From original water color sketch, presented by S. R. Chaffee, the Artist, of Providence, R. I. THE ANCIENT CHAFFE BURYING GROUND. 30 acres of land on ye houselott, a great lott of 60 acres of land 10 acres of land in Kites Neck 10 acres of salt meadow more or less. "On ye oath of Joseph Chaffey." "JONATHAN BOSWORTH, Senr. "WILLIAM CARPENTER, Senr. [Plymouth Colony Record of Wills, Vol. IV, p. 36.] Just what the date of Thomas Chaffe's death was we do not know, but probably not long before the filing of his will. He was doubtless buried in the ancient Chaffe Burying Ground on his own farm, a picture of which is here given, though no stone to his memory remains. From information gathered and handed down by the older people, we learn that the house stood but a few rods from the burial ground. This property, located on the west bank of what is now the Barrington River, though in Thomas Chaffe's time it was called the Sowams River, is about two miles northwest of the present town of Barrington Centre, R. I., and is owned by Mr. L. R. Peck. Children, probably born in Nantasket (now called Hull): 2 i Nathaniel Chaffe, probably born between 1638 and 1642; married Experience Bliss. 3 i Joseph Chaffe, probably born between 1639 and 1646; married Annis Martin. 2 Nathaniel 2 Chaffe (Thomas 1) was probably born in Nantasket, Mass. (later called Hull), between 1638 and 1642, and died in Rehoboth, Mass., in September, 1721. He married in Swansea, Mass., August 19, 1669, Experience, daughter of Jonathan and Miriam (Harmon) Bliss of Rehoboth. She also died in September, 1721. Nathaniel Chaffe doubtless moved from Hull to Rehoboth between 1657 and 1660 with his parents and brother Joseph. In 1667 the part of Rehoboth where he lived, known as Wannamoisett, was set off as a separate town and called Swansea. Here we find the first mention of him, his marriage, and the following Spring he is mentioned again in the town records as follows: Nathaniel "At a Town meeting Lawfully warned ye 19th of May 1670 Chafy [was chosen] Constable." [Swansea Town Records.] His duty was to assist in keeping the peace and to make arrests of disorderly persons. About the same time it is recorded that: "Nathaniel Chafy his ear mark for all sorts of cattell is an half ring in the top of each ear." On page 155 of The Book of the Attleborough Records of the North Purchased Lande belonging to Rehoboth, under the date 1672, we find that "The bounds of the Lands of Nathaniell Chaffe are Sixty acres of land purchased of Obediah Bowen, Sur., Also Twelve and a half. Ten acres More purchased of John Martin." This land was later in the town of Attleboro. The deeds of these purchases of land by Nathaniel Chaffe are not on file in the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds. "At a Town Meeting Lawfully warned ye 5th of Febr. 1672 [3]. Imp Whereas it was agreed upon at a Town Meeting Lawfully warned on ye 3d of Janr 1672 That Nicholas Tanner Hugh Cole Samuel Luther, should treat with ye owners of meadows in ye great neck Concerning ye fence there to be made as is above specefeid. It was therefore upon ye 31 of Janr 1672 agreed upon by and between ye sd Nicholas Tanner Hugh Cole & Samuel Luther & ye sd owners of meadows that there shall be made a three rail fence from ye meadow of Jonathan Bliss to Hugh Coles & It was further granted upon yt ye owners of ye meadows should make two fifths of the fence & ye sd fence to be made four foot and a half high & to be set up by ye 20th of April next & every man that is defective in this agreement shall forfeit one shilling a rod. "Signed by "NICHOLAS TANNER "HUGH COLE "SAMUEL LUTHER "THOMAS WILLETT "STEPHEN PAIN, Senr PETER HUNT NATHL CHAFY An agreement under ten of the Proprietors Hands Jan. 22: 1673 [4]. "We whose names are hereunder written doe agree and conclude that all Moable grase aJoyning to any of our Medows Belongs to the said Meadow and onely for the use of ye proprietors of the said Meadow and that noe other person shall intrenth upon the said priviledge witness our hands this twenty-second day of January one thousand six hundred seaventy three. "THOMAS WILLET "STEPHEN PAIN "NATHANIEL PECK "NATHANIEL CHAFEY [Proprietors' Records, Ancient Swansea, pp. 16, 17.] JAMES BROWN JOHN ALLEN JOHN BROWN ISRAEL PECK JOSEPH CHAFEY." Nathaniel Chaffe was evidently a valued citizen, for in 1674-5 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: At a Town meeting lawfully warned the Eighth of February 1674 [5] "It was also voted and agreed upon by the Town for the encouragement of Nathaniel Chaffee to come and dwell in the Town, he should have Ten acres in some convenient place for planting land if he tarry for seven years to be his own for ever, but if he remove out of Town before seven years end he is to leave it to the Town." [Rehoboth Records.] Just about this time is recorded "a list of lines as it was cast to stand in ye second division Nathan Chaffee 5 rod." Four months after this invitation to return to Rehoboth, "Nathaniel Chaffe of the Township of Rehobeth, in the Government of New Plymouth, in New England, smith, for a good and valuable consideration [not named] payed by Samuel Butterworth of Rehoboth aforesaid, . have freely and absolutely bargained and sold a certain tract of Bastard Meddow lying and being in the Great Neck, lying upon Sowams river, in Swansey, in the Government aforesaid, being four acres be it more or less, bounded to the North with Joseph Chaffe's Meddow, to the East a Swamp, to the West Sowams River, to the South as far as the Meddow goeth In witness whereof, the said Nathaniel Chaffe hath set to his hand and seal this sixteenth day of June in the year of our Lord, one thousand six hundred seventy (No. 2, Page 13. From a bond signed Nov. 13, 1695) David Chopey May 25, 1734. Heph with Chaffe Nov. 9, 1732. Jonathan Chaffe (No. 160, Page 94) He was a minister. This signature made in Rehobeth, Mass., September 8, 1795. Amos Chaser Thos Chafic (No. 129, Page 56) (No. 131, Page 56) Signatures of these two brothers made in Providence, R. I., May 5, 1783. Signatures of Nathaniel Chaffe, and of some of his Descendants. |