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Thursday,   August  30,   1900 

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Newburyport,         Massachusetts 


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OLD  CHASE    HOUSES    IN    WEST    NEWBURY. 
Mentions:  Pagi       LS  AN]     I' 


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First  Reunion 


of 


The    Chase-Chace   Family 

Association 


N  La/  :• 


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7^  v 


THURSDAY,  AUGUST   30,    1900 


AT 


Newburyport,  Mass. 


IIIK  CHASE  PRESS 
II  VVERHILL,   M  VSS  iCHUSE  II  S 

L90] 


\4 


BY-LAWS  OF  THE  ASSOCIATION. 


Article  I.  Name.  This  organization  shall  be  called  The  Chase- 
Chace  Family  Association. 

Article  II.  Object.  The  object  of  the  Association  is  to  stimu- 
late interest  in  the  family  history  and  aid  in  its  compilation  and  publi- 
cation, and  to  promote  social  intercourse  among  the  members. 

Article  III.  Officers.  The  officers  of  the  Association  shall  be  a 
President,  three  or  more  Vice  Presidents,  Secretary-Treasurer,  one  or 
more  Historians  and  an  Executive  Committee  of  three  or  more,  of 
which  the  President  and  Secretary  shall  be  members,  ex-officio.  The 
officers  shall  be  elected  at  the  regular  meetings  of  the  Association  and 
shall  severally  perform  the  duties  incident  to  the  positions  which  they 
hold. 

Article  IV.  Membership  and  Fee.  Any  person  interested  in 
the  objects  of  the  Association  may  become  a  member  by  the  payment 
of  the  sum  of  two  dollars  to  the  Treasurer,  who  will  issue  a  member- 
ship receipt  for  the  same. 

Article  V.  Meetings.  Meetings  shall  be  held  annually,  if  practi- 
cable, at  such  time  and  place  as  the  Executive  Committee  may  select. 

Article  VI.     Amendments.     These  By-Laws  may  be  amended  by 

a  majority  vote  at  any  meeting  of  the  Association. 


Q 


-C 


THE  CHASE -CHACE  FAMILY 
ASSOCIATION. 


Incorporated  at  Hartford,  Conn .,  July  6th,  J  899. 


President. 

JOHN  C.  CHASE,  Derry,  N.  H. 

Vice=Presidents. 

Charles  E.  Chase,  Worcester,  Mass. 


Edward  O.  Chase, 
(  Ieorge  W.  Chase, 
Caleb  Chase, 
William   M.  Chase, 


Chicago,  III. 

Pawling,  N.  Y. 

Boston,  Mass. 

Concord,  N.  H. 


Historians. 

Mrs.  M.  L.  C.  Smith,  Hartford,  Conn. 

Of  the  Aquila  line. 
Rev.  William  A.  Eardelev, 

466  State  Street,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
Of  the  other  lines. 


Secretary -Treasurer. 

OMAR  P.  CHASE,  Andover,  Mass. 

Executive  Committee. 

George  L.  Chase,  Hartford,  Conn. 

Russell  S.  Taft,  Burlington,  Vt. 

Joseph  E.  Chase,  Holyoke,  Mass. 

Mrs.  Isabella  S.  Lounsberry, 

Hartford,  Conn. 
George   F.  CHACE,  Taunton,  Mass. 

Josiah  G.  Chwse,  Cambridge,  Mass. 

Mrs.  Caroline  Atkinson,  Springfield,  Mass. 


The  Chase-Chace  Family  Association  was  organized  at  Hartford, 
Conn.,  July  (>,  1899,  its  object  being  to  incite  interest  and  aid  in  com- 
piling and  publishing  a  genealogical  history  of  the  family. 

Will  you  not  assist  in  this  undertaking  by  becoming  a  member  of 
the  Association,  and  furnishing  such  data  relating  to  the  family  as  may 
be  in  your  possession  ? 

It  is  hoped  that  a  prompt  and  gratifying  response  may  be  made  to 
this  appeal,  in  order  that  the  long  delayed  work  of  publishing  the 
history  of  a  noted  family  may  be  prosecuted  to  an  early  and  successful 
conclusion. 


4  THE  CHASE-CHACE   IAM1I.Y  ASSOCIATION. 

It  is  also  earnestly  desired  that  any  who  do  not  feel  like  rendering 
financial  aid,  by  becoming  members  of  the  Association,  will  not  fail  to 
send  their  own  family  records,  that  the  work  may  be  made  as  complete 
as  possible. 

The  membership  fee  has  been  fixed  at  two  dollars  ;  no  future 
annual  payments  being  required.  Membership  fees  should  be  sent  to 
the  Treasurer,  who  will  return  receipts  therefor.  Genealogical  data 
may  be  sent  to  either  of  the  Historians,  if  those  sending  have  any 
doubt  in  regard  to  the  line  to  which  they  may  belong. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  the  New  England  Historic  Genealogical 
Association  and  George  Bigelow  Chase,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  the  Association 
has  been  permitted  to  copy  a  large  collection  made  by  the  latter,  and 
has  also  obtained  possession  of  the  collections  made  by  the  late  Dr. 
John  B.  Chace  of  Taunton,  Mass.,  and  the  late  Benjamin  Chase  of 
Auburn,  N.  H. 

Those  who  become  members  of  the  Association  will  be  furnished 
with  their  family  lines,  if  desired,  without  charge,  if  they  appear  in  the 
records  which  have  been  or  may  be  collected. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  Association  will  be  held  August  30,  1900, 
at  ten  o'clock  a.  m.,  in  the  Unitarian  Church,  Newburyport,  Mass.  A 
cordial  invitation  to  attend  is  extended  to  all  members  of  the  family  and 
its  collateral  branches ;  also  to  any  who  are  interested  in  the  work  of 
the  Association.  Those  intending  to  be  present  are  requested  to  give 
timely  notice  to  the  Secretary. 

JOHN  C.  CHASE, 

President. 

Omar  P.  Chase, 

Secretary. 


FIRST  REUNION. 


The  Chase  -Chace  Family  Association, 

NEWBURYPORT,  MASS.,  AUGUST  30,  1900. 


The  first  reunion  of  the  Chase-Chace  Family  Association  was  held 
in  the  historic  Meeting  House  of  the  First  Religious  Sociaty  in  New- 
buryport,  Mass.,  Thursday,  August  30,  1900. 

In  the  preceding  month,  over  seven  thousand  circulars  were  sent 
out  announcing  the  organization  of  the  Association  and  its  objects,  the 
names  of  those  to  whom  the  circulars  were  sent  being  obtained  from 
city  directories,  and  from  the  records  in  the  possession  of  the  Historians 
of  the  Association.  A  copy  of  the  circular  appears  on  the  preceding 
pages  as  a  matter  of  record  and  for  the  information  of  those  who  did 
not  happen  to  receive  it. 

While  it  could  hardly  be  expected  that  more  than  a  small  portion 
of  those  notified  could  be  present,  the  response  by  letter  and  in  person 
was  very  gratifying,  nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  being  in  attendance, 
although  but  few  more  than  one-half  of  the  number  registered  as 
belonging  to  the  family. 

The  day  of  the  meeting  was  exceptionally  fine,  and  it  was  assumed 
that  Providence  as  well  as  nature  was  smiling  upon  die  venture  of 
launching  another  family  association. 

Although  the  hour  of  meeting  was  set  for  ten  o'clock,  many  came 
an  hour  earlier  and  pleasantly  passed  the  time  in  making  and  renewing 
acquaintances,  sociability  without  formality  being  the  order  of  the  day. 

Shortly  after  the  hour  set  for  beginning  the  exercises,  the  President 
called  to  order,  and  the  audience  joined  in  singing  the  opening  hymn 


6  THE  CHASE-CHACE  FAMILY  ASSOCIATION. 

to  the  grand  old  tune  of  Hamburg,  played  by  Miss  Alice  Louise  Chase 
of  Medina,  N.  Y.,  the  organist  of  the  day.  The  hymn  was  a  selection 
contributed  by  Mr.  Charles  Estes  of  Warren,  R.  I.,  who  was  unable  to 
be  present,  and  was  sent  in  response  to  a  request  for  a  poem. 


OPENINC  HYMN. 

Two  hundred  years  !     Two  hundred  years  ! 

How  much  of  human  power  and  pride, 
What  glorious  hopes,  what  gloomy  fears, 

Have  sunk  beneath  their  noiseless  tide  ! 

'Tis  like  a  dream  when  one  awakes  — 
This  vision  of  the  scenes  of  old 

'Tis  like  the  noon  when  morning  breaks 
'Tis  like  a  tale  round  watch-fires  told. 

Cod  of  our  fathers,  in  whose  sight 
The  thousand  years  that  sweep  away 

Man,  and  the  traces  of  his  might 
Are  but  the  break  and  close  of  day. 

Grant  us  that  love  of  truth  sublime, 
That  love  of  goodness  and  of  Thee, 

Which  makes  thy  children,  in  all  time 
To  share  thine  own  eternity. 


Rev.  Horace  C.  Hovey,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  Old  South  Church. 
Newburyport,  then  offered  the  following  prayer  : 

All  wise  and  eternal  Cod,  who  art  from  everlasting  to  everlasting, 
we  come  into  Thy  presence  believing  in  Thee  and  trusting  in  Thee  as 
our  fathers'  and  as  our  God.  One  generation  passeth  away  and  another 
generation  cometh,  but  the  Lord  abideth  forever. 

We  pray  that  Thou  wilt  bless  the  family  reunions  that  are  being 
held  at  this  delightful  season  of  the  year  in  many  parts  of  our  country, 
and  as  the  children  meet  to  rehearse  the  deeds  of  the  fathers  and 
mothers  and   to   recount    their   struggles   and   triumphs,  may   their  own 


FIRST  REUNION,  NEWBURYPORT,  MASS.  7 

patriotism  be  rekindled  with  new  zeal.      May  their  love  for  God  and 
home  and  native  land  be  stronger,  purer  and  better  than  before. 

Wilt  thou  bless  all  the  different  branches  of  this  great  family  bear- 
ing the  name  of  Chase,  and  those  who  are  represented  here  to-day, 
either  personally  or  by  correspondence,  and  may  all  that  is  said  and 
done  here  to-day  be  to  Thine  honor  and  glory,  while  it  is  to  the  ad- 
vantage, welfare  and  prosperity  of  Thy  people. 

Closing  with  the  Lord's  Prayer. 


The  President  stated  that  up  to  a  late  hour  on  the  preceding 
day,  when  the  copy  for  the  programme  had  to  be  sent  to  the  printer,  it 
was  not  positively  known  that  any  of  the  lineage  would  be  present  to 
officiate  in  a  clerical  capacity.  In  this  extremity  an  appeal  was  made 
to  Rev.  Dr.  Hovey,  and,  although  due  at  a  Sunday  School  picnic  of  his 
church,  he  had  kindly  consented  to  come  to  our  relief.  An  invitation 
to  address  the  meeting  was  graciously  responded  to  as  follows  : 


ADDRESS  BY  REV.  DR.  HOVEY. 


Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Chase  Family  : 

It  gives  me  very  great  pleasure  to  be  invited  by  your  President 
to  take  part  in  any  way  in  a  family  reunion  of  this  nature,  particularly 
as  some  of  your  number  are  very  well  known  to  me  personally  and 
others  are  known  to  me  by  reputation,  and  more  especially  as  your 
worthy  President  is  of  the  Hovey  line  of  ancestry,  and  although  he 
has  come  into  the  list  of  the  Hoveys  at  the  eleventh  hour,  his  name 
being  the  last  to  be  entered,  he  shows  a  good  spirit,  and  it  is  most 
pleasant  to  me  as  President  of  the  Daniel  Hovey  Association  to  know 
that  the  President  of  the  Chase-Chace  Association  has  his  heart  in  the 
right  place. 

We  have  just  had  our  Hovey  reunion  in  Ipswich,  on  August  21. 
We  had  eighty  sit  down  at  the  table  at  the  Agawam  House,  but  we 
labor  under  some  advantages  and  disadvantages.  We  have  not  the 
thought  of  such  a  legacy  hanging  over  our  heads.  Our  ancestor  was  a 
worthy  man;   we  have  the  old  Coat  oi  Arm-,  and  have  proved  it  au  ij 


8  THE  CHASE-CHACE  FAMILY  ASSOCIATION. 

back  to  the  old  Daniel  Hovey  who  came  in  1637,  or  perhaps  a  little 
earlier.  We  find  considerable  satisfaction  in  that  Coat  of  Arms,  but 
what  is  that  side  of  such  a  legacy  of  millions  as  will  come  to  you  when 
you  get  your  rights?  In  that  respect  we  labor  at  a  great  advantage  or 
disadvantage.  We  do  not  have  to  bother  ourselves  with  the  fear  of 
being  taxed,  nor  the  fear  of  a  wrong  distribution  of  the  estate.  We 
came  together  just  because  we  were  Hoveys,  and  we  looked  into  each 
other's  faces  and  we  were  as  brothers.  Some  of  us  were  quite  sur- 
prised to  find  how  good  looking  the  Hoveys  are.  A  great  many  of 
the  Hoveys  remarked  upon  it.  I  do  not  know  whether  they  had  been 
told  a  great  many  times  how  plain  they  were,  but  they  were  really  sur- 
prised to  find  how  good  looking  they  were,  and  they  talked  about  it. 
And  certainly,  if  it  were  not  for  seeming  to  be  flattering  and  too 
complimentary  right  to  your  faces,  I  might  tell  you  the  same  thing. 
When  you  get  one  of  these  New  England  families  together  you 
get  the  cream,  the  best  that  there  is  in  all  America,  and  there  is  no 
one  here  who  will  deny  that.  There  is  one  fact  which  has  been  im- 
pressed very  especially  upon  my  mind  with  regard  to  these  family 
reunions,  and  the  patriotic  societies  that  have  been  formed  —  The 
Daughters  of  the  Revolution,  The  Daughters  of  the  American  Revo- 
lution, The  Sons  of  the  Revolution  and  The  Sons  of  the  American 
Revolution, —  and  that  is  this:  If  you  went  to  the  annals  of  families, 
the  names  that  are  being  taken  in  the  census  that  is  now  approaching 
its  completion,  you  would  find  that  probably  two-thirds  of  the  people, 
at  a  moderate  estimate,  two-thirds  of  the  people  who  inhabit  the  cities 
have  no  ancestry  to  speak  of,  they  are  not  descended  from  the  old 
families  of  New  England.  Many  of  them  are  among  the  worthiest 
citizens  that  we  have,  but  they  cannot  claim  this  grand  ancestry  that 
the  old  families  have  as  a  spur  to  their  patriotism,  and  it  is  our  duty  to 
tell  them  all  about  the  deeds  of  our  ancestors.  That  is  the  argument  ; 
mere  family  pride  is  not  the  highest  motive.  We  are  not  responsible 
for  belonging  to  one  family  or  another.  There  is  no  particular  reason 
why  one  person  is  to  have  one  name  rather  than  another,  but  when 
you  know  your  ancestral  history,  and  what  has  been  done  in  war  and 
peace,  in  commerce,  in  literature,  and  the  fine  arts,  in  religion  and 
in  the  education  of  the  whole  country,  then  we  have  something  thai 
causes  a  lot  of  responsibility  to  rest  upon  us  concerning  the  welfare  oi 
our  great,  glorious  and  growing  republic,  to  tell  our  fellow  citizens  of 
the  achievements  of  the  past  and  to  help  each  other,  that  there  may 
be  even  greater  achievements. 


FIRST  REUNION,   NEWBURYPORT,   MASS.  *■) 

Now,  Mr.  President,  you  all  know  these  things.  I  have  simply 
reminded  you  of  them.  I  thank  you  for  the  great  favor  that  you  have 
conferred  upon  me  and  I  express  my  sincere  regret  in  not  being  able 
to  remain.  You  have  my  best  wishes,  my  highest  respect  and  my  most 
sincere  regard  in  all  the  plans  which  may  be  formed  for  your  future 
and  especially  for  this  reunion.      May  God  bless  you  all. 


Dr.  Hovey's  address  received  close  attention  and  was  heartily 
applauded.  A  motion  was  unanimously  adopted  thanking  him  for  his 
courtesy  in  attending  the  meeting,  and  contributing  to  the  enjoyment 
of  those  present. 

A  finely  rendered  soprano  solo  by  a  sweet  singer  of  Chase  descent 
as  well  as  present  name,  Mrs.  Katherine  Knight  Chase  of  Haverhill, 
was  followed  by  the  president's  address. 


ADDRESS  BY  THE  PRESIDENT. 

JOHN  C.  CHASE,  Derry,  N.  H. 


Kinsmen  and  Friends: 

It  affords  me  great  pleasure  to  welcome  such  a  goodly  number, 
to  this,  the  first  reunion  of  the  Chase-Chace  Family  Association. 
Organized  but  little  over  a  year  ago,  the  first  meeting  was  practically 
for  business  only,  but  to-day  we  assemble  with  a  different  object,  and 
it  is  to  be  hoped  that  this  reunion  will  be  the  first  of  a  series,  that  shall 
continue  as  long  as  any  of  the  name  and  blood  can  be  found  to  keep 
the  organization  alive.  Each  generation  will  have  its  own  record  to 
perpetuate,  and  I  can  conceive  of  few  obligations  paramount  to  that  of 
transmitting  to  posterity  a  record  of  the  achievements  of  their  ancestors. 
Says  Edmund  Burke,  "People  who  will  not  look  forward  to  their  pos 
terity,  who  never  look  backward  to  their  ancestors,"  ami  it  was  with  the 
object  of  furthering  genealogical  research,  preserving  family  records 
and  strengthening  the  ties  of  kinship,  that  this  Association  was  formed. 

It  is  particularly  appropriate  that  the  initial   reunion  of  this  As 
sociation  should  be  held  in  this  city,  rich   in  historic  traditions  and 


10  THE  CHASE-CHACE  FAMILY  ASSOCIATION. 

hallowed  memories,  fur  it  was  here  the  progenitor  of  a  numerous  and 
important  branch  of  our  family  took  up  his  abode,  a  half  a  dozen  years 
after  the  first  settlement  was  made  on  the  banks  of  the  River  Parker. 

Other  gatherings  of  the  family  have  been  held  in  former  years,  the 
earliest  of  which  we  have  any  record  being  held  in  this  city  in  1847. 
The  main  incentive  of  those  gatherings  was  the  pursuit  of  that  will-o'- 
the-wisp,  known  as  the  "Chase  Fortune."  "Hope  springs  eternal  in 
the  human  breast,"  and  recent  correspondence  discovers  the  existence 
of  many  who  still  have  faith  in  the  mythical  fortune  awaiting  pre- 
sumptive American  heirs  of  the  English  line.  If  any  here  present  are 
indulging  in  such  belief,  let  me  assure  them  that  an  investment  in  a 
gold  brick  is,  if  anything,  of  more  prospective  value  than  one  to  prose- 
cute this  chimerical  claim. 

If  the  "blood  of  the  martyrs  is  the  seed  of  the  Church,"  then  no 
less  did  those  who  caused  these  meetings  to  be  held,  render  service 
of  incalculable  value  to  coming  generations,  as  they  stimulated  genea- 
logical research,  and  caused  the  collection  and  preservation  of  historical 
data,  that  otherwise,  in  all  probability,  would  have  been  lost.  So  we 
may  well  say,  all  honor  to  those  who,  for  whatever  motive,  initiated  the 
movement  to  collect  and  preserve  the  family  history. 

Strenuous  efforts  were  put  forth  to  secure  an  address  from  some 
noted  member  of  the  family,  but,  possibly  on  account  of  our  policy  of 
"benevolent  assimilation,"  we  have  been  unable  to  secure  anyone, 
consequently  the  set  literary  programme  will  be  comparatively  brief. 
Personally  I  do  not  regard  this  as  an  unmixed  evil,  for  I  believe  that 
in  a  gathering  of  this  kind  the  time  allotted  to  social  intercourse  should 
predominate ;  that  a  large  proportion  of  those  who  attend,  would 
prefer  to  spend  their  time  in  making  and  renewing  acquaintances,  re- 
hearsing family  traditions,  and  prosing  their  genealogy,  to  listening  to 
the  average  oratorical  effort.  He  that  as  it  may,  you  have  the  best  we 
have  been  able  to  provide.  We  are  certain  that  the  experience  gained 
will  be  of  great  value  in  arranging  lor  future  reunions,  which,  we  are 
confident,  will  show  a  largely  increased  attendance,  and  a  growing 
interest  in  the  Association  and  its  object. 

Notwithstanding  the  youth  of  the  Association,  it  has  already  been 
called  to  mourn  the  decease  of  one  of  its  members,  Henry  Martin  Chase 
oi  Barnstable,  Mass.  Although  a  native  oi  Philadelphia,  some  of  his 
early  years  were  spent  in  Newburyport,  and  his  remains  rest  in  the 
beautiful  Oak  Hill  Cemetery  not  far  distant  from  his  former  home. 
IK    was  greatly  interested  in  the  aims  and  work  of  the  Association,  and 


FIRST  REUNION,  NEWRURYPORT,   MASS.  I  I 

would  have  been  an  exceedingly  useful  and  valuable  member.  Our 
proceedings  will  contain  a  more  appropriate  biographical  notice  than  1 
can  give  at  this  time. 

It  has  been  suggested  that  I  might  occupy  a  portion  of  the  time 
that  happens  to  be  available,  with  a  brief  account  of  our  ancestors  who 
first  settled  in  this  country.  There  is  a  popular  but  incorrect  idea 
extant,  that  all  bearing  the  name  of  Chase  in  this  country  are  the 
descendants  of  three  brothers,  who  settled  in  New  Hampshire  and 
Massachusetts  in  the  early  part  of  the  seventeenth  century.  There  are 
however,  a  number  who  trace  their  descent  from  an  immigrant  who 
settled  in  Maryland  and  was  the  ancestor  of  Judge  Samuel  Chase  who 
signed  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  Others  are  descended  from 
a  John  Chase  who  came  from  the  Barbadoes  and  settled  in  Providence, 
R.  I.,  in  1730. 

From  a  reply  to  one  of  the  circulars  sent  out,  we  learn  of  one 
bearing  the  name  who  came  to  this  country  from  Canada,  but  was  born 
in  Ireland.  Their  traditions  make  the  family  of  Hugenot  origin. 
They  sought  refuge  in  England  at  the  massacre  of  St.  Bartholomew, 
and  for  services  rendered  in  Cromwell's  army,  were  given  grants  of 
land  in  England  and  the  south  of  Ireland. 

We  also  have  a  colored  brother  of  the  name,  the  editor  of  an 
Afro-American  paper  published  at  the  national  capital.  It  is  hardly 
probable  that  there  is  an  Ethiopian  line  of  the  family,  and  in  this  case 
it  is  more  than  likely  that  the  name  was  adopted  rather  than  inherited. 
Whatever  our  personal  feelings  may  be  in  regard  to  the  matter,  we  can 
hardly  criticise  the  compliment  paid  us  in  the  selection  of  the  surname. 
However,  it  is  certain  that  nearly  all  of  those  bearing  the  name 
are  the  descendants  of  three  immigrants  who  settled  in  Massachusetts. 
William  Chace  was  the  first  in  the  field,  coming  in  Gov.  Winthrop's 
fleet,  in  1630.  His  name  is  found  in  the  records  of  the  first  church  in 
Roxbury,  in  the  handwriting  of  the  Rev.  John  Elliott,  the  apostle  to 
the  Indians.  He  removed  to  Yarmouth  in  L637,  and  those  of  the 
name  in  southeastern  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island  arc  g<  nerally  of 
this  line.  They  may  be  identified  to  a  large  extent  l>v  the  spelling  of 
the  name  Chare,  but  it  can  by  no  means  be  assumed  that  those  spelling 
it  Cha.ve  are  not  of  this  line.  Nothing  is  known  of  his  history  before 
his  arrival  here,  and  if  any  relationship  exists  between  him  and  the 
other  two  immigrants,  it  is  purely  conjectural  and  apparently  not  sus 
ceptible  of  proof. 

Aquila  and  Thomas  had  grants  of  land  in   Hampton,  N.  11..  in 


1-'  THE  CHASE-CHACE  FAMILY  Association. 

1640;  and  it  is  assumed  that  they  may  have  arrived  the  preceding 
year.  That  they  were  brothers,  is  shown  by  a  deed  on  record,  in 
which  Aquila  conveys  a  certain  tract  of  land  to  his  brother  Thomas. 
It  is  supposed  that  Thomas  lived  where  the  Quaker  meeting  house 
now  stands  in  the  town  of  Seabrook.  As  his  oldest  son,  Thomas,  was  a 
bachelor,  it  is  probable  that  he  remained  on  the  homestead.  "  For  the 
love  and  good  will  that  I  have  and  do  bear  unto  ye  people  of  God, 
called  Quakers,"  he  deeded  on  June  1,  1689  to  John  Hussey,  in  their 
behalf,  about  sixty  acres  of  land,  "for  a  burying  place  and  to  build  a 
meeting  house  on."  (Essex  Records,  10-88.)  When  the  estate  was 
divided  after  his  death  in  1714,  the  tract  by  which  the  above  merito- 
rious gift  is  bounded,  is  described  as  his  homestead. 

Thomas,  the  original  grantee,  married  Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of 
Thomas  Philbrick,  and  died  in  1652,  leaving  five  sons.  Joseph,  the 
second  son  was  taken  prisoner  at  Dover,  N.  H.,  in  the  assault  upon 
Major  Waldron's  house  in  1689.  Dying  in  1718,  his  will  provided 
that  certain  beds,  furniture,  silver  tankard  and  Turkey  worked  chairs, 
should  not  be  divided,  but  that  whichever  daughter  should  occupy  the 
house,  should  take  care  to  entertain  strangers,  more  particularly  called 
Quakers.  It  is  recorded  that  the  youngest  son,  Abraham,  born  the 
year  his  father  died,  "was  slain  in  the  warres,"  in  1676. 

The  birthplace  of  Thomas  and  Aquila  is  unknown  and  the  year 
of  birth  of  the  latter  is  only  known  on  the  authority  of  Joshua  Coffin, 
the  historian  of  Newbury,  who  has  stated  that  he  has  seen  a  deposition 
in  which  Aquila  gives  his  age. 

It  has  been  assumed  that  they  were  the  sons  of  Aquila,  the  son 
of  Richard  Chase  and  Joan  Bishop,  of  Chesham,  England,  but  it  is 
exceedingly  doubtful  if  satisfactory  proof  of  the  fact  can  ever  be  ad- 
duced. The  above  mentioned  Aquila  was  baptized  August  14,  L580, 
but  the  parish  records  contain  no  other  mention  of  him  or  his  younger 
brothers,  Thomas  and  Mordecai.  The  marriage  or  death,  and  in  some 
cases  both,  of  the  seven  other  children  of  Richard  and  Joan  are  re- 
corded,  which  is  strong  evidence  that  the  three  sons  referred  to  lived 
and  died  elsewhere. 

The  Hampton,  N.  H.,  records  show  that  in  l(>40  there  was 
granted  to  Aquila  Chase  six  acres  for  a  house  lot.  In  1644,  an  additional 
grant  was  recorded  of  six  acres  "of  upland,  meadow  and  swamp." 

The  Newbury,  Mass.,  records  contain  the  following:  "Granted 
to  Aquila  Chase,  Anno  L646,  tower  acres  of  land  at  the  new  towne  for 
a  house  lott  and  six  acres  of  upland  for  a  planting  lott,  where  it  can 


FIRST  REUNION,  NEWBURYPORT,   MASS.  13 

be  had,  and  six  acres  of  marsh  where  it  can  be  had,  also  on  condition 
that  he  do  goe  to  sea  and  do  service  in  the  towne  with  a  boate  for  four 
years." 

It  is  probable  that  he  removed  to  Newbury  the  same  year,  as  the 
county  records  state,  that  in  September,  1646,  Aquila  Chase  and  wife, 
and  David  Wheeler,  of  Hampton,  her  brother,  were  prosecuted  for 
picking  peas  on  the  Sabbath  day.  As  the  patriarch  was  allowed  to 
change  his  name  from  Abram  to  Abraham  in  witness  of  the  covenant, 
that  he  should  be  the  father  of  many  nations,  so  it  is  perhaps  possible 
that  the  punishment  for  this  transgression  of  our  progenitor  was  giving 
his  name  the  current  pronunciation  of  ^-quila  instead  of  the  scriptural 
yfy-uila. 

Tradition  throws  little  light  upon  the  question  of  Aquila  Chase's 
residence.  The  "Newtowne"  where  his  house  lot  was  located  is  what 
is  now  known  as  Newburyport,  the  original  settlement  in  Newbury 
having  been  made  on  Parker  River.  It  is  probable  that  the  "fower 
acres  of  land  at  the  new  towne  for  a  house  lott"  was  at  the  corner  of 
Chandler's  Lane,  now  Federal  Street,  and  the  old  highway,  now  Water 
Street,  for  he  conveyed  this  lot  to  Robert  Rogers  in  1659,  eleven  years 
before  his  death.*  The  records  of  deeds  and  probate  indicate  with 
reasonable  certainty  that  he  also  lived  on  the  north  side  of  what  is  now 
known  as  North  Atkinson  Street,  about  five  hundred  feet  from  its  inter- 
section with  Low  Street. 

In  1668  Daniel  Merrill  bought  of  John  Godfrey  eighteen  acres  with 
the  "housing"  near  the  Great  Pine  Swamp,  which  tract  was  bounded 
on  one  side  and  end  by  land  belonging  to  Aquila  Chase.  The  Great 
Pine  Swamp  lies  a  few  rods  west  of  Low  Street,  and  is  a  positive  and 
permanent  identification  of  location.  Daniel  Merrill's  will,  dated  17  17, 
gives  his  homestead  in  Newbury  to  his  oldest  son,  Daniel,  who  married 
Esther  Chase,  daughter  of  Aquila,  Jr.  Daniel,  Jr.,  died  about  1725, 
and  the  division  of  the  estate  is  recorded  in  the  probate  records.  His 
son  Peter  had  half  of  the  house  and  probably  bought  the  other  halt. 
and  lived  there.  His  will  was  proved  in  L778,  and  gave  to  his  son 
Jacob  all  of  his  real  estate.  The  house  stood  at  the  intersection  of 
North  Atkinson  and  Low  Streets,  and  was  known  until  its  demolition 
as  the  Jacob  Merrill  house. 

The  will  of  Aquila  Chase,  dated  December  19,  L670,  may  be 
seen  at  the  probate  office  in  Salem.  The  homestead  was  given  to  his 
oldest  son,  Aquila,  who  made  a  will,  now  in  the  possession  oi  one  of 

*  Currier's  "  Ould  Newbury,"  pagi    149 
/ 


14  THE  CHASE-CHACE   FAMILY  ASSOCIATION. 

his  descendants,  but  died  before  signing  it,  and  the  estate  was  divided 
by  the  heirs  in  1723.  Daniel  Merrill  and  wife  Esther  had  ten  acres  of 
the  northwest  end,  which  was  bounded  by  their  homestead,  and  Joseph, 
the  only  surviving  son,  who  had  settled  in  what  is  now  West  Newbury, 
had  the  other  seven  acres  and  buildings.  He  sold  his  share  to  Daniel 
Merrill,  and  the  deed  describes  it  as  "bounding  on  Sawyer's  Lane." 
Enoch  P.  Chase,  who  was  born  in  J7<S(),  and  lived  on  North  Atkinson 
Street,  says  the  Sawyers  lived  where  he  did,  and  gave  it  the  name  of 
S.iwyer's  Lane,  and  that  there  were  two  Merrill  houses.  The  Daniel 
Merrill  cellar  was  open  until  within  a  few  years,  and  the  hollow  place 
marking  the  cellar  of  the  house,  where  it  is  confidently  believed  Aquila 
Chase  lived  and  died,  can  be  identified.  The  place  of  his  burial  is 
unknown,  but  tradition  says  that  it  is  in  the  old  cemetery  on  the  Plains. 

Thomas,  the  second  son  of  Aquila,  married  Rebecca,  daughter 
of  Thomas  P'ollansbee,  and  settled  near  Amesbury  Ferry,  about  thirty 
rods  north  of  the  road  leading  from  the  Ferry  road  to  the  Artichoke 
River,  which  also  leads  by  the  old  cemetery  to  the  Bradford  road. 
The  deed  for  his  first  purchase  of  fourteen  acres  is  dated  June  2, 
1677.  The  estate  remained  in  the  family  until  1798,  and  the  house 
stood  until  1875.  His  son,  Thomas,  born  September  15,  1680,  settled 
in  what  is  now  West  Newbury  previous  to  1700,  and  the  estate  still 
remains  in  the  family.  It  is  now  held  by  Miss  Lois  Jane  and  Thomas 
Chase  Thurlow,  whose  mother,  Susan  Chase,  of  the  seventh  generation 
from  Aquila,  married  Ceorge  Thurlow. 

Aquila,  fourth  son  of  Thomas,- born  July  15,  1688,  lived  in  Ipswich, 
and  died  in  1714.  Among  the  items  in  the  expense  account  of  his 
funeral,  we  find  one  of  £1  :  16s.  for  eight  gallons  of  wine. 

John,  the  third  son  of  Aquila,  bought  on  December  24,  1698,  a 
lot  of  land  "in  the  upper  woods,"  now  West  Newbury,  giving  in  ex- 
change a  tract  of  tide  meadow  in  Salisbury.  His  house  was  at  the 
"Training  Field,"  and  was  the  second  east  of  the  present  town  house. 
His  will  was  dated  October  22,  1750,  and  proved  May  19,  1739.  He 
gave  to  his  grandson,  "John  Chase,  of  Hampton,  the  son  of  my  son 
John,"  twenty  shillings.  "It  is  all  which  I  should  have  given  to  my 
-aid  son  John  had  he  been  living."  This  phraseology  of  the  will  settles 
i"  yond  question  the  identity  of  the  John  Chase,  grandson  of  Aquila, 
who  married  Abigail  Oreen,  granddaughter  of  Thomas  of  Hampton,  as 
ili>  re  has  been  sonic  confusion  in  regard  to  the  matter.  The  home- 
id  was  given  to  his  son  I  >avid. 

Daniel,  Aquila's  fourth  son,  acquired  by  purchase  from  his  brother 


FIRST  REUNION,  NEWBURYPORT,   MASS.  15 

Aquila,  the  lot  on  the  west  of  that  owned  by  his  brother   John,  being 
the  one  just  east  of  the  West  Newbury  town  house.      He  died  in   1707 
and  the  place  soon  passed  out  of  the  name  of  Chase,  although  it  re 
mained  in  the  collateral  line  of  Carr  for  over  a  hundred  years. 

Moses,  the  youngest  son  and  eleventh  child  of  Aquila,  was  born 
December  24,  1663.  He  married  Ann  Follansbee,  who  died  April  IS, 
1708,  at  the  birth  of  her  youngest  son,  Benoni.  She  was  buried  in  the 
old  cemetery  at  the  Plains,  and  her  tombstone  has  the  oldest  date  of 
any  belonging  to  the  family  so  far  as  I  am  aware. 

He  died  September  6,  1743,  and  was  buried  in  the  old  Ferry 
Lane  (now  Bridge  Street)  Cemetery  in  West  Newbury,  where  may  be 
seen,  in  addition  to  his  own,  the  headstones  of  three  others  bearing  tin 
name  of  Moses  of  successive  generations. 

The  elder  Moses  was  styled  weaver  and  ensign  and  the  latter  title 
appears  on  his  tombstone.  He  and  his  wife  were  admitted  to  member 
ship  in  the  Second  Church  in  1713,  and  he  signed  the  covenant  and 
helped  form  the  Fourth  Church  in  1731.  September  20,  1700,  it 
was  "granted  to  Moses  Chase  to  set  in  the  fore  seat  by  the  pulpit." 
His  eldest  son,  Daniel,  settled  in  Sutton  and  was  the  ancestor  of  Chief 
Justice  Salmon  P.  Chase. 

In  1689  he  purchased  a  lot  of  land  in  the  "upper  woods,"  as  that 
part  of  the  town  lying  west  of  the  Artichoke  River  was  then  called, 
being  the  first  of  the  name  to  settle  in  that  locality.  He  afterward 
made  other  purchases  so  that  his  farm  contained  one  hundred  acres, 
having  a  frontage  of  one  hundred  and  six  rods  on  the  Bradford  road 
and  extending  back  to  the  Merrimack  River.  The  house  he  built 
stood  about  twenty-five  rods  back  of  one  now  standing,  which  was 
built  by  his  son  Joseph  in  1755.* 

The  Essex  records  contain  numerous  deeds  of  land  which  he 
bought  and  sold,  and  he  also  acquired  large  tracts  in  Sutton  and 
Rowley,  Mass.,  and  Nottingham,  N.  H.,  which  were  willed  to  his  sons. 
The  homestead  was  divided  between  his  sons,  Moses  and  Joseph,  the 
first  named  having  the  east  half,  on  which  his  son,  Moses, 4  had  built 
a  house  in  173b.*  This  house  is  still  standing,  and  is  occupied  by 
the  family  of  Samuel  Carr,  a  descendant  of  the  original  settler  of  two 
hundred  and  eleven  years  ago.  The  house  built  by  foseph  on  his 
part,  in  1755,  is  still  standing  and  has  been  kept  in  such  a  state  of 
repair  that  it  little  conveys  an  idea  of  its  age. 

The  house  built  by  Ensign  Moses'  fourth  son,  Samuel,  is  supposed 

*  Sec  Frontispiece.     X...  I,  Moses;   No.  _',  Joseph. 


16  THE  CHASE-CHACE   FAMILY  ASSOCIATION. 

to  be  the  oldest  Chase  house  in  existence.  It  is  of  brick  and  stands 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Bradford  road  about  a  mile  above  the  spot 
where  Ensign  Moses  settled.  According  to  tradition,  it  was  erected 
previous  to  172(),  and  the  bricks  were  made  on  adjoining  land  and 
(arried  to  the  site  by  Samuel's  wife  in  her  apron.  The  house  has 
remained  in  the  family  until  the  present  time  and  is  now  occupied  by 
John  Tyler  Bailey,  a  direct  descendant  of  the  original  owner.* 

I  have  thus  endeavored  to  give  you  a  brief  account  of  some  who 
helped  make  our  early  family  history,  and  much  could  be  added  did 
time  permit.  A  large  portion  of  what  I  have  given  has  been  compiled 
from  the  material  gathered  by  my  grandfather,  the  late  Benjamin  Chase 
of  Auburn,  N.  II.,  to  whose  patient  research  and  unflagging  industry 
we  are,  without  doubt,  indebted  for  the  preservation  of  much  valuable 
data  that  otherwise  would  have  been  lost. 


A  musical  number  came  next  on  the  programme,  and  Miss  Alice 
Louise  Chase  entertained  the  audience  with  an  enjoyable  organ  solo, 
Guilmant's  "Elevation"  in  A  flat. 


The  poet  of  the  occasion  was  a  son  of  the  late  Dr.  John  B.  Chace 
of  Taunton,  Mass.,  who  for  many  years  gave  liberally  of  his  time  and 
means  towards  the  collection  of  material  for  a  genealogical  history  ol 
the  family.  The  task  was  longer  than  his  life  but  the  results  of  his 
labor  are  in  the  hands  of  the  Historians  of  the  Association,  and  it  is 
hoped  that  before  long  they  may  be  seen  in  print. 


Mr.  Chace  prefaced  the  reading  of  his  poem  by  the  statement  that 
the  invitation  to  contribute  had  been  accepted  with  the  understanding 
that  he  might  make  use  of  one  that  had  been  read  upon  another 
occasion,  should  the  demands  upon  his  time  be  such  as  to  prevent  the 
writing  of  one  especially  for  this  gathering.  I  lis  apprehension  of  being 
obliged  to  give  US  a  second  hand  production  had  been  realized,  but  it 
was  new  to  all  of  his  hearers  without  doubt,  and  was  thoroughly  enjoyed 
by  those  who  had  the  pleasure  of  listening  to  its  reading. 

'   ^<jc  Frontispiei  e.      No.  .<,  Samuel. 


FIRST   REUNION,   NEWBURYPORT,    VIASS.  17 


THE  ROSE. 


By  GEORGE  F.  CHACE,  Taunton,  Mass. 

In  Afric  wilds  there  grows  the  grapple  plant ; 

With  flowers,  whose  beauteous  hues  the  senses  haunt. 

Along  the  ground  its  branches  trail,  a  mass 

Of  lovely  bloom,  enchanting  all  who  pass. 

Upon  the  trees  and  shrubs  as  well,  this  vine 

Lifts  high  its  purple  mantle,  rich  and  fine. 

Approach  and  gather  garlands,  full  and  free. 

Twere  shame  to  leave  them  here,  so  fair  to  see, 

To  droop  and  die,  unsought,  a  withered  heap. 

But  soft ;   a  while  restrain  your  rapture  deep. 

Beneath  those  petals,  sharp  and  barbed  thorns 

Malignant  hide ;   so  says  a  voice  which  warns 

Unwary  travellers  to  keep  away. 

Such  was  the  story  that  I  read  one  day. 

In  sombre  mood,  long  mused  I  o'er  this  tale. 

It  seemed  to  picture,  how  in  life  we  fail, 

The  path  of  wrong  e'er  charms  the  sense  of  man. 

He  seeks  alluring  pleasures  where  he  can. 

But  does  he  think,  in  time,  to  count  the  cost? 

How  sure,  in  coils  of  vice  forever  lost, 

Is  he  who  once  shall  step  aside  from  right, 

To  follow  sensuous  ways,  in  downward  flight? 

With  pain  and  sadness  thought  I  much  on  this. 

Is  beauty  false,  and  ne'r  allied  with  bliss? 

Is  true  that  phrase,  •' no  rose  but  has  its  thorn"? 

Is  virtue  of  all  charm  and  graces  shorn? 

1  love  the  rose.      Is  all  its  fragrant  breath 

Alone  designed  its  friend,  to  lead  to  death? 

\\>  lovely  tints,  a  snare,  to  make  one  feel 

The  prick  of  vicious  thorns  which  they  conceal? 


18  I  UK  CHASE-CHACE  FAMILY  ASSOCIATION. 

While  musing  thus,  with  thoughts  that  made  me  weep, 

Upon  the  lounge  one  day  I  fell  asleep. 

In  my  brain  cells,  shadowy  dreams  began  to  play. 

Methought,  1  walked  a  long  and  dreary  way. 

At  last,  when  faint  and  worn,  beside  a  gate 

I  stood,  not  knowing  what  might  be  my  fate, 

If  entrance  sought  1  there,  for  food  and  rest, 

At  the  door  of  Paradise,  where  dwell  the  blest. 

But  lo,  the  gate  upon  its  hinges  turns, 
And  then  a  wondrous  sight  upon  my  vision  burns. 
A  form,  divine  or  human,  I  could  not  tell, 
Stands  in  that  gateway  there,  with  eyes  that  well 
With  love,  and  face  that  shines  with  heavenly  smile. 
Entranced,  I  gazed,  nor  dared  to  move  the  while. 

"Come  in,  my  brother,"  said  a  woman's  tone, 
With  tenderness  to  melt  a  heart  of  stone. 

"Nay,  nay,"  I  faltered,  "Messenger  of  God, 
Give  not  to  me  of  love  the  slightest  nod. 
Unworthy  I  to  hear  thy  welcome  voice, 
To  see  the  angels,  and  with  them  rejoice. 
I'm  stained  with  sin,  ashamed  to  raise  my  lids, 
To  look,  where  virtue,  truth  or  honor  bids." 

But  still  the  angel  took  my  hand  and  said  : 
"Your  faults  are  known.      By  sympathy  misled, 
You've  strayed  away  from  duty's  path,  'tis  true; 
Yet,  brother  dear,  there's  peace  in  store  for  you. 
The  queen  of  Heaven  doth  bid  you  come  within, 
Because  you  wear  a  charm,  to  pardon  sin." 

I  ken  not  what  she  means,  but  trembling  go 

With  anxious  eagerness  to  see  and  know, 

I  low  Mich  as  I  can  heavenly  favor  find. 

The  touch  of  the  angel's  fingers,  as  they  wind 

About  my  own,  thrills  through  my  doubting  soul. 

I've  reached  at  last,  it  seems,  the  heavenly  goal. 

"Behold,"  she  >ays,  "the  queen  of  Heaven  now." 
Amazed,  I  look,  and  see  a  beauteous  brow 


FIRST  REUNION,  NEWBURYPORT,  MASS.  19 

Of  purest  white,  and  cheeks  of  carmine  hue, 

And  lips  that  melt  as  if  kissed  by  morning  dew; 

A  fragrant  breath,  a  figure  and  a  pose, 

The  tout  ensemble  of  a  matchless  rose, 

No  thorns  I  see,  but  drapery  of  white, 

And  tints  of  blushing  pink,  with  pure  delight. 

Ah,  thorns  are  guardian  angels  in  disguise, 

Protecting  beauty,  when  ruffian  hands  arise, 

To  mar  its  glory,  and  rob  of  all  its  worth. 

"bis  this  they  mean,  methinks,  when  found  on  earth. 

"  What  talisman  gives  me  this  vision  sweet, 

And  will  it  from  before  me  never  fleet?" 

I  asked  my  guide.     She  smiling  made  reply  : 
"You  wear  a  flower,  the  fairest  'neath  the  sky. 

No  soul  can  wholly  fallen  be  in  wrong, 

Whose  love  for  God's  own  flowers  is  pure  and  strong." 

And  now  my  eyes  to  me  the  truth  disclose, 

For  there  upon  my  coat  I  wore  a  rose. 

Anon  from  sleep  I  woke,  with  tear  dimmed  eyes, 
To  find  upon  my  cheek  a  rose  leaf  lies. 


Miss  Emily  A.  Getchell,  the  Historian  of  the  Pillsbury  Family  and 
Secretary  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Old  Newbury,  presented  the 
following  communication,  which  was  read  and  the  Secretary  instructed 
to  acknowledge,  with  the  thanks  and  fraternal  greetings  of  this  Associ- 
ation, in  time  for  their  annual  reunion,  which  will  be  held  in  this  city 
the  coming  week  : 

Newburyport,  August  30,  1900. 
The   Pillsbury  Family  Association  extends  greetings  to  the  Chase 
Family  Association  and  felicitates  it  on  its  meeting  to-day  in  the  old 
town  of  which  the  common  ancestor  of  the  family,  Aquila  Chase,  was  a 
land  holder  and  resident. 

May  the  present  gathering  be  a  success  in  every  respect  and  the 
forerunner  of  others  to  come. 
For  the  Pillsbury  family, 

Albert  1'].  Pillsbury,  Boston,  President. 
Emily  A.  Getchell,  Newburyport,  Secretary. 


20  THE  CHASE-CHACE  FAMILY  ASSOCIATION. 

Rev.  Rufus  Emery,  the  Historian  of  the  Emery  Family  and  Secre- 
tary of  its  Association,  tendered  its  greetings,  which  were  accepted 
with   thanks. 


Numerous  letters  were  received  in  response  to  the  circulars  and 
those  read  are  herewith  appended. 


A  private  letter  was  also  read  from  Miss  Anna  A.  Gould,  of  Chase 
lineage,  who  was  a  missionary  in  China.  The  letter  was  dated  May  20, 
1900,  and  told  of  the  dangers  she  was  undergoing  from  the  Boxers,  by 
whom  she  was  afterwards  inhumanly  murdered. 


From  Rev.  Samuel  C.  Beane,  D.  D.,  Newburyport,  Mass.,  Pastor  of  the 

Church  in  which  the  Gathering  was  Held. 


Mr.  John  C.  Chase, 

Derry,  N.  H. 

Faikvikw,  N.  H.  August  23,  1900. 

Mv  Dear  Sir:  Your  welcome  letter,  forwarded,  found  me  here 
at  the  White  Mountains.  I  am  sorry,  but  our  plans  do  not  land  us 
hack  at  Newburyport  till  the  day  after  your  Chase  gathering.  I  should 
gladly  have  been  one  of  you,  even  though  1  am  not  conscious  of  Chase 
blood,  wishing  all  the  while  that  I  had  some  of  that  fluid  in  my  veins. 
Were  I  to  be  there,  I  should  want  to  give  you  greeting  to  our  old  and 
beautiful  First  Church  of  Newburyport,  the  delight  of  its  worshipers, 
and  an  almost  ideal  structure  in  the  eyes  of  architects,  both  American 
and  European.  The  first  minister  was  John  Lowell,  the  ancestor  of 
the  founder  of  the  great  city  of  Lowell,  of  the  successive  John  Lowells 
who  were  famous  judges,  and  of  our  great  poet  and  ambassador,  James 
Russell  Lowell.  Among  the  worshipers  in  the  edifice  which  preceded 
this  was  John  Quincy  Adams,  and  Theophilus  Parsons  worshiped  in 
both.  Colonel  Thomas  Wentworth  Higginson  was  one  of  the  late 
ministers.      Let  the  present  pastor  welcome  you  thus  by  letter. 

I  shall  always  be  glad  to  see  you  at  my  house. 

Always  yours, 

Samuel  C.  Beane. 


FIRST  REUNION,  NEWBURYPORT,   MASS.  21 

From  Hon.  William  M.  ('mask,  Judge  Supreme  Court 
of  New  Hampshire. 


Canaan  Street,  N.  H.,  August  18,  1900. 
Mr.  John  C.  Chase, 

Derry,  N.  H. 

My  Dear  Mr.  Chase  :  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  I  cannot  accept 
your  kind  invitation  to  address  the  Chase-Chace  Family  Association  at 
its  approaching  meeting.  Mrs.  Chase  and  I  are  to  start  for  Seattle, 
Wash.,  about  that  time  —  if  not  before  —  shall  start  as  soon  as  I  can  get 
my  affairs  into  shape,  so  I  can  leave. 

I  assure  you  it  would  afford  me  much  pleasure  to  be  present  at  the 
meeting,  and  I  should  esteem  it  a  great  honor  to  address  the  "family," 
than  which  I  believe  there  is  no  better  in  the  world. 

Yours  very  truly, 

William  M.  Chase. 


From  Alden  Chase. 


Bryant  Pond,  Me.,  August  27,  1900. 
Mr.  John  C.  Chase. 

My  Dear  Sir  :  I  sometime  since  received  a  circular  relative  to 
the  Chase  Association,  and  will  give  in  answer  to  it  a  brief  account  of 
my  family.  I  am  a  descendant  of  Aquila  Chase,  who  came  to  Hamp- 
ton in   1639,  and  my  line  is  through  Thomas,  Nathan,  Edmund,  and 

Merrill.      I  am  the  youngest  of  ten  children  and  was  born  June  5,  1819. 

*  *  *  *  *  ***** 

Now  I  have  given  a  condensed  sketch  of  my  family,  and  if  you 
should  desire  a  brief  notice  of  any  of  my  father's  other  children  I 
could  help  you  to  it.  Myself  and  my  sister  Lydia,  who  is  in  her 
ninetieth  year,  are  all   that  are  left  of  the  ten  children. 

I  should  be  glad  to  be  at  your  meeting  on  the  thirtieth  instant,  but 
age  precludes  it. 

Should  you  ever  obtain  the  Chase  property  from  England,  please 
give  my  portion  of  the  ninety  millions  of  pounds  sterling  (?)  to  my 
legal  heirs,  as  I  do  not  expect  to  live  to  obtain  it  myself  !  !  ! 

I  am  yours  respectfully, 

Alden  Chase. 


22  THE  CHASE-CHACE  FAMILY  ASSOCIATION. 

From  Geo.  C.  Chase,  President  Bates  College,  Lewiston,  Me. 


Andover,  Me.,  August  7,  1(J(H). 
Mr.  John  C.  Chase, 

Derry,  N.  H., 

President  of  The  Chase-Chace  P'amily  Association. 

Dear  Sir  :  Your  courteous  note  of  August  2,  inviting  me  to  ad- 
dress a  meeting  to  be  held  August  30,  is  at  hand.  It  would  give  me 
pleasure  to  meet  those  of  my  own  name  and  blood  and  to  extend  my 
knowledge  of  the  Chase  Family  in  America.  Unfortunately,  important 
engagements  will  require  my  presence  elsewhere.  I  shall  take  pleasure 
in  sending  my  membership  fee  to  the  Secretary-Treasurer,  and  shall 
hope  to  meet  you  at  some  future  meeting  of  the  Association. 

On  the  opposite  page  I  give  the  names  of  some  of  my  ancestors. 
My  life  has  thus  far  been  too  busy  to  permit  me  to  give  much  attention 
to  the  genealogy  of  the  Chase  Family.  I  shall  highly  prize  any  data 
that  may  be  sent  me.  As  I  am  away  from  home  at  this  writing,  I  have 
only  my  memory  from  which  to  draw,  and,  therefore,  will  not  attempt 
much.  Yours  sincerely, 

George  C.  Chase. 


From   P.  I.  Cii ask,  Attorney  at  Law. 


Bowling  Green,  Ohio,  August  4,  1900. 

John  C.  Chase, 

Derry,  N.  H. 

Dear  Sir:  Your  circular  with  reference  to  the  compiling  of  a 
genealogical  record  of  the  Chase  Family  received;  and  in  reply  will 
say  that  my  ancestors  on  the  Chase  side  were  born  at  Taunton,  Mass. 
They  lived  there  so  long  that  "The  memory  of  man  runneth  not  to  the 
contrary"  and  were  an  apple  eating,  cider  drinking,  cheese  paring  set. 
none  of  whom  were  exceptionally  bright  and  none  of  whom  were  fools. 
However,  some  of  them  had  the  nerve  to  leave  that  land  of  stone  walls, 
and  codfish,  come  west,  and  have  been  heard  from,  outside  of  the 
mausoleum  of  a  genealogical  book.  Very  truly  yours, 

P.  [.  Chase. 


FIRST  REUNION,   NEWBURYPORT,   MASS.  23 

From  Hon.  George  ('.  Hazelton',  Late  M.  ('.  from  Wisconsin. 


Washington,  D.  C,  August  14,  1()(K). 
Mr.  John  C.  Chase, 

Derry,  N.  H. 

Dear  Mr.  Chase  :  I  am  in  receipt  of  two  of  the  Chase  Family 
circulars  by  your  kindness,  and  the  first  one  I  forwarded  to  my  brother, 
Gerry  W.  Hazelton  of  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  now  visiting  in  New  England, 
and  at  Chester  now  spending  a  week  among  our  kith  and  kin,  and 
thence  to  Manchester.  I  should  like  very  much  to  attend  the  meeting 
on  the  thirtieth  instant,  but  fear  that  I  shall  not  be  able  to  get  away 
from  Washington  at  that  time. 

My  grandmother  on  my  paternal  side  of  the  house  was  a  Chase ; 
but  died  before  my  remembrance. 

I  hope  that  the  meeting  will  be  both  pleasant  and  profitable. 

Yours  very  respectfully, 

George  C.  Hazelton. 


From  Mrs.  W.  II.  S.  Hascall. 


North  Conway,  August  29,  1900. 
To  the  Chase-Chace   Family  Association. 

Dear  Friends  :  It  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  meet  with 
you  at  Newburyport  and  learn  something  of  the  large  family  to  which 
I  belong.  I  presume  my  brother,  Stephen  F.  Chace,  of  Providence, 
has  given  you  the  family  record  as  far  as  our  parents  left  it  for  us. 

Were  I  nearer  I  should  certainly  meet  with  you  this  year.  I  have 
left  Dover  and  am  now  on  my  way  to  New  York,  where  my  husband, 
Rev.  W.  H.  S.  Hascall,  has  become  pastor  of  the  Carmel  Church 
(Baptist)  and  my  address  hereafter  will  be  223  E.  L23d  Street,  New 
York  City. 

Shall  be  glad  to  meet  with  you  next  year,  if  possible.  If  1  can 
give  you  any  information,  shall  be  glad  to  do  so. 

Emma  Ch  \ci    1 1  vscall. 


24  the  chase-chace  family  association. 

From  Rev.  Arthur  Chase,  Ware,  Mass. 


Branford,  Conn.,  August  25,  1900. 
Mr.  John  C.  Chase, 

President  of  the  Chase-Chace  Association. 

My   Dear  Sir  :     Yours  of  August  twenty-first  was  forwarded  to  me 
from  Ware,  and  received  to-day. 

I  very  much  regret  that  I  shall  be  unable  to  attend  the  meeting  of 
the  Association  on  the  thirtieth. 

Thanking  you  for  your  courtesy,  and  with  assurances  of  keen  in 
terest  in  the  investigations  of  the  Association,  I  am 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Arthur  Chase. 


From  Rev.  J.  K.  Chase. 


East  Hampstead,  N.  H.,  August  29,  1900. 
John  C.  Chase,  Esq., 

President  of  The  Chase-Chace  Family  Association. 

My  Dear  Sir  :  I  am  sorry  I  cannot  attend  your  meeting  in 
Newburyport.  I  had  the  pleasure  some  fifty  years  ago  of  being  present 
at  the  great  Chase  meeting  held  in  Newbury.  A  dear  brother  of  mine, 
the  late  Rev.  James  N.  Chase,  was  present  and  took  an  active  part  in 
the  meeting.     We  were  both  descendants  of  Aquila  Chase. 

May  you  have  as  enthusiastic  a  gathering  as  that  was. 

Very  truly, 

John   K.  Chase. 

From  '1'.  Elwood  Ch  \sk. 


Lockport,  \.  Y.,  August  7.  1900. 

Mr.  Omar  P.  Chase,  Secretary, 
Andover,  Mass. 

M\  Dear  Sir:  being  in  direct  line  a  Chase  of  the  original  type, 
and  abo  deeply  interested  in  the  work  of  the  Chase  Chace  Association, 
allow  me  to  ask  you  to  tender  to  the  officers  and  members  my  hearty 


FIRST  REUNION,  NEWBURYPORT,  .MASS.  25 

cooperation  in  the  furtherance  of  the  Association.  It  has  already  been 
my  pride  to  point  to  the  records  of  their  forefathers  in  the  past  as  a 
stimulus  to  my  children  to  encourage  them  to  endeavor  to  leave  behind 
them  a  record  not  only  stainless,  but  a  record  of  having  advanced  the 
cause  of  humanity. 

As  the  year  1901  will  see  the  largest  purely  American  and  Ameri- 
canized gathering,  viz.,  the  Pan-American  at  Buffalo,  permit  me  to  ask 
the  Association  to  adjourn  at  the  close  of  this,  the  August,  1900,  meet- 
ing, to  meet  in  Buffalo  in  190]  at  such  time  as  your  honorable  body 
may  deem  best. 

During  the  Pan-American  the  rates  of  railroad  fare  will  undoubtedly 
be  within  the  reach  of  the  humblest  Chase  or  his  descendants,  thus 
affording  an  opportunity  to  very  largely  increase  the  membership  of 
the  Association,  and  also  to  bring  together  in  one  body  at  one  time 
the  largest  number  of  relatives  descended  from  one  line  the  world  ever 
saw. 

Should  your  Association  consider  favorably  the  proposition  to 
meet  in  Buffalo,  I  will  now  offer  my  services  in  any  capacity  in  which 
I  can  be  of  service. 

As  you  undoubtedly  know,  Buffalo  is  a  large,  prosperous  city,  with 
accommodations  for  almost  unlimited  gatherings,  both  indoor  and  out- 
door. It  seems  to  me  as  though  the  time  and  place  is  so  opportune 
that  other  propositions  would  willingly  withdraw  in  favor  of  Buffalo. 

I  can  promise  you  in  advance,  that,  should  he  be  then  living,  our 
next  President,  William  McKinley,  will  sit  with  your  President  and 
honor  the  illustrious  name  of  Chase   with   his  presence  and   counsel. 

Sincerely  yours  to  command, 

T.  Ellw<  )oi»  Cham:. 


From  Constantine  Chase,  Cait.  -\\h  Artillery,  U.  S.  A. 


Fort  Trumbull,  New   London,  Conn., 

August  5,    I'M  Mi. 
Mr.  Omar  P.  Chase, 

Andover,  Mass. 

Dear  Sir:  I  have  received  your  bulletin  of  The  Chase  Associ- 
ation  and  wish  to  be  enrolled  as  a  member.  To  this  end  1  enclose 
.luck  for  two  ($2.00)  dollars. 


26  llll    CHASE-CHACE  FAMILY  ASSOCIATION. 

I  also  enclose  memorandum  of  my  genealogical  record.  1  have 
more  of  it  of  the  female  side  and  collaterals,  but  suppose  you  don't 
want  it.  I  expect  to  get  more  from  my  father,  also,  who  has  made 
it  quite  a  study. 

If  you  can  fill  in  any  of  the  blank  dates  in  this  memorandum  I 
will  lie  glad  to  get  them. 

Thomas  Chase,  my  ancestor,  came  from  England  with  his  brother 
and  settled  in  I  [ampton,  N.  H.  Lieut.  Isaac  Chase,  a  British,  Colonial 
officer,  settled  in  Martha's  Vineyard  and  died  there.  I  have  seen  his 
grave.  The  rest  of  my  direct  line,  Chase,  lived  at  Martha's  Vineyard 
until  my  grandfather  settled  in  Boston.  I  was  born  in  Vineyard  Haven, 
but  was  brought  up  in  Boston  until  the  Civil  War,  when  I  became  a 
soldier.  Yours  very  truly, 

(  lONSTANTINE    CHASE, 


From  Philip  Brown  Chase 


Rosemont,  Pf.nn.,  August  20,  1900. 
Omar  P.  Ciiasr. 

Respected  Kinsman  :  Thy  letter  to  son  Frederic  has  been  read 
to  me.  It  gave  me  much  pleasure,  and  it  would  give  me  much  pleasure 
to  meet  so  many  kinsfolk  on  that  beautiful  hill  at  Andover  on  the 
thirtieth  instant.  The  surroundings  on  my  younger  days  are  perfectly 
familiar  to  my  mind's  eye.  It  was  a  favorite  ride  to  me  from  old 
Salem,  to  start  on  a  tine  morning,  dine  at  a  very  pleasant  house  of 
entertainment  directly  opposite  to  what  was  then  called  the  Institution 
and  ride  home  in  the  later  afternoon.  I  enjoyed  the  air  ami  whole 
environment,  and  with  one  of  my  cousins  or  an  uncle  went  as  often  as 
we  could. 

Please  give  my  besl  wishes  to  the  whole  assembly  for  the  success 
of  their  meeting.  Respectfully, 

Thy  kinsman, 

P.  B.  Cu.\^  . 

I!m  writer  of  the  above  letter,  Philip  Brown  <  lhase,  is  a  native  ol  Salem,  Mass., 
now  residing  in  Philadelphia,  Penn.      lie  was  born  June  Id,  L809,  ami  liis  advanced 

would  .niiil'-  him  i<>  be  called  the  Dean  ol  the  Association.  The  letter  was 
evidently  written  undei  the  impression  that  the  reunion  was  to  he  held  at  Andover, 

M: 


first  reunion,  newburyport,  mass.  27 

From  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Chase  Palmer. 


Kennebunkport,  Me.,  August  28,  1900. 

Secretary  Chase-Chace  Association, 
Newburyport,  Mass. 

My  Dear  Sir:  I  have  neither  your  name  or  address,  therefore 
take  the  liberty  of  sending  my  subscription  in  this  general  manner, 
trusting  it  will  serve  the  purpose  of  identifying  me  with  the  Associ- 
ation, in  which  I  am  deeply  interested. 

I  should  greatly  enjoy  being  present  on  the  thirtieth,  but  have 
found  it  impossible  to  accomplish  it  from  this  point  in  one  day. 

My  great  grandfather,  Deacon  Amos  Chase,  left  Newbury  and 
settled  in  Saco,  Maine,  before  1760.  The  old  homestead  still  stands. 
with  the  noble  elms  planted  by  him.  My  eldest  son,  Amos  Chase 
Palmer,  a  representative  of  the  fifth  generation,  was  born  there. 

I  rejoice  in  this  movement  and  regret  that  I  cannot  be  present. 
I  shall  welcome  any  information  on  this  subject. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Elizabeth  Chase  Palmer. 


From  Samuel  A.  Chase,  Treasurer  Central  Savings  Bank. 


Lowell,  Mass.,  August  L6,  L900. 

Mr.  Omar  P.  Chase, 

Treasurer  The  Chase-Chace  Family  Association. 

My  Dear  Sir:  In  reply  to  your  circular,  I  enclose  two  ($2.00) 
dollars  for  membership. 

I  have  before  me,  in  a  magazine  article,  an  interesting  history  oi 
Bishop  Chase  of  New  Hampshire. 

I  think  I  am  the  only  one  who  has  received  a  cash  payment  for 
shares  in  the  many  millions  belonging  to  the  Chase  and  Townley  estate 
in  England.     With  fraternal  regards,  1  am 

Very  truly  yours, 

Samuel  A.  Chase. 


28  THE  CHASE-CHACE  FAMILY  ASSOCIATION. 

From  Geo.  I..  Chase,  Pres.  Hartford  Fire  [nsurance  Co. 


Hartford,  August  27,  1900. 
O.  P.  Chase,  Esq.,  Secretary. 

Dear  Sir:  I  will  not  be  able  to  be  with  you  on  the  thirtieth, 
which  I  much  regret. 

Wishing  success  to  those  who  arc  doing  so  much  for  the  Associa- 
tion, 1  am  Yours  truly, 

George  L.  Chase. 


From  Wife  of  Gov.  Allen  of  Porto  Rico. 


57   Rolfe  Street,  Lowell,  Mass., 

August  7,  1900. 

Mr.  Omar  P.  Chase, 

Andover,  Mass. 

Dear  Sir:  Enclosed  find  two  ($2.00)  dollars  for  membership  in 
the  Chase-Chace  Family  Association.  I  have  also  to  record  the  birth 
of  Allen  Hobbs,  born  July  30,  1899,  son  of  Alexander  F.  and  Louise 
(Allen)  Hobbs. 

I  enclose  my  branch  to  see  if  you  wish  any  of  it.  I  am  very  sorry 
that  I  shall  be  unable  to  attend  the  meeting  of  August  thirtieth. 

Respectfully  yours, 

Mrs.  Charles  H.  Allen. 


From  Chiei    [ustice  Russell  S.  Taft,  Supreme  Court  of  Vermont. 


Montpelier,  \'t.,  August  2.S,  1900. 

Mr.  O.  P.  Chase, 

Andover,  Mass. 

Dear  Sir:  It  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  attend  the  Chase 
meeting  on  the  thirtieth  instant.  I  regret  it  exceedingly,  but  am  en- 
gaged  in  court,  although  the  mercury  is  about  ninety  in  the  shade. 


FIRST  REUNION,  NEWBURYPORT,   MASS.  29 

I  am  heartily  in  favor  of  the  object  of  the  Association,  but  I  am 
so  engaged  that  I  cannot  devote  the  time  to  render  much  aid.  You 
ought  to  choose  some  one  to  act  as  executive  committee  in  my  place. 

Extend  my  hearty  greetings  to  my  distant  cousins  of  the  Chase 
blood.  I  am  faithfully  yours, 

Russell  S.  Taft. 


From  Agnes  Blake  Toor,  Brookline,  Mass. 


Andover,  Me.,  August  24,  1900. 
Mr.  Omar  P.  Chase, 

Dear  Sir:  I  enclose  a  money  order  for  two  ($2.00)  dollars, 
desiring  to  become  a  member  of  the  Chase-Chace  Family  Association, 
and  wish  your  object  every  success.  I  enclose  my  line  from  Aquila, 
the  emigrant,  son  of  Richard,  and  grandson  of  Thomas  Chase  of 
Hundrick,  Chesham,  Backs. 

Yours  very  sincerely, 

Agnes  Blake  Poor. 


From  Hon.  Emory  A.  Chase,  Judge  Supreme  Court 
of  New  York. 


Catskill,  N.  Y.,  August  27,  1900. 

Omar  P.  Chase,  Treasurer, 

Andover,  Mass. 

Dear  Sir:  Enclosed  you  will  find  two  ($2.00)  dollars,  member- 
ship fee  in  the  Chase-Chace  Family  Association. 

I  have  been  in  communication  with  Rev.  William  A.  Eardeley  and 
have  given  and  will  give  him  so  far  as  possible  the  descendants  of 
Zephehiah  Chase,  of  whom  1  am  a  descendant.  I  desire  to  be  fur- 
nished with  family  line  as  stated,  that  1  can  compare  with  what  I  have. 

Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  let  me  know  where  you  get  the  coat  of 
arms  on  your  letter  paper.  Very  truly, 

Emory  A.  Chase. 


30  THE  CHASE-CHACE   FAMILY  ASSOCIATION. 

The  reading  of  the  letters  was  followed  by  a  vocal  solo  by  Miss 
Elizabeth  Carr  Adams  of  Newburyport.  Although  not  connected  with 
the  Chase  family,  so  far  as  known,  she  had  kindly  consented  to  assist 
in  entertaining  the  gathering,  and  her  selection  was  highly  appreciated. 


The  President  and  Secretary  made  verbal  reports  in  regard  to 
the  business  matters  of  the  Association,  which  reports  were  accepted. 
A  committee,  previously  appointed,  to  make  nominations  for  officers  for 
the  coming  year,  reported  the  following  list,  which  were  duly  elected  : 

President  —  John  C.  Chase,  Derry,  N.  H. 

Vice  Presidents  —  George  F.  Chace,  Taunton,  Mass.;  Charles  E. 
Chase,  Worcester,  Mass.;  Caleb  Chase,  Boston,  Mass.;  William  M. 
Chase,  Concord,  N.  H. ;  Clinton  S.  Chase,  Detroit,  Mich. 

Secretary-Treasurer  —  Omar  P.  Chase,  Andover,  Mass. 

Executive  Committee  —  Josiah  G.  Chase,  Cambridge,  Mass.; 
Thomas  C.  Thurlow,  West  Newbury,  Mass. ;  William  E.  Chase,  New- 
bury, Mass.  ;    Harry  G.  Chase,  Tufts  College,  Mass. 

Historians  —  Mrs.  Mary  L.  C.  Smith,  Hartford,  Conn.;  Rev. 
William   A.  Eardeley,   Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


Alter  another  enjoyable  solo  by  Mrs.  [Catherine  Knight  Chase, 
the  President  announced  that  brief  addresses  would  be  in  order,  and 
expressed  the  hope  that  no  one  would  hesitate  to  speak  on  account  of 
not  being  called  upon,  as  he  was  not  able  to  call  all  present  by  name, 
and  an  excessive  degree  of  modesty  might  deprive  the  meeting  of 
entertaining  and  interesting  remarks. 


Remarks  by  Rev.  Rufus  Emery  of  Newburyport. 

The  book  of  heraldry  says,  that  "He  who  has  no  desire  to  know 
what  he  has  been  has  no  knowledge  of  what  he  is  going  to  be."  And 
this  seems  to  me  to  enclose  a  very  great  truth,  one  of  vast  influence 
and  power.  We  are  sometimes  made  fun  of  or  laughed  at,  as  one  man 
said,  "Genealogy  is  lit  for  fools."     Of  course  there  is  a  great  deal  of 


FIRST  REUNION,  NEWBURYPORT,   MASS.  51 

sarcasm  expended  on  genealogical  research  and  investigation,  but  1 
have  always  thought  that  the  more  we  look  into  the  past,  and  the  more 
we  meditate  upon  the  deeds  of  those  brave  men,  the  more  we  desire 
to  imitate  them.  My  ancestors  wore  no  coronet  nor  crown  ;  their 
names  were  not  enrolled  on  the  annals  of  the  College  of  London  or 
elsewhere,  but  I  believe  them  to  have  been  brave  men,  and  men  of 
wisdom,  which  would  offset  all  that.  They  dared  to  care  for  and  to 
feed  the  Quakers  whom  others  drove  from  city  to  city.  I  believe  they 
were  men  of  sterling  purpose  and  great  zeal  and  that  they  acted  in 
truth.  My  ancestor,  Aquila  Chase,  suffered  somewhat  when  he  picked 
his  peas  on  Sunday.  I  certainly  believe  in  the  independence  of  the 
man;  it  was  to  his  credit,  and  I  reverence  him  for  it,  as  I  reverence 
my  other  ancestor  because,  when  the  minister  of  this  town  of  Newbury 
came  to  remonstrate  with  them  for  harboring  the  Quakers,  he  put  his 
head  in  at  the  door  and  said,  "  Be  not  forgetful  to  entertain  strangers, 
for  thereby  some  have  entertained  angels  unawares."  I  cannot  but 
hope  that  the  descendants  of  the  Chase  family  will  strive  to  imitate 
their  efforts  and  to  cherish  their  memories. 


Remarks  by  T.  C.  Thurlow  of  West  Newbury. 

We  live  on  the  place  in  West  Newbury  formerly  occupied  by 
Aquila  Chase  —  whether  the  original  Aquila  or  one  of  his  sons,  I  am 
unable  to  say  ;  but,  according  to  the  record,  1  am  of  the  seventh 
generation  direct  from  Aquila  Chase,  and  own  the  land  where  the 
original  house  stood.  My  mother  was  Susan  Chase,  and  the  reason 
my  name  is  not  Chase  is  because  she  was  an  only  child.  Many  from 
our  family  formerly  settled  in  New  Hampshire  and  Maine,  and  in  my 
grandfather's  day  they  often  came  back  to  the  old  homestead  to  visit 
their  "cousins."  Since,  many  of  their  descendants  have  emigrated  to 
New  York,  Ohio  and  further  west.  They  were  generally  of  a  nervous 
temperament,  muscular,  and  energetic  to  a  remarkable  degree,  and 
have  often  retained  these  characteristics  to  the  present  time. 

1  very  well  remember  the  Chase  gathering  at  Newburyport,  when 
I  was  a  small  boy, —  at  the  sudden  news  of  "untold  wealth"  over  in 
England,  for  the  descendants  of  Aquila  Chase.  Joshua  Coffin,  Esq., 
the  Old  Newbury  Historian,  was  i  hosen  a  committee  to  go  to  England 
and  secure  this  vast  estate  and  have  it  divided  among  the  rightful 
heirs;   but  as  the   "needful"   for  the    journey   was   not   supplied,   Mr. 


32  THE  CHASE-CHACE    FAMILY  ASSOCIATION. 

Coffin  did  not  go,  which  shows  that  the  faith  in  securing  this  property 
was  not  any  stronger  then  than  now. 

Il  is  said  that  Aquila  Chase  first  settled  in  Hampton,  N.  H.,  but 
as  he  understood  navigation  better  than  the  early  settlers  of  Newbury, 
he  was  offered  a  farm  if  he  would  come  over  here  and  make  his  home 
on  this  side  of  the  river.  History  records  it  that  he  was  the  first  white 
man  who  ever  came  over  the  Newburyport  bar  and  went  up  the  Merri- 
mack River  in  a  boat. 

I  have  never  during  my  travels  been  ashamed  to  admit  of  my 
Chase  blood,  notwithstanding  the  crime  of  our  original  ancestor  in 
being  lined  for  picking  green  peas  on  Sunday. 

We  are  glad  to  see  so  large  an  attendance  at  this  Chase  gathering 
to-day.  'There  are  many  places  of  historic  interest  in  this  and  the 
neighboring  towns,  and  I  would  extend  a  cordial  invitation  to  any  and 
all  to  visit  me  at  the  old  Chase  farm  in  West  Newbury,  where  the 
cellar  of  the  original  house  can  still  be  seen. 


Remarks  by  William  E.  Chase  of  Newbury. 

I  have  seen  a  great  deal  of  our  honored  President  recently,  but  he 
did  not  tell  me  that  he  wanted  me  to  make  a  speech.  I  have  made  it 
the  rule  of  my  life,  however,  never  to  refuse  to  say  a  few  words  when 
called  upon.  I  presume  our  President  wanted  some  one  to  speak 
who  had  always  lived  in  Newbury  tor  the  nine  generations.  We  have 
always  lived  here,  and  my  son  makes  the  tenth  generation.  I  welcome 
all  of  you,  who  have  deserted  the  old  town  of  your  ancestors,  back  to 
where  you  should  have  remained.  Il  you  had  all  remained  here,  we 
should  have  had  a  town  of  our  own  and  have  had  everything  our  own 
way,  city  government  and  all.  I  have  always  lived  here  and,  though 
they  have  taken  the  heart  of  the  old  town  and  called  it  Newburyport, 
I  have  moved  to  Newbury,  so  1  still  live  in  Newbury. 

I   have  heard   that   story  about   Aquila  Chase  being  the  first  white 

nun  to  <ross  the  Newburyport  liar,  that  he  was  a  good  pilot  and  under- 

d  a  boat,  and   perhaps  he   was   also  a  tanner.      Perhaps  he  went  to 

West    Newbury,  but   1  cannot  believe  that.      1  rather  think  he  died  in 

Newbury,  and  all  my  ancestors  have  lived  there  a  part  of  their  lives. 

1  am  glad  I  haw  nut  the  President  and  Secretary;  I  am  glad 
that  they  cami  me,  and  I  hope  1  may  be  of  some  future  service 

to  them,  living  hen'  in  the  old  place.      1  thank   you,  Mr.  President,  for 


FIRST  REUNION,   NEWBURYPORT,  MASS.  33 

the  honor  of  calling  upon  me,  and  welcome  you  all  to  Newburyport, 
and  would  like  to  have  you  all  come  to  see  me,  as  well  as  to  see 
Mr.  Thurlow  of  West  Newbury,  of  whose  invitation  I  shall  avail  myself 
sometime  and  see  if  I  cannot  find  some  trace  of  the  old  gentleman. 


Remarks  by  Rev.  William  A,  Eardeley  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

I  consider  it  a  great  privilege  to  be  called  upon  to  speak  here. 
It  is  in  our  articles  of  incorporation  that  we  are  to  publish  the  Chase 
family  history.  Where  this  story  of  the  legacy  first  started  I  do  not 
know.  I  do  not  think  it  was  heard  of  back  of  1825.  There  is  an 
impression  that  it  has  been  handed  down  from  generation  to  gener- 
ation. 1  think  it  is  absolutely  absurd.  I  do  not  think  it  was  heard  of 
until  some  scheming  lawyers  came  along  and  proposed  it  to  the  family. 
There  have  been  a  number  of  people  in  different  places  looking  it  up, 
but  they  say  there  is  nothing  in  it.  Whether  there  is  anything  in  it  I 
am  not  prepared  to  say.  From  the  fact  that  it  is  so  well  known,  it 
would  almost  seem  that  there  is  some  foundation  for  it.  I  wish  you 
would  all  think,  if  you  believe  in  that  estate,  that  your  first  duty  is  to 
have  your  family  history  published.  It  will  be  almost  impossible  to 
get  the  history  of  any  branch  complete,  but  you  can  do  nothing  with 
that  legacy  until  we  have  the  family  history  complete. 


Remarks  by  William  Moody  Chase  of  Dorchester,  Mass. 

I  have  sent  out  a  great  number  of  cards  to  the  members  of  the 
Chase  family  and  they  almost  universally  believe  in  this  Chase  legacy. 
Now  the  minister  to  London  who  has  recently  died  spent  a  great  deal 
of  time  in  looking  it  up,  and  he  said  positively  that  there  was  nothing 
of  the  kind,  nothing  tangible  to  get  hold  of.  He  was  bothered  almost 
every  day  in  the  year  with  some  correspondence  about  it,  and  he  stated 
conclusively  that  there  was  nothing  in  it.  I  have  been  familiar  with 
this  Chase  legacy  for  more  than  fifty  years.  I  think  Dr.  Chace's 
family  sent  me  the  first  notice  of  it,  and  I  wrote  back  to  him  that  I 
did  not  think  there  was  much  probability  of  there  being  anything  there. 

I  have  been  collecting  the  facts  in  regard  to  my  branch  of  the 
family  and  am  about  to  publish  it,  not  for  any  material  gain.  This  is 
the  first  time  that  I  have  met  so  many  Chases  in  my  life.     I  am  very 


34  THE  CHASE-CHACE  FAMILY  ASSOCIATION. 

glad  to  meet  the  representatives  of  the  family.  I  must  say  that  1  have 
never  seen  a  better  gathering  for  character  and  ability  than  those  that 
represent  our  society.  I  am  happy  to  see  so  respectable  a  number 
and  such  good  looks. 


Remarks  by  Miss  Alice  Louise  Chase,  Medina,  N.  Y. 

I  am  a  descendant  of  William  Chase.  We  have  our  genealogy 
published,  but  I  am  not  very  well  versed  in  the  early  history. 

I  want  to  say  that  my  grandmother  Chase,  when  eighty-two  years 
of  age,  received  a  prize  for  writing  one  of  the  memorial  poems  for  the 
Garfield  family.  All  of  our  family  are  Republicans  except  one  brother, 
and  while  it  is  not  a  disgrace,  still  we  wish  he  was  a  Republican  too, 
instead  of  a  Democrat. 

I  am  very  glad  to  be  here  and  to  do  what  I  can  for  the  Associ- 
ation. 


Remarks  by  Miss  Helen  A.  Whittier  of  Lowell,  Mass. 

My  cousin,  Mr.  D.  B.  Whittier,  of  Boston,  now  deceased,  was 
very  much  interested  in  the  "Chase  estate,"  and  devoted  some  time 
to  the  pursuit  of  information  concerning  it.  His  ardor,  however,  re- 
ceived a  check  when  I  was  able  to  prove  to  him,  by  computing  the 
shares  that  would  be  inherited  by  the  several  branches  of  the  Chase 
family,  that  his  portion  of  the  Chase  millions  would  be  only  thirty- 
seven  and  a  half  cents  !  Later,  in  reply  to  a  letter  which  he  addressed 
to  Minister  Phelps,  he  received  a  printed  circular  prepared  by  the 
latter,  stating  conclusively  that  there  was  no  such  estate  or  inheritance 
that  could  be  claimed  by  the  Chase  Family. 

I  can  add  a  word  in  regard  to  my  great  grandfather,  Francis 
Chase,  which  may  be  of  interest.  He  was  the  son  of  Samuel3  and 
became  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  Newton,  N.  H.,  then  known  as 
Amesbury  Newtown.  His  wife  was  Sarah  Pike,  daughter  of  Hugh 
Pike  and  Hannah  Kmerson.  He  had  fourteen  children,  one  of  whom 
was  my  grandmother,  Betsy  Chase,  who  married  Richard  Whittier  of 
Methuen. 

Francis  Chase  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  man  baptized  in  the 
Merrimack  River,  and  for  some  time  his  house  was  used  for  the  meet- 


FIRST  REUNION,   NEWBURYPORT,   MASS.  35 

ings  of  the  Baptist  society  which  he  was  instrumental  in  forming  in 
Newton,  and  of  which  he  was  Deacon. 

A  short  time  ago  I  had  the  pleasure  of  visiting  the  site  of  Francis 
Chase's  homestead,  now  marked  only  by  the  cellar-hole  and  many  old 
hand-made  bricks,  and  I  also  discovered  the  family  lot  and  handsome 
slate  gravestones  of  Deacon  Francis  Chase  and  Sarah,  his  wife,  also  of 
some  of  their  descendants,  all  of  which  are  beautifully  preserved  and 
cared  for  by  their  lineal  descendant,  Stephen  Chase,  of  Haverhill,  who 
still  owns  the  homestead  lot. 

The  line  of  my  Chase  ancestry  is  as  follows  :  Aquila,1  Moses,2 
Samuel,3  Francis,4  Betsy,5  Moses  Whittier,6  Helen  A.  Whittier.7 


Remarks  by  Albert  H.  Lamson,  Elkins,  N.  H. 

In  conversation  with  an  old  lady  whom  I  met  in  Scranton,  Penn., 
she  said  :  "You  do  not  talk  like  a  Pennsylvanian."  I  answered,  "No, 
I  am  from  New  England."  She  asked  me  if  I  knew  the  Chases  there, 
and  I  said,  "Yes,  my  great  grandmother  was  a  Chase."  Then  she 
asked  if  1  had  ever  heard  of  the  Chase  legacy  in  England,  and  I  told 
her  that  1  had.  She  then  inquired  how  many  there  were  in  my  family 
that  I  could  think  of,  and  1  told  her  about  fifty.  She  replied  :  "Then 
there  will  not  be  much  left  for  my  family." 


After  all  who  desired  had  availed  themselves  of  the  opportunity  to 
speak,  the  President  made  some  announcements  and  the  thanks  of  the 
Association  were  tendered  the  First  Religious  Society  for  the  use  of 
their  Meeting  House  ;  Miss  Elizabeth  Carr  Adams,  Mrs.  Katherine 
Knight  Chase  and  Miss  Alice  Louise  Chase  for  the  enjoyable  and 
appreciated  music  rendered,  and  to  all  others  who  had  contributed 
to  the  enjoyment  and  success  of  the  occasion.  The  audience  then 
joined  in  singing  America,  and  the  first  reunion  of  the  Association 
closed  with  the  benediction  by  Rev.  Mr.   Emery. 


In  the  afternoon  a  party  of  nearly  forty,  personally  conducted  by 
the  President,  took  the  electrics  for  West  Newbury  and  visited  the  site 
of  Ensign  Moses  Chase's  first  settlement  and  his  grave  and  those  of 
other  early  Chases  in  the  old  Ferry  Lane  cemetery. 


36  THE  CHASE-CHACE  FAMILY  ASSOCIATION. 


"  Waking,  I  dream.     Before  my  vacant  eyes 
In  long  procession  shadowy  forms  arise  ; 
Far  through  the  vista  of  the  silent  years 
I  see  a  venturous  band  ;   the  pioneers, 
Who  let  the  sunlight  through  the  forest's  gloom, 
Who  bade  the  harvest  wave,  the  garden  bloom. 

"The  seasons  pass;   the  roses  come  and  go  ; 
Snows  fall  and  melt ;   the  waters  freeze  and  flow  ; 
The  boys  are  men  ;   the  girls,  grown  tall  and  fair, 
Have  found  their  mates ;  a  gravestone  here  and  there 
Tells  where  their  fathers  lie  ; 

"Art  thou  not  with  me,  as  I  fondly  trace 
The  scanty  records  of  thine  honored  race, 
Call  up  the  forms  that  earlier  years  have  known, 
And  spell  the  legend  of  each  slanted  stone? 

"Could  I  but  feel  thy  gracious  presence  near 
Amid  the  groves  that  once  to  thee  were  dear  ! 
Could  but  my  trembling  lips  with  mortal  speech 
Thy  listening  ear^for  one  brief  moment  reach  ! 
How  vain  thejdream  !     The  pallid  voyager's  track 
No  sign  betrays;  he  sends  no  message  back." 

—  O.   IV.  Holmes. 


vtu^hzui  i4vuy 


Ihi  /IfoemoriaitL 


HENRY  MARTYN  CHASE. 

The  pioneers  of  1849  were  really  few  in  number,  and  now,  after 
fifty-one  years,  they  are  the  "lone  white  peaks  of  our  history"  in  this 
land  of  adventure,  for  one  by  one  these  brave  men's  names  are  enrolled 
among  the  silent  majority,  and  we  who  are  left  can  only  tell  of  their 
courage  and  patience  through  repeated  strokes  of  ill  fortune  and  hard- 
ship. This  time,  last  year,  one  was  living  who  would  have  been  fore- 
most in  welcoming  all  who  meet  here  today,  and  it  is  with  a  sense  of 
great  loss  that  we  remember  the  friendship  of  our  kinsman,  Henry 
Martyn  Chase,  who  passed  from  this  life  November  18,  1899.  He 
was  born  in  Philadelphia,  March  25,  1831,  and  was  the  youngest  son  of 
William  Frederic  Chase  and  Anna  Wiley,  of  Puritan  stock  on  the 
father's  side  and  Scotch  Irish  on  the  mother's.  His  father  died  in 
September  of  that  year,  and  his  mother  married  six  years  after,  Joshua 
Coffin,  of  Newbury,  who  was  at  that  time  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 

He  was  descended  from  Aquila  Chase,  an  early  settler  of  New- 
buryport,  and  was  a  direct  descendant  of  the  famous  Hannah  Dustin 
of  the  Indian  war  of  1687,  of  whom  you  all  know,  and  he  was  proud  of 
the  fact. 

In  1844  Mr.  Coffin  brought  his  family  to  the  old  homestead  in 
Newbury,  and  the  boy  came  soon  after  and  attended  school  there  for 
a  year,  when  he  entered  a  store  in  Nevvburyport  and  was  also  in  Ames- 
bury  for  a  time.  In  '48  he  went  to  New  Orleans  by  sea,  and  after  that 
he  went  on  a  fishing  cruise,  as  his  love  of  the  water  and  of  travel  was 
inborn.  When  scarcely  sixteen  he  became  so  much  interested  in 
Fremont's  account  of  the  far  west  that  he  determined  some  day  to  find 
that  favored  land,  and  the  opportunity  came  soon  after  the  discovery  of 
gold. 


38  THE  CHASE-CHACE   FAMILY  ASSOCIATION. 

On  the  eleventh  of  January,  '49,  he  took  passage  in  the  Brig 
Forest,  Captain  Nicholas  Varina,  of  Newburyport,  and  sailed  from 
Boston  to  San  Francisco,  a  boy  not  eighteen,  full  of  enthusiasm  and 
hope  for  the  future.  When  off  Cape  Horn,  in  a  terrific  gale,  the 
Captain  and  all  of  the  crew  but  two  sick  sailors  were  washed  overboard. 
Young  Chase  happened  to  be  on  deck,  and  the  same  traits  which 
followed  him  all  through  his  life  were  then  manifest,  for  he  at  once 
aroused  the  sleeping  passengers,  and  by  throwing  over  ropes,  life  buoys 
and  planks,  the  ship  being  hove  to,  they  succeeded  in  bringing  these 
men  aboard,  but  one  poor  fellow  was  dead. 

After  landing  in  San  Francisco,  with  but  a  few  cents,  he  went  im- 
mediately to  work,  but  in  a  few  weeks  was  taken  very  ill,  and  was  be- 
friended by  a  native  of  Newburyport,  Captain  Kilburn,  who  took  him 
on  his  ship  to  Portland,  Oregon,  and  thence  to  Astoria,  from  there  to 
Oregon  City,  where  he  was  a  clerk  in  the  Captain's  store.  Hut  the 
disastrous  floods  of  that  year  washed  away  the  stores  and  he  was  left 
stranded,  and  he  went  to  Portland,  then  a  little  village,  hired  a  batteau 
and  engaged  in  transporting  freight  and  passengers  from  Portland  to 
Oregon  City,  a  distance  of  thirteen  miles.  The  rates  of  freight  were 
then  $25.00  per  ton,  and  passenger  fares  $5.00  ;  as  he  afterwards  said, 
"unvexed  by  legislative  enactment  and  anti-monopoly  measures."  He 
continued  in  this  business  until  the  summer  of  1850,  when  sickness 
compelled  him  to  engage  in  mercantile  business  in  Oregon  City  and 
also  in  Champoeg,  in  the  latter  place  as  factor  for  the  famous  Hudson 
Pay  Company.  This  was  not  profitable,  and  he  associated  himself  with 
Dr.  William  McKay  and  went  east  of  the  mountains  on  a  trading  expe- 
dition, going  as  far  as  the  Nez  Perce  country. 

In  1853  he  returned  to  the  Dalles  and  was  an  agent  for  McKinley 
and  Allen,  a  large  trading  firm.  In  '54  he  was  in  business  with  William 
Craig  in  trading,  and  went  with  him  to  the  Grande  Ronde  Valley  to 
meet  the  coming  emigration,  and  then  took  the  stock  bought  there  to 
the  Lapwai  country,  where  Mr.  Craig  lived.  During  the  year  1854  he 
married  Margaret  Raboine,  who  died  in  1873.  Two  children  survive 
him  —  Henry  Dustan  and  Anna. 

As  he  was  favorably  impressed  with  the  climate  and  resources  of 
this  region  in  Walla  Walla  County,  now  known  as  Eastern  Washington, 
he  located  on  the  Touchet  River,  where  Dayton  now  stands,  and  en- 
gaged in  stock  raising,  putting  up  large  buildings  with  a  force  of  men. 
In  1855  the  Indian  war  broke  out  and  this  region  was  abandoned,  but 
he  staid  until  all  had  gone,  not  willing  to  leave  his  property  ;  but  being 


FIRST  REUNION,  NEWBURYPORT,   MASS.  39 

warned  by  a  friendly  Indian  that  the  hostile  tribes  were  ready  to  attack 
him,  he  was  forced  to  go,  and  on  the  next  day  they  came,  destroying 
everything  and  driving  away  his  stock. 

In  1855-6  he  raised  a  company  of  volunteers  from  the  Colville 
miners  and  friendly  Nez  Perces.  In  '56  he  was  commissioned  as 
Captain  of  Company  M,  Second  Regiment  of  Volunteers,  and  did  good 
service  until  the  war  was  over.  In  August  of  that  year  his  company 
was  mustered  out,  and  he  then  crossed  the  Bitter  Root  Mountains  and 
located  at  Fort  Owen,  now  in  Montana.  Here,  in  Major  John  Owen's 
service,  he  rebuilt  the  fort,  a  large  adobe  structure.  He  then  concluded 
to  go  back  to  Eastern  Washington  to  look  up  his  claims.  As  he  had  a 
number  of  horses,  the  fruit  of  his  labor  in  that  region,  he  went  with  a 
party  going  to  Salt  Lake  City,  to  trade  his  horses  for  cattle  and  take 
heavy  teams  there  for  Walla  Walla.  The  trip  was  hazardous  and 
lasted  forty  days.  While  there  he  was  commissioned  by  Superin- 
tendent Davies  of  Utah  to  find  two  children  who  had  been  captured 
by  the  Indians,  and  this  he  accomplished  in  the  face  of  many  perils. 
After  this,  in  company  with  three  men  whom  he  employed  and  a 
German  family  of  four  people,  he  left  again  for  Walla  Walla,  making 
another  dangerous  trip  of  twenty-one  clays. 

He  found  Walla  Walla,  when  he  returned  again,  a  thriving  village, 
but  his  land  had  been  taken,  and  a  law  suit  was  unavoidable.  While 
this  was  pending  he  located  on  tKe  Yukannon  and  engaged  in  stock 
raising.  His  claim  was  unjustly  decided  against  him,  so  he  removed 
to  Walla  Walla. 

In  1862  he  was  elected  to  the  Washington  Territory  Legislature 
and  served  over  a  year.  He  was  in  the  Quartermaster's  employ  at 
Fort  Walla  Walla  until  '65,  then  went  to  the  town  with  his  family.  In 
'68  he  was  elected  Probate  Judge,  in  '69  County  Auditor ;  was  re- 
elected in  '71,  serving  four  years.  In  that  time  he  served  as  City 
Clerk  and  City  Treasurer,  and  was  also  on  the  Common  Council.  In 
'69,  with  others,  he  organized  the  Walla  Walla  and  Columbia  River 
Railroad.  In  75  the  road  was  built,  the  first  in  the  territory,  thirty 
miles  long.  He  was  connected  with  the  road,  from  its  organization, 
for  many  years  in  various  capacities,  but  for  a  greater  part  as  a  Trustee 
and  as  Secretary  and  Treasurer.  He  was  also  connected  with  the 
Oregon  Railway  and  Navigation  Company.  In  76  he  was  appointed 
by  the  Governor  as  a  Commissioner  from  the  Territory  to  the  Cen- 
tennial Exposition  in  Philadelphia,  and  spent  the  summer  in  the  East. 
In  78  he  was  appointed  as   Deputy  County  Treasurer.      In   79   and 


40  THE  CHASE-CHACF.  FAMILY  ASSOCIATION. 

until  '85  he  was  in  active  service  for  the  W.  W.  &  C.  R.  R.  and  the 
O.  R.  &  N.  Co.  In  the  fall  of  '85  he  again  visited  the  East,  and  was 
occupied  a  part  of  the  time  in  the  interests  of  the  Railroad  Company 
and  the  western  country,  the  land  of  his  adoption.  In  '88  he  sold  his 
home  in  Walla  Walla  and  came  to  Massachusetts  to  live,  settling  in 
Barnstable  in  '91.  In  '89  he  was  appointed  by  the  Governor  of  the 
new  state  of  Washington  as  one  of  the  Commissioners  to  attend  the 
one  hundredth  anniversary  of  George  Washington's  inaugural  in  New 
York,  and  was  present  at  all  the  ceremonies.  Whatever  he  engaged  to 
do,  at  home  or  abroad,  was  always  well  done. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  gave  freely  to  its 
support  in  the  West,  and  was  one  of  its  vestrymen  for  many  years  at 
St.  Paul's  in  Walla  Walla  and  was  also  senior  warden  at  St.  Mary's  in 
Barnstable.  He  was  always  ready  to  listen  and  respond  to  calls  for 
charity,  and  was  one  of  the  first  to  answer  public  demands.  He  was  a 
real  lover  of  art  in  all  her  phases,  was  devoted  to  literature,  and  very 
fond  of  reading  aloud  from  his  favorite  books,  which  he  did  to  per- 
fection. Within  the  past  four  years  he  collected  a  large  amount  of 
genealogical  matter,  but  was  not  able  to  finish  the  work. 

1  lis  manner  was  that  of  the  old  school  and  his  hospitality  genuine. 
His  faults  (for  who  has  them  not)  were  more  the  outcome  of  circum- 
stances than  inborn,  and  to  those  who  knew  him  truly,  were  dear.  He 
bore  with  great  fortitude  and  patience  his  manifold  cares  and  per- 
plexities and  clung  to  life  until  the  last,  feeling  that  he  had  left  much 
undone.  Upon  the  marble  which  marks  his  resting  place  in  the 
beautiful  Oak  Hill  cemetery,  in  Newburyport,  are  these  words,  and 
none  could   be   more   fitting  : 

"To  live  in  hearts  we  leave  behind, 
Is  not  to  die." 


+> 


Km 


/ue^'^^^-^j 


BENJAMIN  CHASE. 


Benjamin  Chase,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  that  part 
of  Chester,  N.  H.,  now  known  as  Auburn,  July  7,  1799,  and  entered 
into  rest  after  a  long,  active  and  well  spent  life,  May  5,  1689.  He  was 
the  son  of  Benjamin  Pike  and  Anna  Blasdel  Chase,  his  family  line 
being  Benjamin  Pike,1'  Wells,5  Moses,4  Moses, :!  Moses,2  Aquila.1 

The  first  twenty-six  years  of  his  life  were  spent  on  his  father's  farm. 
His  education,  as  stated  by  himself,  was  limited  to  about  eight  weeks 
each  winter,  after  the  age  of  twelve,  at  the  common  school,  kept  "in  a 
house  fifteen  by  sixteen  feet,  rough  boarded  and  ceiled,  with  three 
windows  of  nine  panes  each,  a  smoky  chimney,  and  warmed  by  burn- 
ing green  wood,  which  lay  out  in  the  snow  until  needed.  The  writing 
desks  were  planks  or  boards,  one  edge  fastened  to  the  wall  of  the 
house  and  the  other  supported  by  legs  inserted  in  auger  holes,  and 
stools  with  legs  for  seats."  Three  terms  previously,  in  the  summers,  at 
private  schools  taught  by  a  woman,  made  up  the  sum  of  his  school 
days.  Before  going  to  any  school  he  had  of  his  own  volition,  and 
practically  unaided,  mastered  the  common  school  arithmetic  as  far  as 
the  "  Rule  of  Three,"  in  the  absence  of  a  slate  using  a  board  and  chalk. 
We  quote  further  from  his  reminiscences  : 

"The  school  district  to  which  1  belonged  had  in  1806,  $25.00; 
in  J8j07  $31.67;  in  1815,  $34.27,  which  was  laid  out  in  the  winter, 
paying  a  male  teacher  ten  or  eleven  dollars  per  month  and  board. 
Grammar  was  taught  but  little,  geography  not  at  all,  except  by  using 
Morse's  Abridgement  as  a  reading  book  in  the  highest  class.  In  early 
times  the  pupils  had  no  arithmetics  and  the  teacher  set  the  sums  on 
the  slate  and  the  pupils  wrought  them  and  carried  them  up  for  exami- 
nation. In  181b  I  borrowed  from  Stephen  Chase,  Esq.,  an  English 
work  on  Geometry,  Trigonometry  and  Surveying  and  went  through 
that  in  the  school-house,  but  without  a  teacher,  just  for  the  pleasure 
of  it,  and  without  the  least  idea  of  any  practical  advantage.  I  also 
studied  navigation.  In  the  summer  of  L816  my  brother  fohn  and 
my  father  had  a  controversy  on  some  point  of  astronomy,  and  to  settle 


42  THE  CHASE-CHACE  FAMILY  ASSOCIATION. 

it,  father  went  to  Chester  to  the  town  library  and  got  Ferguson's 
Astronomy,  which  contained  rules  for  calculating  new  and  full  moons 
and  eclipses.  I  thought  that  it  would  be  a  pleasant  thing  to  know  how 
to  do  it.  From  the  tables  certain  elements  are  obtained  and  then  a 
geometrical  projection  is  made.  As  the  book  must  be  returned,  I  had 
to  copy  the  tables,  and  now  have  them.  I  calculated  the  eclipses  for 
several  years  and  have  several  of  the  projections  now.  I  had  no  other 
instruments  than  a  two  foot  Gunter  scale  and  a  pair  of  brass  dividers. 
If  I  wished  to  draw  a  circle  I  had  to  tie  a  pen  to  one  leg  of  the 
dividers.  These  studies,  pursued  merely  for  the  pleasure  of  them, 
have  proved  of  great  practical  utility  to  me.  In  1818,  Stephen  Chase 
who  had  done  all  of  the  land  surveying  for  many  years  failed  in  health 
and  I  took  it  up  and  did  much  for  several  years,  which  prepared  me 
to  write  and  make  the  map  for  the  History  of  Chester.  These  studies 
also  prepared  me  to  understand  the  science  of  the  millwrights  trade." 

Procuring  the  necessary  tools,  he  finished  the  house  which  became 
his  residence  on  his  marriage  and  was  his  home  to  the  end  of  his  long 
life.  He  was  married  March  2,  1826,  to  Hannah,  daughter  of  Moses 
Kimball  and  Lucretia  Currier  Hall,  to  whom  were  born  two  daughters 
and  a  son.  She  died  suddenly  February  25,  1876,  while  invitations 
were  out  for  a  golden  wedding. 

Being  a  descendant  on  his  mother's  side  of  two  generations  of 
clock  makers,  he  was  a  mechanic  by  inheritance.  In  1825  he  found 
temporary  employment  as  a  millwright,  which  led  him  into  that  line  of 
business  for  the  remainder  of  his  most  active  life,  making  many  im- 
provements on  the  sawmills  and  gristmills  that  were  in  use  preceding 
his  time.  Though  mathematical  and  philosophical  in  his  tastes,  his 
character  was  well  rounded  out  by  the  development  of  moral  and 
literary  qualities.  In  his  early  manhood  he  heard  a  discourse  on  the 
subject  of  total  abstinence  from  intoxicating  liquors,  and  at  once  not 
only  adopted  that  principle  in  his  practice,  but  confined  himself  mainly 
to  water  as  a  beverage  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

When  the  docrine  of  immediate  emancipation  of  the  slaves  was 
proclaimed  by  William  Lloyd  Garrison  it  was  embraced  by  Mr.  Chase, 
as  well  as  that  of  non-resistance  and  woman's  rights,  and  he  often  con- 
tributed articles  on  those  subjects  to  the  "  Liberator"  and  the  "Herald 
Hi  Freedom." 

In  L864  he  commenced  the  work  of  compiling  the  History  of 
Chester,  N.  II.,  1719-1869,  with  map  of  the  original  proprietor's  lots, 
devoting  to  that  work  the  time  not  occupied  in  his  regular  vocation. 


FIRST  REUNION,  NEWBURYPORT,   MASS.  43 

This  was  published  as  a  volume  of  seven  hundred  pages  in  1869  and  is 
adjudged  one  of  the  best  of  the  many  town  histories. 

When  the  story  of  the  Chase  fortune  in  England  was  proclaimed, 
about  1846,  Mr.  Chase,  though  giving  no  credence  to  the  report,  be- 
came interested  to  look  up  the  genealogy  of  his  ancestry  and  the 
different  branches  of  the  immigrant  Aquila.  This  he  made  complete 
for  his  own  line  and  collected  much  more  for  connecting  lines,  making 
very  thorough  search  of  real  estate  and  probate  records,  and  making 
maps  of  old  Newbury,  Cornish,  N.  H.,  and  other  places,  and  thus 
locating  the  residences  of  many  of  the  earlier  generations.  Copies  of 
these  memoranda  were  furnished  to  Dr.  John  B.  Chace  of  Taunton, 
Mass.,  now  deceased,  who  was  engaged  in  the  same  work  for  publi- 
cation, giving  his  attention  not  only  to  the  genealogy  of  Aquila  and  his 
brother  Thomas,  but  also  to  William,  who  was  contemporary  with  but 
not  certainly  related  to  them.  The  tangible  work  of  these  men  is  now 
deposited  with  the  New  England  Historic  Genealogical  Society  in 
Boston,  awaiting  a  master  hand  who  shall  complete  for  publication. 

Mr.  Chase  was  a  man  of  sturdy  frame  and  great  earnestness  of 
purpose.  One  of  the  rules  of  his  life  was  the  scriptural  injunction, 
"Whatsoever  thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  do  it  with  thy  might."  Another 
was,  "I  first  endeavor  to  ascertain  my  duty  and  then  do  it."  He  knew 
no  idle  hours.  Pushing  his  business  in  working  hours,  he  devoted 
all  others  but  those  for  sleep  to  intellectual  and  social  enjoyment. 
Though  doing  a  great  amount  of  laborious  work  in  his  occupation  as 
millwright,  he  so  kept  an  even  balance  of  physical  and  mental  effort 
that  his  strength  was  well  preserved  and  his  mind  clear  until  near  the 
end,  at  two  months  less  than  ninety  years. 


JOHN  B.  CHACE,  M.  D. 


John  B.  Chace,  M.  D.,  of  Taunton,  was  born  in  Swansea,  June  14, 
1816.  His  father  was  John  Chace,  who  died  while  still  a  young  man, 
leaving  his  only  son  to  the  care  of  his  mother,  Deborah  n£e  Macomber, 
who  afterward  married  William  Wilbur  of  Little  Compton.  During  his 
early  years  he  attended  the  district  school  of  his  native  town.  When 
about  eleven  years  of  age  he  was  sent  to  the  Friends'  School  in  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.  There  he  spent  the  next  five  years,  including  most  of  the 
vacation  seasons.  Full  of  fun  he  was  (to  judge  from  reports  of  his 
school  life  still  in  existence),  diligent  and  faithful  in  his  school  work. 
He  was  very  fond  of  the  higher  mathematics,  and  in  later  life  thoroughly 
enjoyed  wrestling  with  hard  problems  until  he  conquered.  In  Taunton 
there  lived  a  man  by  the  name  of  Williams  whose  one  aim  in  life  was 
to  solve  mathematical  problems  which  others  had  given  up  in  despair. 
Dr.  Chace  and  "Mathematical  Williams"  (the  only  name  by  which 
he  was  called),  enjoyed  interchanging  such  difficult  problems  as  were 
brought  to  them  by  others. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with 
Dr.  Wilbur  of  hall  River.  He  took  his  degree  in  1838  at  the  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  Philadelphia.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  began 
the  practice  of  medicine  in  Somerset.  There  he  married  Rebecca, 
daughter  of  Eber  and  Sybil  Chace  who  belonged  to  the  Society  <>i 
Friends.  Three  sons  and  a  daughter  died  in  infancy.  Two  sons  and 
three  daughters  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood,  sons  and  daughters 
lor  whose  lives  he  thanked  God  upon  his  dying  bed. 

In  I  sis,  in  company  with  others,  he  went  to  California  as  a 
physician.  The  voyage  was  made  on  the  "old  Hark  Ann,"  by  way  of 
Cape  I  bun.  He  was  away  about  two  years.  His  stay  in  California 
was  not  without  its  hardships.  In  later  years,  when  one  of  his  children 
was  fretting  because  the  city  water  was  not  colder,  he  said  to  her: 
"Noii  ought  to  be  thankful  for  pure  water.  1  remember  a  time  in 
California   when,   in   one  of  our  journeys,  we  suffered  so  much   from 


Hj 


•--* 


FIRST  REUNION,   NEWBURYPORT,   MASS.  15 

thirst  that  we  were  thankful  to  kneel  down  by  a  pool  of  stagnant  water 
and  brush  away  the  green  scum  that  we  might  get  water  to  moisten  our 
parched  lips." 

From  California  he  embarked  as  surgeon  on  an  East  Indian  ship, 
and  then  lived  a  short  time  in  Manila.  While  there  an  English  phy- 
sician, Dr.  Reed,  presented  him  with  an  elegant  and  valuable  lace 
handkerchief  containing  one  hundred  dollars  in  gold  as  an  expression 
of  appreciation  for  professional  service  rendered  to  his  wife. 

On  his  return  from  the  East  Indies,  in  1850,  he  lived  in  Somerset 
five  years,  and  then  in  Westport  two  years,  returning  to  Taunton  in 
1857,  where  he  remained  until  his  death  with  the  exception  of  a  short 
time  spent  in  the  state  of  New  York. 

"As  a  physician  he  was  faithful  and  successful,  but  it  was  in  surgery 
that  he  had  especial  pride.  Here  his  clear  judgment,  perfect  ana- 
tomical knowledge,  and  steady  hand,  combined  to  give  him  a  high 
rank."  Many  a  poor  fellow  owed  the  preservation  of  an  arm  or  a  leg 
to  Dr.  Chace.  When  others  had  said  "It  must  come  off,"  he  would 
say,  "Let  us  try  first  to  save  it,"  and  save  it  he  did  if  possible.  He 
often  remarked,  "  It  is  much  easier  for  a  surgeon  to  take  off  a  badly 
injured  limb  than  it  is  to  save  it ;  but  it  is  far  better  for  the  man  to 
have  his  limb,  even  if  he  can  make  but  little  use  of  it."  He  despised 
shams  and  make-believe  sickness,  but  he  had  long  patience  with  real 
sickness.  One  day  he  said  to  a  well  woman  who  was  always  complain- 
ing, "Madam,  what  you  need  is  to  go  home  and  go  to  work."  Some 
months  later  she  came  to  him  and  said  :  "  Doctor,  I  was  mad  when 
you  told  me  to  'go  home  and  go  to  work,'  but  I  did  it  and  it  cured 
me.  You  told  the  truth."  At  another  time  he  was  asked  what  en- 
abled him  to  cure  so  many  people  of  chronic  ailments.  His  reply  was 
short  and  to  the  point  —  "Patience." 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society  from 
1848  until  his  death,  and  of  the  North  District  Medical  Society,  and 
one  of  its  board  of  censors. 

During  our  Civil  War  he  was  assistant  examining  surgeon  for  re- 
cruits and  substitutes  for  eastern  Massachusetts  ;  and  for  ten  years 
previous  to  his  death  he  served  as  Cnited  States  Examiner  of  Pensioners, 
his  last  illness  compelling  him  to  resign  a  few  months  before  his  death. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  denomination  to  which  he  was 
strongly  attached;  and  while  there  was  a  church  of  that  name  in 
Taunton,  his  house  was  always  '•ministers'  hotel."  One  of  the  minis- 
ters who  was  told  on  coming  to  Taunton  that  it  was  "necessary  for  him 


46  THE  CHASE-CHACE  FAMILY  ASSOCIATION. 

to  go  to  the  hotel  as  neither  of  the  deacons  could  entertain  him,"  re- 
plied, "You  needn't  think  I  shall  go  to  a  hotel  while  Brother  Chace  is 
in  town,"  and  he  didn't.  While  in  Westport  he  held  pastoral  charge 
of  the  small  church  at  Brownell's  Corners  for  some  months,  and  in 
Somerset  and  other  places  he  assisted  smaller  churches  by  occasionally 
preaching  for  them. 

In  his  family  relations  he  was  a  true  and  faithful  husband  and 
father.  He  trained  his  children  with  especial  care.  Young  physicians, 
troubled  fathers  and  neighbors  in  their  perplexities  often  sought  his 
aid,  glad  to  avail  themselves  of  the  wise  counsel  of  a  true  friend. 

His  genealogical  researches,  which  continued  while  strength  lasted, 
covered  a  period  of  more  than  thirty  years.  He  thoroughly  enjoyed 
the  work,  to  which  he  devoted  a  large  expenditure  of  time,  money  and 
faithful  and  persistent  effort.  He  was  greatly  disappointed  because  he 
was  unable  to  complete  and  publish  the  work. 

His  last  illness  was  one  of  intense  and  prolonged  suffering,  borne 
with  patience  and  faith  until  the  end,  which  came  May  31,  1881. 
The  funeral  services  were  conducted  by  the  Rev.  J.  Colver  Wightman 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  assisted  by  Rev.  Martyn  Summerbell  and 
another  minister  of  his  own  denomination. 

By  Helena  P.  Chace. 


FIRST  REUNION,  NEWBURYPORT,   MASS. 


17 


ATTENDANCE   REGISTER. 


Larkin  E.  Bennett 

Charles  H.  Brown 

John  T.  Brown 

Mrs.  Olive  S.  Bunce 

Alice  Durgin  Chase 

Alice  Louise  Chase 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrew  J.  Chase 

Anna  Louise  Chase 

Benjamin  Chase    . 

Benjamin  Hall  Chase 

Carolyn  Louise  Chase 

Charlotte  Fabens  Chase 

Clinton  S.  Chase   . 

Daniel  E.  Chase    . 

Edward  C.  Chase 

Elizabeth  Moon  Chace 

Mrs.  Fred  W.  Chase       . 

George  Frederic  Chace 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  George  Thorndike  C 

Mrs.  Hannah  Smith  Chase 

Harriett  Louise  Chase   . 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harry  Gray  Chase 

Mrs.  Harvey  B.  Chase   . 

Herbert  Appleton  Chase 

Herbert  Lincoln  Chase 

Horace  Chase 

Ida  M.  Chase 

James  Albert  Chase 

Jenny  J.  Chase 

J.  Herbert  Chase 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  C.  Chase 

John  M.  Chase 

John  Tilton  Chase 

Joseph  Titcomb  Chase 

Joseph  Titcomb  Chase,  Jr.,  3d 

Joseph  Warren  Chase     . 

Josiah  G.  Chase     . 


hase 


Lowell,  Mass. 

Newbirryport,  Mass. 

Newburyport,  Mass. 

Groveland,  Mass. 

Derry,  N.  H. 

Medina,  N.  Y. 

Boston,  Mass. 

Keene,  N.  H. 

Derry,  N.  H. 

Manchester,  N.  H. 

Derry,  N.  H. 

Salem,  Mass. 

Detroit,  Mich. 

Somerville,  Mass. 

Chester,  N.  H. 

Valley  Falls,  R.  I. 

Newburyport,  Mass. 

Taunton,  Mass. 

.    New  York,  N.  Y. 

Salisbury,  Mass. 

Derry,  N.  H. 

West  Newbury,  Mass. 

Lowell,  Mass. 

Haverhill,  Mass. 

Chester,  N.  H. 

West  Newbury,  Mass. 

Newburyport,  Mass. 

West  Newbury,  Mass. 

Nashua,  N.  H. 

Meriden,  Conn. 

Derry,  N.  H. 

Newburyport,  Mass. 

West  Newbury,  Mass. 

Huston.  Mass. 

Boston,  Mass. 

Chester,  N.  II. 

Cambrii Ige | » >rt .  Mass. 


is 


THE  CHASE-CHACE  FAMILY  ASSOCIATION. 


% 


Mrs.  Katherine  Knight  Chase 

Moses  1 1.  ( 'hase    . 

Omar  P.  Chase 

Mrs.  Otis  Gray  Chase    . 

Sara  Chase    ' 

Sarah  Alice  Chase 

Mrs.  Sarah  L.  Chase 

Mrs.  Thurston  S.  Chase 

William  E.  Chase 

William  Moody  Chase    . 

Mrs.  Emily  A.  Clark       . 

William  J.  Creasey 

Mrs.  Lucy  A.  Danforth 

Mrs.  Mary  F.  Dow 

Rev.  William  A.  Fardeley 

Mrs.  Ira  A.  Eastman 

Rev.  Rufus  Emery 

Mrs.  Susie  J.  Fitz 

Elizabeth  M.  Gray 

Mrs.  Sarah  L.  Gray 

Mrs.  E.  Ellen  Hayward 

Mrs.  Minnie  Dow  Janvrin 

Mrs.  Franklin  E.  Johnson 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Albert  Henry  Lamso 

Mrs.  Anna  Cora  Lewis   . 

Mrs.  Anna  Maria  Morse 

Mrs.  Lucy  Hale  Ordway 

Mrs.  Mary  A.  Ryan 

Ethyl  Ryan   . 

Melinda  P.  Rogers 

Avery  Chase  Smith 

George  Brainard  Smith 

Mrs.  Mary  L.  C.  Smith 

Mrs.  Edward  15.  Storer 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Andrew  J.  Stevens 

Mrs.  Lucinda  Levina  Temple 

Edward  Kimball  Thurlow 

Thomas  ( !hase  Thurlow 

Mary  Anna  Toppan 

Helen  A.  Whittier 


ff 


Haverhill,  Mass. 
Newburyport,  Mass. 
Andover,  Mass. 
West  Newbury,  Mass. 
.       Parkville,  N.  Y. 
South  Byfield,  Mass. 
Newburyport,  Mass. 
Newburyport,  Mass. 
Newbury,  Mass. 
.  Dorchester,  Mass. 
Derry,  N.  H. 
Newburyport,  Mass. 
Haverhill,  Mass. 
Hampton  Falls,  N.  H. 
.       Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
Andover,  Mass. 
West  Newbury,  Mass. 
Salem,  Mass. 
Nashua,  N.  H. 
Nashua,  N.  H. 
South  Framingham,  Mass. 
Hampton  Falls,  N.  H. 
Lowell,  Mass. 
Elkins,  N.  H. 
Newburyport,  Mass. 
Keene,  N.  H. 
Newburyport,  Mass. 
Newburyport,  Mass. 
Newburyport,  Mass. 
Byfield,  Mass. 
Newburyport,  Mass. 
Hartford,  Conn. 
Hartford,  Conn. 
Newburyport,  Mass. 
Maiden,  Mass. 
Manchester,  N.  H. 
West  Newbury,  Mass. 
W  est  Newbury,  Mass. 
Newburyport,  Mass. 
Lowell,  Mass. 


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