Individual Details

ID 34282663, Find a Grave
Nathaniel Chaffee, son of Thomas Chaffe, was born between the year 1639 and 1642, probably at Nantasket or Hull, Mass., and died in Rehoboth, September, 1720. Between 1657 and 1660 he settled in that part of Rehoboth which later became Swansea. On May 19, 1670, he was chosen constable, and from that time was a large land owner, inheriting some from his father, and increasing his holding considerably by purchase. He bought sixty acres of land from Obediah Brown in Rehoboth, and later two parcels of land of twelve and a half and ten acres each from John Martin, of Attleboro. That he was highly valued as a citizen is evident from the fact that after his removal from Rehoboth he was invited to return to the town, and as an inducement was offered more land. Four months later he returned. Nathaniel Chaffee was a blacksmith, and from the nature of his work, and the dependence of early settlements on the work of the blacksmith, he held a prominent place in the life of the early settlement. The blacksmith in those days made practically all farm implements, household utensils, arms, bells, etc. Nathaniel Chaffee became a freeman in 1681, on March 26, of which year he was elected constable. On March 22, 1693, he was chosen tythingman. He received numerous grants of land. During King Philip's war he contributed L3, 16s, 6d. to the war fund. He married, in Swansea, Mass., August 19, 1669, Experience Bliss, daughter of Jonathan and Miriam (Harmon) Bliss, and they were the parents of eleven children, the first three of which were born in Swansea, the others in Rehoboth. Children: Dorothy; Thomas, born Oct. 19, 1672; Rachel; Nathaniel, Jan., 1675-76; Jonathan, mentioned below; David, Aug. 22, 1680; Experience, March 24, 1682; Mehitable, Oct. 30, 1687; Daniel, Oct. 30, 1687; Noah, Jan. 19, 1690; Noah, Dec. 17, 1792 [sic].

Birth	1639	Hull, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
Marriage	19 Aug 1669	Swansea, Bristol County, Massachusetts - Experience Bliss
Death	Sep 1721	Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts

Spouse	Experience Bliss (1649 - 1721)
Child	Dorothy Chaffee (1669 - 1718)
Child	Thomas Chaffee (1672 - 1754)
Child	Rachel Chaffee (1673 - 1703)
Child	Nathaniel Chaffee (1675 - 1704)
Child	Jonathan Chaffee (1678 - 1766)
Child	David Chaffee (1680 - 1750)
Child	Experience Chaffee (1682 - 1754)
Child	Mehitable Chaffee (1685 - 1699)
Child	Daniel Chaffee (1687 - 1768)
Child	Noah Chaffee (1692 - 1732)

Father	Thomas Chaffee (1616 - 1683)
Mother	Dorothy Thomas (1616 - 1682)
Sibling	Joseph Chaffee Sr. (1642 - 1694)

Notes