Deacon Samuel Chapin is considered to be the progenitor of all of the Chapin families in the US. The origin of his family has been determined to be in the County of Devon in England. The earliest of his ancestry is one Roger Chapin(Chapyn) who was born probably prior to 1540 in Totnes,Devons,Eng. He died 1590; he was survived by his wife known as Widdo Chapinne who was living 09 Sep 1590.
Ref:FH67:I-XV/1-4, FH7:2nd-V1:446-452.

John Chapin, son of Roger above, was Bp 25 Sep 1566 at Totnes. He died 03 Jun 1600 at Paignton,Devon. He married at Paighton 14 Sep 1590 Phillipe Easton daughter of William Easton. She married 2nd at Paighton on 20 Jan 1601 George Stone who died 20 Jan 1614?/ 1615?. Phillipe was executrix of George Stone's will. Ref:FH134: A892-1/2, FH67:A892-1/2, FH67:I-XV/1-4, FH7:2nd-V1:446-452.

Deacon Samuel Chapin, 3rd child and 2nd son of John and Philippe above Bp 08 Oct 1598 at Paignton,Devons. He came to New England in 1635 or earlier. Roxbury,Mass record, date unknown, shows he possessed 24 acres of land there, and had eight persons in his family; himself, wife, father, and five children. In 1641 he bought a house and 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 evident- ly 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 Chapins migrated to the new settlement in the winter of 1642-43. Samuel Chapin's decision to move was largely due to Pynchon's influence. Wm Pynchon appointed five men of "standing", called Selectmen, to watch over the morals, health,and public measures. Deacon Samuel was one of these Selectmen. One of their most delicate duties was that of assigning seats in the Meeting House which sort dictated the "social pecking order". The place of Mrs. "Cissily" C." is there with Mrs. Glover and Mrs. Hollyock". Mrs. Glover was the Minister's wife and the leading lady; Mrs.Hollyock was the daughter of Wm Pynchon. Deacon Samuel held this office from 1644 thru 1652, 1661, and 1664; he was later the Auditor. He is first called Deacon in the records of 21 Feb 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, Wm Pynchon was convicted of heresy,by the General Court, and returned to England. William's son-in-law, Henry Smith, then became Chief Magistrate; the next year, he also returned to England. 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. Deacon Samuel held this office until 1664, and in addition performed important duties such as laying out the land grants and the plantations that became Northampton and Hadley.

Samuel's first home lot was at the corner of the present Main and Pynchon Streets; by 1664 he appears to be living in Chicopee with his son Japhet. His holdings in Springfield were large; but he gave all to his sons in his lifetime, reserving a life interest for he and his wife with his will disposing only personal estate. In October, 1675 Springfield was attacked by Indians and the town was burn practically to the ground. Deacon Samuel did see the town rebuilt; son Japhet wrote "My Father was taken out of this troublesome world the 11th day of November about eleven of the clock in the eve,1675.

To judge from the private and official acts of the man, and from the firm hand he wrote, he was a man of some education, strong will, inflexible integrity, abundant charity, and real piety. In retrospect, the story of Deacon Samuel provides a vision of the life and times of early Colonial New England. They came to New England because of religious and political intolerance they endured in England; in many respects our New England forebears did also exercise a degree of religious and social intolerance.
On balance, the Pilgrims were idealists; measured by the stand- ards of men of their time they were mostly the humble of the earth; measured by their later accomplishments, they were truly the mighty. Ref:FH134:A892-1/2,FH67:I-XV/1-5,FH7:2nd-V1:446-452.

Catherine Chapin, the 1st daughter and 2nd of seven children of Samuel and Cicely, was born pr 04 Apr 1630 in Berry Pomeroy, Devons,Eng. and died 04 Feb 1712 in Springfield,Mass. She was married three times; 1st to Nathaniel Bliss, ref AN, 2nd 01 July 1655 to Thomas Gilbert, and 3rd to Samuel Marshfield, ref AN.
Ref:FH134:A892-1/2,FH67:I-XV/1-5,FH7:2nd-V1:446-452.