This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Chance/Rad/Radd/Raad
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/YUI.2ACIB/292.298.355.1.1.1
Message Board Post:
I stand by the extensive research previously done by myself, in collaboration with others,
with careful documentation on these three lines. For clarity, I have identified each of
the Benjamin's with roman numerals, as follows:
BENJAMIN I Chance, b. Jan. 1, 1742-43 in Bromsgrove, England, son of Wm., (the Yeoman) and
Elizabeth Cole of Bromsgrove, Worcester, England... this family is named in J. F.
Chance's book (CHANCES OF BROMSGROVE, family chart shown on pg. 78) and correspondence
with direct descendant, Sir Jeremy Chance of Wales.
BENJAMIN I m. Rachael (Sharpless?) w/ sons: Levi, John, Thomas (b. abt.1788), Wm. (b. abt.
1795) and Ezekiel (b. Sept. 29, 1799). This family's movements are closely traced by
the descendants of Ezekiel, who is buried on his family farm in Jersey Co., Ill. by his
descendants, who still live on that farm. Rachael and daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Grimes
(2nd wife), are buried side by side in Grimes-Neeley Cemetery, Jersey Co., Ill, near the
family farm. Sharpless is the name circumstantially ascribed to this Rachael by other
authors/researchers, including Hilda, but documentation has not been found to positively
make this connection.
BENJAMIN II, b. 1753 in Md., is the son of SAMUEL (b. 1740 in Bedford Co., Pa.) and
REBECCA Sharpless Chance. Benjamin II m. Jane Howard in 1773. Jane is identified as a
descendant of Hannah Howard Sharpless in Chester Co., Pa. wills. This family unit is
further identified in Hilda's book, giving her source as the Sharpless Family Book and
naming son Benjamin (II), age 17, and daughter Sarah, age 29/or 19?, having moved together
in the "10th year of King George III" to Edgmont township (now in Delaware Co.,
Pa.), Middletown Co., Pa.
Confirmed by other careful researchers: "Benjamin, b. 1753, m. 1773 to Jane
Howard." Jane was disowned by the Quakers "for marrying out of unity."
"SAMUEL is the probable name here for the father of Benjamin II, husband of
REBECCA" Sharpless. (Sharpless Family book names them together.) Pg. 105 of
Hilda's book also connects this father+ son wherein she states land deed found in
Wayne Co., NC from SAMUEL to son, BENJAMIN, Feb. 24, 1797. This is how this Benjamin II
is positively linked to his father, Samuel of Bedford Co., Pa. Additional Wayne Co., NC
deeds identify this family unit (Benjamin II and Jane Howard)'s sons, also named
therein together, selling lands back and forth to each other, confirming this family
unit.
Sons of Benjamin II and Jane Howard Chance are connected to father Benjmamin and
grandfather, Samuel, in the Wayne Co., NC deeds. Grandfather Samuel appears to have kept
property in Bedford Co., Pa. because his name continues to be found in that location
throughout his lifetime, although he is also found moving and/or buying lands with/between
son Benjamin II and 4 of Benjamin II's sons, all idenfied in documentation. These
sons who remained intact with Benjamin & Samuel are: George, William, Lewis, and John.
They traveled together thru NC and Va. during this timeframe, where Benjamin II died Nov.
29, 1816 (source: DAR Patriot Centennial Index, Vol.I, Pt. I).
(Additional sons of Benjamin II and Jane Howard include Alexander, father of the
Tenn.-Texas line, Samuel III (who was b. 1785 in Wayne Co., NC, but for whom no further
data is known), and Peter/PERRY, b. Feb. 29, 1791 in Bedford Co., Pa., who settled in
Stark Co., Ohio and who m. 3 wives, including Lavinia Reuble in 1811 in Jefferson Co.,
Ohio.
BENJAMIN IV and his wife, Rachel (possibly RADD/RAAD/RAD), b. 1750 in Va., is the least
documented of the Benjamin's who play a pivotal role in settling the NE>Midwestern
US of this timeframe.... however, we can say with certainty that he was b. in 1748 in Md.
(source: DAR Patriot Centennial Index, Pt. 1, Vol. 1 wherein he is identified as an
unmarried soldier in 1776, "served in the NC Militia during the Am. Revolution) and
likely died in 1834 in (possibly) Indiana." NC Tax records in Craven Co., NC, 1769
list a Benjamin and John Chance and a John "Rad" in the 1757 Bertie Co., NC tax
record (Bertie Co., NC is just north of Craven Co., NC.)
DAR record application, by Rachel Edds, elsewhere names a Benjamin (IV?), who married
Rachel (no surname given for her, but it could be "Radd/Raad/Rabb). The only
unmarried (in 1776) Benjamin in my file is Benjamin IV.
I believe that Benjamin IV, b. 1748, was the son of Daniel and Esther Barnes Chance of
the NC line, and is very likely the one given in Rachel Edds' application in the DAR
Patriot Index, Vol. 1-Centennial Edition, as being born" 1748 in Maryland, unmarried
soldier in NC in 1776, and died probably in 1834 in Indiana".
The key to this Benjamin is that later Benjamin's begin appearing in 1820 on the
Federal Census in Shortcreek, Harrison Co., Pa, wherein the earliest Benjamin is listed as
age 62 in 1820 (making him born in 1748, the same year as Benjamin IV of NC). He and his
son, Benjamin (hence, V), are listed together on this 1820 Harrison Co., Pa. Census as
Benjamin, Sr., and Benjamin, Jr.
Benjamin V is the father of Perry (father of Benjamin Franklin "Frank" Chance
(VI) (father of Benjamin "Bennie" Clinton Chance (VII), Effie and Unknown
Chance. They are all members of the Ohio line.
(Coincidentally, Peter/PERRY, b. 1791 in Pa., son of Benj. II and Jane Howard Chance also
migrated to Ohio, founding his line there, as well, with many children from 3 wives.)
Further research by the descendants of the Ohio Benjamin's needs to be done on
Benjamin IV and Rachel (Rad/Radd/Raad?) between the years of 1748-50 in NC and Va. to 1820
in the states lying between NC and Ohio. With further documentation, I believe this line
of Benjamin IV will be proven conclusively. In the meantime, current researchers will
have to come to their own conclusions since there is a conflict of theory regarding
Benjamin II and IV.
Happy hunting, all!
Earlayne Chance