# Nathaniel Chipman

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American judge (1752–1843)

This article is not about [Nathaniel Chapman](/source/Nathaniel_Chapman).

"Senator Chipman" redirects here. For the Wisconsin State Senate member, see [William Everett Chipman](/source/William_Everett_Chipman).

Nathaniel Chipman Chipman, c. 1800 United States Senator from Vermont In office October 17, 1797 – March 3, 1803 Preceded by Isaac Tichenor Succeeded by Israel Smith Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont In office March 4, 1791 – January 1, 1793 Appointed by George Washington Preceded by Seat established by 1 Stat. 197 Succeeded by Samuel Hitchcock Chief Judge of the Vermont Supreme Court In office 1813–1815 Preceded by Royall Tyler Succeeded by Asa Aldis In office 1796–1797 Preceded by Isaac Tichenor Succeeded by Israel Smith In office 1789–1791 Preceded by Moses Robinson Succeeded by Samuel Knight Judge of the Vermont Supreme Court In office 1786–1787 Preceded by John Fassett Jr. Succeeded by None[a] Personal details Born (1752-11-15)November 15, 1752 Salisbury, Connecticut Colony, British America Died February 13, 1843(1843-02-13) (aged 90) Tinmouth, Vermont, U.S. Resting place Tinmouth Cemetery Party Federalist Spouse Sarah Hill ​ (m. 1781)​ Children 6 (including Henry) Relatives Daniel Chipman (brother) Lemuel Chipman (brother) John Logan Chipman (grandson) John W. Brownson (grandson) Education Yale University Profession Attorney Signature Military service Service Continental Army Years of service 1777–1778 Rank First Lieutenant Unit 2nd Connecticut Regiment Wars American Revolutionary War Battle of White Marsh

**Nathaniel Chipman** (November 15, 1752 – February 13, 1843) was an American politician who served as a [United States Senator](/source/United_States_Senate) from [Vermont](/source/Vermont) and [Chief Justice](/source/Chief_Justice) of the [Vermont Supreme Court](/source/Vermont_Supreme_Court). A [Yale College](/source/Yale_College) graduate and [Continental Army](/source/Continental_Army) veteran of the [American Revolution](/source/American_Revolution), Chipman became a prominent attorney and advocate for Vermont statehood. When Vermont was [admitted to the Union](/source/Admission_to_the_Union), he served as the first judge of the [United States District Court for the District of Vermont](/source/United_States_District_Court_for_the_District_of_Vermont).

After Vermont became the fourteenth state, Chipman became a leader of its [Federalist Party](/source/Federalist_Party). In addition to his legal and political work, Chipman authored several works on government and law, served for 28 years as Professor of Law at [Middlebury College](/source/Middlebury_College), and was a [satirical poet](/source/Satirical_poet).

## Early life and education

Chipman was born in [Salisbury](/source/Salisbury%2C_Connecticut), [Connecticut Colony](/source/Connecticut_Colony), [British America](/source/British_America) on November 15, 1752, a son of Samuel Chipman and Hannah (Austin) Chipman.[1] Chipman was privately tutored, then began attendance at [Yale University](/source/Yale_University), from which he graduated in 1777.[1][2]

In January 1777, Chipman left Yale to volunteer for the [Continental Army](/source/Continental_Army) during the [American Revolutionary War](/source/American_Revolutionary_War), and he received his diploma while he was serving.[1][2] He was commissioned as an [ensign](/source/Ensign_(rank)) in the [2nd Connecticut Regiment](/source/2nd_Connecticut_Regiment), and joined the army in Pennsylvania.[3] He took part in the December 1777 [Battle of White Marsh](/source/Battle_of_White_Marsh), and went into winter quarters with his unit at [Valley Forge](/source/Valley_Forge), where they remained until June 1778.[3] Chipman was promoted to [first lieutenant](/source/First_lieutenant_(United_States)) on December 29, 1777.[3] Chipman through the summer of 1778, and resigned his commission at [White Plains, New York](/source/White_Plains%2C_New_York) on October 16, 1778.[3]

## Career

Chipman left the army to move to the [Vermont Republic](/source/Vermont_Republic), where he attained [admission to the bar](/source/Admission_to_the_bar_in_the_United_States) and entered private practice in [Tinmouth](/source/Tinmouth%2C_Vermont).[1] Chipman also continued his military service as a member of Captain John Spafford's Company, a unit of the militia regiment commanded by Colonel Gideon Warren.[4] He was state's attorney in [Montpelier](/source/Montpelier%2C_Vermont) from 1781 to 1785, and a member of the [Vermont House of Representatives](/source/Vermont_House_of_Representatives) from 1784 to 1785.[1] He was a judge of the [Supreme Court of Vermont](/source/Supreme_Court_of_Vermont) from 1786 to 1787, and served as chief judge from 1789 to 1791.[1]

### Vermont's admission to the Union

On February 9, 1791, Chipman met with President [George Washington](/source/George_Washington) to notify him officially of Vermont's decision to apply for [admission to the Union](/source/Admission_to_the_Union) as the 14th state.[5] [New York](/source/New_York_(state)) had long objected to the existence of the government of Vermont on the grounds that Vermont was part of New York, a position that dated back to a pre-Revolutionary War dispute between the colonial governors of New York and [New Hampshire](/source/New_Hampshire) over the right to sell Vermont land grants.[6]

In 1790, New York agreed to give up its claim provided that an agreement on the boundary between Vermont and New York could be concluded.[7] In consideration of New York giving up its claim to Vermont, Vermont paid $30,000 as an indemnity to owners of Vermont land who had received their grants from New York (about $800,000 in 2015).[8] On February 18, 1791, Congress decided to [admit Vermont to the Union](/source/Admission_to_the_Union), effective March 4, 1791.[9]

### Federal judicial service

Following the admission of the State of [Vermont](/source/Vermont) to the Union, President [George Washington](/source/George_Washington) nominated Chipman as the first judge of the [United States District Court for the District of Vermont](/source/United_States_District_Court_for_the_District_of_Vermont), a new seat authorized by 1 [Stat.](/source/United_States_Statutes_at_Large) [197](https://legislink.org/us/stat-1-197).[1] He was confirmed by the [United States Senate](/source/United_States_Senate) on March 4, 1791, and received his commission the same day.[1] He resigned on January 1, 1793.[1]

### State service

Following his resignation from the federal bench, Chipman resumed private practice in Tinmouth from 1793 to 1796.[1] In 1833, he authored the book *Sketches of the Principles of Government*.[10] Chipman served as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Vermont from 1796 to 1797.[1]

### Congressional service

Chipman was elected as a [Federalist](/source/Federalist_Party) from Vermont to the [United States Senate](/source/United_States_Senate) to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of [United States Senator](/source/United_States_Senator) [Isaac Tichenor](/source/Isaac_Tichenor) and served from October 17, 1797, until March 3, 1803.[2][11] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection.[2]

## Later career

Following his departure from Congress, Chipman resumed practicing law in Tinmouth.[1] He was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1806 to 1809 and in 1811.[1] He was a member of the [Vermont Council of Censors](/source/Vermont_Council_of_Censors) in 1813.[1] He was chief justice of the Supreme Court of Vermont from 1813 to 1815.[1][12] He was a professor of law at [Middlebury College](/source/Middlebury_College) starting in 1816.[1][13]

## Personal life and death

Chipman was the brother of [Daniel Chipman](/source/Daniel_Chipman), a [United States representative](/source/United_States_representative) from Vermont, and the grandfather of [John Logan Chipman](/source/John_Logan_Chipman), a United States Representative from [Michigan](/source/Michigan).[2] In 1781, Chipman married Sarah Hill (1762–1831), they had six children, including [Henry C. Chipman](/source/Henry_C._Chipman).[14] Another son, Jeffrey Chipman, was a [Justice of the Peace](/source/Justice_of_the_Peace) in [Canandaigua](/source/Canandaigua%2C_New_York), [New York](/source/New_York_(state)) in the 1820s, and was the jurist from whom those attempting to prevent [William Morgan](/source/William_Morgan_(anti-Mason)) from publishing a book opposing Freemasonry obtained an arrest warrant for Morgan, which eventually led to Morgan's disappearance and presumed death and the founding of the [Anti-Masonic Party](/source/Anti-Masonic_Party).[15]

Chipman was the grandfather of [John W. Brownson](/source/John_W._Brownson_(New_York_politician)), a member of the [New York State Senate](/source/New_York_State_Senate).[14]: 50 [16] Brownson was the son of Dr. John Brownson and Nathaniel Chipman's daughter Laura.[14]: 50 [16]

Chipman died on February 17, 1843, in Tinmouth.[1] He was interred in Tinmouth Cemetery.[2][17]

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Court reduced from 5 seats to 3

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FJC_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FJC_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FJC_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FJC_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FJC_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-FJC_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-FJC_2-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-FJC_2-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-FJC_2-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-FJC_2-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-FJC_2-10) [***l***](#cite_ref-FJC_2-11) [***m***](#cite_ref-FJC_2-12) [***n***](#cite_ref-FJC_2-13) [***o***](#cite_ref-FJC_2-14) [***p***](#cite_ref-FJC_2-15) [***q***](#cite_ref-FJC_2-16) [Nathaniel Chipman](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379066) at the *[Biographical Directory of Federal Judges](/source/Biographical_Directory_of_Federal_Judges)*, a publication of the [Federal Judicial Center](/source/Federal_Judicial_Center).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CB_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CB_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-CB_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-CB_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-CB_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-CB_3-5) United States Congress. ["Nathaniel Chipman (id: C000369)"](http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000369). *[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress](/source/Biographical_Directory_of_the_United_States_Congress)*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Johnston_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Johnston_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Johnston_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Johnston_4-3) Johnston, Henry P. (1888). [*Yale and Her Honor-Roll in the American Revolution, 1775-1783*](https://books.google.com/books?id=XAcAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA328). New York, NY: G. P. Putnam's Sons. p. 328 – via [Google Books](/source/Google_Books).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Goodrich, John E. (1904). [*Rolls of the Soldiers in the Revolutionary War, 1775 to 1783*](https://books.google.com/books?id=tZ8-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA166). Rutland, VT: The Tuttle Company. p. 166 – via [Google Books](/source/Google_Books).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** U.S. House of Representatives (1826). [*Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States: 1st–13th Congresses*](https://books.google.com/books?id=4Z0FAAAAQAAJ&q=february+1791+nathaniel+chipman+meet+george+washington+vermont&pg=PA412). Vol. 1. Washington, DC: Gales & Seaton. p. 412.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Sarah D., Brooks Blair (2008). [*Reforming Methodism: 1800–1820*](https://books.google.com/books?id=oYLa2Mbe85kC&q=new+york+new+hampshire+dispute+land+grants+vermont&pg=PA18). Ann Arbor, MI: ProQuest, LLC. p. 18. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-2435-3411-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-2435-3411-8).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Hildreth_8-0)** [Hildreth, Richard](/source/Richard_Hildreth) (1875). [*The History of the United States of America*](https://books.google.com/books?id=pskcAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA269). Vol. 4. New York, NY: Harper & Brothers. pp. 268–269. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780608355610](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780608355610) – via [Google Books](/source/Google_Books). {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Foley, Janet Wethy (1940). [*Early Settlers of New York State: Their Ancestors and Descendants; Part One*](https://books.google.com/books?id=WpxrPm-x_iAC&q=new+york+1790+relinquish+claim+vermont&pg=PA62). Vol. I–III. Westminster, MD: Heritage Books. p. 62. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7884-3711-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7884-3711-3). {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Donaldson, Thomas (1880). [*The Public Domain: Its History, with Statistics*](https://archive.org/details/publicdomainits00goog). Washington, DC: U.S. Government printing Office. p. [42](https://archive.org/details/publicdomainits00goog/page/n58).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Evans, Charles (1925). [*American Bibliography*](https://books.google.com/books?id=UabfAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA34). Vol. 9. Chicago, IL: Columbia Press. p. 34 – via [Google Books](/source/Google_Books).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Nathaniel Chipman"](https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/nathaniel_chipman/402508). Govtrack. US Congress. Retrieved November 20, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (2017). ["Justices of the Vermont Supreme Court, 1778–Present"](https://www.sec.state.vt.us/media/308078/justices.pdf) (PDF). *www.sec.state.vt.us/*. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Secretary of State. p. 2.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [*Nathaniel Chipman*](https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_tt2_3hTQxFMC). Encyclopedia, Vermont Biography. 1912. p. [367](https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_tt2_3hTQxFMC/page/n434). Retrieved November 20, 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Chipman_15-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Chipman_15-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Chipman_15-2) Chipman, Bert Lee (1920). [*The Chipman Family: A Genealogy of the Chipmans in America, 1631–1920*](https://archive.org/details/chipmanfamilyag00chipgoog). Winston-Salem, North Carolina: Winston Printing Company. pp. [50](https://archive.org/details/chipmanfamilyag00chipgoog/page/n58), 105–109.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Conover, Jefferson S. (1897). [*Freemasonry in Michigan: A Comprehensive History of Michigan Masonry, Volume 1*](https://books.google.com/books?id=P0NOAAAAMAAJ&q=%22jeffrey+chipman%22+%22william+morgan%22+justice&pg=PA145). Coldwater, Michigan: Conover Printing Company. p. 145.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Brownson_17-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Brownson_17-1) Brownson, Ernest Ray (1951). [*Genealogy of One Branch of the Richard Brownson Family, 1631-1951*](https://archive.org/details/genealogyofonebr00brow/page/226/mode/2up). Mayville, ND: E. R. Brownson. pp. 222–223 – via [Internet Archive](/source/Internet_Archive).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Nathaniel Chipman"](http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/chipman.html#096.90.85). The Political Graveyard. Retrieved November 20, 2012.

## Sources

- [*The Life of Nathaniel Chipman*, by Daniel Chipman](https://www.amazon.com/Life-Nathaniel-Chipman-Formerly-Justice/dp/1437326528), Kessinger Publishing, LLC (November 26, 2008)

### Primary sources

- Hansen, Allen Oscar. *Liberalism and American education in the eighteenth century* (1926; reprinted 1965, 1977) [for his plan to reform education](https://archive.org/details/liberalismameric0000hans/page/n19/mode/1up?view=theater&q=CHIPMAN).

## External links

- United States Congress. ["Nathaniel Chipman (id: C000369)"](http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000369). *[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress](/source/Biographical_Directory_of_the_United_States_Congress)*.

- [Nathaniel Chipman](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379066) at the *[Biographical Directory of Federal Judges](/source/Biographical_Directory_of_Federal_Judges)*, a publication of the [Federal Judicial Center](/source/Federal_Judicial_Center).

- [Service record](https://archive.org/details/historicalregis02heitgoog/page/n161) from Francis B. Heitman's *Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army*

- [The Political Graveyard](http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/chipman.html#096.90.85)

- [Encyclopedia, Vermont Biography](https://books.google.com/books?id=tt2_3hTQxFMC&dq=Charles+M.+Smith+governor+of+vermont++biography&pg=PA367)

- [Nathaniel Chipman](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7180805) at [Find a Grave](/source/Find_a_Grave)

- [Govtrack. US Congress](https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/nathaniel_chipman/402508)

Legal offices Preceded by Seat established by 1 Stat. 197 Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont 1791–1793 Succeeded by Samuel Hitchcock U.S. Senate Preceded by Isaac Tichenor U.S. senator (Class 1) from Vermont 1797–1803 Succeeded by Israel Smith Honorary titles Preceded by Samuel Smith Oldest living United States senator 1839–1843 Succeeded by Asher Robbins

v t e United States senators from Vermont Class 1 M. Robinson Tichenor Chipman Smith J. Robinson Tichenor Seymour Swift Phelps Foot Edmunds Proctor Stewart Page Greene Partridge Austin Flanders Prouty Stafford Jeffords Sanders Class 3 Bradley Paine Bradley Chase Fisk Palmer Chase Prentiss Crafts Upham Phelps Brainerd Collamer Poland Morrill Ross Dillingham Dale Gibson Sr. Gibson Jr. Aiken Leahy Welch

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States France BnF data Israel People US Congress Trove Other Open Library SNAC Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Nathaniel Chipman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Chipman) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Chipman?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.