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Fellow family history junkies,
Another day, another idea :^) A lovely lady on the Allison surname list was
speaking of the many times the name "Rose" came up in various families in her
lines through the generations & it reminded me that I'm sure we all have come
across many similar names in our family history work.
I'd like to share with you a way in which I have tried to make these "finds"
meaningful to my children & granddaughter. Whenever I find a common name that
someone in the family trees shares with my children & granddaughter I make
particular note of it.
I then include pages about the people & relationship in that
"child's" memory book / scrapbook album. For example little Kelsey Elisabeth
Rich's pages have photos of her Aunt Erin Elisabeth, my grandmother Mary
Elizabeth Hayward Ryan & my sister Betty McMackin Cooley etc etc, plus notes
about how she is related to all of the Elizabeths & derivitives throughout
the family tree. I also try to write on one of the pages about any traits I
know about the person, like "Aunt Betty was an accomplished ballet dancer &
grandmother Mary Elizabeth loved to garden and do needlework". FInding
things in common with ancestors has always made both my family & the clients
I work with on the memory books feel more connected to those relatives.
My teen age daughter Kathleen's list includes me: Susan Kathryn; my
mother Ellen Catherine Ryan, my aunt Kathryn Welton, my grandmother's aunt
Kate Kennedy etc. The kids have told me that it gives them a sense of
continuity & of belonging, even if most of the people are those who have been
passed away for many years.
Also I make note of how surnames such as ALLISON are used as
given names, such as my father Jay Allison McMackin, cousin Allison Anthony,
& how my grandfather Tim RYAN's name is also used - my son Ryan Reynolds, my
cousin's son Ryan McCabe etc etc.
I encourage each of you to think about how you can make your family
names mean more to the future generations by doing something similar. Any
other ideas out there on how to build better connections with our offspring &
those who came before us?
Warm regards,
Susan
Susan McMackin Reynolds
in Lewes DE, "the first town in the first state"
Connect to me & others at the Surname Genealogy Web Project at
http://www.PlanetAll.com/main.asp?cid=966275&gid=114084&s=194
@>~~,~'~~~~~~~'~,~<@
"Being Irish, I have an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustains me
through
temporary periods of joy." W.B.Yeats
Note from the Chase Chronicles - Oct. 1919
WEST NEWBURY'S ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY
(August 23-24-25, 1919)
By Ex. Pres. John C. Chase
The recent celebration of the setting off of the present town of West
Newbury from the parent town of Newbury would appear to be worthy of
mention in the Chronicle, inasmuch as West Newbury was the home of
three sons of Aquila 1, they having settled in the "Upper Woods," as
the section north of the Artichoke river was called, soon after the
territory was lotted out, 123 years before West Newbury was given the
right of separate government.
Scattered as we are from this ancient heritage, we are still
interested in the home of our ancestors. Their descendants have
increased and none bearing the name have reason to be ashamed of their
ancestry.
Moses 2, familiarly known as "Ensign" was the first settler of our
name in this section, having purchased on April 6, 1689, three years
after the land was laid out, lot numbered 57. At the time of his
death, in 1743, he owned a third of a mile fronting on the "Bradford
Road" and extending back to the Merrimack river. By his will, the east
half of his estate went to his son Moses, 3, and the west half to his
son Joseph 3, and remained in the name of Chase for 122 years, when
the east half passed into the hands of Elizabeth 5, who had married
James Carr, and has remained in that family ever since, (108 years,)
being in recent years the home of the late Caroline Carr.
John and Daniel, sons of Aquila, settled just below the present
town-house, opposite the "Training Field".
Thomas Chase 2, son of Aquila, settled near the Amesbury ferry not far
from the "chain bridge" and his son, Thomas 3, located on what is now
known as "Cherry Hill" and the land is still owned and occupied by his
descendants, the Thurlows, who have a national reputation as growers
of peonies
The anniversary celebration began on Saturday, August 23, with a band
concert followed by a very creditable parade made up of the
representatives of the local civic, military, religious and fraternal
organizations, and business concerns, gaily decorated automobiles and
floats being a prominent feature of the procession which passed
through the main street of the town, the residences and public
buildings, being tasteful decorated in honor of the occasion.
Prominent among the few Grand Army veterans remaining to be honored,
was Henry D. Lay, now in his ninety-sixth year. His mental vigor is
shown by his reminding me of some remarks which I made to Mr. Lay when
a pedagogue in the town forty nine years ago.
A historical address by George Emery Noyes, of Chase lineage and a
member of our Association, was of exceeding interest and showed much
patient research.
__________________________________
issue of - April 1924
THE NEWBURY COAT 1811
"Not so very long ago the attention of the editor (Mrs. Fannie C.
Chase) was called to an especially interesting article in a history of
Newbury, England which related to the story of how a coat was made in
a day, the wool sheared from a sheep's back, the cloth made and the
garment finished between sunrise and sunset. Yankee ingenuity has
performed no greater task or more unique and the printed article which
was taken from Money's History of Newbury, England gives this
information:
One John Coxeter was established as a cloth manufacturer at Greenham
Mills, Newbury around 1800 and he was an especially clever business
man employing upwards of a hundred hands. He boasted with pardonable
pride of his improved machinery and that his cloth was of particular
quality. His mill was driven by water power and stood partly on the
site of the present tanyard and flour mill at Greenham.
In telling of the great advance in the manufacture of cloth Coxeter
remarked to Sir John Throckmorton of Buckland House:
"I believe that in twenty-four hours I could take the coat off your
back, reduce it to wool, and turn it back into a coat again." The
vaunt thus spoken in jest appears to have made such an impression on
Sir John Throckmorton that shortly afterwards, at a dinner party, he
offered to lay a wager of a thousand guineas that between sunrise and
sunset a coat could be made, the wool for which should have been that
morning growing upon the sheep's back. He thereupon sent for Mr.
Coxeter, to ascertain if the feat were really possible. After a
careful noting of the time occupied in the various processes, Mr.
Coxeter replied in the affirmative, and the bet was accordingly
concluded.
At five o'clock in the morning of June 25, 1811, Sir John Throkmorton
came to Greenham with his shepherd, bringing with him two fat sheep
Southdown sheep. The sheep were promptly shorn; the wool was washed,
stubbed, roved, spun, and woven; the cloth was scoured, fulled,
tented, raised, sheared, dyed, and dressed. The cloth was finished as
thus described by four o'clock in the afternoon, eleven hours after
the commencement of the sheep shearing. The coat had now to be made.
Mr. James White, tailor, of Newbury, superintended the tailoring and
cut out the coat. Nine of his men, with needles ready threaded, took
the garment in hand at four o'clock, and completed the coat at twenty
minutes past six. In the meantime the news of this extraordinary match
against time had spread abroad, and an immense concourse of people was
assembled, awaiting with intense excitement the achievement of the
task. Taking his stand upon a platform erected on the lawn in front of
Mr. Coxeter's drawing-room window, Sir John Throkmorton appeared,
wearing the coat, in the presence of an assemblage numbering, as was
estimated, about five thousand people. The two sheep which had been
despoiled of the wool were roasted whole, and cut up and distributed
among the people, together with one hundred twenty gallons of strong
beer dispensed through Mr. Coxeter's liberality, amidst much festive
rejoicing. Sir John Throkmorton dined at Mr. Coxeter's, with forty
other gentlemen. The coat was a hunting kersey "of a dark Wellington
colour." The wager was thus won with nearly an hour and three quarters
to spare."
_______________________________
Lonnie Chase
chase1858(a)bwn.net
Note from the Chase Chronicles - Apr. 1924
THE PURITAN SABBATH AND ITS OBSERVANCE
"Few persons, we imagine," said the historian, George W. Chase, "would
be willing to go back to the Sunday Ceremonies of the Puritan
Sabbath." A most interesting account of the observance of the Lord's
day as chronicled by Mr. Chase follows:
"The Puritan Sabbath in a village of New England commenced on Saturday
afternoon. No labor was performed on the evening which preceded the
Lord's day. Early on Sunday morning the blowing of a horn in some
places announced that the hour of worship was at hand. In other
villages, a flag was hung out of the rude building occupied by the
church. At Cambridge, a drum was beat in military style; at Salem, a
bell indicated the opulence of that city.
"The public religious services usually commenced at nine in the
morning, and occupied six to eight hours, divided by an intermission
of one hour for dinner. The people collected quite punctually, as the
law compelled their attendance and there was a heavy fine for any one
that rode fast to meeting. The sexton called upon the minister and
escorted him to church in the same fashion that the sheriff now
conducts the Judge into our state courts."
"There were few pews in the churches and the congregation had places
assigned them according to their age, importance and social standing.
A person was fined if he occupied the seat of another. Our local
histories reveal the pride, envy, and jealousy, were active passions
among the men of olden times, and it was a delicate and difficult
business to seat the meeting house."
"Many of the early churches of New England had two clergymen - one who
was called the pastor; the other, the teacher. The congregation
assembled at an early hour - never later than nine o'clock. After
prayer, a chapter from the Bible was read by one of the ministers and
expounded at length, in many of the churches, however, the Bible was
not read at all, and it took years of agitation to carry that
innovation. A psalm in metre was next sung, which was dictated line by
line to the congregation. This service was usually performed by one of
the deacons. The preachers did not take part in the introductory
services."
"The baptisms, cases of church discipline and collections, always took
place in the afternoon. The long prayer usually occupied from an hour
to an hour and a half, and many of the sermons of this period make
from a hundred to a hundred and fifty pages. There was a contribution
every Sunday, preceded by an appeal from one of the deacons. The boxes
were not carried around, but the congregation arose and proceeded to
the deacon's seat, and deposited their offerings. The magistrates and
'brief gentlemen' walked up first, the elders next, and then followed
the common people."
"The trials of ecclesiastical offenders at the close of the services,
often afforded much excitement; and amusement ; for some offenses a
particular dress was worn and the 'confession' of the offender was
listened to with much interest. Oftentimes the public services were
continued until after sunset. After the benediction the ministers
passed out of the church, bowing to people on both sides of the aisle,
as they all sat in silence until the clergymen and their families had
gone out."
Apropos the observance of Sunday, one of the controversies which
occurred in Newbury during the residence of the first Aquila was in
regard to the location for the meeting house. In 1660 one Samuel
Maverick of Boston wrote:
"At the mouth of the Merrimac on the south side of Meromeck and
upwards, is seated the town of Newbury. The houses stand at a good
distance from each other, a field and garden between each house, and
so on both sides of the street for 4 miles or thereabouts; between
Salisbury and this town the river is broader than the Thames at
Deptford, and in the summer abounds with sturgeon, salmon and other
fresh water fish. Had we the art of taking and saving the sturgeon it
would prove a very great advantage, the country affording vinegar and
other materials to do it withall. In this Towne and old Newbury
adjoining are 2 meeting houses."
The imposing of punishment for infractions of the various rules of
conduct throws a light on the character of the people of Newbury. For
instance: "men of meane condition should not take upon themselves the
garbe of gentlemen by wearing gold lace, silver lace or buttons."
The women were forbidden to "weare silk or tiffiny hoodes or scarfes"
unless they or their husbands possessed an estate of at least two
hundred pounds, under a penalty of ten shillings for each offense.
Readers of the chronicle will recall the Ipswich Court Record of March
30, 1647 when Aquila Chase and his wife and David Wheeler were
presented at the last court for gathering peas on the Lord's day. It
seems the summons was sent to Hampton and the constable on his return
said they were not at Hampton but gone to Newbury. Later records of
Newbury were interesting, some of these relating to prominent
residents:
September 27, 1653, the wife of Nicholas Noyes was presented in court
for wearing a silke coat and scarffe but upon proof that her husband
is worth above two hundred pounds she was cleared of her presentment.
At the same court the wife of Joseph Sweate and the wife of William
Chandler were convicted and fined ten shillings for wearing a silke
hoode and scarfe.
The Chase family was among others of the town of Newbury who sought
grants for the location of new settlements and members of the family
and their descendants were among those establishing residences in
Nantucket, Pentucket (Haverhill, Mass.), Pennacooke, (Concord, N.H.),
Salisbury, Hampton, N.H., Cochicawicke (Andover, Mass.) and
Woodbridge, New Jersey, named in honor of Rev. John Woodbridge,
assistant minister at the first church in Newbury."
Lonnie Chase
chase1858(a)bwn.net
Good Morning All!
I want to announce that I have created a Chase Chat room on my server. All of you are welcome to use it anytime, day or night, and talk to your fellow Chase family members.
It might be an easier way for us to get to know each other.
Please try it out. A link will be placed on the Chase family pages at Webnests so that if you lose this email, you will always be able to access it.
http://aceglobalmarketing.com/chat/Chase_Chat.htm
Sasha
http://webnests.com/Chase
Dear susan et all,
Yes, your idea is great. Anything to keep us focused on more research is a
good idea. I am still wishing for the digging in England for the name. This
really needs to be done and hopefully there will be many Chases out there in
England who will be willing to look and dig for us all.
Ginger in AZ
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In a message dated 3/29/00 11:27:45 PM Eastern Standard Time,
chasewill(a)uswest.net writes:
<< Have the people contract you. >>
Hi fellow listers,
I was talking to Will about how much I appreciate all the help I've
gotten here & I think I have found a way to contribute something back. What
I did last night was to set up a CHASE Family History group on a website I
use a lot for staying connected to various family researchers in other
Surnames. The group makes it possible to list yourself as someone interested
in CHASE family history so others who may not have access to this list can
find you (maybe someone without email who uses a library computer etc).
While it does not in any way take the place of the list it is still a great
tool.
At some time down the road when I get the time to do some further set-up
it will also be possible to share information using a message board & even
have a meeting if any of the people who register there decide they'd like to
do that. The basics of the set-up has been done (I worked on it last night)
& it's ready to be checked out. Down the road it could be used anytime for
an online get together in "real time" to compare notes or get aquainted.
The area in which we'd "meet" would be password protected thus
available only to people in the CHASE genealogy & not random people who might
otherwise drop in to waste our time. If for example a number of us are
looking at materials about one line or dates concerning one person etc, or
have question we could compare notes & not have a lot of crossed messages.
ALso, on the message board part of the site anything we post will be
accessable later for someone else in the group can compare their own notes.
Do any of you think that would be something you would be interested
in?
I don't have the message board & meeting room set up yet but if you'd
like to see the basics of how to list yourself as someone who is researching
CHASE history you can go to:
http://www.PlanetAll.com/main.asp?cid=966275&gid=211592&s=194
Let me know what you think, OK? I appreciate all the information I've gotten
from this group & am very glad to be able to contribute something back.
Warm regards,
Susan McMackin Reynolds
Lewes DE, "the first town in the first state"
* Connect to me & other GENEALOGY buffs at <A
HREF="http://www.planetall.com/main.asp?s=1043&cid=966275 ">PlanetAll</A> *
>~@>~~@>^~v~^~^~v~<@~~~<@~<
"Being Irish, I have an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustains me through
temporary periods of joy." W.B.Yeats
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Message-ID: <38E2C981.5B890D3F(a)uswest.net>
Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 21:26:57 -0600
From: "William E. Chase" <chasewill(a)uswest.net>
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To: SPrimeMD(a)aol.com
Subject: Re: brilliant idea maybe?
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Thank you, Susan,
Maybe you could put things on the PLANET. Have the people
contract you. Then if you need to pass it on to me, I could
you. I am on ten lists now. I am running two weeks or more,
behind now on look up and help. With the reunion, I do not
think I should be on another list. I just don't have the time.
Will Chase
SPrimeMD(a)aol.com wrote:
>
> Hi Will,
>
> The list is just great! I'm so glad that I found you guys :^) So many
> very very nice people. I'm too new to know too much about how the list works
> but I can tell nice people when I see them. And let me tell you that you've
> really got me thinking since you've told me about the Chase reunion. I'm
> truly impressed with all of the work that you've done with the reunion.
> Getting it organized has to be such a big project! I can't figure out how
> you did it by yourself but I'm really impressed. It sounds great & I'd love
> to come. I have to really do some figuring to try to manage it. But that's
> not what I was writing about.
>
> As I think I mentioned on the list I use PlanetAll.com for finding, making
> contact with & then staying in touch with people with whom I have common
> family ties or the same areas of genealogical interest (Essex England,
> Ireland, New York, etc)
>
> Anyhow, I had a brainstorm tonight after talking with someone from the
> BURDICK family & discussing having a "real time" meeting. It occurred to me
> that there may be a CHASE family group on PlanetALl. I looked there to find
> out & found none with a similar name, so of course no already established
> bulletin boards available either.
>
> So I took it upon myself to start one so that if at some time, either now or
> in the future, the Chases want to communicate on a message board or do a
> "real time" meeting we have a vehicle for doing it.
>
> The area is called "Chase Family History & Genealogy" & you can find it at
> the following link: <A
> HREF="http://www.PlanetAll.com/main.asp?cid=966275&gid=211592&s=194">http://ww
> w.PlanetAll.com/main.asp?cid=966275&gid=211592&s=194</A>
> If you've never used PlanetAll.com before you'll need to go through a quick
> registration so you can participate but it only takes a minute and it's free.
> I'd really like to get your ideas about how the CHASE family might be able
> to keep up with who's who & share information etc through this site. And do
> you think a "meeting" where we coud all chat would be something the group
> would be interested in?
>
> Look forward to hearing from you.
>
> Warm regards,
> Susan McMackin Reynolds
> Lewes DE, "the first town in the first state"
>
> >~@>~~@>^~v~^~^~v~<@~~~<@~<
> "Being Irish, I have an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustains me through
> temporary periods of joy." W.B.Yeats
--part1_b0.3219da4.2614d2dd_boundary--
Note from the Chase Chronicles - Apr. 1910
WHERE OUR ANCESTORS WENT TO MEETING.
"They did not "go to church" as we say today. It was the meeting house
where they attended. People from a wide range gathered on the Lord's
Day to what was both a religious service and also a place where people
met one another, saw each other's faces, shook hands, exchanged the
news, carried messages, kept acquainted. It was the event of the week.
Newspapers were scarce and contained little news. Contact with the
outer world came through one telling another and family affairs were
more discussed than political. As so many had married into nearby
families all were anxious to hear from one another. Therefore, the
Sunday gatherings had the flavor of the gathering on Town Meeting day.
The younger children were thus brought to meeting and grew up in touch
with their relatives and friends. If a man was sick four miles up the
road or if a woman had a new baby five miles down the road the story
would be passed along so that by night all the news would be known by
everybody.
Near Pipe Stave Hill, say two miles below the Training Field not far
from Mr. Boynton's residence is a sign beside the road saying in
substance that near here stood the old meeting house of the second
church, Newbury. Of course, the first church was in what is now the
city of Newburyport. But in the rearrangement of town lines, this that
was the second parish of Newbury became the first parish of West
Newbury. The old building gave way to a better and the site was
changed to where the present building stands south of the former spot,
and this present building has a tablet upon it as you will see as you
ride by in the trolley; The first parish of West Newbury. But as
showed in our last number many parishioners who lived in the upper
part of the town had no horses and none of them wanted to go so far to
meeting. accordingly, the second parish was founded and the house
erected near Silloway Hill and the Walnut Hill Burying ground. The
Thomas 2 and 3 line with their descendants were officers and
influential in this parish and are buried in the adjacent yard. But
before many years the settlers had increased more around the main road
and the upper part of the town and after some wrangling the meeting
house was changed from Silloway Hill to Maple Street on the road
turning from the upper town pump and the present post office,
westerly. This did not seem to suit everybody and after much
discussion and not all of it very calm the building was removed to the
spot long used and where two disastrous fires have swept away the old
and the new buildings. Today a new meeting house is approaching
completion, pleasing in style and on the spot so long familiar. It can
be seen for miles up and down the river and across into East
Haverhill, Merrimac and Amesbury.
______________________________
Lonnie Chase
chase1858(a)bwn.net
Note from the Chase Chronicles - Apr. 1924
CHASE HOUSE, PORTSMOUTH, N. H.
"Miss Susie Woodman of Dover, N. H., in a paper recently read before
the Daughters of the Revolution described the Chase House, corner of
Court and Washington Streets, built in 1730. The house was given to
Portsmouth by George Bigelow Chase of Boston for a children's home to
be called the Chase Home for Children. The donor stipulated that the
pastor of the North Church should always be on the board of trustees.
It was used for the purpose designed until the house was too small and
a new home was built out of Portsmouth Centre. The old place was sold
to Mrs. Thomas Bailey Aldrich and used by her for a summer residence.
The exceptionally fine wood carving and spacious rooms are notable.
President George Washington was entertained there by Stephen Chase and
when he left the house the chief magistrate kissed the daughters of
his host. One of them, the grandmother of the writer, Sarah Chase
Woodman of Rochester, N. H. often told of the incident with patriotic
pride. Mrs. Woodman delighted in telling her children and
grandchildren the story of the social life of those days and of how
she danced at her grandmother's wedding, who was Margaret Cotton of
Springfield, Mass. Her first husband was Joseph Frost and the second,
Judge Ichabod Rollins of Somersworth, N. H. The Sarah Chase alluded to
was twelve years old at the time of her grandmother's marriage to
Judge Rollins."
EDWARD M. CHASE OF MANCHESTER, N. H. A BENEFACTOR
"Homes for laboring men where there are children in the family is one
of the projects of Edward M. Chase, who is the founder of a Chase
Family Home Association. His undertaking characterized by the highest
humanitarian impulses is graphically recorded in a press dispatch to
the Boston Herald and is herewith quoted:
Manchester, N. H., Feb. 24 - A firm belief that religion in the
development of family life is essential to the preservation of our
present national life and civilization, is the foundation on which
Edward M. Chase of this city, has started the Chase Family Home
Association. Last Friday, the occasion of his 50th anniversary, he
presented Arthur M. Heard, the association treasurer, a certified
check for
$50,000 to start the work of furnishing homes for families in moderate
circumstances with two or more children .
In his speech of presentation, the benefactor said in part: "My
sympathies are with the immigrant and with the laboring man who is
trying to raise a family in a religious atmosphere. I have been
thinking for the last 20 years how to better housing conditions, and
the result is the organization of the Chase Family Home Association."
A charter has already been obtained and Mr. Chase says that 400
applications for homes already have been made.
According to the articles of association , the corporation is
organized and established for the general purpose of building houses
designed for one family only. These houses will be sold without profit
to persons having a family of not less than two children. For the
promotion of its charitable objects, the organization may buy, hold,
improve, sell and manage such real estate and personal property as may
be deemed necessary in carrying on its work.
The treasurer shall, if possible, be the president or treasurer of
some national or savings bank and he shall be a member of the board of
trustees. The latter, in addition to the treasurer, shall consist of
an attorney, a contractor, and such others as it may seem wise to
include and who's occupations and abilities specifically fit them to
be helpful in promoting the objects of the corporation. If possible,
the articles stipulate, there shall always be on the board of trustees
a member of the Protestant faith, the Roman Catholic faith and the
Jewish faith.
The immediate plan of the corporation is to erect 30 houses on lots
not less than 100 by 50 feet, designed for the use of one family. They
will be modern, with six rooms each.
These houses will be sold on a basis of a weekly payment of $7.50 a
week, with no initial deposit. They will be sold only to families with
children, to a person who is a member of some religious organization
and is recommended by the clergyman of his church. Complete ownership
will come in 17 years, the houses not costing over $3333.33 each.
The association will furnish half the cost of erecting the first 30
houses, obtaining the remainder from local banks. As the plan
progresses, four new houses will be built yearly.
May 20, the first shovelful of dirt was turned over which marked the
beginning of construction of the Chase homes. Twelve of the houses
will be built in the Notre Dame section of Manchester and Mr., Chase
outlined the plans at the appropriate dedication exercises.
__________________________________
Lonnie Chase
chase1858(a)bwn.net
Meg and all - As a really under-moneyed retiree in the expensive Silicon
Valley, I understand. But, I am going to make the effort and hope a lot of
others will, also. Jeanne
-----Original Message-----
From: meg stockwell <netmeg(a)earthlink.net>
To: CHASE-L(a)rootsweb.com <CHASE-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Date: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 9:18 PM
Subject: [CHASE-L] REUNION
>Amongst my family papers are postcard size cards with the individual
>Chase's name on one side and their family lineage...Chase lineage... on
>the other. I've been thinking that it would be fun to make up some of
>these to share with others..just like in the old days. I'm not sure I
>can come to reunion due to $$ (two young Chases in college and being a
>California underpaid school teacher) but when there is a will.....
> Hopefully, Meg Chase
>
Amongst my family papers are postcard size cards with the individual
Chase's name on one side and their family lineage...Chase lineage... on
the other. I've been thinking that it would be fun to make up some of
these to share with others..just like in the old days. I'm not sure I
can come to reunion due to $$ (two young Chases in college and being a
California underpaid school teacher) but when there is a will.....
Hopefully, Meg Chase
Part 2 - Notes from the Chase Chronicles - Oct. 1918
"Rock Village and Its People" but relating more to a "Historical and
Antiquarian Society" and their "belongings" and to the preservation of
such.
One of the most favorable conditions of the times is that which is
found in so many of our larger villages and country towns at the
present time. I refer to the keeping alive of the spirit of the
times. What can better be done by an enterprising kinsman than to
establish or to confer at any rate in a town where he or she lives
about having a society for the preservation of antiques, historical
matters and genealogical. This has been done in a great many towns
within the past few years. I have visited several and have been
amazed at the material which has been accumulated which was at first
thought worthless., but having some one person who was enthusiastic in
this matter the items were gathered and that which was in danger of
being forgotten or burned was put to a good use, and the use is
something like this. For instance, the town of Merrimac, Mass., has
something of this kind, and a very commendable style too.
Now I went yesterday to the town of Framingham with which I am
somewhat familiar and I found there was a very flourishing historical
and antiquarian society house, a nice building which has been given
them in some way by the town where there is a collection of valuable
matter, three-fourths of it would have been sent to the junk heap or
discarded as useless, but when put into a proper room and backed up by
a proper society the whole thing is every way commendable and
furnishes some very striking lessons. For instance any place in any
eastern state has houses and rooms and traditions and facts which
ought to be gathered, kept and finally housed, and it would result in
a society where these things are discussed, and where the spirit which
animates the action is nurtured and increased. For instance a family
has occupied a farm house for many years, the people have died out,
and the old furniture, the family relics which have a value and
interest in the minds of some people at least are in danger of being
scattered or being thrown in the waste heap, but if they will only
allow these things to be guarded in a proper room or building it would
be but a very short time before the spirit which animates the whole
thing will develop and spread about in the neighborhood so that a
convenient place can be had for meetings, social gatherings and the
fostering of the spirit which I am describing. Here is a beautiful
collection which is one of the best that I know of. It is housed in a
large and very good building. Meetings are held with some regularity
and it is a kind of focus where societies in the neighborhood can be
gathered and make a sort of home for themselves with the recollections
of their ancestors and feasting their eyes upon the things that were
valuable when they were young perhaps and which connect the present
generation with the old timers.
Here is a good opportunity for any of our cousins to do something of
this kind where they live. Five years of quiet work would result in
wonderful success and it does not take a person of great experience or
high standing as a historian to do these things. The thing is to
rescue the things that would go to oblivion, and in this way connect
afterward part of the genealogy with the things that have been
treasured in the past by different residents.
I was struck in looking over the collection at Framingham of several
things there which can be gathered in almost any community, but it
ought to be done while people are alive and while the interest in
these things is maintained. For instance you can look around the
rooms where I was and find old cradles where slept some of the
residents of the town who have afterwards obtained distinction.
Samples of needlework done by the young ladies; some of them very
elaborate and very nice now can be looked upon by the grandchildren as
the work of their grandmothers when they were young ladies; oil cups
before lamps were made, a cup of oil with the wick hung over the side;
all kinds of lamps, candles home made and factory made, fluid lamps,
oil lamps and everything of that kind. They are all going out of
date, fire tongs, a piano, old music books, and different kinds of
musical instruments; portraits which once hung on the wall and which
have been admired had better be put in a building where they can be
admired by other people also; kitchen furniture and furnishings. I am
only mentioning these things as a suggestion.
There is one thing that I have noticed as I have on other occasions
namely an old-fashioned settle such as was put before the fire-place
so that people could sit upon it and face the fire, and keep warm, and
at the same time shield the other part of the room, and make a sort of
chimney corner. The one that is in Framingham, has a history to it,
and I will relate a little of the history because it is a matter that
should be preserved.
This settle is made of wood, looks like oak but it is a softer wood..
it is about four feet six inches wide, 46 in. deep, and tall. The
inhabitants of the fireside could make themselves very comfortable
here, but this one was used I understand in the first store in town
where there was a fire burning and where the people came I suppose to
drink cider if nothing stronger, to gossip about the times, and to
listen to what other people could tell them of the neighborhood news.
Newspapers were scarce in those days. This was way back in 1755,
where Thomas Brown of Newton bought of Phineas Bond and Thankful his
wife, the old John Bullen place near Nobscot Mountain where the famous
spring is today on the old road or near it that ran from Framingham to
Marlboro. Aaron Brown a descendant was born in 1745, and was the
ancestor of some of the most respectable people in Framingham of
today. But the house was burned and the place is now occupied by a
new building. Aaron Brown was a Minute Man, like many others; in fact
nearly all in the community enrolled themselves as Minute Men to fight
the British if the enemy was heard of in the neighborhood. In this
way one night when Mr. Brown had worked on some burnt land he was told
that the British were coming out from Boston and were threatening the
settlements at Concord and at Lexington. He was urgent to leave his
work at once, although he had worked very hard and was very tired.
His wife persuaded him to rest a little, and lie down and sleep a
little as the day following was going to be a hard one for him. He
would have to march 29 miles, carry his musket and equipment and be
ready at any time with his companions to do his work as a loyal Minute
Man. These Minute Men were men of character and they could be
depended upon. Captain Nixon was a famous man among them and we are
told that he not only commanded a company but also carried a musket.
He was afterwards promoted and was a very prominent man in the early
part of the Revolutionary War.
But to go back to Aaron Brown. He went to sleep awhile, his wife said
she would get his things together, and so that he might not be
disturbed she walked around in the night picking up his articles as
she went, in her stocking feet so as not to disturb him. Just at the
break of day a man came up the road on horseback crying out in a loud
voice so that all the sleepers might hear, "The British are coming,
the British are coming, turn out as quick as you can!" The people
were roused in this way and started for Concord via Sudbury and got
there a little too late for the fight which occurred at Concord
Bridge, but they pursued the enemy and made it hot for him down
towards Lexington.
The Concord fight you and I remember as a matter of history, while
Aaron Brown and his neighbors were the Minute Men who did the work.
The store which was kept in Mr. Brown's house or a part of it was
carried along after his death by his widow who was a bright woman and
kept the store going. She was famed all around the neighborhood and
further than the neighborhood too for certain cakes that she could
make called election cakes, and the people of today have some of them
eaten election cake but Mrs. Brown's election cake was of a high order
and she sold a great deal of it, and with the Yankee thrift she made
money, and then she baked sweet apples that came from a certain tree,
and they were the nicest sweet apples that anybody could buy and they
had a wide reputation, and so she sent the apples also where they
could be turned into money or bartered in some way, so the women of
these days were equal to the men; if they could not fight with the
musket they could run the house, and run the farm and run the store.
Now these things come from a consideration of the old settle which is
in the Framingham rooms.
It stands there as a witness to the Minute Men of the past, and to the
days gone by. A good many people have gathered on the old seat, what
stories have been told there, and this is simply to illustrate what I
have begun the story with, that in any community there could be found
something to start an Antiquarian Society, or if it is started to get
in the things that will otherwise be destroyed by fire or turned out
to rot behind the barn.
Now Chase cousins here is a chance for you. You can do and get credit
to yourself, add to your neighborhood, and be doing good work at the
same time. The grandchildren who will come up will know nothing at
all unless we tell them and show them these things which have been
saved without destruction for their edification.
THE END.
Transcribed by Maryetta, my wife and good companion.
Lonnie Chase
chase1858(a)bwn.net
Notes from the Chase Chronicles -October 1918
**Spelling and Punctuation , verbatim, as article appeared in the
Chronicle.
ROCK VILLAGE AND ITS PEOPLE
by Leonard Woodman Smith
Years ago, as one crossed the old covered bridge that stretches
across the river Merrimac, and emerged from its semi-darkness, a busy
little village came into view. This village was known for years as
"The Rocks". An inquisitive person would soon ask, why was it called
"Rocks"? People would ride over the modern bridge at low tide, will
see the rocky bed of the river, with the water rushing over it. A man
owning land near, by the name of Holt, gave the name of "Holt's
Rocks", to that section of the river; before any bridge was placed at
this spot, there was a ferry boat that went from West Newbury to
Haverhill, and it was known as " Holt's Rocks Ferry." At one time
there was a shipyard also near and quite a little shipbuilding was
done. The first bridge built at this turn of the river, was washed
away in the great freshet of 1818; for nearly one hundred years, the
second bridge, known to the present generation as the old covered
bridge did duty as a highway, joining the two villages; there were
but few openings to let in the light, and for this reason at all times
of day there was a peculiar dimness, and at night, with a few whale
oil lanterns hung here and there, the dimness could almost be felt. I
remember the village as it looked sixty years ago, and the general
appearance has not changed much. In a mental picture I see the Old
Toll House, The Tavern, the house of Dr. Kenniston, the residence of
Mr. Samuel Elliott, and many of the other homes, and the old Brick
Store. On each end of the old bridge there was a sign, stating that
driving a horse faster than a walk was forbidden, and a fine for not
obeying. The old Tavern fifty years ago, was the centre of the
village life. At that point railroads only connected the most
important towns and cities, so that the old Stage coach was the usual
means of travel for people who did not own a family horse; also long
journeys were taken by this method, making it quite important to have
sections in the journey where entertainment for the traveler and the
horses could be had. The old Tavern signs always read, "Entertainment
for man and beast". This Tavern at Rocks Village was one of the
important stopping places, for people traveling into New Hampshire,
and to the large town of Amesbury. There were shoe factories in the
village also, Messrs. Geo. & Samuel Elliott, Mr. Maynard, and Mr.
Rufus Chase, and perhaps others I do not remember. Mr. Samuel Elliott
built a modern house, that gave quite a distinction to the street. In
front of the house was a very handsome iron fence that was a novelty
at the time; the exterior of the house was attractive, painted white,
with green blinds; the front door was a feature also, one long panel,
with a pointed gothic top, and iron ornamental work inserted.
Rocks Village was a bustling place, and its life extended to remote
parts of the section. But the life story of the hamlet is the most
interesting part. The shoe industry, that makes Haverhill known in a
large part of the world, had its beginning here, but soon was
transferred to the town centre. Mr. Rufus Chase, Mr. Maynard and the
two Elliott brothers, George and Samuel transferred their shoe
business, and moved into town for their residence also, where the
increase in trade brought wealth to them, as it had done to many
others. They were among the pioneers in this great industry. Romance
also had its share in the town history. The fine old colonial home,
that for many years was the home of Dr. Kenniston, was also the
birthplace of the "Countess", the subject of one of Whittier's poems.
Mary Ingalls, daughter of Henry and Abigail Ingalls was born Jan.
1786; her paternal grandfather was the Rev. Payne Wingate. The French
Revolution in Guadeloupe drove many into exile. Seventeen of these
exiles landed in Newburyport in 1792. Count Francis de Vipart and
Joseph Rochemont de Tojan, came to Rocks Village, and the Count fell
in love with Mary Ingalls, and married her Mar. 21, 1805. The Count
was said to be tall and very fine looking. Whittier in his poem calls
Mary Ingalls, "the pick of the village". Her wedding dress was pink
satin with a white lace overdress, and she wore white satin slippers.
The Countess lived but a few years; her burial place in Greenwood
Cemetery, has the old time slate headstone, with the following
inscription:
May (** this is the
name listed on the tombstone)
Wife of
Francis Vipart
of Guardaloupe (sic)
Died
Jan.- 5 - 1807
Aged 21
Since Whittier's poem, "The Countess". appeared, relic hunters
commenced to clip (sic?) pieces from the headstone, and a strong wire
cage has been placed over it for protection. Mrs. Thomas Chase of
West Newbury had a set of knives and forks that belonged to the
Countess, and since the death of Mrs. Chase, the set has been divided
among relatives. One of these relatives has given one knife and one
fork to the Haverhill Historical Society. Mrs. Chase was a Ladd
before her marriage to the West Newbury Chase, and she was born at
Rocks Village, her mother I think was an Ingalls. Rocks Village and
West Newbury are so closely connected, that there have been quite a
number of intermarriages.
The other exile, Joseph Rochemont de Tojan, married Sally Elliott, a
village girl. Their descendants still carry the name of Tojan.
These two marriages created quite a sensation at the time, especially
that of the Count. The other French exiles lived in Newburyport and
are buried in one long row in an old Newburyport cemetry
(sic).
The Ingalls house is still a beautiful residence; it was once the home
of old Dr. Weld that Whittier referred to in Snow-Bound, as the
"village doctor".
A writer has said "The Merrimac Valley is to New England, what Greece
is to the old world; the cradle of the great and the good; the
birthplace of art, genius, and world justice. As one climbs the main
street of the village the only church building of the section comes
into view; a typical New England house of worship, it remains nearly
the same as when built. From this hill the village stretches out in
all directions, and the families that have been reared in the old
homes have gone out into the world, carrying noble lives that have
benefited the sections where they have located. Of course outside the
city of Haverhill proper, no place has been brought into world wide
celebrity like the birth-place of John Greenleaf Whittier; the
Whittier home was built in 1688, by Thomas Whittier, and the poet was
born in that home Dec. 17, 1807. Whittier's poems and prose writings
are so well known that nothing need be said about them; also his
interest in the Anti-Slavery cause, is in much that the public have
known about him. The old school house, where he went to school, and
its subsequent history, is a book in itself. The little building has
long since disappeared, but before it was destroyed, an old man in the
neighborhood made souvenirs of different designs, out of pieces of the
building. After the destruction of this historic school house, Mr.
Geo. Elliott who owned the Whittier home at the time, allowed this old
man to take a board from the attic floor, and he made small books;
they were finished so nicely, and the name Whittier's Poems, on the
back, they looked like real books; the Haverhill Historical Society
has one of those valuable souvenirs. At the Whittier birth-place,
there is one of the old desks, that was removed before the little
school house was demolished. The people who acted as teachers in this
institution of learning, later in life were placed in important
positions. Dr. John Crowell became a prominent Physician in
Haverhill. Dr. Wm. Cogswell of Bradford, in his early life taught
there. Mrs. Clarence Kelly who later taught in the Haverhill High
School for several years and whose husband is now teaching at Harvard
college, and wrote a history of that city. Mr. C. C. Chase, for many
years principal of Lowell High, and Mr. L. A. Chase, who for a number
of years was a teacher in Lowell, and the last of his life was
treasurer of Central Savings Bank of the city of Lowell. Near the
principal street of Rocks Village, lived the family of Mr. Samuel
Esterbrook Sarah. Mr. Moses Williams married the second daughter
Elija, Mr. L.A. Chase married Mr. Esterbrook's third daughter Sarah.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams and their three children were my next door
neighbors for many years in West Newbury. When Samuel A. Chase and
family visited my neighbors I often met them, and soon learned what a
splendid man Mr. Chase was. I also met Mr. C.C. Chase, the principal
of the Lowell High School, heard him speak in public, when on a visit
in summer vacation to his native town at Rocks Village. One can
almost write an article on the fine people, that in early life taught
in the little school house; and doubly interesting because many of
them were born in the neighborhood of Corliss Hill.
John Ayer taught there, his children attended the school, and the
three children of his daughter Sophie Ayer Elliott, Hazen Elliott, May
Elliott, and Mrs. Emma T. Elliott Cote. Deacon Keely, son of an early
pastor of the First Baptist Church, was the visiting committee for
many years. The date of the erection of this historic school house is
not known.
The last person who officiated as teacher in this school was Miss
Nellie Cogswell, who now is living in the Old Ladies' Home,
Newburyport
Before continuing this story, the account of the formation of this
Rocks village church may be interesting. About the year 1817, a few
persons of the Baptist faith, not more than fifteen in number residing
in the easterly part of town, conceived the idea of holding regular
religious services, in the old school house on the common; they
decided to engage a Mr. Morrill of Amesbury, a lay preacher; and from
that time on they held regular services, and they were well attended.
Later a Mr. Westcott, also a lay preacher, continued the services.
On the 21st of January 1821 according to the records "A respectable
number of inhabitants in Haverhill and Amesbury, convened at Wm.
Chase's; signed the articles for a second regular Baptist society in
Haverhill, after making choice of Cutting Moody as moderator, attended
prayers." Having invoked the Divine blessing upon their proceedings,
they completed their organization, by choosing Wm. D.S. Chase clerk
and treasurer, and Cutting Moody, Samuel Pillsbury, and William Chase,
a committee to procure a teacher for the society, and draw orders on
the Treasurer. At a subsequent meeting, the society voted to raise
the sum of $100.00 to support preaching that year. The number of
persons who united in the organization of the church was eighteen.
Phineas Nichols and Stephen Bagley were the first deacons. A meeting
house was erected, and completed in the fall of 1822.Wm. D.S. Chase
gave the land on which the church was built. In 1823 a steeple was
added; various men acted as pastors in the years that followed, and
the salary was increased yearly until 1850 the salary of five hundred
was offered to a candidate. In 1857 the church was remodeled, and a
bell added.
When one has known a nearby hamlet for more than fifty years, one
hardly knows where to stop, in recalling the lives of so many worthy
people one has known. Not far from the rear of the church, stands a
large square colonial house, the home of the Davis family, that has
supplied several deacons for this organization.
When I was a boy most of the farm work was done with oxen, no labor
machinery then being invented. Dea. Davis used to go to what was
called "Down East" then, and get young oxen, to sell to the farmers.
My father always purchased his oxen from Dea. Davis because he had
perfect confidence in his honesty. Pages might be written about this
Davis family; the original James Davis took a great tract of land in
East Haverhill in the first years of the town; several generations of
James Davis have lived on the land and they have been the strongest
supporters of the church near their home. The office of Deacon has
been filled from the family many times; when the church building was
erected, one of the family gave one hundred dollars for the building;
at that period it was a great sum. I have been interested in the name
of the man who gave the land for the church building, William D.S.
Chase. At that time so few had even one middle name; I find from a
member of the family that his name in full was, William Davis Stickney
Chase. Just above the old church was the home of Stickney Chase, and
two of his grandsons have been in the shoe business on Essex Street
for many years. One of the firm, Herbert Stickney Chase, died quite
recently; he was familiarly known by his intimate friends as "Stick
Chase". I have referred to the old bridge as a toll bridge; for many
years the toll-man was a Mr. Ordway. He had three daughters and one
seldom finds three such handsome women in one family. Two of the
daughters married two sons of Dea. James Davis, and one married Mr.
James Odiorne of West Newbury. Mrs. Odiorne was the soprano singer of
the 2nd Congregational Church of West Newbury for many years. She
possessed a voice of great range, clear cut and strong; it was a
delight to listen to her rendering of church music. A daughter of
Dea. Davis, Miss Rebecca, was an author of note, her articles on the
history of her native town, her gleanings from Merrimac Valley, and
her poems are too well known to need a comment. Other members of this
old family are at the present time filling places of trust and honor.
Turning to the left from the church, we come to the "Old Peaslee
Garrison House", built in 1675. This old Garrison house has been kept
in remembrance of people of post cards and articles about its history
in connection with the Whittier family. The Peaslees were Quakers and
the Peaslee and Whittier families by inter-marriage and similar
interests, were closely connected. Enniken, the artist, took his
scheme for an old New England living room from the old Garrison
House.. The home of Adrian Chase was not far from the Garrison house.
His son Adrain married Rhoda, daughter of Oliver Morse. He came to
Haverhill and became one of the prominent shoe manufacturers of the
city. Their home on Vine Street is owned by a niece, Mrs. Dr. Talbot,
of Lawrence. The home of Oliver Morse was just across the river from
the Dole farm in West Newbury, thus making the family like neighbors.
My Great Grandfather Dole bought the place on the West Newbury side of
the Greenleafs, Whittier ancestors; here again Newbury and Haverhill
are linked together.
Currier and George are two more East Haverhill names that are linked
with its history. Meyer Ames George was one of the charter members of
the Rock's Village Church, and at his home Jan. 1, 1822, the delegates
from sister churches met to form the new organization. Here in this
family again some member in later years became famous. George Parker,
the famous soloist of Boston, was the son of Charlotte, daughter of
Gideon and Nancy (Chase) George.
The old East Parish church is another link in historic East Haverhill.
This section of the town was set apart as a separate Precinct or
Parish in 1743. The first Parish meeting was held at the home of
Nathaniel Whittier. At this meeting a committee was chose to select a
location for a meeting house; this committee selected the south side
of Turkey Hill; the house was furnished so far as to be usable the
next year, but the records say it was not thoroughly finished until a
few years before it was torn down in 1838; the gallery floor was laid
in 1752; windows were cut in the back in 1753 at the request of the
minister as the records date "for his conveineancy (sic.) of air in
summer time;" the house was plastered in 1768 the pews were built at
various times about 1747; until about 1816 the two sexes sat apart
during the service (except families who owned pews) Mr. Benjamin
Parker was the first minister. The present church building at East
Parish was erected in 1838. At the present time so few people of the
old families are left, that no service is held regularly. But around
this old church, clusters memories of long ago days. In all that I
have written runs a thread of the family life of the Chase family. In
this section, and near Corliss hill many families of this name dwelt.
This article is gaining in length, yet a few facts briefly stated, may
be of interest. Aquilla (sic) Chase, the founder of this family, came
to Newbury in 1646. There is a tradition that he was the first person
who brought a vessel over the Newburyport bay. There were eleven
children in Aquilla (sic.) Chase's family: Anthony Chase, great
grandson of Aquilla, married Abigail Woodman of Newbury; he settled in
East Parish, bought a water privilege, and set up a clothing mill; he
subsequently erected a saw mill, and a grist mill, and became one of
the large real estate men of East Parish. Joseph, son of Anthony
married and settled on the farm now known as the John B. Nichols
place.
Toppan, son of Joseph married Hannah, dau. of Col. John Johnson; their
son, George Westgate Chase is well known as the historian of
Haverhill. Several of the descendants of Aquilla (sic.) Chase settled
in West Newbury, and the houses they built are still standing and in
grand repair. I might go on and speak of Chases who lived near
Corliss hill, and many other families, the Kimballs, Foots, Dalrymples
and many others I have known, but I will close with a few disconnected
items of interest.
First, the Historical Society has recently received from the estate of
Mrs. John Newcomb, the Commission of Postmaster, signed by Jacob
Collamer, Postmaster General of the United States in 1849, appointing
Samuel D. Maynard Postmaster of East Haverhill.
Second: The fire department of East Haverhill is worthy of mention.
Over one hundred years ago this little village had a fire engine, then
quite a novelty, the water had to be pumped into the tub, and then
poured onto the fire; later they had another fire tub as they were
called, and in 1851 they sold the tub, and it went to Hammondsville,
Ill., and the fire engine named "The Tiger" was sent down from the
town center, and is at present the protection against fire for the
village; it is named "Protector No. 3." This Rocks Village fire
company was made up of the solid men of the town, and they responded
to calls in their own town, and before West Newbury had an engine, if
a fire broke out in that town, a quick run over the bridge, brought
them over as helpers. The company did much of this missionary work
among their neighbors on all sides.
I recently made a tour of the outlying farms, that were among the list
of early settlers, to see whether their condition, there are so many
abandoned farms, and old homesteads all over New England. As one
crosses over the bridge from West Newbury, or glides down the river in
a motor boat, one sees on a noble hill just at the left of Rocks
Village many cows feeding; this herd belongs to Mr. Fred Kimball, who
makes a specialty of milk, and he, I think has several farms. The
city proper has this milk daily carried to them by automobile trucks,
the cows are milked by machinery and the cream obtained by a
separator. Here is an instance, how in an up to date farming method,
East Haverhill is still an important part of the town. Up the main
street toward Nicholsville, the old Stuart Place looks just as it did
60 or 70 years ago. It is now owned by Mr. H.C. Atwood, one of the
firm of Atwood Bros. Grocers on Main Street in the city. The noble
old New England house still attracts the passerby by its clean white
exterior, and green blinds. Inside, modern improvements have given an
atmosphere of life with no age limit.
I remember as a boy in my teens, coming from West Newbury, over Rocks
bridge, with corn to be ground into meal, at what is now Millvale. I
remember many of the homes along the way, the brick Kimball home. The
Peaslee Garrison house, the George place where two single woman of the
George family kept house in the most immaculate New England manner.
The Robert Kelly place, the Morse place, and the Simeon George place
now owned by Mr. Ed Brickett the Real Estate man, and others which
memory calls into notice. The mills which Anthony Chase built so many
years ago are gone, but in their places, Millvale water works supply
the city of Haverhill with much of its reserve in the water line. The
old homes in the vicinity, many of them are gone, but John B. Nichols
estate built by Anthony Chase still has one, here is another instance
where the real life of the old home is kept and best of all still in
the possession of descendants.
Perhaps the home of Samuel Elliott now owned by his daughter, Mrs.
Emma Elliott Cote, and Miss Mary Elliott, is one of the best groomed
homes if the word can be applied to farms as well as people. Mrs.
Samuel Elliott was an Ayer great grand daughter of Anthony before her
marriage and four generations of the Ayer family have lived on the
estate, and the daughters have given it the name of Maternal Acres.
This old homestead is not only beautiful to look at, but far more
beautiful, when one considers the immense amount of good these ladies
are doing in the world, the liberal way they are using their money for
the good of mankind. This article is long already, but I wish to
speak of two things before closing. The name of Ayer brings to one's
notice that not far from the Whittier birthplace, lives a Mrs. Ayer
who has the distinction of being one of the fifth generations of Ayer,
to live in the same house.
In closing will say, "I took a walk along Corliss hill road, where so
many Chases were born and upon inquiry at several homes no one
remembered a Chase, not even Mr. M. Ryland Chase who moved from there
less than twenty five years ago. Thus one will see that in some
sections of New England, changes in removals or death less than a
century of time will efface the remembrance of them.
Lonnie Chase
chase1858(a)bwn.net
Will, my circumstances have changed. It now looks like I may be able to
come to the reunion, however since I wasn't expecting to be able to
come, I didn't keep any of the Reunion info. Please send me all of
everything I will need to come?
Leslie Quist
mamakitty(a)ewa.net
Note from the Chase Chronicles - April 1919
* Punctuation and spelling -verbatim, as article appeared in the
Chronicle.
**Concise statement abridged from Shattuck's History of Concord,
Published 1835
"The morning had advanced to about 7 o'clock, and the British army
were soon seen approaching the town on the Lexington road. The
glittering arms of eight hundred soldiers," the flower of the British
army " were full in view. At first it was thought best that our men
should face the enemy, as few as they were, and abide the
consequences. Of this opinion, among others, was the Rev. Wm.
Emerson, the clergyman of the town, who had turned out amongst the
first in the morning to animate and encourage his people by his
counsel and patriotic example. "Let us stand our ground," said he;
"if we die let us die then on the hill." "Let us go and meet them,"
said one to him. "No" he answered, "it will not do for us to begin
the war". They did not then know what had happened at Lexington.
Their number was very small in comparison with the enemy, and it was
concluded best to retire a short distance, and wait for
reinforcements. They consequently marched to the northern declivity
of the burying ground hill, near the present site of the court house.
They did not, however, leave their station till the British light
infantry had arrived within a few rods' distance. About this time
Col. James Barrett, who was commander of the militia, and who had been
almost incessantly engaged that morning in securing the stores, rode
up. Individuals were frequently arriving, bringing different reports.
It was difficult to obtain correct information. Under these
circumstances, he ordered the men there paraded, being about one
hundred and fifty, to march over the North Bridge, and there wait for
reinforcements. In the meantime the British troops entered the town.
The six companies of light infantry were ordered to enter on the
hill, and disperse the minute men whom they had seen paraded there.
The grenadiers came up the main road, and halted on the common. The
first object of the British was to gain possession of the North and
South Bridges, to prevent any militia from entering over them.
Accordingly, while Col. Smith remained in the center of the town, he
detached six companies of light infantry, under command of Capt.
Lawrence Parsons of his own regiment, to take possession of the North
Bridge, and proceed thence to places where stores were deposited. On
their arrival there, three companies under command of Capt. Laurie of
the 43rd regiment, were left to protect the bridge; one of those,
commanded by Lieut. Edward Thornton Gould, paraded at the bridge; the
other, of the 4th and 10th regiments, fell back in the rear towards
the hill. Capt. Parsons, with three companies, proceeded to Col.
Barrett's to destroy the stores there deposited. At the same time
Capt. Mundey Pole of the 10th regiment, was ordered to take possession
of the South Bridge, and destroy such public property as he could find
in that direction. The grenadiers and marines, under Smith and
Pitcairn remained in the center of town, where all means in their
power were used to accomplish the destruction of the military stores.
In the center of town the grenadiers broke open about 60 bbls. of
flour, nearly one half of which was afterwards saved, knocked off the
trunnions of three iron 24 lb. cannon, and burnt 16 new carriage
wheels, and a few barrels of wooden trenchers and spoons. The
Liberty -Pole on the hill was cut down, and suffered the same fate.
About 500 lbs. of balls were thrown into the mill-pond, and into
wells.
While the British were thus engaged, our citizens and part of our
military men, having secured what articles of public property they
could, were assembling under arms. Beside the minute-men and militia
of Concord, the military companies from the adjoining towns began to
assemble; and the number increased to about 250 or 300. John Robinson
of Westford, a Lt.-Col. in a regiment of minute-men, under Col. Wm.
Prescott, and other men of distinction had already assembled. The
hostile acts and formidable array of the enemy, and the burning of the
articles they had collected in the village, led them to anticipate a
general destruction. Joseph Hosmer, acting as adjutant, formed the
soldiers as they arrived singly or in squads, the minute companies on
the right, and the militia on the left, facing the town. He then,
observing an unusual amount of smoke arising from the center of the
town, went to the officers and citizens in consultation on the high
ground near by, and inquires earnestly "Will you let them burn the
town down?" They then "resolved to march into the middle of the town
to defend their homes, or die in the attempt :" and at the same time
they resolved not to fire unless first fired upon.
"They acted upon principle, and in the fear of God." Col. Barrett
immediately gave orders to march by wheeling from the right. Major
Buttrick requested Lt.-Col. Robinson to accompany him, and led them in
double file to the scene of action. When they came to the road
leading from Capt. Brown's to the bridge, a part of the Acton minute
company under Capt. Davis passed by in front, marched towards the
bridge a short distance, and halted. Being in files of two abreast,
the Concord minute company under Capt. Brown, being before at the
head, marched up the north side till they came equally in front. The
precise position, however, of each company, can-not now be fully
ascertained.
The British, observing their motions, immediately formed on the east
side of the river, and soon began to take up the planks of the bridge.
Against this Maj. Buttrick remonstrated, and ordered a quick step of
his soldiers. The British desisted. At that moment two or three guns
were fired in quick succession into the river, which the provincials
considered as alarm guns, and not aimed at them. They had arrived
within 10 or 15 rods of the bridge when a single gun was fired by a
British soldier, the ball from which passing under Col. Robinson's arm
slightly wounded the side of Luther Blanchard a fifer in the Acton
company, and Jonas Brown, one of the Concord minute-men. This gun was
instantly followed by a volley, by which Capt. Isaac Davis and Abner
Hosmer, both belonging to Acton, were killed.
On seeing this, Maj. Buttrick instantly leaped from the ground, and
partly turning to his men, exclaimed: "Fire, fellow-soldiers, for
God's sake, fire." discharging his own gun almost in the same instant.
His order was instantly obeyed; and a general discharge from the whole
line of the provincial ranks took place. Firing on both sides
continued a few minutes. Three British soldiers were killed, and
Lieuts. Sunderland, Kelley and Gould, a sergeant and four privates
were wounded. The British immediately retreated about half way to the
meeting house, and were met by two companies of grenadiers, who had
been drawn hither by "the noise of the battle." Two of the soldiers
killed at the bridge were left on the ground, where they were
afterwards buried by Zachariah Brown, and Thomas Davis, jun. From
this time through the day, little or no military order was preserved
among the provincials; every man chose his own time and mode of
attack. It was between 10 and 11 o'clock when the fire at the bridge
took place, and a short time after Capt. Parsons and his party
returned unmolested from Col. Barrett's.
By this time the provincials had considerably increased, and were
constantly arriving from the neighboring towns. The British had but
partially accomplished the objects of their expedition; but they now
begin to feel that they were in danger, and resolved on an immediate
retreat. They retreated in the same order as they entered town, the
infantry on the hill and the grenadiers in the road, but with flanking
parties more numerous and farther from the main body. On arriving at
Merriam's corner they were attacked by the provincials, who had
proceeded across the great fields in conjunction with a company from
Reading under command of Gov. Brooks. Several of the British were
killed and several wounded. From this time the road was literally
lined with provincials whose accurate aim generally produced the
desired effect. Guns were fired from every house, barn, wall or
covert. After they had waylaid the enemy and fired upon them from one
position, they fell back from the road, ran forward, and came up again
to perform a similar maneuver.
Notes from the Chase Chronicle -Apr. 1919- Part 2.
** The following is an extract from the diary of Rev. Wm. Emerson:
"1775, 19 April. This morning, between 1 and 2 o'clock, we were
alarmed by the ringing of the bell, and upon examination found that
the troops, to the number of 800, had stolen their march from Boston,
in boats and barges, from the bottom of the common over to a point in
Cambridge, near to Inman's Farm. And were at Lexington meeting-house
half an hour before sunrise, where they had fired upon a body of our
men, and, as we afterward heard, had killed several. This
intelligence was brought to us first by Dr. Samuel Prescott who
narrowly escaped the guard that were sent before on horses, purposely
to prevent all posts and messengers from giving us timely information.
He, by the help of a very fleet horse, crossing several walls and
fences, arrived at Concord at the time above mentioned, when several
posts were immediately dispatched, that returning confirmed the
account of the regular's arrival at Lexington, and that they were on
their way to Concord. Upon this, a number of our minute -men
belonging to this town, and Acton and Lincoln, with several others
that were in readiness, marched out to meet them, while the alarm
company were preparing to receive them in town. Capt. Minot, who
commanded them, thought it proper to take possession of the hill above
the meeting -house as the most advantageous situation. No sooner had
our men gained it, than we were met by the companies that were sent
out to meet the troops, who informed us that they were just upon us,
and that we must retreat as their number was more than treble ours.
We then retreated from the hill near the Liberty-Pole, and took a new
post back of the town, upon an eminence, where we formed into two
battalions, and waited the arrival of the enemy. Scarcely had we
formed , before we saw the British troops, at a distance of a half a
mile, glittering in arms, advancing towards us with the greatest
celerity. Some were for making a stand, notwithstanding the
superiority of their number; but others, more prudent, thought best to
retreat, till our strength should be equal to the enemy's by recruits
from neighboring towns that were continually coming in to our
assistance. Accordingly we retreated over the bridge. The troops
came into the town, set fire to several carriages for the artillery,
destroyed sixty barrels of flour, rifled several houses, took guard
of a hundred men at the North Bridge, and sent up a party to the house
of Col. Barrett, where they were in expectation of finding there a
quantity of warlike stores. But these were happily secured, just
before their arrival, by transportation into the woods and other
by-places. In the meantime the guard set by the enemy to secure the
posts at the North Bridge were alarmed by the approach of our people,
who had retreated, as mentioned before, and were now advancing, with
special orders not to fire on the troops unless fired upon. These
orders were so punctually observed, that we received the fire of the
enemy in three several and separate discharges of their pieces before
it was returned by our commanding officer. The firing then soon
became general for several minutes, in which skirmish two were killed
on each side and several of the enemy wounded. It may here be
observed, by the way, that we were the more cautious to prevent
beginning a rupture with the King's troops, as we were then uncertain
what had happened at Lexington and knew (not) that they had begun the
quarrel there by firing upon our people, and killing eight men upon
the spot. The three companies of troops soon quitted their post at
the bridge, and retreated in the greatest disorder and confusion to
the main body, who were soon upon the march to meet them. For half
and hour, the enemy, by their marches and continuous marches,
discovered great fickleness and inconstancy of mind; sometimes
advancing, sometimes returning to their former posts, till at length
they quitted the town, and retreated by the way they came. In the
meantime a party of our men (150) took the back way, through the Great
Fields, into the east quarter, and had placed themselves to advantage,
lying in ambush behind walls, fences and buildings, ready to fire upon
the enemy on their retreat."
In his History of Concord, Shattuck says, under date of 1777, "Efforts
were often made, during the Revolution, to regulate the prices of
labor and merchandise. In 1777, a committee, chosen by the town for
the purpose reported the prices of various kinds of common labor, etc.
etc. All who varied from these established prices were prosecuted,
and treated as enemies." I have before me the original records of the
doings of that committee, kept by the secretary, Nathan Snow. It read
as follows: The prices of the necessaries, as fixed by the Selectmen
and Committee of Correspondence etc., of Concord, as ordered by the
great and General Court of this State, in an amendment of the late act
entitled 'an act to prevent monopoly and oppression.' "
Then follow the prices in shillings and pence, six shillings being
equivalent to a silver dollar. "Farm labor, 3s. 8d., per day;
Carpenter's wages , 3s 10d., per day; Cordwainers; Men's shoes of the
best sort, 8s.; Women's shoes, 6s. 4d., per pair; Making men's and
women's shoes finding thread, wax and heels, 3s. 6d., per pair, and
smaller sizes in like proportions. Women's labor: Spinning linen,
5d., per skein, 14 knotted; and other spinning in proportion: Weaving
plain common cloth, yard wide, 4 pence half penny per yard; Striped
ditto, 5 pence per yard. Woolen, ell (** from dictionary it states:
"A measure of length now rarely used: in England, 45 inches or 1.114
meters.)
wide, 5 pence half penny per yard. Good oak wood, 13s. 4d., per
cord. Good split pine wood, 10s., per cord. Charcoal, 4 pence half
penny per bushel. Live shoats, 3 pence half penny per pound. Pigs,
under two months, (?) per pound. (This piece was torn off.) Horse
hire, 3 pence half penny per mile, to ride out. (That is, on horse
back.) To go in Chaise, 4 pence per mile out. Chaise hire, 3 pence
per mile out. Good upper leather, hides weighing 55 lbs., green, well
tanned and curried. (sic?), 34 s., per hide, ($5.67); and other hides
in proportion, according to their weight. Good calf skins, weighing
10 lbs., green, well tanned and curried, 9s., and other skins in like
proportion, according to their weight. Best plain saddles, complete
with crouper, etc. 4 L. Double, or full welted saddles, 4 L. 6s. A
good bridle, with good common bitt (sic.) 6s. and other work in the
saddlers way, in like proportion. Entertainment: keeping a horse, or
a pair of oxen a night, or 24 hours with good English hay, 2s., or
grass in a good pasture, 1s. 8d.. Oating a horse with 2 quarts of
oats, 4 pence. Dining a man with a good common boiled dish, 1s.
Boiled or roasted meat, 1s. 4d. Good common supper or breakfast or
coffee or chocolate with good toast, 1s. If meat with the same, 1s.
4d., and a supper or breakfast of bread and milk, 6 pence. Flip or
toddy of West India rum, or other spirits, not to exceed 1s., per mug.
Flip or toddy made of good New England rum or other spirit distilled
in New England , 10 pence per mug, and larger quantities of mixed
liquors in like proportion. Butter by the firkin (* dictionary says a
wooden vessel to hold butter or lard.. yes, I looked it up. Some of
these words I have never seen before, much less known the correct
usage!!
Hope you folks find this interesting. I do! Maryetta) 9 pence a
lb., 11 pence by the single lb. Milk 2 pence per qt. Rye or rye
meal, 5s. 8d., per bushel. Indian corn or meal, 3s. 8d., per bushel.
Dressing woolen cloth, twice shaving, not dying the same, 5 pence 3
farthings per yard. Ditto ,(*I can find no reference for this word,
in the manner used) with dear color, dressed in the best manner, not
to exceed 1s. 6d., per yard. Shoeing a horse round with plain shoes,
6s. ($1.00) Moving shoes, and setting round with plain shoes, 1s. 4d.
Ox shoeing in proportion to showing (sic.?) a horse according to the
usual custom as heretofore practiced. A good ax, 10s. Laying an ax,
6s. 6d. All other smithing work in like proportion. Salted pork, 9
pence per lb. (This price for salt pork at first surprised me; but
seeing upon another paper, the price of salt at that time, 7s., per
bushel, it explained it). Mutton, hind quarters, 4 pence per lb.,
fore quarters, 3 pence half penny per lb. Cheese, 5 pence per lb.,
this year's make.
The paper is dated, Concord, June 9, 1777.
*Note from the Chase Chronicles -April 1919 Part # 3
Extracts from account book, kept by Daniel Wood.
Let me quote a few extracts from an old account book kept by my
grandfather, Daniel Wood. He donned his freedom suit Oct. 23, 1781,
and immediately after started in business for himself. The book
covered a period of six years, from his becoming of age, to the time
of his going with Capt. Brown's company in 1786-7, to suppress
"Shay's Rebellion." This book shows that at lease one man followed
pretty closely the prices fixed by the selectmen, and committee of
safety in 1777. As a specimen of bookkeeping, it is certainly unique.
As a rule, in ordinary bookkeeping the third person is used; but in
this, the first person is used, the creditor addressing the debtor
personally, thus:
Taking the account of Charles Miles, a butcher,
Capt. Charles Miles to me Dr. Charles a pair made 3sh.
8d.
Samuel a pair mended
1sh. 4d.
Your shoes mended
1sh. 4d.
Ruth and Polly a pair
7sh. 2d.
Mrs. Miles a pair
3sh. 8d.
Mr. Ezra Ripley, Dr., to me Your boots fixed
7sh.
Billy Emerson a pair made
3sh. 8d.
A pair of girl's shoes made
3sh. 4d.
Yourself a pair made
3sh. 8d.
A pair of little shoes mended
10d.
The little Negro's shoes mended
1sh. 2d.
Billy a pair soled
1sh. 2d.
Mrs. Ripley a pair mended
1sh. 4d.
Phebe a pair mended
1sh. 2d.
("Billy was Ralph Waldo Emerson's father.)
Account of Peter Wheeler: at random we will take his account for April
1806. The articles bought are as follows: 1 lb. coffee, 1 gal. N.E.
rum, 1 iron shovel, 1 gal. W.I rum, 1 gal. N.E. rum, 1/2 peck salt, 1
qt. brandy, 1 gal. W.I. rum, 1 lb. coffee, 1 gal. W.I. rum. All this
in the month of April. Of course, Mr. Wheeler did not drink all this
himself, as at that time, he kept a good many men at work for him, and
bought his rum by the gallon. But he was a hard drinker, and kept a
still harder set of men at work for him. Although at one time one of
the richest and most successful business men in the town, and a member
of the Social Circle, he died in poverty.
Dr. Prescott's account beginning June 1, 1805: 2 qts, rum, 3 oz.
snuff, 2 lbs. sugar, 1/4th lb. of tea, 1 pt. gin, 1 gill rum, 3 3/4's
yds. silk, 2 qts. rum, 1/4 lb. tea, 2 1/2 oz. snuff, 1 sk. silk, 2
qts. W.I. rum, 1/4 lb. tea, 2 lbs. sugar, 1 lb. candles, 2 qts. rum,
1/4 lb. hyson tea, 2 lbs. sugar, 1/2 doz. lemons, 1 bottle snuff, 3
pts. rum, 5 lemons. All this from the 1st to 17th of the month, and a
fair average for the year.
Dr. Hurd's account, May 3, 1805: 5 qts. molasses, 1 qt. W.I. rum, 1
qt. N.E. rum, 7 lbs. sugar, 1 qt. wine, 1 qt. N.E. rum, 1 qt. rum, 1
qt. wine, 1 qt. N.E. rum, 1 qt. W.I. rum, 1 qt. molasses. All these
charges from 3rd to 24th. A fair average of his account through the
book.
Rev. Dr. Ripley's account for November 1810: 1 gal. N.E. rum, 1 gal.
wine, 1 gal. W.I. rum, 2 mackerel, 4 lbs. cotton wool, 1 gal. W.I.
rum, 2 lbs. coffee. For November, 4 gals. of liquor!
These extracts are fair samples of the whole book. The word "rum"
appears oftener than every third line. Farmers, "butchers, bakers and
candle makers", ministers, doctors and all used it at about the same
rate.
Transcribed by Maryetta, my wife, my companion, - my secretary?
Note from the Chase Chronicle - July 1916
DEACON SETH CHASE OF MANLIUS HILL, SUTTON.
Eliot's Praying Indians. The Goose Church, Grafton.
"In the examination of the will of Ensign Moses (2) of West Newbury,
there are two bequests that have a far reaching significance. One is
to his youngest son Benoni and the other to his grandson Seth who was
the son of Moses Jr. and Elizabeth Wells. The first bequest seemed to
be a son's portion: the bequest to Seth was "a reward for his faithful
service done me in my age." Seth had married Elizabeth Bartlett, who
was a sister of Judith, the wife of his brother Moses. When the
veteran became quite old he went to live with his grandson Seth, whose
home was on the land owned by the Ensign. It was some years before I
could understand the nature of these bequests. The Ensign was a great
land owner. Not only did he own various parcels in and adjoining
Newbury, but he owned a large tract in a place where there is no
evidence that he ever even visited. In what is now the town of Sutton,
Mass., south of Worcester, he owned a large tract of nearly three
hundred acres, and he gave to Benoni 130 acres and to Seth an equal
amount. This was more than sixty miles from his home and I think he
never visited the property. Naturally then, years ago, I was curious
to know more of this unknown country.
Two revelations came from an examination of old deeds. One was that
Ensign owned also another large tract in the extreme western end of
Sutton, while the land he had given to Benoni and Seth was at the
farthest eastern end five or six miles away. Bought at different
times, shows that he was satisfied with his first purchase, and that
he wanted more; and yet I cannot find any clue that he ever visited
either place. My curiosity as a genealogist led me to go to the places
in person, and the results were as vivid as when years before that, I
faced the mossy stone of "Ensign Moses" in the Ferry Lane Yard of West
Newbury, and then the secluded grave and stone of Ann Follansbee his
first wife, on Sawyer's Hill, buried three miles apart.
How did the great land owner happen to buy so much land in Sutton. One
of the first settlers in Sutton was Abel Chase, descendant of Thomas,
the brother of Ensign Moses. He established in the western part of the
town on or near Ram's Horn Pond, The first triphammer, and was a maker
of scythes, and a dealer in iron works of various kinds. He doubtless
sent back word to Newbury of the superior advantages of his new home
and of its great possibilities. Another Chase, viz. Philip, son of
John, all related, went to Sutton and doubtless his reports excited
others, for several of their kinsman migrated, and Ensign Moses with
keen foresight bought land and looked ahead for his reward. Soon after
the death of Ensign, Benoni and Seth went to their new home on Manlius
Hill at the eastern edge of Sutton.
It was rather a hard outlook. The high hill was well wooded and had to
be cleared. Neighbors were few and the advantages were scant. But
these men made a home there, and I have found the cellar and the well
where Seth lived until his death, Sept. 24, 1791. The graves of Seth
and Elizabeth are in the Little Dodge Cemetery near by; two good
substantial stones stand at their graves.
At the bottom of the hill to-day is the manufacturing village of
Saundersville on the Blackstone River: not far removed is Fisherville
with its larger village and mills. To the west on the river is
Wilkinsonville, and nearby is the pleasant home of our kinsman, Louis
E. Chase, and for more than a mile the houses of various kinsman of
our line, stand along or nearby the river opposite this hill in the
town of Sutton. The boundaries of the two towns have varied at times,
but in a general way Grafton is on the north side of the river and
Sutton on the south.
The object of this article is not to show the history of either town,
but to bring out certain points that may indicate the relation of both
towns to Deacon Seth Chase and the connected history. keep in mind
that in his home near the top of Manilas Hill, there has never been a
village or any special enterprise; no meeting house, nor school very
near nothing but a plain farm, an ordinary house, but a well ordered
home with both parents of good ideals and children whose career is in
every way worthy of good parental discipline.
As in most cases, the school was of a primitive character and situated
nowhere near the farm. The Sunday service was even farther away; the
nearest meeting house was at the "center" some 3 or 4 miles to the
westward. As we look backward we wonder more and more at the sturdy
growth of our ancestors, which had so little of encouragement in piety
or education. But from these hillside homes have come the men and
women whose memory we cherish and delight to honor.
It was a hundred years before the time we are describing when Rev.
John Eliot, of Roxbury, established his missions to the Indians. In
1647 he began his work in Ponkapoag in what is known as Milton or
Canton, Mass., and also at Natick, and at what is now Grafton, near
the river in 1680-90. The site of the Indian Mission is plainly seen
today. The map shows it. In the enclosure is a boulder stating in
substance that here was the site of the work of John Eliot and his
praying Indians.
The burying ground of these people is here and a few fragments of
stones are to be seen. In another part of the town is a locality,
somewhat of the same nature, where it is claimed a second mission was
established. From the top of Manlius Hill we can look down upon this
burying place near the river and see today what remains of as true a
missionary spirit and of successful work, as any that is heralded in
our times.
A few days ago only I visited the old Indian Cemetery of Eliot, and
his Indians. In going to a place like this new light comes to you
every time, and thinking that some of out readers might like to know a
little more of the details of this place I would say that on the side
of the road which runs down from a little hillock towards the
Quinsigamond River on a hillock which stands up as if it were upheaved
from the surrounding conditions, there is a lot perhaps 60 feet square
where there is a large boulder, and in the face of the boulder is cut
the following inscription:
"Eliot's Band of
Praying Indians
1690."
In this lot there are projections of perhaps ten or twelve stones that
are said to be the markers for the Indian Graves. The supposition
seems natural enough as they stand up four to six inches, dotted here
and there through the little enclosure, one larger one having
evidently worked up from the sand and is standing by the boulder.
There is no inscription upon it. The front of the cemetery is raised a
little from the road that runs by it , and has a rude pair of stone
steps so that a person can ascend from the lower level. The outlook in
every direction is very beautiful. If Rev. Eliot chose this place for
its beauty, he did well, but at the time it was covered undoubtedly
with the forest trees; to-day it is the center of beautifully
cultivated estates, and from the front you can look over to Sutton and
Manlius Hill, and Leland Hill. From the rear you can look toward the
winding Quinsigamond, and the site of the old Goose Neck Church. A
whirl of autos rushes by all the time; it is a traveled road, and a
good one, but the cemetery itself is serene and quiet as befits the
resting place of those noble people.
The old meeting house is about one and one-half miles north of the
Blackstone, near the Quinsigamond. Probably the earliest of the
churches in the section, other than the original parish, which was the
town itself constituting one parish. Now, in 1758 Baptist preachers
occasionally visited the town. In 1767, June 17, a Baptist Society was
formed and after holding meetings at the homes of the people a parish
was formed with a church, and was recognized by neighboring ministers
and churches. It was called the First Baptist Church, popularly and
with some derision called the "Goose Neck Church." Our only point is
not so much what it was called or why, as that out kinsman Seth Chase
became its Deacon. I have been unable to find any reference in Newbury
to his being a Baptist and my conclusion is that to this new
enterprise he felt it his duty to help along the cause of religion
with a church so near his home intimately connected with the people in
the eastern section of Sutton. It is true that though there was no
Baptist church near his home in Newbury, there was a strong preference
among many families towards the practice of immersion. Several of the
Chases became about this time members of the Baptist Communion in
Amesbury and Salisbury, and in Newtown adjoining. But before many
years after its formation this Goose Church came into trouble through
the defection of its minister who withdrew with perhaps a majority of
the congregation to a part of the town near Upton and there attempted
to carry on their work. But a short time elapsed before the new
enterprise crumbled away. A paper exists as a matter of record giving
the names of those who remained steadfast, and the present Baptist
Church in Grafton was constituted largely from those who adhered to
the principles of evangelical religion, and among the names of the
faithful we find Seth, Bradford, and Josiah Chase; and among the
females, Elizabeth, Abigail, Hannah, and Elizabeth Jr.
To the date of his death, in 1791, Deacon Seth evidently was connected
with the Baptist Church in Grafton, but the records of the new or
reorganized church do not show his election as Deacon.
Our estate of this good man would be that though his days in a quiet
and uneventful way, he was a men honored of God, who in his day and
generation stood for all that was righteous.
Seth and Elizabeth took leave of old friends and scenes in Newbury and
going by crude conveyance to a new country. The many years of
struggling to make a new home; the bringing a family up under so many
privations; The lonely burying ground, where this couple have rested
peacefully for 125 years and more. Surely we view the whole story with
thanks for lives so full of solemnity to those of us who remain.
It may be well to give a short account of the family of Deacon Seth
Chase. His son Nathan was the executor of his estate; and he married a
second time, when quite old, the widow Abigail Marsh, March 17, 1788.
She was then 70 years old, and had been married four times and
outlived Deacon Seth a little while. She is said to have been the
first white child born in the town of Sutton. Evidently Abigail was
not much in favor with the rest of the family, for within a day or two
of his death, there is a paper dated whereby it says, - Received of
Nathan Chase, the whole of my household furniture that I brought with
me when married to my late husband Seth Chase deceased, and all other
articles in full to my content and satisfaction, according to an
agreement made between my late husband and myself. I say received by
me.
Abigail (X) Chase.
Signed with a cross.
Evidently Abigail took her things and parted company with the other
members of the family at once. There is no record of her death or
burial."
Lonnie Chase
chase1858(a)bwn.net
Note from the Chase Chronicle - Jul. 1916
ASA CHASE 1765 - 1842
"About one hundred years ago, Asa Chase and his wife Hannah
(Mitchell ) living in Portland, Maine, "had their profiles cut," as
the phrase was then, and the little black silhouettes were framed in
fine gilt and hung under the looking glass in the best room. Hannah,
(with an ancestry that reached back to experience Mitchell, Isaac
Allerton and Robert Cushman,) died in 1818, but Asa, with a second
wife, (A distant cousin named Sarah Chase) lived on till October 18,
1842, when a grandson, now living, was old enough to attend his
funeral. He remembers that his grandfather's hair was white and short
and brushed up straight from his forehead, but twenty-five years
before the queue had not gone by.
"Ma would braid it till it was nice and smooth and tie it with a
black ribbon," the daughter, left motherless at eight years, would
tell her children. And, after a hundred years, the black profiles in
their spotted and tarnished frames, hang face to face on their
granddaughter's wall in Portland, Oregon!
Were these people who wore braided queues and had their profiles cut,
like us? - we often ask, and the answer has to be, "we only wish we
were like them."
Dr. William Chase (Wells, Moses Jr., Ensign Moses, Aquila) had gone
from Amesbury, Mass., as a young man and had settled in the
coast-lines of North Yarmouth, in the distant Province of Maine. Here
Asa, his second child, was born on Dec. 22, 1765, and here, when he
was twenty-six years old, he joined the church which worshipped in the
historic "Meeting House below the ledge." In 1794 he was one of 134
heads of families, mainly in the western part of the town, who
petitioned the Legislature to set off as a new parish. Twenty of these
men had already "signed a covenant" or had organized as a new church
under the name of the North-West Religious Society of North Yarmouth,
a church which survives to day as the first church of Cumberland,
Maine; and Asa Chase was not only one of the twenty charter members ,
but one of the three deacons chosen at its organization. This new
church at once received thirteen members, mostly wives and daughters
and then among these names of those joining it by profession of faith,
in 1794, we find that of Hannah Mitchell, the young lady of
twenty-five who was soon to marry the young Asa Chase.
Now, though very orthodox and very pious, they were also very human
and determined; and when Hannah's brother Seth, a jovial tavern
keeper, vowed that his sister's marriage should be celebrated by a
dance in his ballroom, Asa, the deacon, and Hannah the young convert,
slipped off for a sleigh-ride on New Year's morning, 1795, came back
as Mr. and Mrs. Chase - and the ball never came off!
By every memory and tradition, Asa Chase was a very Godly man,
saturated with the Bible, with an amiable and lordly character. His
daughter used to tell how as children they all stood around the table
at every meal while" Pa asked the blessing. and stood again at the
close of the meal while "Pa returned thanks." Asa Chase was a trader
in a small way, a village store-keeper, much more successful in laying
up treasures in heaven than on earth. But his character was recognized
in his native town, and in 1810 he was sent as " Representative to the
General Court at Boston," for Maine was not an independent State till
ten years later. There are still a few relics of these prosperous time
left in the family, - a few pieces of china, and notably a white
brocade silk shawl, soft and fringed, evidently oriental, bought for
the beloved Hannah, worn by daughter and granddaughter to slip over
her shoulders on a cool summer night. Following the death of his
oldest child, of "putrid fever" - doubtless diphtheria - Dea. Chase
moved to Portland in 1813 and became a member of the second parish
whose Pastor was the celebrated Dr. Payson. And when in 1825 it seemed
best for the "the hive to swarm" and found a new church a little
further up town, thirty-five people were set off for a third parish,
and the name of Asa Chase leads all the rest.
There is but little else to tell about the dear old man. There had
been eleven children, but four of them had died in infancy, and five
in early adult life, unmarried. The great family had struggled along
during the hard years of the embargo and "the late war!" only to die
one by one, three of them by consumption! One son and one daughter
lived to marry, and in October 18, 1892, Asa Chase died, an old man of
seventy-seven, (Though his grandsons as old and older do not call
themselves old men!)
and his body was laid to rest in the Eastern Cemetery of Portland,
Maine.
To be a founder of two churches, a member of the General Court, and as
"good as gold" - not a wonderful record surely, but one for
grandchildren to hold in loving remembrance.
E. McL. R.
Portland, Oregon
_______________________________
Lonnie Chase
chase1858(a)bwn.net
Can another cousin chime in? The above names all show up in my family,
also. I am from the John, Isaac, Isaac, Berry, Eli, Eli, Mary CHASE line.
I would very much like to compare notes with you other researchers, as I
have very little information on the DOANE family and would love to fill out
some details.
By the way, are any of you planning on attending the CHASE Reunion in Salt
Lake City in June? My sister, Jan from Oregon, and I are planning to be
there. Hope we might really get to meet some of our unknown cousins and it
would be a great time to compare notes and get personal feedback.
I have printed out a lot of resource material, but have very little personal
knowledge of the family. It is so far back that almost all we have is other
peoples's written work. Will look forward to hearing from some of you -
please post to the list, as I amsure that many more "cousins" are hiding in
the woodwork.
Jeanne T. Lane
GmaLane(a)msn.com