Geoffrey Champlin @ Pocasset

Narrangasett Bay, 1777

Chart showing Providence, Portsmouth, and Newport

Geoffrey (Jeffrey) Champlin is the 5th great-grandfather of Belle Champlin (Jeffrey Champlin, Christopher Champlin, John Champlin, Edward Champlin, John Champlin, Erastus Champlin, Henry Champlin, Belle Champlin).

The Champlin family in the United States is of Norman-French origin, rather than English, it is supposed.

-Genealogical and family history of

the state of Maine, Vol. 3, Sweetser, Stubbs

Jeffrey Champlin, the immigrant and progenitor of the Champlin name in America, was born abt. 1621 in or near Bideford, Devonshire, England. He died at Westerly, Rhode Island abt. 1688-1695 and is believed buried on son William's farm at Westerly Historical Cemetery #3.

There are reports that Jeffrey may have been in Boston as early as 1627.

In early 1637, he was among Hutchison and Coddington's company of religious dissidents.

Coddington purchased the island of Aquidneck (Rhode Island) from the Indians and the group founded Pocasset (Portsmouth) on the north end of that island in April 1638. The following, taken from the records of that colony, show that Jeffrey was likely there from the very beginning:

"On the 28th of the 2nd month 1639 Upon the complainte of Jeffrey Champlin in the behalfe of a debt due to William Cowly and himselfe from Mr. Aspinwall, warrent was granted forth, for the attachment of his shallopp till both that debt and other actions of the case be satisfied and discharged by him".