William Chase, immigrant ancestor and progenitor, was a native of England, where he was born, and with his wife Mary and son William came to New England in the ship with Governor Winthrop in 1630. He settled first at Roxbury, Mass., where soon he became a member of the first church of Roxbury. The record of Rev. John Eliot, the Indian Apostle, of ÙSsuch as adjoined themselves to this church,ÙT has the entry: ÙSWilliam Chase, he came with the first company, bringing with him his wife Mary and his son William.ÙT
On the records of the First Church of Roxbury Mass., we find in .the handwriting of the pastor, Rev. John Eliot, ÙSApostle to the Indians,ÙT the following : ÙSWilliam Chase, he came wth the first company, 1630 he brought one child his son william, a child of ill qualitys, & a sore affliction to his parents : he was much afflicted by the long & tedious affliction of his wife; after his wives recovery she bare him a daughter, wch they named mary borne aboute the midle of the 3d month. 1637. he did after yt remove
On October 19, 1630, he applied for admission as a freeman, and was admitted on May 14, 1634. William Chase was subsequently a town officer of Roxbury, and a prominent man in its early life and affairs. In 1638 he was one of the pioneer company which settled the town of Yarmouth, of which he was chosen constable in 1639. In 1645 he served against the Narragansetts. He died in Yarmouth in May, 1656. His will, dated May 4, 1659 [sic], and proved May 13 of the same year, states that he was aged. He bequeathed to his wife Mary, and two sons, Benjamin and William. His widow died in October, 1660.
William came with his wife and son, William, who by one account was aged 8 at the time (Chase), to Boston with John Winthrop's Company in 1630. From 1630 to 1638, he lived in Roxbury, Mass. Bay. On 19 Oct 1630 he was listed among those "who desire to be made freeman," which he was made on 14 May 1634. From the Roxbury church records kept by the Rev. John Eliot it is known that "he was much afflicted by the long and tedious affliction of his wife; after his wife's recovery she bare him a daughter, "wch thay named mary borne aboute the midle of the 3d month (May), 1637." Afterwards he "went with a company who maide a new plantation at yarmouth." Mary Chase had been paralyzed and in considerable pain for four and a half years before her recovery [cf Roxbury Church Records, 73-75)
He was in Yarmouth by 5 Mar 1638/39, when he was appointed constable of the town by the Plymouth General Court. On 1 Sept 1640 he was censured by the court for his "miscarriages" against Marmaduke Mathewes, and disturbed the proceedings of the church, Court and country. He posted 20 pounds bond. In 1641 he was of record in Court over a disagreement with a Nicholas Sympkins
concerning a fence.
He was a carpenter by trade and in 1639 made an agreement to build a house for Dr. Thomas Starr, which was then sold to Andrew Hallett. In 1642 he gave a mortgage to Stephen Hopkins as security for a debt of five pounds.
On 13 May 1648 Captain Miles Standish, having been authorized by the General Court, went to Yarmouth to settle differences in the town.
He was one of 22 Yarmouth men to take the oath of fidelity in the year 1657, and he was a surveyor of highways on 3 June of that year.
His will, made 4 May 1659, proved 13 May 1659, named his wife executrix, and neighbors Robert Dennis and Richard Taylor overseers. Robert Dennis was ordered to make division of the estate on 6 Oct. 1659 as Mary Chase was then dead.
Mary, daughter of Goodman Chase the elder was buried at Barnstable Oct 28 1652. Will, dated May 4 1659 being aged; prob. 13 May, Beq. to Mary and 2 sons Benjamin and William.
In 1641, complaint was made by William Chase that Nicholas Symkins had so set his fence that he hath taken in some small part of the lands of the said William Chase, which upon view appeared to be so - it is now ordered and concluded by the court that notwithstanding , the fence shall stand as it is now set, and that Mr. Anthony Thacher for peace sake, will allow the said William Chase as much land out of his own lands for those which lie next to the said Chase's lands, and the land so taken by Nicholas Sympkins, aforesaid, shall be his own. And the said Nicholas Sympkins is to allow the said Chase a little parcel of meadow next to the said Chase, from the east of his fence by a straight line to a creek easterly provided said William Chase do fence in the same by March next coming. He fenced in a portion of the land in "Old Town" (as that part of Barnstable then Yarmouth was called) and claimed it, when the settlement of the town was made. He mortgaged this land to Stephen Hopkins in 1642, and disposed of it in 1648. He was appointed Constable in 1639, serving six months; being involved in difficulties growing out of his opposition to Mr. Matthews (the minister) in 1640 he was censured by the court for his language against the minister, and ordered to depart the colony in six months, but the order for some reasons was not enforced. His name appears again in the court records in a civil case connected with differences with Mr. Nocholas Symkins and he was presented by a grand jury in 1654 for driving a yoke of oxen five miles on the Lords Day, during time of service. In 1645 he enlisted as a drummer in the expedition against the Narragansett Indians and received five shillings extra pay. He died May, 1658. He was a carpenter by trade and his agreement to build a house for Dr. Thomas Starr for five pounds , which was afterwards sold to Mr. Andrew Hallet is preserved. Mr. Chase was not in accord with the body of the settlers, being more latitudinarian in his notions than accorded with the sentiment of the times.
As early as Oct. 1639, the court records say Ed. Morrell being sworn, deposeth and saith that Wm. Chase (at his return home from the court, when Mr. Matthews and he were together) did report that Mr. Matthews had nothing to say for himself, and marveled how any durst join with him in the fast, and further said that same being in the presence with the magistrate did hold up his hand and cried "Fie! for shame!" Mr. Chase had been appointed Constable in June preceding and superseded in September, presumably for opposition to Mr. Matthews. He was subsequently arraigned for his language towards the minister (Mr. Matthews) and was censured by the court, ordered to find sureties and to depart the place in six months. Dr. Thomas Starr and Mr. Andrew Hallet became his sureties, but the order of the court was never carried out. The next year after trouble with Chase, Thomas Starr, Hugh Tilley, Joshua Barnes and Wm. Nicholson were complained of "as scoffers and jeerers at religion and making disorders in the town meeting." The plain English of which was that they were opposed to Mr. Matthews, they were sent for and called upon to answer to the court but were acquitted. The trouble did not end here. Although we may be sure that the death of William occurred in May, 1659 (date not certain) we do not know where he was buried. At least no search has been able to locate the exact place. The house lot is plainly indicated.