Lt. Richard Chapman

DAR# A020952

Died in defense of Fort Griswold, September 6, 1781

"Lieutenant Richard Chapman was of a fearless and resolute family a younger brother Edward being killed in the French War his older brother Major James Jr being killed at Harlem Plains September 1 776 while his younger brothers John and Joseph were captains in the sea and land service respectively He enlisted at the commencement of the Revolutionary War and like his brothers rose to a command He lived in a house then standing on Hempstead Street nearly opposite Franklin Street and was at home the night of September 5th When he heard the alarm in the morning he went to an upper window looking down the harbor and seeing the enemy's vessels ordered his sons Richard and Daniel and David to load the valuables in an ox cart and take them with their mother and two sisters out to Cohanzie He repaired to Fort Trumbull where he was second in command From there he crossed to Groton When the next morning came and with it no tidings of the lieutenant Mrs Chapman sent her sons to Groton to learn their father's fate with instructions if he was dead and they were in doubt about his identity to pull off his stockings and they would find a certain toe missing This was what they were compelled to do so disfigured with wounds and the stains of battle was the body"

source: The Battle of Groton Heights: A Collection of Narratives, Official Reports ...By William Wallace Harris p 229-30 _____

Lieut. Richard Chapman - Militia (2nd in command, Fort

Trumbull Garrison), Killed at Fort Griswold, Age 45 

Gravestone Inscription:

          In Memory of

       Lieu. Richard Chapman

        who was killed at

      Fort Griswold Sep 6th

      1781 in the 45th year

            of his Age

 How suddenly deaths arrows fly, They strike us & they pass not by,

    But hurl us to the grave.