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Thomas Greenough of Yarmouth (1746-1836) - My Favorite Ancestor

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If you asked me who my favorite ancestor was, no question it would be Thomas Greenough of Yarmouth, Massachusetts.  Indeed, I wrote a book on him.  While I continue to research in an effort to find everything I can about his life, this ongoing exhaustive search discovers no new information.  Well, a few little items here and there, i.e, notations of payments to Thomas Greenough by the Town of Yarmouth in it's early account books, and the name "Thomas Crno" (I suspect this to be an early phonetic version of Thomas Greenough) on a petition dated 1762 by a group of indigenous people of Yarmouth requesting payment to Thomas Ralph as their minister.  I do have theories and thoughts on who he may have been related to, possibly who his mother might be, but nothing documented.  Thomas Greenough, and his Native American ancestry, is well documented in primary sources - town records, vital records, and leases written and signed in his own hand.  His existence, and hi...
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Abner Chase, Yarmouth 1729-1815, Patriot, Whaleman, Deacon

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Abner Chase of Yarmouth was born 22 June 1729 to Thomas and Sarah (Gowell) Chase.  His siblings were Gowell, Hannah, Phebe, Richard, Joseph, Priscilla, Sarah and Thomas. Abner was appointed  Executor to his father's estate probated 21 September 1767; Thomas Chase in his Last Will and Testament leaves Abner nothing "by reason and consideration of what he had already given him by deed this day."  On 27 October 1748 Abner Chase and Deborah Baker, both approximately 19 years of age, were married by Thomas Winslow of Harwich, Justice of the Peace (Intentions 13 August 1748).  Deborah was born at Yarmouth 2 March 1729 to Judah Baker and his wife Marcy Burgess.  Abner and Deborah had ten children: Priscilla, Lydia, Elizabeth, Nathan, Anthony, Deborah, Abner, Thomas, Owen, and Mehitable. I descend from their son Owen who married Peninah Bassett.                                    ...
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Solomon Nickerson (1765-1814) Harwich, MA//Died in Service War of 1812

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Solomon Nickerson of Harwich was born 25 March 1765 to Phineas and Jane (Chase) Nickerson.  He died at Rome, New York on or about 1 October 1814 where he was serving as a private in Captain Marston's Company of the 21st Massachusetts Infantry during the War of 1812.  Researching Solomon Nickerson and his family provides an example of the importance of using caution when consulting online public family trees.  For me using these sites is essential, but one must be vigilant in verifying "facts" especially those with no citations or sources.  As Solomon Nickerson and his wife Hannah Nickerson are ancestors of mine - my four times great grandparents - I attempt here to clarify some facts for my own tree's accuracy. The images above from Harwich Vital Records identify the children of Phineas Nickerson and two of his wives, Reliance and "Ruth" (Jerusha).  Included at the bottom of the lists is a birthdate of 25 March 1765 for a son Solomon Nickerson.  Records sho...
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Samuel Drinkwater - Pilot of the Brig Enterprise - North Yarmouth, Maine

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It seems the Town of Yarmouth is in my genes, whether it is Yarmouth England, Yarmouth Massachusetts, or Yarmouth Maine.  My four times great grandfather is Captain Samuel Drinkwater of North Yarmouth, Maine.  If I can get this branch of the family tree sufficiently documented, Samuel Drinkwater will open up several more Mayflower connections.  While he is a pivotal ancestor in that respect, he is otherwise noteworthy in his service to the United States, both as a revolutionary war soldier, and as a pilot onboard the United States Brig Enterprise during the War of 1812. Samuel Drinkwater was born 24 February 1743 to Joseph and Janet (Lathum) Drinkwater at North Yarmouth, part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony which later became Maine.  Samuel was one of many children born to this couple - sons all being seafaring men.  Samuel is a Mayflower descendant through his mother to Soule and Chilton.   Samuel married 22 January 1770 at North Yarmouth, Maine, Ahro...
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