Chase Family

Chase is a name that is found frequently in the history of Rocks Village. The Chases who settled in or near the village are descended from Aquila Chase born 9 April 1618 in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England and Anne Wheeler, born 13 May 1620 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. Aquila, often referred to as Aquila Jr., arrived in Hampton NH in 1639, married Anne in 1641, and they moved to Newbury in 1646.  They had at least five sons, all with descendants involved at some point with the village:  Aquila, Thomas, JohnMoses, Daniel. Some sources [GENI] list two other sons, James and Nathaniel, but the supplied birth dates are not possible. Aquila and Anne had six daughters: Sarah, Anne, Priscilla, Mary, Elizabeth, and Ruth who died unmarried.
Thomas and Moses Chase married sisters Rebecca and Ann Follansbee. Descendants of Thomas Chase include Lydia Chase, daughter of Josiah Chase and wife of  the infamous Ephraim Colby. She and her brother Nathan Chase both lived in the village. Descendants of Moses Chase include Moses Chase who married Sarah Flanders, one possible witch of the village, as well as Samuel Chase and his descendants who owned 18 acres of land on the south side of E. Main St.  Moses Chase’s daughter Elizabeth married John Carr, the father of James Carr who owned most of the north side of E. Main St for a period in the 1700’s. Descendants of John Chase include Amos Chase and William DS Chase who lived near the Baptist church. Through John’s son David Chase we get to Benjamin Chase and his daughter Eliza Hall who owned a good deal of village real estate in the early 1800’s. Another member of the (David, John, Aquila) branch was  Simeon Chase, who along with his descendants  lived in the ‘witch house’ on Colby’s Lane for several generations.  Another member of the same branch is  Anthony Chase who owned and operated water-powered mills in the East Parish (Middle St.).
Aquila Jr. Chase came to Newburyport in 1646  when he had four acres granted for a house lot and six acres of marsh on the condition that he go to sea and do service for the town on a boat for four years. He was a shipmaster. Joshua Coffin in his History of Newbury states that it is a Chase family tradition that Aquila was the first person to pilot a vessel across the bar at the mouth of the Merrimack river.  Ann was a passenger on the ship “Mary and John”, 1634.(source?) After Aquila’s death, Anne married Daniel Mussiloway/Silloway.
Several of the descendants of Aquilla (sic.) Chase settled in West Newbury, and the houses they built are still standing and in grand repair. [33]
There was much intermarriage between the Chase family and the Morse family.

Aquila  Chase’s ancestors trace back to England through his father, Aquila Benjamin Chase. The connection is verified by two main reasons: 1) we know Aquila and Thomas were born in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England, as was Aquila Benjamin Chase. Aquila Benjamin and his wife Martha Sarah did have two sons Aquila and Thomas on the correct dates 2) the name Aquila is rare in England. English parish records provide the lineage back from Aquila Benjamin to John Chase who was probably born about 1455, then back through Thomas 1422, Thomas 1371, Sir Thomas 1350 to Philip Chase born before 1300. The name Chase is likely Norman from the French La Chasse.

[Source: A Geneological Memoir of The Chase Family of Chesham, Bucks, in England and of Hampton and Newbury in New England, with Notices of some of their Descendents. by George B. Chase. Reprinted: Boston: H. W. Dutton & Son. 1869.]

John Chase – father of Matthew, b c 1455  Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England.

Matthew CHASE [4273] (John 1) was born on 5 Dec 1486 in Hundrich Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England. Matthew married Elizabeth BOULD in 1518. Their child:

Thomas Chase (Matthew, John) was born on 22 Apr 1520 in Hundrich, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England. Thomas married Elizabeth BOWSHIEW (b. _____-_____-1518, d. 2 Oct 1569) in 1539. Thomas was the father of five children, born at Hundrich : John, baptized November 30, 1540; Richard, of whom further; Agnes, baptized January 9, 1551 ;William ; Christian. Elizabeth was buried on 2 Oct 1569 in Hundrick Parish, Chesham, Bucks,England.

Richard Chase (Thomas 3, Matthew 2, John 1) was born on 26 Jul 1542 in Hundrich, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England, died on 31 Jan 1611 in England at age 68. Richard first married Mary Mitchell in 1558. He married, April 16, 1564, Joan Bishop, who bore him nine children, born at Hundrich, baptismal dates given : Robert, September 2, 1565 ; Henry, August 10, 1567; Lydia, October 4, 1573; Ezekiel, April 2, 1575 ; Dorcas, March 2, 1578; Aquila Benjamin, of whom further; Jason, January 13, 1585; Thomas, July 18, 1586; Abigail, January 12, 1588; Mordecai, July 31, 1591. These children are listed in the parish register of Chesham.

Aquila Benjamin Chase (Richard 4, Thomas 3, Matthew 2, John 1) b 14 Aug 1580 Hundrich, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England, , died on 9 Apr 1641 in Chesham, Chiltern, Buckinghamshire, England at age 60. He married Martha Sarah JELLIMAN (JELLISON) daughter of John JELLIMAN [4268] and Margerie on 11 Jun 1606 in Chesham, Chiltern, Buckinghamshire, England. Martha Sarah was born on 10 Nov 1588 in Hundrich Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England, died on 15 Aug 1643 in Chesham, Chiltern, Buckinghamshire, England at age 54.

Children of Aquila and Martha born in Chesham were Richard, Priscilla m John Ramsdell, William (4 Jan 1607 -13 May 1659 Yarmouth, MA), Ann died young, Martha died young, Sarah died age 13, Elizabeth died age 9, Joane died young, Thomas, and  Aquila, see below.

It is generally believed that William Chase, first of the name in America, came with or prior to his younger brothers. [Source: Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire : A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation. In Four Volumes by Ezra S. With William F. Whitcher and Edward E. Parker Stearns (Hardcover – 1908)]

It is not discovered on what ship Aquila and Thomas or William arrived. It was before 1640.

Thomas Chase (Aquila Benjamin, Richard 4, Thomas 3, Matthew 2, John 1) was born on 25 Jul 1616 in Hundridge, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England, died on 5 Oct 1652 in Hampton, New Hampshire, United States at age 36,  m Elizabeth Philbrick daughter of Thomas PHILBRICK and Elizabeth in -1642 in Hampton, New Hampshire, United States. Thomas and Elizabeth had five children born in Hampton NH, all sons, Thomas, Joseph, Isaac, James, and Abraham.

Thomas Chase was a brother of Aquila (1) first appears in New England, at Hampton, N.H., among the second group of settlers there having a grant of land in June 1640. (History of Hampton, 1:18). He married about 1642 Elizabeth Philbrick. Thomas Chase died in Hampton shortly before 5 Oct. 1652, upon which day his widow Elizabeth Chase was granted administrator upon the estate. The inventory taken on 2 June 1653, indicates the estate was valued at 111:18:10 (pounds) which was attested by Elizabeth Chase the widow.

He and his brother Aquila received grants at the same time. These earliest grants were of large tracts for farms but those made in June 1640 were small tracts for house lots. On 23 Feb, 1645/6 there were granted to sixty proprietors of house lots in Hampton one or more shares in the “Common”. Aquila Chase received one share and Thomas Chase two shers while some others received three shares. Thomas Chase’s homestead was opposite that of his wife’s father Thomas Philbrick, and near the Jesse Lamprey house a short distance southeast of “The Meeting-House Green”.

Aquila Chase (Aquila Benjamin, Richard 4, Thomas 3, Matthew 2, John 1) was born on 9 April 1618 in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England. He married Anne Wheeler in 1641. She was born 13 May 1620 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England to John Wheeler and Agnes Yoeman who emmigrated on the Mary and John in 1633/4 with 5 or 6 of their children, likely including Anne. [30-Sutherland]. Aquila died 27 Dec 1670 in Newbury, MA.  Anne remarried Daniel Mussiloway/Silloway 14 June 1672 in Newbury. She died 21 April, 1687, in Newbury, MA at age 66. Aquila and Anne’s children:

Sarah Chase b 6 Jul 1647 in Newbury m Charles (Curmac) Annis 15 May 1666, She died 6 Jun 1726 in Newbury at age 78 and was buried in Burying Ground of the First Settlers, Newbury, MA. Charles b 1638 died 19 Dec 1717.  She made a will 12 Nov 1718,  and 3 Jun 1726  her daughters submitted a petition to the Essex Co. Probate Court. [86]

Ann B. Chase b 6 Jul 1647 Newbury died 1690 in Newbury age 43. She m Thomas Barber 28 Apr 1671 in Newbury.

Priscilla Chase b 14 Mar 1648/9 m Abel Merrill 10 Feb 1671. Priscilla died Nov 1697 in Newbury at age 49.  Abel b 20 Feb 1643 died 28 Oct 1689. Abel was son of NATHANIEL and SUSANNAH MERRILL,  q. v.(86)

Mary Chase b 3 Feb 1650/1 in Newbury, MA m Jonathan Stephens/Stevens 9 Mar 1670 in Newbury. She died 6 Apr 1725 in Newburyport, MA at age 75. John b 19 Nov 1650 died in 1725.

Aquila Chase III, Sgt. b 26 Sep, 1652/3 m Esther Bond in 1673. Aquila died 29 Jul 1720 in Newbury at age 67, buried in First Parish Burying Ground, Newbury, MA. Esther was b 25 Sep 1655.

Thomas Chase b 25 Jul 1654 in Newbury m Rebecca Follansbee 22 Nov 1677. Thomas died 25 Feb 1732 in Newbury at age 77. Rebecca died 27 Dec 1711. Thomas m(2) Elizabeth Woodhead on 2 Aug 1714 in Newbury.

John Chase b 2 Nov 1655 m Elizabeth Bingley 23 May 1677. John m(2) Lydia Challis on 21 Dec 1687 in Salisbury, MA. Lydia b 31 May 1666 d 26 Feb 1740.

Elizabeth Chase b 13 Sep, 1657 in Newbury m Zachariah Ayer 27 Jun 1678. Elizabeth died 21 Apr 1687 in Newbury at age 29, buried in Circular Congregational Church Burying Ground, Charleston, SC.  Zachariah was born in Haverhill, Mass. on 24 Oct 1650, the son of John and Sarah (Williams) Ayer. She m(2) Daniel Favor.  The following is disputed: Zachariah and Elizabeth were both living on 27 Oct 1696. [86]

Ruth Chase b 18 Mar 1659/60 in Newbury, died 30 May 1676 at age 17.

Daniel Miller Chase b 15 Nov 1661 in Newbury m Martha Wyatt Kimball 25 May 1683 in Newbury. Daniel died 8 Feb 1718 in Newbury at age 56. Martha b 18 Aug 1684, d 27 Dec 1728.

Dr. Moses Chase  b 24 Dec, 1663 m Ann Follansbee 10 Nov 1684 in Newbury, m(2) Sarah Jacobs 13 Dec 1713. Anne died 18 Apr 1708. Sarah b 26 Sep 1674, died 13 Mar 1739. Moses buried Bridge St. Cemetery, Newbury.

Note that Aquila received a house lot in Hampton, NH and also a grant of land in Newbury, MA in the same year, 1646. It is believed that he moved to Newbury that year.

On 29 Sep 1646, while still living in Hampton NH, Aquila Chase and Ann Wheeler ran afoul of the law, when he, his wife, and his brother-in-law Daniel Wheeler were accused of gathering peas on the Sabbath. The authorities were delayed in prosecuting the Chases, for they had decamped for Newbury,but they did catch up with the miscreants a year and a half later.

When they appeared in court for the offense on 28 Mar 1648 they beat the rap with nothing more than an admonishment. [Smith, Ancestry of Samuel Blanchard Ordway, 166, citing Essex Co. Quarterly Court Records 1:55:1 and 1:139]

“In all that I have written runs a thread of the family life of the Chase family.  In
this section, and near Corliss hill many families of this name dwelt.
Aquilla (sic) Chase, the founder of this family, came
to Newbury in 1646.  There is a tradition that he was the first person
who brought a vessel over the Newburyport bay.  There were eleven
children in Aquilla (sic.) Chase’s family: Anthony Chase, great
grandson of Aquilla, married Abigail Woodman of Newbury; he settled in
East Parish, bought a water privilege, and set up a clothing mill; he
subsequently erected a saw mill, and a grist mill, and became one of
the large real estate men of East Parish.  Joseph, son of Anthony
married and settled on the farm now known as the John B. Nichols
place.” [33]


Below are misc pieces of information that will be put on the appropriate pages soon.

Aquila, and Hannah Davis of Haverhill, int. Mar. 12, 1736.

Aquila, and Eunice Plumer of Newburyport, int. Apr. 21, 1827.

Abby [T. GR4], d. Anthony [and Sarah T. GR4], and adopted, d. Charles, spinal complaint, Sept. 27, 1845, a. 6 y.
Isaac Tompkins, s. Anthony and Sarah (Tompkins), Dec. 12, 1841. [a. 13 y. GR4]
Sarah T., w. Anthony, Feb. 11, 1842, a. 42 y. GR4

1824 In deed 239/102, Hannah Tyler sells land to Tappan Chase out near county road.  It states that the land was her father’s, Anthony Chase.
Hannah, and Joseph Taylor, Dec. 18, 1798.*  Who is Hannah’s mother?

Sarah Flanders could be:

Flanders: 1830 Census (38)

Chase, Abigail Milliner, No. 9, Main-st.
Chase, Anthony Shoe Manufacturer, East Parish.
Chase, John Clothier, ”
Chase, Moody Taverner, Washington-st.
Chase, Samuel Merchant^ Shoe Manufacturer, Water-st.  Married Sarah Hills Esterbrook (daughter of Samuel III Esterbrook) (Samuel and Sarah married 29 Nov 1855)

Chase, Thomas G. Comb Manufacturer, Rocks’ Village.

866-1093 Abigail (Estabrook) ELLIOTT, 62, $300 
Mary ", 28 
Lydia ", 24 
George ", 21, shoemaker 
Annette ", 18 
John CHASE, 27, shoemaker
802-1021  Charles Chase, 25, Shoemaker, IRL
Sarah ", 25, ME

Charles F., marries Sarah C. Works from Lowell in May 1849??

   John Chase
Born: 17 JUL 1756      at: Newbury, Essex Co., MA  
Married: 18 DEC 1777      at: Haverhill, Essex Co., MA  
   Died:                  at:   
 Father:Johnson Chase
 Mother:Abigail Pike
        Other Spouses:

wife Anne Chase

Joseph, s. Anthoney and Abigail (Woodman), born July 13, 1769.

–––––, wid. Moses Chase dies Mar. 20, 1841. (vital records)
Moses marries Elisabeth Whittier, Mar. 4, 1762 [May 4. CR4]