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Classification: Query
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To clarify the William Chances: Research on the various William Chance's of England
has been carefully documented in the book by J. F. Chance, CHANCES OF BROMSGROVE,
published in 1892. Later research by Hilda Chance in her book, "Chances, England to
America" has picked up the work and all is confirmed by living Chance descendants of
the English line, Hugh Chance of California and Sir Jeremy Chance, currently of Wales,
U.K., both of whom confirm the early work.
There are Williams in almost every generation of the English Chances but the ones we, in
America, are primarily concerned with are those living in Bromsgrove and Birmingham,
England from 1640 onward. William, the Emigrant, was born in Bromsgrove, England but had
a will recorded in both England and in Maryland, where he and wife, Elizabeth Perkes, were
the first Chances recorded in Maryland around 1668. He died in Somerset Co., Md. around
1685. Possibly he still had property in England, requiring the filing of the English
probate/will.
William, the Emigrant, m. Eliz. Perkes and had 2 sons, William, (the Merchant) II (had
business ventures in Birmingham, England where he lived all of his life) and Richard
(Sr.),b. 1680 and who died in 1747 in Queen Anne Co., Md..... From all that I have found,
the early American Chances are all descended from these two brothers. Richard's line
settled into Md.>NC>Va.>Ms.>La., and Texas, with some offshoots into Ga. and
Florida. William's son's line came to America, but went westward from
Maryland>Del. and NC. I have not been able to document my husband's Samuel, b.
1740 in Pa. to either of these brothers, although his Samuel's son Benjamin I was b.
in Md., suggesting a link.
William (the Merchant) II (b. 1660/d. Dec. 26, 1739) lived his entire life in England,
with wife Frances Taylor. One of their sons, William (Yeoman) Chance of Bromsgrove,
England (b.bet. 1681-1682/d. March 22, 1742/43) was the father of Benjamin I, b.1742/43 in
Bromsgrove, who also emigrated to America. It is not known if Benjamin I interacted with
the earlier Maryland emigrants, his uncle and cousins, since Benjamin I is only known to
have records in Ky.,Va. and possibly Illinois, where he may be buried.
Another emigrant son of William (Yeoman) and Frances Taylor Chance was William (the 2nd
emigrant), b. May 1, 1725 in England and who died 1785 in Maurice river Township,
Cumberland Co., NJ. His wife's name was Mary and they settled the NJ>Delaware
line. Many of these children, including William V who was b. 1759 in London, but who died
before 1841. He m. Elizabeth Munse/Muncey in 1815 in Cumberland Co., NJ. Other siblings
also remained in this area.
Hence, you have several generations of sibling Chance's, all settling in different
landing areas... whether they knew they were related after arriving in America cannot be
known. These early emigrant Chances, however, are all well documented.
Happy hunting,
Earlayne