Friday, January 8, 2016

52 Ancestors - Week 106: #129 Sarah (Read) Seaver (1736-1809)

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 am extending this theme in 2016 to 156 Ancestors in 156 Weeks. Here is my ancestor biography for week #106:

Sarah (Read) Seaver (1736-1809) is #129 on my Ahnentafel list, my 5th great-grandmother, who married #128 Norman Seaver (1734-1787) in 1755.

I am descended through:

*  their son, Benjamin Seaver (1757-1816), who married #65 Martha Whitney (1764-1832) in 1783.*  their son, #32 Benjamin Seaver (1791-1825), who married  #33 Abigail Gates (1797-1867) in 1817.
*  their son, #16 Isaac Seaver (1823-1901), who married #17 Lucretia Townsend Smith (1828-1884) in 1852.
*  their son, #8 Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922), who married #9 Hattie Louise Hildreth (1847-1920) in 1874. 
*  their son, #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942), who married Alma Bessie richmond (1882-1962) in 1900.
* their son, #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983), who married #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002) in 1942.
*  their son, #1 Randall J. Seaver (1943-....)

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1)  PERSON (with source citations as indicated in brackets):


*  Name:                     Sarah Read[1–2]
*  Alternate Name:     Sarah Reed[3–4,12]   
*  Alternate Name:     Sarah Seaver[5,9]    
*  Alternate Name:     Sarah Sever[6-8,10-11]

*  Sex:                        Female   
*  Father:                   Isaac Read (1704-1780)   
*  Mother:                 Experience Willis (1709-1787)   
  
2)  INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
  
*  Birth:                   28 December 1736, Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[3–4]   
*  Miscellaneous:    1761–1771 (about age 25–about 35), list of children born in Shrewsbury, Mass.; Shrewsbury, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[5]   
*  Miscellaneous:    1774–1783 (about age 38–about 47), list of children born in Westminster, Mass.; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[6]   
*  Administration:   25 September 1787 (age 50), named administratrix of estate of Norman Sever; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[7]   
*  Guardianship:     6 October 1788 (age 51), guardianship of 3 children; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[8]   
*  Census:               1 June 1790 (age 53), Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[9]   
*  Census:               1798 (about age 62), Direct Tax List; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[10]   
*  Death:                 before 3 January 1809 (before age 72), Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[11]   
*  Probate:             3 January 1809 (age 72), Letter of administration granted to Benjamin Sever; Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[12]    
   
3)  SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
  
*  Spouse 1:           Norman Seaver (1734-1787)   
*  Marriage 1:        14 March 1755 (age 18), Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[2,12] 
*  Child 1:             Eunice Seaver (1755-1810)    
*  Child 2:             Benjamin Seaver (1757-1816)   
*  Child 3:             Sarah "Sally" Seaver (1759-1833)   
*  Child 4:             Joseph Seaver (1761-    )   
*  Child 5:             Isaac Seaver (1763-    )   
*  Child 6:             Ethan Seaver (1765-1823)   
*  Child 7:             Daniel Seaver (1767-1850)   
*  Child 8:             Heman Seaver (1769-1835)   
*  Child 9:             Luther Seaver (1771-    )   
*  Child 10:           Relief "Leafe" Seaver (1774-1795)   
*  Child 11:           Asahel Reed Seaver (1775-1849)   
*  Child 12:           Faitha Seaver (1777-1864)   
*  Child 13:           Lucinda Seaver (1780-1844)   
  
4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):   

Heywood's book, The History of Westminster, Massachusetts, published 1893, says that Sarah was the daughter of Jacob and Experience Read[1].  However, there are no records found to date showing this birth or marriage.  Perhaps the most telling indication that Sarah was the daughter of Isaac and Experience (Willis) Read is the fact that one of her grandsons was named Asahel Read Seaver (Sarah's brother was Asahel Read, who was killed in the Lexington fight at the start of the Revolutionary War).

The birth record for Sarah Reed in the Sudbury town vital records says[3-4]:

"Sarah Reed the daughter of Isac Reed and Expereince Reed his wife was born December 28 1736."

The marriage entry of Sarah Read and Norman Sever in the Sudbury Town Record book says[12]:

"Norman Sever & Sarah Read both of Sudbury were Married at Sudbury March 14^th 1755  ??  Israel Loring"

Norman and Sarah (Read) Seaver had thirteen children, and all but Joseph lived to adulthood.  The first three children of Norman and Sarah (Read) Seaver were born and recorded in Sudbury, the next six were born and recorded in Shrewsbury, and the last four children were born and recorded in Westminster.

The list of the children of Norman and Sarah (Read) Seaver in the Shrewsbury, Mass. town record is[5]:

Joseph Seaver  } Son of Norman Seaver & Sarah his Wife was Born May 13. 1761
Isaac Sever      } Son of Norman Seaver & Sarah his wife was Born February 18th 1763
Ethon Seaver   } Son of Norman Seaver & Sarah his Wife was Born September ye 24th day 1765
Daniel Seaver  } Son of Norman Seaver & Sarah his Wife was Born June ye 28. 1767
Hemon Seaver } Son of Norman Seaver & Sarah his Wife was Born May ye 6th 1769
Luther Seaver  } Son of Norman Seaver & Sarah his Wife was Born April ye 13. 1771

The Westminster town record book provides this list of the children of Norman and Sarah Seaver[6]:

Mr. Norman Seuer and Wife Sarah Seuer Fam?
Recorded
September ye 25^h 1774    Leafe Seuer Borne   and Deceased August ye ?? of consumption
October ye 2^d 1775          Asell Reed Seuer Borne 
1777 Aug^t 2^d                  Fatha Seuer 
Born May 23 1780             Lucinda Sever Born

Norman Seaver, gentleman of Westminster, died intestate on 31 July 1787.  On 25 September 1787, Widow Sarah Sever was appointed administratrix of the estate, and bond in the amount of 2000 pounds was given by William Edgell, and Josiah Puffer, sureties[7].  She received a 1/3 dower right to the real and personal estate of her husband.

On 6 October 1788, Sarah Sever was appointed guardian for son Asael Seaver and daughters Faithy and Lucinda Seaver[8].  On 3 January 1792, Samuel Gerrish was appointed guardian for Asael and Relief Seaver.

In the 1790 U.S. Census, Sarah Seaver was a head of household in Westminster, Worcester County, Massachusetts[9].  The household included one free white male under age 16 and six white females.

The 1798 Direct Tax List entry for Sarah Sever in Westminster, Massachusetts provides this information[10]:

*  Names of occupant or possessers:  Sarah Sever
*  Names of reputed owners:  Sever Sarah
*  In what County, Township, Parish, Town or City, in the Assessment District situated:  [Westminster]
*  Quantities of Lands, Lots, &c. exempted from Valuation (Acres-Perches-Square feet):  [none]
*  Quantities of  Lands, Lots, &c. subject to and included in the Valuation (Acres-Perches-Square feet):  20 [acres] 

*  Valuations as determined by the Principal Assessors including Dwelling Houses, &c. not exceeding One Hundred Dollars in Value (Dollars-Cents):  195 [Dollars]

In the 1800 census, Sarah Seaver is probably included in the census record for her son, Benjamin Severs of Westminster.

The estate of widow Sarah Seaver, who died intestate, probably in late 1808, included[12]:

*  On 3 January 1809 Benjamin Sever was appointed administrator of the estate, and bond of $10,000 was given by Benjamin Seaver, Heman Ray, and Daniel How, all yeomen of Westminster.

*  On 3 January 1809, a warrant of appraisal was granted.  

*  On 1 November 1809, the inventory was recorded with real property of $450 and a personal estate of $63.
 

5)  SOURCES

1. William Sweetzer Heywood,  History of Westminster, Massachusetts:  (first named Narragansett no. 2) from the date of the original grant of the township to the present time, 1728-1893 ; with a biographic -genealogical register of its principal families  (Lowell, Mass. : Vox Populi Press, 1893), page 865, Norman Seaver sketch.

2. "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1627-2001," digital images, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : Sudbury Births, Marriages, Deaths, 1663-1829, Vol. 4," page 192 (stamped, image 102 of 142), Norman Sever and Sarah Read marriage entry.

3. Vital Records of Sudbury, Massachusetts to the year 1850 (Boston, Mass. : New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1903), Births, page 118, Sarah Reed entry, 1736.

4. "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1627-2001,"  FamilySearch : accessed 15 April 2014),"Sudbury, Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1663-1829," Volume 4, page 64, image 36 of 142, Sarah Reed birth record, 1736.

5. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), "Shrewsbury Births, Marriages and Deaths,"  page 86 (penned, image 89 of 1764), Births of children of Norman and Sarah Seaver birth entry, 1761-1771.

6. Massachusetts, Town Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com, "Westminster Births, Marriages and Deaths,"  page 38 (penned, image 116 of 1195), Family of Norman and Sarah Sever, 1774-1780.

7. "Worcester County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1731-1881," digital images, New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (http://www.americanancestors.org), Probate Packet #52,914, Norman Sever (1787) estate, letter of administration granted to Sarah Sever.

8. "Worcester County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1731-1881," digital images, New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (http://www.americanancestors.org), "Worcester Cases, 52000-53999," Probate Packet #52,863, guardianship of Asael, Faithy and Lucinda Sever (1788) granted to Sarah Sever, 6 October 1788.

9. 1790 United States Federal Census,, Worcester County, Massachusetts, population schedule, Westminster, Page 663, Sarah Seaver household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M637, Roll 4.

10. "Massachusetts and Maine 1798 Direct Tax," indexed database and digital image, American Ancestors (http://www.americanancestors.org), Volume 14, page 296, Westminster town, Sarah Sever entry.

11. "Worcester County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1731-1881," digital images, New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (http://www.americanancestors.org), Probate Packet #52,924 (7 images), Sarah Sever (1809) estate, letter of administration granted to son Benjamin Sever.

12. Vital Records of Sudbury, Massachusetts to the year 1850, Marriages, page 265, Norman Sever and Sarah Reed entry.


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Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

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