This query references several prominent Quaker towns in Rhode Island or southern Massachusetts: Rhode Island MM at Newport and Portsmouth Sandwich MM in Barnstable County, MA, with its Yarmouth constituent after 1681 Uxbridge MM, now named Worchester MM Swansea MM in Somerset, Bristol County, MA (There is some disagreement about whether Sandwich or Rhode Island was the first monthly meeting in North America; both began before George Fox suggested Friends take careful minutes and keep clear membership records in 1671-1672.) A review of my web site shows that all the above meetings have original or microfilmed records in the New England Yearly Meeting archives at the Rhode Island Historical Society, most of the microfilm done by the Genealogical Society of Utah and available through your local LDS Family History Center. Rhode Island MM left NEYM in 1951 and deposited most of the original records at the Newport Historical Society. Tom Thomas C. Hill 425 Walnut Street, Suite 1800 Cincinnati, OH 45202 U.S.A. e-mail: tomhill@nuvox.com www.quakermeetings.com -----Original Message----- From: JoelK300 [mailto:joelk300@tampabay.rr.com] Sent: Friday, December 10, 2004 7:45 PM To: QUAKER-ROOTS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [Q-R] Joseph CHASE/CHACE New England Family of Friends Greetings, I am posting my first message to this list. I have some CHASE ancestors who were Quakers, and I would like to have the benefit of your help and any suggestions for further research. I am interested in knowing more about the Quaker ties of the following family. [Note: Most of this data was copied from the "New England Historical & Genealogical Society Register," Publication Year 1933, Vol. 87, Pg. 53, et al, "Descendants of William Chase," as found online through their subscription-based website www.newenglandancestors.org]. Joseph CHASE/CHACE, was b. abt. 1673, at Yarmouth. Barnstable Co., Plymouth Colony, Mass. He d. btw. 8 Nov 1724 (when his will was written), & 30 Mar 1725 (when it was proved), in Swansea, Bristol Co., Mass. He was the son of William CHASE/CHACE Jr., & Elizabeth HOLDER, both of Yarmouth. He was also the grandson of William CHASE/CHACE Sr., who came from Wivenhoe, Essex, England, and sailed to Boston with the Winthrop Fleet of 1630. William. Sr. later removed to Roxbury, and then to Yarmouth. William Sr. & Jr., as far as is known, were not Quakers. Joseph CHASE m. Sarah SHERMAN, dau. of Sampson & Isabel (TRIPP) SHERMAN, of Portsmouth, Newport Co., RI, and the granddaughter of the Hon. Philip SHERMAN, a signer of the Portsmouth Compact, founding the town, 7 Mar 1638/9. I believe the SHERMANs were Quakers. Joseph & Sarah were m. 28 February 1693/94, at Portsmouth, Newport Co., RI, [at a Friends' meeting?]. The Register (1933-87-53) states, "Both Joseph Chase and his wife were members of the Society of Friends at Portsmouth." I would love to know where I might find the records of the Portsmouth/Newport Friends Meetings of that period. Sarah SHERMAN was b. 24 Sep 1667, in Portsmouth. She d. 19 Sep 1748, in Portsmouth. Joseph & Sarah (SHERMAN) CHASE had 14 children. Abigail, Lydia, Job, Alice (b. in Portsmouth, at "Wickapimsett"), Ruth, Sampson, Isabel, Joseph, Stephen, Sarah, Silas, George, Ebenezer & Moses. I am descended from their 12th child, George CHASE, b. abt. 1715, at Swansea, Mass. He d. 1786. He m. Lydia SHOVE, 08 February 1735/36, in Swansea. Lydia was b. 31 July 1707, in Dighton, Bristol Co., Mass.; the dau. of Edward & Lydia (WITHERELL) SHOVE. The Register says George m. 2nd, Sarah CORNELL, however, Jeffrey Chace [http://home.wanadoo.nl/j.b.chace/] says it was George's son Benjamin who m. Sarah Cornell, making Benjamin's family related to Ezra CORNELL of the College fame. I note that the Register doesn't say whether George & Lydia were members of the Society of Friends. George & Lydia had 7 children, according to the Register, all born at Swansea: George, Edward, Benjamin, Micajah, Paul, Sarah & Huldah. I descend from Micajah/Micaiah. He m. Hannah SHOVE, 9 Sep 1779, at Swansea. She was b. 8 Apr 1751, at Swansea?, and was the dau. of Nathaniel & Hannah (BAXTER) SHOVE, of Swansea. Again, the Register gives no notice of their having been members of the Society of Friends. Micajah & Hannah had 4 known children: Lydia, Mercy, Nathaniel (of Uxbridge, Mass.) & Josiah (of Coventry, RI). I am descended from Josiah. Josiah was b. abt. 1786, at Swansea? He m. Charity TILLEY, 29 Feb 1816, in Douglas, Worcester Co., MA. [The Register says he m. Charity FULLER, but the VR Marriage record says TILLEY. Poss. a transcription error?]. Charity was b. 7 Aug 1798, in Douglas. She was the dau. of James & Sarah (SMITH) TILLEY, of Douglas. Josiah d. 28 Nov 1837, at Mendon, Worcester Co., MA. Charity d. Aft. 6 Mar 1848, at Uxbridge, Worcester Co., MA. Josiah & Charity had 9 Children: Angeline*, Edwin*, Martha, Emeline*, William E., Louisa, Betsey, Sarah S. & Louvan A. (* denotes d. young). I am descended from Louisa. Louisa S. CHASE was b. 1 Mar 1825, at Uxbridge. She m. Mowry/Morey B. ALGER, son of Preserved & Mehitabel (BROWN) ALGER, on 12 Apr 1851, at Burrillville, Providence Co., RI. The marriage record is recorded in the VRs & the Town Records of Burrillville, as "Civil." The actual marriage records as written are thus: "Marriage Intention: I hereby certify the Intention of Marriage between Mowry Alger of Burrillville, RI and Louisa Chase of Uxbridge, MA has this day been published in public meeting by me the subscribed. Burrillville, April 12th, 1851. Martin S. Salisbury, Justice of the Peace. Marriage : I hereby certify that the above named persons were joined in marriage by me this 12th day of April, AS 1851. Enos Lappan, Justice of the Peace. Received April 14th 1851 and recorded by John Walling, Town Clerk." This makes me think that perhaps Louisa was a Quaker, who married out of her faith. There are no more Quakers in this line after her, if she was one. I am trying to unravel this mystery. Any help or suggestions, lookups, etc. would be greatly appreciated. God bless you for your help. "Brother Joel" Rev. Joel B. Keith joelk300@tampabay.rr.com Independent Christian Minister Lakeland, FL USA Through His death and resurrection, Christ has made the grave a portal; for through its gates we enter into the Presence of the Living God. ==== QUAKER-ROOTS Mailing List ==== HOW TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS LIST: Send an email to: QUAKER-ROOTS-L-REQUEST@RootsWeb.com The ONLY word in your message should be UNSUBSCRIBE.