"Miriam G. Chase was born March 22nd 1813 in Lincoln, Addison Co. Vermont. Her parents, and her ancestors for several generations back were members of the society of Friends, or what are commonly called Quakers, consequently Sister Chase was taught that it was wrong to wear any bright or gay colors; and that her clothing must be made in the plainest and most simple way, also that it was wrong to dance, whistle, or sing, or indulge in any slang phrases or swear words. They addressed each other as "thee" and "thou" and their conversations were couched in the most sober and sedate language. When she was nineteen years old, it was announced in the Friends Meeting for several successive Sabbaths that Sisson Almadorus Chase intended to take Miriam Gove to be his wedded wife, and May 16, 1832 the marriage ceremony was performed. While they remained in Vermont three children were born to them, Rachael, born Jan 10 1834, but only lived a few hours. Hanna G. born December 11, 1834 and Lurancy born May 15, 1842, also they adopted a little girl, born June 15, 1839.
"When the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints began visiting their neighborhood, brother and Sister Chase were persuaded to go and listen to them, and in a short time they were thoroughly convinced that the missionaries were men of God, and that the Church they represented was divinely established through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
"Accordingly they were baptized and having a great desire to gather with the Saints, they soon began preparing to move to Nauvoo, arriving there in November 1843 seven months previous to the Martyrdom of the Prophet and Patriarch[1]. Sister Chase esteemed it a great privilege to meet the Prophet, and shared the sorrow of the saints generally at his cruel death. A few weeks after the martyrdom, sister Chase gave birth to a baby boy, Stephen, born Sept. 15, 1844 in Nauvoo, Ill. but he only lived a few hours. When the saints were compelled to leave Nauvoo, Brother and Sister Chase moved into Iowa, and stayed there long enough to raise and procure provisions, teams, and wagons to cross the plains with. While in Iowa three other children were added to the family, Sisson Almadorus, born Jan, 19, 1847, Miriam, born March 3, 1849, and Amy born October 3, 1851. In the early part of May they started across the plains in Captain Joseph Thorns company. Beside Bro. and Sister Chase and their six children, the widowed and invalid mother of Bro, Chase, Sister Chase was a widow for 37 years, in July 1909 she went to Payson to visit her daughters Lurancy and Amy, and there at the home of Lourancy C. Hill, she quietly passed away on November 4th, 1909. A few weeks previous to her death she wrote in a letter to one of her granddaughters, "I do not know how other eyes view my life, but I feel that I am now enjoying the results of some of the crumbs of bread, that I cast upon the waters in time past., and I am very grateful to the all wise Provider for his mercies and blessings to me.
Handwritten copy from Edward Hawkins' family history notebook. Given to my parents (Gerrit Bratt, son of Marjorie Hawkins). Undated and unsigned.
[1] The Martyrdom of the Prophet refers to the murder of Hyram Smith, June 27, 1844. See LDS.org for further details.