DISTINGUISHED NANTUCKETERS. 99 



did not desist that she would punish him; he contin- 

 ued, however, to annoy her, when one day, becoming 

 exasperated, she rushed out of the house, and turned his 

 team completely over into the middle of the street. 



u William Kotch owned and occupied the brick 

 building at the foot of Main Street, now occupied by 

 the Custom House and Captains' Room. Deborah 

 Morris went into the store one day, and in a jocose way 

 asked Mr. Rotch if he would give her a barrel of flour 

 if she would carry it home. c Yes,' he replied; when 

 she immediately took a barrel into her arms. Taken 

 somewhat by surprise, he said, ' Deborah, thou wilt 

 strain thyself.' ' No danger of that,' she replied, and 

 walked off with the flour." 



These anecdotes are given merely to show what mus- 

 cular strength the Chase family possessed. 



There is evidence enough to warrant the assumption 

 that the following epitaph on Reuben Chase was writ- 

 ten by his brother, Capt. Joseph Chase, and the stone 

 upon which it is inscribed is doubtless in existence at 

 the present time. The compiler is indebted to Mrs. 

 E. W. Mitchell for a copy of this epitaph; — 



" Free from the storms and ills of human life, 

 Free from the noise of passion and of strife, 

 Here lies Reuben Chase, buried, who hath stood the sea 

 Of ebbing life and flowing misery, 

 lie was no dandy rigged; his prudent eye foresaw 

 And took a reef at fortune's quickest flaw. 

 He luffed and bore away to please mankind, 

 Though duty urged him still to head the wind. 

 Rheumatics' gusts at length his masts destroyed, 

 Yet jury health awhile he still enjoyed. 



