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Arrived Springfield 1644, resided in Springfield 40 years until he became sick and died 1684.
Parents: not confirmed. Some speculate
William Cooley England
Joan Arnott
Benjamin Cooley
b. 25 Feb 1615 Tring, Hertfordshire, England
d. 17 Aug 1684 Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts
Burial Old Burying Ground
FAG 5750362
m. 1642 Approx
Wife Sarah Unknown possible Colton or Savage
b. Abt 1620
d. 23 Aug 1684 Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts
Burial Old Burying Ground
FAG 104645927
NOTE Sarah died 6 days after Benjamin, perhaps of a
From First Century of Springfield, Volume 2
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Arrived Springfield 1644, resided in Springfield 40 years until he became sick and died 1684.
Parents: not confirmed. Some speculate
William Cooley England
Joan Arnott
Benjamin Cooley
b. 25 Feb 1615 Tring, Hertfordshire, England
d. 17 Aug 1684 Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts
Burial Old Burying Ground
FAG 5750362
m. 1642 Approx
Wife Sarah Unknown possible Colton or Savage
b. Abt 1620
d. 23 Aug 1684 Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts
Burial Old Burying Ground
FAG 104645927
NOTE Sarah died 6 days after Benjamin, perhaps of a
From First Century of Springfield, Volume 2
#
#
Benjamin Cooley was here in 1644, his name appearing in the records of that year. Two years after his arrival he was chosen a Selectman and served in that office 18 years, the longest period of service given by any one person. He was much employed in town affairs and was on all important committees during his active life. Samuel Terry was bound to service by William Pynchon to Benjamin Cooley, "weaver," for three years and six months, and it would appear that Cooley must have been engaged in weaving in England before coming to this country. His marriage is not on record here. He died August 17, 1684, and his wife, Sarah, died August 23, 1684. Their children born here were:--
1 Bethia Cooley
Born 16 Sep 1643 Springfield, Hampden, Ma
Died 9 Dec 1711 Springfield, Hampden, Ma
Burial Old Burying Ground
FAG 57503948
Married December 15, 1664
Henry Chapin
Born
Died August 15, 1718
Father Deacon Samuel Chapin
Mother Cicely
Children with Bethia Cooley
Henry b 1666 Jun 1 d 1668 Apr 29
Sarah b 1670 Mar 30 d 1732 Nov 6 unmarried
Bethiah b 1672 Feb 19
Henry b 1679 Mar 19 m. Mary GARNZEY of Milford
Benjamin b 1681Feb 27 m. Hannah COLTON (F-Issac Colton)
Henry Chapin
1689 Deputy to the General Court
11 years served as Selectman (first service in 1670-last
year 1701)
Dea. Samuel Chapin & wife Cicely
Samuel lived in England before migrating to New England
1638 Roxbury
1642 Springfield name appears Town Records
Active in all the affairs of the town (religious & civil) Member of the first Board of Selectmen (served 9 yrs)
7 Children with Cicely 3 daughters 4 sons, only Hannah was born in Springfield.
Deacon Samuel died November 11, 1675
Widow Cicely died February 8, 1682.
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2 Obediah Cooley
Born 27 Jan 1646 Springfield, Hampden, Ma
Died 3 Sep 1690 Springfield, Hampden, Ma
Burial Old Burying Ground
FAG 57503569
Married 1670 Nov 9 Windsor, CT
Rebecca Williams Cooley WARNER
Born
Died 1715 Oct 18
Burial Old Burying Ground
FAG 57503772
Father John Williams
Widown Rebecca Cooley married John WARNER
Obadiah's children with Rebecca were:
Rebecca b 1671 Aug 23 m John WELLER.
Sarah b 1673 Aug 3 m Tilley MERRICK.
Mary b 1675 Dec 19 m John FERRY.
Obadiah b 1678 Aug 1 m Dorcas HALE.
Anna b 1681 Mar 5 m Nathan COLLINS.
Joseph b 1683 Nov 12 m Margaret MacCRANNY.
Jonathan b 1686 Jun 28 m Joanna COLTON.
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3 Eliakim Cooley
Born 8 Jan 1648/9 Springfield, Hampden, Ma
Died 1 Dec 1711 Springfield, Hampden, Ma
Burial Old Burying Ground
FAG 5969072
Married 1679 March 12
Hannah Tibbals
Born 1656 Mar 13 Milford, CT
Died December 16, 1711
FAG
Father Thomas Tibbals note Ribbals in History Spfld
. Their children were:--
Hannah, b. December 24, 1679, m. Hezekiah PARSONS.
Eliakim, b. March 19, 1681, m. Griswold BECKWITH.
Samuel, b. November 30, 1683, m. Mary CLARK.
Mercy, b. April 26, 1698, m. John MORGAN.
Daughter [no name], b. July 19, 1694, d. August 9, 1694.
4 Capt. Daniel Cooley
Born May 1651 Springfield, Hampden, Ma
Died 9 Dec 1728 Springfield, Hampden, Ma
married
Elizabeth Wolcott
Daniel Cooley, son of Benjamin, married December 8, 1680 Elizabeth WOLCOTT, daughter of Simon Wolcott of Windsor. His wife died January 31, 1707, and he married Widow Lydia [DUMBLETON] BURT, June 17, 1709. He died February 9, 1727, and his widow January 31, 1739. His children, all by his first wife, were:--
Benjamin, b. October 8, 1681, m. Margaret BLISS.
Daniel, b. March 23, 1684, m. Jemima CLARK.
Simon b. March 6, 1687, m. Elizabeth GUNN of Hatfield.
John, b. February 23, 1689, m. Mercy GUNN.
Thomas, b. June 23, 1693, m. Rebecca ELMER.
Elizabeth, b. July 23, 1696, m. Joshua FIELD.
William, b. August 12, 1698, m. Elizabeth CLARK.
5 Sarah Cooley
Born 27 Feb 1653 Springfield, Hampden, Ma
Died 14 Feb 1743
married
Jonathan Morgan
Father Miles Morgan
Miles MORGAN was one of three brothers to emigrate to America, he being the youngest. James, John and Miles sailed from Bristol, England, in March, 1636, and landed in Boston. They were born in Wales, Miles in 1615. James settled in New London, John went to Virginia, and Miles came to Springfield. The first record of him here was in 1644. He married Prudence GILBERT of Beverly, at Salem in 1643. She died January 14, 1660, and he married Elizabeth BLISS, daughter of Thomas and Widow Margaret, February 18, 1669. He died May 28, 1699. He served one year as Constable and was five times chosen a Selectman, holding the latter office in 1655, 1657, 1660, 1662, and 1668.
He opened an account with John Pynchon, August 30, 1652, by purchasing 9 yards of Devonshire kersey at 9s, which amounted to £4 1s, 9 yards of Red Cotton at 3s 8d, 2 yards of Scots cloth 5s, several pairs of stockings and a variety of other family necessities, including 2 combs, 4 pairs of "sissars," 4 inkhorns, and a looking glass, the latter costing 2s. The lost charge in the year was for "7 Pills, 14d." Many of the credits were for "voyadges" down to the falls or to the "foote of the falls," referring to the falls in the Connecticut at Enfield. "By carrying goods down & bringing up with Goodman Merrick in July, 1663, your part is £1 14s 1d."
His homelot was on the south side of the present Cyprus Street, next to Main Street, on what was the land to the upper wharf. He appears to have been a thrifty inhabitant and by killing "beasts," and carrying down "corne," and doing a great variety of work for Pynchon, he escaped the perils of owing too much at his store. His "housing and lands" do not appear to have been transferred to John Pynchon's possessions, who seems to have placed confidence in his accuracy in accounts, for he frequently enters in his book, "By worke as in Miles his Booke," and they were balanced accordingly. He came from a sturdy race and many of his descendants have been noted as successful business men in various parts of the country.
6 Benjamin Cooley,Jr.
Born 1 Sep 1656 Springfield,Hampden, Ma
Died 29 Nov 1731 Springfield, Hampden, Ma
married
Abigail Bagg
Father John Bagg
Benjamin Cooley, Jr., married by John Pynchon, February 7, 1695, to Abigail BAGG, daughter of John Bagg. He died November 29, 1731, and his widow died January 27, 1739. Their children were:--
Abigail, b. October 28, 1695, m. Henry WOLCOTT.
Daughter, b. October 25, 1697, d. October 27, 1697.
Daughter, s. [stillborn] August 23, 1698.
Son, b. and d. November 24, 1699.
Daughter, b. d. April 25, 1705.
Lydia, b. September 5, 1706, m. Amos STILES
John Bagg came to Springfield about twenty years after the settlement was begun. The first mention of his name in the Town Records was in 1657. In what part of England he resided before coming to this country his descendants have not as yet been able to determine. He was unmarried, but December 24, 1657, he married Hannah BURT, daughter of Henry and Eulalia Burt. His grants of land were all on the west side of the Connecticut River, mostly in the meadow below or near Riley's Brook. His wife died August 1, 1680, and he died September 5, 1683.
7 Mary Cooley
Born 22 Jun 1659 Springfield, Hampden, Ma
Died 16 Dec 1720 Springfield, Hampden, Ma
married
Thomas Terry
Father Samuel Terry
Mother Ann Lobell
Thomas TERRY, son of Samuel and Ann, married Mary COOLEY, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah, April 21, 1687. She died December 6, 1720, and he married Mary MEECHAM of Enfield. She was probably daughter of Thomas ROOT, and widow of Isaac MEECHAM. She died _____, and he married third, Widow Hannah CHAPIN, 1736. She died January 27, 1743, aged 73 years. He died May 9, 1760, aged 96 years. His children, all by his first wife, were:--
Thomas, b. January 28, 1687, d. October 14, 1688.
Mary, b. October 31, 1689, m. John LOMBARD.
Anne, b. February ___, 1691, m. Joseph YOUNGLOVE.
Bethiah, b. July 4, 1694, m. Henry BURT.
Thomas, b. April 18, 1698, m. Martha MILLER.
Rebecca, b. April 21, 1700, m. John BROOKS, July 19, 1722, and second, Benjamin KNOWLTON, Sr.
Samuel, b. April 28, 1703, m. Sarah CHAPIN.
Samuel TERRY married Ann LOBDELL, January 3, 1660. She died May 16, 1684, and he married second, Widow Sarah SCOTT, November 19, 1690. She died September 27, 1705. He died at Enfield, 1731.
Samuel Terry was in Springfield in 1650. The first mention of him is in a bond given to Benjamin Cooley to serve him "three years, six months and some odd days." in which Cooley agreed to teach him the trade of a linen weaver. It appears that Terry had been bound to Willilam Pynchon, and probably for at least five years, for paying his passage to this country. The bond was entered in Pynchon's Magistrate Book and is given in full below:
October 15, 1650.
Know all men by these presents that I samuell Terry, with the consent of my present master, William Pynchon of Springfield, gent have put myself an apprentice to Benjamin Cooly of Springfield, weaver, his heirs & assigns to serve him or them in any kind of lawful Imployment that the said Benjamin Cooly shall command me for and during the space of three years 6 months & some odd days from the tyme of the date hereof: In consideration whereof I the said Benjamin Cooly doe bynde myself my heirs & executors to pay unto the said William his heirs, or assigns the some of nine pounds, viz fifty shillinge more at the 10 day of Aprill next 1651, and fifty shillings at the 10 day of April 1652, & fifty shillings more at the 10 day of Aprill 1653, & thirty shilling the 10 of April 1654, at the house of the said Mr. Pynchon in good & merchantable wheat, at five shillinge p bushell, moreover I the said Benjamin Cooly do bynde myself my heirs & assigns to pay unto the said Samuell Terry now assigned & set over as above unto me as abovesaid, fifty shillinge in merchantable wheat & pease at the prise of abovesaid for the abovesaid for the first years of service, & fifty shillinge for the 2d year & fifty shillings for the 3d year & for the last half year & some odd days thirty & five shillings, & also in the said space to find the said Samuell Terry meat drink & lodging fitting as servants ought to have: and also I doe here bynd myself to instruct him and teach him the trade of linen weaving according to the use of it in this Towne of Springfield, provide he will be willinge & careful to learn it: And the said William Pynchon doth promise to the said Samuell Terry for his better incouragement to remit his last years service which he is bound by his Indenture made in England to serve him more than is expressed in this present both woolen & linen & doe also promise to give him twenty shillings more in such necessaries for apparell as he shall call for in the first years service with Benjamin Cooly: & the said Benjamin & not do him any damage according to his covenants expressed in his indenture to the said Mr. Pynchon which said indenture the said Mr. Pynchon doth assigne set over & deliver into the hand of the said Benjamin Cooly for the use & behoof of himself or any of the said persons mentioned in this contract, untill the said Samuell shall have performed the said service of 3 y 6 months & odd dayes from the date hereof: & for the Ratifienge of the said agreement the said Mr. Pynchon hath entered this agreement of public Records and also all the within named persons have hereunto set their hands this present 15 day of October 1650.
Witness
Richard Maund
John Benham
Samuel Terry
the mark of Benjamin Cooley
William Pynchon
He was chosen Constable, was placed on important committees, to assist in laying out town boundaries, and to do other work of a public nature. Evidently he made good use of his time, not only with Cooley in his apprenticeship but in subsequent years. He opened his first account with John Pynchon May 22, 1654, when he purchased a bill of goods including "1yd 1-2 qr. of stuffy, 1 yd 1-2 of blew cotton, 1 sickle, having promised to help me reap 2 days when I call." He was much in Pynchon's employ, going to the Enfield falls with wheat and bringing back goods to the Pynchon store, sometimes in connection with Miles Morgan and at other times with Thomas Miller. The balance in his accounts do not appear to have been more than a few pounds, to which he frequently set his hand.
The movement to settle Enfield was originated by John Pynchon and a few others, and later Samuel Terry moved there with his family. The first town meeting in Enfield was held in 1688, and John Pease, Jr., and Samuel Terry were chosen Selectmen, and the latter became one of the most active and prominent men in the new settlement. The first meeting house was built in 1683, and in 1705 another larger and better building was erected. The work was done by Sejeant Terry and Zachariah Booth. When finished he and three others were appointed with the Selectmen a committee "to seat the meeting house before they meet in it."
The descendants of Samuel Terry include Seth Terry, founder of the clock industry in Connecticut, and General Terry of the War of the Rebellion.
8 Joseph Cooley
Born 6 Mar 1661/62 Springfield, Hampden, Ma
Died 20 May 1740 Somers, Tolland, Conn
married
Mary Griswold
Joseph Cooley, son of Benjamin and Sarah, married Mary GRISWOLD, January 22, 1684. He moved with his son Joseph to Somers, Conn., about 1730. His wife died July 13, 1739, and he died May 20, 1740. Their children were:--
Mary, b. October 1, 1685, m. Joseph LOOMIS.
Joseph, b. January 31, 1686, m. Mary DORCHESTER.
Deborah, b. February 29, 1691, m. Joshua LOOMIS.
Abigail, b. February 29, 1691, m. Daniel PARSONS.
George, b. January 27, 1698, d. May 22, 1704.
"There are no sources for the marriage of Benjamin and Sarah. It is quite probably in Springfield prior to the birth of their first child. As a footnote to that, Charles Henry Pope in "The Pioneers of Massachusetts" p. 116 says that their first child could be "perhaps Abelenah, m. 22 Jul 1664 Japhet Chapin." The "Cooley Genealogy" lists Bethia as the first born in 16 Sep 1643 (and who married a Chapin)."
Abelenah m. Japhet Chapin (different opinions)
Bethia, b. September 16, 1644,
m. Henry CHAPIN.
Obadiah, b. January 27, 1647,
m. Rebecca WILLIAMS.
Eliakim, b. January 8, 1649,
m. Hannah RIBBALS.
Daniel, b. May 2, 1651,
m. Elizabeth WOLCOTT.
Sarah, b. February 27, 1654,
m. Jonathan MORGAN.
Benjamin, b. September 1, 1656,
m. Abigail BAGG.
Mary, b. June 22, or 24 [town records state
"2d ay of 4th month"; which also agrees with
the Cooley Genealogy], 1649,
m. Thomas TERRY.
Joseph, b. March 6, 1662,
m. Mary GRISWOLD.
Springfield's early settlers were laid to rest in the ancient "burying place" by the river, west of the church. Stone markers were not placed in Springfield until the next century.
But one stone was set in the early burial place for one early settler – Mary Holyoke, who died in 1657, said to be the "very paragon of her sex". It was set there at a later date. Mary was the daughter of William Pynchon and married Elizur Holyoke. The ancient burial-ground in Springfield had become overcrowded by graves clogged with trees and shrubbery. The new railroad tracks also had been laid across the grounds. The town ordered the remains and monuments to be removed to the new cemetery, which had been provided for that purpose. The exhumation and removal began in the Spring of 1848. The earth with the remains of 2404 bodies, and 517 markers, were moved. Dr. Joseph C. Pynchon had charge of the exhumation of the Pynchon bodies, and had this to say:
Beneath the Mary Holyoke stone, dated 1657, deep in the white sand, six feet below the surface, were found the remains of two, lying side by side, with no others in close proximity. Is it too much to conjecture that these were the remains of Elizur and Mary Holyoke? The sand was discolored and some few pieces of the skulls and other bones were found while even the nails of the coffins were wholly destroyed, their places being marked by the rust only, while no other vestige of the coffins remained. The few remains were gathered, which soon crumbled to dust on exposure to the air, and with the surrounding earth, deposited in the new cemetery.
Most of the bodies had disintegrated leaving no trace. Not even buckles or buttons were found which strongly suggests that corpses were wrapped in winding-sheets or shrouds. Such items have frequently been found in Indian graves of the same age. Even though the ancient burial ground was in a damp area by the river, one might expect to find some fairly indestructible items, or parts thereof, if such had been on, or buried with, corpses where they were buried. But clothing, shoes, buckles, ornaments, all were very valuable. Almost any last will and testament contains mention of the testator making a bequest of items of clothing to sons, daughters, and even grandchildren.
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Then came the year 1679. Benjamin Cooley was growing old. Though in years he was but sixty-two, he had led an active and strenuous life and men aged early in those days.
At a General Court held in Boston, 28th May, 1679--In answer to the petition of Benjamin Cooley, ensigne to the Foot Company at Springfield, humbly desiring the favor of this Court, to lay down his place, being aged and deaf,--the Court grants his request. And when another meet person is presented, they will not be wanting to approve thereof.28
It was nearly two long years before that "meet person" was presented, but on May 11, 1681, the Court confirmed Thomas Colton of Longmeadow as Ensign.29
August 17, 1684, Benjamin Cooley died at the age of sixty-seven. Six days later died Sarah, his wife, the mother of his eight children. Five sons and three daughters they had brought to maturity. As one recalls the terrific infant mortality of those days, he realizes what an unusual type of mother Sarah Cooley must have been to have carried her entire brood safely through the dangerous period.
During his forty years in Springfield, Benjamin Cooley acquired a competence far beyond the average, while yet retaining the good will of his fellows. At his coming he acquired forty acres of mediocre land. At his death he owned 524 acres of the choicest. He had houses and barns to meet his own needs and those of his eldest sons. Of livestock, gear and equipment and the merchandise of his trade he had a sufficiency. The debts he owed, amounting to £9-16s-6d were more than offset by the £15-15s-2d due to him. The inventory of his estate totaled over 1241 pounds sterling, having a present-day value of perhaps $60,000.30
As were all their contemporaries, Benjamin Cooley and his wife were interred in the ancient "burying place" by the riverside in Springfield, west of the church that he had helped to build. No stones marked their graves for no lasting stone was then to be had in the community.
There Benjamin and Sarah rested until the coming of the railroad. In 1849, to make room for the tracks, the remains of 2404 bodies and 517 markers were removed to the Springfield Cemetery on the hill that had been opened in 1841.32 Dr. Joseph C. Pynchon, who then had charge of the removal of the Pynchon bodies, said thirty-six years later:33
Beneath the Mary Holyoke stone, dated 1657, deep in the white sand, six feet below the surface, were found the remains of two, lying side by side, with no others in close proximity. Is it too much to conjecture that these were the remains of Elizur and Mary Holyoke? The sand was discolored and some few pieces of the skulls and other bones were found while even the nails of the coffins were wholly destroyed, their places being marked by the rust only, while no other vestige of the coffins remained. The few remains were gathered, which soon crumbled to dust on exposure to the air, and with the surrounding earth, deposited in the new cemetery.
Dust had returned to dust.
Nothing is known of the Cooley bodies, which in common with many others undoubtedly had wholly disintegrated, leaving not a trace. Such a condition indicates that the bodies were then not buried clothed, as today, otherwise some evidence might have remained. Pilfered shoe-buckles and buttons are frequently found in Indian graves as old as those, though it is of course true that the place of interment chosen by the natives would have been in a soil having far greater preservative qualities than the damp soil by the river bank. Clothing was then far too valuable to have been disposed of in such a way. Contemporary inventories include odds and ends of wearing apparel that one would now think fit only for a rummage sale. Rural New England people can recall the times when a man would be deposited in his coffin, lacking shoes and trousers. It was just a bit of New England "nearness." The absolute lack of identifying articles in the graves of the old cemetery indicates that the bodies were laid to rest, wrapped in a winding-sheet or shroud.
Death seems to have come suddenly to Benjamin Cooley for though he attempted to make a will, he did not live to complete it. However, it was carried far enough to indicate some of his wishes, and with a sense of justice worthy of such a father and with a consideration for the needs of each other the heirs divided the estate and carried on.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS CEMETERY NO LONGER EXISTS, THEREFORE PHOTO REQUESTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS CEMETERY. 517 MARKERS WERE RELOCATED TO THE WEST SPRINGFIELD CEMETERY.
SOURCES
DEATH
Ensign Benjamin Cooley in the Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988
Name: Ensign Benjamin Cooley
Event Type: Death
Death Date: 17 Aug 1684
Death Place: Springfield, Massachusetts
Benjamin Cooley in the North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000
Name: Benjamin Cooley
Gender: Male
Age: 67
Birth Date: 1617
Birth Place: of England
Death Date: 17 Aug 1684
Death Place: Longmeadow, Massachusetts
Spouse: Sarah
Child: Eliakim Cooley
Bethia Cooley
Benjamin Cooley in the Massachusetts, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890
Name: Benjamin Cooley
State: MA
County: Hampden County
Township: Springfield
Year: 1661
Page: 084
Database: MA Early Census Index |
