Abner Chase, Yarmouth 1729-1815, Patriot, Whaleman, Deacon
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." 
Josiah Paine's Notes describe Abner as a deacon in his brother Reverand Richard Chase's church. While I will not go into too much detail concerning Richard Chase and the accusations against him, the Records of the Baptist Church, West Harwich Records of First Baptist Church, Book 1, West Harwich and Dennis Port, Mass., transcribed by Pauline Wixon Derick, provide some clarification on what that trouble was, including Abner Chase's role. Rev. Richard Chase was pastor of first Baptist Church in what is now North Harwich in 1757. About 1773, charges were made against Elder Chase with respect to inappropriate and subpar behavior both personally, and in connection with his pastoral duties. It seems that these bad behaviors and judgments were influenced by "strong drink," and his intemperance and unbecoming conduct caused several church members to be unjustly censured. Richard Chase was also accused of binding his son and threatening murder to any who tried to interfere. Members of the church who were unjustly censured include Matthew Gage, Hannah Gage wife of Captain William Gage, another Hannah Gage the wife of Zebulon Gage, and Job Chase (disagreement over a fishing spot). When asked to confess, Reverend Chase denied the charges. He and several individuals who stood by him, refused to attend meetings and/or discussions on the issues. On 31 March 1777 the Church voted to dismiss Elder Chase from pastoral office citing his "keeping company with irreligious persons, encouraging them in the use of strong drink" and bad preaching, etc. August 7, 1777 another vote took place regarding dismissal and consideration of the standing of several people who seem to have backed Richard Chase. It appears this group, probably including Abner Chase, "went out from us" and continued to attend the ministry of Reverend Richard. By 1787 Deacon Abner Chase appears in the diary several times participating in Church meetings. In 1794 another instance of a fishing spot controversy is posted this time between Abner and Job Chase for which each ultimately "apologized." Stone's diaries mark several instances where church meetings were held at the home of Deacon Abner Chase, as well as his son Abner Jr.'s home. (An entry in Nathan Stone's Diary provides a death date for Abner Chase's wife as November 1798 - Derek makes a note that this is Deborah Baker Chase.) While Paine's Notes show that Abner Chase's date of death was 18 January 1815 according to church records, I currently have not found that notation in this particular set of church records or elsewhere but continue to search. A researcher must use caution when identifying Abner Chase in records as there were several Abner Chases in the area at this time, including a son Abner. The Church Records I consulted most often differentiated between the senior Abner as Deacon, and the son as Brother Abner.
Abner Chase does appear in the 1790 U.S. Federal Census at Yarmouth (two males over 16, one male under 16, and two females), with a separate household identified for Abner "junior." It is difficult to ascertain which Abner is documented in subsequent census and tax records for 1800 and 1810, etc.
Abner Chase signed and filed a Last Will and Testament with the Barnstable County Court 10 December 1794. In it he leaves his wife Deborah all his real and personal estate except his wearing apparel. He leaves six shillings to four sons Nathan, Anthony, Abner and Thomas. Abner appoints his son Owen as executor, and leaves Owen, all real estate and outdoor movables after his wife ceases to be his widow; he also leaves Owen his wearing apparel. In this Will, Abner names five daughters, Priscilla Studley, Lydia Chase, Elizabeth Bassett, Deborah Studley, and Mehitable Baker. He leaves them all his indoor moveables (except wearing apparel) after his wife ceases to be his widow, to be equally divided amongst them. Again I continue to search for an absolute record of Abner's death. and place of burial. As noted above, Abner was recorded in church records as having died 18 January 1815. It may prove helpful for future research to investigate land transactions between Abner's son Owen's wife Peninah, or Abner's grandchildren to include Owen, and Henry Chase and others. 
Dennis Source Records, Volume 1: Church Records, Transciption of records of the Town of Dennis, Massachusestts, Compiled by Burton Nathaniel Derick, 2004 - Section 2,
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.
According to Josiah Paine's notes held at the New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston, Abner Chase had early in his life been a whaleman. Paine provides description of a harrowing experience of Chase and his crew while out whaling. On the 29th of June 1767 at the northern whaling ground, near the straits of Belle Isles, Abner's ship hit a terrible storm and was capsized throwing all the men into the rough sea. Abner Chase narrowly escaped drowning, as did several of his men. Two men however, William Smith, Jr., and Isaac Hinckley, did drown. Abner and the rest of his crew -- Samuel Bassett (another of my ancestors), Gros Crowell, and Moody Baker, were rescued by nearby ships of Deacon Ed Hall's who also hailed from the same area of Cape Cod. Ultimately Chase continued his whaling excursion and reported having 90 barrels of oil and bone, anticipating new ventures to come. The record of the tragedy at sea had been relayed by Abner Chase himself in a letter to his wife in July 1767.
According to the History of Old Yarmouth, at a town meeting held 1 November 1774, Abner Chase is one of a group of men named a committee (including Barnabus Eldredge, Reuben Taylor, Abner Crowell, Isaac Hallet, Edmund Bray, Isaac Berry, James Howes, Samuel Eldredge, John Chapman, James and Moses Baker,) to make sure that residents of the Town of Yarmouth did not drink any tea all in an effort to support and stand with Bostonians and countrymen in fighting English taxes. Abner Chase served three days during the American Revolution, marching on the alarm of 19 April 1775. He was a private in Captain Jonathan Crowell's company.
Josiah Paine's Notes describe Abner as a deacon in his brother Reverand Richard Chase's church. While I will not go into too much detail concerning Richard Chase and the accusations against him, the Records of the Baptist Church, West Harwich Records of First Baptist Church, Book 1, West Harwich and Dennis Port, Mass., transcribed by Pauline Wixon Derick, provide some clarification on what that trouble was, including Abner Chase's role. Rev. Richard Chase was pastor of first Baptist Church in what is now North Harwich in 1757. About 1773, charges were made against Elder Chase with respect to inappropriate and subpar behavior both personally, and in connection with his pastoral duties. It seems that these bad behaviors and judgments were influenced by "strong drink," and his intemperance and unbecoming conduct caused several church members to be unjustly censured. Richard Chase was also accused of binding his son and threatening murder to any who tried to interfere. Members of the church who were unjustly censured include Matthew Gage, Hannah Gage wife of Captain William Gage, another Hannah Gage the wife of Zebulon Gage, and Job Chase (disagreement over a fishing spot). When asked to confess, Reverend Chase denied the charges. He and several individuals who stood by him, refused to attend meetings and/or discussions on the issues. On 31 March 1777 the Church voted to dismiss Elder Chase from pastoral office citing his "keeping company with irreligious persons, encouraging them in the use of strong drink" and bad preaching, etc. August 7, 1777 another vote took place regarding dismissal and consideration of the standing of several people who seem to have backed Richard Chase. It appears this group, probably including Abner Chase, "went out from us" and continued to attend the ministry of Reverend Richard. By 1787 Deacon Abner Chase appears in the diary several times participating in Church meetings. In 1794 another instance of a fishing spot controversy is posted this time between Abner and Job Chase for which each ultimately "apologized." Stone's diaries mark several instances where church meetings were held at the home of Deacon Abner Chase, as well as his son Abner Jr.'s home. (An entry in Nathan Stone's Diary provides a death date for Abner Chase's wife as November 1798 - Derek makes a note that this is Deborah Baker Chase.) While Paine's Notes show that Abner Chase's date of death was 18 January 1815 according to church records, I currently have not found that notation in this particular set of church records or elsewhere but continue to search. A researcher must use caution when identifying Abner Chase in records as there were several Abner Chases in the area at this time, including a son Abner. The Church Records I consulted most often differentiated between the senior Abner as Deacon, and the son as Brother Abner.
Abner Chase does appear in the 1790 U.S. Federal Census at Yarmouth (two males over 16, one male under 16, and two females), with a separate household identified for Abner "junior." It is difficult to ascertain which Abner is documented in subsequent census and tax records for 1800 and 1810, etc.Abner Chase signed and filed a Last Will and Testament with the Barnstable County Court 10 December 1794. In it he leaves his wife Deborah all his real and personal estate except his wearing apparel. He leaves six shillings to four sons Nathan, Anthony, Abner and Thomas. Abner appoints his son Owen as executor, and leaves Owen, all real estate and outdoor movables after his wife ceases to be his widow; he also leaves Owen his wearing apparel. In this Will, Abner names five daughters, Priscilla Studley, Lydia Chase, Elizabeth Bassett, Deborah Studley, and Mehitable Baker. He leaves them all his indoor moveables (except wearing apparel) after his wife ceases to be his widow, to be equally divided amongst them. Again I continue to search for an absolute record of Abner's death. and place of burial. As noted above, Abner was recorded in church records as having died 18 January 1815. It may prove helpful for future research to investigate land transactions between Abner's son Owen's wife Peninah, or Abner's grandchildren to include Owen, and Henry Chase and others. Massachusetts and Maine, Direct Tax 1798
Dennis, Massachusetts (Vol. 13, pp. 519, 572,
Sources:
Josiah and John H. Paine Collection, Manuscript Collection, New England Historic and Genealoical Society, Newbury Street, Boston, Massachusetts.
Dennis Source Records, Volume 1: Church Records, Transciption of records of the Town of Dennis, Massachusestts, Compiled by Burton Nathaniel Derick, 2004 - Section 2,
Records of the Baptist Church, West Harwich Records of First Baptist Church, Book 1, West Harwich and Dennis Port, Mass., transcribed by Pauline Wixon Derick 1966; and Section 5,
Diaries of Reverend Nathan Stone, transcribed, compiled by Burton Nathaniel Derick in 2003.
Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910, 1921-1924", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC6M-M5G : 30 December 2022), Abner Chace, 1748.
Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPZR-M7C9 : Sat Mar 09 10:25:28 UTC 2024), Entry for Abner Chasse and Deborah Baker, 13 Aug 1748.
Massachusetts and Maine: Direct Tax, 1798. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003.) Original manuscript: Direct tax list of 1798 for Massachusetts and Maine, 1798. R. Stanton Avery Special Collections, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA.
https://www.americanancestors.org/DB183/rd/13104/519/235248695
Vital Records from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (Compiled from articles originally published in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register.)
https://www.americanancestors.org/DB522/rd/14318/324/264638852
U.S., Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolutionary War, 1775-1801, Fold3.com.
Yarmouth Vital Records accessed online at Ancestry.com and Familysearch.org.
Paine, Josiah, A History of Harwich, Brewster, MA, reprinted 1971.
Swift, Charles F., History of Old Yarmouth, Comprising the present towns of Yarmouth and Dennis, Yarmouthport, 1884, Internetarchive.org.
Descendants of William Chase, Chase John C. and Hazen P. Chase, Holyoke, MA, 1983, accessed on Familysearch.org.
Genealogical Notes of Cape Cod Families, Chase, InternetArchive.org.
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