Notes for Samuel Chapin

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Notes for Samuel Chapin

Deacon Samuel Chapin was a forceful and dynamic man. A man with Puritan faith, he brought his family to New England about 1638. Living first in Roxbury, Mass. then moving to Springfield in 1642 as one of the founders of that city then called Agawam. 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 24 Nov 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.

A chronology of Samuel Chapin's activities:

1638: Samuel Chapin and wife Cicely were at Roxbury. Came to Springfield, MA from Roxbury, MA.
1641, 2 Jun: Samuel Chapin of Springfield, MA, admitted Freeman.
1643: Town officer. He took a prominent part in all the affairs of the town, both religious and civil.
1644: Freeman
1648: A member of the Board of Selectmen on which Benjamin Cooley first served. A member of the first Board of Selectmen and served 9 consecutive years.
1649: Deacon.
1651: Commissioner.
1652: John Pynchon, Elizur Holyoke and Samuel Chapin were appointed Commissioners, or Magistrates, to hear and determine all cases and offences, both civil and criminal, "that reach
not to life, limbe and banishment."
1653: The General Court appointed him and John Pynchon to lay out Northampton and its bounds, and they made purchase of the lands from the Indians.
1664: He petitioned the General Court for some land for services done.
1669: The General Court granted him 200 acres as laid out 4 miles from Mendon, bounded as in the platt which is on file, provided it did not exceed 200 acres and that it did not take in any of the meadows now granted to Mendon.
1674, 4 Mar (1st mo.): Samuel Chapin wrote his will. Bequeathed to wife, son Henry, grandson Thomas Gilbert.
1676, 24 Mar: Will probated. Son Japhet Chapin with his wife Abilene deposed.