CHASE-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: Re: [CHASE-L] William and Aquila
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 12:26:06 EDT

OK -- One more time...

While it is most difficult to disprove the many rumors and totally
unsupported tales that keep surfacing about the London, Chesham, and other
origins of Aquila, as well as those which link he and Thomas to William
because there are never any "facts" offered to back them up, there is
considerable credible evidence to the contrary.
1. The origins of both Aquila and Thomas of Hampton/Newbury remain unknown.
Despite much work by very respected genealogists over many years, NO ONE to
date has ever put forth any factual proof of who their parents were, or from
where they came. England is presumed -- but even that has to be no more than
a very reasonable presumption.
2. Given (1), and the fact that there are no documents that provide even a
hint of a link between Aquila and William, any claim about such link has to
be nothing more than pure, unadulterated speculation.
3. Parish records in London do contain a number of references to an Aquila
Chase who (a) married a Martha Jelliman 22 Jun 1606, and (b) had six children
who were baptized in the Parish, the last of which was an Aquila, who was bp.
9 Apr 1626, and whose burial is clearly recorded there in 10 Jan 1659/60.
4. The senior Aquila (whose burial is recorded in London on 9 Feb. 1643/4)
is PRESUMED by most Chase genealogists to be the Aquila who was born in
Chesham to Richard & Joan (Bishop) Chase, bp. 7 Aug 1580. There is no proof
of this link, but the timing and the geography make in not an illogical
presumption. (But it is still only a presumption.)
5. Our sole information about the American Aquila's birth comes from a 1666
Massachusetts court document that gives his age as "about 48 years." He and
Thomas are linked as brothers only through some references in a deed and
other papers.

If anyone had documentary proof to the contrary of any of this, I (and a
whole bunch of others) would dearly love to see it. Until then I do hope
this can be put to rest, and the same tired old rumors, etc., would not keep
reappearing...
Dick Chase

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