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The New England Marriages Prior to 1700 source, the quote is: "CHAPIN, Henry (1631 - 1718) & Bethia COOLEY (1644 - 1711; 15 Dec 1644; Springfield."
Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 at Ancestry.com says "Bethiah Chapin the wife of Henry Chapin was sick and died Dec. 9, 1711."
Bethia Cooley was born September 16, 1643[1]at Springfield, Massachusetts Bay Colony in New England.[1]She was the daughter of Benjamin Cooley and his wife Sarah.[1]
The identity of Sarah's ancestry is unknown.[1] The Massachusetts Town and Vital Records state that her maiden name may have been "Colton" or "Tremaine."[2]She is believed to have been born in England and emigrated with her husband to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in New England..[3] Mortimer Elwyn Cooley, in his book “The Cooley Genealogy, The Descendants of Ensign Benjamin Cooley an early settler of Springfield and Longmeadow" on pages 75 & 76 lays out a convincing argument for the family name of "Colton."[1]Sarah died in Springfield on August 23, 1684 and was buried in the ancient burying place near the river in Springfield.[1]
Benjamin Cooley was born about 1617, place unknown[1] and died August 17, 1684 in the part of Springfield which became known as Longmeadow.[1] They most likely came to Springfield via the waterways instead of overland, since he would have been transporting with him, all his earthly goods.[1]His name first appeared on the records of Springfield in 1644,[3] but we can assume that Benjamin and Sarah came to Springfield in 1643 because it is on record that their daughter Bethia was born in Springfield.[1]Benjamin's occupation was a weaver.[3]Benjamin became a Selectman of the town and served for 18 years.[3]He died August 17, 1684[3]at the age of sixty-seven years,[1]six days prior to the death of his wife.[1]Both Benjamin and Sarah were buried in the ancient burying place by the riverside in Springfield. It seems death came unexpectedly for Benjamin Cooley, for though he attempted to make a will, he did not live to complete it.[1]There is no mention of his daughter Bethia in his will, but it appears his heirs divided he estate and carried on. (p. 112 and 154 of Mortimer's book on the Cooley family.)[1]His will may be found beginning on page 148 of Mortimers book on the Cooley Family.[1] The inventory of Benjamin Cooley's estate totaled over 1241 pounds sterling.[1]
On December 5, 1664, Bethia Cooley married Henry Chapin,[1][4]the son of Deacon Samuel and Cicely (Penny) Chapin.[1][5][6]Henry had emigrated in 1635 with his parents and four siblings from Berry Pomeroy,[7]England to Roxbury then Springfield, both in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.[5]At an early age, Henry became a seaman on board a British ship. He served there seven years and was in an severe engagement with the Dutch.[4]Next he commanded a merchant ship sailing between London and Boston. He came to Springfield in about 1659[4]It was not an easy thing to be admitted as an inhabitant of Springfield. Only those who could contribute value to the community could settle there. Those could not live in the town who did not have the financial ability to hire others for work; or they needed to own merchandise needed by the townspeople; or have talents helpful for the growth of the town. Strangers were not allowed![1]So when in 1660, Henry Chapin wanted to be admitted as a citizen of the town, his father Deacon Samuel Chapin gave a bond of 20 pounds, to secure the town from any charges which may arise.[1]Ten years later, in 1670, Henry Chapin must have been an honored and respected member of the community as he was elected to be a selectman in the town.[3]In 1679, in his capacity as a selectman, he, along with others of the selectmen, voted to set up and erect a school house for the town.[3]In 1689 he was elected Deputy in he General Court, as such he represented the town of Springfield at Boston where deputies from other towns assembled.[3] Henry is named in both the will of his mother and his father and received twenty shillings from each.[7]
Henry and Bethia, along with Henry's brother Japhet Chapin and his wife Abileneh, were the first settlers in Chicopee, the northerly part of Springfield.[4] Bethia and Abileneh were probably first cousins.[1]Henry and Bethia's house was near the west end of what, in 1947, was called Exchange Street.[1] Henry, her husband, was a Deputy to the General Curt in 1689 and also served for eleven years as a selectman of the town of Springfield.[1]Her father, Benjamin Cooley, and her father-in-law, Deacon Samuel Chapin, are both considered Fathers of the town. They were selectmen, who managed the town, and served together for several years.[3]
Bethia was 32 years old when on October 5, 1675, the town of Springfield was burned down by the Indians.[3]It is written that "terror reigned in every town and hamlet."[3]The story unfolds like this: John Pychon had taken a small force of men to help defend the town of Hadley, leaving Springfield inhabitants unprotected. Hostile Indians took residence in a fort that had been construction for the protection of friendly Indians. The evening of the 4th of October, Toto a friendly Indian revealed the plot of destruction and sent a messenger to Springfield to rouse the people and warn them of the danger. All took refuge in one of the three fortified houses in the town. The morning of the 5th, with no attack, some residents began to discredit Toto's warning. Lieut. Cooper and Thomas Miller mounted their horses and set out for the fort and were both killed by hostile Indians who then proceeded to set the town on fire, the majority of the inhabitants were safe because they had taken refuge in the fortified houses. It is said that between 29 and 33 houses and barns were burned.[3]Major Pynchon and Major Treat, of Connecticut came to the inhabitant's rescue and prevented further destruction. Fifteen houses on the street and twenty or more in the outskirts of the town were saved.[3]In a letter to Rev. John Russell, Major Pynchon says that 40 families were utterly destitute of subsistence.[3]From Pychon's writings it seems as though they all lived together under the roofs of the fifteen houses that remained, and set about repairing their broken fortunes. According to Judd, in his history of Hadley, "145 persons were killed within the limits of what was then Hampshire county" in the year 1675.[3]This will help us to understand the sense of danger and insecurity that our Bethia Chapin, her husband and children lived under in those days.
Bethiah Cooley Chapin was sick and died December 9, 1711[2]at Chicopee,[1] the northern part of Springfield, Massachusetts, 68 years of age. She was buried at the ancient "burying place" west of the church.[8]
The old burying place had become overcrowded, was overgrown with trees and shrubs, and the railroad track ran through it. The city ordered the remains to be removed to the new cemetery and in 1848 exhumation began, Most of the bodies had disintegrated, leaving no trace, what remains were gathered crumbled to dust on exposure to the air. No artifacts such as shoe-buckles or buttons were found in the area, leaving one to conjecture that the bodies were laid to rest, wrapped in a winding sheet or shroud.[9]In the Springfield Cemetery there is a marker that reads, "In this enclosure are the remains and monuments removed from the Old Burial Places, at the foot of Elm Street in 1848." Bethia's burial plot is: Willow Avenue 2-97.[8]
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C > Cooley | C > Chapin > Bethia (Cooley) Chapin
Categories: Springfield Cemetery, Springfield, Massachusetts
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Thank you, Cheryl