The Old Cemetery on Chapin Road
Along Chapin Road in what is now the town of Hampden, Massachusetts, sits a historic cemetery that has quietly preserved nearly three centuries of local history. Its beginnings reach back to the earliest years of the Outward Commons, long before Hampden became a separate town. Established as the second cemetery serving this developing community, it became the final resting place of many of the families who helped establish what would eventually become South Wilbraham and Hampden.
Today, its weathered gravestones and monuments offer a glimpse into the lives of those who came before us. Among them are early settlers, Revolutionary War patriots, soldiers, ministers, and generations of families whose names remain part of the area's history.
The southern portion of the Outward Commons, also known as Springfield Mountain, began to experience settlement in 1741. At that time, this area was still part of the larger community associated with Springfield. As more families established homes and farms, the need for a local burial ground became increasingly important.
Before this cemetery was established, residents who died may have been taken north to the older Adams Cemetery or to the well-established Springfield settlement along the Connecticut River for burial. Having a cemetery closer to home provided the growing community with a place of its own to remember and lay its departed to rest.
One of the earliest burials identified in the historical account was Lydia Bliss, the young daughter of Colonel John Bliss, who was laid to rest on January 10, 1755. Her burial is an important part of the cemetery's early history and reminds us that behind every inscription on an old gravestone is a person, a family, and a story.
It is easy to picture what the surrounding countryside looked like during those early years. Only a modest number of homes and farms had been established, and the roads connecting the scattered settlement were still developing. Small mills were beginning to appear along the Scantic River, taking advantage of its waterpower. Despite the area's rural and sparsely settled character, families were already putting down roots, building their homes, and establishing the churches, schools, and other institutions that would help sustain the community for generations to come.
Over the years, the cemetery became the resting place of many of the families who played important roles in the development of the community. Among those remembered are members of the Stebbins, Langdon, Morris, Chaffee, and Bliss families.
Their names are closely connected to the early history of this part of the former Wilbraham community. Some served in public office, others contributed to religious life, and many were farmers, tradesmen, and residents whose everyday efforts helped build a lasting community.
One of the cemetery's particularly interesting features is the vault constructed by members of the Chaffee family. For generations, members of this family were placed within the tomb, reflecting a burial tradition that allowed families to maintain a lasting connection with their ancestors.
Historical documents also provide insight into how burial spaces were acquired and maintained. A surviving deed signed by Dr. and Mrs. George T. Ballard documents the transfer of a family burial lot. Such records help us understand that, in earlier times, portions of cemetery grounds could be associated with individual families and privately controlled burial lots.
Perhaps one of the most remarkable aspects of this cemetery is its connection to the American Revolution. According to the historical account, markers placed by the Sons of the American Revolution (S.A.R.) identify nineteen Revolutionary War veterans buried within its grounds.
Among them are Colonel John Bliss, the father of young Lydia Bliss, and Robert Sessions.
Robert Sessions holds a particularly interesting place in American history. Born in 1752, he was just twenty-one years old when he participated in the Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773. That evening, American colonists boarded ships in Boston Harbor and threw shipments of British tea into the water in protest of taxation and British policies.
Sessions later became an established member of the local community. He participated in town government and represented the area in the Massachusetts legislature. His life provides a remarkable connection between the events leading to American independence and the development of this small New England community.
The cemetery's military history extends well beyond the Revolutionary War. Historical records identify two veterans of the War of 1812, approximately ten Civil War veterans, two World War I veterans, and one World War II veteran.
Together, these graves represent generations of residents who answered the call to serve their country. Their memorials remind us that even a small community such as this had individuals who played a part in the larger history of our nation.
The cemetery also preserves the memory of several ministers who served the community during its formative years.
Among those buried here are Reverend Moses Warren, who died in 1829; Reverend Noah Chapin Saxton, who died in 1834; Reverend James A. Hazen, who died in 1862; and Reverend Spencer Alden, who died in 1875. Also remembered are Reverend Calvin Stebbins, D.D., Reverend John Bennett, and Reverend John Cameron.
During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the church was at the center of community life. Ministers often served in roles that extended beyond the pulpit. They provided spiritual guidance, influenced education, counseled families, and became important figures in the affairs of the community.
Another memorial within the cemetery honors Reverend Horace Sessions, who died at sea in 1826. Although he did not find his final resting place here, his monument ensures that his memory remains connected to this historic burial ground.
Today, the Town of Hampden identifies this burial ground as the Old Cemetery on Chapin Road, one of the town's two municipal cemeteries.
What began as a small burial place serving an emerging settlement has become an important historical record of the people who shaped this part of Western Massachusetts. Its gravestones preserve the names of early settlers, Revolutionary War patriots, military veterans, ministers, and families whose histories are connected to the former South Parish of Wilbraham and the later town of Hampden.
There is something particularly meaningful about walking through an old New England cemetery. A name carved into a stone may belong to someone whose home once stood along a nearby country road, whose family helped establish a church, or whose service contributed to the founding and preservation of our nation.
These cemeteries are more than places of burial. They are historical landmarks, preserving stories that might otherwise be lost with the passing of time.
The Old Cemetery on Chapin Road is a reminder that the history of a community is not found only in its buildings, town records, or historic landmarks. It is also found in the lives of the people who came before us.
For those interested in the early history of the Outward Commons, South Wilbraham, and Hampden, this historic burial ground is well worth remembering. Its stones have stood for generations, quietly telling the story of the families and individuals who helped build the community we know today.
Comments