Friday, January 10, 2014

52 Ancestors Friday: Hattie Louisa (Hildreth) Seaver (1857-1920)

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).  

Hattie Louisa (Hildreth) Seaver (1857-1920) is #9 on my Ancestor Name List, and is my great-grandmother.  She married #8, Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922). I am descended through:

*  her son, #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942), who married Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962)
*  their son, #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983), who married Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002)
*  me, #1 Randall J. Seaver (1943-....)


To create this post, I created 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.

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A) PERSON:

* Name: Hattie Louisa Hildreth (1–2, 16-17)    
* Sex: Female   
* Father: Edward Hildreth (1831-1899)   
* Mother: Sophia Newton (1834-1923)   
  


B) Individual Facts
  
* Birth:    28 November 1857, Northborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (1-2)   
* Census: 1 June 1860 (age 2), Northborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (3)   
* Census: 29 August 1865 (age 7), Northborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (4)
* Census: 1 June 1870 (age 12), Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (5)    
* Census: 1 June 1880 (age 22), Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (6)   
* Census: 1 June 1900 (age 42), 149 Lancaster Street (ED 1645), Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (7)   
* Census: 1 April 1910 (age 52), 149 Lancaster Street (ED 1772), Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (8)   
* Census: 1 January 1920 (age 62), 149 Lancaster Street (ED 102), Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (9)   
* Death: 29 November 1920 (age 63), of carcinoma of the bladder; Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (10)   
* Burial: after 29 November 1920 (after age 63), Evergreen Cemetery, Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (11-12)
* Probate: 6 September 1923 (age 65), Administration filed; Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (13)   
* Description: 1980, audio conversation recorded on tape; Chula Vista, San Diego, California, United States (14)   
* Description: 13 August 1982,  audio conversation recorded on tape; Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States (15)   
  
C) Marriages/Children
  
* Spouse 1:   Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922)   
* Marriage: 16 December 1874 (age 17), Keene, Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States (16-17)   
* Children: Frederick Walton "Fred" Seaver (1876-1942)   
  Harry Clifton Seaver (1885-1951)
                Howard Edward Seaver (1893-1900)  

D)  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 107, Page 232, Northborough: Hattie Louisa Hildreth entry.

Hattie Louisa Hildreth was born 28 November 1857 in Northborough, a girl, daughter of Edward (a comb manufacturer, born Mass.) and Sophia Hildreth (born Mass.), residents of Northborough.

2. Northborough, Massachusetts, Copy of Record of Birth, Hattie Louisa Hildreth, citing Volume 2, Page 28, Record 17 (1858); Town Clerk's Office, Northborough, Mass. (certificate dated 13 September 1994). 

The transcription of the birth certificate is:

THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
COPY OF RECORD OF BIRTH
TOWN OF NORTHBOROUGH

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am the clerk of the Town of 
Northborough that as such I have custody of the records of birth required by
law to be kept in my office; that among such records is one relating to the birth of

                                               HATTIE LOUISA HILDRETH                      

and that the following is a true copy of so much of said record as relates to
said birth, namely:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of Birth         NOVEMBER 28, 1857          
Place of Birth         NORTHBOROUGH, MA     
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    FATHER                                         MOTHER
Name               EDWARD HILDRETH     Maiden Name       SOPHIA HILDRETH          
Residence         NORTHBOROUGH, MA  Residence             NORTHBOROUGH, MA    
Place of Birth   MASSACHUSETTS          Place of Birth        MASSACHUSETTS           
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of Record:   JANUARY 15, 1858     Volume     2     Page   28    Record   17   
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And I do certify that the foregoing is a true copy from said records.
Witness my hand and seal of said Town of Northborough on
this    13TH   day of    SEPTEMBER       19 94  

  { seal }                                                            Hillary Hamilton    
                                                                        Northborough Town Clerk.

3. 1860 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Northborough town; Page 955, Dwelling #794, Family 984, Edward Hildreth household; online database and digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M653, Roll 528. 

In the 1860 US census, the Edward Hildreth family resided in Northborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts with the Theodore McNeil family. The household included:

*   Edward Hildreth -- age 28, male, born MA, a combmaker, with $500 personal property
*  Sophia Hildreth -- age 24, female, born MA
*  Hattie L. Hildreth -- age 2, female, born MA.

4. "Massachusetts, State Census, 1865", Worcester County, Massachusetts, Northborough; Image 7 of 31, Dwelling #30, family #40, Edward Hildreth household; online database and digital image,  FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 14 February 2013). 

The 1865 Massachusetts State Census entry for the Edward Hildreth household residing in Northborough, Worcester County includes:

*  Edward Hildreth - age 34, male, born Mass., married, a combmaker, ratable poll checked, legal voter checked
*  Sophia Hildreth - age 28, female, born Mass., married, a housekeeper
*  Hattie Hildreth - age 7, female, born Mass., single.

5. 1870 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Worcester County, Massachusetts; Leominster town: Page 261, house #67, family #86, Edward Hildreth household; online database and digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M593, Roll 654. 

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

*  Edward Hildreth -- age 39, male, works in machine shop, $2,000 in real property, $500 in personal property, born MA
*  Sophia Hildreth -- age 34, female, keeping house, born VT
*  Hattie L. Hildreth --age 12, female, attends school, born MA.

6. 1880 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Leominster: Page 525C, dwelling # 354, family #436, Frank Seaver household; online database and 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.

7. 1900 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Worcester County, Massachusetts; Leominster: Enumeration District 1645, Sheet 16A, Dwelling #258, Family #377, Frank W. Seaver household; online database and 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.

8. 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 and 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.

9. 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 and 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.

10. Leominster, Massachusetts, Death Certificate, Hattie L. Seaver, 29 November 1920; City Clerk's Office, Leominster, Mass. (certificate dated 28 August 1991). 

The transcription of the death certificate for Hattie L. Seaver is:

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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 29, 1920
2. Name:  Hattie L. Seaver
Maiden Name: Hildreth
3. Sex, and whether Single, Female
Married or widowed: Married
4. Age: 63 Years 0 Months  1 Days
5. Color: White
6. Disease or Cause of Death: Carcinoma of Bladder
7. Residence: Leomnster, Ma
8. Occupation:  At home
9. Place of Death: 149 Lancaster Street, Leominster, MA
10. Place of Birth: Notrhboro, Ma
11. Name of Husband or Wife: Frank W. Seaver
12. Name of Father:  Edward Hildreth
13. Maiden Name of Mother:  Sophia Newton 
14. Birthplace of Father:  Townsend, Ma
15. Birthplace of Mother: Cambridge, Vt.
16. Place of Interment: Evergreen Cem., 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: 1920
WITNESS my hand and seal of said City, on the 28th day of August 19 91.
/s/ Audrey J. Johnson, 
City Clerk.

11. Evergreen Cemetery (Leominster, Mass., on Main Street). 

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.

12. Find A Grave, online database and digital image (http://www.findagrave.com), Evergreen Cemetery (Leominster, Mass.), Hattie Louisa Hildreth Seaver memorial. 

13. "Worcester County, Massachusetts Probate Court Records" (Worcester County Probate Courthouse, Worcester, Mass.), Hattie L. Seaver, Probate Packet B-81,101. 

Hattie L. Seaver died intestate before her mother and her husband, and her estate was probated simultaneously with that of her husband (Worcester County (MA) Probate Records, Probate Packet B-81,101, accessed at Worcester County Court House, Worcester, Massachusetts). J. Ward Healey petitioned the court to be named administrator of her estate on 6 September 1923.  The heirs included husband Frank W. Seaver (who has since died), son Frederick W. Seaver and son Harry C. Seaver, both of Leominster.

An inventory was taken by J. Ward Healey on 10 September 1923 and found $33.10 in personal estate and $2,825 in real estate.  The latter was the two family dwelling house at 149 Lancaster Street in Leominster, including a barn and 10,890 square feet of land.  Bond of $4,000 was posted on 7 September 1923 by J. Ward Healey, Frederick W. Seaver and Frank C. Seaver.

The real estate was sold on 31 October 1923 for $6,000.  The land is described as "land owned by the heirs of Edward Hildreth, Leominster, Mass." by Wm. P. Ray, C.E.  It was on the southwesterly side of Lancaster Street, containing 19,317 square feet of land.

The final account of the estate of Hattie L. Seaver was submitted by J. Ward Healey on 10 December 1923, and approved by the court on 8 September 1924.  The estate of $6,546.99 was distributed:

*  To Harry C. Seaver, $2,700 in cash as his partial distributive share, including a $1,600 payment to Merchants National Bank which was borrowed by him.
*  To Frederick W. Seaver, $2,700 in cash as his partial distributive share.
*  The furniture was divided by Harry C. and Frederick W. Seaver.
*  $150 To the City of Leominster for perpetual care of the cemetery lots of Edward Hildreth and Frank W. Seaver.
*  $55 to Leominster Granite and Marble Works for gravestones, and $294 to Chas. H. Richardson, undertakers.

The balance went to the administrator for taxes, repairs on the house, insurance, and probate costs.

14. Edward R. Seaver's Memories (papers), 13 August 1982, Leominster, Mass., transcript of conversation recorded on audio tape, Randall J. Seaver family papers (in "Seaver Memories" notebook), Chula Vista, California. 

The memories of Hattie (Hildreth) Seaver of Edward R. Seaver, her grandson, were provided in an audio tape made in the summer of 1982 by Randy Seaver in a conversation at Ed's home in Leominster, Massachusetts.

"My grandmother, Harriet Hildreth was her maiden name, was a stern looking woman, red hair, which of course started to turn white by the time I came along, and I have it on hearsay that it was originally red.  She had a high forehead, and a stern look and bearing about her.  She was a great cook.  I remember all of the pies stashed way up in the pantry there, in a pie rack, I remember all the pies and the smell of the place, going to her kitchen and pantry, squash pies, raisin pies, apple pies, it was a real treat to go over there.  They lived on Lancaster Street, not too far from where we lived, so it was an easy walk."

15. Marion (Seaver) (Braithwaite) Hemphill Memories, 1980, Chula Vista, California, description of Harriet (Hildreth) Seaver, transcript of conversation recorded on audio tape, Randall J. Seaver family papers (in "Seaver Memories" notebook), Chula Vista, California. 

The memories of Hattie L. Seaver pf her granddaughter, Marion (Seaver) (Braithwaite) Hemphill described Hattie (Hildreth) Seaver in 1980 in a recorded audio conversation with Randy Seaver as:

" My grandmother, Harriet Hildreth, was the redhead of the family, andi n the next generation there were two redheads.  She was a very handsome woman I would say, and dressed beautifully, she loved nice clothes and was a very accomplished needle worker.  They had a beautful home, and I was born in that home, they had a three room apartment in one end they had made for my mother and father when they married.  I was born there at 149 Lancaster Street, Leominster, Massacvhusetts, and Evelyn was also born there.  Harriet Hildreth died when she was 64, and grandfather died when he was 70."

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

Frank W. Seaver, age 24, born in Medfield, son of Isaac and Lucretia T, first marriage; and Harriet L. Hildreth, age 17, born in Northborough, daughter of Edward and Sophia, first marriage; married 14 December 1874 in Keene, N.H. by Rev. G.W. Brown.

17. Keene, New Hampshire, Abstract of a Certificate of Marriage, Frank W. Seaver and Hattie L. Hildreth; Keene Town/City Clerk's Office (certificate dated 13 September 1994). 

The transcription of the marriage certificate is:

State of New Hampshire
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.

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The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2014/01/52-ancestors-friday-hattie-louisa.html

Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver

 

1 comment:

Kelli Ann Wilson said...

Neat! I am a newer reader of your blog, and a Keene, N.H. native! I'm still considering doing the 52 ancestors project. We'll see...