The Samuel Chapin Statue at the Quadrangle, around 1905. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.
The same statue in 2012:
Samuel Chapin, one of my ancestors, was an early settler in Springfield, one of several such founders memorialized in a statue in the city. He served as the first deacon of the church, was on the first board of selectmen, and also served as a town magistrate. In 1881, one of his descendants, businessman and Congressman Chester W. Chapin, commissioned noted sculptor Augustus St. Gaudens to create this statue. It was finished in 1887, and was first situated at Stearns Park, but was moved to Merrick Park at the Quadrangle in 1899, shortly before the above photo was taken. The statue, named The Puritan, became one of St. Gaudens’s most popular work, and it hasn’t changed much in the past 100 years, although some of the buildings around it have. The house directly behind it in the 1905 photo (I believe it’s the parsonage for Christ Church Cathedral) is long gone, as is the old library, which isn’t visible in the photo, but which was located just to the photographer’s right. Note, however, the arches in the distance on the far right of the 1905 photo – those are from the art museum, which still exists – the arches aren’t visible from the angle of the 2012 photo, but the building itself is barely visible above the hedges.
My uncle did the history of our family and reports that Samuel Chapin is also a relative of ours…makes me wonder… are you and I related????
That would make us some sort of distant cousins!
Loved the info from your article. I am also a descendant from his daughter Cathrine.
IAM FROM WORCESTER MASS
YES YOU AND I ARE WE ARE HIS DESCENDANTS
SAY HI IF YOU GET THIS
ME AGE 70 RETIRED GREEN BERET SPY SHIP CAPT
THX REY
I too am related, maternal 6th Great Granduncle. We’re both related!!
I am his 11th great granddaughter! What a small world
I am also a descendant of Deacon Samuel Chapin through his son Josiah. Deacon Chapin is my 9th ggf. As a child, I was told that all Chapins in the U.S. are descendants of him. I believe this is true.
I would love to have a copy of your article about Samuel Chapin on the family search record for him. His information is located at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3C-K5B. Anyone can contribute to the site. Samuel is my 5th great grandfather.
Samuel Chapman
Is a ggf of mine as well.
My daughter was fallowing ancestor lines.
I had no idea.
Funny enough the family pastoral tradition has stayed strong.
I am also a descendant of the Deacon. My mother’s maiden name was Chapin. Ancestry confirmed it. Hi cousins!
I’d love to buy a small reproduction of this statue — is that possible?
I am also a distant relative. Deacon Samuel is my 9th great-grandfather.
My maternal great-grandmother was Sarah Chapin. She lived in Ashtabula, OH for many years before her death, but I remember my mom saying Sarah had a sister in Virginia that one of her uncles (my great-uncle Tom Farrow) would drive them to visit when she was little. I only knew my maternal grandmother (born in Virginia & name was Mary McClain) and my great-aunt Nell Farrow (born in Ashtabula & never married), besides my parents. Nell did a huge amount of digging in libraries on her families relatives, and I remember a photo copy of this statue. I’m blown away that this article you wrote means not only are you and I related, but I see in the comments, there are others. I love this, history of our families.
Is Samuel Chapman of any royal or noble decent?
Lord Roger Chapin of Wales
And I am a descendant of Lydia Chapin, my great great grandmother.
Rowland Thomas married one of his daughters. I am 9th generation.
Hi family! The deacon was my 9th GGF as well.
My great grandfather was James O Chapin the artist/illustrator
Grandfather, Jim Chapin, the jazz drummer (like me at one time)
And, of course, Half-uncle Harry Chapin who needs no introduction.