Joseph CHAFFE

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Name:
Joseph Chaffe was Constable and town Sealer of weights and measures in Barrington in 1729.
January 21, 1729/30, "Joseph Chaffe Junr. of Barrington, boatman," bought of Benjamin Marcy of Woodstock, husbandman, a "Mansion house" and seventy-five acres of land in Woodstock, bounded by the land of Isaiah Tiffany and John Chaffe, for L300.
February 23, 1729/30, "Joseph Chaffee Junr. of Barrington in the County of Bristol in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Boatman, for and in consideration of the sum of two hundred pounds to me paid by my Honoured Father, John Chaffee of Woodstock, in the County of Suffolk and Province aforesaid, yeoman, being part of my Portion or Patrimony of my said Father's Estate do by these presents Remit, Release and forever Quit Claim . . . unto my Father John Chaffee . . . all my right title interest Claim & Demand unto all of Housing & Lands of my said Father being & Lying in Woodstock Aforesaid, belonging . . . to me as a son or heir." This document was witnessed by his uncle Joseph Chaffe and Samuel Luther. (Woodstock Land Records.) In those days a man was called "Junior" if there was another man in his family of the same Christian name, whether he was his father or not. Between the date of the above release and July 5, 1730, Joseph and his family removed to Woodstock, Mass. (now Conn.) as on the latter date his wife was admitted to the First Congregational Church of Woodstock by a letter of dismission and recommendation from the Church of Christ in Barrington. He settled in what is now West Woodstock, and which was set off from Woodstock as the Second Precinct of Woodstock, or New Roxbury......

Joseph Chaffe died of smallpox, and one of the items in the account of the administrators against the estate is 5s. "for brimstone & rum to cleanse the infection out of the house." He lies buried in the cemetery in Hampden, Mass. (formerly South Wilbraham)...

Family/Spouse: Hannah MAY. Hannah was born on 1 Oct 1704 in Swansea, Massachusetts; was christened on 12 Feb 1706/7 in Swansea, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sarah married Isaac MORRIS about 1748 or 1749. Isaac died on 10 Jan 1778. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sarah married Honorable John BLISS on 10 Sep 1804. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
He probably moved with his parents in 1755 to Wales, a district of Springfield, Mass., where he was a farmer. May 8, 1758, he bought of his father fifty-six acres of land there for L55. In 1760, with his mother, he administered his father's estate. October 23, 1772, "Joseph Chaffee husbandman of Wales" sold to David Burt of the same place, land there for 20s. About this time Wales was annexed to the newly organized town of Wilbraham, and so Joseph Chaffe became an inhabitant of that town. In 1774, he was one of one hundred and twenty-five who signed an agreement, made in South Wilbraham, not to purchase English-made goods. July 29th of that year he was appointed with others to assist in collecting the Province rates. january 2, 1775, he was appointed with others a committee to prevent the killing of deer from january 1st to August 1st of that year.

His name appears as Private on a roll of "Capt. James Warrener's company of Wilbraham who marched in defense of American Liberty on ye Alarm last April occasioned by the Lexington Fight." He was in service ten days, travelled one hundred and eighty miles and received L1, 9s. 2d., in payment. His name also appears as serving two other enlistments:

"Chaffe, Joseph. Capt. William Fletcher's co., Col. Benjamin Simond's regt; enlisted Aug. 22, 1777; discharged Aug. 29, 1777; marched on an expedition to Bennington.
"Chaffe, Joseph. Private, Capt. Samuel Burt's co., Col. Elisha Porter's (Hampshire Co.) regt; enlisted July 22, 1779; discharged Aug. 25, 1779 service, 1 mo. 7 days, at New London, Conn." (Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution.)

Family/Spouse: Esther CHAFFE. Esther (daughter of John CHAFFE, Jr. and Mehitable MASCRAFT) was born on 14 Jan 1734/5 in Woodstock, Massachusetts, now Connecticut; was christened in Jan 1734/5 in First Congregational Church, Woodstock, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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Benjamin Chafee is said to have lived on the north part of Rocky or Cranberry Bog Hill, between West Woodstock and South Woodstock, later in Ashford and still later in Marcellus, NY., finally returning Ashford. He also lived in Wales, Mass., as is evidenced by a deed dated June 25, 1764, in which "Benjamin Chaffee husbandman of Woodstock late of Wales," sold to Benjamin Skinner of Wilbraham, seventy-five acres of land in Wales together with the buildings thereon for L100. This was land which Benjamin had bought of his father, February 4, 1793, Benjamin "Chaffe" of Woodstock bought of Josiah Eaton of Ashford for L28, 15s., twenty-three acres of land there, and April 22d of the same year he and his wife, still of Woodstock, sold to Benjamin Skinner of that place a house and barn there. Apparently this was about the time of their removal to Ashford. Benjamin Chaffee had palsy in one arm, which for the last twenty years of his life rendered it useless.

Benjamin married Hannah SKINNER on 19 Sep 1754 in Woodstock, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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Ephraim Chaffee was a farmer and a joiner. June 19, 1751, he bought of Joseph Chaffee for L650, forty acres of land with a house in Woodstock. March 22, 1753, he was appointed to appraise a stray horse. September 17, 1753, at a meeting of the inhabitants of the southeast district of the town of Woodstock he was appointed one of a committee to divide the district into two schools. September 3, 1754, he sold forty acres of land "a mansion house and a Dutch barn" for L1,000. This was probably the same property which he bought in 1751. January 12, 1756, he bought of Benjamin Munn sixty acres of land in Brimfield, Mass., and march 9th following, forty-seven acres there of Josiah Montague. Soon after this, he moved from Woodstock to Wales, a district of Springfield, Mass., as he was of the latter place when he marched in August, 1757, to the relief of Fort William Henry during the Colonial Wars. Ephraim Chaffee is said to have been scalped and killed by the Indians, in a place between Sandy Hill and Glens Falls, NY., near Fort Edward, in the same place where Jane McCrae was scalped during the Revolution. He is said to have been a teamster and an officer over the baggage train. The records make no mention of his service at this time, during the year 1758, but state that he was a Private in Captain Benjamin Day's company, South Hampshire County regiment, which marched on the Alarm for the relief of Fort William Henry in August, 1757. He is spoken of as "of Springfield," travelled sixty-four miles, and was in service ten and a half days. (Massachusetts Archived, Muster Rolls, Vol. XCV, page 444.) February 6, 1758, he sold land in Brimfield to J. Torrey for L20. The estate of Ephraim Chaffee "late of Wales" was administered by his father, Joseph Chaffe, who was appointed August 30, 1758 (Northampton Probate Records). After his death in 1760, Ephraim's widow took charge of the administration. In January, 1763, she and her second husband, William Stacy, petitioned the court in Boston for permission to sell the real estate of Ephraim Chaffee. Permission was evidently granted, for May 20, 1763, sixty acres of land in Wales were sold for L48, 10s., to "Simeon Chaffe of Woodstock yeoman" as the highest bidder.

Ephraim Chaffee and his brother Isaiah are said to have helped drive the wolf of Israel Putnam fame into the cave where it was captured. It had wrought sad havoc among the sheep in the neighborhood of Pomfret, Conn.

Ephraim married Anna TORREY on 21 Nov 1752 in Woodstock, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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Asa Chaffee was a shoemaker and a house-farmer. he probably moved to Wales, mass., between 1758 and 1760. This place, a precinct of Springfield, Mass., was later made a part of Wilbraham. February 25, 1760, he bought of his father for L35, 8s., land in Wales. "Asa Chaffe yeoman of Wilbraham and Mary Chaffe his wife" sold to William Barnes for L30, sixty acres of land there, March 20, 1764. March 22, 1768, he was chosen "Hog Reave" for Wilbraham. June 10th following, he sold to Henry Badger land in Wilbraham for L6. In a list of pew holders in the Congregational church in Wilbaham, dated June 3, 1770, it is stated that "Asa Chaffee" and wife with five others and their wives occupied pew number fourteen. The minister at this time was Reverend Noah Merrick. In South Wilbraham, in 1774, one hundred and twenty-five men, of whom "Asa Chaffee" was one, signed an agreement not to buy English-made goods.

He was a Private in "Capt. James Warriner's Company of Wilbraham who marched in defence of American Liberty on ye Alarm last April occasioned by the Lexington Fight." he served ten days, travelled one hundred and eighty miles, and received L1, 9s. 2d., in payment.

November 21, 1777, he was chosen a Constable for Wilbraham. October 18, 1779, he received $20 as bounty and mileage money for soldiers. january 30, 1784, Asa Chaffee and two others were a committee appointed in behalf of the South parish of Wilbraham for the purpose of taking a deed of a piece of land on which to build a meetinghouse. The tract of land purchased was in Wilbraham, contained about one hundred and forty rods, was purchased of William King and cost L6. March 16th following, Asa Chaffee was chosen Surveyor. may 3, 1785, he sold for L20, to his son, Ephraim, land in Monson, Mass., and march 16, 1786, land in Wilbraham to his son Cyril, Chaffee of Somers, Conn., blacksmith, for L10, 10s. Soon after this Shays' Rebellion broke out and Asa Chaffee served as a Private from September 22d to 28th, 1786, in Lieutenant Lewis Langdon's company, Colonel Gideon Burt's regiment of Militia, which marched to Springfield. He also served in Springfield as a Private from january 18th to February 7, 1787, in Captain Joseph Williams Company of Cadets, ordered into service by Major-General Shepard. September 14, 1808, he sold to his son Ephraim for $300, land in Wilbraham, and in 1809 to his son Calvin two other tracts there for $120.

Asa Chaffee died intestate and administration on his estate was granted to his son Jonathan in Northampton, Mass., February 13, 1811. The inventory, dated February 21st following, mentions real estate, an interest in a sawmill thereon, house, barn, cider mill, horses, cows, oxen, household furniture, farming utensils, etc. This was appraised by Stephen West, Calvin Stebbins and William Clark. July 17, 1811, the widow was allowed her portion of the estate.

Asa married Mary HOWLETT on 5 Sep 1753 in Woodstock, Massachusetts. Mary was born on 1 Aug 1735 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts; died on 9 Mar 1783; was buried in Old Hampden Cemetery, Hampden, Hampden Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Asa married Sarah ORMSBEE on 16 Feb 1785. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
He had a dark complexion, black eyes and hair, was tall and well proportioned. he probably moved to Wales, a district of Springfield, Mass., with his parents in 1755, and was living there at the time of his marriage in 1758. he was a farmer. May 26, 1759, "Comfort Chaffee yeoman of Wales" bought seventy-five acres of land in the township of Springfield, for L75. As Wales was then a district of Springfield, this land may have been in what was then known as Wales, and which was shortly afterwards made part of Wilbraham. March 19, 1765, Comfort Chaffee was chosen "Deer Reaves" in Wilbraham. He was chosen "Hog Reaves" march 13, 1770, in South Wilbraham, and May 13, 1770, the records of the Congregational church there state that he and his wife, with six others, occupied pew number eighteen. April 6, 1773, Comfort and Mary (Bliss) Chaffee sold for L22, 2s., to Nathaniel, David, Jonathan, and Thomas Bliss of Wilbraham, forty-seven acres of land there, it being part of the estate of the late Nathaniel Bliss, father of Mary. A committee of which Comfort Chaffee was one appointed in Wilbraham, January 2, 1775, to prevent the killing of deer from January 1st to August 1st of that year. His name appears as a Private on the roll of Captain James Warriner's company of Wilbraham "who marched in defence of American Liberty on ye Alarm last April occasioned by Lexington Fight." He served ten days, travelled one hundred and eighty miles, and received L1, 9s. 2d., payment. His further Revolutionary service is as follows:

"Chaffee, Comfort. Private, Capt. James Shaw's co., Col. Charles Pynchon's regt.: enlisted Sept. 24, 1777; discharged Oct. 18, 1777; service, 32 days, travel included; company detached to join Gen. Gates's army." (Massachusetts Soldier and Sailors in the War of the Revolution.)

During his service, Comfort and another man discovered a deserted British vessel floating near the water's edge. They boarded it and finding it loaded with provisions and ammunition, turned it over to the Government. may 25, 1778, Comfort Chaffee was chosen one of the Constables for Wilbrahan. October 18, 1779, he received L20 as bounty and mileage money for soldiers....


Inscription:
From the Chaffee Genealogy by Wm. Chaffee:

"In memory of
Mr. Comfort Chaffe
who died
June 4, 1811
Aged 74 Years.

Let not the dead forgotten lie
Lest you forget that you must die
death is a debt to nature due
Which I have paid and so must you."

Find A Grave

Comfort married Mary BLISS on 19 Jan 1758. Mary was born on 21 Nov 1734; died on 15 Apr 1774. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Comfort married Hepzibah GREEN on 5 Jun 1808 in South Wilbraham, Massachusetts. Hepzibah was born about 1735 in Wales, Springfield Twp, Massachusetts; died on 19 Dec 1828. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
October 21, 1753, he joined the West Woodstock Congregational Church, but before 1758 had moved to Wales, a district of Springfield, Mass., and later a part of the town of Wilbraham. In the latter year he served as a Private in the Colonial War, in Colonel William William's regiment, Captain Jonathan Ball's company, raised by the province of Massachusetts Bay for the reduction of Canada. He is spoken of as "of Springfield," served from April 13, to November 4, and travelled seven days. ( Massachusetts Archives, Muster Rolls, Vol. XCVI, P 444.)

In a list of pew holders in the Wilbraham Congregational Church, dated July 3, 1770, we find that Isaiah Chaffee and his wife, with four other men and their wives occupied pew number five. The land records show that on August 18,1761, "Isaiah Chafee husbandman of Wales" sold to David Burt, 2d, of Springfield, husbandman, for L90, one hundred and eight acres of land in Wales, formerly belonging to Isaiah's "Honored father, Joseph Chaffee, deceased." This deed is signed by "Isaiah Chafee" and Betty Chafee." April 10,1767, "Isaiah Chaffee, husbandman, of Wilbraham" bought land of Henry Badger of that place for L18. April 2, 1771, in Northampton, Mass., Comfort Chaffee, brother of Isaiah, was appointed administrator of this estate, and at the same time William King was appointed guardian of the five minor children, Betty, over fourteen, William, Joseph, Isaiah and Hannah under fourteen. Isaiah left almost nothing and September 14, 1772, Comfort Chaffee obtained the consent of the court to sell the whole of the estate, the papers being signed by Comfort and the widow, Betty Chaffee. This was probably for the purpose of paying Isaiah's debts and obtaining ready money for the needs of the widow and children. From this time the family suffered many hardships from extreme poverty; probably no line of the Chaffee family had a harder life than did the children of Isaiah after his death.

Isaiah and his bother Ephraim are said to have helped drive the wolf of Israel Putnam fame into the cave where it was captured. It had wrought sad havoc among the sheep in the neighborhood of Pomfret.

Isaiah married Betty MANNING on 21 Oct 1753 in Woodstock, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]