Here are some other references I’ve found to William;

A biographical register of early colonial Australian musicians: C-D
Violinist, orchestral and band leader, cornet-a-piston player, viola player
http://www.graemeskinner.id.au/biographicalregisterC-D.htm#CHAPMANwill

The letter carriers burst upon the streets as the ‘Scarlet Runners’, clad in scarlet coats cut like morning dress, piped with blue and crossed and crowned with splendid gilt hats adorned with a circle of gold. They were fit for a king and the small boys of the town followed Robert McCulloch and William Chapman on their rounds, basking in vicarious splendour.

But the regalia had its disadvantages, for it made the postman easy marks for unchained poodles, terriers and mastiffs and Mr Watts informed them that ‘where ferocious dogs were allowed to be about the yards or gardens they were not expected to go upon the premises to risk being bitten.’

They had a meagre time traversing the town in summer beset with dust and in winter hampered by mud and, in 1852, when half the population rushed off to the Victorian goldfields, they were dismissed at an hour’s notice. However, instead of slackening, post office business increased and after harassed clerks had worked around the clock for three days of indescribable confusion, the carriers were reinstated.

from Geoff Manning’s Insight Into South Australian History

State Library of South Australia

http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/manning/adelaide/entertai/theatre.htm

William’s son George (my great, great grandfather) kept extensive diaries from 1872 to 1926.

http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=601281277926000;res=IELLCC

Taylor, Betsy. George Chapman diaries [online].Southerly, Vol. 64, No. 3, 2004-2005: 32-53. Availability:<http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=601281277926000;res=IELLCC>ISSN: 0038-3732. [cited 12 Jun 12].

“There was not a ball or dance of any consequence for which he did not supply the music” (The Advertiser).

Horse Drawn Hearse

William Chapman‘s funeral is described in this newspaper article from The Advertiser 4 Jan 1897.  This is a transcript.

THE LATE MR. WILLIAM CHAPMAN.
THE FUNERAL.
By the death of Mr. William Chapman the colony has lost one of its oldest colonists, one of its best musicians, and one of its most respected citizens. He was employed in the General Post Office for 39 years, and was known as the father of the postmen, while his great abilities, either as an instrumentalist or as leader of an orchestra earned for him a reputation of which any man might well feel proud. Therefore it was only to be expected that his funeral should have been largely attended on Sunday afternoon. The various musical organisations of the city were well represented, and a band of 33 was chosen from them under the conductorship of Mr. Heath to play the “Dead March in Saul.”  A splendid effect was produced, the different instruments blending well, and almost the whole way from Angas street east, where the deceased gentleman’s late residence is situated, to the West-terrace cemetery, the band played the solemn strains.

On either side of the hearse marched the pallbearers, Messrs. John Lee, W. Mitchell, D. Mahony and J.W. Williams, and then came the mourning coaches, the members of the Adelaide Lodge of Oddfellows, of which Mr. Chapman was a member, Brothers A.J. Radford, R. Morphett, secretary, and R. Richardson, deputy provincial grand master, walking in front.

There was a large attendance of the general public. At the grave the Rev. A. Wilson read the burial service of the Unitarian Church, and Mr. Radford conducted the Oddfellows service.

The chief mourners were: Mr. and Mrs. William Chapman, Mr. and Mrs. George Chapman, Messrs. Charles, Alfred, Frank, Bernard, and Frederick Chapman (sons), George W. Chapman, Harry Chapman, H.M. Chapman, P.E. Chapman,and Harold Chapman (grandsons), Misses Mary Chapman and Hilda Chapman (granddaughters), E. Weller and Tom Weller (nephews), and Mr. and Mrs. John Patten.

The General Post Office and the suburban officers were represented by Messrs. A.J. Wright, (chief clerk),  J. Conigrave, C.G. Schedlich. J. McDonald, J. O’Halloran, S. Boer, E.L. Virgo, W.H.Button, E. Bacon, S. Suckling, A.J. Arrowsmith, E. Niebuus, J. Mahoney, J. Lee, Mr. Black, A. Hubble, W.S. Doucit, J. Williams, W.A. Mitchell, J. Oatey, R. Gillman, V. Gurr, J. Moloney, W. Maley, John H. Maddern, E.J. Conlon, W. Condon, M. Collins, J.P. Pearson. J. Ottaway, P.F. Smith, S. Ramsay, S. Kidman, E. Short, A. Hamlin, H.B. Wilson, W.G. Wallace, and C. Graham.

The band was composed thus: — Eastern Suburban — Messrs. C. Schraeder, T. Stephens, S. Leaney, F. Stephens, J. Harrison, E.L. Gill, H. Hill, J. Shapter, C. Smith, J. Sullivan, W. Piercey, H. Coombes, A. Piercey, D. Pratten, J.J. Craig, and F. Grunicklee. Loco. — Messrs. J. Bermingham, W.Bermingham, S. Graves, K.J. Carne, W. Thorne, and W. Hooper.

Fitzgerald’s Circus — Messrs. F Bowles, A. Beane, C. Geyer, H. Bush, and T. Sexton.

Theatre Boyal orchestra —Messrs. F. Saltmarsh, J. Sparbier, and A. Heath.

South Australian Military — Messrs. F. Ingerson and J. Stephens.

The music profession was also represented by Messrs. A.C Quin, P.A Howells, James Shakespeare, C. Rosenbain, F. James, J.H. Fray, T. Grigg, and C. Cawthorne.

Among others at the grave were Messrs. James Lucas, F.F. Smith, M.W. Brooks, E.Everett, Mr. Shrosbee, James Perry, W.T. Oke, H.M. Addison, John Rowe, George Pullman, W. Nairne, C.W. Dyer, G. Beare, A. Warhurst, J.E. Gooden, H. Delaine, J.E. Kippist, J. Fabian, W. Collins, T. Smith, W. Lithgow, C. Molton, J. Williams, A Robertson, J.V. Duckmaster, R. Hutton, T. Tunstall, B. Earnshaw, S. Moore, B. Chapman, J. Fitzsimmons, R.C. Mitton, E. Bleumel, R.Buring, W.F. Giffen, C. Giffen, J. Foggo, William Gordon, B. Davis, A. Proctor, C. Williams, G. Hackett, C. Schrader, J.Duncan, A.E.P. Tomlin, C.G. Dibbin, J. McCabe, and. H. Barnett.

Wreaths were sent by the employees of the General Post-Office, Mrs. William Kay and the Misses Kay, Mr. Robert Kay and the Misses Kay, Mrs. Giffen and family, Mr.and Mrs. John Collins aud the Misses Collins, Mesdames M. McFie, C. Williams, O’Brien, Brooks, and May, Messrs. W. R. Pybus, and C. Cawthorne.

Apologies for non attendance were received from Sir Charles Todd, the Rev. J.C. Woods, and Mr. F. Basse (president of the Liendertafel). Messrs. Pengelley & Knabe carried out the funeral arrangements

Mourners At Re-enactment Of JL Monck's Funeral

Can anybody help me identify any of the people listed above who were at William’s funeral? Other than family the only other names I know are: Number one- Rudolph Buring my 2x great grandfather whose son Oscar Rudolph Buring married William Chapman’s granddaughter Nellie Blanche Chapman (my great grandparents). Number two- R.C. Mitton who had a school in Pultney St. Adelaide. Number three- Rev. J.C. Woods the Unitarian minister.

Were any of your ancestors there?

This is the music which played throughout the funeral procession, The Dead March by Handel.