JAMES CHAPLINE was born on September 28, 1750, in All Saints' Parish, Frederick County; the third son of Joseph Chapline and Ruhama Williams Chapline.

In 1786 he was appointed Commissioner of Tax for Washington County, Maryland. James served in Maryland’s Lower House for Washington County from 1779 until 1783. He was re-elected in 1783 but did not attend.

In 1779 he owned 1,628 acres in Washington County (over 853 acres inherited from his father). James also controlled about 550 acres in Washington County that his brother William had conveyed to him in trust in 1773 because of William's heavy indebtedness. James sold 244 acres of his brother’s land, including 1 mill, and leased out a farm and kept the rents and profits himself and never settled the trust according to the terms of the agreement with his brother. This resulted in a lengthy court dispute with his brothers William and Joseph Chapline (1746- 1821), which began in 1790 and was not settled until 1832. By that point all three brothers had died. During the course of the litigation, James obtained an act for the relief of insolvent debtors from the General Assembly in 1802. On August 19, 1805, the Chancery Court ordered that all of his remaining real estate, which was not already mortgaged, be sold.

By 1813 James was living in Jefferson County, Ohio with his wife Catherine [?] who he had married by December 4, 1798. However, on February 17, 1824 The Torch Light and Public Advertiser Hagers Town, Maryland, published the following: "Died in this town, on Saturday last, James Chapline, an old inhabitant of this county." In December 1829 in Jefferson County, Ohio; a Court of Chancery declared that no administration of his estate was necessary since "he left no personal or other estate."

James Chapline had six children: Joseph; Heros; Atlas; Cyrus; Althea (married William Wallace); Rowena (married John Miser).

Source:
Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789 by Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al.
Volume 426, Page 209-210.

Torch Light and Public Advertiser Hagers Town, Maryland, February 17, 1824.
Michael I. Chapline - [email protected]