USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 7 > Part 44
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in 1647, and removed to Swansea, Massa- chusetts, where he acquired much prop- erty, and died in his eighty-seventh year. For many years he kept a tavern in that part of Swansea that is now Warren, Rhode Island, near the State line. Jacob Chase's will was dated January 25, 1734, and proved April 16, 1734. It is recorded in the Bristol, Massachusetts, County Probate Records, vol. 8, page 95. The probate proceedings refer to his widow, Mary, and his children: Isaac, Jacob, Samuel, Ephraim, Joseph, Joshua ; Oliver, mentioned below; Hannah, and Mary. Oliver, therefore, appears as the youngest son and not the second as stated in some genealogies.
(IV) Oliver Chase, youngest son of Jacob and Mary Chase, was born about 1700 to 1705, in Swansea, and was an ex- tensive trader in real estate. He married (first) October 24, 1729, Priscilla Round, daughter of John and Sarah (Carter) Round, of Swansea, who were married there on November 26, 1711, all as shown by the vital records of that town. In the will of John Round, made July 19, 1758, he refers to his daughter Priscilla Chase. The children of Oliver and Priscilla Chase, all of whose births are recorded in the Swansea records, were: David, mentioned below; Oliver, born March 5, 1733; Mary, born May 6, 1735; Freelove, born June 3, 1738; and Samuel, born June 15, 174I. Oliver Chase married (second) after the death of his first wife, Priscilla Chase, Mary Wheaton, of Rehoboth, Au- gust 9, 1764, as shown by the records of that town. That Priscilla Round and Mary Wheaton were both married to the same Oliver Chase is shown by the differ- ent recorded deeds of the said Oliver and by his will which was probated July 7, 1777. Here is corrected an error appear- ing in some genealogies giving Comfort Horton as the first wife of the said Oliver.
Here is also corrected an article in the January, 1919, issue of "The Chase Chron- icle" entitled: "An Interesting Discov- ery," in which Oliver Chase was given as the second son of Benjamin and Mercy (Simmons) Chase, and in which Oliver's birthplace was given as Freetown, Massa- chusetts, and the birth date as September 22, 1709. In discovering one error set forth in said article, an assumption was made which was also erroneous. The "missing link," referred to in that article, was due to the fact that the vital records of the Swansea-Rehoboth section do not show the relationship between Jacob and Oliver Chase which was claimed in some publications after this branch of the family made its original searches in 1864. This has now been substantiated by land and probate records.
(V) David Chase, eldest child of Oliver and Priscilla (Round) Chase, was born September 20, 1730, in Swansea, and was married there, August 5, 1756, by Elder Russell Mason, to Susanna Pierce, of Re- hoboth, according to the Swansea Quaker Records. They afterwards lived in Reho- both. With their two sons, Edward and Samuel, they removed to Killingly, Con- necticut, in 1779, and settled near East Killingly, a short distance westerly of the present Chase Reservoir on the farm on the old Hartford and Providence turn- pike, now known as the Wilcox place, and land westerly thereof running northerly to include the old homestead of Judge David Chase, below mentioned. David Chase purchased this farm from David Hulet, of Killingly, for nine hundred and seventy-five pounds, as shown by Kill- ingly Land Records in vol. 16, page 218. David Chase died early in November, 1805, leaving his widow and the two sons before mentioned. His estate was settled in the Probate Court at Plainfield, Con-
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necticut, the records thereof appearing in vols. 11 and 12.
(VI) Edward Chase, son of David and Susanna (Pierce) Chase, was born in Swansea, Massachusetts, May 31, 1757, and was married, according to the Swan- sea Friends' Record, November 20, 1777 (by the Rehoboth Vital Records, August 25, 1778) to Chloe Bullock, of Rehoboth, who was born July 5, 1753, and died Sep- tember 30, 1848. Their children, all born in Killingly, were: David, mentioned be- low; Daniel, born October 8, 1781 ; Edward, born February 26, 1784; Samp- son, born January 24, 1786; Thomas, born July 19, 1789; Israel, born June 15, 1794. Edward Chase died in Killingly, in April, 1842, and is buried in the old Chase fam- ily burying ground near the home of John Chase, of East Killingly. His gravestone calls him "Deacon Edward Chase," the name by which he was commonly known.
(VII) David (2) Chase, Judge, eldest son of Edward and Chloe (Bullock) Chase, was born in Killingly, Connecti- cut, November 5, 1779, and died in Kill- ingly, January 31, 1866, after a long life of distinguished service to his town and State. He was trained as a surveyor and afterward became a lawyer. He held many public offices and represented Kill- ingly in the State Legislature several times. As a lawyer of judicial mind, clear judgment, and firm and upright princi- ples, he was repeatedly appointed by Gov- ernors of Connecticut one of the judges of the Windham County Court which cor- responded to our present State Superior Court of general jurisdiction. It was largely through Judge Chase's efforts that the town of Killingly was made a separate probate district ; and as a recognition of these services he was chosen as Kill- ingly's first probate judge and held the office for two terms. In his younger days Judge Chase was active in military cir-
cles, serving as lieutenant, and afterward, during the trying Embargo Period pre- ceding the War of 1812, as captain of the Fourth Company of the Eleventh Regi- ment. Judge Chase married, August 29, 1803, Alma, known as Amy, daughter of Whitney Graves, of Killingly, who fought in the Revolutionary War. She was born August 15, 1782, and died in February, 1869. Their children were: 1. Roxana, born July 29, 1804, who married Uriah Coman, and resided at Painesville, Ohio. 2. Chloe, born August 1, 1805, who mar- ried Turner Miller, and resided at Olney- ville, Rhode Island. 3. Alvia, born Octo- ber 19, 1807, resided in Killingly, a sur- veyor. 4. Giles, mentioned below. 5. Lewis, born January 26, 1813, resided in Killingly. 6. Amilda, born April 6, 1815. died in early childhood. 7. Esther, born August 25, 1817, who married William Mason, and resided in Providence, Rhode Island. 8. Alma A., born April 8, 1822, who married William Gleason, and re- sided in Killingly.
(VIII) Giles Chase, second son of Da- vid (2) and Alma (Graves) Chase, was born August 23, 1810, in Killingly, Con- necticut, and died there, October 28. 1902. He attended the schools of his native town, after which he learned surveying and engineering from his father. He used the instruments belonging to his father, and these are still preserved in the family. As a surveyor he did much in the way of laying out plans for manu- facturing plants, making surveys for roads, and later he devoted his entire at- tention to civil engineering. He located on a farm northeast of the one belong- ing to his father. In 1868 he removed to Mechanicsville, Connecticut, where he resided until 1888, and then returned to his native town. In addition to his work as a surveyor, which he followed during the summer months, he was a teacher in
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early manhood, serving in that capacity for thirty successive winter seasons in Hopkins Mills, Rhode Island, Windham county, Connecticut, and Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania. In early life Giles Chase was identified with the old Whig party, but at the birth of the Republican party he heartily adopted its principles. He served as selectman of the town of Killingly and in various other offices.
Mr. Chase married, May 1, 1842, Orpah D. Spaulding, born September 16, 1822, died March 24, 1898, daughter of Joshua and Achsah (Mowry) Spaulding. The line of descent through her father to the immigrant ancestor was through Jacob Spaulding and his wife Lydia (Low) Spaulding; Simeon Spaulding and his wife, Hannah (Paine) Spaulding; Jacob Spaulding and his wife, Hannah Spauld- ing; Edward Spaulding and his wife, Mary (Brockett) Spaulding ; John Spauld- ing and his wife, Hannah (Hale) Spauld- ing; Edward Spaulding and his wife, Margaret Spaulding, who came to New England probably between 1630 and 1633. The children of Giles and Orpah D. (Spaulding) Chase are: O'Meara G .; born January II, 1844, now residing in Sterling, Connecticut; Canova M., born May 14, 1846, now residing in Killingly ; David, born April 3, 1848, now residing in East Orange, New Jersey; Charles Dexter, mentioned below; Cassius S., born April 23, 1854, now residing in Hart- ford, Connecticut; Emma F., born No- vember 14, 1860, now residing in Lynn, Massachusetts.
(IX) Charles Dexter Chase, fourth son of Giles and Orpah D. (Spaulding) Chase, was born in Killingly, Connecticut, April 29, 1852. After completing his studies in the public schools of Killingly, he accom- panied his parents to Mechanicsville, Con- necticut, in 1868, and there learned the business of woolen manufacturing. In
1877 he went to Jefferson, Massachusetts, where he superintended a woolen mill for nine years. On January 1, 1886, he came to Killingly, Connecticut, with his family where, in company with his brothers, Cassius S. and David, he purchased the Potter woolen mill in Elmville and con- ducted it for fourteen years on fancy cas- simeres. In 1900 the partnership was dis- solved, and Mr. Chase purchased the Hines woolen mill in East Killingly, formerly owned by the partnership. This business was continued by Mr. Chase until the fall of 1916, when he sold the property to the Davis & Brown Woolen Company, remaining as manager until November 1, 1918. For seventeen years Mr. Chase has also been president of The Chestnut Hill Reservoir Company, which owns the large reservoir system at East Killingly. For a number of years he was a trustee of the Windham County Sav- ings Bank, and served for several terms as selectman of the town. He is a mem- ber of Moriah Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and a member of Co- lumbia Commandery, Knights Templar, of Norwich.
Mr. Chase married, June 28, 1877, Eliza J. Doty, born in Milford, Massachusetts, November 28, 1850, daughter of Nathan and Huldah (Carpenter) Doty. Children : Warren Doty, mentioned below; Marion E .; Charles E., deceased ; Harrie S., de- ceased; Herbert G .; A. Blanche; Olive C., deceased; and Orpah S., twin of Olive C.
(X) Warren Doty Chase, eldest son of Charles Dexter and Eliza J. (Doty) Chase, was born in Holden, Massachu- setts, April 15, 1878. On January 1, 1886, he went with his parents to Killingly, Connecticut. He attended the public schools in the vicinity of his home, and was graduated from the Killingly High School in 1895. In the same year he
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Charles D. Chase.
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founded the Killingly High School Alumni Association, of which he is an ex-presi- dent. The following year he spent in his father's mills, studying the woolen manu- facturing business. In 1896 he went to California and entered Leland Stanford Junior University and remained for two years, taking as his major subject Eco- nomics, as a preparation for a career in the woolen business. After leaving the uni- versity, he entered the employ of Catton, Bell & Company in San Francisco. Cali- fornia, and learned the grading and sort- ing of wool. Upon his return to Killingly, Connecticut, in 1899, during a slack period in the woolen business, he became a reporter on the "Windham County Transcript," for which he had been a local correspondent in his high school days. This work brought him in contact with Judge Harry F. Back, who came to Kill- ingly during the absence of Mr. Chase in California, and the friendship formed led Mr. Chase to give up for the time being his business aims and to take up the study of law in Mr. Back's office. During this period he was very active in educational, military and political matters. He was a member of Company F of the old Third Regiment and served as regimental clerk for two years. On January 1, 1903. he entered the law office of Edward D. Rob- bins in Hartford, Connecticut, to com- plete his studies and was admitted to the bar in June of that year. He remained with Mr. Robbins until July 1, 1906, when he opened his own law office, and at the same time became treasurer of the former Rowe Calk Company. On April 1, 1907, he joined the legal staff of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Com- pany in New Haven as assistant attorney, giving particular attention to corporate organization and interstate commerce matters. In the fall of 1909, Mr. Chase's business interests became so large as to
require all his time in llartford, and he again opened a law office in Hartford and handled his business affairs there. On January 1, 1918, Mr. Chase discontinued his office in Hartford to give all his atten- tion to business, and although still liv- ing in Hartford he can be found daily at the Plantsville, Southington, Connecti- cut, office of The Rowe Calk and Chain Company, of which he is president and . general manager. He is also president, treasurer and general manager of the Dia- mond Chain Company, of York, Pennsyl- vania, and vice-president and a director of The E. Horton and Son Company, of Windsor Locks, Connecticut. For many years he was secretary, treasurer and a director of The Chestnut Hill Reservoir Company of Killingly, Connecticut, which he reorganized under a special legislative act in 1901. He is a member of Moriah Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Ma- sons; Columbian Commandery, Knights Templar; Connecticut Consistory, Su- preme Princes of the Royal Secret; and Sphinx Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
Mr. Chase married, September 1, 1906, Elizabeth Spencer Ward, daughter of the Rev. Charles W. Ward, of New Jersey, and granddaughter of Commander James Harmon Ward, of Hartford, the first Union naval commander killed in the Civil War, and for whom the United States named the destroyer "Ward" launched at San Francisco, June 2, 1918, and great-granddaughter of Colonel James Ward, who was largely identified with the early life of Hartford. Mrs. Chase is a direct descendant of Andrew Ward, who, curiously enough, came to New Eng- land in 1630 with Governor Winthrop on the same boat with Mr. Chase's pio- neer ancestor, William Chase. Children : Charles Ward, born February 28. 1908,
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and Warren Doty II., born June 8, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Chase are Episcopalians.
The Doty family, from which Mr. Chase is descended through his mother, Eliza J. (Doty) Chase, is also one of the oldest in New England, having been founded by a "Mayflower" passenger. This name has various spellings in early records, but the one most used is that found in this article.
Edward Doten was a London youth who came over in the "Mayflower" as an apprentice of Stephen Hopkins. The first account we have of him is in Cape Cod harbor, where he signed the cabin contract. After the first winter the next allusion found to him is when he fought a duel in single combat with sword and dagger with Edward Lister, both being wounded, one in the hand and the other in the thigh. This was the first duel fought in New England between white men. In 1624 the people requested the Governor to set off land, and Edward Doten received his share on what is now Watson's Hill. In 1627 there was an- other allotment "to heads of families" and "to young men of prudence" and Edward was given a large share under this desig- nation, though unmarried, which shows him to have gained the confidence of the Governor. He was a private in the militia, and lived in the town of Plym- outh, High Cliff, Plain Dealing, which is the name Theodore Roosevelt adopted for his Virginia country place. Edward Doten died August 24, 1655, and his will bore date May 20, that year. He married Faith, daughter of Thurston and Faith Clarke, January 6, 1634-5. She was born in 1619 in Ipswich, England. Her par- ents came to Plymouth in 1634.
The fifth son of Edward Doten was Joseph Doty, born April 29, 1651, in Plymouth, who was one of the original purchasers of Rochester, Massachusetts, where he settled about 1683, and spent the
remainder of his life. He married, about 1674, in Plymouth, Elizabeth Warren, born there, September 5, 1654, daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah (Walker) War- ren, granddaughter of Richard Warren, of the Mayflower Colony.
They were the parents of Ellis Doty, born April 16, 1677, in Sandwich, Massa- chusetts, who lived in Rochester with his wife Ellinor.
Their son, Barnabus Doty, was born May 17, 1707, in Rochester, and died there before June 29, 1759, when his estate was administered by his widow and her sec- ond husband. He married, October 24, 1729, Sarah Turner, born August 6, 1711, in Rochester, daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Jackson) Turner.
Their son, Barnabus (2) Doty, born in September, 1738, in Rochester, resided there until the spring of 1792, when he settled in Montpelier, Vermont, where he died January 26, 1807. He purchased two lots there containing three hundred and ten acres for one hundred pounds. Barna- bus Doty performed considerable service at various times in the Revolutionary army. He was a sergeant in Captain Seth Briggs' company, serving four days on the Lexington Alarm. Subsequently he was first lieutenant in Captain Jabez Cot- tles' (Tenth) company, Colonel Sprout's (Plymouth County) regiment, serving fifteen days. The company marched un- der the command of Lieutenant Doty to Frogland Ferry, Rhode Island, on the alarm of December 8, 1776. His commis- sion bore date of May 9 of that year. Under the same commanders he served May 6 and 7, 1778, on an alarm at Dart- mouth. He commanded a company in Colonel Sprout's regiment from Septem- ber 5 to II, 1778, serving six days on the Dartmouth alarm, also from September 13 to 17, same year, on an alarm at Fal- mouth. He was commander of the Tenth Company in the Fourth Plymouth County
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David Gordon.
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Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant- Colonel White, from July 30 to August 8, 1780, nine days, on an alarm at Rhode Island. In 1794, Barnabus (2) Doty was made captain of the First Militia Com- pany at Montpelier, about six months after its organization. Ile was treasurer of the town in 1793-94-95, selectman in 1794-95, and was appointed in 1796 on a committee to fix the site of public build- ings in Montpelier. A man of sound judg- ment and executive ability, he was long active and useful in civic affairs.
He married, December 24, 1767, in Rochester, Catherine Freeman, baptized there, September 9, 1744. daughter of Isaac and Deborah (Foster) Freeman, a descendant of Edmund Freeman, who was born in England in 1590, and came in the ship "Abigail," in July, 1635, with his wife, Elizabeth, and several children, settling in that year in Lynn, Massachu- setts.
Their third son, Nathan Doty, born July 18, 1776, in Rochester, was eighteen years old when the family removed to Montpelier, where he died August 25, 1813. He was captain of the Washington Artillery Company of Montpelier, and a Mason of high degree. He married there, September 15, 1802, Polly Thompson, born August 2, 1783, in Holden, Massa- chusetts, daughter of Phineas and Azu- bah (Stephens) Thompson, died Septem- ber 4. 1851, in Milford, Massachusetts.
Their youngest child, Nathan (2) Doty, was born March 14, 1814, in Montpelier, nearly seven months after the death of his father. He lived in Milford, Massachu- setts, and Killingly, Connecticut, where he died, August 19, 1886. He married Huldah Carpenter, born December 10, 1816, died November 15, 1909, and they were the parents of Eliza J. Doty, who became the wife of Charles Dexter Chase, as previously noted.
GORDON FAMILY,
Ancestral History.
The surname Gordon is derived from the parish name of Gordon and is also found in the following forms: Gordan, and Gordanach. From the Scottish Clans we learn "that the first Gordon of whom there is any distinct trace is Richard of Gordon, said to be the grandson of a famous knight who slew some monstrous animal in the Merse in the time of Mal- colm III. That Richard was lord of the Barony in the Merse is undoubted, as be- tween 1150 and 1160 he granted from that estate a piece of land to Monks of St. Mary of Kelso, a grant confirmed by his son Thomas. Other Gordons figure in history about this time apart from Ber- tram de Gordon, whose arrow in 1199 wounded Richard of England at Chalons. Adam Gordon, a soldier among the thou- sand auxiliaries whom Alexander III. sent with Louis of France to Palestine, where he was slain, was the grandfather of Sir Adam Gordon from whom, says Douglas, all the Gordons in Scotland are descended. He first appears in history in 1297, at which time he gave assistance to Wallace to recapture the Castle of Wig- ton, of which he was made governor. There were two regiments bearing the name of the Gordon Highlanders. The first of these was formed in 1777, by Hon. Colonel William Gordon, son of the Earl of Aberdeen, and disbanded in 1783, known as the old Sist. The second, the 92d, was raised by Marquis of Huntly in 1794, memorable for its high valor in every war since then. When the system of linked battalions was instituted, the old 75th and 92nd became the Gordon Highlanders, and it is the former who were the heroes of Dargai."
David Gordon, head of the family herein under consideration, was a native
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of the town of Brechin, Forfarshire, Scot- land, and married Margaret Carr, who was also a native of that place.
David (2) Gordon, son of David (1) and Margaret (Carr) Gordon, was born at Brechin, and married Elizabeth Tait, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Gray) Tait, of the Isle of Wight. James Tait was a blacksmith and followed this occu- pation in Colton, Glasgow.
William Gordon, son of David (2) and Elizabeth (Tait) Gordon, was the first of this family to come to America. He was born in Colton, in January, 1813, and in 1844 was located in Paterson, New Jer- sey, having a short time previously emi- grated to America. There he followed his vocation of weaver, and after two years removed to Auburn, New York, thence in 1847 to Thompsonville, Connecticut, and in 1852 to Hazardville, that State. He married Jean Bachop, born October 3, 1815, in Pollockshire, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Mills) Bachop. They were natives of Bucklyvie, Stirling- shire, Scotland. The children of William and Jean (Bachop) Gordon were: Mar- garet, Elizabeth, David, Andrew, Janet, George B., Peter, and Mary.
David Gordon, son of William and Jean (Bachop) Gordon, was born June II, 1840, in Glasgow, and was but a child of four years when brought by his par- ents to this country. He received his education in the public schools and sup- plemented these courses with night school training. At the age of seventeen years, he learned the trade of tinner. In 1862 Mr. Gordon embarked in business on his own account in association with Frank- lin Smith and John Spencer, in the man- ufacture of tinware and the wholesaling of cotton and woolen rags and waste, which they gathered from mills and vari- ous other sources, and later Mr. Gordon absorbed the interests of his partners.
The brothers of Mr. Gordon, Andrew and George B., were subsequently admit- ted to partnership, and thus the well known firm of Gordon Brothers Com- pany was founded to manufacture shoddy and wool extracts, of which Mr. Gordon became president. This concern is now among the most prominent in its line in the eastern section of Connecticut, and through the upright business dealing of its members, enjoys well deserved esteem as a business house. Mr. Gordon had various other business interests: Presi- dent of the Assawaga Company, of Day- ville, Connecticut ; president of the War- ren Woolen Company, Stafford, Connec- ticut; director of the Third National Bank of Springfield; steward of the Methodist church of Hazardville. In pol- itics he was a Republican.
David Gordon married (first) October 8, 1863, Fidelia Martha Woodworth, daugh- ter of Arnold and Belinda (Granger) Woodworth, and she died in November, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon were the parents of the following children: Sarah B., who became the wife of Rev. Edwin S. Holloway, of New York City, and they have four children : Florence E., Rachel, Alice, and Gordon E .; William W., of whom further ; and Howard D., of whom further. In 1899 Mr. Gordon married (second) Ada Belle Crosby, of Glaston- bury, Connecticut. Mr. Gordon died oc- tober 10, 1916, in Hazardville.
GORDON, William Watson,
Manufacturer.
William Watson Gordon, eldest son of David and Fidelia Martha (Woodworth) Gordon (q. v.), was born at Hazardville, Connecticut, December 3, 1866. He was educated in the primary and grammar schools of Hazardville, Connecticut Lit- erary Institute of Suffield, and Wesleyan
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W. W. Gordon.
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Academy of Wilbraham, Massachusetts. He chose a business career, and for three years after leaving Wesleyan, 1885-88, he was engaged as a tinner's apprentice. He was in the employ of his father's fırın, Gordon Brothers, until 1891, then was admitted as partner and has since been intimately connected with the manage- ment of the well known textile manufac- turing house, Gordon Brothers, his pres- ent relation being as vice-president of the company. He was long connected with the manufacturing department of the business, and many improvements in ma- chinery and method are traced to him. In fact, he continues his experiments and re- search to the present time, and new ideas are constantly being introduced in the factory department as well as in the offices of the company.
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