Martha Chase

Not the mother of Aquila Chase, of Newbury

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Martha (Sarah) Jelliman (Jellison) was born Nov 10, 1588 in Hundrich Parish, Buckinghamshire, Chesham, England/Chesham, England, and died Aug 15, 1643 in St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, Chesham, England. She married Benjamin (Aquilla) Chase on Jun 11, 1606 in Chesham, Buckingham, England, son of Richard Chase and Joan Bishop (Byshoppe).

Other marriages:

Melliman, John.

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Many who have researched the Chase family of Hampton, New Hampshire, have traced them back to Thomas Chase and Elizabeth Bouchiew of Hundrick, parish of Chesham, Buckingham, England. John Carroll Chase and George Walter Chamberlain, in their book Seven Generations of the Descendants of Aquila and Thomas Chase, Record Publishing Co.: Haverhill, MA, 1928, call number 929.273/C387e in the Family History Library at Salt Lake City, Utah, would seem to disprove that direct connection. However, they do indicate that the given name of Aquila was peculiar to persons descending from that area of England, and that in all probability, the Aquila and Thomas Chase of Hampton, New Hampshire, came through one of the Chase lines in Hundrick.

Most who have made family connections trace Aquila and Thomas to Rychard, son of Thomas. He did have sons with the same given names. Aquila was baptized in Chesham 7 Aug. 1580, and Thomas on 18 July 1585.(1) Thomas married a Martha, and they remained in Chesham from 1631 to 1636. Two children are noted in the baptismal records, but there is nothing more concerning the family after 1636. The New Hampshire Chase family has been connected with Aquila, son of Rychard.

Chase and Chamberlain "assume" that Aquila was the Aquila mentioned as marrying Martha Jelliman in the parish of St. Thomas-the-Apostle in London, 22 June 1606. He had a son named after him, but that son died and was buried 10 Jan. 1659/60. There was not a son named Thomas.(2)

The "assume" here could be the determinant. I find in the International Genealogical Index in the Family History Library in Salt Lake, a marriage between Aquila Chase and a Sarah, in some places designated to be Sarah Robinson. They are listed as being of Willesden, London, England and/or Cromwell, Nottingham, England. I also find Aquila noted as marrying "Sarah or Martha Jelliman." It becomes apparent that there were two Aquilas -- one married to a Sarah, surname possibly Robinson,(3) and one married to Martha Jelliman. Either could be the son of Aquila, son of Rychard. At the present time, however, there is nothing definitive to indicate which person was which. Until something comes to light to clarify the problem, it would appear that we must start with the Aquila Chase who married Sarah Robinson.

AQUILA CHASE If we assume he was 21 years of age when he married, Aquila would have been born about 1590. Since males were frequently ten years older than their wives, there is also a possibility of a 1580 birth date. Sarah was christened 26 July 1590 in Chicheley, Buckingham England, the daughter of James Robinson.(4) There were three known children:

1) William Chase, born abt. 1613, of Willesden, London, England.(5)

2) *Thomas Chase, born abt. 1615 of Willesden, London, England. (6) He married Elizabeth Philbrick in 1642 and died about 1652, most likely in Hampton, New Hampshire.(7)

3) Aquila Chase, born abt. 1618 of Willesden, London or Cromwell, Nottingham, England.(8) Md. Ann Wheeler, daughter of John and Ann Yeoman Wheeler, about 1644. She was born between 1620/1630. Aquila died in Newbury, 27 December 1670. After his death, his widow married Daniel Misilloway(9) 14 June 1672 in Newbury. Ann died there on April 21st 1687.(10)

THOMAS CHASE

Thomas Chase was born about 1615 in England; possibly in Willesden parish, London, or Cromwell parish, Nottingham. He died intestate in 1652.(11) Early genealogical histories of the family indicate that Thomas and Aquila came from Cornwall, England. It is believed that they were employed by an uncle named Thomas Chase, who was part owner of a ship named "John & Francis" and that they learned to become navigators.(12) Thomas' brother, Aquila, was granted land in Hampton on the condition that he go to sea and service the town for four years. This would tend to verify the above theory and would explain why they were found on the coast rather than in their original area of birth.

He married Elizabeth Philbrick, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Knapp Philbrick, 5 October 1642 in Hampton, Norfolk, New Hampshire.(13) She was christened 31 Oct. 1621 at St. Mary's, Bures, Suffolk, England(14); died 11 February 1677.m [For more information on this branch see:THE FELBRIGGE/PHILBRICK LINE]

The settlement of Hampton, New Hampshire began on October 14, 1638, under the leadership of Rev. Stephen Bachiler. By the first part of 1639 another group arrived with Timothy Dalton, who became the associate pastor of the Hampton church. It is probable that Thomas and Aquila were with this second group, as by 1640 immigrations had slowed considerably.(15) We know that Thomas, at least, was in the second group as he is mentioned in a list of families that came to Hampton that second summer.(16)

In June of 1640 small grants were made to a number of people, including Aquila and Thomas Chase. These grants were for six-acre house lots. Aquila later acquired six acres of upland meadow and swamp, which was sold to his brother, Thomas, when he moved to Newbury, now located in the present state of Massachusetts.(17) In fact, it was his acknowledgement in court of the sale of all his land in Hampton, except a dwelling and one and one-half acre, to his brother, Thomas Chase of Hampton, that established the relationship of the two.(18)

On February 23, 1645/46 sixty owners of house lots were given one or more shares in the "Common". Aquila received one share and Thomas two. Others received three.

It was felt that Thomas was the older of the two brothers as he was already married with two children at the time the Common shares were distributed. Since there is no record of his birth year, this is purely conjectural, however.

His signature on a deed of sale to John Philbrick shows that Thomas was a literate man. His purchase of land which abutted the river was probably to facilitate his livelihood. He was a seaman who paid for the building of a vessel by freighting boards from Exeter to Boston.(19) The large trees along the coast were much in demand for the building of dwellings.

The Thomas Chase homestead was a short way from "The Meeting House Green" and opposite that of his father-in-law, Thomas Philbrick. The site selected for the erection of a house of worship was on the northerly side of the salt marsh, about one-fourth mile distant from it. A large tract of land near it was called The Meeting-House Green and included all of what was later known as the Ring Swamp, along with the road around it. A common-way was laid out along the eastern edge and later became the main road to the seashore. Around the green and along the common-way many homes were built, some of which are still inhabited by descendants of the original owners.(20)

Thomas died intestate in 1652. An inventory of his estate was taken by Robert Page, Abraham Perkins and William Fifield on June 2, 1653. Administration of the estate was granted to his widow, Elizabeth. The estate was valued at 111L 18s 10d. A copy of the inventory follows:(21) A trew Inventory of ye estatt of ye latt Desesed housband of ye wedow Chase of hampton as ffoloeth: ye house and hous lott containing about ten Akeres 20 00 00 ten Akeres of Salt marsh att 5 00 00 5 Akeres of Salt marsh att 1 10 00 12 Akeres more of Salt marsh att 3 00 00 8 Akeres of Fresh medow att 8 00 00 34 Akeres of upland att 8 00 00 5 Shares of Commons att 6 00 00 20 Akeres more of upland 5 00 00 5 Akeres more of Fresh medow att 1 10 00 2 oxen att 12 00 00 3 Cowes 13 10 00 2 young bestes of 2 yeare old 6 00 00 2 Shottes att 1 00 00 2 bras Ketteles and an Iron pott att 3 00 00 on[e] Iron pott a warming pan and a bras skillett att 1 00 00 in puter att 1 10 00 tramills pott hokes friing pan att 0 14 00 ye Dary vesseles att 1 00 00 3 bedes and beding 10 00 00 Cheste tabeles and cheares and other bomber att 2 00 00 The Som is 108 14 00 his Robert Pag X mark Abraham Perkins William Fifield

More: recovvred by a judgm' att Salisbury Court

14th of ye 4th mo: (53) of Willi: Ffurbur 3 4 10

Five pound more l'a cowe Som: tot: 111 18 10

This was given uppon oath by Elizabeth Chase

to bee a true inventory of hir husbands estate

Tho: Chase late deceased:

Tho: Bradbury recd.

Thomas and Elizabeth Philbrick Chase had the following children:

1) Thomas Chase, born about 1643; died 23 Oct. 1714.(22)

2) Joseph Chase, born abt. 1645; died 12 January 1717/1718 in Hampton.(23) Married Rachel Partridge, daughter of William and Ann Partridge, 31 Jan. 1671, Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass. She was born 9 June 1650; died 27 Oct. 1718.

3) James Chase, born 1646/1649; died before 7 Mar. 1703/04. Married Elizabeth Green, daughter of Henry and Mary Green of Hampton, 2 November 1675 Nantucket, Massachusetts.(24) After the death of James, Mary married Joseph Cass.(25)

4) *Isaac Chase, born about 1 Apr. 1650 in Massachusetts; died 9 May 1727, Tisbury, Dukes Co., Massachusetts.(26) Md. (1st) Mary Perkins, daughter of Isaac and Susannah Perkins, 20 Feb. 1673.(27) She was born 23 July 1658 in Hampton; died about 1674. Md. (2nd) Mary Tilton, daughter of William and Susanna Tilton, 5 Dec. 1675. She was born about 1658; died 14 June 1746.

5) Abraham Chase, born 6th of ye 6th mo. 1652(28) or 6 Oct. 1652; died 1674/76 unmarried.(29)

After the death of her husband, Elizabeth married John Garland(30) 26 day 8th month 1654.(31) By him she had three children: 1) John Garland, born 11 March 1655, Hampton, New Hampshire.(32) 2) Jacob Garland, born 20 Dec. 1656 in Hampton(33); and 3) Peter Garland, born 25 Nov. 1659 in Hampton. John Garland Sr. died 4 January 1671 at the age of fifty. Elizabeth married Henry Roby(34), 19 February, 1674 in Hampton.(35) She died in 11 February 1677.(36)

ISAAC CHASE Isaac Chase was born about 1 April 1650 or, 1st of ye 2nd mo. 1650 in Hampton, present county of Rockingham, New Hampshire.(37) He died 19 May 1727 in Tisbury.(38) He married Mary Perkins, daughter of Isaac and Susannah Perkins of Hampton, 20 February 1673, in Salisbury.(39) She died about 1674, apparently without issue, and he then married Mary Tilton, thought to be the daughter of William and Susanna Tilton, 5 Dec. 1675 in Tisbury/Vinyard Haven, Massachusetts.(40) She was born about 1650/52, not long before her father's death, probably in Hampton. Both her mother and her step father were deceased by 1661, and it is probable that she lived in the household of her elder brother, Samuel. When Samuel moved to Tisbury in 1674 after his marriage, she accompanied the family.(41) Traveling with them was Isaac Chase, recently widowed.(42) Not quite two years after their arrival at Tisbury, he married Mary.

Isaac was said to have beeen a blacksmith and a Quaker, and the town records noted on February 5, 1674 that "the townsmen of Tysbury do not give unto isack chace of Hampton liberty to settle in the town."(43) It would appear that he overcame the objections for settling in the town, however, as less than two years later he was purchasing land within the town limits.

Before 1700 he was one of the largest landholders in Martha's Vineyard, beginning with his purchase of Homes Hole neck in 1676. Eventually he owned all of that area. His second largest purchase was acreage in Chickemmoo in 1682, which was ultimately relinquished because of a dispute over ownership with the Sachem. In 1692 he was able to buy the eastern half of Chickemoo/Chickemmoo from Thomas Tupper, adding another 1200 acres to his ownership. He rarely sold any part of these acquisitions and most of it was inherited by his heirs.(44)

During his lifetime he followed the occupations of blacksmith, inn-holder(45) and ferryman. His home was near what was a ferry stage for boats that transported people and goods between Falmouth and Tisbury in the early days. It was not only an advantageous location for an inn, but he was also able to operate the ferry.(46)

Although a Quaker, he did not appear to be ultra orthodox, as he took the military office of Lieutenant in a Company of Foot in Tisbury before 1692, breaking one of the tenents of that faith. He is referred to by Simon Athearn as "Mr. Isaac Chase, the Leueten't without oath, he pleading for the quakers."(47) Until his death he was usually referred to as Lieutenant Chase in the records.

His will was written 12 February 1721/22 and proved 7 July 1727. (Dukes Co. Probate)(48) Those lands that remained were bequeathed to his widow, surviving children and grandchildren.

Mary died 14 June 1746, supposedly at the age of 88, which would have made her birth year 1658.(49) Since her father died in 1652/53, this would lend credence to a supposition by Mr. Walter Goodwin Davis in Maine & Massachusetts Families, that she was a child of Samuel Tilton, born as a result of an earlier liaison which resulted in the death of the mother, and he therefore raised the child. Mr. Davis felt that was why Mary came to Martha's Vineyard with Samuel's family. However, since Samuel and Hannah had a daughter who they named Mary, and Mary Tilton Chase was not mentioned in his will, I question this supposition. Often birth years were not known by the family, and at the time of death for a parent an age was estimated. Estimations were often exaggerated and might vary by several years from the actual birth date.

The children of Issac and Mary Tilton Chase were:(50)

1) Thomas Chase, born 9 Nov. 1677, Hampton, Norfolk, Mass. Died 22 Dec. 1721 in Virginia, while on a coasting trip in his sloop Vineyard. Married Jane Smith, daughter of Benjamin and Jedidah Mayhew Smith, 21 Feb. 1704, Edgartown, Barnstable, Mass. She was born about 1685. She married (2nd) Thomas Cathcart, son of Robert and Phoebe Coleman Cathcart, 15 May 1724 in Tisbury.(51) 2) Rachel Chase, born 25 Oct. 1679, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.(52) Married (1st) Samuel Knight of Charlestown and Sudbury, 9 July 1700. Md. (2nd) Samuel Munkley.

3) Isaac Chase, born 21 Jan. 1681/82; died 13 Oct. 1716 at sea. Md. Mary Pease, daughter of James and Elizabeth Norton Pease, 3 April 1702 in Edgartown, Massachusetts.(53)

4) Abraham Chase, born 10 Jan. 1683/84 of Martha's Vineyard; died 20 Dec. 1763. Married (1st) Abigail Barnard, daughter of Nathaniel & Mary Barnard of Nantucket, 12 Aug. 1709 in Vineyard Haven. She was born 1685; died 15 Oct. 1731 in Tisbury. Md. (2nd) Mercy Nickerson of Falmouth, 5 Mar. 1732. She was born in 1710; died 11 Sept. 1786. (She married (2nd) Thomas Winston.)(54)

5) James Chase, born 15 Jan. 1685/86, Tisbury; died 1728/29 Nantucket, Massachusetts. Married Rachel Brown, daughter of John Brown and Rachel Gardner, about 1707/08 in Nantucket. She was born 14 Dec. 1687; died 24 Sept. 1741 in Nantucket.(55) They lived for a time in Newport, RI.

6) *Mary Chase, born 17 January 1687/88. Married *Benjamin Weeks of Falmouth, 14 Jan. 1704 in Vineyard Haven, Dukes, Massachusetts or 27 January 1704 in Falmouth Massachusetts.(56)

7) Joseph Chase, born 26 Feb. 1689; died 1 May 1749, Edgartown, Barnstable, Massachusetts.(57) Md. Lidia M. Coffin, daughter of Nathaniel and Damaris Gayer Coffin, 26 July 1714 in Nantucket. She was born 16 May 1697 in Nantucket; died 17 July 1749 in Edgartown.(58)

8) Jonathan Chase, born 28 Dec. 1691 in Tisbury(59); died 20 July 1742 in Newport, Rhode Island. Married Mehitable, last name unknown, about 1710.(60)

9) Hannah Chase, born 25 Nov. 1693, Tisbury, Massachusetts.(61) Married Nathan Pease, 30 Oct. 1712.(62)

10) Sarah Chase, born 15 Oct. 1695, Tisbury, Massachusetts.(63) Married Samuel Cobb of Tisbury, 27 June 1716 Vineyard Haven.(64)

11) Priscilla Chase, born 12 Nov. 1697 in Tisbury;(65) died 30 Dec. 1753. Married Nathaniel Folger 18 Nov. 1718.(66)

12) Elizabeth Chase, born 7 September 1703, in Tisbury;(67) died unmarried 27 Sept. 1719.(68)

SOURCES 1 Chase & Chamberlain, pg. 23.

2 Ibis., pob. 27.

3 There is a Sarah Robinson, daughter of James Robinson, christened 26 July 1590 at Chicheley, Buckingham, England. The marriage date for Aquila Chase and Sarah Robinson is noted to be about 1611.

4 IGI - Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT.

5 IGI - Family History Library, SLC, UT.

6 IGI - Family History Library, SLC, UT.

7 FHL Film #1004993: Your Possible Mayflower Ancestor, "The Yarmouth Family of Chase", pgs. 4-5.

8 IGI - Family History Library, SLC, UT.

9 Also found as Mussiloway and Silloway.

10 Ezra S Sterns. Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire. Vol. IV. The Lewis Publishing Co.: New York, 1908, pg. 1587.

11 Albert Stillman Bachellor, ed. Probate Records of the Province of New Hampshire, Vol. 1, 1635-1717. Rumford Print Co.: Concord, NH, 1907, pg. 23: The administration of the estate of Thomas Chase was granted to his widow, Elizabeth, 5 Oct. 1652. Order of the Court, 4 Oct. 1653 lists the five children of Thomas of Hampton -- Thomas 59 receive 16 lbs., Joseph, James, Isaac and Abraham to receive 8 lb. each when 21. On 9 Apr. 1667, Guardianship of Isaac was granted to his brother, Thomas.

12 Sterns, pg. 1587.

13 Chase & Chamberlain, pg. 479.

14 The American Genealogist, Vol. 108 in an article by G. Andrews Moriarty, A.M. F.S.A. on the English Connection of Thomas Felbrigge or Philbrick of Hampton, New Hampshire, pgs. 255 to 257.

15 Chase & Chamberlain, pg. 29.

16 Chase & Chamberlain, pg. 477 (Quarterly Court held at Salisbury, 11 Nov. 1679 from: Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, 7:280.)

17 Chase & Chamberlain, pg. 29.

18 Chase & Chamberlain, pg. 30.

19 Chase & Chamberlain, pg. 477 - (Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, 1:296.)

20 Dow, Joseph & Randall, Peter E. History of Hampton New Hampshire 1638 - 1988, Vol. 2. Peter E. Randall Pub.: Portsmouth, NH, 1988. (1893 reprint), pg. 19.

21 Chase & Chamberlain, pg. 477-78 - (Essex County Probate Files 5185)

22 Joseph Dow, History of Hampton New Hampshire 1638-1988, Vol. 2, Peter E. Randall Publisher: Portsmouth, NH, 1988, pg. 635.

23 Dow, pg. 635.

24 Dow, pg. 635.

25 Torrey, pg. 147.

26 Down, pg. 635.

27 Dow, pg. 635 - marriage date.

28 Sanborn & Sanborn, pg. 545.

29 Dow, pg. 635.

30 Clarence Almon Torrey. New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: Baltimore, 1985, pg. 295. John Garland's first wife was Elizabeth Champman, whom he married 26 october 1652 in Hampton, New Hampshire.

31 George Freeman Sanborn, Jr. & Melinde Lutz Sanborn. Vital Records of Hampton, New Hampshire. New England Genealogical Society: Boston, 1994, pg. 555.

32 Sanborn & Sanborn, pg. 543: date of 11th [what looks to be] 1st mo 1655.

33 Sanborn & Sanborn, pg. 547 : 20th 10th mo. 1656.

34 Torrey, pg. 631 - Henry was born in 1619; died in 1688. His first wife was Ruth Moore, born in 1645; died 1673.

35 Library of Cape Cod History and Genealogy, 1916, #59 - "The Yarmouth Family of Chase", pgs. 4-5, 10.

36 Joseph Dow, History of Hampton New Hampshire 1638-1988, Vol. 2, Peter E. Randall Publisher: Portsmouth, NH, 1988, pg. 917.

37 Sanborn & Sanborn, pg. 543.

38 History of Martha's Vineyard, Vol. II, pg. 19; and Vital Records of Tisbury, Massachusetts, pg. 202..

39 History of Martha's Vineyard, Vol. II, pg. 20 & Torrey, pg. 147.

40 Chase and Chamberlain, pg. 482.

41 Chase & Chamberlain, pg. 482.

42 Banks, "Annals of Tisbury", pg. 14.

43 Chase & Chamberlain, pg. 482.

44 History of Martha's Vineyard, Vol. II, "Annals of Tisbury,", pg. 19. Footnote indicates land records were found in Norfolk County, Deed, Bk. I, pgs. 130, 187, 281, 391.

45 Banks, pg. 53: "Isaack Chase of Holmes Hole is admitted to keep a publike house of Entertainment & to sell liquor &c by Retail except to the Indians and this to continue for two years at ten shillings per annum."

46 Banks, pg. 54.

47 History of Martha's Vineyard, pg. 20 - the footnote on this page notes the original source as: Mass. Arch., CXII, 424. "This is the only reference to the Quaker proclivities of Chase to be found in the record. The allusion to the oath relates to their objection to swearing, although willing to affirm to an act or statement."

48 Chase & Chamberlain, pg. 482.

49 Walter Goodwin Davis, pg. 453 and Vital Records of Tisbury, Massachusetts, pg. 202.

50 The birth dates for all the children are from Vital Records of Tisbury Massachusetts, published by the New England Genealogical Society, Boston, Mass, 1910, pgs. 25 & 26.

51 Chase & Chamberlain, pg. 484.

52 Vital Records of Tisbury, Massachusetts, New England Genealogical Society: Boston, MA, 1910, pgs. 25 & 26.

53 Chase & Chamberlain, pg. 484.

54 Chase & Chamberlain, pg. 484.

55 Chase & Chamberlain, pg. 484-4855.

56 Vital Records of Tisbury, Massachusetts, 1910, pg. 119: "Mary & Benjiman Weck of Falmouth 14 Jan 1704* [*Intention not recorded." Falmouth Massachusetts Vital Record, FHL Film #0904590, pg. 155: "Benjamin Wekes and Mary Chaces Intentions of marring published May the 27th 1704." of marring published."

57 Gary Boyd Roberts, Mayflower Source Records, Genealogical Publishing Co.: Baltimore, 1986, pg. 223 - Inscriptions at Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, Mass.

58 Chase & Chamberlain, pg. 485 & Roberts, pg. 223. Vital Records of Tisbury, Massachusetts, pg. 202 indicate that Lydia, widow of Joseph Chase, died 4 Aug. 1848 at 85 years of age. Another Lydia and Joseph?

59 Vital Records of Tisbury, Massachusetts, pgs. 25 & 26.

60 Chase & Chamberlain, pg. 486.

61 Vital Records of Tisbury, Massachusetts, pgs. 25 & 26.

62 Chase & Chamberlain, pg. 482.

63 Vital Records of Tisbury, Massachusetts, pgs. 25 & 26.

64 Chase & Chamberlain, pg. 483.

65 Vital Records of Tisbury, Massachusetts, pgs. 25 & 26.

66 Chase & Chamberlain, pg. 483.

67 Vital Records of Tisbury, Massachusetts, pgs. 25 & 26.

68 Chase & Chamberlain, pg. 483; also Vital Records of Tisbury, Massachusetts, pg. 202.