Ezra and Orinza Covil of Yarmouth and Dennis, MA - Identification of a Family Photograph

               

                                                                          Orinza (Chase) Covil                     Julia Etta (Covil) Chase

The first entry in my grandmother's "Birthday Book" is that for Ezra Covil.  The entry notes that Ezra was born 15 January 1800 at Harwich, Massachusetts, and died 16 January 1882.  Ezra Covil (sometimes written Covill or Covel) was my great great great grandfather on my mother's father's side.  

Only a few photographs of my Yarmouth ancestors exist, and those that do are not labelled.  Amongst the collection are several images of a dark haired woman that, through research and deduction, have been identified as Julia Etta Covill (as well as photos of her husband Franklin Howes Chase). I have written about them in a previous blog.  Using these previously identified images, the family photo above appears to depict Julia in the back row, turning towards, and with her hand resting on the shoulder of, a jovial looking gentlemen with a white beard.  There are two family possibilities for the time period depicted (approx. 1881) - the gentlemen is either Julia's father Ezra Covill, or her father-in-law George Washington Chase.  The women seated on the ground share Julia's prominent facial feature - a large long chin.  This leads me to believe one woman seated is Julia's mother Orinza (Chase) Covill, and the other her younger sister Adelia.  Therefore the bearded man, next to Julia, is more than likely her father Ezra Covill.  Adelia was married to Julia's husband's brother - Timothy Taylor Chase.  Timothy and Adelia had one son Carleton who died at about 6 years of age in 1883.  Ezra Covil died in January 1882.  This may be a picture of this family unit possibly a year or less before the deaths of Ezra at age 82 in January 1882.  Carlton died in 1883, Orinza in 1884 and Julia who would have her last child in 1883 ultimately dies three years later in 1886. Only Adelia and her husband Timothy lived into the twentieth century.

According to a death notice published in the Barnstable Patriot on Tuesday, January 24, 1882, Ezra Covil died at the age of 82 on Monday the 16th of January 1882 of dropsy.  He had been ill for a few months but was faithfully attended to by his children, having lived an active life.  He was noted as being respected for his kindness and benevolent disposition.  He left behind six daughters and one son.  His wife Orinza was not mentioned but according to records died the following year.  It does seem through census records they were each living at different locations with different children for a time before their deaths.  I have not located a place of burial for either of them.

Ezra Covil was the son of John Covil and Huldah Bangs.  He was born on 15 January 1800 at Dennis, Massachusetts. 

Ezra was of Yarmouth when he married first Martha (Patty) Newcomb on 20 March 1823.  Martha was born 10 July 1805/6 at Provincetown, Massachusetts to Captain Reuben Newcomb, master mariner, and his wife Mary.

Ezra and Patty had the following children:

Ezra, born 1823 in Dennis;

John, born 1825 in Dennis, died 1826[8];

Nancy Thacher, born 1827 at Yarmouth, died 1835;

Eliza Jane, born 1828, at Dennis;

Nathaniel, born 1830, Dennis;

Thankful Baker, born 1832 Dennis;

Mary, born 1833 in Dennis;

Emily, born 1835 in Sandwich;

Nancy Thacher, born 1836 at Yarmouth;

Abby Ann, born 1839, at Yarmouth;

Sophronia [Allen/Olevy], born 1840 at Yarmouth, died 1841; and

Elizabeth Bee Newcomb, born 1842 at Yarmouth.  It is possible both this child and Patty died at the birth.

Martha/Patty Covil probably died before May 1846 when marriage intentions were filed at Sandwich for Captain Ezra Covil[l] and Orinza Chase who were "both residents of Sandwich, formerly of Dennis."  On their marriage record, Ezra is identified as farmer and it is noted that it was a second marriage for both him and Orinza.  Note that their marriage was registered in Dennis on 27 January of 1861 (the marriage of Carlona Chase to Nelson Baker Dean was registered 5 January 1861). Orinza was the daughter of Owen Chase and Peninah Bassett born 11 October 1811.  She married first Edward Chase at Dennis, Massachusetts on 2 December 1834.  Edward and Orinza Chase had three children.

Children of Edward and Orinza Chase:

Coleman Chase, b. 19 December 1836; m. Mary Crowell 15 Oct 1863, died at Boston working as a tugboat Captain falling overboard in 1906.

Edward Baker Chase, b. 7 December 1840; he died at sea at age 17 in January 1838.

Carlona Smith Chase, b. 7 December 1840; she married (1) Nelson Baker Dean in 1861, and (2) Isaac Simmons in 1871; she died 1894. 

                                                                                                                            

Ezra and Orinza had two daughters together.  Julia Etta Covil was born on 8 February 1847 and Adelia was born on 21 December 1854.

Following the Census

1830 Dennis - Household of Ezra Covil consisting of one male and two females under the age of 5, one male under the age of 10, one male aged between 30 and 40, and one female between 20 and 30 years. Note the household of a Reuben Newcomb is close by.

In 1840 Ezra is enumerated again at Dennis close to the Newcomb family, with one male and two females under the age of 5, one male under the age of 10, one male aged between 30 and 40 years, and one female between 20 and 30.

In the 1855 Census at Dennis, Ezra Covil, a 55 year old farmer born in Yarmouth, wife Orinza aged 50, daughter Julietta, age 8, and Coleman Chase a twenty year old seaman, and Edward B. Chase aged 16.

In 1860, Orinza is enumerated as head of household in Dennis, with children Delia aged 8, Coleman a mariner, aged 24, and Caroline aged 19. Currently unable to locate Ezra in 1860.

In 1865, Ezra and Orinza are enumerated together along with daughter Adelia at Dennis.

in 1880 Orinza is enumerated at age 6[6] in the household of her daughter and son-in-law Franklin H. and Julia Etta Chase in Yarmouth.

In 1880 Ezra is enumerated in the household of his son Nathaniel and his wife Lorica in Dennis.  He is noted as "old no work" at age 80.  He writes his will in 1881, and dies in 1882.

Orinza, widow, died in 1884 of "asthma" at Provincetown at the age of 7[0]
years and 5 months, death registered at Dennis.

In his Will dated 2 December 1881 and proved 14 March 1882, Ezra Covill leaves his daughters Eliza, Nancy, Abby, Elizabeth, Julia and Adelia each 50 cents.  To his only surviving son Nathaniel as a consequence of his kindness in Ezra's old age, he leaves the remainder of his estate both real and personal.  There is no mention of his wife Orinza. Nathaniel is appointed administrator.

So again, the mystery photo at the top of this post is wonderful to have, and while one can estimate and research, it would be nice to know for sure.  If a reader feels they can better identify the date of this photo, please let me know what you think!

Sources:

Chase Family Photographs, Bear Family Collection, Cummaquid, MA.

Covil and Chase, Harwich, Dennis, and Yarmouth Vital and Census Records, Ancestry.com.

Barnstable Patriot and Register, Digital Archive, digital.olivesoftware.com, Sturgis Library.

Capt Chase Dead, The Boston Globe, September 5, 1903, page 3, Newspapers.com.

Captain Coleman Chase, Boston Evening Transcript, September 8, 1903, page 3, Newspapers.com.