Here are all my notes on Samuel...It mentions that he
had been in Dorchester before coming to Springfield.
!"The Samuel Chapin Genealogy", by Orange Chapin, call
#C571.C462, Metcalf & Co., Northampton 1862, page 1.
GENEALOGY. The Opinion of Rev. Samuel Chapin, D.D. of
Rockyhill, Ct. as to the native place of Dea. Samuel
Chapin. "Samuel Chapin is believed to be the
progenitor of all who bear the name in this country.
Respecting the history of the family previous to his
landing here, or the precise time of his arrival,
nothing is definitely known. * the family is
probably of Welsh origin. * His opinion is founded
on some obscure traditions recollected by Calvin
Chapin as current in Chicopee and the prevalence of
some Welsh phrases and terms among the people of
Chicopee, the greater part of whom bear this name.
Calvin Chapin recollects on one occasion a man who was
severely run by his mother, retorted by calling her
Welsh, in the way of reproach. * On a map of
England, in the possession of C. Chapin, there is in
Derbyshire, the name of Chapin firth, (firth meaning a
rough, mountainous region of country.) This on
another map is written Chapelin or Chapalin, and he
thinks perhaps, as they were a very religious,
conscientious people, they may have been so termed
from Chapel, and this name with a little modification
became Chapin.
!Same: Samuel Chapin took the freeman's oath in
Boston, in the year (June 2,) 1641. He lived probably
in Dorchester, and was A Deacon in the Church, a man
much esteemed and employed in public business. He
removed to Springfield in 1642." - By Rev. A.L.
Chapin, D.D., President of Beloit College, Wis.
Same, page 2. FIRST GENERATION. I. DEA. SAMUEL
CHAPIN came with his family to reside in Springfield
in 1642. It would rather appear that he resided in
this country considerable time, perhaps eight or ten
years before he came to Springfield, and perhaps the
greater part of his children were born in this
country, but no record has been found of the birth of
but one--the youngest, and we do not find any record
of but one of his sons taking the freeman's oath.
David, his son, was made a freeman in Springfield, 5th
day 2d month, 1649. He is supposed to be the
progenitor of all who bear the name in this country,
and I have not found one of the name who could trace
their lineage to any other source. In 1652, 10th of
October, Samuel Chapin was appointed one of the
magistrates of Springfield, and in 1654 his commission
was extended indefinitely. He was also much employed
in other public business--a useful and highly esteemed
man. In the records of the Colony of Massachusetts
Bay in New England, "the name John Chapin is mentioned
in connection with the building of a movable fort,
March 4, 1633-4, and in July, 1634, mention is made of
a meadow a part of which "John Chapin hath mown."
That is all the information I have found respecting
him. Whether he is a brother of Samuel or not is a
matter of mere conjecture. Dea. Samuel Chapin died
Nov. 11, 1675, age not known. His wife's name was
Cisily, maiden name not known. Mrs. Cisily Chapin
died Feb. 8, 1683, age not known.
!FamilyTreeMaker, Ancestors of the Neil and Hazel
McMartin Family. The Chapin Book of Genelogical Data
with brief biographical Scetches of the Descendants of
Deacon Samuel Chapin complied by Gilbert Warren
Chapin, Vol. 1, First Seven Generations, published by
the Chapin Family Association. DEACON SAMUEL CHAPIN'S
PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY. Samuel Chapin came to New
England probably with his father and family in 1635 or
earlier. A record at Roxbury, of early but unknown
date shows that he possessed 24 acres of land there,
and had eight persons in his family, himself, wife,
father and five children. (The presence of his father
John Chapin, at this time is in conformity with
records already quoted). In 1641 he bought a house
and lot of James Howe and became a freeman, which
implied that he was a church member and gave him the
right to vote and hold office under the Colony
Government. * He was evidently an acquaintance of
William Pynchon in England and a neighbor, for a short
time, in Roxbury Pynchhon, in 1636, let about a dozen
families westward to the Connecticut River where he
founded the settlement first known as Agawam, later
renamed Springfield. The Chapins apparently migrated
to the new settlement during the winter of 1642-3.
This change was doubtless largely due to Pynchon's
influence. * William Pynchon appointed five men of
standing in Springfield, called Selectmen, to watch
over morals, health and public measures. Deacon
Samuel was one of these. One of their most delicate
duties was that of assigning the seats in the Meeting
House. The place of Mrs. Cissily C. is there
recorded. "Goodwife Chapin is to sitt in the Seate
alonge with Mrs. Glover, and Mrs. Hollyock." Mrs.
Glover was the minister's wife and therefore the
leading lady, and Mrs. Hollyock was the daughter of
William Pnychon. Engaged in town business and held
continuously office of selectman 1644 to 1652 and
again in 1661 and 1664, and later as auditor. * He
is first called deacon in the records on Feb. 21,
1650. Beside the regular duties assigned to this
office, he conducted the Sabbath services, including
preaching, for several years when the church lacked a
pastor. * In 1651 William Pnychon was convicted of
heresy, by the General Court, and returned to England.
His son-in-law, Henry Smith then became chief
magistrate. The next year, he too returned to England
and Capt. John Pynchon, Lieut. Elizur Holyoke and
Samuel Chapin were by the General Court commissioned
magistrates for the administration of justice,
"allowing them the power of a County Court." He held
the office until 1664, and in addition performed
important duties, laying out land grants and the
plantations that became Northampton and Hadley. *
His first home lot was at the corner of the present
Main and Pynchon Streets, but by 1664 he appears to
have been living in Chicopee, with his son Japhet.
His holdings in springfield were large, but he gave
all to his sons in his life time, reserving a life
interest for himself and wife, his will disposing of
personal estate only. * In October, 1675,
Springfield was attacked by Indians and burned.
Deacon Chapin did not see the town rebuilt, for in
about a month as wrote his son Japhet, "My father was
taken out of this troublesom world the 11 day of
November about eleven of the clock in the eve, 1675".
* Deacon Samuel Chapin "conscientiously and wisely
discharged important trusts for the maintenance of
religion and good order and left an abiding impress of
his character and life on the city". * To judge from
the private and official acts of the man, and from the
firm hand he wrote, he was a man of some education,
strong will, inflexible integrity, abundant charity
and real piety. * See "Life of Deacon Samuel Chapin
of Springfield", by Howard Millar Chapin, Providence,
R.I., 1908, the fullest account, based upon original
documents and records.
!Family Tree Maker: GenealogyLibrary. Connecticut
Puritan Settlers, Royal R. Hinman R929.1H66. Press of
Case, Tiffany & Co., Hartford, 1852, page 535.
CHAPIN, DEACON SAMUEL, made free at Braintree in 1644,
and at Springfield, the same year, where he was a
leading man.
!www.theyliveagain.com/chapininfo.htm. Chapin Family.
According to R. Thornton, there are memorials to the
deacon at the church including the reredos (a screen
behind the altar) given in 1927 by one of the
descendants, who also presented a silver service to
the parish. A volume of signatures of the descendants
is maintained at the church.
!He married Cicely Penny on February 09, 1622/23 in
Paignton, Devonshire, England. As the story goes, the
problem began in Scotland just about the time when
Samuel decided to leave England. A policy began of
enforcing the new prayer book on Scotland. It was
very nearly the same prayer book as the new prayer
book of today. That action set all of Scotland in
flame. No doubt far and wide there was the grumbling
of the future revolution and the Pilgrim fathers were
only samples of a movement that was wider spread.
They would not stand for it and remain in the old
country. They loved their country, but would go to a
country where there was no fear of Roman domination or
even High church domination and so that exodus, so
different from the colonization under Raleigh - took
place.
!They brought their children to the New World in 1638
and settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts and later moved
to Springfield where he was one of the founding
members of the community. Deacon Samuel Chapin was a
forceful and dynamic man. He served his town in many
capacities including Selectman, Auditor and Magistrate
and he was Deacon of the church for some 25 years.
!Next to the Public Library in Springfield there is a
bronze statue, "The Puritan", placed there on November
24, 1887 which honors him. It is the sculptor's idea
of how such a man as Deacon Chapin, a man of his moral
standing and spiritual qualities ought to have looked.
!The "Puritan" is one of the internationally acclaimed
Augustus St. Gaudens finest works. The statue was
commissioned by Chester W. Chapin, Springfield's
railroad magnate. The statue was created in honor of
Chapin's ancestor. In the springtime of 1885 Augustus
was well along with his work on the bronze statue that
would soon come to be ranked with the world's
masterpieces of sculpture, and greatly enhance the
sculptuer's fame throughout the world. It now stands
in Merrick Park beside the City Library but it
originally was unveiled on Thanksgiving Day in 1887 in
Stearns Square, and remained there for twelve years
before it was moved to Merrick Park. In moving the
statue it separated from the beautiful bronze fountain
and pink granite bench designed by the architect
Stanford White. Today the fountain and bench are
relegated to obscure corners of the city, where the
passerby would never guess. The working model is now
owned by the Carnegie Museum of Art, and on display in
Oakland, Pittsburgh, Pa.
!Joanne R. Chapin <CTYankeeRN(a)netscape.net> posting to
the CHAPIN Mailing List, 27 April 2002. According to
the CT Valley Historical Society Samuel and Cicely's
graves were lost to a flood. The headstones of two of
their sons and their wives were moved to the main
cemetery to preserve them.
!His will was dated Mar. 4, 1674 and proved Mar. 24,
1676, naming wife, son Henry and grandson Thomas
GILBERT. Married in England on Feb. 9, 1623/4.
Since his father John died in 1600 and his son John
was born in 1632, the John of the "Movable fort" and
the mown grass in 1633 is unknown.
Kathy
--- Gra8teach(a)aol.com wrote:
Hi listers
I hope someone may have some answers or thoughts to
some of my questions. I
don't have access to Chapin Books but to Orange
Chapins book. I'm trying to put
things together for when I visit back there.
1. Does anyone know where they lived before coming
to Springfield in 1642?
2. Orange mentions a John in 1633 "in records of
Mass. Bay in New England"
the name of John is mentioned in connection with the
building of a movable
fort, Mach 4, 1833-4, and in July, 1634, mention is
made of a meadow a part of
which" John Chapin hath mown." Is this his father or
a brother like Orange
thought could be?
Thanks for any thoughts. Carol
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