A Life Cut Short
Early Life and Family Background
Benjamin Seaver was born on November 15, 1791, in Westminster,
Worcester County, Massachusetts, into a large and thriving farming
family. He was the second son and fourth child of Benjamin and Martha
(Whitney) Seaver, who had married in 1783. The Seaver household was
bustling with activity, as Benjamin grew up alongside nine siblings
in what would become a family of ten children.
His siblings included his older sisters Achsah Whitney Seaver
(1784-1865) and Abigail Seaver (1786-1817), and his older brother Job
Whitney Seaver (1789-1868). The younger children in the family were
Susannah Whitney Seaver (1794-1879), Martha Seaver (1797-1837), Silas
Whitney Seaver (1799-????), Isaac Seaver (1802-1870), Rozilla Seaver
(1806-1825), and the youngest, Mary Jane Seaver (1812-1892).
Growing up in Westminster during the late 18th and early 19th
centuries, Benjamin would have witnessed the young nation's formative
years, experiencing the effects of events like the Louisiana Purchase
in 1803 and the growing tensions that would eventually lead to the
War of 1812.
Military Service and the War of 1812
When the War of 1812 broke out, Benjamin answered his country's
call to service. He served in Captain Rice's company, which was part
of Colonel Messenger's regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer
Militia. This military experience would have been formative for a
young man in his early twenties, as Massachusetts played a crucial
role in defending the northeastern coastline during this conflict.
The War of 1812 was particularly significant for Massachusetts
residents, as British naval forces frequently threatened New
England's maritime commerce and coastal communities. Benjamin's
service in the state militia demonstrated his commitment to defending
his home state and the young republic.
Marriage and Family Life
On March 2, 1817, at the age of 25, Benjamin married 19-year-old
Abigail Gates in Westminster. Abigail had been born on February 24,
1797, in Gardner, Worcester County, Massachusetts, to Nathan and
Abigail (Knowlton) Gates. The marriage banns were published on
February 15, 1817, "as the law directs," following the
proper legal procedures of the time.
The young couple established their home in Westminster, where they
would raise their family. Benjamin and Abigail were blessed with four
children:
Abigail Seaver (1817-1899) was born on
August 7, 1817, just five months after her parents' wedding. She
would grow up to marry Samuel A. Monroe on March 21, 1839, in
Westminster, and they had two children together. Abigail lived a
long life, passing away on February 21, 1899, in Gardner at the age
of 81.
Lucinda Seaver (1821-1899) was born on
October 18, 1821. She married James Rockwood Bruce on April 23,
1846, in Westminster, and they had three children. Like her older
sister, Lucinda enjoyed a long life, dying on April 27, 1899, in
Westminster at the age of 77.
Isaac Seaver (1823-1901) was born on October
16, 1823. He married three times and had six children in total. His
first marriage was to Juliet Glazier on September 17, 1846, in
Rutland, Worcester County, with whom he had one child. After
Juliet's death, he married Lucretia Townsend Smith on September 9,
1851, in Walpole, Norfolk County, and they had five children. In his
later years, Isaac married for a third time to Alvina Matilda
Bradley on September 15, 1888, in Saint Regis Falls, Franklin
County, New York. Isaac died on March 12, 1901, in Leominster at the
age of 77.
Benjamin Seaver (1825-1836) was born on
February 21, 1825, the youngest of the family. Tragically, this
little Benjamin died on August 26, 1836, at just 11 years of age,
and was buried after August 28, 1836, in Westminster.
Life as a Farmer and Landowner
Benjamin lived his entire life in Westminster, Massachusetts,
working as a farmer or yeoman. Like many New England farmers of his
time, he was actively involved in buying and selling land to expand
and improve his agricultural holdings. His surname appeared in
records as both "Seaver" and "Sever," reflecting
the informal spelling conventions of the early 19th century.
When Benjamin's father died in 1817, the same year Benjamin
married, he inherited a one-tenth portion of his father's estate. On
May 22, 1817, he received 51 acres and 132 rods of the home farm and
agreed to pay each of his minor siblings $28 as part of the estate
settlement.
Benjamin proved to be an astute businessman in his land dealings.
On January 4, 1818, he purchased for $32 the one and a half acres
that his father had previously bought from Josiah Kendal. On the same
date, he made a much larger purchase, buying for $1,480 all the land
in Westminster that had been apportioned to his minor siblings
Martha, Silas, Isaac, Rozilla, and Mary Jane Seaver, who were
represented by their guardian, Heman Ray.
His business acumen is further demonstrated by a land sale on
April 19, 1823, when he and his wife Abigail sold land in the
northerly part of Westminster to his brother Isaac Seaver for $780.
This property was bounded by land belonging to several neighbors,
including Merari Spaulding, the heirs of Jabez Fairbanks, John
Jackson, Asa Rand, Daniel Howe, and Hannah Whitney.
In one of his final business transactions, on February 1, 1825,
Benjamin purchased 15 acres and 22 rods of land in Westminster from
Gilman Thurston and Moses Thurston for $300. This land was part of a
farm previously owned by Benjamin Bigelow.
The 1820 Census and Community Life
The 1820 United States Census provides a snapshot of Benjamin's
household at that time. The family resided in Westminster township,
Worcester County, Massachusetts, and consisted of Benjamin (counted
as one male aged 26-45), his daughter Abigail (one female aged 0-10),
and his wife Abigail (one female aged 16 to 26). This census was
taken before the birth of their younger children Lucinda, Isaac, and
the second Benjamin.
Untimely Death and Its Aftermath
Benjamin Seaver's life was cut tragically short when he died on
May 25, 1825, at the age of 33 years and 5 months. He left behind his
wife Abigail and four young children: Abigail (age 7), Lucinda (age
3), Isaac (age 1), and baby Benjamin (just 3 months old).
Benjamin died intestate, meaning he had not prepared a will, which
created additional challenges for his surviving family. His probate
papers reveal the difficult circumstances his death created for his
widow and children.
Abigail's Struggle and Petition
Faced with the overwhelming responsibility of managing her
deceased husband's estate while caring for four young children,
Abigail petitioned the court on June 8, 1825, to nominate John
Jackson of Westminster as administrator of the estate. In her
petition, she wrote:
"The Petition of the Widow Abagail Seaver of Westminster in
said County, humbley represents that her late Husband Benjamin Seaver
of said Westminster is dead and that she is altogether unacquainted
with doing business and besides she is left with four young children
to take care of and that it will be impossible for her to administer
upon said estate."
This petition poignantly captures the vulnerability of widows in
early 19th-century America, when women had limited legal rights and
business experience.
Estate Settlement and Financial Difficulties
The estate settlement revealed both the modest prosperity Benjamin
had achieved and the financial pressures facing his family. An
inventory taken on July 5, 1825, showed real estate valued at $1,000
(the home farm with buildings) and personal estate worth $996.10.
However, by March 23, 1826, the estate was declared insolvent,
meaning the debts exceeded the assets.
The probate process was complex and drawn out. A commission was
formed to handle the insolvency, and eventually, the real estate had
to be sold to pay the debts. After all accounts were settled on May
17, 1827, only $29.13 remained "to be paid to the Widow of said
deceased to enable her to uphold life."
Guardianship and Children's Inheritance
On April 1, 1826, Abigail was appointed guardian of her four minor
children, with Isaac Seaver, Nathan Wetherbee, and Henry Collidge,
Jr. posting a $5,000 bond as sureties. The children's property was
inventoried on October 6, 1827, and included 13 and a half acres of
pasture and woodland, plus a cider mill and house, valued at just
$30.
Abigail's Remarriage and Family Continuation
In 1832, seven years after Benjamin's death, Abigail married
Benjamin's brother Isaac Seaver (1802-1870) as her second husband.
This marriage united the two branches of the Seaver family and
provided stability for Abigail and her children. Abigail and Isaac
had two children together, further expanding the family.
Abigail lived until January 4, 1867, when she died at the age of
69. Benjamin, Abigail and Isaac Seaver are remembered in Whitmanville
Cemetery in Westminster, Massachusetts, where their gravestone
inscription reads:
"Benjamin Seaver died May 25 1825
AE. 33
Abigail wife of Isaac Seaver
formerly wife of Benj. Seaver died
Jan. 4 1867 AE. 69."
Historical Context
Benjamin Seaver's life spanned a crucial period in American
history. Born just two years after George Washington became the first
president, he lived through the presidencies of John Adams, Thomas
Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, and into John Quincy Adams'
term. His death in 1825 occurred during the "Era of Good
Feelings" and the early years of American westward expansion.
The challenges faced by his widow and children reflect the
realities of early 19th-century American life, when families had
limited social safety nets and women faced significant legal and
economic constraints. Yet the family's resilience, evidenced by
Abigail's successful remarriage and the children's eventual
prosperity, also demonstrates the strength of family and community
bonds that helped people survive difficult circumstances.
Benjamin Seaver's story, though brief, represents the experiences
of countless American families during the nation's formative
years—ordinary people who built their lives through hard work,
weathered personal tragedies, and contributed to the growth of their
communities and the young republic.
