Benjamin Seaver (1757-1816) is #64 on my Ahnentafel list, my 4th great-grandfather. He married in 1783 to #65 Martha Whitney (1764-1832) .
I am descended through:
* 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: Benjamin Seaver [1–12]
* Alternate Name: Benjamin Sever [8,14–15,19–22,24–25]
* Sex: Male
* Father: Captain Norman Seaver (1734-1787)
* Mother: Sarah Read (1736-1809)
2) INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
* Birth: 21 April 1757, Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States[13–14]
* Christened: 24 April 1757 (age 0), Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States
* Military Service: 13 May 1775 (age 18), enlisted in Col. Asa Whitcomb's 23rd Regiment; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[15]
* Miscellaneous: 1787–1810 (about age 30–about 53), Children born to Benjamin and Martha Seaver; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[16]
* Census: 1 June 1790 (age 33), Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[1]
* Estate Distribution: 3 January 1792 (age 34), distribution of father's estate; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[17]
* Deed: 13 December 1793 (age 36), bought 1 acre in Westminster from Asa Taylor; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[18]
* Deed: 1 January 1794 (age 36), bought 40 acres of land in Westminster (part of the 3rd division lot 67), from David Barnard; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[19]
* Deed: 16 January 1795 (age 37), bought 12 and a half acres in Westminster from Zachariah Rand; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[8]
* Deed: 5 January 1796 (age 38), sold 1/4 acre of land in the northerly part of Westminster to Zebina Spaulding; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[2]
* Tax List: 1798 (about age 41), Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[20]
* Deed: 4 March 1800 (age 42), bought 60 acres of upland in the northerly part of Westminster, being half of the farm, from Ephraim Wetherbee for $77.50; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[3]
* Census: 1 June 1800 (age 43), Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[21]
* Deed: 14 April 1801 (age 43), agreement to buy 62 acres in the northerly part of Westminster from Ephraim Wetherbee; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[4]
* Deed: 11 January 1802 (age 44), bought 34 acres, being part of lots 41 and 42 in Westminster, from Farwell Jones for $700; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[5]
* Deed: 3 March 1806 (age 48), Bought part of lots 41 and 42 in Westminster from Jarvis Pierce; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[6]
* Census : 1 June 1810 (age 53), Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[7]
* Deed: 28 November 1811 (age 54), bought one and a half acres in the Beech Hill part of Westminster from Josiah Kendall; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[8]
* Deed: 3 December 1814 (age 57), bought 49 acres of land in Hubbardston, part of the great farm number 7, from Luke Church; Hubbardston, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[9]
* Deed: 22 January 1815 (age 57), sold 26 acres and 56 rods of the lot in Hubbardston to Sewell Barnes; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[22]
* Death: 24 June 1816 (age 59), Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[10]
* Burial: after 24 June 1816 (after age 59), Woodside Cemetery, Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[11,23]
* Estate Administration: 16 July 1816 (age 59), Letter of administration to Martha Seaver; Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[12]
3) SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
* Spouse 1: Martha Whitney (1764-1832)
* Marriage: 19 August 1783 (age 26), Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States[25-27]
* Child 1: Achsah Whitney Seaver (1784-1865)
* Child 2: Abigail Seaver (1786-1817)
* Child 3: Job Whitney Seaver (1789-1868)
* Child 4: Benjamin Seaver (1791-1825)
* Child 5: Susannah Whitney Seaver (1794-1879)
* Child 6: Martha Seaver (1797-1837)
* Child 7: Silas Whitney Seaver (1799- )
* Child 8: Isaac Seaver (1802-1870)
* Child 9: Rozilla Seaver (1806-1825)
* Child 10: Mary Jane Seaver (1812-1892)
4) NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
The birth record for Benjamin Sever in the Sudbury, Massachusetts town records says[13,14]:
"Benjamin Sever son of Norman Sever & Sarah his wife was born April 21st 1757"
Benjamin Seaver served in the Revolutionary War[15]. He was a private in Captain Edmund Bemis's company in Colonel Asa Whitcomb's 23rd Regiment, enlisting May 13, 1775, and was on the muster roll dated August 1, 1775 (service 2 months, 24 days). He was a Corporal on a company receipt for wages for August 1775, dated Camp at Prospect Hill. He was a Private on the company return (probably October 1775), and on a receipt for a bounty coat dated Westminster, November 20, 1775.
In a separate listing, Benjamin Sever of Sudbury was on the list of men raised agreeable for six months service to the resolve of June 5, 1780, returned as received of Major Joseph Hosmer, Superintendent for Middlesex County by Justin Ely, Commissioner, dated 8 July 1780 in Springfield by Brigadier General John Glover. He is described as age 23 years, stature 6 feet, light complexion. He was engaged for the town of Sudbury and marched to camp on 8 July 1780 under command of Ebenezer Kent, Esquire. He was also a Private in Captain Joseph Fox's Third company, 16th Massachusetts Regiment. He was on the pay roll for June and July, 1780 for 24 days of service. He was also on the list of men raised for the six months service and returned by Brigadier General Paterson as having passed muster in a return dated Camp Totoway on October 25, 1780.
The marriage record in the Westminster town records says[27]:
August 19 This day Benjamin Sever both of
1783 and Martha Whitney Westminster
He settled on his father's homestead in Westminster in 1787, having been granted two-thirds of the real property and a double portion of personal property (as the eldest son) in his father's estate in 1792[17].
The list of children born to Benjamin and Martha Seaver in Westminster, Mass. is[16]:
Benjamin Seaver and Marthy his Wife Family Records
December 30th 1784 Achsa Whitney Seaver Born
December 2d 1786 Abigail Seaver Born
May 1^t 1789 Job Seaver Born
November 15th 1791 Benjamin Seaver Born
July 27th 1794 Susanna ^Whitney Seaver Born
Febr^y ye 10th 1797 Martha Seaver Born
Nov^r 24^th 1799 Silas Whitney Seaver Born
Dec^r 20^th 1802 Isaac Seaver Born
March 16^th 1806 Rozilla Seaver Born & Died Sept 18 1825
April 14^th 1812 Mary Jane Seaver Born
The Benjamin Seaver family was enumerated in Westminster in the 1790 U.S. census with[1]:
* 1 free white male of 16 years and upwards
* 1 free white male under 16 years
* 3 free white females
He bought 1 acre in Westminster from Asa Taylor for 3 pounds on 13 December 1793[18].
Benjamin Sever, yeoman of Westminster, bought 40 acres of land in Westminster (part of the 3rd division lot 67), from David Barnard, gentleman of Acton, on 1 January 1794 for 66 pounds[19].
He bought 12 and a half acres in Westminster from Zachariah Rand of Westminster on 16 January 1795 for 50 pounds[8].
Bernjamin Seaver, yeoman of Westminster, sold 1/4 acre of land in the northerly part of Westminster to Zebina Spaulding, cordwainer of Westminster, for $5 on 5 January 1796[2].
In the 1798 Direct Tax list for Massachusetts and Maine, Benjamin Sever resided in Westminster and had[20]:
* Occupants or possessors: Benjamin Sever
* Reputed owners: Benjn Sever
* 157 acres and 120 perches of land
* Valuation of $1014
He and Joseph Spaulding of Westminster bought 60 acres of upland in the northerly part of Westminster, being half of the farm, from Ephraim Wetherbee of Westminster for $77.50 on 4 March 1800.[3] The land was bounded by Alpheus Whitney, Lincoln, Lind and Kendall.
In the 1800 U.S. census, Benjamin Sever was enumerated in Westminster, Worcester County, Massachusetts[21]. The household included:
* 2 males under age 10
* 1 male aged 10 to 16
* 1 male aged 26-45
* 2 females under age 10
* 2 females aged 10 to 16
* 1 female aged 26-45
* 1 female over age 45
Benjamin Seaver and Joseph Spaulding agreed to buy 62 acres in the northerly part of Westminster from Ephraim Wetherbee, unless Ephraim Wetherbee or his heirs paid $43.34 in one year from 1 January 1800; on 14 April 1801, Benjamin Seaver and Joseph Spaulding declared that they received $43.34 and were held harmless[4].
Farwell Jones, trader of Westminster, sold 34 acres, being part of lots 41 and 42 in Westminster, to Benjamin Seaver, yeoman of Westminster, on 11 January 1802 for $700[5]. The land was bounded by Benjamin Howard and the county road.
Jarvis Pierce, blacksmith of Westminster, and his wife Rhoda, sold part of lots 41 and 42 in Westminster to Benjamin Seaver, farmer of Westminster, on 3 March 1806 for $700[6].
In the 1810 U.S. Census, Benjamin Seaver was enumerated in Westminster, Worcester County, Massachusetts[7]. The household included:
* 1 male under age 10
* 1 male aged 10 to 16
* 2 males aged 16 to 26
* 1 male over age 45
* 1 female under age 10
* 1 female aged 10 to 16
* 1 female aged 16 to 26
* 1 female over age 45
Josiah Kendall of Sterling sold one and a half acres in the Beech Hill part of Westminster to Benjamin Seaver on 28 November 1811 for $30[8].
Luke Church of Hubbardston sold 49 acres of land in Hubbardston, part of the great farm number 7, to Benjamin Seaver, yeoman of Westminster, on 3 December 1814 for $246[9].
Benjamin Sever, yeoman of Westminster, sold 26 acres and 56 rods of the lot in Hubbardston to Sewell Barnes, cooper of Westminster, on 22 January 1815 for $123[22]. This was the southeasterly half of the great farm number 7 he bought from Luke Church.
Benjamin Seaver died in Westminster, worcester County, Massachusetts. His death record in the Westminster vital records book says[10]:
SEAVER, Benjamin, June 24, 1816, a. 59. Revolutionary War soldier G.S. I
The estate of Benjamin Seaver is in Worcester County Probate Records, Probate Packet 52,865. His widow, Martha, was appointed administratrix on 16 July 1816[12]. Bond for $1,000 was granted to William Penniman and Merari Spaulding, sureties on the same date . A warrant of appraisal was also provided on that date. On 1 October 1816, the inventory was appraised to be Real estate $4,626, and personal property of $1,082.70.
The inventory of the real estate included:
* the Home farm of 194 acres 38 rods $ 2,321
* the Stearns farm of 86 acres and 75 rods $ 1,515
* the Willington pasture of 63 acres 22 rods $ 660
* the Hubbardston lot of 26 acres and 56 rods $ 100
* the Pew in meeting house $ 30
A petition for partition of the estate was received on 9 April 1817. A warrant was issued to William Penniman, Merari Spaulding and Horatio G. Buttrick, who filed their report, which was allowed on May 22, 181. The real estate was apprised at $4,560, and partitioned 1/3 to the widow ($1,520), and 1/10 shares to each child ($304) of the remaining 2/3, divided as follows:
* Widow Martha Sever received 72 acres of the Stearns lot, 26 acres of the Willington pasture, plus portions of the home lot for her use for a year, and the meeting house pew.
* Eldest son Job Sever received the remaining 13 acres of the Stearns farm, the Hubbardston lot, and he paying to his sisters Achsah Mosman $15 and Susannah Seaver $40.
* Son Benjamin Sever and daughter Abigail Fairbanks received 51 acres and 132 rods of the home farm, and equally paying the minor children $28 each.
* Daughter Achsah Mosman received 38 acres of the home farm plus $15 from Job Sever.
* Daughter Susannah Sever received 34 acres and 134 rods of the Willington pasture plus $40 from Job Sever.
* Minor children Martha, Silas, Isaac, Rozilla and Mary Jane Sever received 104 acres of the home farm with all the buildings thereon, and to receive from brother Benjamin Seaver and Jabez Fairbank $14 each.
The partition was agreed to and signed by Martha Seaver, Job Seaver, Benjamin Seaver, Achsah Mosman, Jabez Fairbank, Susanna Sever and Heman Ray (as guardian of Martha, Silas, Isaac, Rozilla and Mary Jane Sever).
Martha Seaver filed her account on 2 December 1817 with a balance of $43.26, which was allowed and awarded to her on 6 January 1818.
Heman Ray of Westminster was appointed guardian of children Martha, Silas, Isaac, Rozilla, and Mary Jane Sever. Heman Ray sold at auction the land in Westminster which was the minor children's portion to be used to secure the children for their benefit. Ethan Sever of Gardner was the highest bidder, but he refused to take the deed and give security. Heman Ray bargained with Benjamin Seaver, brother of the children, who agreed to buy the land for $1,480 on 14 January 1818. A similar bargain was struck for $32 for the one and a half acre parcel purchased by Benjamin Seaver from Josiah Kendall, with Samuel Whitney being the highest bidder and refusing to take the deed and give security, dated 14 January 1818.
Job Sever received the Hubbardston lot as part of his legacy, and sold the 26 acres and 56 rods to his mother, Martha Sever, on 24 February 1819 for $550.
Martha Sever, widow woman of Westminster, sold the 26 acres and 56 rods of land in Hubbardston (part of Great Farm No. 7) to Artemas Baker, yeoman of Hubbardston, on 3 January 1823 for $150.
Benjamin Seaver is buried in Plot 641 of Woodside Cemetery in Westminster[11,23]. The stone says he died 20 June 1816, age 59. His wife, Martha is also buried in the plot.
5) SOURCES
1. 1790 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Westminster: Page 663, Benjamin Seaver household; online image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com) citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M637, Roll 4.
2. Worcester County, Mass. Registrar of Deeds, "Worcester County (Mass.) Deeds (1722-1866) and Index to Deeds (1731-1889)", Volume 130, Page 303, recorded 13 March 1798, on FHL Microfilm US/CAN 0,844,348.
3. Worcester County, Mass. Registrar of Deeds, "Worcester County (Mass.) Deeds (1722-1866) and Index to Deeds (1731-1889)", Volume 139, Page 566, recorded 9 April 1800, on FHL Microfilm US/CAN 0,844,352.
4. Worcester County, Mass. Registrar of Deeds, "Worcester County (Mass.) Deeds (1722-1866) and Index to Deeds (1731-1889)", Volume 141, Page 517, recorded 25 September 1800, on FHL Microfilm US/CAN 0,844,353.
5. Worcester County, Mass. Registrar of Deeds, "Worcester County (Mass.) Deeds (1722-1866) and Index to Deeds (1731-1889)", Volume 154, Page 626, recorded 8 June 1804, on FHL Microfilm US/CAN 0,844,360.
6. Worcester County, Mass. Registrar of Deeds, "Worcester County (Mass.) Deeds (1722-1866) and Index to Deeds (1731-1889)", Volume 203, Page 362, recorded 10 May 1817,on FHL Microfilm US/CAN 0,845,600.
7. 1810 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Westminster: Page 764, Benjn Seaver household; online image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com) citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M292, Roll 22.
8. Worcester County, Mass. Registrar of Deeds, "Worcester County (Mass.) Deeds (1722-1866) and Index to Deeds (1731-1889)", Volume 203, Page 364, recorded 10 May 1817, on FHL Microfilm US/CAN 0,845,600.
9. Worcester County, Mass. Registrar of Deeds, "Worcester County (Mass.) Deeds (1722-1866) and Index to Deeds (1731-1889)", Volume 203, Page 363, recorded 3 December 1814, on FHL Microfilm US/CAN 0,845,600.
10. Systematic History Fund, Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Worcester, Mass.: F.P. Rice, 1908), Deaths, page 247: Benjamin Seaver entry.
11. Jim Tipton, indexed database, Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com), Woodside Cemetery (Westminster, Mass.), Benjamin Seaver memorial.
12. "Worcester County, Massachusetts Probate Court Records" (Worcester County Probate Courthouse, Worcester, Mass.), Probate Packet #52,865, Benjamin Sever (1816) estate (also in Volume 202, page 253, accessed on FHL Microfilm 0,860,638), letter of administration.
13. Vital Records of Sudbury, Massachusetts to the year 1850 (Boston, Mass. : New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1903), Births, page 130, Benjamin Sever entry.
14. "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1627-2001," digital images, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org), Middlesex County, Sudbury, "Births, marriages, deaths, 1663-1829, Vol. 4," page 120 (penned), image 65 of 142, Benjamin Sever birth entry, 1757.
15. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (Boston, Mass. : 1905), Volume XIII, page 1002, Benjamin Sever entry.
16. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), "Westminster Births, Marriages and Deaths," page 38 (penned, image 116 of 1195), Family of Benjamin and Marthy Seaver, 1784-1812.
17. "Worcester County, Massachusetts Probate Court Records", Volume 24, Page 358, Norman Seaver estate, accessed on FHL Microfilm US/CAN 0,856,314.
18. Worcester County, Mass. Registrar of Deeds, "Worcester County (Mass.) Deeds (1722-1866) and Index to Deeds (1731-1889)", Volume 203, Page 366, recorded 10 May 1817, on FHL Microfilm US/CAN 0,845,600.
19. Worcester County, Mass. Registrar of Deeds, "Worcester County (Mass.) Deeds (1722-1866) and Index to Deeds (1731-1889)", Volume 203, Page 361, recorded 10 May 1817, on FHL Microfilm US/CAN 0,845,600.
20. "Massachusetts and Maine 1798 Direct Tax," indexed database and digital image, American Ancestors (http://www.americanancestors.org), Volume 14, page 296, Benjamin Sever entry.
21. 1800 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Westminster: Page 451, Benjn Sever household; online image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com) citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M32, Roll 16.
22. Worcester County, Mass. Registrar of Deeds, "Worcester County (Mass.) Deeds (1722-1866) and Index to Deeds (1731-1889)", Volume 199, Page 167, recorded 21 September 1815, on FHL Microfilm US/CAN 0,845,598.
23. Woodside Cemetery (Westminster, Massachusetts), Grave Markers, Benjamin Seaver monument.
24. Vital Records of Sudbury, Massachusetts to the year 1850, Births, page 130, Benjamin Seaver entry.
25. Massachusetts, Town Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com, "Westminster Births, marriages and deaths," page 3 (penned), image 490, Marriage of Benjamin Sever and Marthy Whitney, 19 Aug 1783.
26. Systematic History Fund, Vital Records of Leominster, Massachusetts to the year 1849 (Worcester, Mass. : Franklin P. Rice, 1911), Marriages, page 255: Benjamin Sever and Martha Whitney entry.
27. Systematic History Fund, Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849, Marriages, page 186: Benjamin Sever and Martha Whiting entry (in Leominster).
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