Forebears and Bears

 South Yarmouth Women The woman of South Yarmouth village were no exception to the robust civic participation common to small town experience.   It’s hard to imagine where these women found the time and energy to participate in so many social, volunteer, and church organizations and events. These local women generously offered their time, talents, and homes to the camaraderie and interconnection of village life on early Cape Cod, while also taking care of their own families and homes.   Reports and advertisement for these events dotted the local newspapers and many of the women referenced participated across multiple groups. It seemed they did not rest!   Commonly noted names among many were Cottrell, Taylor, Crosby, Chase, Crowell, Siebens, Blackwell, Baker and Kelley. All seemed to shine in the local community “family” of Bass River and South Yarmouth.   Events put on by the Ladies Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the South Yarmouth Women’s Club, the Jolli-8 ( a bridge

  Gone “Mackerlin" - Paying Off A Step Father’s Debts George Washington Chase 1821-1889 Yarmouth, MA   George Washington Chase was born in Harwich, Massachusetts on 19 July 1821; he died at Yarmouth of heart disease on 11 January 1889.   His parents were Jeremiah Chase and Betsey Nickerson.   Jeremiah Chase died before 28 December 1833 when marriage intentions were recorded for George W.’s mother Betsey and Lewis Long of Yarmouth.   George W. married Nancy J. Brooks of Yarmouth who was a descendant of the indigenous tribe at Yarmouth through her father Thomas Greenough Brooks.   George W. Chase and Nancy J. (Brooks) Chase are my great great great grandparents; they had nine children.   I have posted a separate report on Nancy J. Brooks.   George Washington Chase appears in various records as “white” while his wife and children are identified as “Indian. George W. was a boy of approximately 10-12 years when his father Jeremiah died.   Lewis Long and family lived in the Weir Village

I have provided my research on my three times great grandmother Nancy J. (Brooks) Chase for several projects. I post a blog version here in anticipation of future posts on individuals connected to this family in some way.  Nancy and her husband George Washington Chase are buried in the Ancient Cemetery in Yarmouth Port, MA. According to Yarmouth Death Records, Nancy J. Chase, wife of George W., died of cancer on 25 November 1888 at the age of 67 years, 3 months and 8 days; that record identifies her parents as William and Nancy [P.] Brooks.  This name of Nancy's father here is incorrect; William Brooks was the name of her grandfather.  Other Yarmouth records correctly name her father as Thomas Greenough Brooks. Additional Yarmouth family records note that Nancy Jane Brooks (Mrs. Geo. W. Chase), daughter of Thomas G. and Nancy (Nickerson) Brooks, died 25 November 1888 at age 67 years, 3 months, [5] days.  Her date of birth is 20 August 1821. She had one sister named Juliana, born 18