Family:Japhet Chapin and Lydia Todd (1)

Facts and Events
Marriage Banns[1] 28 Oct 1778 Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States
Marriage[2] Aft 28 Oct 1778 Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States (probably)
Children
BirthDeath
Questionable information identified by WeRelate automation
To check:Husband older than 80 at marriage

"The account of this marriage, and the notice of Madam Doolittle, which follow, were furnished by Miss Mary Montague, of Granby, a great-grand-daughter of the youthful pair: 'Madam Belding was then living with her dau. Lucy, wife of Simon Chapin, a son of the bridegroom, who, also, lived in the same family. The children on coming home from school, one day, were told that granther and granny were about to be married; they did not understand what this meant, and as children in those days 'mustn't ask questions', they proceeded at once to make an independent investigation of affairs; they found granny up chamber, where their mother was tying a purple ribbon on to her best cap, while granther was found sitting in state in the square room below, where he was soon joined by the minister. The children had a dim idea that to be married the two must be together, so they silently seated themselves near their grand-father, to wait the course of events. In due time they had their reward. As the ceremony proceeded, the minister requested the bride take off her glove, which, as was then the fashion, reached above the elbow; one of the little girls, about six or eight years old, unexpectedly, but with unconscious grace, stepped forward and took it from her hand. When the proper time came to replace the glove, she promptly arose and handed it back. By this means she got the name of 'Little brides-maid.'

At the date of this marriage, Mr. Chapin was 82 years old, and Mrs. Belding 80. Yet they were so strong that they rode on horse back from Chicopee to Northfield, forty miles, without weariness. She, arrayed in a sky-blue camlet riding hood, made for the occasion, by his daughter Katherine. Parts of this garment are still in possession of the writer. …

After the death of Mr. Chapin, his widow returned to Northfield, where she was always known as 'Madam Doolittle' and the notice of her death, June 19, 1790, on the church records, is that of 'Madam Doolittle.' The matrimonial tastes of Mr. Chapin and Jona. Belding seem to have been much alike; their first wives were sisters, and their second, the same woman, Madam Doolittle."[2]

References
  1. Stott, Clifford L. Vital Records of Springfield, Massachusetts to 1850. (Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2002)
    1:450.

    "The Intention of Marriage between Liet: Japhet Chapin & the Widow Lydia Belding both of Springfield are here Entered Octor 28th anno Domini 1778 notification posted the 30th sd month"

  2. 2.0 2.1 4. Japhet Chapin, in Temple, Josiah Howard; George Sheldon; and Mary T. Stratton. History of the Town of Northfield, Massachusetts, for 150 years: with an account of the prior occupation of the territory by the Squakheags: and with family genealogies. (Albany, NY: J. Munsell, 1875)
    420-21.