Feedback invited.
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While William Chase 1595 and family are documented as passengers on the ‘Arabella’ of the Winthrop Fleet that left England from Yarmouth, Isle of Wight over the summer of 1630, it is currently uncertain where John and Mary were living prior to the time of immigration. Although there has been a great deal of “more-than-likely” speculation, it has seemed impossible to find records that connect him back into families of Chases living around Hundridge Manor, Chesham, Buckinghamshire. This may be about to change.
Recent information points to the identity of William Chase’s parents as, Benjamin Chase (14 Aug 1570 - 1643) and Helen Harvie 1570 living in Wivenhoe, Essex. Benjamin Chase was one of two children of William Chase 1553 and Mary Hammond 1550. In turn, William 1553, was one of eight children of Thomas Chase 1520 and Elizabeth Bowchiew 1518 at Hundridge, Chesham, Buckinghamshire.
The recent research work of Helen Barrell on historic marriage and baptism records at Wivenhoe St. Mary the Virgin Parish Church is now in publication. These documents show the marriage of Benjamyin Chase and Hellen Harvie on 18 Jan 1591 at Wivenhoe, near Colchester, England. The church of St. Mary the Virgin is located in the High Street and existed by 1254 when Simon Battle was the patron. These records are a trove of information that include baptism records of their three children: Anne 1591, William 1597, and George 1600. Baptism records can post date a birth by 1-2 years.
These records would place William at Wivenhoe, Essex. How long was he there? Where did he meet and marry Mary? What is Mary’s surname?
Note: Because of the relatively small numbers of New England colonists and their inter-relationships, there are numerous ways that Chase descendants might find connections to Chase families in Chesham. While there is a through-line between Gurley Brown Chase and William Chase 1595, also there are numerous alternate pathways following female ancestral routes.
Reference: Transcriptions of the registers from 1560 from Wivenhoe St. Mary the Virgin Parish Church Research by Helen Barrell
https://essexandsuffolksurnames.co.uk/parish-register-transcription...
From Jon Dennis Keliehor
