James Brown Chase (1847 - 1912)

Born 22 Feb 1847 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Annie Elizabeth Louise (Allyn) Chase — married 11 May 1870 (to about 1877) in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Husband of Eleanor Francisca (Hockett) Chase — married 6 May 1880 in Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, United States

Died 30 Sep 1912 at age 65 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Vicky Majewski [send private message]

Thornton Chase is Notable.

Biography

Captain Thornton Chase served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Apr 26, 1864
Mustered out: Jun 6, 1864
Side: USA
Regiment(s): U.S. Colored Infantry

Thornton Chase (birth name: James Brown Thornton Chase) was born on 22 February 1847 in Springfield, Massachusetts. His parents were Jotham Gould Chase and Sarah Cutts Storer Gookin Tornton.^[1]

His mother died just 18 days after his birth. Three years later, his father remarried to Cornelia E. Savage (1821-1901). They adopted three daughters during the 1860s: Cora J. (Chase) Thompson (b. 1857), Ada G. Chase (b. 1858), and Jessie Maria Chase (1859 - 1863)

The 1850 U.S. Census shows James B. T. Chase (age 3) living with his father, stepmother, and an 18-year-old woman named Abba Gardna (possibly a nurse).^[2] His father is listed as a Lumber Dealer. However, just two weeks later, the same James B. Chase is enumerated in the household of foster parents Joseph and Sarah Bensen.^[3] Later in life, Thornton Chase expressed that his upbringing was "loveless and lonely", and that he was shuffled between different homes.^[4] Nevertheless, he is enumerated with his parents in the 1855 Massachusetts State Census^[5], as well as the 1860 and 1870 U.S. Census records.^[6][7]

During the U.S. Civil War, he served with both Company K of the 26th U.S. Colored Infantry (1st Lieutenant)^[8] and Company D of the 104th U.S. Colored Infantry (Captain).^[9] Records show that James B. Chase enlisted on 26 April 1864, was promoted and sent to Bufort, South Carolina on 21 June 1865, and resigned on 12 October 1865.^[10]

On 11 May 1870, he married Annie Elizabeth Louise Allyn ^[11][12] Their children are:

• Sarah Thornton (Chase) Lawton^[13] - (1871 - 1908)
• Jessamine Allyn Chase - (1874 - 1947)

Sadly, the marriage ended in divorce. Ten years later, on 6 May 1880, he married his second wife, Eleanor Francisca (Hockett) Pervier.^[14][15] The 1880 U.S. Census shows Thornton and Eleanor Chase living together in Des Moines, Iowa.^[16] William Jotham Thornton Chase (1889 - 1967) was their only son.

Thornton Chase - as he came to be called - briefly attended Brown University and worked as an actor, teacher, musician, gold miner, and travelling salesman. During the 1880s and 1890s, he became deeply interested in religion and eventually joined the Baha'i Faith in 1894, becoming its first Occidental adherent.^[17]. From that point on, he worked for its propagation in the United States, giving talks on religion and Baha'i topics as he travelled for his job with Union Mutual Life. He also helped to establish the Baha'i community in Chicago, Illinois. In 1907, he travelled to Akka^[18] and spent time with Abdu'l-Baha. Thornton wrote about these experiences in a book titled In Galilee (1908). The following year, he wrote another book called The Baha'i Revelation (1909).

In 1909, Thornton and his family moved to Los Angeles. The 1910 U.S. Census enumerates Thornton Chase, age 63, living at 2153 Harvard Boulevard, Los Angeles, with his wife (Eleanor, age 53) and mother-in-law (Mary Hockett, age 83).^[19] Thornton is listed as an clerk for an insurance company and married for 30 years.

Thornton Chase passed away on 30 September 1912 after complications from surgery.^[20][21] He is buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.^[22]

Some weeks later, during His journey to America, Abdu'l-Baha visited the resting place of Thornton Chase and remarked:

"This is a personage who will not be forgotten. For the presence of his worth is not known, but in the future it will be inestimably dear. His sun will ever be shining, his star will ever bestow light."^[23]

Prominent early Baha'is such as John Bosch, Howard MacNutt, and John Henry Hyde Dunn were among his friends.

Sources

1. ↑ "Massachusetts, Springfield Vital Records, 1638-1887," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPN2-1XT : 10 February 2018), James B. T. Chase, 22 Feb 1847; citing v 4 p 181, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, Springfield City Hall; FHL microfilm 185,415.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD9T-NJ6 : 12 April 2016), James B Chase in household of Joseph Bensen, West Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States; citing family 518, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD9T-VSC : 12 April 2016), James B T Chase in household of Lydia Morris, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States; citing family 1771, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
4. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Thornton Chase," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thornton_Chase&oldid=907832824 (accessed August 30, 2019).
5. ↑ "Massachusetts State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQWL-BTX : 11 March 2018), James B T Chase in household of Jotham G Chase, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States; State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 953,946.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZCV-5TT : 12 December 2017), James B Chase in entry for Jotham G Chase, 1860.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD3W-WK5 : 12 June 2019), James B Chase, 1870.
8. ↑ "United States Civil War Service Records of Union Colored Troops, 1863-1865," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JZDF-M7R : 12 December 2014), James B Chase, 1864; from "Civil War Soldiers - Union - Colored Troops," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing military unit 26th US Colored Infantry, NARA microfilm publication M1824, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C., roll 3.
9. ↑ "Compiled Military Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served with the United States Colored Troops: Infantry Organizations, 26th through 30th, including the 29th Connecticut (Colored)," National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C., NARA microfilm publication 300398, roll 003., vol. 94, p. 12, digital image, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com: accessed 1 September 2019).
10. ↑ "Compiled Military Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served with the United States Colored Troops: Infantry Organizations, 26th through 30th, including the 29th Connecticut (Colored)," National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C., NARA microfilm publication talog ID: 300398, roll RG94-USCT-104-Bx06., vol. 94, p. 20, digital image, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com: accessed 1 September 2019).
11. ↑ "Rhode Island Marriages, 1724-1916," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8KT-S3D : 11 February 2018), James Brown Thornton Chase and Annie Elizabeth Louise Allyn, 11 May 1870; citing Providence,Providence,Rhode Island, reference ; FHL microfilm 914,407.
12. ↑ "Rhode Island Town Marriages Index, 1639-1916," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8KF-RJ2 : accessed 30 August 2019), James Brown Thornton Chase and Annie Elizabeth Louise Allyn, 11 May 1870; citing Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States, town halls, Rhode Island, and Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence; FHL microfilm 914,407.
13. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQXR-LH9 : 10 February 2018), James B. T. Chase in entry for Sarah T. Chase, 16 Mar 1871; citing , SPRINGFIELD, HAMPDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 0185415 V. 4-6.
14. ↑ "Iowa Marriages, 1809-1992," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XV39-C2H : 10 February 2018), J. B. T. Chase and Elenor F. Pervier, 06 May 1880; citing Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, reference ; FHL microfilm 1,014,766.
15. ↑ "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJFP-CVM : 3 September 2017), J. B. T. Chase and Elenor F. Pervier, 06 May 1880, Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, United States; citing reference , county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 1,014,766.
16. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDLC-71C : 14 August 2017), Thorton Chase, 1880; citing enumeration district ED 161, sheet 231D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d), roll 0359; FHL microfilm 1,254,359.
17. ↑ Whitehead: Page 3
18. ↑ "United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5Y-VBZV : 16 March 2018), Thornton Chase, 1907; citing Passport Application, Illinois, United States, source certificate #27293, Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925, 30, NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
19. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVLS-J2Q : accessed 30 August 2019), Thornton Chase, Los Angeles Assembly District 74, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 79, sheet 15A, family 299, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 84; FHL microfilm 1,374,097.
20. ↑ "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPS1-ZJC8 : 22 August 2018), Thornton Chase, 1912.
21. ↑ Death notice - Thornton Chase. The Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct 1912. p.16. Accessed on 1 September 2019. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/image/380205228/
22. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 30 August 2019), memorial page for Thornton James Brown Chase (22 Feb 1847–30 Sep 1912), Find A Grave: Memorial #19674187, citing Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California, USA ; Maintained by S. G. Shanafelt (contributor 46871301) .
23. ↑ Whitehead: Page 11

See also:

• Wikipedia: Thornton Chase
• Wikidata: Item Q2428994, en:Wikipedia
• Whitehead, O.Z. Some Early Baha'is of the West (George Ronald, Oxford : 1976)
• Stockman, Robert H. “Chase, Thornton (1847-1912).” In The Baha'i Encyclopedia Project. The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, August 15, 2008. http://www.bahai-encyclopedia-project.org/.
• Thornton Chase on Bahaipedia