Richard Chase (1766- 1850) and Priscilla Snow (1767-1849), Harwich, Mass.

Richard Chase was born June 1766 in Harwich, Mass., the son of Samuel Chase and Zilpha Burgess.

Richard married Priscilla Snow about May 1792 probably in Harwich. He was a mariner, eventually becoming a sea captain.

Priscilla Snow was born 17 September 1767, in Yarmouth, Mass., the daughter of Thomas Snow and Elizabeth Nickerson. Priscilla Snow, daughter of Thomas Snow, Jr., was baptized on 24 Nov 1771, at the First Parish Church in Brewster.

Thomas Snow was a shipwright in Harwich and he mentioned his daughter Priscilla Chase in his will.

Richard and Priscilla Chase had at least two children: Priscilla born 28 November 1796 and Mary Ann born about 1808. Census records seem to indicate he also had a son. Mary Ann married Joshua Dillingham and lived in Brewster, where she died in 1865. I descend from Priscilla who married Oliver Kelley, and I wrote about them here.

1800 census Harwich

Richard Chase

1 male 26-44

2 females under 10

1 female 26-44

1820 Census Brewster

Richard Chase

In a neighborhood with many Dillinghams

1 male 16-26

1 male over 45

1 female 10-16

1 female over 45

2 people engaged in commerce

Richard Chase died in Harwich, Mass., on 01 January 1850 at age 83 years, 7 months, widower, in Harwich, mariner, born Harwich, son of Samuel and Zylphia Chase, cause of death was gravel. (Note: gravel is what we would now call a kidney stone.)

 I have not looked for his probate records, but if they exist they may shed some light on his children.

Priscilla died 01 December 1849 at age 82, presumably in Harwich.

Richard and Priscilla are buried at the Kelley Cemetery in Harwich. Richard is called “Captain” on his stone.

Richard Chase's gravestone at Kelley Cemetery

Priscilla Snow Chase's gravestone, Kelley Cemetery

Richard and Priscilla (Snow) Chase are one of those couples I have incomplete information on and would love to hear from anyone who also descends from this couple. The Chase family was prolific and many Harwich records have gone missing, a combination that has made research challenging.

Oliver Kelley (1795-1883) and Priscilla Chase (1796-1882), Harwich, Mass.

My 4th great-grandfather Oliver Kelley was born in Harwich, Mass., on New Year’s Eve--31 December-- 1795, the son of Patrick Kelley and Dorcas Chase.  I wrote about Patrick and Dorcas here.

Oliver’s childhood in the large Kelley household (he had 10 siblings) would have centered around the sea as his father was a shipbuilder and many family members were mariners. His father was an astute businessman as he also became part owner of a grist mill, a carding mill and a cotton and woolen factory.  Growing up in his North Harwich neighborhood, Oliver was surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins with the family even having its own cemetery.

Possibly Oliver's home in Harwich

At age 19, Oliver married Priscilla Chase in September 1815 at Brewster.  Note: His probate information states they were married 6 September but their marriage intentions were published on 8 September.

Brewster Vital Records: The intentions of marriage between Mr Oliver Kelley of Harwich and Miss Prissilla Chase of Brewster are here entered this 8th day of September A.D. 1815 and made public the Sabbath following. Joseph Smith T. Clerk

Priscilla was born Brewster 28 November 1796, the daughter of Richard Chase and Priscilla Snow. 

Oliver and Priscilla had 10 children, born Harwich:

1. Stillman, b. 16 February 1816, m. Olive Howes Sears and lived in East Dennis where he died in June 1894. He operated a packet business between Dennis and Boston and later owned a store and a fishing business.

2. Oliver, b. 17 October 1817, m. Angeline Baker, died 22 March 1878. He was a master mariner. I wrote about Angeline’s tragic death here.

3. Lorenzo born 09 January 1820, married Fanny Small (one of my favorite names ever!) and died 31 January 1895 in East Bridgewater, Mass.  He was a mariner.

4. Priscilla born 16 December 1822, married Zebina Doane, died 1896 in Somerville, Mass.

5. Richard born 11 August 1824, died before December 1840.

6. Valentine born 14 November 1828, married Rosana Eldridge, moved to Dennis Port and died there 18 March 1911. Valentine and Rosana are my 3^rd great-grandparents and I wrote about them here.

7. Francis born 06 November 1830, married Betsey Howes and moved to Dennis where he died 09 March 1876. He was a mariner.

8. Mary Ann born 17 February 1834, married Anthony Megathlin, died 17 June 1915. Anthony was a sea captain and served as a Naval Officer during the Civil War, acting as master of the Winnebago and the Flambeau.

9. Rebecca, born in 1836, died in 1836, age 4 weeks.

10. Richard born 8 Dec 1840, died 05 January 1841.

In the 1850 Census Oliver, a farmer, is 44 (sic: should be 55) living in Harwich with his wife Priscilla, 53, sons Valentine and Francis (both mariners) and daughter Mary Ann.

In the 1870 census his is a 74 year old house carpenter, living with wife Priscilla in Harwich, next door to their son Oliver.

In the 1880 Census his is 84 years old living in Harwich with his wife Priscilla, 83, and their servant Elisabeth Long age 56. The family must have been comfortable financially as it was not very common for Cape families to have servants at that time. Oliver and Priscilla’s daughter Mary Ann Megathlin is living next door with her family.

In an 1880 map of Harwich, Oliver's house (as O. Kelly) is shown near Sand Pond, not far from railroad tracks, and near A. Megathlin, his son-in-law.

Priscilla died in Harwich on 13 July 1882, age 85, of old age.

Barnstable Patriot, 24 July 1882, page 3, Deaths: In Harwich, 13th inst. (current month), Mrs. Priscilla, wife of Oliver Kelley, aged 85 years, 7 months, 15 days.

Oliver died on Christmas Day, 25 December 1883, in Harwich.

Barnstable Patriot, 15 Jan 1884, page 1, Harwich: Mr. Oliver Kelley, the oldest man in town, died the 25th ult. (previous month), very suddenly, aged 87 years, 11 months.

Priscilla and Oliver are buried side-by-side at the Kelley Cemetery in North Harwich. They have identical marble stones, with raised decoration and an engraved "K" on top.

Oliver Kelley's gravestone

Priscilla Kelley gravestone

Barnstable Co. Probate, Oliver Kelley of Harwich, son of Patrick Kelley and Dorcas Chase, born 31 December  1795 Harwich, m. 6 Sept. 1815 Priscilla Chase in Brewster, d. 25 Dec 1883, Harwich,  Case No. 8524, 1884. Spelling mistakes and "ditto" marks as written in records.

Next of kin:

 Stillman Kelley of Dennis, son.

Oliver Kelley of Rhode Island, son.

 Priscilla S. Doane, wife of Zebina S. Doanne of Somerville.

 Mary Magathlin wife of Anthony of Harwich, daughter.

Lorenzo Kelley, Dennis.

Ella Chase, wife of Isaiah Chase, Brockton.

Emma Kelley, husband unknown, Brockton

Mary Kelley, Brockton

Grandchildren and children of Valentine Kelley, deceased (referring to Ella, Emma, Mary)

Francis H. and May H. Chase children of Francis H. Kelley deceased

___ was son of Oliver deceased, the eldest son of said deceased.

Dated 12 Feb 1884.

Appointment of Stillman as admin of estate late of Harwich, admin. bond 12 Feb 1884.

Inventory:

In the Town of Harwich

Brush land near flax pond                                            9.00

Woodland called Abner Hall piece                            56.00

do called Leindry(?) Nickerson "                                38.00

do Elijah Nickerson "                                       20.00

" Squaw Road "                                                 50.00

" Tipper Bass "                                                   200.00

Cedar Swamp called Dry Brook "                               60.00

" near O.C.R. Road East Lot                                          14.00

"  "  "                        West Lot                                            20.00

Cranberry land North of O.C.R. Road                       100.00

___ land near Marshall Kelley                    21.00

Meadow called Tuttle point piece                            5.00

"              "   Nickerson Island piece                              5.00

Piece land called School House lot                            8.00

Homestead with dwelling house and ___ all other

                building thereon                                              266.00

Land south of homestead with dwelling

                house and all buildings thereon

                occupied by A. Megathlin                             150.00

Cleared land with dwelling and ___

                barn thereon occupied by

                Lorenzo Killey                                    110.00

                                                                                1,132.00

Personal estate

In parlor desk 3.00 clothing in desk 4.50

                clock & looking glass 1.75                              9.25

" Bedstead 50, 7 chairs 1.25 table & cover 1.17

                dishes 2.00                                          4.92

" ___ and mats 1.000 Bedstead.50 clothing 1       2.50

Front bedroom bed & bedding 10 bureau &

                clothing inside 5.00                                          15.00

" 4 chairs & stand 1 __ 1.25 dishes 1.50

                knives & forks .50                                            4.25

Kitchen Desk 1.75, settee 1.00 Books 1.00

                5 chairs .75                                          4.50

2 tables 75 __ & mats .50 bedstead & under bed

                .75                                                          2.00

Sundries in closet .25 Box s__ings1.00 looking

                glass. .50                                              1.75

Pantry crockery 1.50 book room 1 large chest

                & clothing 10.00                                                11.50

Book room table & cloth 50 store 2 5 chairs 50

                lamp 50                                                                3.50

" Sundries in closet 50 looking glass & pail

                50 crockery 2                                      3.00

At Magathlins House 2 featherbeds 7, 4 pillows

150 bolster .60                                                   9.10

" 4 quilts 1.90 Blankets sheets shirts &

                pillowcases 3.33                                                5.23

Cash deposited in CC. Fire ___ Bank Harwich      114.84

Farm & carpenter tools 3, 2 wagons 2                     5.00

contents of woodhouse 1.50 contents of corn

                house 2.50                                          4.00

Contents of store 10.00 2 stores 3                            13.00

Boxes and sundry articles in store chamber         2.00

Boxes chests and sundry articles in house

                chamber                                                              3.00

Chest & clothing 5 bed & bedstead 4                       9.00

Chest & beding 3 2 boxes & contents & 2 chairs1               4.00

Bedstead & bed stead & chairs                  1.00

2 boxes & contents 75 womens clothing 1            1.70

1 trunk and clothing                                                        5.00

                                                                                239.00

Seth Washburn 1738-1826, Plymouth and Kingston, Mass.

Seth Washburn was born in Plymouth on 17 April 1738, the son of John Washburn and Abigale Phillips.

Seth married first Fear Howard on 31 October 1765 in Plymouth. I haven’t found Fear’s birth record but she was born circa 1739 given her age at death, and she was of Kingston at the time of her marriage. Seth and Fear had five known children:

1. Fear, born 15 September 1766, married James Foster in 1792, died 26 January 1826.

2. Persis, married John Turner of Scituate on 17 Aug 1795.

3. Abigail, married Zenas Churchill on 28 May 1771 in Plympton.

4. Seth, born 28 October 1768, married Sarah Adams, died 3 June 1860.

5. Ichabod born ca 1770, m. Sylvia Bradford in 1793, died 4 Oct 1798. Interestingly, Ichabod's son of the same name became a wealthy businessman in Worcester, and Washburn University in Kansas is named after him because of a large donation he made to the school.

Seth Washburn was appointed one of Plymouth’s Constables in 1768. He worked as a miller, owning a grist mill in Plymouth.

Jenney Grist Mill, Plymouth, Mass.

Fear died 9 April 1782, of consumption, aged 43 years. She is buried at the Old Burial Ground in Kingston.

Seth married second (Intentions last named spelled Warshburn), 15 December 1785, Anna Fullerton (spelled Fullinton in marriage record, Fullenton in intentions), daughter of John Fullerton and Rebecca Delano. She was born circa 1748. Seth and Anna had one child, Anna, born 20 January 1786.

Anna, the mother, died in her child bed of “mortification” on 25 January 1786. She is also buried at the Old Burial Ground in Kingston. Her daughter Anna died on 31 March 1786 at age two months 11 days and is buried next to her mother.

Seth Washburn of Kingston married third Deborah (Wright) Churchill of Plympton on 27 December 1792 at the First Church of Kingston Unitarian. Deborah was born 17 October 1749 in Plympton, the daughter of Joseph Wright and Sarah Brewster. She married first Nathaniel Churchill and they had at least three sons: Lewis, Levi and Nathaniel Churchill.

Kingston First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church source: commons.wikimedia.org

Seth and Deborah had one son together, Ephraim, born Kingston in August 1794, when Seth was 56 years of age and Deborah was 44. I descend from this son Ephraim who married Mary Lucas. 

Seth died in Plymouth on 27 April 1826. The death notice clipped from a Plymouth newspaper reads: "Died, In this town; on the 27th ult., Mr. Seth Washburn, aged 88." I

His will was dated 3 June 1812 and mentions sons Seth and Ephraim, daughters Fear, Persis and Abigail and heirs of his deceased son Ichabod. Ephraim was appointed Executor on 19 June 1826.

Transcription of his will, which is a bit difficult to read:

"In the name of God, amen. I Seth Washburn of Plymouth, County of Plymouth in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, yeoman, calling to mind the uncertainty of ___ life, I do make & ordain this my last will and testament in manner thus following.

I give & bequeath to Deborah my beloved wife one third improvement of all my real estate during the time she remains my widow. I also give & bequeath unto her ___ of the Grist Mill to be at her own disposal and the whole of my household furniture.

I give & bequeath to my son Seth twenty five cents, to heirs of my son Ichabod, decd, twenty five cents. To my three daughters, Fheer (sic Fear)), Percis (sic Persis) & Abigail 25 cents each to be paid within one year after my decease.

I give & bequeath to my son Ephraim the residue of my estate both real & personal, he paying my just dbts & legacies & funeral charges. I also appoint him sole executor to this my last will & testament, provided he arrives to the age of twenty one years before this will is to be executed, otherwise I appoint my son Seth to be the sole executor to this my last will & testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty third day of June anno domini one thousand eight hundred & twelve. Signed Seth Washburn. Signed, sealed, published & declared by the said Seth Washburn to be his last will & testament in presence of us who have subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the testator.

Thomas Morton Jr.

Nathan Whiting

Lewis Morton

Plymo.SS: Court of Probate June 19, 1826, Be it known that the foregoing instrument purporting to be the last will & testament of Seth Washburn late of Plymo in sd County, yeoman, decd, being presented to me for probate & having examined one of the subscribing witnesses thereunto & no objection being (rest missing).

It’s unusual that Ephraim received the bulk of the estate and was named Executor when he was the youngest son.

Deborah died after Seth’s will was written in 1812, but I have not found her death date.

Sources Not Included Above:

William T. Davis, Genealogical Register of Plymouth Families, 1977

Mrs. John E. Barclay, The Early Sampsons, TAG Vol 23, no. 1, Jan. 1952

Rev. George M. Bodge, The Churchill Family In America, 1904