Forebears and Bears

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...

  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 Lo...