Deacon Samuel CHAPIN, Sr ¹

   Ancestral File Number: 2ND4-4W. User ID: 2418/4622.

   General Notes:

Deacon.

Immigrated Paignton England >Roxbury Massachusetts 1635, Freeman's Oath Boston MA 2 Jun 1641, Removed to Springfield Massachusetts 1642, One of Founders of Springfield Massachusetts, Selectman Springfield, Character in the Charter Oak Story Deacon, "The Puritan" Chapin Statue by St Gaudens Springfield Massachusetts.

BOOKS
A Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England, John Farmer, Genealogical Publishing Co, Lancaster MA 1829, p55: SAMUEL CHAPIN, Braintree, freeman 1644, when he appears to have settled in Springfield, where he was a deacon, died 11 Nov 1675.

SOURCES
The Chapin Genealogy Orange Chapin Northampton Mass Metcalf & Co 1862 viii 368p 23.5cm 9-7667 CS71.C462 1862a, Life of Deacon Samuel Chapin of Springfield Howard Millar Chapin Providence Snow & Farnham Co 1908 73p 25cm 9-8882 CS71. C462 1908a, The Chapin Book of Genealogical Data Gilbert Warren Chapin Hartford Conn 1924 24cm Vol I First Seven Generations Vol II Eighth to Twelfth Generation 25-13448 CS71.C4621924, Ancestral File Ver 4.10 2ND4-4W, Genealogy of the Bliss Family in America Vol I Aaron Tyler Bliss Midland Michigan 1982 p41, IGI Birth 7630307-83-1058822, 8114801-55-1260955, 7935431-6-1260636, 8605805-48-1396166, IGI Christening T998170-108-1126313, 7414908-41-935421, 7302414-81-822629, IGI Marriage A456581-456581, 7234309-37-822076, A178120-178120,178121, Encyclopaedia Britannica Micropaedia Vol IX p496 Springfield, Encyclopaedia Britannica Micropaedia Vol VI p674 Massachusetts Bay Colony, The Holcomb(e) Genealogy History and Directory Jesse Seaver Philadelphia PA American Historical-Genealogical Society 1925 vii 286p 27.5cm CS71.H725 1925 and 1925a, Ancestral File Ver 4.13 PMLW-V3, Seventeenth Century Colonial Ancestors of Members of the National Society of Colonial Dames XVII Century 1915-1975 Mary Louise Marshall Hutton Baltimore p50, Family Search 20 Jul 1999 Ancestral File v4.19 AFN: 2ND4-4W.

BOOKS
17th Century Colonial Ancestors of Members of the National Society of Colonial Dames XVII Century 1915-1975, Mary Louise Marshall Hutton, Baltimore Genealogical Publishing Co Inc, 1987, p50:
"Samuel Chapin (1598-1675) MA, m. Cecily Penny, Phillipa Eveston, Freeman, Founder."

Rev. Mr. Clark's Centennial Discourse:
p238: "It was early in the spring of 1636, that Wm. Pynchon, Esq., Henry Smith, John Burr, and others, came from Roxbury to the Connecticut river, and settle with their families in Agawam, which is now Springfield. The orginal settlement retained the name of Agawam until April 16th, 1640, when the inhabitants, in a general meeting, ordained that thereafter it should be called Springfield...
"...Those pioneers came not into the wilderness to escape from the restraints nor the burden of supporting religious institutions, for it was only the next year after the arrival of the first families, that a Christian Church was gathered...
"With the surrounding Indian tribes our fathers lived on terms of the utmost cordiality and friendship. All the lands that came into their possession, were purchased fairly and honorably, and to the entire satisfaction of the natives, who harbored no feelings of hostility to the English.
"As an evidence of this, is the following interesting circumstance.
"In 1637, the next year after the first families arrived and established themselves on the present site of Springfield, occurred the Pequot war, to defray the expenses of which, this colony, together with those at Windsor and Hartford, was very heavily taxed. Consequently, the next winter being one of uncommon severity, the three colonies were reduced to a state of alarming destress.
"In this emergency, three men were sent among the Indians above, in search of bread stuffs; and their mission was entirely successful. On that occasion, our river exhibited a spectacle, never before, certainly never since, seen upon its waters. A fleet of fifty canoes laden with corn, the product of the rich meadows of Pocomptuck, was at once launched upon the stream and borne onward by the force of the current, and urged forward by the powerful arm of the red man, and carried instant relief to the half starved, suffering strangers.
"Such was the friendly state of feeling existing between the English and Indians in those early days. Our fathers came among them not to defraud and expel them asenemies, but to live with them on terms of equality, to teach them habits of industry, to traffic with them, and do them good.
"Thus the white man and the red man lived as neighbors and friends for forty years. In 1675, the whole scene was changed; the hour had arrived in which the momentous question was to be settled, whether the whites were to be extirpated from the land of their adoption, or the red men subdued, and scattered and driven from the place of their fathers' sepulchers.
"By the agency of Philip of Pokanoket, the youngest son of Massasoit, a union was formed for a `general rising of the natives to sweep the hated intruders from the ancient hunting grounds of the Indian race.'
"Among others, thecolony at Springfield was marked for the slaughter, and so artfully the treacherous plot was laid, that destruction must have been theresult, but for a timely warning from their friends at Windsor. Aroused by the alarm of impending danger, they fled in consternation to the forts, and were saved with the exception of two men and one woman. The savages pillaged the town, and committed twenty-nine houses and nearly as many barns to the flames, and destroyed all the mills. It was in themonth of October; crops had been gathered in, and the winter stores of the colonists were swept away as in a moment.
"Thus amid the ashes of their dwellings, and the destruction of their gathered harvests, the colonists looked with fearful apprehension upon the approaching winter. But a merciful God, who stays His rough wind in the day of the east wind, so ordered that the winter was uncommonly mild, and the stores that escaped the flames supplied the need of the colonists. "In the midst of these dark and terrific scenes, was the family of Dea. Samuel Chapin (the ancestor of nearly all the Chapins in this country), who died Nov. 11, 1675, in a single month after the burning of Springfield. Deacon Chapin came from England or Wales, and arrived a Springfield with his family (of four sons and two daughters) at an early period, and became a leading man in the town. Another daughter was born in Springfield, in 1644, so that his arrival must have been at aprevious date...
"In 1666, two years after the marriage of these two sons (Henry and Japhet), Deacon Samuel purchased of Mr. John Pynchon, a large tract of land, embracing most of the fiver flats lying between the Chicopee River and Willimansett brook, or Wallamansick as it was then spelt.
"In the month of April, 1673, Samuel, the father, deeded to his son Japhet, a large portion of the tract which he had purchased of Major Pynchon. And the probability is that about this time the two brothers removed to this section of the town, as pioneers in the wilderness...
"About 180 years ago, our now beautiful and highly cultivated plain was a howling wilderness. Here was the undisturbed lair of the wild beast, and the savage warrior found a safe retreat from his pursuers in the tangled thicket. Hither the two brothers came and planted themselves down in the midst of the forest. Except a house on the south side of the Chicopee River, their nearest neighborslived in the village of Springfield..."

The Holcomb(e) Genealogy History and Directory, Jesse Seaver, Philadelphia PA, American Historical-Genealogical Society, 1925, vii 286p 27.5cm, CS71.H725 1925and 1925a
p41: "Nathaniel (Son of Thomas) Holcomb and His Descendants. (ah)
"201 Nathaniel Holcomb (2- ): b. 4 Nov 1648 in Poquonock Windsor CT; d. 5 Mar (Feb) 1740/1741; rem. to Massacoe, now Simsbury; m. (1) 27 Feb 1670 Mary (dau. of Nathaniel (or Thomas) Bliss (one of the original founders of Hartford CT) and Catherine Chapin dau. of Dea. Samuel Chapin of Springfield, a character in the Charter Oak story (see Part XII)..."
p243: "Dea. Samuel Chapin was one of the founders of Springfield, Massachusetts. The statement regarding his connection with the `Charter Oak' Story is believed incorrect, but Capt Joseph Wadsworth (who was connected with the Holcomb(e) family) concealed teh Connecticut Charter in the famous `Charter Oak'. In 1639 the Colony ofConnecticut adopted its first Constitution which was first adopted in the American Colonies. In 1662 Gov. John Winthrop obrained from King Charles II a new charter, and in July, 1685, a writ was issued by the King's Bench and served on the Governor and Company with the design of taking away the charters and making the New England Colonies one under a Royal Governor. Sir Edmund Andros arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, 19 Dec 1686 with his commission as Governor. In Oct 1687, he came to Hartford while the Assembly was sitting and demanded the Charter. It was produced and laid on the table. Afterwards the lights suddenly went out and the Charter was seized (by Capt Wadsworth) and hidden in the hollow oak (blown down in a galeAug 1856). Connecticut was the only one of the New England Colonies that saved its Charter."

The Chapin Genealogy, Orange Chapin, Northampton Mass, Metcalf & Co, 1862, viii 368p, 23.5cm, 9-7667, CS71.C462 1862a: "Containing a very large proportion of the descendants of Dea. Samuel Chapin, who settled in Springfield, Mass in 1642. Collected and comp. by Orange Chapin. To which is added a `Centennial discourse'...by E.B.Clark...Also, an address...by George Bliss."
p1: "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...
"On a map of England, in the possession of C. Chapin, there is in Derbyshire, the name of Chapin frith (frith meaning a rough, mountainous region of country). This on another map is written Chapelin or Chapalin, and he thinks perhaps, as they were always a very religious, conscientious people, they may have been so termed from Chapel, and this name with a little modification became Chapin.
"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 Springfieldin 1642.
p2: "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 ofMassachusetts Bay in New England, the name John Chapin is mentioned in connection with the building of a movable fort, March 4, 1633-1634, and in July, 1634, mention is made of a meadow a part of which `John Chapin hath mown.' That is all theinformation I have found respecting him. Whether he is a brother [father] 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 [Penney]. Mrs Cisily Chapin died Feb. 8, 1683, age not known...
"Deacon Samuel Chapin lived on the home lot next south of the Ministry lot in the centre of the then village of Springfield. His son Japhet owned one half of said premises, but sold his righttherein (by deed bearing date November 19, 1667) to Deacon John Hitchcock, who had married said Japhet's sister Hannah..."

Life of Deacon Samuel Chapin of Springfield, Howard Millar Chapin, Providence Snow & Farnham Co, 1908, 73p, 25cm, 9-8882, CS71.C462 1908a: "Chapin Family Association Publications. Constitution of the Chapin Family Association and other papers relating to the association inserted."

The Chapin Book of Genealogical Data, With Brief Biographical Sketches of the Descendants of Deacon Samuel Chapin, Gilbert Warren Chapin, Vol I, First Seven Generations, Chapin Family Association, Hartford Connecticut, 1924
pVIII: "Transcript of Records of the Parish of Paignton England
Weddings: 1623 Samuell Chapin and Cicely Peny 9 ffebru..."
Christenings: 1598 Samuel Son of John Chapin 8 Octob..."
pXI: "The time of arrival of the family in Roxbury, Mass., is supposed to be 1635, and no evidence is found to prove that date in error, and that five children came with their parents. The conclusion is that Henry and Josiah were born between 1630 and 1635, and as Henry is mentioned first it is supposed that he was the elder of the two. Japhet was born in Roxbury and Hannah in Springfield, Mass.
"`We are fortunate that we know the founder of our race in this country and his name has come down to us as a fixed and certain landmark in our history.' (Judge Henry Chapin, Sep 17, 1862)"
pXII: "Samuel Chapin came to NewEngland 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. (Thepresence 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. Pynchon, in 1636, led about a dozen families westward to the Connecticut River where he founded the settlement first known as Agawam, later renamed Sprinfield. The Chapins apparently migrated to the new settlement during the winter of 1642-1643. 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 Pynchon. 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 Pynchon 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 powerof a County Court.' He held 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 troubelsom 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 Chapinof Springfield,' by Howard Millar Chapin, Providence, RI, 1908, the fullest account, based upon original documents and records."
pXIV: "`Another has said, Ideals are worth more than all possession, and the Pilgrims, who were idealists, thus will never die. We are blest by the ideals of our ancestors, the Puritans who came hither soon after the Mayflower and did their full share with the Pilgrims in establishing our American Republic.
"`Most of the monumental statues set up in our land are in honor of men distinguished for military exploits. Equally deserving, perhaps equally influential, though less prominent, is another class of men who are apt to be overlooked. Lacking the brilliancy of special genius and thopportunity and the call for herioic action, they, within the ordinary sphere of human life, attained eminence by doing judiciously and with energy those common things which are essential to the stability of human society and give cast to the character and institutions of a rising commonwealth.'
"Rev. A. L. Chapin, D. D. at the unveiling of the Chapin Monument at Springfield in 1887, by Augustus St. Gaudens, the gift of Chester W. Chapin to Springfield..."
p1: "The Puritan. St Gaudens' statue, in figure and costume is intended as an ideal of Dea Samuel Chapin as given by tradition current among his descendants for there is of his face and features no oral or written record in existence. A striking physionomy tupifying that grand race who `feared God and kept their powder dry.'
p2: "`The beginning of the Chapin family is altogether creditable. We may well be satisfied that it should start with this genuine old Puritan (Deacon Samuel Chapin)and what he did, with his fellow pioneers, to open the American Continent and on it to found a city and to establish a model Christian Republic.
"`The rolls of heraldry, even if they could show the name linked with royal or princely blood,would add nothing to the true nobility of its origin. It belongs peculiarly to this country, andthe sphere of its highest dignity and honor was no doubt ordained to be here. Our chief anxiety should be to maintain and advance its true nobilityby lives and deeds worthy of such a father.'
"Pres. Aaron L Chapin, At unveiling of the Chapin Statue at Springfield, Mass., Nov. 24, 1887."

Genealogy of the Bliss Family in America, Vol I, Aaron Tyler Bliss, Midland, Michigan, 1982, p41: "Deacon Samuel Chapin. See `Chapin Genealogy' by G W Chapin."

Encyclopaedia Britannica, Micropaedia, Vol VI, p674, Massachusetts Bay Colony:
"One of the original English settlements in present Massachusetts, settled in 1630 by a groupof about 1,000 Puritan refugees from England under Gov. Johna Winthrop. The Massachusetts Bay Company had obtained, from Charles I in 1629, a charter empowering the company to trade and colonize in New England between the Charles and Merrimackrivers. Omitted from the charter was the usual clause requiring the company to hold its business meetings in England, a circumstance that the Puritan stockholders used to transfer control of the colony to America. The Puritans established a theocratic government with the franchise limited to church members..."

Encyclopaedia Britannica, Micropaedia, Vol IX, p496, Springfield:
"Seat of Hampden County Massachusetts, on the Connecticut River...
"William Pynchon, one of the original patentees of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, gounded a settlement of the river's west bank in 1635. Their colonists' livestock did so much damage to the cornfields of the Indians, however, that the community moved to the present east-banksite in 1636. It was organized as a town in 1641 and named for Pynchan's birthplace in England. Pychon's autocratic rule ended in 1652 when he returned to England, after being condemned by the Massachusetts General Court for a book attacking the Calvinist doctrine of atonement..."

ANCESTRY.COM 30 Jul 2000
Database: Full Context of Colonial Families in the U.S.
Description:
This impressive database covers the families of the early English colonies in America. Beginning with the first landing at Jamestown this series covers families up through the start of the American Revolutionary War and beyond into the Nineteenth Century. Many vital records are included, as well as locations of births, marrages, and deaths. In addition to containing family genealogies this database also contains armorial bearings, or coats of arms, for some of the more prominent families from England and Scotland. Researchers will find this database filled with important information compiled by George Mackenzie, who was a member of the American Historical Association and National Genealogical Society.
Extended Description:
Source Information:
Mackenzie, George Norbury, ed. Colonial Families of the United States of America. New York: 1907.
DEACON SAMUEL CHAPIN, of Springfield, was bapt. at Paignton, Devonshire, England, 8th October, 1598; d. Springfield, Massachusetts, 11th November, 1675; m. at Paignton, England, 9th February, 1623-24, Cicely PENNEY, dau. of Henry PENNEY of Paignton; sailed to America in 1635 and settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts, where he became a citizen and landholder between 1636 and 1640; he took the Freeman's oath in 1641 and in the next year moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, where he became a Deacon and sometimes preached; he served on a Town Committee in 1642; became Constable in 1645 and Selectman from 1644 to 1651, and in 1660, 1663 and 1664; he was Commissioner in 1652, 1654, 1662 and 1664, and in 1659 had a commission to administer justice.
I. David, bapt. 4th January, 1624; m. 29th August, 1654, Lydia CRUMP.
II. Catherine, m. (1st) 20th November, 1646 Nathaniel BLISS; m. (2d) 30th June, 1655, Thomas Gilbert; m. (3d) 28th December, 1664, Samuel MARSHFIELD.

ANCESTRY.COM 13 Aug 2000
Database: THE PIONEERS OF MASSACHUSETTS,
Samuel, Springfield, frm. June 2, 1641; town officer, 1643; deacon, 1649; employed to conduct service part of the time, 1656-7, when there was no minister in town. Commissioner, 1651 and 1660. Ch. Japhet, Josiah, Catharine, ----, (m. ---- Gilbert,) Hannah b. 2 (10) 1644, (m. Sept. 27, 1666, John Hitchcock,) Henry d. April 29, 1668, Henry, Sarah, (m. 14 (2) 1647, Rowland Thomas). He d. 11 Nov. 1675. Will dated 4 (1) 1674, prob. 24 March, 1676, beq. to wife, son Henry and gr. son Thomas Gilbert. Son Japhet C. with his wife Abilene, deposed. The widow Cicely d. Feb. 8, 1682; beq. to sons Henry C. of Spr. and Josiah C. of Braintree; daus. Catharine, wife of Samuel Marshfield, Sarah Thomas and Hannah Hitchcock; to Henry Gilbert, apprentice to John Hitchcock. Son Japhet C. exec.

ANCESTRY.COM
World Ancestral Chart No. 17450 Ancestors of Wayne G Thorpe and Olive Loraine Slade.

ANCESTRAL FILE
Ancestral File v4.19: Deacon Samuel CHAPIN (AFN: 2ND4-4W), Sex M, Born 8 Oct 1598 Paignton Devonshire England, Christened 8 Oct 1598 St John the Baptist Paignton Devonshire England, Married Spouse: Cecily Penney PENNY (AFN: 2ND4-53) 9 Feb 1623 Paignton Devonshire England, Lydia CRUMP (AFN: 1NRM-C09) 29 Aug 1654, Died 11 Nov 1675 Springfield Hampden MA, Buried 15 Nov 1675 Chicopee Cemetar (sic) Springfield Hampden MA.

INTERNATIONAL GENEALOGICAL INDEX
IGI Birth 7630307-83-1058822, and 8114801-55-1260955 Mother Phillippa EASTON Paignton Devon England, 7935431-6-1260636 Father John CHAPIN Mother ?Easton PHILLIPA Born 8 Oct 1598, 8605805-48-1396166 ?Dec 1598 Dartmouth Devon England.

IGI Christening T998170-108-1126313 Mother ?Phillipe EASTON, 7414908-41-935421 Mother ?Ciseley PENNY, 7302414-81-822629 Father JohnCHAPIN Mother ?Phillipe EASTON Christened 8 Oct 1598 Paignton Devon England.

IGI Marriage A456581-456581 Mar Cecily PENNY 9 Feb 1623 Paignton Devon England, 7234309-37-822076 ?Cisily PENNY ?1626, A178120-178120,178121 Mar Deacon Samuel CHAPIN.

   Events:

1. Immigration; 1638, Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA.

2. Freeman; 1644, Braintree, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA. ¹

3. Removed; 2 Jun 1641, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA.

4. Town Officer; 1643, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA.

5. Deacon; 1649, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA. Employed to conduct service part of the time when there was no minister in town, 1656-1657.

6. Commissioner; 1651-1660, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA.

   Marriage Information:

Samuel married Cecily PENNY, daughter of Henry PENNY and Jane DABINOTT, on 9 Feb 1622/23 in Paignton, Devonshire, England. (Cecily PENNY was born on 21 Feb 1600/01 in Paignton, Devonshire, England, christened on 21 Feb 1600/01 in Paignton, Devonshire, England, died on 8 Feb 1682/83 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA and was buried in Feb 1681/82 in Cemetery, Chicopee, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA.)

   Marriage Information:

Samuel also married Lydia CRUMP on 29 Aug 1654. (Lydia CRUMP was born before 1633 in Paignton, Devonshire, England.)