The life of Philander Chase, first bishop of Ohio and Illinois, founder of Kenyon and Jubilee colleges

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Preface

IT is a source of happiness to me in writing this life of Bishop Chase that now, fifty years after his death, his work for the American Church is better known than ever before, his motives vindicated, his judgment approved, and that, in the rushing tide of life in the two great dioceses that he founded, there are some souls wise and honest enough to acknowledge the value and supremacy of his pioneer work for the Church in the West.

The Rev. Dr. Roberts, in an address before the New Hampshire Historical Society, gives a clear-cut summary of my grandfather's character: "Bishop Philander Chase was a mighty man, a devout Christian, a picturesque character; original, self-willed, of iron determination, extraordinary genius, courage, and industry.

"As soldier or statesman. Philander Chase would have achieved the kind of distinction which makes the names of men of genius household words. As missionary, pioneer, builder of foundations, his name is in a measure shadowed by the superstructure, as the foundations which sustain the monuments of the world are buried out of sight, in the ground. But the greatness of the man and the majesty of his character remain, in spite of his humanness and, in some measure, because of it."

This work is an attempt to put into more permanent

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Preface and accessible form than is now existent, for the information and inspiration of "those that come after," the story of his labors and sacrifices for the Church of his love, giving in fewer words the facts of his life already made known in his Reminiscences (now long out of print), and adding many interesting facts hitherto unpublished. It was begun when circumstances permitted abundant time. While the young people of my party were exploring the churches and galleries of a foreign city, I occupied a quiet little room looking out over the snow-covered roofs under the gray wintry sky of the old Bavarian city of Munich,— a most favorable environment for the beginning of a task, however doubtful its conclusion might be.

Upon returning to my own people, I was encouraged by much friendly approval to complete the story. The manuscript was then submitted to the Rt. Rev. Bishop Davies, and to the Rev. Dr. Lowndes, of New York, who gave it their warm approbation. From these two gentlemen I received most kindly encouragement, without which the book would never have seen the light.

To the Rt. Rev. Bishop Nichols, of California, and to the Rev. Dudley Chase, of Philadelphia, I render sincere thanks for much valuable information.

To my son-in-law, the Rev. William Gardam, I am under many obligations for valuable aid and suggestion. Nor would these acknowledgments be complete without adding that I am greatly indebted to all my daughters for loving help and sympathy, and especially to one of them, Laura Grover Smith, for patient, invaluable aid throughout the period when the work was in progress.

L. C. S.

Chapter I Page

THE FAMILY TREE I

Aquila Chase, the first Englishman of the name (Chase) who settled in America — Genealogy from A.D. 1538 to 1680, from records in St. Mary's Parish Church, Chesham, England — Arms and crest of Chase family, with description copied from Heraldry — Visitation of Buckinghamshire in 1634 — Story of the arrest of Aquila Chase, his wife, and his wife's brother in " Ould Newbury " for the crime of " picking pease on Sunday " — Aquila and family in Newbury, and account of their descendants from Moses Chase down to date — Looking up the family tree by remote descendants in Chesham, St. Mary's Parish Church in July, 1900 — Description of the ancient church — Visit to the ancient manor-house — Private chapel dates from the 13th century.

CHAPTER II SETTLING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE lO

Dudley Chase and Allace Corbett of Mendon were married, August 23, 1752 — Tribute to his mother's memory by the son of Allace, seventy-five years later — Settlement of New Hampshire by the brothers Chase and their father in 1763-4 — Description of country in the vicinity of Windsor, Vt., and Cornish, N, H., as it was at that time — Allace Chase with seven children at Fort No. 4 — The meeting of the family in the woods — The building of a house, and her happy life in her new home.

Chapter III Pioneer Life 17

A busy life — Rising prospects of the family continued — Settlements up the White River and its tributaries — Burning of Royalton on the White River, and the capture of half the male

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X Contents

CHAPTER XI

PAGE

Letters giving an idea of home life in Hartford — Philander Chase to his sons at school — George Chase, a boy of sixteen, to Intrepid Morse.

CHAPTER XII

Bishop Jarvis as a story-teller — Bishop Seabury — The story of Mather Byles and Bishop Seabury, as related by Dr, Jarvis — The ' ' right hand of fellowship " as desired by Mather Byles — The impulse of the pioneer missionary must be followed— Loyalty to the Church and the prayer-book.

CHAPTER XIII

Parting words — Snow and sadness — A long cold journey to Buffalo — Adventures on the ice of Lake Erie — A frightful ride — How Mr. Chase managed an obstinate driver — The story of the eagles and the ravens and the frozen fish — When he adopted the motto, "Jehovah Jireh " — A breezy sketch — "Getting on," or riding by chance, means walking, thus entering the diocese of the Pioneer Bishop (yet to be) — Missionary work began in Salem, Ohio — Method of conducting early missions — " The stiff-kneed mare."

CHAPTER XIV

ORGANIZING PARISHES AND FARM .... I09

Welcome from Judge Griswold at Windsor — Long stay at Windsor — Convention of Churchmen agreed upon — Travel on horseback — Organizing parishes — Letter to Mr. Chase's son George, in which he speaks of becoming the rector of St. John's, Worthington ; Trinity, Columbus ; and St. Peter's, Delaware — Buying farm in Worthington — Meeting his wife and little son in Cleveland — Journey and adventures in going to Worthington.

Contents xi

CHAPTER XV

PAGE

LIFE AT WORTHINGTON I20

Letters from Mary Chase telling of journey to Worthington, etc.

CHAPTER XVI

Failing health of Mrs. Chase — Removal to the new house in "Worthington — Convention at Columbus — Day of small things — Mrs. Chase's interest in the great work — Mrs. Chase's death, May 5, 1818 — A little less than a year of life with her husband in her new home — At the primary meeting of the convention at Worthington on June 3, 1818 — Mr. Chase elected Bishop of the Diocese of Ohio — His journey on horseback to Philadelphia — Refusal of some bishops to the consecration — Demand on the part of the Bishop-elect for examination of the charges before the General Convention — Satisfactory result of the examination and triumphant vindication — His consecration took place in Philadelphia by Bishops White, Hobart, Kemp, and Croes, in St. James's Church, Feb. 11, i8ig.

CHAPTER XVII

THE NEW BISHOP AT WORK I38

Return to Ohio on horseback — Aunt Lucia Russell — Interesting incident — The Finley family — First diocesan visitation — Meeting of convention, 1819 — Division of diocese into sections — The Bishop's marriage — Incident of Jack the negro.

CHAPTER XVIII

TOIL AND POVERTY I45

Retrospect of the year 1S20 — Young Philander's letter to brother George — Philander's college life and appointment as teacher on board the U. S. ship-of-war Guerrihe, under Commodore McDonough — Little square book turns up again — Toiling without support — A crisis — A letter from a friend and its reply — A day of fasting and prayer for the distressed diocese.

xii Contents

CHAPTER XIX

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Bishop Hobart's opposition to the plan of educating young men for the ministry on western soil — Bishop Chase appointed to the presidency of the College of Cincinnati — Young Philander appointed to go to England for funds to found theological school in Ohio — Philander's ordination — His hopeless illness — The Bishop decides to go — Journey of the Bishop and his family to Kingston, N. Y. — Letters from over the sweet briars.

CHAPTER XX

TO ENGLAND FOR AID 159

Opposition of family friends and of friends and enemies outside — Philander's last visit — Bishop Chase's letter to Bishop White — Sad days — Clouds — The Bishop sailed on the ship Orbit Oct. 1st— Prosperous voyage, except a storm after sighting land — First visit to Mr. Timothy Wiggin, Manchester — Visit to Oxford, then to London — Letters from Henry Clay to Lord Kenyon and Mr. Alexander Baring — Notices — Meeting with Lord Gambier and with Rev. Josiah Pratt.

CHAPTER XXI

Business arrangements in aid of Ohio, planned by Lord Gambier and Rev. Josiah Piatt — Fair play — Meeting called and resolutions adopted in aid of Ohio — Committee formed — New friends : Mr. Marriott, Rev. Thomas Hartwell Home, Mr. Evans, Member of Parliament, Dr. Gaskin, Miss Duff Mc- Farlane, Bishop Ryder, Lord Bexley — The story of "Jim" again — Dr. Dowe and Mr. Joseph Butterworth — Wonderful change.

CHAPTER XXII

ENGLISH HOMES AND FRIENDS . . . . .177

The story of the old letter — At breakfast with Miss Duff McFarlane — Lady Rosse — Young Philander's death — Bishop Bowen's letter — The Bishop of Durham — Lady Rosse's continued benefactions — Visit to Brampton Park — Lady Olivia

Contents xiii

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Sparrow — Visit at Horksley and Nayland — At church and holy communion at Nayland with Lord Kenyon and G. W. Marriott — Visit to charity school in London — Interview with the Archbishops of York and Canterbury — Another and better understanding of Ohio,

CHAPTER XXIII FAREWELL AND HOME AGAIN ..... 185 Bishop preparing for going home — Dined with Lord Bexley, Lord and Lady Teignmouth — Kindness of friends— Last visit at Oxford ; met many distinguished people at Oriel, New College, etc. — Return to London — Visit to Mr. Hoare — Visit to Blaine Castle, Barleywood, and Devonshire — Note from Hannah More— Cathedral at Exeter — Gift of printing-press and type from Lady Acland — Letter from Lord Kenyon — Ride in a post-chaise ; strange accident — Visit to Lady Russell — July 17th, sailed from London on the ship Or^^zV— Forty- three days on the ocean — New York, Aug. 29th — Church bells ringing — Another son — Crossing the mountains — The vine-clad home in Worthington— Bishop Nichols tells of Bishop Chase's sketches on shipboard.

CHAPTER XXIV

The convention, 1824 — Many letters from English friends — Diocesan visits — Visit to Indian tribes, Mohawks and Oneidas — Purchase of site for college — School already begun at Worthington— Gift of organ — Criticisms and Jeremiads — The Bishop, Mr. Douglas, and the Bishop's little son begin the work at Kenyon — The wilderness — First Episcopal Palace — A letter to Mrs. Chase — Digging a well — Getting on without money — Sunday-school in the woods — Sunday services — A journey to the General Convention — Visit to the Oneidas in New York — An Indian teacher— A post-office at Kenyon — A plea for the West — Dr. Caswell's account of early days at Kenyon.

CHAPTER XXV AN EFFORT AND A FAILURE ..... 217

Effort of the Bishop to obtain grant of land from the Government— Bill reported favorably by the Senate— Visit to the xiv Contents

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home of Mr. McGuire, whose wife is a niece of General Washington— Henry Clay — "Wine of success," followed by intense disappointment — Many friends — Completion of Milnor professorship— Letter to Lord Kenyon describing college buildings — An unpleasant winter journey.

CHAPTER XXVI

The beginning of a great trial — Sacrifice— Saddest thoughts — Giving up all to save the college — A lodge in the wilderness — "The Valley of Peace" — Farewell — The new home — The family reunion in the roofless cabin — Sad days — Long cold winter — Divine service in the cabin — The settlers coming from far and near to learn of things higher and better — Comfort in ministering to those poorer than themselves — Improvements made when weather allowed, fences made, draining the ground, wood-pile growing — Flowers come with spring.

CHAPTER XXVII

TO MICHIGAN AND BACK 243

Easter Day, 1832 — Unexpected visitor — Journey to Michigan — Black Swamp — St. Joseph's country, the beautiful lake and fine land — Divine service at Adam's Mill, Michigan, the first in St. Joseph's country — Buying land and naming it Gilead — Breaking up the land— Planting corn — Black Hawk War — Return to the " Valley of Peace."

CHAPTER XXVIII

BEGINNING ALL OVER AGAIN 248

The Swiss Family Robinson expedition — Morning of hope, midday toil, evening peace — Journey to Michigan with two boys — Beauty of the new farm — some discomforts — Domestic arrangements — Building a house — Telling stories — Journey to Ohio for the family — Returning to Michigan; unfinished house — Ploughman's cottage in order — Sunday service, birds in the trees joining.

Contents xv

CHAPTER XXIX

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A BOYS LIFE AT GILEAD . . . . . .251

Story of work and play at Gilead told by Rev. Dudley Chase.

CHAPTER XXX MISSION AND FARM . . . ... 256

Better times — Wild animals fearless — A mill site bought — Fall crops sown — Mission work planned — Accidents and illness.

CHAPTER XXXI A PROTRACTED MEETING ...... 259

The Bishop and the ministers — How to pray.

CHAPTER XXXII

A NEW DIOCESE AND ITS NEEDS .... 263

The Bishop elected to the Diocese of Illinois — Giving up home at Gilead — Mrs. Chase equal to the emergency — Long journey to Illinois and return in the Quaker coach — Without a salary; no provision for the future — One church, four presbyters, two deacons, and the Bishop — Did the inspiring motto fail ? — Going to England again — Eastern churchmen dead to the wants of the great W^est — Sailed for England in the packet ship Si. yamcs — Meeting Mr. Wiggin in London — Death of friends : Mr. Marriott and Lord Gambler — Dining at Lord Mayor's — Venison as good as in Michigan — Letter from Lady Rosse — Much to cheer — Mrs. Chase's short letter.

CHAPTER XXXIII TO ENGLAND AGAIN 268

The Tyndales of Holton, near Oxford — Dr. Newman not yet in Rome — Story of the three sons — Address at Cambridge — Visit at Brampton Park.

CHAPTER XXXIV

BAD NEWS AND GOOD FRIENDS . . . . .271

News of the burning of the home in Michigan — Many friends to help and comfort — Visit to Amersham, near Chesham.

xvi Contents

CHAPTER XXXV

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The Bishop sailed on the packet ship Hannibal from Portsmouth the 2 1st of April — Arrived in New York the 27th of May — Held divine service on board ship every Sunday save one — Visited Bishop White, Philadelphia — Returned to Michigan — Preparing for Illinois — Decision where to build the college — Robin's Nest —Long journeys in a wild country — Swollen rivers — " Can swim like a duck."

CHAPTER XXXVI

TRAVEL AND SERVICE ...... 282

Consecration of St. James's Church, Chicago — Bishop's visitations— Holding services in barns, warehouses, cabins, blacksmith shops ; baptizing, confirming, administering the Communion — Holding service after long days' travel at "candle-lighting" — The Bishop's visits to towns across the Mississippi — A painful accident — Asked for help and was refused by the man whose wife made " the house too hot" and brought repentance — A legacy.

CHAPTER XXXVII

THE NEW COLLEGE ....... 287

Delays in purchasing land — Purchasing 2500 acres of land in Peoria County, Illinois — Why shall I call my college " Jubilee"?— Appeal to the whole Church — Journey south — Charleston— Success at Charleston — A gift from Mrs. Marryat to her cousin Mrs. Chase.

CHAPTER XXXVIII

A JOURNEY WEST IN T840 . . . . . . 29I

The Bishop's visit to his friends in Vermont — His journey home with the little Laura.

CHAPTER XXXIX

Letters of Bishop Chase to his granddaughter, 1 842-1 85 1.

Contents xvii

CHAPTER XL

PAGE

The mission work of the Bishop and his son Dudley in Illinois — Characteristic stories of the Bishop — Dr. Robert's appreciation of his character.

CHAPTER XLl

THE LAST DAYS ....... 337

Summing-up of the work at Jubilee — Incidents at the Cottageschool for girls — The scholarships — Fifty students in 1845 — Conferring of degrees — The last days of the Bishop — Entered into rest, 1S52.

THE FIRST " EPISCOPAL PALACE " IN OHIO. PAGE 204.

ILLUSTRATIONS

BISHOP PHILANDER CHASE

Frontispiece

FAMILY CREST. " COATE " OF ARMS . . Title-page

ST. MARY's PARISH CHURCH, CHESHAM, ENGLAND

THE squire's HOUSE IN CHESHAM, ENGLAND

VIEW OF MT. ASCUTNEY FROM CORNISH, N. H.

CHURCHYARD AT CORNISH, N. H.

OLD CHURCH IN CORNISH, N, H. .

REV. PHILANDER CHASE ....

HOME OF HON. DUDLEY CHASE, RANDOLPH, VT.

CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD, CONN. .

LORD GAMBIER .....

GEORGE W. MARRIOTT

LORD KENYON .....

MURAL TABLET, WORTHINGTON, OHIO

GATEWAY TO KENYON COLLEGE

ASCENSION HALL, KENYON COLLEGE .

PRAYER CROSS, AT KENYON COLLEGE .

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Illustrations

OLD KENYON ....

BEXLEY HALL ....

ROSSE CHAPEL ....

CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT MEMORIAL TABLET OF BISHOP CHASE BISHOP PHILANDER CHASE .

BISHOP AND MRS. CHASE IN 1 847 JUBILEE CHAPEL AND COLLEGE .

BISHOP chase's GRAVE AND MONUMENT

PAGE 226

THE LIFE

OF

Chapter I

AQUILA CHASE, the English ancestor of the family of that name in America, who came to New England in 1640, is a character of peculiar interest to his numerous descendants. Many of these have been "makers of history" to a certain extent, and their family tree has become of more than ordinary interest.

About the year 1861, there was a stir among the descendants of Aquila concerning an estate in England, which was supposed to belong to his heirs in America. A Mr. Somerby visited England and made a thorough search of all the parish records which might shed light upon Aquila's ancestry. These investigations began in 1 861. The result of this extraordinary effort proved that the mythicale state did not exist, but it brought to Hght some interesting facts, so far as Aquila and his descendants were concerned.

In the Parish Register of Chesham, Mr. Somerby found the EngHsh record as far as Aquila the second. The first Aquila was born in Chesham and probably moved to Cornwall, where the second Aquila was born.

The record is as follows :

1. Thomas, the father of the English branch of the

family :

Baptized in parish of Chesham.

2. Richard of Chesham :

Baptized Aug. 3, 1542.

Married Joan Bishop, 1564.

3. Aquila of Chesham :

Baptized Aug. 14, 1580.

Married Sarah .

4. Aquila, afterwards of Hampton and Newbury, New

England :

Baptized 1618.

Married Anne Wheeler, daughter of John Wheeler.

5. Moses:

Married Anne Follansbee, 1684.

6. Daniel :

Born Sept. 20, 1685.

Married Sarah March, 1706.

7. Samuel:

Married Mary Dudley.

8. Dudley:

Married Allace Corbett, of Mendon, 1753. Philander Chase was the fifteenth and youngest child of Dudley and Allace Corbett Chase.

This copy of the genealogy of the Chase family from

1542 until the birth of Aquila in 161 8 was written for the Heraldic Magazme for October, 1868, and most of the information concerning the investigations in England is copied from a pamphlet taken from that magazine and published by Mr, George B. Chase in 1869; also the following :

"In the Heraldry, Visitation of Buckinghampshire in A.D. 1634, engraved at the head of the article (from which this is copied), is the 'Coate' of the Chase family. This 'Coate' is testified by a letter from Mr. Robert Calvert dated at Whitehall, July 18, 1634, with a pedigree entered by Matthew Chase."

From the same source we learn that Thomas Chase, Aquila's brother, was in New England as early as 1636. In 1639 he was, together with his brother Aquila (afterwards of Newbury), one of the original settlers of Hampton, New Hampshire. About the year 1646 Aquila removed to Newbury and received several grants of land there. He made several voyages from Newbury as master of a ship. He made his will on the 19th of September, 1670, and died on the 27th of December following. He had eleven children. In Ould Newbury, written by John G. Currier, we find the following: "Aquila Chase was induced in 1646 to remove from Hampton to Newbury by a vote of the proprietors which reads as follows: 'Granted A.D. 1646 to Aquila Chase, 4 acres of land for a house lott, where it is to be had, and 6 acres of marsh where it is to be had also ; on condition that he go to sea and do service in the towne with a boate for foure years.'

"There is a tradition," says Cofifin in his history of Newbury, "that Aquila Chase was the first person who brought a boat over the bar at the mouth of the

Merrimac River. He was undoubtedly a good pilot as well as an experienced fisherman.

"The southern half of the 8 acre lot on Water St., between Greeley Lane and Chanler's Lane and next to Chanler's Lane was originally granted to Aquila Chase in 1646, the other half was owned by his brother-in-law, David Wheeler, and there on a certain memorable occasion was committed a very gross offence which the records of the County Court state."

In the month of September, 1646, Aquila Chase and wife and David Wheeler of Hampton were "presented for gathering pease " on the Sabbath Day. For this offence they were to be "admonished," but the fines usually imposed in such cases were remitted by the Court. Notwithstanding this unpleasant episode, Aquila Chase and David Wheeler remained in Newbury for ten or twelve years. The story of the "crime" of Aquila as related by the author of Oiild Newbury sounds a little "sarkastical," as Artemas Ward would say, but the facts in the case have been handed down through the generations from Aquila to Moses, Daniel, Samuel, Dudley, and Philander, with some additional circumstances which may serve in these later days to extenuate the harrowing facts as above stated.

Captain Aquila, on that Sunday morning, had returned from a long voyage and naturally had a longing for "something green." It was a late day in summer and the last crop of peas was just tender enough for cooking. Is it to be wondered at that his stern Puritanism for once revolted against such self-denial, and for once he sinned against the "law and Gospel" according to the Puritan faith? It is to be hoped that in the two hundred and fifty odd years since Aquila and David have slept in their peaceful graves this sad "falling from grace" has been forgotten.

It may not be amiss to give the Chase genealogy in the line of Aquila a little more in detail, as his is a character likely to interest even his remote descendants, on account of his ability to hold his own against a tyrannous and petty faith; besides, we like his name,' as every American should.

He had eleven children ; no doubt there are yet many of his kindred on New England soil who never heard of him. We trust none of them has committed a graver sin than Aquila.

Moses was born December 24, 1663, the eleventh child of Aquila and Anne Wheeler; he was an ensign in the Essex Regiment. He married Anne, daughter of Thomas Follansbee. They had nine children. Daniel, next in succession, born September 20, 1685, married, January 2, 1706, Sarah March. They had ten children. Samuel, their son, married Mary Dudley. This couple had nine children, of whom Dudley, born March, 1730, married Allace Corbett, of Mendon, August 23, 1753. He died April 13, 1814. Philander was the fifteenth child of this couple and the ninth generation from Thomas of Hundritche, in the parish of Chesham, England.

To add a bit of personal experience in searching for the records of long-time dead ancestors, including the somewhat elusive Aquila, so far as his birthplace is concerned : On a hazy afternoon in July we went from London to Chesham, a small country town, twenty miles by rail, through fields and groves in the lovely

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land of England. A carriage took us from the station to the foot of the hill whereon stands the ancient parish church of St. Mary's, Chesham. One of our party sought the vicarage hidden behind the trees, for the iron gates of the church grounds were closed and locked. Meantime a company of round-eyed boys gathered around us, wondering who we might be. Ere long the vicar appeared and welcomed the strangers with great kindness, showing us about the beautiful grounds hemmed in by rare trees and flowering plants of great beauty, especially a cedar of Lebanon and a well-grown Sequoia from the Pacific coast. Tall rose trees burdened with choicest blossoms shaded the old tombs where almost illegible inscriptions defied our curiosity.

This ancient church dates back to about the year A.D. iicxD; a portion is still preserved of the oldest part. It was restored in A.D. 1400. Its first architecture was Early Saxon ; additions were Norman. Early English windows and Norman arches still remain in the nave. At the side entrance is an old tablet with a crucifix so disfigured that nothing remains but the outline of the cross. The pillars of the porch are defaced with initials of the Goths and Vandals of early days also. The church was restored again in 1869. At that time several old frescos were found, one of which has been preserved. By very close inspection the outlines of St. Christopher and the Christ Child can be traced ; for some unknown but probably symbolical reason, the illusion of water was realized by painting the figure as walking through a sea of fish.

In the choir there are several tombs of more or less importance. On the wall is a tablet erected to the

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At each side of the chancel is a narrow slit in the wall, called the "Leper's Squint." Through these persons afflicted with leprosy (a mild form of which was quite common at a very early period in England) were allowed to see and hear the Mass.

The vicar in due time brought out a venerable volume,— the Parish Register. The records were written very neatly in a clear, old-fashioned hand, but difficult to read at this time. Here are found the records of the Chase family as given before.

The vicar also showed us an old book containing a woodcut of the incidents connected with the plot to arrest Thomas Chase for opposing some popish custom and a brief history of that event, the purport of which was that Thomas Chase was finally burned at the stake for heresy.

We were informed, much to our surprise, that the ancient manor-house of the Chases was still in existence at a place two miles from Chesham, or rather that another house had been built from the material of the old one. The private chapel of the manor-house is still in existence. It was used for many years by the Chase family before the Reformation.

We determined to go to this place, — Hundritche, — and the vicar very kindly went with us. The house is large, and at one time the place must have been a fine farm. Many of the outbuildings are very old and date back to the time of the Chases.

The chapel has a Gothic window in one end and a small pointed window on the side. The timber in the interior is black with age. It is considered a fine example of a private chapel of that date — about the thirteenth century.

Since this visit, the vicar has furnished a copy of the records of the Chase family in the Parish Register. It has been given in outline before, but as the names in their old-fashioned spelling and the inclusion of the servants are quaint and interesting, it is added :

Chesham Parish Register, Vol. I., I_5j8-i6j6

Thomas Chaase (d. 1586), Richard Chaase, and Aquila Chaase, are mentioned as follows : Thomas Cha(a)se :

Son John baptized Dec. 30, 1540.

Son Rychard bapt. Aug. 23, 1542.

Dau. Elizabeth bapt. May 23, 1547 (8).

Dau. Agnes Bapt. Mch. 9, 1551.

Servant buried Aug. 3, 1562.

Son Thomas buried Aug. 3, 1569.

Wife Elizabeth bur. Oct. 2, 1569.

Dau. Xstian married to Henry Atkins June 14,

1576.

Servants married Nov. 16, i579- Feb. 28, 1581.

"Old Father Thomas Cha(a)se of Hundriche," bur. June 27, 1586.

Rychard Cha(a)se :

Baptized Aug. 23, 1542.

Married to Joan Byshoppe May 16, 1564.

Son Robert bapt. Sept. 2, 1565.

Son Henry bapt. Aug. 10, 1567.

Dau. Lidia bapt. Oct. 4, 1573.

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Son Ezechiel bapt. April 23, 1576.

Dau. Dorcas bapt. Mch. 2, 1577.

Son Aquila bapt. Aug. 14, 1580.

Son Jason bapt. Jan. 20, 1582.

Son Thomas bapt. July 18, 1585.

Dau. Abigail bapt. Jan. 12, 1588.