True spelling of his first name was Jonathan, not Johnathan as it is spelled on his tombstone.

Son of Newton Chase (3/4/1807-3/15/1888) and Rozena/Rosena Burdick (1810-1878).

Husband of Sarah A. Chamberlain Preston who he married in Jay, Orlean County, Vermont on 6/6/1867 with Minister Austin Noresan officiating.

Justice of the Peace in Jay, Orleans County, Vermont. Along with his brother Truscott Abel Chase, he was a member of the Chamberlain Post, G.A.R., Pulaski Post #58 due to his honorable military service in the Civil War.

Chase served the Union cause during the Civil War, enlisting in Jay, Vermont in May 1861 with Company "H", 2nd Infantry Regiment, First Vermont Brigade. He was discharged for disability in September 1863. The First Vermont Brigade was organized in October 1861, mainly due to the work of Maj. Gen. William F. "Baldy" Smith. Its first commander was Brig. Gen. William T. H. Brooks. In April 1862, the brigade was incorporated into the Army of the Potomac as the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, VI Corps, and saw their first combat action during Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan's Peninsula Campaign in the battles of Williamsburg and Savage's Station. The Brigade also fought at Antietam and Fredericksburg. They were also involved at the Battle of Gettysburg, but Chase had been discharged due to disability two months earlier in May of 1863. Chase would later re-enlist in Decemebr, 1863 in (Vermont) and served with Company "F", 1st USSS (United States Sharp Shooters). He would go with the unit back "down South" and was wounded at the battle of Spotsylvania near Chancellorsville, on May 12, 1864. Chase transferred to the Vermont Reserve Corps in December 1864 and served another 18 months before finally being discharged in August 1866.

"Case 897. — Shot fractures of tarsal and metatarsal bones. — Private J. E. Chase, Co. F, 1st U. S. Sharpshooters, aged 25 years, was wounded in the right foot, fracturing the bones, at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. He passed through several hospitals and was ultimately transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, December 4, 1864, by reason of the results of the injury. On August 31, 1866, the man was mustered out and pensioned. Dr. E. D. Hudson furnished the following description of the case: "Compound comminuted fractures of the metatarsus and tarsus were caused by three rifle shots, and were followed by extensive necrosis and exfoliation of the metatarsus. The insertion and function of the tibialis amicus, peroneus longus, and extensor muscles are destroyed, the plantar aspect of the foot is turned inward and upward, and the patient rests his leg on the outside of the foot, which is turned down, the extensor muscles failing to make the great toe and other parts hug the ground. The limb is not shortened, but there is soreness and stiffness of the foot and considerable anchylosis of the tarsus. An apparatus was applied to antagonize the flexor muscles of the foot and the extensors of the toes, and to reduce the heel and the foot to a normal position." Examining Surgeon L. Richmond, of Troy. Vermont, certified to the injury as follows: "One ball entered between the lower extremity of the tibia and tendo-achillis on the inner aspect, passed outward and downward, and made its exit near the sole of the foot, severely injuring the os calcis. Another ball passed through the foot, severely injuring the three outer metatarsal bones and the tendons; extensive sloughing followed. The third ball entered on the inner side just about the union of the great toe with its metatarsal bone. * * The pensioner walks partly upon the side of the foot," etc. Examiner J. C. Rutherford subsequently reported that " the foot and leg are atrophied and there is but very little muscle left upon the limb. There is no strength in the ankle. He is obliged to use a mechanical support on the foot and leg to enable him to walk at all.'' -- The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. Part III, Volume II. (3rd Surgical volume) by U. S. Army Surgeon General's Office, 1883.

The 1850 US Census tells us a great deal about the family. Chase, who is about 11 years old, is living in Jay, Vermont with his parents and grandparents. He is named after his grandfather. The census shows us the following:

Jonathan Chase M 63 Massachusetts

Hopestill Chase F 72 Massachusetts

Newton Chase M 43 New Hampshire

Rozina Chase F 39 Vermont

Amanda Chase F 37 New Hampshire

Tresent A Chase M 17 Vermont

Lucia M Chase F 16 Vermont

Louisa C Chase F 13 Vermont

Jonathan Chase M 11 Vermont

Bradford Chase M 9 Vermont

Jehebond Chase M 7 Vermont

Arthur Chase M 2 Vermont

The 1870 US Census tells us Jonathan and his family are living next door to his parents. It provides only the following family information with "Jonathan" being misspelled by the census taker and does not identify who the 7 yr old, Hattie Preston, is to the family:

Jonithan Chase M 31y Vermont

Sarah Chase F 32y Vermont

Jonithan Chase M 1y Vermont

Hattie Preston F 7y Vermont

The 1880 US Census shows Chase was continuing to live in Jay, Vermont with his wife and children. His father Newton and his aunt Amanda, the unwed sister of Newton, is living there as well. At this time, it is unknown who Charles Titus was but the census notes Titus as being a "son". He actually was a foster son. The following information on the family:

SELF Jonathan E. Chase M 41 Vermont

WIFE Sarah A. Chase F 42 Vermont

SON Edgar J. Chase M 11 Vermont

FATH Newton Chase M 73 New Hampshire

Amanda R. Chase F 67 New Hampshire,

Son Charles H. Titus M 20 Vermont

Hattie A. Preston F 17 Vermont

Note that the child Edgar J. Chase is also known as Jonathan Edgar Chase.

The 1884 Jay Town Directory shows Chase was the town treasurer. He was a farmer with 16 cows, a sugar orchard with 900 trees and a breeder of jersey cows.

The 1870 and 1880 Census records show that a child named Hattie Preston is living in the home with Jonathan and his wife Sarah but there is no clue given as to the child's relationship to this family. Jonathan and Sarah's son, Jonathan Edgar Chase, married a woman named Ina M. Todd on 4/17/1896 in Jay, Vermont. The registry card for this marriage lists Jonathan Edgar's parents and it is noted that his mother's name was recorded as Sarah Preston (Chamberlain). This would tend to make one believe that Sarah was married prior to Jonathan to a Preston and that Hattie was her daughter from a previous marriage. It should be noted that Jonathan Chase officiated at the marriage of his son and Ina Todd.

Research has revealed that Sarah indeed had been married prior to her betrothal to Jonathan Chase. She was, in fact, a war widow. She had married an Edgar H. Preston in Vermont on 1/1/1861. Hattie's father served the Union cause during the Civil War. He was drafted and enlisted on 7/30/63 as a Private in Company "H", 4th Vermont Infantry Regiment. He was captured by Confederate forces at the First Battle of Weldon Railroad, now commonly referred to as the Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road on 6/23/64. He was first sent to the notorious Andersonville Prison Camp and then on to Camp Lawton at Millen, Georgia, where he died of disease on 10/28/64. He is buried at the Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, South Carolina. Hattie's later marriage card showed these facts and verified the research. As a side note, her first her name was actually Harriet P. Preston and she married a George C. Myers on 8/3/1887 in Jay, Vermont.

Jonathan died in 1908 of a cerebral hemorrhage.