Captain Abel Henry Chapman of Clarke, Chapman and Co
1836 Abel Henry Chapman was born in Wanstead, son of Jonathan, a silk merchant, and Agatha Chapman[1]
Served in India with the 3rd battalion, Rifle Brigade[2]
1871 Captain Chapman, of the 19th Hussars, lived in Canterbury Barracks with Mary Chapman 24 and Ethel Chapman 1 Month[3]
1874 Retired from the army and joined Clarke, Watson and Gurney where he became a partner.
1876 Lived in Collingwood Terrace, Newcastle[4]
1881 Engineer Employing 500 Hands (E&M), lived in Gateshead with Mary Chapman 34, Agatha May Chapman 14, Ethel Alma Chapman 10, Helen Catherine Chapman 7, Rachel Emma Chapman 5, John Abel Chapman 4, Mabel Fraser Chapman 2, Adeline Frances Chapman 1[5]
1891 Mechanical engineer, employer, lived in Gateshead with Mary Chapman 44, Mabel Chapman 12, Adeline Chapman 11, Alfred Chapman 8, Kathleen Chapman 6, Vincent Chapman 5[6]
1901 Railway engineer (chairman), visited Frimley with Mary Chapman 54, Helen C Chapman 27, Harry R Chapman 32, Eleanore P Chapman 32[7]
1902 Died in Gateshead[8]
THE death took place last Saturday, at Low Fell, near Gateshead, of Captain Abel H. Chapman, who for many years was connected with the well-known engineering firm of Clarke, Chapman and Co. In early life he was in the army, and was present at the relief of Lucknow.
In 1874, on his retirement from the army, he became a partner in the firm of Clarke, Watson and Gurney since changed to Clarke, Chapman and Co. Then they employed about 200 hands, and their output was chiefly winches, windlasses, and boilers. Now 2000 hands are employed and the value of the output is ten times what it was in 1874. For many years Captain Chapman has been head of the concern.
As an employer he was highly appreciated by his workmen, who made a presentation to him at the last annual dinner of the company, held about three months ago.