Reuben Chase (1738 - 1820)

Born 24 Nov 1738 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 20 Feb 1820 at age 81 in Waterborough, Queens, New Brunswick, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Carroll Woods [send private message]

Biography

Hi Carroll, I spoke with Bobbie Davis, and she referred me to you about Elizabeth and Reuben Chase. I can tell you for certain that Reuben did not marry Elizabeth Yates, an Isaac Chase did, completely different birthdate, probably a relative, and far too late to have the earlier children attributed to Reuben, including Elizabeth. However, he did marry an Elizabeth ______. It is unknown until this day where they married, or her maiden name, or exactly what date. It is proven via a birth record that Reuben's parents, Isaac Chase II and Thankful Maker, were in Danbury, CT, in 1750, as their son and Reuben Chase's brother Isaac was born there. I have concluded through massive circumstantial evidence that Reuben and his wife were in Dutchess County, NY by 1756, and were part of "The Oblong" lease. I have tried to find the complete list of the people in the lease, but with no success. Partial lists have included a couple of Chases. There are 3 vague references to an Elizabeth Chase being born in NY. A 1757 birth record, a 1760 birth record, and a 1764 baptism, none of which have the names of parents. The baptism specified Putnam County. He had a farm on one of "Col. Morris' short lots consisting of 130 acres" in Frederickburg. It is a fact that in 1777 Reuben "escaped" to Long Island and served the British forces there as a carpenter, and in 1783 he was granted land in New Brunswick as a Loyalist refugee. His wife Elizabeth is mentioned in the paperwork, and signed a document with an X. There is proof that their daughter Thankful was in New Brunswick with them, but no mention of Elizabeth in that document. Major James Grant, Corporal Mark Freeman, George Miller, and Reuben Chase were all in close ties with the Cronkhites, Lieut. Henry being the most official of them. The Cronkhites were mentioned in numerous documents relating to all of them, and often as signers. Jame Grant's grandson John married Phoebe Chase Miller, who is widely presumed to be the granddaughter of Reuben and Elizabeth Chase, and is the proven daughter of George Miller and Elizabeth. The fact that Chase was always emphasized as a middle name for Phoebe, and the fact the Reuben was the only known Loyalist Chase in New Brunswick between 1783 and 1787 are more good circumstantial evidence. The stoppers are the lack of Elizabeth Chase's birth record, her marriage record to George Miller, and a will for Reuben Chase. Any one of these documents could be proof enough, but none have been found. Please do what you can to set the record straight about Elizabeth Yates. I see this error everywhere, and I see Isaac and Reuben Chase being morphed together as Isaac Reuben Chase often in trees and stories, and it is just incorrect and misleading. A lot of people do whatever it takes to be a Mayflower descendant or descended from royalty, even if they have to fit people in with a hammer :) Thanks and regards, Mike Pugliese

Death & Burial Details from Gagetown Parish - Anglican Church Records Death Records: Surname First names Date Place Comments Child of; Chase 21 Mar 1854 Grimross Neck Age 2; Chase Earle 20 Oct 1865 Gagetown Age 80; Chase Reuben 20 Feb 1820 Waterborough Age 81; Chase Reubin (Mrs.) 9 Aug 1825 Gagetown Age 80;

Burial Records: Surname First names Date Place Comments Child of; Chase 21 Mar 1854 Grimross Neck Age 2; Chase Earle 20 Oct 1865 Gagetown Age 80; Chase Reuben 20 Feb 1820 Waterborough Age 81; Chase Reubin (Mrs.) 9 Aug 1825 Gagetown Age 80;

Source: Dot Smith's Descendants of William Chase

!Reuben was the son of Isaac b. 28 Mar 1714 in Yarmouth, MA, and Thankful Maker, ma 17 Nov 1737.

!Isaac was the son of Isaac b. abt 1666 in Yarmouth, MA, d. 22 May 1759 and Mary Berry ma 23 May 1706. His 2nd wife was Charity Pease O'Kelly?

!Isaac Sr was the son of John b. 16 Apr 1649 in Yarmouth, MA, d 1735 and Elizabeth Baker ma abt 1663

!John was the son of William Chase b 15 Jun 1621 in Rogate Parish, Sussex, Eng, d. 27 Feb 1684/5 in Yarmouth, ! MA, and Sarah/Abigail Hale, ma abt 1644. His 2nd wife was Elizabeth Holden ma 1651

!William was the son of William b. abt 1595 in Sussex, Eng , d. May 1659 in Yarmouth, Ma and Mary Townley, ma !abt 1620.

!White's book cites: mother of Thankful Maker was Mary Hopkins, dau of Stephen, son of Giles, son of Stephen !who came over on the Mayflower. See notes on Thankful Maker.

!Reuben was also a Loyalist and fled to NB to Gagetown in 1783. !See notes on Tertullus, son-in-law

From "Loyalist Families" by cleadie B. Barnett and Elizabeth S. Sewell Reuben Chase was from Fredericksburg Dutchess County New York. He was a carpenter by trade. He joined the British on Long Island in 1777 and went to New Brunswick in the summer of 1783. He rec'd a grant in 1784 for land on the west side of the St. John river opposite Musquash Island in Gagetown Prish in Queens county. Another Reuben Chase (son?) received land on the same grant to the south of the above land.

Reuben Chase was a United Empire Loyalist.
UEL Status:Proven
Date: 18 Apr 1786

Sources

• Google Books Cape Cod Library of Local History and Genealogy: A Facsimile Edition of 108 Pamphlets Published in the Early 20th Century, Volume . Genealogical Publishing Com, 1992 - 2052 pages

• familysearch.org

• There is mention of a Reuben Chase in articles written by W O Raymond in 1895 about the Loyalist settlers: http://archives.gnb.ca/Exhibits/FortHavoc/html/Raymond39.aspx?culture=en-CA

• From "Loyalist Families" by Cleadie B. Barnett and Elizabeth S. Sewell

• UELAC Loyalist Directory http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Info/detail.php?letter=c&line=312

• Anglican Church Records Gagetown, NB Reverend Richard Clarke

• George Walter Chamberlain, “Some of the Descendants of William Chase of Roxbury and Yarmouth, Mass.” New England Historical and Genealogical Register 87 (1933): 46-52, 132-133, 327-328, specifically 327-328.

• Marianne Grey Otty UNB Database - Death
• https://motty.lib.unb.ca/?q=list&field_first_name_value=Reubin&field_last_name_value=Chase&field_event_date_value%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=1820&populate=&field_event_type_tid%5B%5D=2&field_event_type_tid%5B%5D=18&field_event_type_tid%5B%5D=7