Loss of default route

I am setting up a new server and anytime that "service" is run, it deletes the default route.  I don't have this problem on any other server.  Using 14.2-RELEASE.  The network interface has a fixed IP address.  There are no indications in messages of issues with the network interface. Even a service xxx stop where xxx does not exist removes the default route.

root@checkout:/home/doug # netstat -rn
Routing tables

Internet:
Destination        Gateway            Flags         Netif Expire
default            10.0.1.1           UGS             ue0
10.0.0.0/16        link#2             U               ue0
10.0.1.212         link#1             UHS             lo0
127.0.0.1          link#1             UH              lo0

root@checkout:/home/doug # service ntp stop
ntp does not exist in /etc/rc.d or the local startup
directories (/usr/local/etc/rc.d), or is not executable
root@checkout:/home/doug # !net
netstat -rn
Routing tables

Internet:
Destination        Gateway            Flags         Netif Expire
10.0.0.0/16        link#2             U               ue0
10.0.1.212         link#1             UHS             lo0
127.0.0.1          link#1             UH              lo0


/etc/rc.conf includes:
defaultrouter="10.0.1.1"

If I kill ntpd manually and then start it manually without service, the default route remains and ntpd finds its peers.

-- Doug