Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-05-20
The Chase Estate.

The following letter appears in the
Chicago Tribune. addressed to the editor
Sir.-I have received within the lasl
two months many letters from tho West,
written by people who, either by marri.
age or descent, are connected with the
two Chase families of New England
which descend from Aquilla and Thoma
Chase. brothers. grantees of Hampton in
1859. or from William Chase, who came
over in Governor Winthrops feet in
1889, and settled afterwards Mt Yarmouth
where he died.
Tho descendants of Aquila aud Thorn.
rs comprise the Chase families of Maine
New Hampshire and the northeastern
part oi Massachusetts and Rhode Island
There is no reason to believe that vii.
liam Chase of Yarmouth, was any re-
latve of the latter settlers Of Hampton ;
and all the efforts which have been made
by myself and others interested in
genealogy have failed to identify him
with them, or even TO find him mention.
cd in any English records. The family
OF Aquila and Thomas Chase are de-
scended from Thomas Chase, who was
living at Chesham, in Buckinghamshire,
in 1910, and were found by the late Sir.
ii. G. Somerly, an American gentleman
long resident in England, and distin-
guished professional antiquarian, who
was employed by me to search the early
English records. The result OF his re
searches. together with some genealogies
of the family collected by me, contri.
buted to the Heraldic Journal Of Octo-
ber, 1868. and. ut the request of some ol
the name, | reprinted the article in a
small pamphlet.
There lies in my attic 3 trunkiul OF
newspaper. cuttings, letters. and attempts
at English geneologies. which were re-
ceived and put away by my father, in
lsiS, after the same old story had been
cleyerly elaborated by the press.reporters
of that period, many cl whom are the
editors of to-day. There was no truth in
the story then; there is none now. The
bubble was pricked in lS47. by the late
Mr.. Theodore Chase OF Boston, who.
weaIied by importantly. caused MeSsrs.
Barring Bros. i Co., TO make sufficient
investigation TO prove that the story was
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
name OF Chase, some Of whom had long
ago emigrated to America, has been re-
vived at convention OF Chase heirs,
where each present seems 10 have contri-
buted something Of circumstance, and
where committees were appointed. The
story has at last attained such dimensions
that il occupies the whole page ola broad
side. the production of Mr.. John F.
Chase. very misinformed, but | doubt
not very sincere man, who has been.
and is still, the "business committee" OF
the convention. quote an extract from
tho broadside:-
Richard, the brother OF William Chase,
was aid 10 the Duke of Wellington.
The estate was filed in the chancery
court in 1916, and il was through the ef.
forts of this Richard. who was q thorough
going man, that the matter was put
through and given in favor of the heirs.
BY this statement. Richard Chase. the
older brother Of William, who came over
in the Winthrop's fleet in 1880, succeed
ed, as he had become aid to the Duke C
Wellington. created Duke in 1914, in get
ting a bill filed in TAG, eventually put
through. Mr.. John F. Chase omits 10
state whether this gentleman. whose
length Of days he thus shows to have ex.
ceeded 200 years. be still living; but he
does "call upon all the Chase heirs to
contribute literally" and. in order that
the said heirs "shall get value for what
they contribute to the Chase fund. the
committee, by considerable expense,
have obtained tho original coat. of'arms
and motto" which "any one of the Chase
family wishing picture" can have sent
them by remitling their subscription to
him. The coat of arms he gives is a copy
olthe cut furnished by me for the Herald
ic Journal of October. 1868. The motto.
"No cede malls" has been hit upon since
then for the OCCASION" po ssibly by Rich.
ard, as that rule of conduct by which he
attained such remarkable age.
In conclusion, Mr.. Editor, | ask the
favor OF your columns Tor the insertion
OF this letter, which may, trust, reach
the eyes of many of the Chase kindred
resident in the Northwest, and enable
them to dismiss from their thoughts