George Chappell, Immigrant and minor rascal

George Chappell was born somewhere.  Apparently the "accepted" parents and location are no longer "accepted" and his origin is considered unknown.  There is a man of about the right age who married in 1597 in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England, but at this point it's merely a suggestion for research and not in any way, shape or form a documentable connection.  When I win the lottery, I would certainly like to look into this possibility. 

The first thing that is really known about George is that in 1635, when he was aged 20,  he, along with about 20 other yong men, were sent to New England, specifically Windsor, Connecticut, to build homes and structures required by Sir Richard Saltonstall and other Connecticut patentees.  George was in Wetherfield for about two years, where he was trained as a carpenter but also most probably served in the Pequot war.  This was not the colony's finest hour in terms of what they did (the English massacred several hundred natives during the course of the war, among other things) but the soldiers following orders, must have thought they were doing the right thing.  After the war, George was granted a house and lotinWethersfield.  While living in Wethersfield, probably about 1642, George married Christian, possibly Bell.  They had five children todether before Christian apparently died in the early 1650's. 

In 1653, George married Margaret and the family moved to New London.  We don't know whether he continued the trade he learned of carpentry, or whether he had another occupation.  He apparently still was doing some farming, based on land records.  George and Margaret also had five children together. 

I mentioned that George may have been a bit of a minor rascal.  He was often in court over debts, some that he owed and some that he felt he was owed.  He also was charged more than once with "excess in drinking" and with "abusing the constable". As far as the records show, he was never placed on a jury or selected for any kind of public office, so he may not have had the good reputation of our other immigrant ancestors.  He also was apparently illiterate, as he had a certain"mark" he used when signing legal documents. 

When he died, about 1682, he left goods to his wife to help in the upbringing of the younger children, and mentioned several of the children by name.  I have not been able to find a copy of the estate records, but I will keep looking.  I love to look at the inventories to see what they might suggest about our ancestor. 

The line of descent is:

George Chappell-Christian possibly Bell
Rachel Chappell-Thomas Crocker
John Crocker-Mercy Tubbs
Rachel Crocker-Kingsland Comstock
Rachel Comstock-John Eames
John Eames-Elizabeth Longbottom
Hannah Eames-James Lamphire
Susan Lamphire-Joseph Eddy
Susan Eddy-Hiram Stanard
Louis Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick
Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants