DEACON SAMUEL CHAPIN Born October 8, 1598

Ref: BIO113, CHART155, CHART184

The Paignton Church record gives the date of christening of DAVID Jan 4,1624, evidently the oldest child. In Henry Penny's will dated April 6, 1630, his daughter CICELY CHAPIN is first mentioned. DAVID the grandson was next of the family mentioned, followed by the names of KATHERINE CHAPIN, and SARAH CHAPIN.

The time of the arrival of the family in Roxbury, Mass., is supposed to be 1635, and no evidence is found to prove that in error, and that five children came with their parents. The conclusion is that HENRY and JOIAH 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 Sept. 17, 1862

Deacon Samuel Chapin's Place in the Community.

Samuel Chapin came to New England probably with his father 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 record already quoted.) In 1641 he bought a house and a 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 Springfield. the Chapin’s 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 the 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 was first called deacon in records on Feb. 21, 1650. Besides 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 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 holding 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 troublesome world the 11th 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 a 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 Miller Chapin, Providence, R.I., 1908, the fullest account, based upon original documents and records.

The following is old information, but does have some items of interest, even though some of the information is quite dated.

1862 GENEALOGY, Orange Chapin:

Deacon 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 of the youngest, and we do not find any record of but on 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 on 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 of 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 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.

The Boston City Records show that Jane, daughter of Shem Chapin and Deborah, his wife, was born Sept. 16, 1665. He might have been a son of Dea. Samuel, and died without leaving any male issue.

JOSIAH CHAPIN Born October 29, 1637

Ref: CHART184

Josiah Chapin, second son of Deacon Samuel Chapin, was born in England in 1634, but must have come to this country very young. If he came with his father, in 1636, he would have been only about two years old. He is recorded in Springfield as having taken the oath of fidelity on March 23, 1656. He was a young man when he settled in Weymouth, MA. He afterwards removed to Braintree. In Waymouth he made his first marriage and there his first son, Samuel was born. In Braintree he made two subsequent marriages and had 13 children. His father transferred to him lands in Mendon, MA., which had been conferred upon Deacon Samuel by the Massachusetts colony for services rendered.

Josiah removed to Mendon between 1680 and 1682, and spent the rest of his long life there, being one of the leading citizens of the town. He was Selectman for many years, for 11 years chairman of the Board of Selectmen, justice of the Peace by commission said to have come from the British Parliament, and in 1689 was the first elected representative to the General Court. The tax lists of Mendon show that for successive years he was the largest taxpayer in the place. He held many other offices and in 1720, when he was 86 years old, he was again chosen representative. He was for half a century Mendon's first citizen, and died September 10, 1726, aged 96 years, having outlived his three wives, and leaving a large family of children, from whom has come one of the largest and strongest branches of the Chapin family.

Capt. SETH CHAPIN Born August 4, 1668

Ref: BIO113, CHART155, CHART156, CHART157, CHART184

Capt. Seth Chapin removed from Braintree to Milford, Mass. about 1680/2 where he became a large landholder and distinguished citizen. An expert surveyor, he did much to reclaim the virgin land, the earliest record of such development bearing the date of May 26, 1700

JOHN CHAPIN Born May 13, 1698

Ref: BIO130, CHART184

Ref: Gilbert Warren Chapin, "The Chapin Book". Hartford, Ct., Chapin Fam. Ass., 1924, Vol. 1& 2.

Deacon John Chapin was one of the original twenty-six members of the mother church in Mendon who seceded and formed a second church in 1741. He was prominent in the new church, being chosen Deacon in 1749. His homestead stood directly south of that of his brother, Seth Chapin Jr.

JOHN CHAPIN Born October 4, 1730

Ref: BIO113, CHART184

Deacon John Chapin's will was filed in Greenfield, MA on Sept. 12, 1815. Olive (6) and Perly (10) were not mentioned in his will dated March 22, 1814. He was prominent in town and church affairs, he became a Deacon in 1771 and an Elder in 1785. He removed to Heath in 1804

JACOB CHAPIN Born September 27, 1762

Ref: BIO113, CHART184

Deacon Jacob Chapin was Selectman in Heath in 1793/4, 1795, 1798, and 1803.