Friday, January 3, 2014

52 Ancestors Friday: Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922)

Amy Johnson Crow suggested a weekly blog theme of "52 Ancestors" in her blog post Challenge:  52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks on the No Story Too Small blog.  I've been looking for a Friday theme post to highlight my genealogical research, so I choose to follow Amy's lead here and write about one ancestor every week (as best I can).  

Doing this should help me add content and standardize content in my genealogy database in RootsMagic 6.  I added my Research Notes to the "Detail Text" field in my source citations for many of the sources I have.  I can double check for additional events in each ancestor's life - for instance, I don't have land records for the person below, or a newspaper obituary, or city directory entries.  I can also review my source citations and improve them if necessary for each ancestor.  I will create an Ancestors Page for this blog and add each of them to that page.  These pages might also form the basis for an e-book in the future for my cousins, siblings and descendants.

So, where should I start?  I decided to start with my great-grandparents, and do them in ancestor name list order.  52 weeks will get me almost through the 3rd great-grandparents, and I can go from there in later years if I continue to follow the theme.

So here we go:

Frank Walton Seaver is #8 on my Ancestor Name List, and is my great-grandfather.  I am descended through:

*  his son, #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942)
*  his son, #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983)
*  me, #1 Randall J. Seaver (1943-....)

To create this post, I saved an Individual Summary report in RootsMagic 6, then saved it into an RTF file.  I then copied and pasted the Individual Fact List and the Source Citations (with Detail Text information) into this blog post.  Unfortunately, the source citations superscripts did not survive this process as superscripts, so I put them in parentheses in the Individual Facts list below, and without parentheses in the Source Citation list.  I have images of many of these records, but have not included them in this blog post due to the length of the post.  Many of them have been transcribed or shown in Amanuensis Monday and Treasure Chest Thursday posts.

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

Name: Frank Walton Seaver (1)   
Sex:        Male   
Father: Isaac Seaver 3d (1823-1901)   
Mother: Lucretia Townsend Smith (1828-1884)

Individual Facts

* Birth         5 June 1852         Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States (1, 2)   
* Census 1 June 1855 (age 2) Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States (3)   
* Census 1 June 1860 (age 7) Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (4)   
* Census 1 June 1865 (age 12) Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (5)   
* Census 1 June 1870 (age 17) Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (6)   
* Census 1 June 1880 (age 27) 149 Lancaster Street, Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (7)   
* Occupation 1 June 1880 (age 27)        comb shop; Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (8)   
* Census 1 June 1900 (age 47) 149 Lancaster Street (ED 1645), Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (9)   
* Occupation 1 June 1900 (age 47)        Teamster; Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (10)   
* Census 1 April 1910 (age 57) 149 Lancaster Street (ED 1772), Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (11)   
* Occupation 1 April 1910 (age 57) Assistant Superintendent at horn shop; Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (12)   
* Census 1 January 1920 (age 67) 149 Lancaster Street (ED 102), Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (13)   
* Occupation 1 January 1920 (age 67) Assistant Superintendent in a horn shop; Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (14)   
* Death 27 November 1922 (age 70)  of a cerebral hemorrhage; 149 Lancaster Street, Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (15)   
* Burial 29 November 1922 (age 70) Evergreen Cemetery, Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (16, 17)   
* Probate 6 September 1923 (age 71) Administration filed; Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (18)   
* Alt. Name  Frank W. Seaver (3–7,9,13,15–16,19-20)

Marriages/Children

1. Hattie Louisa Hildreth (1857-1920)   
Marriage 16 December 1874 (age 22)  Keene, Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States (19–20)   
Children Frederick Walton "Fred" Seaver (1876-1942)   
        Harry Clifton Seaver (1885-1951)   
        Howard Edward Seaver (1893-1900)

Sources (in blue) with Research Notes (in red):

1. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841-1915, indexed database and digital images, American Ancestors (http://www.AmericanAncestors.org), Births: Volume 64, Page 198, Frank Walton Seaver entry. 

Frank Walton Seaver was born 6 June 1852 in Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, the son of Isaac and Lucretia (Smith) Seaver.

2. Medfield, Massachusetts, Birth Certificate, Frank Walton Seaver, 5 June 1852; Town Clerk's Office, Medfield, Mass. (certificate dated 19 March 1991). 

The transcription of the birth certificate for Frank Walton Seaver is:

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
COPY OF RECORD OF BIRTH
  Town of Medfield
I, the undersigned, hereby verify that I am clerk of the Town of Medfield that as such I have custody of the records of births required by law to be kept in my office; that among such records is one relating to the birth of
                                                      Frank Walton Seaver    
and that the following is a true copy of so much of said record as relates to said birth, namely:
=================================================
Date of Birth    June 5, 1852     Time ----   
Place of Birth    Medfield, Ma     
=================================================
Name of Child     Frank Walton Seaver    
Sex    Male     Color    W  
============================================================
                      FATHER                                                   MOTHER
Name                 Isaac Seaver                       Name (Maiden)    Lucretia ---
Residence           Medfield, Ma                      Residence           Medfield, Ma   
Place of Birth      Westminster                 Place of Birth            Medfield, Ma   
Occupation          Blacksmith                     Occupation             ---          
=================================================
Date of Record   _________________     Date of Amendment  _______________
=================================================

{          }       And I do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy from said records
{  Seal  }      Witness my hand and seal of said  Town  of  Medfield
{          }      on this  19th  day of  March 19 91 
                                                                      Nancy J. Preston
                                                                                  Clerk.

3. "Massachusetts State Census, 1855,"  indexed database and digital image, FamilySearch.org  (https://www.familysearch.org), Norfolk County, Medfield, page 19 (penned), Dwelling #55, Family #55, Isaac Seaver household. 

In the 1855 Massachusetts State Census, the Isaac Seaver family was enumerated on 14 September 1855 residing in Medfield, Norfolk county, Massachusetts.  The household included:

*  Isaac Seaver - age 31, male, a machinist, born in Mass.
*  Lucretia T. Seaver - age 28, female, born Mass.
*  Juliette G. Seaver - age 8, female, born Mass.
*  Frank W. Seaver - age 3, male, born Mass.
*  Benjn Seaver - age 1, male, born Mass.

4. 1860 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Westminster:  Page 94, dwelling #354, family #386, Isaac Seaver household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M653, Roll 531). 

In the 1860 census, this family resided in Westminster, Worcester County, Massachusetts. The household included:

*  Isaac Seaver 3rd -- age 36, male, blacksmith, $1800 in real property, $600 in personal property, born MA
*  Lucretia Seaver -- age 32, female, born MA
*  Juliette G. Seaver -- age 13, female, born MA, attended school
*  Frank W. Seaver -- age 8, male, born MA, attended school
*  Benjamin Seaver -- age 6, male, born MA, attended school
*  Elizabeth L. Seaver -- age 1, female, born MA.
.
5. "Massachusetts, State Census, 1865", Worcester County, Westminster, Page 30 (penned), Dwelling #272, family #310, Isaac Seaver household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org). 

The 1865 Massachusetts State Census entry for the Isaac Seaver family includes:

*  Isaac Seaver - age 41, male, born Westminster, Mass., married, a blacksmith, ratable polls checked, legal voter checked
*  Lucretia T. Seaver - age 37, female, born Medfield, Mass., married, a housekeeper
*  Juliet G. Seaver - age 17, female, born Westminster, Mass., single, a domestic
*  Frank W. Seaver - age 13, male, born Medfield, Mass.
*  Benjamin Seaver - no age, male, born Medfield, Mass.
*  Lizzie L. Seaver - age 6, female, born Westminster, Mass.
*  Nellie M. Seaver - age 4, female, born Westminster, Mass.

6. 1870 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Leominster: Page 284, dwelling #398, family #526, Isaac Seaver household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M593, Roll 654. 

In the 1870 US census, this family resided in Leominster, Worcester County, Massachusetts. The household included:

*  Isaac Seaver -- age 46, male, white, works in a fork shop, $2000 in real property, $1500 in personal property, born MA
*  Lucretia D. Seaver -- age 42, female, white, keeping house, born MA
*  Frank W. Seaver -- age 18, male, white, attends school, born MA
*  Benjamin Seaver -- age 16, male, white, attends school, born MA
*  Elizabeth Seaver -- age 11, female, white, attends school, born MA
*  Ellen M. Seaver -- age 8, female, white, attends school, born MA.

7. 1880 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Leominster: Page 525C, dwelling # 354, family #436, Frank W. Seaver household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T9, Roll 565. 

In the 1880 U.S. Census, the Frank W. Seaver family resided in Leominster, Worcester County, Massachusetts.  The family included

*   Frank W. Seaver -- white, male, age 27, married, works in a comb shop, born MA, parents born MA/MA
*  Hattie S. Seaver -- white, female, age 22, wife, married, keeping house, born MA, parents born MA/MA
*  Frederick W. Seaver -- white, male, age 3, son, single, born MA, parents born MA/MA.

8. 1880 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Leominster: Page 525, dwelling # 354, family #436, Frank Seaver household; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T9, Roll 565.

9. 1900 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Worcester County, Massachusetts; Leominster: Enumeration District 1645, Sheet 16A, Dwelling #258, Family #377, Frank W. Seaver household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T623, Roll 692. 

In the 1900 U.S. Census, the Frank Seaver family resided at 149 Lancaster Street in Leominster, Worcester County, Massachusetts.  The Seaver family was renting the house.  The family included:

*   Frank W. Seaver -- head of household, white, male, born June 1852, age 47, married 26 years, born MA, parents born MA, a teamster, rents home
*   Hattie L. Seaver -- wife, white, female, born Nov 1856, age 43, married 26 years, mother of 3 children, 2 living, born MA, father born MA, mother born VT
*  Fred W. Seaver -- son, white, male, born February 1876, age 24, single, born MA, parents born PA a painter of combs
*  Harry C. Seaver -- son, white, male, born March 1885, age 15, single, born MA, parents born MA, a painter of combs
*  Sophia Hildreth -- mother-in-law, white, female, born September 1835, age 64, widow, mother of 1 child, 1 living,  born MA, father born ME, mother born MA.

10. 1900 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Worcester County, Massachusetts; Leominster: Enumeration District 1645, sheet 16, line 44, Frank W. Seaver household; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T623, Roll 692. 

11. 1910 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Leominster: Enumeration District 1772, Sheet 13B, dwelling #149, family #257, line 96-98, Sophia Hildreth household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T624,  Roll 629. 

In the 1910 U.S. census, the Frank W. Seaver family resided at 146 Lancaster Street in Leominster, Worcester County, Massachusetts.  The family included:

*  Sophia Hildreth -- head of household, female, white, age 73, widow, mother of 2 children, 1 living, born VT, father and mother born MA, speaks English, no occupation, can read and write, owns the home, free of mortgage
*  Frank W. Seaver -- son-in-law, male, white, age 57, married once, 35 years, born MA, father and mother born MA, speaks English, foreman, works in horn supply, a worker, reads and writes
*  Hattie L. Seaver -- daughter, female, white, age 52, married once, 35 years, mother of 3 children, 2 living, born MA, father born MA, mother born VT, speaks English, can read and write
*  Harry C. Seaver -- son, male, white, age 25, single, born MA, father and mother born MA, speaks English, laborer, works in comb shop, a worker, can read and write.

12. 1910 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Leominster: Enumeration District 1772, Sheet 13B, dwelling #149, family #257, line 96-98, Sophia Hildreth household;  online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T624,  Roll 629. 

13. 1920 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Leominster; Supervisor District 3, Enumeration District 102, Sheet 5B, dwelling #68, family #132, lines 7-10, Frank W. Seaver household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T625, Roll 747. 

In the 1920 U.S. census, the Frank Seaver family resided at 149 Lancaster Street in Leominster, Worcester County, Massachusetts.  The family included:

*  Frank W. Seaver -- head of household, male, white, age 66, married, born MA, father born MA, mother born MA, an assistant superintendent at a horn shop, a salaried worker, owns home free of mortgage, able to read, write, and speak English
*  Hattie L. Seaver -- wife, female, white, age 62, married, born MA, father born MA, mother born VT, no occupation, able to read, write and speak English
*  Harry C. Seaver -- son, male, white, age 34, single, born MA, father born MA, mother born MA, a button turner in a button shop, a wage worker, able to read, write and speak English
*  Sophia Hildreth -- mother-in-law, female, white, age 82, widow, born VT, father born MA, mother born MA, retired, able to read, write and speak English.

14. 1920 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Leominster; Supervisor District 3, Enumeration District 102, Sheet 5B, dwelling #68, family #132, lines 7-10, Frank W. Seaver household;  online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T625, Roll 747. 

15. Leominster, Massachusetts, Death Certificate, Frank Walton Seaver, 27 November 1922; City Clerk's Office, Leominster, Mass. (certificate dated 17 September 1990). Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  

The transcription of the death certificate is:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
--------------
CERTIFICATE of DEATH
From the Records of Deaths in the City of Leominster, 
Massachusetts, U.S.A.
======================
1. Date of Death: November 27, 1922
2. Name:  Frank W. Seaver
Maiden Name: [blank]
3. Sex, and whether Single, Male
Married or widowed: Widowed
4. Age: 71 Years 5 Months  22 Days
5. Color: White
6. Disease or Cause of Death:  Cerebral Hemorrhage
7. Residence: Not Listed
8. Occupation:  Sup't Home Supply Co.
9. Place of Death: Leominster Hospital, Leominster, MA
10. Place of Birth: Westminster, MA
11. Name of Husband or Wife: Hattie L. Seaver
12. Name of Father:  Isaac Seaver
13. Maiden Name of Mother:  Lucretia Smith 
14. Birthplace of Father:  Westminster, MA
15. Birthplace of Mother: Medfield, MA
16. Place of Interment: Evergreen Cemetery, Leominster, MA
====================
I, AUDREY J. JOHNSON, depose and say that I hold the office of City Clerk of the City of Leominster, County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, that the records of Births, Marriages and Deaths required by law to be kept in said City are in my custody, and that the above is a true extract from the records of Deaths in said City, as certified by me.

Date of Recording: 1922
 WITNESS my hand and seal of said City, on the 17th day of September 19 90.
/s/ Audrey J. Johnson, 
City Clerk.

16. Evergreen Cemetery (Leominster, Mass., on Main Street), Frank W. Seaver (1852-1922) marker, Lot 68, Section 6. 

The inscription of the gravestone of the Frank W. Seaver family in Evergreen Cemetery in Leominster, Massachusetts says:

Frank W. Seaver
1852-1922
Hattie L. Seaver his wife
1858-1920
Howard E. Seaver
1893-1900.

17. Find A Grave, database and images (http://www.findagrave.com), Evergreen Cemetery (Leominster, Mass.), Frank Walton Seaver memorial.

18. "Worcester County, Massachusetts Probate Court Records" (Worcester County Probate Courthouse, Worcester, Mass.), Frank W. Seaver, Probate Packet B-81,100. 

Frank W. Seaver died intestate, and his probate records are in Worcester County (MA) Probate Records, Probate Packet B-81,100 (accessed at Worcester County Court House, in Worcester, Massachusetts).   

The petition for administration was filed by J. Ward Healey on 6 September 1923.  The heirs were listed as son Frederick W. Seaver and son Harry C. Seaver, both of Leominster, who assented to the petition.  A $2,000 bond was posted by J. Ward Healey, Frederick W. Seaver and Harry C. Seaver.  An inventory was taken 10 September 1923 by the administrator, finding a personal estate of $321.15 and real property valued at $1,200.  The property was a one third interest as tenant in common in a two family dwelling house, farm and 10,890 square feet of land, all at 149 Lancaster Street in Leominster, MA, free from Mortgage.

The estate of Frank's mother-in-law, Sophia (Newton) Hildreth was probated before the probate of Frank Seaver.  The estate of Frank's wife, Hattie (Hildreth) Seaver, was probated after Frank's estate was probated, even though she died before both Frank Seaver and Sophia Hildreth died.

19. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841-1915, indexed database and images, American Ancestors (http://www.americanancestors.org), Marriages: Volume 264, Page 286, Leominster, 1874: Frank W. Seaver and Hattie Hildreth entry. 

In Leominster town list:  Frank W. Seaver, age 22, resident of Leominster, ironworker, parents Isaac and Lucretia Seaver.

20. Keene, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, Abstract of a Certificate of Marriage, File #273, Frank W. Seaver and Hattie L. Hildreth, 16 December 1874 (abstracted 13 September 1994); Keene [N.H.] Town/City Clerk's Office, Keene, N.H.

The transcription of the marriage certificate is:

CERTIFIED ABSTRACT OF A CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE
00035872                                                                       FILE #   273

GROOM

FULL NAME                                            FRANK W SEAVER
AGE                                                          0
RESIDENCE                                              LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS
MARITAL STATUS
NO. OF THIS MARRIAGE                          0
BIRTHPLACE
PLACE MARRIAGE INTENTIONS FILED  KEENE
PLACE OF MARRIAGE                              KEENE
FILE DATE                                                 ++ SEE BELOW **

BRIDE

FULL NAME                                              HATTIE L. HILDRETH
AGE                                                           0
RESIDENCE                                              LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS
MARITAL STATUS                      
NO. OF THIS MARRIAGE                         0
BIRTHPLACE
DATE OF MARRIAGE                               DECEMBER 16, 1874
MARRIAGE PERFORMED BY                  REV. G.W. BROWN

** Filed in chronological order with records from 1872 to 1876.

I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE ABSTRACT ISSUED FROM THE OFFICIAL RECORDS ON FILE AT THIS OFFICE.

ATTEST:  Patricia Cutler            STATE/LOCAL REGISTRAR    Charles E. Sirc
                                                                                                  CHARLES E. SIRC
                                                                                                  STATE REGISTRAR

DATE ISSUED:  SEPTEMBER 13, 1994   STATE /CITY/TOWN OF:  KEENE

The New Hampshire marriage certificate obtained from the Keene, Cheshire County, New Hampshire town clerk's office lists their marriage date as 16 December 1874.  The New Hampshire Birth, Marriage and Deaths index card submitted by the town clerks has the same date.  However, the Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841-1910, marriage record (a transcription of the Leominster, Mass. town clerk's records, lists 14 December 1874, and as occurring in Keene, N.H..

All three sources are derivative in nature, they all reflect primary information and are direct evidence.  However, all three agree that the marriage occurred in Keene, and the first entry into a record book was certainly in Keene.  

The New Hampshire records are, in my opinion, more authoritative than the Massachusetts record.  My conclusion is that 16 December 1874 is the correct marriage date.

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

Sources for several of the census records are duplicated because I have two Facts for the source - usually a Census fact and an Occupation fact.

What I did not include was a biographical description of this person because I have not included a "Biography" or "Description" Fact in my Individual Fact list.  If I had a "Description" Fact, it would read:

"Family stories about Frank Seaver include that he was a dapper, handsome man, and had black curly hair and brown eyes, and looked like his mother, Lucretia Smith.  He was about 5'10" tall.  He was jolly and full of fun, but liked to drink beer, and smoked a pipe.  They had a large home at 149 Lancaster St in Leominster with a wonderful garden, fruit trees, a barn in which they used to keep a horse and buggy, and raised bantam chickens.  Frank was a manager of the Leominster Horned Goods Company, and died of a stroke at age 70 while at his work."

This was told to me by my aunt Marion (Seaver) (Braithwaite) Hemphill, I think, my father's oldest sibling who knew him for over 20 years and described him in conversations with me about 30 years ago.

I just added a "Description" Fact to my database, with the source being a transcript of an audio tape of a personal conversation with my Aunt Marion in about 1984.

I noticed that this Individual Summary Report does not include source citations about the name of the souse or the names of the parents for some reason.


Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver


5 comments:

Amy Johnson Crow said...

Thanks for joining the "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks" challenge! It should be a fun way to take a closer look at the people we have in our family trees.

Celtic Tree said...

Thanks for passing on this idea! I've joined the challenge as well. http://midwestancestree.blogspot.com/2014/01/john-hanlon-1831-1895-happy-183rd.html

Diana Ritchie said...

I like how you show exactly how you are related to the person - I think I might have to steal that for my future posts!

Donna Hansen Peterson said...

Thanks for some new ideas Randy.

Wendy said...

I love the description provided by your aunt Marion. I wish I had more tidbits like that for my ancestors.