I"ve been doing some reseach into Acquilla. Some of the sources say ...and I believe it's been said on this list....that Acquilla Chase may not have originated in Chesham, Buckinghamshire. I was wondering if anyone has ever researched other English counties for a clue as to where he came from? And I'll tell you why...and about some theories I've come up with. I've done some reviewing of Dow's history of Hampton. My thinking was that sometimes if you take a step back and review the circumstances they were in...it gives you a bigger and broader picture. There were two original groups that settled in Hampton. The first settlement was lead by a Rev. Stephen Bachiler(sp) The second... that our Acquilla is supposed to maybe have come with was lead by Rev Timothy Dalton. I believe that he probably did come with Rev. Dalton ....and I'll go into some of the reasons why. If you review the history of the town and who some of these other people were...some interesting information comes up. It seems that Rev Bachiler, the original founder of Hampton, was a bit of a nefarious character in his day. He was run out of several parishes for being basically someone who liked to be contentious and stir the pot all the time. Not a good puritan. Rev. Dalton on the other hand was supposed to be more conservative in his views. Went with the politcal flow...kind of guy. He was actually the one with the greatest amount of support in the congregation. There was a lot of infighting and backbiting between the two groups. Charges were flung...people hauled before the magistrate who were known to sympathize with one group or the other. A lot of hard feelings. Acquilla was brought up on charges of "Picking Pease on the Sabbath." The men who brought him up on those charges....were William Sanborn....and William Fifield. William Sanborn was the grandson of Stephen Bachiler....and Willian Fifield sat in the same pew with him in church. Church seating was assigned. They sat according to "Dow's History" in second row on the west side of the meeting house. All male church members sat on the west side of the meeting house, but isn't it interesting however to note that they were together these two men....the ones that brought Acquilla up on charges....and who it was they were connected to. Acquilla was a freeholder and didn't belong to the church...but remember that to these settlers....these ministers weren't just ministers they were leaders in this small community. I think it makes a good case for Acquilla being in Daltons group when he came. Now to my question. Sources both on this list and in the "Seven Generations" list that Acquilla may not have come from Chesham in Buckinghamshire. Dow's History of Hampton states that the followers of Stephen Bachiler came promarily from Hampshire and Wiltshire. The Seven Generations says that Ann Wheeler came from Wiltshire. But Dow's History also states that the followers of Timothy Dalton came primarily from Norfolk and Suffolk counties in England. These are coastal areas.... and this would make sense ...given that we know Acquilla was mariner. Also, I did a surname search for these counties in England. No Chases turn up for Suffolk county....but the name does turn up for Norfolk. Has anyone ever reviewed parish records for Norfolk county in England? I don't want to waste my time on a wild goose chase...no pun intended....if someone has already thought of this before. Kathy Caslin [email protected]