Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-05-01
The "Chaso EstaIe.,'

The ~thase E~lshie-P
The following letter appears in the
Chicago Tribune, addressed 10 the edi-
tor:
SlR:-I have received within the last
two months many letters from the West,
written by people who, either by mar
rage or descent, are connected with the
two Chase families of New England,
which descend from Aquila and Thomas
Chase. brothers. grantees of Hampton
in 1899. or from William Chase, who
came over in Governor Winthrop's feet
in 1899, and settled afterwards at Var
mouth, where he died.
The descendants of Aquila and Thomas
comprise the Chase families Of Maine,
New Hampshire and the northeastern
part of Massachusetts. The descendants
Of William have been found in south
eastern and central Massachusetts and
in Rhode Island There is no reason to
believe that William Chase, of Var
mouth. was any relative of the later set
tiers of Hampton and all the efforts
which have been made by myself and
others interestedin genealOgy have failed
TO identify him with them, or even to
find him mentioned in any English rec
ords. The family of Aquila and Thomas
Chase are descended from Thomas Chase,
who was living at Chesbam, in Bucking-
hamshire. in 1540, and were found by the
late Mr. Ii. G. Somerly, an American gen
tleman long resident In England, and a dis
tinguished professional antiquarian, who
was employed by me to search the early
English records. The results of his re-
searches, together with some genealo-
gies of the family collected by me,
contributed to the Heraldic Journal of
October, 1868. and, at the request of
some of the name, reprinted the article
in a small pamphlet. Both the Journal
and the pamphlet can be found in the
principal public libraries in the West by
those who may be kind enough to read
them. and save themselves the task of
writing. and myself that of answering
uneasv letters about the '1Chase inheri-
tance."
There lies in my attic a trunkful of
newspaper-cuttings, letters, and attempts
at English geneologies, which were re-
ceived and put away by my father, in
1S4S, after the same old story had been
cleyerly elaborated by the press report
ers of that period, many of whom are
the editors of to-day. There was no
truth in the story then; there is none
now there never has been any truth in
/ IL. and there never will be. The author
of it is not certainly known, but he has
at any rate long slept in his grave. The
bubble was pricked in 1s47 by the late
Mr.. Theodore Chase of Boston, who,
wearied by Importantly, caused Messrs.
/ Barring Bros. & Co. 10 make sufficient in-
vestigation TO prove that the story was
a simple invention. After twenty-five
/ years of quiet, the original story, that
/ there was an estate in the English chan
/ Gerry courts awaiting decision as TO the
rights Of heirs by the name of Chase,
/ some of whom had long ago emigrated
4 to America. has been revived al a con
/ ventiOn of Chase heirs. where each pres
ent seems to have contributed something
| of circumstance, and where committees
were appointed. The story has al last
attained such dimensions that il occupies
the whole page Of a broadside, the pro-
duction of a Mr.. John F. Chase, a very
misinformed. but / doubt not very sin
cere man. who has been, and Is still, the
business committee Of the cOnyen-
tion. / quote an extract from the
broadside:
Richard, the brother Of William
i GChasel, was aid TO the Duke Of Wei
lington. The estate was filed in the
chancery court in 1746, and il was
through the efforts Of this Richard. who
was a thorougb-going man, that the
matter was put through and judgment
given in favor of the heirs.
BY this statement, Richard Chase, the
0lder brother Of William, who came
over in Winthrop's feet in 1880, sue
ceeded. as he had become aid 10 the
Duke of Wellington, created duke
in 1914, in getting bill filed In
1746 eventually put through. Mr.. John
r. Chase Omits 10 state whether this
gentleman, whose length of days be
thus shows to have exceeded goo year,,
be still living; but he does "calI
upon all the Chase heirs TO contribute
libreally," and, III order that the said
heirs 'shall get value for what they con-
tribute TO the Chase fund, the commit.
tee. by considerable expense, have OBJ
tanned the original coat-of-arms and
motto" which 'tany one of the Chase
family wishing a picture" can have
sent them by remitting their subscrip-
tion TO him. The coat-of-arms he gives
is a copy of the cut furnished by me
for the HeraJdic Journal. 1868. The
motto. "'Ne cede mails, has been hit
upon since then tor the occasion, posi-
biy by Richard, as that rule of conduct
by which be attained such remarkable
age.
In conclusion, Mr.. Editor, l ask the
favor of your columns for the insertion
of this letter, which may, l trust, reacl
the eyes of many the Chase kindred re
sident in the Northwest, and enable
them to dismiss from their thoughts
silly fabrication which has caused mucl
money and time to be wasted during The
last thirty years, by very many people
who could ill-afford either. l shall be
glad, however, TO hear from any anc
all Chases who can furnish their gene
alogies, however brief, for publication
4 hereafter by a competent genealogis
long engaged in the work.
am. sir, your obedient servant,
GEORGE r. CHASE.