chapman was paid 19/- for repairing a wheelbarrow and tools belonging to the Nairne District Council.

David's obituary was a copy of an article published on the occasion of his 80th birthday. Presumably he gave the information to the writer, the substance of which is that David arrived in South Australia in 1854 on the Albemarle with his parents, siblings and young children, his wife Lucy having died shortly after childbirth on the voyage. Upon his arrival David went to work at Walkerville as a wheelwright, and afterwards in Rundle-street at one pound per day. His father, Francis, couldn't find work, so he took up land at Mount Barker Springs. He and David hired a team of four bullocks and a dray for ten pounds to take them to Mount Barker Springs; and when they reached Nairne, they had to get two more bullocks. With this addition to the team, they reached their destination safely. It took David and his father 16 weeks to build a residence. Living was very dear, flour being six pounds per bag, potatoes one pound per bag, butter 3/ per lb., and suckling pigs one pound each. David started business at the Springs as carpenter, wheelwright, and blacksmith, but no work of any sort was refused.
‎(Taken from Mt Barker Courier Newspaper, Obituary, Mr. David Chapman JP, A worthy colonist, 28 Jan 1910)‎

Some building works completed by David Chapman included Callington Primary School, Mt Barker Primary School, Nairne Methodist Church ‎(1884 costing 471 pounds)‎, Hahndorf Primary School, Auchendarroch renovations ‎[which caused him financial difficulty owing to under quoting for a parquetry floor]‎, Nairne Institute ‎(1904 costing 450 pounds)‎ and Erskine Bridge, Callington ‎(took 9 months to build and opened March 1874)‎.

David apprenticed Robert George Bairstow, his nephew on his wife's side, on 2 April 1872 to 9 April 1877 with board and lodgings. David was described as of Mount Barker Springs and Callington in 1872 and of Callington when he signed in 1877. ‎[This is from a photocopy of the Indenture of Robert George Bairstow to David Chapman 1877; supplied by Ruth Lewis.]‎

Mt Barker Courier, 13 Aug 1882, p3: "Mr David Chapman, JP, has been re-appointed on the Nairne School Board."

Mt Barker Courier, 28 July 1905: "Mr David Chapman, who has carried on business in the Nairne district as a builder, etc., for many years, celebrated his 77th birthday last week."

Mr Barker Courier, 14 January 1910
"Much sympathy is expressed at Nairne and in the surrounding districts with Mr David Chapman JP, who recently met with an accident and is now an invalid. Mr Chapman is one of the oldest and most highly esteemed residents of the Nairne district, and it is hoped that he will speedily recover.

The Advertiser, Friday, 21 January 1910:
Death After An Accident
Mr David Chapman, an old resident, died today. He had a fall a few weeks ago, and took little notice of it, but later was compelled to call in a doctor, who informed him that he had broken some ribs. Matters were further complicated by an internal growth."