John Chafin/Chaffin, born 1782 in Bedford County, VA, was the son of Joseph Chaffin and Nancy (Ann) Mitchell.
He was a farm laborer. He owned land he inherited from his father Joseph Chaffin ( Bedford County Deed Book 29, page 592).
John died Abt. 1855 in Bedford County, VA.
He married Catherine Dowdy 09 Sep 1811 in Bedford County, VA.
Catherine, daughter of John Dowdy Jr. and Mary Foster, was born 1792 in Bedford County, VA and died Abt. 1865 in Bedford County, VA.
Her nickname was Kitty.

Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, VA, Vol. 6:
1811, Sep 9th. John Chafin and Catherine Dowdy.
Peyton Foster, Surety. Consent of John Dowdy.
They were married by James Scott on Sep 9, 1811.
John Chaffin and Peyton Foster signed a Bond for $150 to ensure the good faith of this intended marriage on 9-9-1811.

In the 1820 census of Bedford County, brothers John, Joseph and Stephen Chafin were listed, living side by side.

1820 Census, Southern District, Bedford County, VA
Roll M33_133, page 66, Image 17, Ancestry.com
John Chafin
3 free white males to 10 (born 1810-1820)-Joshua was one of them
1 free white male 10 to 16 (born 1804-1810)
1 free white male 26 to 45 (John)
1 free white female to 10 (born 1810-1820) Mary
1 free white female 26 to 45 (Catherine D.)
1 person engaged in Agriculture

23rd April, 1821, Bedford County Deed Book 17, page 5
Indenture of bargain and sale
Kitturah Chaffin, wife of John Chaffin, and Jane Chaffin, wife of Joseph Chaffin, of the one part, and Stephen Chaffin of the other part.....
25th June, 1821 recorded at Bedford County Courthouse

In the 1830 census of Bedford County, John Chafin was the only Chafin listed:
1830 census, Bedford County, VA, page 189: Family of John Chafin
2 males under 5 (born 1825-1830)
2 males 5-10 (born 1815-1825)
1 male 10-15 (born 1815-1820)
1 male 15-20 (born 1810-1815)
1 male 40-50 (John)
2 females under 5 (born 1825-1830)
1 female 15-20 (born 1810-1815)
1 female 30-40 (Catherine D.)
Total: 11 people.

Again in the 1840 census of Bedford County, John was the only Chafin listed:
1840 Census, Southern District, Bedford County, VA
Roll M704_550, page 243
John Chaffin, Head of Household
Free White Persons:
2 males 5 and under 10 (born 1830-1835) Stephen, John
1 male 10 and under 15 (born 1825-1830)
1 male 15 and under 20 (born 1820-1825)
1 male 50 and under 60 (John)
1 female 5 and under 10 (born 1830-1835)
1 female 10 and under 15 (born 1825-1830)
1 female 20 and under 30 (born 1810-1820)
1 female 40 and under 50 (Catherine D.)
Total 9
1 employed in agriculture

In the 1850 census for Bedford County, John, Joshua and Josephus A. (H.) Chaffin were listed.

1850 census, Southern District, Bedford County, VA
Roll M432_935, page 261, Image 615 Ancestry.com
John Chaffin, age 68, Labourer, born VA
Catherine, age 58, cannot read and write
Mary, age 32, cannot read and write
Catherine, age 20, cannot read and write
John, age 17, Labourer
Stephen, age 14
and
Caroline, age 6 (granddaughter?)
Richard, age 3 (grandson?)
Rebecca, age 8/12 (pauper, adopted)
All were born in Virginia.

1860 Census, Southern Revenue District, Bedford County, VA
Roll M653_1335, page 661
Catherine Chaffin, age 65, Pauper
Household of Rawly Crauch (Crouch)

Chaffin/Chafin Marriages in Bedford County, VA
CHAFFIN, CHAFIN
· Dec. 20, 1791; Henry Adams & Rebecca Chaffin; Stephen Chaffin, Surety; Married by Joseph Drury, Dec. 22, 1791.
· Oct. 6, 1794; Thomas Smith Hudnall & Rhoda Chaffin, dt Josiah; Jeremiah Hilton, Surety; Married by James Mitchell, Oct. 9, 1794.
· Dec. 30, 1803; John Hurt & Polly Chaffin, dt Joseph; Stephen Chaffin, Surety.
· Sep. 9, 1811; John Chaffin & Catharine Dowdy; Peyton Foster, Surety; Consent of John Dowdy; Married by James Scott, Sept. 9, 1811.
· Jan. 28, 1815; Stephen Chaffin & Nancy D. Mitchell, dt James; Thos. S. Hudnall, Surety; Married by William Leftwich, Feb. 2.
· Oct. 21, 1819; Joseph Chaffin & Jane Adams; Henry Adams, Surety.
· Jan. 7, 1839; Edward Chafin & Mary Oney; Thomas Oney, Surety; Married by William Harris, Jan. 9, 1839.
· Jan. 21, 1840; Joseph Chaffin & Martha Ann Mitchell, dt Joseph D.; David Witt, Surety; Married by James Leftwich, Jan. 23, 1840.
· Feb. 10, 1842; Joshua Chaffin & Lurena Margaret Turner; Obediah W. Turner and David H. Creasy, Sureties.
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John Chaffin
Bedford Co., marriage bonds: •Sep. 9, 1811; John Chaffin & Catharine Dowdy; Peyton Foster, Surety; Consent of John Dowdy; Married by James Scott, Sept. 9, 1811.
JOHN CHAFFIN, born 1782 in Bedford County, Virginia; died 1855-1865 in Bedford County, Virginia. He married Catherine Dowdy, daughter of John C. Dowdy and Mary Foster, on September 09, 1811 in Bedford County, Virginia. John was a farmer and a laborer on lands inherited from his father Joseph. Catherine was born in 1792 in Bedford County and died about 1865 in Bedford County, Virginia. John and Catherine had six children:
* 1. Joseph Chaffin, born 1811 in Bedford County, Virginia; died February 7, 1884. Joseph married Martha Ann Mitchell, born 1806, daughter of Joseph D. Mitchell, on January 21, 1840 in Bedford County.
* 2. Joshua Chaffin, born 1814 in Bedford County, Virginia and died November 18, 1891 in Bedford County, Virginia; married Lurena Margaret Turner February 10, 1842 in Bedford County
3. Polly Chaffin, born 1820 in Bedford County, Virginia; married John Armstrong June 6, 1860 in Bedford County, Virginia
* 4. Mary Chaffin, born 1822 in Bedford County, Virginia
* 5. Catherine Chaffin, born 1830 in Bedford County, Virginia
* 6. Stephen C. Chaffin, born 1836 in Bedford County, Virginia; died August 24, 1916 in Roanoke, Virginia. There was also an unnamed child born to John and Catherine.
Source: Dick Jacobs