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 Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA


Latitude: 42.16312640899902, Longitude: -72.6188930869111 | Click to get directions to Chicopee Street Burying Ground
Chicopee Street Burying Ground

Notes:
228 Chicopee Street

contact info:
Cemetery Department
687 Front Street
Chicopee MA 01013


Chicopee Street:
For more than sixty years, the people of Chicopee continued their connection with the old First Church in Springfield, finding their way on foot, or on horseback, fording the Chicopee River, at the Indian Wading Place, or sometimes going by canoe down the Connecticut. The sabbath services and the weekly lectures were their edification and delight. Their lives were regulated by its ordinances and discipline; and when death came, they were laid to rest in the Old Burying Ground at the foot of Elm Street on the banks of the Connecticut. The names Japhet and Abilene, his wife, may still be seen on the old headstones in Peabody Cemetery. They were removed when the building of the railroad made it necessary to discontinue the old burying place. "
Annals of Chicopee Street
Clara Skeele Palmer
Harvard College Library
page 20

Rootsweb message board:
"Chicopee Cemeteries Notes: The earliest cemetery was established at the foot of Elm Street in Springfield. The "Old Burying Ground" was Chicopee's colonial cemetery on Chicopee Street (where all the Chapins are buried) -- first buried there was Miss Sarah Hitchcock in 1741. Thanks to Gail Ferris for contributing this information.
The "Old Burying Ground" was Chicopee's colonial cemetery. The first burial dates back to 1741."

Email from Dave Robison (dave@oldbones.co)
20 May 2014
Hi!
Since the Chapin family is a large part of my list of ancestors and past relatives, I’ve had an interest in the Chicopee Street Burying Grounds. The progenitor of that very prolific line was my 8th great grandfather, Deacon Samuel Chapin (1598-1675). He is represented by a very prominent statue which sits in a small park next to the Springfield City Library near downtown Springfield, Massachusetts. Deacon Chapin, along with several hundred Springfield settlers and residents were buried in the “Old Burial Places” which is correctly described as having been at the foot of Elm Street in Springfield. As the railroad came through, the interred were moved to Springfield Cemetery in 1848, not Center Street Burying Ground as it seems to imply by the description gleaned from RootsWeb. Also note that Chicopee was not a town until 1848 which is apparently a coincidence with the date of the cemetery removal.

Although there were as many as 2,000 disinterments, only about 250 grave stones remain extant. Most that survive are legible, but sadly too many have deteriorated beyond repair or simply sunken into the ground. The record implies that Deacon Samuel Chapin and his wife Cicely were buried at the foot of Elm Street. This makes perfect sense. When Samuel died in 1675, the population of the Springfield settlement was a few hundred, possibly a few thousand. Therefore it stands to reason that the “first” burials where in the late 17th century.

Thanks for the opportunity to comment.
Dave Robison
Professional Genealogist
Old Bones Genealogy of New England
Member of Association of Professional Genealogists (APG)
http://www.apgen.org/members/MemberLogo/color/gif/apgmemberlogocolortiny.gif

New England Chapter of the APG (Vice President)
National Genealogical Society
Western Mass Genealogical Society
Certificate Holder of Boston University Genealogical Research

www.oldbones.info (Web Site)
www.oldbonessearch.com (Blog)


Headstones

 Thumb Description Status Location Name (Died/Buried)
Chapin Mausoleum
Chicopee Street Burying Ground
entry
Chapin Mausoleum Chicopee Street Burying Ground entry
(photo kindly provided by Don Calloway) 
    Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
Chester W. Chapin (d. 11 Nov 1922)
Hon. Chester William Chapin (d. 10 Jun 1883)
Dorcas Chapin (d. 14 Nov 1886)
Deacon Samuel* Chapin, (immigrant) (J-FFDNA-5r) (d. 11 Nov 1675)
 
Chapin Mausoleum
Chicopee Street Burying Ground
front
Chapin Mausoleum Chicopee Street Burying Ground front
(photo kindly provided by Don Calloway) 
    Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
Chester W. Chapin (d. 11 Nov 1922)
Hon. Chester William Chapin (d. 10 Jun 1883)
Dorcas Chapin (d. 14 Nov 1886)
Deacon Samuel* Chapin, (immigrant) (J-FFDNA-5r) (d. 11 Nov 1675)
 
Chapin Mausoleum
Chicopee Street Burying Ground
right front
Chapin Mausoleum Chicopee Street Burying Ground right front
(photo kindly provided by Don Calloway) 
    Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
Chester W. Chapin (d. 11 Nov 1922)
Hon. Chester William Chapin (d. 10 Jun 1883)
Dorcas Chapin (d. 14 Nov 1886)
Deacon Samuel* Chapin, (immigrant) (J-FFDNA-5r) (d. 11 Nov 1675)
 
Chicopee Burying Ground 1741; Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Brightside, Holyoke, Massachusetts
Chicopee Burying Ground 1741; Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Brightside, Holyoke, Massachusetts
(photo kindly provided by Don Calloway) 
    Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
Chester W. Chapin (d. 11 Nov 1922)
Hon. Chester William Chapin (d. 10 Jun 1883)
Dorcas Chapin (d. 14 Nov 1886)
Deacon Samuel* Chapin, (immigrant) (J-FFDNA-5r) (d. 11 Nov 1675)
 
Chicopee Street Burying Ground
Chicopee Street Burying Ground
 
    Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
Deacon Samuel* Chapin, (immigrant) (J-FFDNA-5r) (d. 11 Nov 1675)
Thomas Chapin (d. 27 Aug 1755)
Bethiah* Cooley (d. 11 Dec 1711)
Hannah Wright (d. 29 Aug 1767)
Henry Oliver Wright (d. 21 Apr 1769)
 
Chicopee Street Burying Ground - Chapin Mausoleum
Chicopee Street Burying Ground - Chapin Mausoleum
occupants are unknown; but only meant to serve as representative of the cemetery and prominence of the Chapin family.  
    Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
Japheth Chapin (d. 8 Feb 1786)
Deacon Samuel* Chapin, (immigrant) (J-FFDNA-5r) (d. 11 Nov 1675)
Thomas Chapin (d. 27 Aug 1755)
Bethiah* Cooley (d. 11 Dec 1711)
Hannah Wright (d. 29 Aug 1767)
Henry Oliver Wright (d. 21 Apr 1769)
 
Chicopee Street Burying Ground - Chapin, Japhath, Lt.
Chicopee Street Burying Ground - Chapin, Japhath, Lt.
 
    Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
Japheth Chapin (d. 8 Feb 1786)
 
Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chapin Mausoleum
Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chapin Mausoleum
stained glass window
(photo kindly provided by Don Calloway) 
    Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
Chester W. Chapin (d. 11 Nov 1922)
Hon. Chester William Chapin (d. 10 Jun 1883)
Dorcas Chapin (d. 14 Nov 1886)
Deacon Samuel* Chapin, (immigrant) (J-FFDNA-5r) (d. 11 Nov 1675)
 
Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chapin Mausoleum
Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chapin Mausoleum
mosaic tile at entrance of mausoleum
(photo kindly provided by Don Calloway) 
    Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
Chester W. Chapin (d. 11 Nov 1922)
Hon. Chester William Chapin (d. 10 Jun 1883)
Dorcas Chapin (d. 14 Nov 1886)
Deacon Samuel* Chapin, (immigrant) (J-FFDNA-5r) (d. 11 Nov 1675)
 
Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chapin Mausoleum, Chapin, Chester W.
Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chapin Mausoleum, Chapin, Chester W.
(photo kindly provided by Don Calloway)
Chester W. Chapin (February 16, 1842 - November 11, 1922)
The epitaph "Home is the sailor, home from the sea, and the hunter home from the hill" is from the "Victory Crowned - Requiem" written by Robert Louis Stevenson.

In its entirety it is as follows:

Under the wide and starry sky,
Dig the grave and let me die
Glad did I live and gladly die
And I lay me down with a will.

This be the verse you grave for me-
Here lies where he longed to be,
Home is the sailor, home from the sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.

Chicopee Street Burying Ground 1741,
Chapin Mausoleum
Brightside, Holyoke, Massachusetts 
    Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
Chester W. Chapin (d. 11 Nov 1922)
 
Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chapin Mausoleum, Chapin, Chester W., Hon.
Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chapin Mausoleum, Chapin, Chester W., Hon.
(photo kindly provided by Don Calloway) 
    Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
Hon. Chester William Chapin (d. 10 Jun 1883)
 
Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chapin Mausoleum, Chapin, Dorcas
Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chapin Mausoleum, Chapin, Dorcas
(photo kindly provided by Don Calloway)
Dorcas Chapin (April 11, 1801 - November 14, 1886)
Wife of Honorable Chester W. Chapin
Daughter of Colonel Abel Chapin (1756-1831) and Dorcas Chapin (1754-1841) 
    Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
Dorcas Chapin (d. 14 Nov 1886)
 
Chicopee Street Burying Grounds
Chicopee Street Burying Grounds
Notes: 228 Chicopee Street

contact info:
Cemetery Department
687 Front Street
Chicopee MA 01013
(413)594-3481

Chicopee Street:
For more than sixty years, the people of Chicopee continued their connection with the old First Church in Springfield, finding their way on foot, or on horseback, fording the Chicopee River, at the Indian Wading Place, or smetimes going by canoe down the Connecticut. The sabbath services and the weekly lectures were their edification and delight. Their lives were regulated by its ordinances and discipline; and when death came, they were laid to rest in the Old Burying Ground at the foot of Elm Street on the banks of the Connecticut. The names Japhet and Abilene, his wife, may still be seen on the old headstones in Peabody Demetery. They were removed when the building of the railroad made it necessary to discontinue the old burying place. "
Annals of Chicopee Street
Clara Skeele Palmer
Harvard College Library
page 20

Rootsweb message board:
"Chicopee Cemeteries Notes: The earliest cemetery was established at the foot of Elm Street in Springfield. The "Old Burying Ground" was Chicopee's colonial cemetery on Chicopee Street (where all the Chapins are buried) -- first buried there was Miss Sarah Hitchcock in 1741. Thanks to Gail Ferris for contributing this information.
The "Old Burying Ground" was Chicopee's colonial cemetery. The first burial dates back to 1741." 
    Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
Chester W. Chapin (d. 11 Nov 1922)
Hon. Chester William Chapin (d. 10 Jun 1883)
Dorcas Chapin (d. 14 Nov 1886)
Japheth Chapin (d. 20 Feb 1712)
Deacon Samuel* Chapin, (immigrant) (J-FFDNA-5r) (d. 11 Nov 1675)
Thomas Chapin (d. 27 Aug 1755)
Abelenah (Abilene) Cooley (d. 17 Nov 1711)
Bethiah* Cooley (d. 11 Dec 1711)
Hannah Wright (d. 29 Aug 1767)
Henry Oliver Wright (d. 21 Apr 1769)
 

All Burials

 #   Last Name, Given Name(s)   Buried   Person ID 
1. Chapin, Abel   d. 3 May 1772 Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location I47879
2. Chapin, Chester W.   d. 11 Nov 1922 Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location I47877
3. Chapin, Hon. Chester William   d. 10 Jun 1883 Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location I47875
4. Chapin, Dorcas   d. 14 Nov 1886 Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location I47876
5. Chapin, Dorcus   d. 13 Jul 1841 Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location I47881
6. Chapin, Japheth   d. 8 Feb 1786 Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location I43465
7. Chapin, Jonathan   d. 3 Jul 1780 Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location I47889
8. Chapin, Thomas   d. 27 Aug 1755 Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location I3881
9. Cooley, Bethiah*   d. 11 Dec 1711 Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location I4662
10. Hitchcock, Hannah   d. 12 Apr 1778 Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location I47880
11. Wright, Hannah   d. 29 Aug 1767 Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location I43463
12. Wright, Henry Oliver   d. 21 Apr 1769 Chicopee Street Burying Ground, Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location I3560