dilcy evans chapman
1848-1927
Life Story
Matriarch of the Evans–Chapman Lineage
From Enslavement to Landownership
Early Life and Enslavement
Dilcy Evans Chapman was born enslaved on December 16, 1848, on the plantation of Henry Evans, located south of Newton, Mississippi—a region defined by its agrarian economy and reliance on enslaved labor. Her parents, Pleasant Evans (1830–?) and Kizzie Ann Evans (1833–1924), instilled in her an enduring sense of resilience and hope amidst the inescapable hardships of bondage.
In 1858, Dilcy and her family were listed in the Will of Henry Evans, in which they were to be bequeathed to his twin daughters upon his death. This record highlights how enslaved families were often treated as property, their lives and futures bound to the fortunes of others. Yet history shifted course. The outbreak of the Civil War and the subsequent emancipation of enslaved people in 1865 altered the trajectory of Dilcy’s life forever. Her survival and eventual independence mirror the larger transformation of the nation itself.
Marriage and Family Life
In the same year of emancipation, Dilcy married Frank Chapman (1838–1930), who had also been enslaved—on the Chapman plantation. Their shared past in bondage gave way to a partnership defined by perseverance and faith. Together, they settled in Hickory, Mississippi, determined to forge a life grounded in freedom and self-sufficiency.
In May 1892, Frank achieved a milestone when he secured a federal land patent for 119 acres—a monumental symbol of the couple’s determination to claim a future denied to their parents. On that land, the Chapmans cultivated crops, raised livestock, and reared their growing family, creating a foundation of stability for generations to come.
Dilcy worked as a housekeeper and farmhand, tending to both the home and the fields. She bore fourteen children, eleven of whom survived into adulthood, each carrying forward her legacy of strength and perseverance. Their children included:
- Ham Chapman (1868–?)
- Cornelia Chapman (1869–?)
- Lon Chapman (1874–?)
- Frank Chapman, Jr. (1875–1936)
- Tildy Chapman (1876–?)
- Martha Chapman (1878–1923)
- Pleas Chapman (1881–1959)
- Eliza Chapman (1884–?)
- General Clinton Chapman (1886–?)
- Green Chapman (1887–1963)
- Sylvester Chapman (1891–1970)
- Annie Bell Chapman (1894–?)
- Lucinda Chapman (1900–?)
Legacy and Passing
By the early 20th century, Dilcy was recognized as a pillar of her community, balancing the demanding roles of mother, homemaker, and neighbor. Her home was a gathering place of warmth, prayer, and shared meals—a refuge of comfort amid the difficulties of Reconstruction and the Jim Crow era.
On June 1, 1927, Dilcy passed away peacefully at the age of 79. There was no doctor present at her death, and the cause was never recorded. Her passing deeply saddened the community that had come to admire her humility, strength, and unyielding faith.
She was laid to rest at Altare Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, where many of her descendants continue to be buried today. Her life story, marked by endurance and quiet dignity, remains a testament to the power of perseverance and faith in the face of profound change.
🕊️ Sidebar: Legacy of Freedom and Faith
Dilcy’s journey from enslavement to landownership represents one of the most powerful transitions in the history of the Altare community. Born into bondage, she lived to see her children and grandchildren inherit land, education, and spiritual purpose. Through her marriage to Frank Chapman, she helped establish one of the cornerstone families of Altare—interwoven with the Evans, Walker, and Arrington lineages that would define the area’s Black heritage.
Her life stands as both a personal triumph and a collective legacy: a story of how faith, hard work, and unity transformed generations, grounding Altare in a legacy of freedom and resilience.
Resting Place
Altare Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1850 Federal Slave Schedules
- 1860 Federal Slave Schedules
- 1870 Federal Census
- 1880 Federal Census
- 1900 Federal Census
- 1910 Federal Census
- 1920 Federal Census
- Mississippi, U.S., Index to Deaths, 1912-1943
- Mississippi, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1780-1982
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
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