For sometime now, I have been writing a story called "Obidiah's Trip" I have been writing this story for sometime ..and as time permits, I work on it from time to time... as I have been doing for the past three days.

Imagine my surprise when in today's e-mail I read.. "Historic Quaker Meeting House--Somerset, Mass" The story I am writing is Reverend Obidiah's trip to the Quaker House in Somerset..and, as he travels along, I have included the names of relatives he visits in Swansea. The purpose of the story is to highlight the names in the Chace family at that time...

Here is the first part of the story:

" From: Abiathar to Zepaniah Chace"

Foreword: During the 18th and 19th Century, the Christian name given to the newly born was often a biblical name. The names are very unusual, but interesting. In order to make these names known, I have written a story wherein I could site these names ..rather than just making a list of the male and female names. In the story, I have used real places, and background information about Bristol County to make the story more interesting. All the names are real... and were given names to someone in the Chace Family. I gathered the names from visiting cemeteries, books about the time frame, and other reading material written from 1750 to 1900. Some of the names, like Reverend Obidiah Chace, belong to a real person. Obidiah was a pillar in the communities he lived in. Born in 1818, he lived to be 90. He was a Quaker minister for the Society of Friends in Somerset, Massachusetts for more than 50 years ..without taking salary. He lived in Warren, Rhode Island, and gave me this opportunity to write about his trip from Warren to Somerset, ( 71/2 miles) wherein he stopped and met with other relatives of his Chace family.

It is interesting to note, Obidiah was originally a Whig; then a Free-Soiler, and he was instrumental in forming the Republican Party. He died in Swansea in the year 1907. Some of the poems he wrote can be found in the Swansea Public Library in Swansea Village. (A book of poems were dedicated "To Augustine Jones, Principal of Friends School, Providence R.I. Where I first learned to frame words in Metre."

Some other facts about Obidiah.. He frequently quoted the words of William Penn..."The Word of God without me, and the Grace of God within me, is the declaration of my faith; let him find a better who can."

As a citizen, Rev. Chace was always actively interested in the public welfare. He taught school several winters at Warren Neck and in other towns.He was a member of of the Warren Town Council in 1857and served years in the General Assembly. During the Dorr Rebellion, in 1842, he took the side of the party in power. A watch was kept along the river that year, when two sailboats anchored in Mount Hope Bay. The crews, composed of six men, hurried ashore and thence into Massachusetts. This aroused suspicion, and several citizens, including Obidiah Chace, after detaching the rudders and sails, scuttled the boats at their anchorage. The crews later returned and said they came from Warwick R.I. to escape from the State and avoid military service.. They were arrested and placed in the Bristol Jail.

Some of the family names that Obidiah and sons married into.. Obidiah married Ester Taber Freeborn.. they celebrated their 60th anniversary..

Other names.. Eunice Anthony, Hannah Sherman.. Isabel Buffington, Isabel Baker...Mary Knowles..Sarah Slade.

Notes about thre Friends Church.

Quakers of Swansea and Shawomet..formed a committee to build church in Wickapimpset, now Somerset Center

An additional quarter acre bought from Eber Chace..

Church demensions..45 ft long..30 feet wide..18 ft high..built in 1746-47 at a cost of 759 pounds, 19 shillings

It was enlarged again in 1872 and 1889..

Men sat on one side..women on the other..

Shutters divided the two sides

High backed seats..uncushioned..no heat

Until 1885 there was no singing..

No one moved or uttered a word until the ministers and elders rose to signify the meeting's end..

Obidiah's Chace served for sixty years

Theophilus Shove also served 60 years

Some early Quaker ministers: named Chase/Chace
Abraham Chase 1727--
Sarah Chase 1730
Job Chase 1733
Issac Chase 1733-1750
Hannah Chase 1764-1775
Philip Chase 1870
Jonathan Chase 1781-1824
Obidiah Chace 1847-1907 (note spelling change)

Patience Brayton was a forerunner in freeing the slaves and convinced her husband, Preserved, to do so.. She converted to being a Quaker and was a minister.. in the church in Somerset 1768-1794

She went to England in 1783 to make a petition to Geoge lll ..to free the slaves in her native lands... and in the British Kindom...

This whole episode is worth reading in: History of Somerser, Massachusetts....1677-1940 pages 47-53

Read about Rev Obidiah Chace in :History Of Swansea, Massachusetts ..1667.1917 pages 151-154

My reason for being so interested in these geneology matters is the fact that I was born in Fall River, Mass and grew up in Swansea.. At one time I lived next door to Christ Church in Swansea Village and was the Sexton of this church at the age of 16-17 during the World War ll days. I have written several stories about my association with the church which were published in Christ Church Harvester. Obidiahs trip takes place down the street I lived on..

Frank C. Chace
Colonel, US Marine Corps (Ret)