USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Boston and eastern Massachusetts > Part 107
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and Mary Bradley Pearson Richardson, hence is deserving of a place in this narrative.
The "City of Columbus" left Boston at three o'clock Friday afternoon, January 18, 1884, with eighty-one passengers and a crew of forty-six officers and men, bound for Savannah, Georgia. At 3.45 in the morning she struck the 'Devil's Reef Bridge,' a sunken ledge of rocks off Gay Head, Martha's Vine- yard. The passengers, almost without excep- tion, and many of the crew were below. Most of them rushed to the deck in their night clothes, but so sudden had been the shock and so short the time between the striking of the steamer and its sinking, that many of the women and children did not appear at all. The steamer's boats and life-rafts were launched as soon as possible, but were almost immediately engulfed by the sea that was run- ning. Seven got away on a raft, but were never heard of again. The more fortunate succeeded in climbing into the rigging, which was above water, and none who failed to get a foothold there were saved. The sufferings endured for the next few hours by these drenched and half-dressed persons in the rig- ging are indescribable. The waves broke over them with remorseless violence, pieces of spars and disabled tackle fell upon them, and every hour witnessed the end of the sufferings of some poor mortal whose stiffened fingers re- linquished their grip on the frozen ropes, and whose exhausted frame sank into the wintry sea. The mental anguish of the survivors was intensified by seeing the bodies of those who had not been notified in time to leave their beds, washed out through the gaping apertures torn by the waves in the ship's side. About forty men in all took refuge in the rigging. The hardships which attended this solitary means of escape will be realized when it is re- called that five of the men rescued from the rigging died of their sufferings before reach- ing shore, and that neither woman nor child escaped alive from the doomed steamer.
: As soon as the distress of the vessel was known at Gay Head a life-boat put off bravely, albeit a tremendous sea was running from the northwest. This boat's crew took seven per- sons down from the rigging, one of whom (lied on the way back to shore. This was about 10.30 o'clock in the forenoon, and it was past noon when another life-boat succeeded in getting near the "City of Columbus." The revenue cutter "Dexter" had arrived upon the scene by this time and her boats had already
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taken more than a dozen out of the rigging. The life-boat quickly transferred several more from the Columbus to the cutter, and shortly the rigging was cleared of survivors, not, how- ever, without further loss of life. The gal- lantry of Lieutenant John U. Rhodes, of the "Dexter." is one of the brightest pages in the history of the revenue cutter service. It is worthy a place alongside anything that has been written concerning the self-abnegation of United States officers upon the sea.
The "Columbus" went down with her fore- foot resting on a sunken ledge, and the railing around her bow was visible above water. The refugees were mostly in the fore and main top and rigging, and to reach them it was im- possible to row over the rigging, as the boats would have been pounded to pieces. The men in the rigging were forced to jump into the sea and were caught as they rose to the sur- face and pulled into the boat. Quick work was demanded on the part of the life savers, for the castaways were too benumbed with cold to live long after striking the icy water. Most of the survivors could not swim, but nearly all were saved. Two brothers jumped from the rigging almost simultaneously. Lieu- tenant Kennedy jumped for one, but at that instant the cutter's gig rose fifteen feet on the crest of a wave and had to be thrown over to starboard to avoid being swamped. The poor fellow was not seen afterward, but hardly an instant later the other brother was pulled into the boat.
Captain S. E. Wright was among the last to leave the ship. Two men who were frozen so stiff as to be unable to relinquish their holds on the ratlines were the only persons remaining on the steamer, except the captain. Lieutenant Rhodes called to Captain Wright to jump. "Save those men first," he shouted. "They are frozen," was the reply. The cap- tain then jumped and was rescued by the offi- cer, who returned to the cutter, asked for a man to steer that he might swim to the ship and take the unfortunate men down. His request was granted, but on nearing the wreck again he found it folly to attempt to get along- side. Lieutenant Rhodes refused to give up the attempt, and sang out to the men in the life-boat to take him to the wreck. Tying a line about him he stood in the bow of the life- boat within thirty feet of the vessel when he sprang into the sea. When almost within reach of the wreck he was struck by a piece of timber on the leg and sank. He was pulled aboard and taken to the cutter, where it was
found that his leg was cut, but disdaining to give up so he demanded another chance. The sea was smoother, and with dry clothing on he set out again and this time reached the men in the shrouds. One man was hanging with his arms and feet through the ratlines, and begged not to be taken down. He was Caleb Richard- son, of Everett, and he died in the boat before the cutter was reached. ITis companion in the ratlines was also almost gone, and expired before reaching the "Dexter." Thus the lieu- tenant's heroic endeavors were in vain, but not as United States officers reckon the risking of their lives.
Caleb and Mary Bradley (Pearson) Rich- ardson had four children: I. Charles W., born in Stoneham, died in Everett ; married Char- lotte Tukey ; had one daughter, Irene Richard- son, now living with her mother in Everett. 2. Amelia, born in Stoneham; no further record. 3. Mabel, born in Somerville, Massachusetts ; married Alonzo Frederick, of Stoneham : one daughter, Ethel Mary Frederick. 4. William Pearson, born in Everett, July 18, 1872. (See post ).
(IX) William Pearson Richardson, young- est son and child of Caleb and Mary Bradley ( Pearson) Richardson, was born in Everett, Massachusetts, in 1872, and received his edu- cation in the public and high schools of that city. In business life he is a dealer in real estate, and having considerable interests in city property, he naturally takes an equal in- terest in public affairs. He is a strong Repub- lican, and has been chairman of the city board of health since 1905. He also is a member and corporal of the military organization known as the Spanish War Cadets. In 1902 Mr. Richardson married Caroline Frances Ellms, of Chelsea, Massachusetts, daughter of Joseph and Adelaide (Knowles) Ellms, the former a native of Scituate, Massachusetts, and the latter of Weston, Massachusetts.
CHASE The Chase family is of ancient English origin, derived undoubt- edly from the French word, chas- scur, to hunt. The ancestral seat of the branch of the family from which the Amer- ican line is descended was at Chesham, Buck- inghamshire, England, through which runs a rapidly flowing river, the Chess, which gives the name to the place. The Chase arms ; Gules four crosses patonce argent (two and two) on a canton azure a lion rampant, or.
(I) Thomas Chase, of Chesham, was de- scended from an ancient family there.
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(II) John Chase, son of Thomas Chase ( I), was also of Chesham.
( III) Mathew Chase, son of John Chase (2), was of Chesham; married Elizabeth Bould, daughter of Richard Bould. Children : 1. Richard, married Mary Roberts. 2. Francis. 3. John. 4. Mathew. 5. Thomas, mentioned below. 6. Ralph. 7. William. 8. Bridget.
(IV) Thomas Chase, son of Mathew Chase (3), was of the Hundrich in parish Chesham. Children, born at Hundrich : 1. John, baptized November 30, 1540. 2. Richard, baptized Au- gust 3, 1542, mentioned below. 3. Agnes, bap- tized January 9, 1551. 4. William. 5. Christian.
(V) Richard Chase, son of Thomas Chase (4), was born in Hundrich, Chesham, Eng- land, and baptized Angust 3, 1542; mar- ried, April 16, 1564, Joan Bishop. Children. born at Hundrich : 1. Robert, baptized Sep- tember 2, 1565. 2. Henry, baptized August IO, 1567. 3. Lydia, baptized October 4. 1573. 4. Ezekiel, baptized April 2, 1576. 5. Dorcas, baptized March 2, 1578. 6. Aquila, baptized August 14, 1580; mentioned below. 7. Jason, baptized January 13, 1585. 8. Thomas, baptized July 18, 1585. 9. Abigail, baptized January 12, 1588. 10. Mordecai, baptized July 31, 1591. (VI) Aquila Chase, son of Richard Chase (5), was baptized at Hundrich, Chesham, England, August 14, 1580. Children : Thomas, came to America. 2. Aquila, men- tioned below.
(VHb) Aquila Chase, son of Aquila Chase (6), was born in England in 1618 and was the American immigrant. He was a mariner, probably employed by his uncle or brother, Thomas Chase, who was in 1626 part owner of the ship "John and Francis." He was of Hampton, New Hampshire, as early as 1640; removed to Newbury, Massachusetts, in 1646, when he had four acres granted for a house lot and six acres of marsh, on condition that he go to sea and do service in the town with a boat for four years. He and his wife and David Wheeler were fined "for gathering pease on the Sabbath" but were admonished and the fine remitted in September. 1646. He was a shipmaster and died December 27, 1670, aged fifty-two. His will was dated Septem- . ber 19, 1670. He married Anne Wheeler, daughter of John Wheeler, and she married ( second), June 14, 1672, Daniel Mussiloway. She died in May 1688. Children: 1. Sarah, married, May 15, 1666, Charles Annis, born in Ireland, 1638. 2. Anna, born July 6, 1647. 3. Priscilla, born March 14, 1649, married. Feb- ruary 10, 1671, Abel Merrill. 4. Mary, born
February 3, 1651, married, March 9. 1670, John Stevens. 5. Aquila, born September 17, 1652, married Esther Bond. 6. Thomas, born July 25, 1654, married (first), November 22, 1677, Rebecca Follansbee: (second), Angust 2. 1713, Elizabeth Mowers. 7. John, born No- vember 2, 1655. mentioned below. 8. Eliza- beth, born September 13, 1657, married, June 27. 1678, Zachariah Ayer. 9. Ruth, born March 18, 1660, died May 30, 1676. 10. Dan- iel, born December 9, 1661, married Martha Kimball. 11. Moses, born December 24, 1663. married (first) Ann Follansbee: (second) December 13, 1713, Sarah Jacobs.
(VIII) John Chase, son of Aquila Chase (7), was born November 2, 1655, at Newbury, Massachusetts. He married ( first ), May 23. 1077, at Newbury, Elizabeth Bingham or Bingley; (second ), December 21, 1687, Lydia Challis, who survived him. He took the pre- scribed oath of allegiance and fidelity at New- bury in 1678. He was the first Chase in New- bury. He was a soldier in King Philip's war, and was under Captain Turner in the Falls fight. May 18, 1676. His will, dated October 22, 1730, proved March 17, 1739, states that John Chase was his son and mentions his grandson John, son of his son John, thereby disproving the statement that John (3) Chase was the son of Ann Chase (2), made in the old genealogy. Children of John and Eliza- beth Chase: 1. William, born . January 20. 1678-79. 2. John, born about 1680. married Abigail Chase; resided at Hampton, New Hampshire. Children of John and Lydia Chase : 3. Philip, born September 23, 1688. at Newbury. married, April 17, 1712, Mary Follansbee. 4. Charles, born January 12. 1680-90. married, July 15, 1714. Hepsibah Carr. 5. Jacob. married, August 24, 1716, Joanna Davis: resided at Newbury and Hav- erhill. Massachusetts. 6. Abraham, married. November 16, 1716. Ruth Morse; (second ) Abigail - 7. Phebe, married, August 25. 1726, Nathaniel Tucker. 8. Mary, mar- ried. July 30, 1726, Joseph Stafford. 9. Lydia, married, November 5, 1725. William Blay. 10. Elizabeth, born about 1710. 11. David, mentioned below.
(IX) David Chase, son of John Chase (8). was born October 20, 1710, at Newbury. Massachusetts, and died before 1803, when his estate was being administered. His grand- son Nicholas was a surety on the administra- tor's bond March 5, 1805. David died intes- tate. He married. November 24. 1729, Sarah Emery. He settled at Haverhill and probably
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tied there. Children, born in Haverhill : I. David. December 1, 1730. 2. Joshua, October 21. 1733. 3. Anthony. December 7. 1735, soldier in Cape Breton expedition : had water power and mills, fulling, grist and saw mills at Haverhill; married first. June 29. 1758, Abigail Woodman ; second, May 1, 1782, Sarah Swett, widow : received by deed land from his father David, September 2, 1763. 4. Tristram, born January 23. 1737. 5. Simeon. Also three daughters.
( X) David Chase, "the younger." son of David Chase, "the elder," (9), was born in Haverhill. December 1, 1730. He lived in Haverhill and Newbury. He bought land of his brother Anthony, in Haverhill, October 30. 1765. Enoch Bartlett and Anthony sold other land to David, of Newbury, yeoman, and he bought other lots from time to time. He died in Newbury in 1805 and left a nuncupative will which was proved March 4. 1805, accord- ing to which his children were: 1. Benjamin. 2. Nicholas. 3. Sarah, married Wood- man. 4. Hannah, had Nicholas her brother for guardian, being non. comp. 5. Daniel. 6. Simeon (so-called in will, to distinguish him from some one of the same name, doubtless his Uncle Simeon) ; died before his father ; mentioned below.
(X1) Simeon Chase. son of David Chase, the younger. (10), was born about 1760 and died before 1805. He was a cooper, and lived in Newburyport. He joined with the other heirs, John and Hannah Flanders, of Deering, New Hampshire : Sarah Bayley, of Berlin, Vermont : in a deed conveying to Stephen Bailey, Jr., their rights in the real estate of their late father. Stephen Bayley, of Newbury, February 24, 1793. Simeon married Eunice, daughter of Stephen Bailey, just mentioned. Ile probably followed the sea for a time. At the time of his father's and grandfather's death in 1805 guardians were appointed for his children: I. Amos, aged about sixteen, mentioned below. 2. Simeon, born 1791-92, "aged about thirteen." 3. William, born 1795. aged ten in 1805.
(XII) Amos Bailey Chase, son of Simeon Chase ( II), born in the east parish of Haver- hill. January 4, 1788, died November 28, 1852. He bought land in Haverhill, August 11, 1824. of David How, and again in 1827. Hle mar- ried. February 6, 1812. Mary Colby, born April 16, 1788, died December 17, 1876, at an advanced age, a native also of East Haverhill. Children : Eunice Bailey and Rufus Longley, mentioned below.
(XIII) Eunice Bailey Chase, daughter of Amos Bailey Chase ( 12), born in Haverhill, January 2, 1814: died August 14, 1868. She married. April 16, 1834. John Marden. Chil- dren: 1. Henry Frank. born November 5, 1835. married, June 14. 1860, Lucy A. Hoyt ; died in service during civil war, in Anderson- ville prison ; child, Arabella Florence Marden, born May 4, 1861, married Dr. Charles F. Foye; daughter Mildred Chase Foye, born November 1, 1888. 2. George O., born Febru- ary 20, 1841, died in Andersonville in May, 1864. 3. Mary F., born October 15. 1850, died July 29, 1856.
(XIII ) Rufus Longley Chase, son of Amos Bailey Chase ( 12), born in Haverhill, October 25, 1818, died there December 18, 1865. Ile was educated in the public schools and learned the shoe manufacturing business in early life, becoming the leading manufacturer in his day and acquiring a substantial fortune. He was a citizen of large influence in the city of Haver- hill, though he declined to accept public office. He was a strong Abolitionist. He was a direc- tor in the First National Bank of Haverhill, in the Union Bank of Haverhill later, when merged, continuing as director, and was prom- inent in financial circles. He and his family attended the Centre Congregational Church of Haverhill. A man of sterling character, a tise- ful citizen, he had the confidence and esteem of all his townsmen and acquaintances. He was the first private subscriber to United States bonds issued during civil war from this part of the country. He married, November 26, 1845, Jane Perkins Wells, born at San- bornton, New Hampshire, September 3, 1820, living in the old home in Haverhill. Children : I. James Edward, born August 15, 1846, mar- ried, February 23. 1874. Emma Gertrude But- ters : children: i. Agnes Gertrude, born De- cember 16, 1874, married August 15, 1901, Walter Lockhart Allen, of St. Louis: no chil- dren : ii. Bessie Tyler, born February 24. 1878. married, September 26, 1899, James Lawson, of Little Rock, -Arkansas: daughter, Emma Gertrude Lawson, born August 12, 1900. 2. Ellen F., born May 3. 1850, unmarried ; re- sides with her mother in the home at Haver- hill. 3. Rufus Amos, born November 29, 1852. (lied January 5. 1859. 4. Lowell Tyler, born June 3, 1855. died June 15, 1855. 5. Katie Wells, born November 6, 1857, died October 26, 1891 ; married Edward Albert Mitchell, of Haverhill, June 4, 1885 : daughter, Janette Wells Mitchell, born April 1, 1886.
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