Born on October 4, 1871, in Owego, New York, Chatfield received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1893 from Yale University.

He was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York from 1902 to 1906.

[1] Chatfield was nominated by President Theodore Roosevelt on December 13, 1906, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York vacated by Judge Edward B. Thomas.

He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 9, 1907, and received his commission the same day.

His service terminated on December 24, 1922, due to his death at his home in Brooklyn, New York.