Forebears and Bears

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.                                    ...

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...