Frances Sarah CHAPMAN was the second (or third) child of Catherine (HOBSON) and Edward Samuel CHAPMAN - born April 1844 in Hobart.

From the records of correspondence through the Colonial Secretary's Office it transpired that she and her two younger sisters were placed into the Queen's Orphanage in early March 1854. This was a result of their plight being highlighted to the authorities by Archdeacon Davies who describes the situation of these three destitute children. He states that they were "deserted" by their father who was a steward on a ship travelling to England and that the mother is of bad character (coincidentally their mother died in late March 1854).

Frances was only 10 years old when admitted into the Queen's Orphanage and one can only imagine how she and her two younger sisters (Sarah Elizabeth 6 years and Maria Caroline almost 2 years) would have looked - bedraggled, dirty - perhaps clinging to each other for warmth, safety and comfort.

Discharge from the orphan school was three months later (June 1854) into the care of her uncle Joseph HARTLAND (currently have been unable to establish if he were a relative or friend of the family). Frances' two sisters remained at the orphanage for another 9 months until their father took them from care in March 1855.

Life for Frances must have been very difficult  - she died a spinster in 1888 in Hobart at the age of 44 years from chronic rheumatism of "some years" and bed sores present for six months. She was buried in the Sandy Bay Cemetery - the funeral procession supported by two coaches.

Frances Sarah CHAPMAN is the sister of my great-great-grandfather and I am honoured to have the opportunity to claim and thus acknowledge her life.