Stones On the Hillside Above the River

The earliest burial grounds in what are now the towns of Wilbraham and Hampden date to the colonial era. The first, established in 1736, is known today as Adams Cemetery in Wilbraham. The second was laid out in 1755 on the southern slope of Springfield Mountain, then part of Springfield’s Outward Commons, and is now called Old Hampden Cemetery. Together, these sacred places have silently witnessed centuries of life, loss, and remembrance, standing as lasting symbols of community memory and heritage.

Old Hampden Cemetery, known in its earliest days simply as the burying ground, occupies a quiet hillside along present-day Chapin Road, overlooking the Scantic River. It became the final resting place for many of the area’s earliest settlers. Though modest in size, the cemetery is rich in history, having been established around 1755, when the land was still part of Springfield’s Outward Commons and later incorporated into Wilbraham in 1763.

The South Village of Wilbraham. Carl C. Howlett

The entrance is marked by a large boulder inscribed “The Old Cemetery,” from which a narrow road leads to rows of gravestones rising gently from the earth, bearing the names of families who shaped the early community. It is likely that the simple designation burying ground fell out of use when Prospect Hill Cemetery was established in the early nineteenth century, offering a newer burial place as the town continued to grow.

The very first recorded burial was that of Lydia Bliss, born in 1752 and laid to rest in January 1755. Lydia was the daughter of John and Abiel Bliss, one of the area’s earliest settler families. Her grave, though no longer marked by a stone, is preserved in town records as a symbol of the hardships faced by colonial families. Shortly afterward, the young Oliver Bliss, Lydia’s brother, died at the age of six in 1757, and Sarah Langdon, the young wife of John Langdon, was buried here in 1755. These early interments mark the cemetery’s role as the community’s first sacred ground and reflect the fragility of life in the 18th century.

The Bliss family was more than just early settlers; they were civic leaders. John Bliss served as a town moderator, colonel in the militia, and delegate to the Provincial Congress. His descendants and relatives were buried in the same ground, creating a family legacy that stretches across generations. The Blisses helped lay the foundation of the community, and their graves remain a testament to the endurance and dedication of Hampden’s earliest citizens.

Among the cemetery’s most historically notable figures is Robert Sessions (1752–1836), a patriot who took part in the Boston Tea Party of 1773. He later fought in the Revolutionary War and served his community as town clerk and representative in the Massachusetts Legislature. Sessions’ grave connects Hampden to the wider story of the nation’s founding, and in recent years, commemorative events have honored his contributions. His life reflects both local leadership and national significance, standing as a bridge between the early colonial settlers and the new American nation.

Robert Sessions' grave, along with his wife's grave. dfb

As the community grew, the cemetery expanded to accommodate families who had settled along the Scantic River valley and surrounding hills. Gravestones of slate, marble, granite, and sandstone trace the evolution of funerary art from simple colonial markers to more ornate 19th-century memorials. Families such as the Langdons, Coltons, and Stebbins joined the Blisses in using the cemetery as a final resting place, creating a lasting record of connected family histories. The cemetery tells the story of colonial hardships, early civic life, and the gradual growth of a town. Children who died young, veterans of the Revolutionary War, and ordinary townspeople are all remembered here, their gravestones forming a quiet record of life over more than 250 years.

The Old Cemetery continues to serve the community today. These more recent burials reflect the enduring ties of Hampden families to this historic ground, preserving a living connection between the town’s past and its present.

Over the centuries, many early stones were lost or damaged by weather, neglect, and vandalism. In recent years, the Town of Hampden and local organizations have worked to preserve the cemetery. Fences have been repaired, gravestones restored, and the Hampden Garden Club has planted flowers to beautify the grounds. These efforts ensure that the history embedded in this hillside will not be lost to time.

The Old Cemetery on Chapin Road is more than a burial ground; it is a chronicle of Hampden’s history. From the first fragile burials of Lydia and Oliver Bliss to the Revolutionary service of Robert Sessions, from early settlers to 21st-century residents, the cemetery tells the story of life, death, and community. Each stone is a page in the story of Hampden, a tangible link to the people who shaped the town over centuries. Walking its quiet paths, one can read the town’s history in stone, a story of endurance, service, and the enduring bonds of family and community.

The Old Cemetery Vault. dfb