From the time you were able to dig your first quahog by twisting your toes in the sand while standing waist deep in salt water, the chances are you wouldn't care if I told you that my name is spelled "Chace." But you may be surprised how people refuse to accept that spelling outside of Bristol County in southern Massachusetts. Even my computer, as I sit here writing this article for the Christ Church Harvester is programmed to remind me that my name, when typed, should be spelled "Chase."

Although I have written this article to concentrate on the spelling of my name and some of the problems associated with the spelling of "Chace," there is an interesting genealogy that started with the arrival of William Chase in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1630. In 1638, he moved to Yarmouth where he remained until he died in 1659. Reading from the book, "Some of the Descendants of William Chase," we learn that he was a cantankerous fellow whose life was not altogether peaceful. He and a minister named Marmaduke Mathews did not get along and he was censured in court for his "miscarriages" against Mr. Mathews and for disturbing the proceedings of the church. In addition to these court proceedings (bond was 20 pounds) he went to court again over a disagreement with Nicholas Sympkins concerning a fence. At the General Court held in Plymouth, 6 June 1654, he was charged "for driveing one paire of oxen in the yoke upon the Lord's day, in time of exercise about five miles." In spite of all, he was appointed as constable of Yarmouth by the Court in Plymouth

If you were one to be concerned about the genes ascending from your ancestors and your name was Chase/Chace you might be interested in what is recorded in the "Descendants of William Chase."

"William Chase, he came with the first company, 1630; he bought one child his son William, a child of ill qualities and sore afflictions to his parents: he (William Sr.) was much afflicted by the long and tedious affliction of his wife..."

"Mary Chase, the wife of William Chase, she had a paralitik (one afflicted with paralysis) humor which fell into her back bone so that she could not stir her body, but as she was lifted and filled her with great torture, and caused her back bone to go out of joint, and bunch out from the beginning to the end which infirmity she lay 4 years and a halfe, and a great part of the time a sad spectakle of misery: But is pleased God to raise her againe, and she bore children after it."

(I suppose William was also pleased when she rose up again; but the situation could also explain why he was cantankerous during the lengthy time she was out of commission.)

Getting back to the genes' situation: If I were one to worry, I would have the right to do so because I am subject to a double whammy of the Chase/Chace family. I am the descendent of the two children whose father was William 1...as follows:

William Chase

Benjamin Chase
Walter Chase
George Bedford Chase
Greenfield Chace
Capt. James Chace
Hope Terry Chace
William Chase Jr.
John Chase
Thomas Chase
Joseph Chase
Joseph Chase
Obed Chase

Thomas Chace

Hope Chace born May 1811 married Thomas Chace born Jan. 1810. Hope born in Freetown. Thomas born in Yarmouth

Children:
Hiram Chace
Ellery Chace
Frank Chace Sr.
Frank Chace Jr.

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