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“Reminiscent And Historical” — Berwick Register, Wednesday Evening, July 2, 1924.
The following clippings from the Messenger and Visitor (now the Maritime Baptist) of May 10, 1905, refer to the lives and death of Rev. David Chase and his wife, in the year 1844, of whom reference was made in an item in last week’s issue of the Register. Mrs. Mansfield Nichols, granddaughter of Rev. and Mrs. Chase, has requested us to publish these clippings, which should prove of great interest, especially to the older settlers of Western Kings.
Rev. David Chase (Messenger and Visitor, May 10, 1905)
Often when reading accounts of the lives and grand deeds of departed ministers, such as William Hall, Dr. Welton, and others, my mind invariably turns to one noble man of God, and the wife also being worthy of such a husband. This man was the Rev. David Chase, the first person granted a license to preach from the Second Cornwallis (now Berwick) church. His wife was Jane Morse, a sister of Daniel Morse of Nictaux, after whom her son, also D. M. Welton, was named. No family, I think, is better known today in the Annapolis Valley among Baptist people. Old Mr. Daniel Morse of Nictaux was grandfather of Rev. L. D. Morse, of Wolfville. One sister was Mrs. Sidney Welton, mother of Dr. Welton, another, Mrs. Abel Parker, mother of Rev. D. O. Parker and Rev. David Freeman’s wife. This makes Mrs. Parker grandmother of Mrs. L. D. Morse, also of Mrs. Dr. Trotter of Acadia.
But the one of this family that my letter is especially intended to bring before our minds is gone, the baby of the household, who became, at the age of seventeen, the wife of the Rev. David Chase, left her home and went to a distant part of New Brunswick. In those days it seemed as far away as the North West or British Columbia does now. There at Jemseg this noble couple, rich in faith toward God, worked and prayed, forgetting their own health in their anxiety for the salvation of souls. In many places there were no carriage roads and they went on horseback through paths in the forest. Twice Mrs. Chase took her wedding ring off her finger and put in the mission box because she had no money to give. The ring was dear to her heart as her husband knew, and once he planned and bought it back, but the second time it had to go. How many would do the same today?
After eight or ten years of hard work, exposure and anxiety, broke the strong constitution, and the faithful child of God laid down the cross and went to receive from his Master the crown. The young wife could not stand the blow (though she thought of her four little ones) and in less than two months they laid her beside her loved one. Mr. Chase died March 24th, and on the 22nd of May the same year, she closed her eyes to earthly scenes to behold the glories of heaven.
Over the graves of this devoted couple the church erected a beautiful monument with told how much they thought of them. One of the sons died at the age of 22. Another son is doing business in England. The two daughters, one Mrs. Jonathan Sanford, the other Mrs. Reuben Loomer, still live in Weston, a branch of the Berwick church. Two gentlemen asked Mrs. Sanford for her father’s license to preach, as they wished to place it in the museum of Acadia College, I suppose it is there today.
Dear Editor: - I have read with interest the sketch of my uncle the Rev. David I. Chase in the Messenger and Visitor of May 10th. His paternal home was in Welsford, a few miles northward from Berwick. In my early boyhood I remember him visiting my parents, feeble and wasting away in consumption. I send you as a relic of the past a copy of the License given to him in the old Pleasant Valley meeting house seventy-one years ago. I am holding the original, in the Rev. Wm. Chipman’s hand-writing, and characteristic style of composition, with a number of other relics for the Acadia University museum among which is correspondence of Rev. Wm. Chipman and his son Isaac, when Isaac was a student at Waterville, Me., and his youthful autobiography, and journal when a student, and the last letter he wrote to his father, pleading for the college a few days before his untimely death in Minas Basin.
License of the 2nd Bapt. Church for Bro. D. I. Chase.
These may certify that our dear brother David I. Chase a member of the 2nd Baptist church in Cornwallis having improved his gifts for some time past in Prayer Exhortation and Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that being satisfied that he has public gifts, do now license him to improve the same in manner as heretofore and wherever the Lord in his wise providence may be pleased to direct his steps. And our prayer to God is, that he may be directed in infinite wisdom, and guided by his Holy Spirit into the mysteries of Redemption, and prove himself to be a good minister of Jesus Christ, and his labors of love hereby be abundantly blessed of the Lord.
Signed in behalf and by order of said church,
Alfred Skinner. – Done in Conference, 26th July, 1834.
[Source : Phil Vogler – P.O. Box 266 – Berwick, Nova Scotia – B0P 1E0]
David Chase, who was a brother of Rev. Skinner’s wife, pursued his ministry successfully for seven years until, as a young man of thirty-six died of tuberculosis. Three months later his wife Jane died of the same disease. (source: http://www.rubycusack.com/issue361.html)
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1806 - 1844 (37 years)
Siblings
. Sarah Jane CHASE, b. 5 Mar 1836, Jemseg, Queens, New Brunswick 
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