Chase family

The Chase family is an English family associated with a broad network of descendants who became prominent in the political, legal, religious, military, educational, business, and cultural life of the United States. The family’s documented American history begins with the migration of brothers Aquila Chase II and Thomas Chase from Chesham, England, to New England. In June 1640, the brothers received land grants at Hampton, in what is now New Hampshire. Their descendants subsequently established branches in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and other parts of the United States. Most of the family members identified as notable in historical accounts descended from Aquila Chase II. The family’s influence was not initially concentrated in national public life. During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, however, several descendants entered professions and institutions that gave them greater public visibility, particularly law, politics, and religion. This development produced a family record that includes United States senators, a Chief Justice of the United States, state officials, clergy, educators, military officers, writers, reformers, and public figures. Political figures associated with the family include Dudley Chase, who served as a United States senator and chief justice of Vermont; Champion S. Chase, Nebraska’s first attorney general; Dudley Chase Denison; and Margaret Chase Smith, a United States senator from Maine. Salmon P. Chase, another descendant of Aquila Chase II, served as the sixth Chief Justice of the United States. His daughter, Kate Chase, became a notable Washington society hostess during the American Civil War. Religious leadership was another important area of family achievement. Carlton Chase became the first Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire, while Philander Chase became an Episcopal bishop and founded Kenyon College. John Chase Lord was a Presbyterian theologian and educator. These figures represented different denominational settings but shared a role in the development of American religious institutions and higher education. Other descendants contributed in military, educational, intellectual, and cultural fields. Jonathan Chase served as a soldier during the American Revolutionary War, and Reuben Chase was an officer in the Continental Navy who participated in John Paul Jones’s raid into British waters. Levi R. Chase became a World War II fighter pilot and double flying ace. Thornton Chase served with the United States Colored Troops during the American Civil War and later became the first Western convert to the Bahá’í Faith. J. Richard Chase held presidencies at Biola University and Wheaton College. Warren Chase was an American pioneer, reformer, and politician, while Stuart Chase became an economist, social theorist, and writer. Later descendants included the actor, singer, and director Will Chase, as well as Captain Chris Chase, a decorated United States Coast Guard pilot associated with hurricane relief service. The Chase family is therefore best understood as a genealogical and historical lineage rather than a commercial brand, corporation, or unified institution. Its significance rests on the range of public roles occupied by its members and on the family’s connections to early New England settlement, American political history, church leadership, military service, higher education, social reform, and the arts.

The Chase family originated in Chesham, England. Its American history is associated chiefly with the brothers Aquila Chase II and Thomas Chase, who migrated to New England. In June 1640, the brothers received land grants at Hampton, a settlement now located in New Hampshire. Their children and later descendants established communities and family branches in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and other parts of the United States. Aquila Chase II became the principal ancestor of many of the family members later identified in public records. Thomas Chase also established a line that included Reuben Chase, an officer in the Continental Navy. During the colonial and early national periods, members of the family participated in the formation of New England communities. Amos Chase, a descendant of Aquila Chase II, was associated with the founding of Saco, Maine, and served as the first deacon of its first Congregational church. The family’s public prominence increased during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Earlier generations had been described as prosperous but not especially influential in national affairs. Later descendants entered law, politics, and religious leadership, fields that gave the family a stronger presence in American civic life. Dudley Chase became a United States senator and chief justice of Vermont. Champion S. Chase became the first attorney general of Nebraska. Other politically active descendants included Dudley Chase Denison, Warren Chase, and Margaret Chase Smith, who represented Maine in the United States Senate. Salmon P. Chase became the most senior judicial figure associated with the family when he served as the sixth Chief Justice of the United States. His daughter, Kate Chase, was a prominent Washington hostess during the Civil War era. The family’s political involvement therefore extended both into formal officeholding and into the social networks surrounding national government. Religious service formed a second major strand of the family’s history. Carlton Chase became the first Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire. Philander Chase became an Episcopal bishop and founded Kenyon College in Ohio, linking ecclesiastical leadership with higher education. John Chase Lord was a Presbyterian theologian and educator. These figures helped shape denominational institutions and religious education during periods of major growth in American churches. Military service also appears repeatedly in the family record. Jonathan Chase served as a soldier during the American Revolutionary War, while Reuben Chase served in the Continental Navy and took part in John Paul Jones’s raid into British waters. In the twentieth century, Levi R. Chase became a World War II fighter pilot and double flying ace. Thornton Chase served as an officer in the United States Colored Troops during the American Civil War and later became the first Western convert to the Bahá’í Faith, adding religious and social significance to his military career. The family’s later history broadened into education, intellectual life, reform, and entertainment. J. Richard Chase served as president of Biola University from 1970 to 1982 and then as president of Wheaton College from 1982 to 1993. Stuart Chase became an economist, social theorist, and writer, while Warren Chase was known as a pioneer, reformer, and politician. Will Chase carried the family name into modern popular culture as an actor, singer, and director. Captain Chris Chase was recognized as a decorated United States Coast Guard pilot and received an air medal in connection with service during Hurricane Katrina. Because the Chase family is a lineage rather than a legal corporation or organized commercial house, it has no single headquarters, product portfolio, ownership structure, or succession system. Its historical identity derives from the cumulative achievements of its members and from the migration and settlement of its early American branches.

• 1993

  End of J. Richard Chase’s Wheaton presidency

  [1]Chase familyen.wikipedia.org

  J. Richard Chase’s tenure as president of Wheaton College concluded.

• 1982

  J. Richard Chase begins Wheaton presidency

  [1]Chase familyen.wikipedia.org

  After leaving Biola University, J. Richard Chase became the sixth president of Wheaton College in Illinois.

• 1970

  J. Richard Chase begins Biola presidency

  [1]Chase familyen.wikipedia.org

  J. Richard Chase became the sixth president of Biola University, serving until 1982.

• 1640

  Land grants at Hampton

  [1]Chase familyen.wikipedia.org

  Brothers Aquila Chase II and Thomas Chase received land grants at Hampton in New England, establishing the documented American beginning of the family’s history.

• Expansion of the New England family branches

  [1]Chase familyen.wikipedia.org

  Descendants of Aquila Chase II settled in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, while related branches became associated with other New England communities.

• Entry into law, politics, and religion

  [1]Chase familyen.wikipedia.org

  During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, members of the family became increasingly active in public law, government, and religious institutions.

A historical and genealogical family lineage, not a commercial brand or operating business.

1. 1Chase familyen.wikipedia.org