Bio: Aquila Chase was the ancestor of one of the largest Chase families in America but his own ancestry remains unproven. Aquila Chase and his older brother, Thomas, were among the first settlers of Hampton, Rockingham Co, NH. They received grants of land in Hampton, June 1640, along with fifty-five other settlers. As owners of houselots, they were listed among those entitled to a share in the common lands, December 3, 1645. Aquila Chase remained in Hampton for about six years. Some authorities intimate that Thomas and Aquila Chase were employed by their uncle, Thomas Chase, who was part owner of the ship "John and Francis", and thus became navigators and so found their way to America. This theory is strengthened by the fact that in 1646, Aquila Chase removed to Newbury, Essex Co, MA, that town having granted "to Aquila Chase, anno 1646, four acres of land at the new towne for a house lott and six acres of upland for a planting lott, where it can be had, and six acres of marsh where it can be had, also on condition that he doe goe to sea and do service in the towne, whith a boate for four years." There is a tradition in the Chase family that Aquila was the first person to pilot a vessel across the bar at the mouth of the Merrimac River. The four acres granted him, as above, were at what is now Newburyport, Essex Co, MA. In the New England Historical Genealogical Society building in Boston, there is a tablet in Caen stone showing a low relief of a 17th century ship beneath which is the following inscription: Aquila Chase Mariner 1618 - 1670 Hampton NH 1640 Newbury, Mass 1646 By old repute the first Pilot at the mouth of the Merrimack River Erected by his descendants John Carroll Chase 1924 The only record to his discredit is one in which Aquila Chase and his wife, Ann, together with her brother, David Wheeler, were presented and fined "for gathering pease on the Sabbath." They were admonished by the Court, after which their fines were remitted. Aquila Chase (his A mark) of Newbury conveyed to my brother Thomas Chase of Hampton all my land in Hampton excepting one dwelling house and 1 and 1/2 acres of land sometime in the possession of Steven Sanborn, having agreed to convey the same to my said brother twenty years ago, May 15, 1667 Wit: Mehitable Dalton and Hannah Dalton His wife Ann Chase (her B mark) signed and both acknowledged May 15, 1667, before Samuell Dalton, commissioner. [The Essex Antiquarian, Vol 6, p 134, Old Norfolk Co Records] A deposition made September 25, 1666, mentions "Accquilla Chas, aged agout forty-eights years," which would make 1618 the year of his birth. He died in Newbury, Essex Co, MA December 27, 1670. Aquila Chase married Ann Wheeler, daughter of John and Ann (Yeomans) Wheeler of Hampton, Rockingham Co, NH. After the death of Aquila his widow, Ann, married 2nd, Daniel Mussiloway, 14 June 1672 at Newbury, Essex Co, MA. She died 21 April 1687 at Newbury, Essex Co, MA. Will of Aquilla Chase of Newbury Witness by these presents that I Aquilla Chase of Newbury in the countye of Essex in New England being weake in body, yett of sound & pfect memory, for divers causes and considerations me thereunto moveing, doe make this my last will and testament. And doe dispose of my lands goods & chattells as followeth, first I bequeath my soule into the hands of my blessed Saviour and redeemer Jesus Christ In an asured hope of a resurrection and my body to be buryed when it shall please the Lord to call me hence. To my wellbeloved wife Ann I give and bequeath, my house barne and orchard and all my lands both Earable pasture and marsh meadow ground, lyeing and being on the bounds of the Towne of Newbury aforesayd together with all my goods and chattells both within dores & without All the sayde house and land before I mentioned I give unto Ann my well beloved wife dureing the time of her widdow hood, paying unto my daughter Ann Chase five pounds, in corne or neate cattle, and five pounds more to pay, unto my daughter Priscilla Chase, to be payd within twelve months, after the day of their marriages. Also I will that my wife give unto my sonn Thomas Chase at the age of one and twenty, Tenn pounds in corne or neate cattle, pvided the sayd Thomas doe abyde and serve with his mother to the sd age, And if his mother and hee the sd Thomas see cause, that hee should serve for a trade, with any other man soe that he have the beifitt, of a trade, then his mother my wellbeloved wife, is to pay unto the sayd Thomas, but six pound in the like pay before mentioned, for the rest of my children my will and testament is, That Ann my wife, shall give unto them all she sees good acording to her abillitye, and at the end of her naturall life, I give and bequeath all house houseing & lands before mentioned unto Aquilla Chase my Eldest sonn, or if Ann my wife marry, my sonn, is to posses all my houseing and lands, paying his mother three pounds p annum as long as shee liveth or three score pounds which shee pleaseth, further my will is, that Aquilla my sonn shall pay to his brother John Chase the summ of tenn pounds in corne or neate cattle, And tenn pound more the sd Aquilla is to pay unto his brother Daniell in the like pay viz: corne or neate cattle. Furthermore my will is that my sonn in law Charles shall have boate loade of grass or sedge of the lower end of penny Iland as long as he liveth, and no body to molest him till he hath a boate loade, furthermore my will is that my sonn Aquilla pay unto his brother Moses Chase Tenn pounds in corne & cattle. Also my will is that Aquilla pay unto my daughter Sarah three pounds within two years after his mothers decease, and to pay unto my daughter Mary Twenth shillings and further my will is that Aquilla my sonn pay unto his sister Elizabeth foure pounds in the like pay. Also my will is, that Aquilla pay foure pounds in like paye to his sister Ruth, All which summs to be payd in two yeares after the decease of Ann my well beloved wife. And I do apoynt Ann my well beloved wife to be sole executrix of this my last will and testament, and further I doe apoynt Ensigne Steven Greenleafe and Wm Chandler to be the overseers of this my last will & testament, ffurther my will is that Aquilla my sonn shall pay unto his Brother Thomas Chase before mentioned the sum of ten pounds in the like pay with the rest of my children and if any of my younger children be not of age within two years after the decease of my wife, then they are to stay for their portions till they be of age. In witness whereof I have heerunto sett my hand & seale the 10th day of december in the yeare of our Lord 1670. Aquilla Chase (his mark) (Seal) Witnesses: Wm Chandler Steven Greenlefe James Ordway (his mark) Proved in Ipswich court March 28, 1671 by Wm Chandler and Ens Steven Greenlefe Inventory of the estate of Aquilla Chase, deceased Dec 21, 1670, taken Jan 21, 1670 by Edward Woodman Jr and John Bayley Total value of estate: 336li 14s 3d Jeanne/jmh