Franklin Howes Chase (1843-1903) Yarmouth, MA

Franklin Howes Chase was born 25 January 1843 at Yarmouth, Massachusetts to George Washington Chase and his wife Nancy J. Brooks. Franklin H. died of "organic heart disesase" on 25 January 1903 at Carver, Massachusetts. He is buried at the Ancient Cemetery at Yarmouth.


The family of George W. and Nancy J. Chase consists of the  following children:
George Washington, born 5 January 1841;
Franklin Howes, born 25 Jan 1843;
Nancy Jane, born 25 February 1845;
Betsey Nickerson, born 15 July 1847;
Mary Ann, born 16 October 1849;
Timothy Taylor, born 14 December 1851;
Lucy Williams, born 21 March 1854;
Luella Augusta, born 21 March 1859; and 
Juan (Juan later changes his names to Charles), born 20 July 1861.
 
In 1850, the George W. Chase family is enumerated at Yarmouth; all children are attending school including a Mary F. Baker, age 16.  Mary Baker was the daughter of Coleman Baker and his first wife Sally.  She married Ebenezer Cahoon in 1854.  Mary Freeman Baker appears to be a story for another day and requires more research.


1850 U.S. Federal Census, Massachusetts, Barnstable County, Yarmouth

George W. Chase

27

Sailor

Dwelling 168/175

Nancy J.

30



George W. Chase

10



Franklin H.

8



Nancy J.

6



Betsey

4



Mary A.

1



Mary F. Baker

16




In the 1855 state census, the Chase family is enumerated at Yarmouth where all individuals except father George W. Chase are identified as Indian.

1855 Massachusetts, U.S., State Census Barnstable County, Yarmouth

George W. Chase

42

Seaman/ White

Born Harwich

Nancy J.

34

“Indian”

Born Yarmouth

George W. Chase

14

“Indian”

“

Franklin H.

12

“Indian”

“

Nancy J.

10

“Indian”

“

Betsey

8

“Indian”

“

Mary A.

5

“Indian”

“

Timothy Taylor

3

“Indian"

“

Child

1

“Indian"

“


By 1860, two more children are identified for George W. and Nancy J. Chase.

1860 U.S. Federal Census, Massachusetts, Barnstable County, Yarmouth

George W. Chase

38

Fisherman


Nancy J.

37



George W. Chase

20

Fisherman


Franklin H.

18

Fisherman


Nancy J.

16



Juan

11



Timothy

9



Lucy W.

6



Luella

1




The family is listed in the Massachusetts: Earle Report of Native Americans in 1861 as belonging to the Yarmouth Tribe. Father, George W. Chase is identified as white. 





On 21 December 1862, Franklin H. Chase (handwritten note in record notes he is "part Indian") of Yarmouth, aged 20, married Julia E. Covill of Dennis, aged 16.  Julia was the daughter of Ezra and Orinza (Chase) (Chase) Covill . In 1865, the couple and young child are enumerated at Yarmouth next door to Franklin’s parents George W. and Nancy J. Chase.


1865 Massachusetts, U.S., State Census, Barnstable County, Yarmouth

Franklin H. Chase

22

Mariner

Born Yarmouth

Julia E.

18


Born Barnstable

Child

1


Born Yarmouth


In 1865, Franklin purchases of his father-in-law, Ezra Covel, two lots of wood and cedar swamp in Dennis (probably line between Yarmouth and Dennis) equalling between 1.08 and 2 acres. 


In 1870, Franklin H., mariner, and his family including wife Julia, age 24, daughters Julia F., Leila, Winnie, and infant male child were enumerated at Dennis. However, Franklin is also enumerated at his parent’s house in Yarmouth, as is his brother George W. who was also married at this time. Additionally, this census identifies a younger sister Jane, aged 9 but this is in fact child Juan Chase.


1870 U.S. Federal Census, Massachusetts, Barnstable County, Dennis




On 2 December 1881 Ezra Covel's Last Will and Testament is recorded in the Barnstable Probate Court. In it he leaves his daughters Eliza, Nancy, Abby, Elizabeth, Julia, and Adelia 50 cents each. He leaves to his son Nathaniel - as compensation for kindness shown in his old age in that he resided with the family for what he considered a long period of time - the residue of all his estate both real and personal. Ezra dies on 16 January 1882. Orinza dies in 1884 at Provincetown.


 


In 1885, Franklin purchases several lots of land in East Yarmouth from the heirs of Saban Baker, which deeds or agreements reserve rights to the cedar and wood to the Bakers and Whites.  From 1885 through 1890, several instances of transactions, including mortgages given, with Thomas Howes and William Baker take place. 

Franklin’s wife Julia E. died on 23 November 1886 at the age of 39, of puerperal fever, or a postpartum infection. Her last child Violet was born in 1883.  Violet is my great grandmother.


Franklin's mother Nancy J. (Brooks) Chase died 25 November 1888;  his father, George W. Chase, died 11 January 1889 at Yarmouth.  The couple are buried in the Ancient Cemetery at Yarmouth.


A month after his mother's death, on Christmas Day 1888, Franklin H. Chase, a 45 year old contractor, married his second wife Mary B. Percival at Marion, Massachusetts.  Mary was the 25 year old daughter, born in South Boston, of Nathaniel and Arabella Percival of Barnstable.  It was her first marriage. 


Several transactions involving land and cranberry bog land take place in Plymouth County, Carver, involving wife Mary Chase located on the road from Ellis Furnace to Durham's Pond, with Ziba Nickerson and Gustavus Long of Harwich. 


                     .         


On 27 March 1891, Franklin H. Chase, Nancy J. Baker, and Juan Chase all of Yarmouth, Betsy Howes of Dennis, Timothy J. Chase of Provincetown, George W. Chase of Taunton, and Mary A. Long of Vineyard Haven grant to their sister Luella Howes for the sum of one dollar their 7/8ths part of land in East Yarmouth representing the homestead estate of the late George Washington Chase.  The property equals 1.5 acres, a dwelling house and other buildings, near to the Yarmouth and Dennis Roads, the Chatham Road, ranges of George W. Chase and Charles Thacher. Grantee Luella Howes holds heirship of the other 1/8th.  Spouses also mentioned include William Baker, David Howes, Frederick Long, Mary E. Chase, Mary B. Chase and Delia Chase.


Frank H. Chase, teamster, home on “Furnace”, South Carver is listed in the City Directory for Carver in 1902.  Franklin Howes Chase died 25 January 1903, 60 years old to the day.



Sources:
Barnstable County Registry of Deeds, Masachusetts Secretary of State, Yarmouth Deeds, online access.
Massachusetts Town and Vital Records, Yarmouth and Dennis Vital Records, Ancestry.com and Familysearch.org.
Photographs of Franklin H. Chase and Julia Etta (Covil) Chase, Bear Family Personal Collection, Cummaquid, MA.
Barnstable Patriot and Register Digital Archive, Sturgis Library.org.
U.S. Federal Census Records, Massachusetts, Yarmouth and Dennis Census Records, Ancestry.com and Familysearch.org.
Will of George Washington Chase, Yarmouth, Barnstable Probate Records, Familysearch.org.
Massachusetts: Earle Report of Native Americans, 1861. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2020). From The 1861 Massachusetts Earle Report of Native Americans from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Boston, MA: Massachusetts State Senate.

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