Nathaniel Chafee

Notes:

There are at least two branches of the Chaffey family who settled in Vermont. The line from Nathaniel Chafee (III) and Susanna Carpenter (his 2nd wife), through their son Benjamin, then Daniel, then George Daniel, spell the surname with one F: CHAFEE. These families are based in the Pittsford, VT, area.

The other Vermont family line, descended from Nathaniel III's son Comfort, by his first wife (Ruth Mansfield), spell the name with two Fs: CHAFFEE. This branch settled in the Berkshire, VT, area.

Comfort is a male given name in the Chaffee family, first seen as the eldest son (b. 1735) of Nathaniel, and subsequently in succeeding generations of his line. It also appears on the family tree as the father of Chloe Pearce, the wife of Stephen Chafee, who was a son of Levi.

Nathaniel married Ruth Mansfield 15 Oct 1755, Rehoboth, MA. Ruth was born 4 Jun 1732, Rehoboth, MA; died 3 Jan 1760, Rehoboth, MA. [Group Sheet]

Nathaniel married Susanna Carpenter 17 Jul 1760, Rehoboth, MA. Susanna died 22 Dec 1818. [Group Sheet]

Nathaniel married Rebecca MASON 12 Dec 1734, Rehoboth, MA. Rebecca (daughter of Samuel MASON and Rebeckah READ) was born 27 Apr 1710, Rehoboth, MA; died 22 Apr 1745. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Baptisms from Rehoboth church records, transcribed by Elisha Turner, NEHGR, Vol. 15, Jan 1861:
Jonathan Chaffey, 17 Apr 1709
Nat. Chaffey, 17 Apr 1709
Hannah Chaffey, 17 Apr 1709
Dan l Chaffey (no date given)
Miriam Chaffey, (no date given)
These are some of Jonathan's children.

The following information is extracted from William H. Chaffee's "The Chaffee Genealogy," published by Grafton Press in the early 1900s:

"Jonathan Chaffe was several times chosen a grand juryman, also elected selectman, field driver, tything man, etc." In 1727 the town of Rehoboth appointed him to prepare and oversee a plan to locate schools throughout the town. He is known to have bought land in Ashford, CT, which he gave/sold to his eldest son, Jonathan, and to his brother David. Records also show that he became guardian of his brother Noah's two orphaned sons, presumably after 1736. Land deeds refer to Jonathan as "Yeoman," "husbandman," and "Mason."

The old burying ground by the Congregational Church in Rumford, RI, has a stone which reads:
Jonathan Chaffe
Departed this life
December 31, 1766
in the 89th year of
his age.

Jonathan married Hannah CARPENTER 23 Nov 1703, Rehoboth, MA. Hannah (daughter of William CARPENTER and Miriam SEARLES) was born 10 Apr 1685; died 1777. [Group Sheet]

Samuel — Rebeckah READ. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

On a bond signed 13 Nov 1695, his signature appears as: Nathaniell chaffe; official records of the Plymouth Colony during that period spell it variously as Nathaniell Chaffey and Nathaniel Chafey.

The name Nath: Chafy appears on a list of early members of the First Baptist Church, Swansea, MA.

The following information is extracted from William H. Chaffee's "The Chaffee Genealogy," published by Grafton Press in the early 1900s:

Nathaniell was probably born in Nantasket (Hull), MA, and moved with his parents to Rehoboth between 1657 and 1660. The area where they lived was set apart as Swansea in 1667/68. He "was evidently a valued citizen, for in 1674/75 he was invited by the town of Rehoboth, in which he had formerly lived, to return and again become an inhabitant, land being offered him as an inducement. He sold land in Swansea and removed to Rehoboth."

A blacksmith by trade, Nathaniell and his young family lived in this area during the tension and destruction of King Philip's War (Jun 1675 - Aug 1676). It is recorded that he contributed money to the war effort.

Nathaniell served two terms as constable, was also a grand juryman, and was known as a "tytheing man." This may mean that he gave of his funds to God's work, but it may also mean that he was the church treasurer, responsible for collecting and recording other people's tithes. He married Experience Bliss in 1669, and together they had at least eleven children. Their youngest son, Noah, still lived with them in their later years. It is thought that Noah and his wife, Sarah, probably cared for them in their last days. Nathaniell and Experience died within a short time of each other, in September of 1721. It is believed that they were buried in the old burying ground by the Congregational Church, now in Rumford, RI, where in recent years memorial markers have been placed in their honor.

Nathaniell married Experience BLISS 19 Aug 1669, Swansea, MA. Experience (daughter of Johnathan BLISS and Miriam HARMON) was born 5 Feb 1648/49, Rehoboth, MA; died Sep 1721, Rehoboth, Bristol Co., MA; was buried , Rumford, East Providence, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Information on the siblings and ancestors of Experience Bliss (wife of Nathaniell Chaffey) was gleaned from several online sources, and has not been verified through first-hand documentation. Much of the information seems common to numerous genealogy sites, but may not be accurate or "proven." Examples of such sites are:

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/3713/index.html
"Bryant Genealogy" site 309-792-2495
Ronald James Bryant
517-2nd Street
Colona, IL 61241

http://www.mizak.net/family
"McCabe" site

http://www.ezlibrary.net/family/history/pafg2171.htm
(this one has some confusing and/or conflicting dates)

Interestingly, there seems to have been another "Experience Bliss" born in April 1679 in Hartford, CT. I have not traced their lines of ancestry to determine whether they were related.

William — Miriam SEARLES. [Group Sheet]