Thursday, November 6, 2025

Added and Updated MyHeritage Record Collections - 31 October to 6 November 2025

 The following Record Collections were ADDED or Updated in the MyHeritage Collections Catalog during the week of 31 October to 6 November 2025:

                                       =========================== 

There are 3 ADDED record collections in the list this past week, and MyHeritage now has a total of  7,509 record collections (an increase of 1 collections from last week), with  36,954,209,667 records or entries (a decrease of about 301 million entries  from last week).   

The number of entries in the family tree collections were last updated fifteen weeks ago.

See previous Genea-Musings posts about MyHeritage record collections and features in https://www.geneamusings.com/search/label/MyHeritage.com.

                          =========================================

Disclosure: I receive a complimentary subscription to MyHeritage, and have received other material consideration in past years. I uploaded my autosomal DNA raw data to their DNA product. This does not affect my objective analysis of MyHeritage products. I am a paid subscriber to Family Tree Webinars and love it.

The URL for this post is: https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/11/added-and-updated-myheritage-record.html

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on X, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not appear immediately.

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Ask AI: "Describe Benjamin Seaver's Life at Age 13 in 1770 in Massachusetts?"

The Artificial Intelligence tools (like ChatGPT, Claude, CoPilot, Gemini, Grok, Meta, Grok, and Perplexity) can provide much useful and nearly instant information about subjects in a concise format, especially when they have been pre-trained on a large volume of information about the subjects.

I wondered if the FREE AI tools could provide me with information about a young Shrewsbury, Massachusetts boy's life in 1770.  My 4th great-grandfather, Benjamin Seaver (1757-1816) was age 13 in 1770.   

1)  I chose to use the responses from free Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.5 (as of 1 November 2025) today.  

My Prompt was:  "Please describe the life of 13-year-old Benjamin Seaver on the Seaver farm in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts in 1770? Family, work, education, entertainment, fun?"

I uploaded a PDF of my updated Genea-Musings blog post  (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 57: #64, Benjamin Seaver (1757-1816)) to provide information about Benjamin and his family to the AI Tool.

(AI NotebookLM image - Benjamin Seaver in 1770)

2)  Here is the Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.5 response:

A Day in the Life: Benjamin Seaver, Age 13

Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, 1770

The Seaver Household

In 1770, thirteen-year-old Benjamin Seaver lived in a bustling household in Shrewsbury, Worcester County, Massachusetts. The Seaver family farm was home to a crowd of children, and young Benjamin was right in the middle of it all.

His parents, Norman and Sarah, had their hands full with ten children by this time (two more would be born after the family moved to Westminster). Benjamin, at thirteen, was the eldest son—a position of both privilege and responsibility in colonial families. His older sister Eunice was fifteen, old enough to be a significant help to their mother with the younger children.

The younger siblings created a constant whirl of activity:

  • Sally (Sarah) was eleven, two years younger than Benjamin

  • Joseph was nine years old

  • Isaac was seven

  • Ethan was five

  • Daniel was three

  • Heman was just one year old, still in leading strings

The house would have been cramped by modern standards. Most likely a two-story structure with perhaps four rooms total—a keeping room (kitchen/main living area), a parlor for special occasions, and two sleeping chambers upstairs. Benjamin probably shared a bed with at least two of his brothers in the unheated upstairs, huddling together for warmth during the brutal New England winters.

Benjamin's Daily Work

At thirteen, Benjamin was no longer a child in the eyes of colonial society—he was a young worker, essential to the farm's operation. His father Norman would have expected a full day's labor from him, training him in all aspects of farming that he would need as a man.

Dawn to Breakfast (5:00 AM - 7:00 AM)

Benjamin's day started before sunrise, even in winter. His first task was often helping with the livestock. He would have:

  • Fed and watered the oxen, essential for plowing and hauling

  • Milked the cows alongside his sisters (yes, boys milked too)

  • Fed the pigs kitchen scraps and grain

  • Checked on the sheep, particularly in lambing season

  • Gathered eggs from the chickens

The barn was drafty and cold in winter, warm and buzzing with flies in summer. The smell of animals, hay, and manure was the constant backdrop of farm life.

Morning Work (7:00 AM - 12:00 PM)

After a breakfast of cornmeal mush or porridge, bread, and perhaps some salt pork, Benjamin worked alongside his father at the season's tasks:

Spring: Plowing fields behind the oxen (exhausting work for a thirteen-year-old), spreading manure, planting corn, wheat, rye, and vegetables, repairing fences damaged by winter, shearing sheep

Summer: Weeding endless rows of crops (tedious, back-breaking work), haying (cutting grass with a scythe, raking, and stacking it to dry—one of the hardest jobs of the year), tending the vegetable garden, beginning harvest of early crops

Fall: Harvesting corn, wheat, and rye, threshing grain with a flail (rhythmic, repetitive work), digging root vegetables, helping with butchering, cutting and stacking firewood for winter

Winter: Threshing grain in the barn, repairing tools and equipment, cutting firewood (a never-ending task), caring for livestock, ice harvesting from ponds

Afternoon Work (1:00 PM - Dusk)

After a midday dinner (the main meal), the work continued. Benjamin might:

  • Help his father clear new land—removing stumps was particularly brutal work

  • Mend fences using split rails

  • Repair the roof, barn, or outbuildings

  • Hunt for game to supplement the family's food supply

  • Fish in local streams and ponds

  • Help his mother with tasks like hauling water from the well or spring (many trips per day)

Education: Limited but Valued

Benjamin's formal education was minimal by modern standards, but he wasn't illiterate. Colonial Massachusetts took education seriously, even for farm children.

Winter School

Shrewsbury likely had a district school that operated primarily in winter when farm work was lighter. Benjamin probably attended for 6-8 weeks each winter, learning:

  • Reading from the Bible, psalters, and perhaps the New England Primer

  • Writing with a quill pen on precious paper (or on a slate for practice)

  • Basic arithmetic—addition, subtraction, multiplication

  • Some geography and history, though limited

The schoolmaster ruled with strict discipline, often using the rod for misbehavior or poor recitation. Students of all ages crowded into one room, sitting on hard benches, with the younger children often learning by listening to older students recite.

Home Learning

Much of Benjamin's real education came from his parents:

  • His father taught him practical mathematics—measuring land, calculating yields, figuring prices

  • He learned animal husbandry through daily practice

  • His mother or older sister taught him to read from the family Bible

  • He memorized psalms and catechism for Sunday services

Skills Training

Benjamin was learning to be a farmer, which meant mastering dozens of skills:

  • How to judge good soil

  • When to plant by the moon and weather signs

  • How to sharpen tools on a whetstone

  • How to handle oxen and horses

  • How to slaughter and butcher animals

  • How to build and repair fences, tools, and structures

  • Which wild plants were edible or medicinal

Entertainment and Fun: Precious Moments

Life wasn't all drudgery, though fun was usually mixed with work or community obligations.

Sabbath (Sunday)

Sunday was the Lord's Day—no work allowed except essential animal care. The family would:

  • Dress in their best clothes (Benjamin had perhaps two outfits—work clothes and "meeting" clothes)

  • Walk or ride to the meetinghouse, possibly a mile or more away

  • Sit through two long services, morning and afternoon, each lasting 2-3 hours

  • Listen to lengthy sermons (children who fidgeted risked being struck by the tithing man's rod)

  • Socialize with neighbors between services—this was vital community time

Sunday afternoon was for visiting, quiet Bible reading, and rest. Benjamin might have time to talk with other boys his age, hear news from other farms, and simply relax.

Seasonal Celebrations

Colonial life had fewer holidays than today, but certain occasions brought real festivity:

Thanksgiving: A day of feasting after harvest, with neighbors sharing food and company

Election Day: A spring civic celebration with games, contests, and drinking (for adults)

Training Day: When the militia drilled, turning into a social event with competitions—Benjamin was just a few years from joining

Huskings and Barn Raisings: Work parties that turned into social events with food, competition, and courting opportunities

Daily Pleasures

Benjamin's fun came in small moments:

  • Swimming in local ponds and streams in summer—one of the few truly carefree activities

  • Hunting and fishing with his father or alone—this combined work (providing food) with adventure

  • Playing with siblings—games like tag, hide-and-seek, hoops, marbles, or jackstraws (pick-up sticks)

  • Exploring the woods—colonial Massachusetts was still heavily forested, offering endless adventure

  • Listening to stories on winter evenings when the family gathered around the fire

  • Music—if anyone in the family played an instrument or sang, this was precious entertainment

  • Competing with other farm boys—who could throw farther, run faster, lift more

Winter Evening Activities

After supper, before the expensive candles were lit (or by firelight alone), the family might:

  • Sit together working on small tasks (Benjamin whittling, his mother spinning, sisters sewing)

  • Tell stories and riddles

  • Sing hymns or folk songs

  • His father might read from the Bible or an almanac

  • Practice writing letters in the ashes of the hearth

Food: Plain but Plentiful

Benjamin ate simple, hearty food:

Daily fare: Cornmeal mush, brown bread, salt pork, beans, turnips, cabbage, onions, apples, milk, cider

Occasional treats: Fresh meat (beef, pork, chicken), maple sugar, berries, pie

Seasonal variations:

  • Spring: Maple syrup, early greens, eggs

  • Summer: Fresh vegetables, berries, fish

  • Fall: Game, fresh apples, new cider

  • Winter: Stored root vegetables, dried foods, salt meat

Food was filling but monotonous. Most dishes were boiled or baked in the fireplace. Meals were eaten quickly, often in shifts, with the men and older boys eating first.

Clothing: Practical and Precious

Benjamin owned very little clothing:

  • One set of work clothes (linen shirt, wool breeches, wool stockings, leather shoes)

  • One "Sunday best" outfit

  • A wool coat for winter

  • A felt or knitted cap

  • Perhaps one spare shirt

His mother and sisters made most clothing by hand—spinning wool or flax, weaving cloth, cutting and sewing garments. Nothing was wasted. Clothes were patched repeatedly and passed down through siblings. When beyond repair, they became rags or quilting material.

Benjamin likely went barefoot much of the summer to save shoe leather, and his feet would have been tough and calloused.

The Wider World: Brewing Tensions

Even in rural Shrewsbury, Benjamin would have heard adults discussing the growing conflict with Britain:

  • The Boston Massacre had just occurred in March 1770

  • Talk of taxation without representation

  • Anger at the Townshend Acts

  • Growing tension between Patriots and Loyalists

At thirteen, Benjamin might not have fully understood the political complexities, but he would have absorbed the atmosphere of resentment and resistance. His father and neighbors discussed these matters at meeting, at the tavern, and around farm tables. Seeds were being planted that would lead Benjamin to enlist in the Continental Army just five years later.

A Hard but Normal Life

For young Benjamin Seaver in 1770, this was simply life—the only life he knew. He worked hard, played when he could, learned constantly, and grew strong in body and character. The farm taught him discipline, persistence, and resourcefulness. His family taught him values and faith. His community taught him civic responsibility.

He didn't know that within five years he'd be a soldier, within thirteen years a married man, and that he'd spend his entire life in Worcester County, eventually owning substantial property and raising ten children of his own. But the thirteen-year-old boy working alongside his father in Shrewsbury was already becoming the man he would be—steady, hardworking, and reliable, a true son of colonial New England.

3)  The Google NotebookLM Audio Overview (essentially a podcast) about this post is here.

The Google NotebookLM Video Overview of this post is below.

4)   I have no easy way to double check on these responses from Claude. I don't have many book resources for the subjects and the locality,  but there are published books available for this time period and general location. The families mentioned are my ancestral families and I have significant information about their lives from the available records, but know nothing about their daily lives.  

5)  As genealogists, we can usually find the 17th to 19th century town records, and the later census and vital records, for Massachusetts families, and we may find occupation, immigration, land and probate records. However, there are books and websites about the daily lives of people in those times.  The AI tools have been pre-trained on historical events, social history, geography, literature and other disciplines so they can provide information for questions like this one, and in recent months have the ability to search the Internet.  

6)  After I read these types of social history summaries, I wish that I could be a time traveler for one day to visit the Seaver family in Massachusetts and witness their daily lives.  I'm glad that the general lifestyles and occupations are known from historical records and witness accounts.

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Links to my blog posts about using Artificial Intelligence are on my Randy's AI and Genealogy page.  Links to AI information and articles about Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy by other genealogists are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver


Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not appear immediately.

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Treasure Chest Thursday -- 1755 Burial of Johannes Lavor in South Petherton, Somerset

It's Treasure Chest Thursday - an opportunity to look in my digital image files to see what treasures I can find for my family history research and genealogy musings.

The treasure today is the 1755 burial record of Johannes Lavor in the South Petherton, Somerset Church of England parish records.


The burial entry for Johannes Lavor  is the second record for September 1755 on the left-hand page:


The transcription of this record is:

"[1755] Sep[tember] 26. Johannes Lavor"

The source citation is:

South Petherton, Somerset, Church of England records, John Lavor burial entry, 26 September 1755; imaged, "Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriage and Burials, 1531-1812," Ancestry.com  (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60856/records/2622303 : accessed 5 November 2025), South Petherton > 1737-1812, image 46 of 76; Original records in Anglican Parish Registers. Somerset Archives & Local Studies, South West Heritage Trust, Taunton, England.

John Lavor (1689-1755) was baptized on 19 January 1688/9 in the South Petherton (Somerset) Church of England parish, the son of Samuel Lavor and his unknown wife.  He married Joanna Axe (1682-1748) on 15 June 1709 in the South Petherton, Somerset parish.  He died before 26 September 1755 in South Petherton where he was buried.

John and Joanna (Axe) Lavor are my 7th great-grandparents, through their son John Lavor (1722-1799) who married Elizabeth Wills (1730-1796) in 1750 in Lopen, Somerset, England.

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Disclosure:  I have a paid All-Access subscription to Ancestry.com now.  Ancestry.com has provided a complimentary subscription and material considerations for travel expenses to meetings, and has hosted events and meals that I have attended in Salt Lake City, in past years.


Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on X, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  All comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately after posting.

Subscribe to receive a free daily email from Genea-Musings using www.Blogtrottr.com. 

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Genealogy Education Bytes - Week of 30 October to 5 November 2025

Welcome to Genealogy Education Bytes, posted on Wednesday afternoon for the past week, where we try to highlight some of the most important genealogy and family history education items that came across my desktop since the last issue.


1) Upcoming Conferences and  Institutes 

Conference Keeper Calendar - has many links to register for and/or view conferences and institutes.

*  2025 Texas State Family History Conference (TxSGS) ($$) -- 7-8 November 2025 - Virtual.

*  RootsTech 2026 ($$, In-person in Salt Lake City, Free Virtual) -- 5 to 7 March 2026.

2 ) Upcoming Seminars, Webinars and Online Classes (times are US Pacific):

Conference Keeper Calendar - has many links to register for and/or view seminars, webinars and classes.

*  FamilySearch MonthlyWebinars (Free)

*  Legacy Family Tree Webinars (free for one week) - Wednesday, 5 November, 11 a.m.:   Informed Consent: DNA’s Essential Ethical Underpinning by Judy G. Russell.

*  Legacy Family Tree Webinars (free for one week) - Friday, 7 November, 11 a.m.: Stump Craig: U.S. Revolutionary War by Craig R. Scott.

*  Legacy Family Tree Webinars (free for one week) - Tuesday, 11 November, 11 a.m.:  Unlocking French Archives: a guide on how archives are organized and what you may find on MyHeritage by Marine Soulas.

*  Legacy Family Tree Webinars (free for one week) - Wednesday, 12 November, 11 a.m.:  Private Gandolfo Scarnici: Case Study of a Veteran of World War I by Michael L. Strauss.

*  Legacy Family Tree Webinars (free for one week) - Wednesday, 12 November, 5 p.m.:  Researching Your Colonial War Ancestors by Michael L. Strauss.

*  Legacy Family Tree Webinars (free for one week) - Friday, 14 November, 11 a.m.:  Researching Your Norfolk Ancestors by Nicholas Dixon.

3) Recent Podcasts:



*  Family Tree Talk:  Tracing my (probable) WWI relation

*  Research Like a Pro:  RLP 382: Interview with Linda Broenniman


4) Recent YouTube Videos 

*  Allen County Public Library:  Tracing Family Roots Through German Words






*  Crista Cowan | The Barefoot Genealogist:  Nevada: The Well-Worn Path | Stories That Live in Us | Episode 83



*  Family Tree Support: Which DNA Test Kit Is Better in 2025?







*  Italian Roots and Genealogy:  How the Johnson-Reed Act Destroyed Italian America
*  Italian Roots and Genealogy:  Is Carlentini Sicily the Hidden Gem of Italy?


*  Lisa Louise Cooke's Genealogy Gems:  Search Thousands of Newspaper Records with this Powerful Tool

*  Marcia Philbrick:  Leon Crawford Overview
*  Marcia Philbrick:  Leon Crawford SOng2

*  Projectkin:  Projectkin Live: Follow-up to GIS Mapping Project with Crystal Lorimor

*  Randy Seaver, Geneaholic:  Alma Bessie (Richmond) Seaver's Life Memoir
*  Randy Seaver, Geneaholic:  Betty's Story: Bettys Elephant Ride
*  Randy Seaver, Geneaholic:  Benjamin Seaver's (1757-1816) Life Story
*  Randy Seaver, Geneaholic:  Fred's Story: The Three Day Cross-Country Escape
*  Randy Seaver, Geneaholic:  Betty's Story: An Art Teacher's Day in 1940
*  Randy Seaver, Geneaholic:  Captain Norman Seaver (1734-1787) Biography




5) Did you miss the last post in this series - Genealogy Education Bytes -  Week of 23 to 29 October 2025?


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NOTE:  If  I missed an upcoming conference or webinar, or a useful podcast or video, in this time period, please let me know in a comment or an email. 

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share your comment on X, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at   randy.seaver@gmail.com.  Note that all comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. 

Subscribe to receive a free daily email from Genea-Musings using www.Blogtrottr.com.http://

Veterans Day: Free Military Records on Findmypast

I received this information today from Findmypast:

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Find forgotten heroes with free access to Findmypast’s military records this Veterans Day
  • To mark Veterans Day, Findmypast is offering free access to military records* over the period November 7-13
  • Delve into ancestors’ wartime experiences in millions of military records and ensure that no
  • story is left behind
  •  Explore conflicts ranging from the American Revolutionary War to the Napoleonic Wars and more modern action in the First and Second World Wars.
  •  Delve deeper into your ancestors’ lives within historical newspapers and understand the
  • effects of conflict on communities, families and individuals
To mark Veterans Day and honor all military ancestors, Findmypast is offering free access to millions of military records from November 7–13.

This special access gives family historians and researchers the opportunity to explore detail-rich 
records, uncover personal stories, and truly understand their ancestors’ lives. Whether they served on the front lines, became a prisoner of war, gained military honors, or offered medical aid, Findmypast’s military records can paint a vivid picture of your family's wartime  experiences and offer a powerful way to remember those who served.

Discover ancestors who fought in the American Revolutionary War within 16 dedicated record  sets. Explore more modern conflicts, such as enlistments, casualties and POWs in World War II  and Vietnam. For those with British & Irish roots, explore the largest collection of British Army  records anywhere online, including regimental records, army lists, roll calls and the details  of  those who served with particular regiments, military nurses, volunteer soldiers and army  deserters, as well as the British in India collection, covering nearly 350 years from 1656 right up
to 1993.

Then delve deeper to understand what life was really like for those who experienced war within
Findmypast’s unrivalled collection of historical newspapers. Trace major milestones of the war as they happened – and spot those that were left out by the press.

Plus, Findmypast has created a helpful set of resources and features to help you get further with your military research, faster. Use powerful research tools like Collections to clip and file your favorite newspaper articles, and Workspaces to collate your research on individual ancestors in one place and preserve the stories that matter most. Within the family tree builder, you’ll discover helpful information giving you the context around your ancestor’s military service, including details of regiments and battles.

Jen Baldwin, Research Specialist at Findmypast said: “We believe that uncovering and  understanding the stories of all those who served is a powerful act of Remembrance. This year, we’re encouraging our genealogy community to help shed light on one of the darkest wartime chapters: the Pals regiments of the First World War. Research military ancestors for free this weekend and help to ensure that no story is left behind.”

*Exclusions apply. Free access to selected military records runs from 10:00 on November 7 to 23:59 on November 13 2025. After the free access ends, you can only view most records and features with a valid subscription. For more information, including our fair usage policy, read our free access terms and conditions.

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See all of my posts about Findmypast at   https://www.geneamusings.com/search/label/FindMyPast

Disclosure: I have a complimentary subscription to Findmypast, and have accepted meals and services from Findmypast, as a Findmypast Ambassador. This has not affected my objectivity relative to Findmypast and its products.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/11/veterans-day-free-military-records-on.html

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com. Note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

Subscribe to receive a free daily email from Genea-Musings using www.Blogtrottr.com.

ABC Biography of Norman Seaver (1734-1787) of Massachusetts

Using the ABC method described in Using Artificial Intelligence In the Ancestor Biography Creation (ABC) Process, here is another ancestor biography using the Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.5 AI tool.

1) I wrote genealogical sketches for almost every known ancestor back through 9 generations in blog posts based on 38 years of genealogical research in my 52 Ancestors/Relatives Biographies series. The genealogical sketch for my 5th great-grandfather, Norman Seaver, including family members, record abstracts and sources, is in 52 Ancestors - Week 105: #128 Norman Seaver (1734-1787).


(AI ChatGPT5 image of Norman Seaver family in 1785)

2) For the Claude AI biography, I attached the PDF of the genealogical sketch for the specific ancestor using the plus (+) icon, and then prompted the AI tool with:  "You are an expert genealogist and family historian. Please create a biography based on information in the attached file for Norman Seaver. Including parents, siblings, spouses and children (with birth and death dates and places). Summarize life events, add historical events as appropriate, but do not add or embellish any extra genealogical details. Use section headings. Expand the information in each section to add more details. The tone should be engaging and suitable for family members."

3)  The Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.5 biography (lightly edited) is:


Norman Seaver (1734-1787)

A Life Cut Short in Service to His Community

Norman Seaver lived during one of the most transformative periods in American history, witnessing the birth of a nation through his service in the Revolutionary War and his contributions to his Massachusetts communities. His life, though tragically cut short at age 52, was marked by hard work, dedication to family, and commitment to the patriot cause.

Early Life and Family Origins

Norman Seaver was born in 1734 or 1735, likely in either Framingham or Sudbury, Massachusetts. He was the fourth child and third son of Robert Seaver and Eunice Rayment Seaver. Growing up in colonial Massachusetts, Norman was part of a large family that would scatter across the region as each sibling reached adulthood.

His Siblings

Norman's brothers and sisters included:

  • Joseph Seaver (born June 10, 1727, in Sudbury), who was christened the day after his birth but left no further records

  • Benjamin Seaver (born October 8, 1728, in Framingham), who also disappeared from historical records, though family tradition suggests either he or Joseph may have died at the Siege of Louisbourg in 1745

  • Thankful Seaver (born October 6, 1731, in Framingham), who married three times and lived until at least 1811 in Leominster

  • Hannah Seaver (born about 1736 in Framingham), about whom little is known

  • Moses Seaver (born about 1738 in Framingham), who married Lucy Carril and died in Shrewsbury in 1809

  • Robert Seaver (born about 1743 in Framingham), who married Joanna Parmenter and eventually settled in Brookline, New Hampshire, where he died in 1828

  • Samuel Seaver (born April 8, 1747, in Sudbury), who married Sarah Cutter and moved to Crown Point, New York, where he died in 1830

  • John Seaver (born about 1752 in Framingham and christened in November 1754)

Early Adulthood in Narragansett No. 2

As a young man, Norman followed his father to Narragansett No. 2 (later renamed Westminster), where he worked for the proprietors as early as 1751, when he was only about seventeen years old. This frontier settlement in Worcester County offered opportunities for ambitious young men willing to work the land and help build a new community.

Marriage and Growing Family

On March 14, 1755, Norman married Sarah Read (1736-1808) in Sudbury, Massachusetts. Sarah was the daughter of Isaac Reed and Experience Read, though early genealogical sources incorrectly identified her father as Jacob Reed. Norman was about twenty-one years old at the time of his marriage, and Sarah became his lifelong partner and the mother of his thirteen children.

Their Children

Norman and Sarah's family grew steadily over the next twenty-five years, with their children born in three different communities as the family moved seeking better opportunities:

Born in Sudbury:

  • Eunice (May 3, 1755), who married Elisha Whitney and likely moved to Peru, Vermont

  • Benjamin (April 21, 1757), who married Martha Whitney and died in Westminster in 1816

  • Sarah "Sally" (January 1759), who married Josiah Cutter and died in Watertown in 1833

Born in Shrewsbury:

  • Joseph (May 13, 1761), who left no further records and likely died young

  • Isaac (February 18, 1763)

  • Ethan (September 24, 1765), who married twice and died in Gardner in 1823

  • Daniel (June 28, 1767), who moved to New York and died in Schenevus in 1851

  • Heman (May 6, 1769), who married twice and died in Marlborough in 1835

  • Luther (April 13, 1771)

Born in Westminster:

  • Relief "Leafe" (September 25, 1774), who died tragically young at age 20 in 1795

  • Asahel Read (October 2, 1775), named for Sarah's brother, who married Hannah Gager and died in Westminster in 1849

  • Faitha (August 2, 1777), who married Isaac Brooks and lived to 1864 in Townsend

  • Lucinda (March 23, 1780), who married Samuel Frost and eventually died in Montreal, Canada, in 1844

All but Joseph survived to adulthood—a remarkable achievement in an era when childhood mortality was common.

A Life of Movement and Opportunity

Norman's adult life was characterized by frequent moves as he sought to provide for his growing family and take advantage of economic opportunities in central Massachusetts.

Return to Sudbury

After his father Robert's death, Norman returned to Sudbury with his young family. It was here that his first three children were born between 1755 and 1759.

The Shrewsbury Years (1760-1773)

On September 15, 1760, Norman—now identified as a husbandman of Sudbury—made a significant investment in his family's future, purchasing 100 acres of land in Shrewsbury for 120 pounds from Edward Raymond. This substantial property became the family homestead where six more children were born between 1761 and 1771.

During his time in Shrewsbury, Norman proved himself a shrewd land manager, buying and selling parcels to maximize his holdings. In January 1769, he sold 15 acres at the northeast corner of Maldin farm to Isaac Temple for 15 pounds. In April 1772, he purchased a small triangular acre of land for 2 pounds from Thomas Andrews. Just days later, on April 22, 1772, he sold a larger parcel to Abel Osgood of Rutland for 200 pounds, 13 shillings, and 4 pence—a substantial sum that likely provided capital for his next move.

Return to Westminster (1773-1787)

In May 1773, Norman returned to Westminster, where he had worked as a young man. Now a mature landowner and father, he purchased an impressive 127 acres in the northerly part of Westminster from Heman Kendall of Lancaster. This property included two-thirds of lot 76, lot 125, part of lot 65, and another third division lot. His final four children were born here between 1774 and 1780. The house still stands today on Overlook Road in Westminster.

Norman continued his pattern of land transactions in Westminster, buying and selling parcels in 1776, 1782, and 1784, always working to improve his family's position. By 1784, he had risen in social standing and was identified as a "gentleman" rather than a yeoman—a significant marker of respect in colonial society.

Service in the Revolutionary War

When the alarm sounded on April 19, 1775, announcing that British troops were marching toward Lexington and Concord, Norman Seaver answered the call. At age forty-one, with a wife and at least ten children at home, he nevertheless left his farm to defend the patriot cause.

Early Service

Norman served as a Sergeant in Captain Noah Miles's company, which marched on the Lexington alarm to Cambridge and joined Colonel John Whitcomb's regiment. He served for eleven and a half days before returning home, noted in records as not having enlisted into the regular army.

Rising Through the Ranks

Norman's military service continued and advanced throughout the war:

  • In 1777, he served as an Ensign in Captain Francis Willson's company in Colonel Danforth Keyes's regiment, with two separate terms of service (June 27 to July 27, and December 1, 1777, to January 3, 1778), both with rolls dated at Providence

  • From 1778 to 1779, he achieved the rank of First Lieutenant in Captain Ebenezer Belknap's company in Colonel Nathaniel Wade's regiment, serving in Rhode Island from April 1, 1778, to January 3, 1779

During this final term of service, muster rolls were taken at North Kingston and East Greenwich, Rhode Island, documenting his presence on multiple dates throughout the fall and winter of 1778.

Norman's military service was a family affair. Several of his sons—Benjamin, Joseph, and Isaac—also served in the Revolutionary War, as did his brothers Moses and Samuel Seaver. After the war ended, Norman may have been commissioned as a Captain in the militia, as he was styled "Captain" on both his death record and gravestone.

Life as a Carpenter and Community Leader

Beyond his military service, Norman Seaver was known throughout Westminster as a skilled carpenter. This trade provided income for his large family and contributed to the development of his community.

The Second Meetinghouse Project

Norman took a contract for significant work on Westminster's second meetinghouse—enclosing and shingling the building. This was an important commission that demonstrated both his skill and the trust the community placed in him. The meetinghouse was the center of colonial New England life, serving as both a place of worship and a gathering space for town meetings.

His status in the community was further reflected in his ownership of Pew No. 2 on the lower floor near the wall of the meetinghouse—a valuable property that cost between $31 and $66.

Tragic Death

On July 31, 1787, tragedy struck during the raising of the second meetinghouse. As Norman worked on the frame of the building he had contracted to finish, he fell and received fatal injuries. He died almost immediately at age 52 or 53.

The sudden loss shocked the Westminster community. Here was a Revolutionary War veteran, a skilled craftsman, a father of thirteen, and a respected community leader—struck down in an instant while serving his town.

Estate and Legacy

Norman died intestate (without a will), and his widow Sarah was appointed administratrix of his estate on September 25, 1787, with a bond of 2,000 pounds.

Property Holdings

An inventory revealed that Norman had built a substantial estate:

  • A home place with buildings and 106 acres in Westminster, valued at 212 pounds

  • An additional 3 acres held in common with Timothy Heywood, Samuel Miller, and William Murdock, valued at 3 pounds

  • Personal estate worth 159 pounds, 19 shillings, and 9 pence

The total estate of 375 pounds represented considerable wealth for a carpenter and farmer in late 18th-century Massachusetts.

Distribution to Heirs

On January 3, 1792, the estate was distributed among Norman's widow and children:

  • Sarah Seaver received her one-third dower right of the real and peresonal property

  • Benjamin Seaver, as the eldest surviving son, received two-thirds of the real estate plus a double portion totaling 22 pounds. He was ordered to pay his siblings their equal shares of 11 pounds each

  • Equal portions went to sons Isaac, Ethan, Daniel, Heman, Luther, and Asahel

  • Equal portions went to daughters Eunice Whitney (wife of Elisha), Sarah Cutter (wife of Josiah), Relief, Faithfull, and Lucinda

Sarah was appointed guardian for the youngest daughters, Faitha and Lucinda, while Samuel Gerrish was appointed guardian for Asahel and Relief.

Final Rest

Norman Seaver was laid to rest in Woodside Cemetery in Westminster, on the far west edge of the burial ground. His slate gravestone bears a simple inscription:

In memory
Cap. Norman Seaver
who Deceased July
31st 1787
in the 53rd year
of his age

A Sons of the American Revolution emblem and American flag mark his grave today, honoring his service to the patriot cause. His widow Sarah survived him by twenty-one years, dying in 1808.

Remembering Norman Seaver

Norman Seaver's life embodied the spirit of his generation—hardworking, mobile, willing to fight for independence, and devoted to family and community. Though his life ended suddenly and tragically, he left behind a large family that spread across New England and beyond, carrying his legacy into the 19th century. His service in the Revolution, his skilled craftsmanship, and his role in building communities in central Massachusetts make him a worthy ancestor to remember and honor.

4) An Audio Overview (essentially a podcast) created by the Google NotebookLM AI tool) describing and celebrating the life of Norman Seaver can be heard here (click on "Audio Overview" and wait for it to load).

5)  The Video Overview discussing Norman Seaver's life created by the Google NotebookLM AI tool is:  


6)  I edited the Claude biography text to correct minor inconsistencies and errors. Every large language model (LLM) AI tool writes descriptive text much better than I can write. I was an aerospace engineer in my former life, and my research reports and genealogical sketches reflect "just the facts gleaned from my research." The AI tools are very perceptive, insightful and create readable text in seconds, including local and national historical events and social history detail when requested.

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Links to my blog posts about using Artificial Intelligence are on my Randy's AI and Genealogy page. Links to AI information and articles about Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy by other genealogists are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

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