Mrs. Van Valkenburg's first hus
band, Williams Hayes Chapman, died
in lb07 leaving her a fortune estimat
ed at ten million dollars. Following
his death the widow came to Pomfret,
and took up her residence. Though
she actually lived there but a snort
time, she has since maintained a
legal residence in Pomfret. Mrs. Van
Valken burg travelled extensively,
most of thp time in Europe, where
she became prominent because of her
lavish expenditure.
It was while she was on her way
from France to this country that she
met her second husband. Philip Van
Valkenburg, a son of a prominent
New York family. Their courtship
was rapid. The young man proposed
one evening at dinner, and the same
night the couple were married at
Greenwich, Conn. This was in 1909.
The match was not a happy one and
it ended in the Windham County Su
perior Court at Putnam, to which
place the woman came from France,
purposely to be present as plaintiff
in divorce proceedings against her
husband. The decree was granted
and on the same day Mrs. Van Valk
enburg returned to New York.
Mrs. Van Valkenburg made another
appearance in Putnam, a year ago in
March. 1916. at which time she came
to appear before the superior court
requesting that her name he changed
from Van Valkenburg to- Chapman.
As her reason for this request she
said her German soundgn name made
It difficult for her to manage her af
fairs on the continent. Her petition
was granted.
