Robert Seaver (1608-1683) and Elizabeth (Ballard) Seaver (1616-1657) Family of England and Roxbury, Massachusetts Bay Colony

I have started writing genealogical sketches, and then will write AI-assisted biographies, of my ancestors by ancestral couple, not by individual ancestor.  

Here is the genealogical sketch for my 9th great-grandparents Robert Seaver (1608-1683 and Elizabeth (Ballard) Seaver (1616-1657) who married in Roxbury, Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1634.

Robert Seaver was born about 1608 in England. His birth date, birth place, and parents names are not known. There were Seaver families living in several counties of England during the 16th and 17th centuries - including Berkshire, Kent, Yorkshire, Essex and Oxfordshire. There was also a large Seaver family in Northern Ireland during the 17th century and onward.

The history of Robert Seaver in Roxbury and the early generations of his descendants were summarized by William Blake Trask in "The Seaver Family."[1].

Robert Seaver embarked on the ship "Mary and John" out of London, Robert Sayres, master, on 24 March 1633/4. He took the oaths of supremacy and allegiance to pass to New England. The ship landed in Boston, and Robert Seaver was living in Roxbury MA by June 1634.[1]

Elizabeth Ballard was born before 1616 in England. Her birth date, birth place, parents names and passage to New England are unknown. The Roxbury Town Records give Elizabeth's surname as “Allard”, but the Church Records, in the early list of admissions, has the following:

"Elizabeth Ballard, a maide servant - she came in the year 1633, and soone after joined to the church - she was afterwards married to Robert Sever of this church, where she led a godly conversation."[2]

Robert Seaver and Elizabeth Ballard were married on 10 December 1634 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony.[3, page 360]

Robert Seaver and Elizabeth Ballard had the following children:[1]

• Shubael Seaver, born 31 January 1639/40, Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony; married Hannah Wilson, 7 February 1668, Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony, six children; died 18 January 1729/30, Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony.

• Caleb Seaver, born 30 August 1641, Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony, ; married Sarah Inglesby, 15 December 1671, Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony, six children; died 16 March 1713, Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony.

• Joshua Seaver, born 30 August 1641, Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony; married Mary May, 28 February 1677/8, Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony, nine children; died 27 March 1730, Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony.

• Elizabeth Seaver, born 19 November 1643, Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony; married Samuel Craft, 16 October 1661, Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony, eleven children; died 9 December 1731, Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony.

• Nathaniel Seaver, born before 8 January 1645, Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony; married Sarah , before 1671, Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony, two children; died 21 April 1676, Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony.

• Hannah Seaver was born before 14 February 1647 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony. She was christened on 14 February 1647 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony. She died on 3 June 1648 at the age of 1 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony.

• Hannah Seaver was born on 13 October1650 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony. She was christened on 23 October 1650 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony.18 She died on 3 February 1654 at the age of 3 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Many early Roxbury town records mention Robert Seaver, and were transcribed from "Minutes of the Town Records of Roxbury, 1648-1846." The town records were published by Robert J. Dunkle and Ann S. Lainhart in The Town Records of Roxbury, Massachusetts 1647 to 1730.[4] Since this book is more readily available to most readers, the page numbers from the latter will be referenced.

In 1635, the General Court stated that "noe dwelling howse shall be built above halfe a myle from the meeteing howse, in any newe plantacion without leave from the Court (except myll howses & Ferme howses of such as have their dwelling howses in some towne)." This was confirmed the next year, with an addition to the order, that it should extend to all towns within their jurisdiction. The above statement explains the following grant of the court to Robert Seaver and others, dated 23 May 1639:[5, 1:257]

"Jasper Gun, Robert Seaver, Abraham Howe, John Tatman and Robert Sary, upon their petition, had leave granted them to continue in the houses which they have built, and do dwell in, though they bee above halfe a myle from their meeting house." This "halfe a myle law" was repealed in 1640.

Robert Seaver was made a freeman on 18 April 1637 [5, 1:373].

The name is written on the town and church records as Seaver, Sever, Seavers, Civer, etc. Robert apparently wrote his name "Seaver" on a petition to the General Court dated 31 May 1647, signed by 64 freemen and soldiers of Roxbury, praying the confirmation by the court of Hugh Pritchard as captain of a military company in Roxbury, having been chosen by these persons to act as their commanding officer.[1]

"Robt Seaber" and others purchased a parcel of marsh land, being an island by reason of the creek running through it, in Roxbury from the estate of Captain Hugh Pritchard on 25 June 1651. Robert Seaver received one eighth part of the marsh land lying on the south of William Lyon and John Mayes.[6]

Robert Seaver's homestead was located in Roxbury at what is now (approximately) the intersection of Center and Amory Streets. His property list, taken from the Roxbury town records about 1652[7], includes:

"Robert Seaver, his house and lot, one accre more or lesse. Butting upon John Bowels west, upon the highway and the river east, north and south; and two accres and a halfe, more or lesse, upon Phillip Elliot south and east, upon John Bowles north; and ten acres more or lesse upon John Bowles north and upon a highway south, and upon Muddy River northwest. And four accres and a halfe more or lesse upon Muddy River northwest, upon a highway east, upon William Lewis south and upon William Heath's heires north; and four and twenty accres and a halfe lying in the first and third allotments of the last division, being the nine and twenty acre lott betweene Griffin Craft and Mr. Hugh Prichard and fourteen acres within the thousand accres at Deddam and four acres of salt marsh more or less lying in the iland lately Capt. Hugh Prichard's, abutting upon the land of William Curtiss east, upon Daniell Ainsworth and George Brand north and upon the river south and west; and three accres more or lesse, abutting upon the land of Robert Pepper north, upon William Curtisse east, upon John Ruggles Junior south and upon the highway toward the great pond Northwest."

Robert Sever was a constable during 1655. His account was filed on 23 12th month 1655 for a country rate of 34 pounds, 11 shillings, 3 pence. On 11 February 1661, Robert Seaver and Griffin Crafts signed a notice that they found no highway to Braintree.[7, page 15].

The Roxbury Church Records record Elizabeth (Ballard) Seaver's death:[3, page 635] 

"1657, buryed, mo. 4, day 9, Sister Seaver, ye wife of Robert Seaver."

On 11 February 1661, Robert Seauer, with four others, signed a notice that they found no highway to Braintree.[3, page 32]

Robert Seaver married, as his second wife, Sarah (--?--) Burrell on 4 March 1662; Sarah was the widow of John Burrell.[8]  Sarah was born about 1610 in England. She died on 18 December 1669 at the age of 59 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony.[3, page 635] She was buried on 18 December 1669 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony. They had no children.

Robert Sever was chosen as a "bayly" for a year on 18 January 1663, with his orders to be given him by the selectmen.[4, page 40]

Robert Seaver was chosen as one of the five selectmen of Roxbury on 15 January 1665.[4, page 53]

On 29 January 1666, the Treasurer of the county was ordered by the selectmen of Roxbury to pay him 34 shillings for the repair of the county bridges leading to Dedham and Cambridge.[4, page 252]

On 9 April 1672 Robert Sever was paid 3 shillings for carting.[4, page 64] On 12 February 1673, he was paid one pound for three loads of wood for the military watch, candles and his own powder distributed for the town's use .[4, page 84]

Two interesting and potentially tragic incidents concerning Robert Seaver's property occurred, as reported in the Roxbury church records. 

• On 28 October 1667, about the break of day, thunder and lightning occurred which fired a haycock of four loads of hay and burned[2, page 203]. 

• On 7 October 1673, about 9 o'clock at night, the house of Robert Seaver was fired through the carelessness of a maid who went into the chamber to order the cheeses, her light fired the thatch and the house was burned down, but much of the belongings were saved, as was the barn.[2, page 211]

He was apparently a soldier in King Phillip's War in 1675/6.

He signed a petition that students of Harvard should not wear long hair.

Robert Seaver married --?-- --?-- before Jun 1683 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony. Her name, birth date, and death date are not known. A wife was mentioned in Robert Seaver’s will. She is not named in any known record, and her death and burial dates and places are not known.

Robert Seaver died 13 May 1683, aged about 75 according to the Roxbury town records. However, the Roxbury town vital records say:[3, page 635]

"1683, mo. 4, day 6, Robert Seaver an aged Christian, buryed". 

The 4th month 6th day would have been 6 June, 1683. The inventory for Robert Seaver says he died 5 June 1683.[9] Robert Seaver’s burial location is not noted in any of the records.

The inventory of Robert Seaver's estate totaled 430 pounds, 5 shillings, 8 pence, including 300 pounds in real estate.[9]

• housing, orchard, barn and garden (90 pounds)
• 16 acres of pasture land or thereabout lying in Roxbury known by the name of Huckleberry Hill (40 pounds)
• 24 acres of land in Roxbury called the further lot (100 pounds)
• 6 acres of pasture land lying on the south side the great hill in Roxbury (24 pounds)
• 4 acres salt marsh lying in the island in Roxbury (38 pounds)
• 2 acres of fresh meadow lying at Bear Marsh in Roxbury (8 pounds)

Robert Seaver wrote his will on 16 January 1681, and it was proved 3 July 1683. It was recorded at the Suffolk County Probate Office.[10] The will says:

"I, Robert Seavers of Roxbury, in the County of Suffolk, sick and weake of body, yet of good and perfect memory. My will is that after my decease my wide [widow] shall have halfe my Estate during her life, after the legacies hereafter mentioned are disposed out of the whole, and also my will is as long as my wife shall remain my widow she shall have liberty to continue in my house and make use of such goods as are convenient for her, and also shee shall have a quarter part of the Orchard and the use of two Cowes and the garden as long as shee shall continue in the house and remain my widow; that when shee marrieth or see good to depart from the same shee shall halfe the income of my estate paid her, legacies first disposed of, the use of my house, goods cows, garden, and quarter part of the Orchard to my wife for her use as Superfluity besides half the income of my estate as long as shee continueth, and also my will is that my wife shall have the moveables shee brought with her.

"After my decease, my son Shuball all my salt marsh in the land, to them and their heirs forever, and also my sons shall have no power to sell or alienate any of said marsh from their heires; and my will is that they shall change their parts every year as it is divided by a small creeke, because one part is better than the other. That after my sone Caleb shall have that pasture land against his house upon the great hill that my son Samuel Crafts after my decease shall have the piece of swamp land that runneth from widow Heath's land straight over to the upland to the other side butting west upon the Brooks. That my executors pay to John Seavers, my grandchild, six pounds at his marriage day, but if he lives not to marry then the same to be equally divided between my four children mentioned; that the other halfe of the estate be equally divided between my four children, and after my wife's decease that all my lands and moveables bee also divided between my four children.

"Son Samuel Crafts and son Caleb Seavers Executors. Wm. Carey and Joseph Grigges, Overseers, Jan. 16 1681.

Robert Seaver

"In the presence of us, Phillip Searles -- John Craft, Acknowledged July 5, 1683."

The four children referred to in the will are his sons Shubael, Caleb and Joshua, and his daughter Elizabeth, who was married to Samuel Crafts. Grandson John was the son of Nathaniel Seaver, who was killed by the Indians at Sudbury in 1676 during King Phillip's War.

SOURCES:

1. William Blake Trask, "The Seaver Family," New England Historic Genealogical Register, Volume 26, number 2 (April 1872), pages 303-323.

2. Walter Edward Thwing, History of the First Church in Roxbury, Massachusetts, 1630-1904 (Boston, 1908).

3. Vital Records of Roxbury, Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849 (Salem, Mass.: The Essex Institute, 1925), 2 Volumes.

4. Robert J. Dunkle and Ann S. Lainhart (editors), The Town Records of Roxbury, Massachusetts 1647 to 1730 (Boston, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1997).

5. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England (New York, AMS Press, 1868), 5 volumes.

6. Suffolk County Deeds, Volume 1, page 144, Hugh Pritchard estate to Robt. Seaber et al, executed 25 June 1651; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org), accessed on FHL Microfilm 0,493,932.

7. "Minutes of the town records of Roxbury, 1648-1846, Record of houses and lands, 1659-1716," imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org), accessed on FHL Microfilm 0,478,573.

8. Suffolk County Deeds, Volume 6, page 194; imaged, FamilySearch    (https://www.familysearch.org), accessed on FHL Microfilm 0,493,933).

9. Suffolk County (Massachusetts), Probate Records, 1636-1899, Volume 9, Page 130, Robert Seaver estate inventory; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org), accessed on FHL Microfilm 0,584,129.

10. Suffolk County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, 1636-1899, Volume 6, Page 416, Robert Seaver will; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org), accessed on FHL Microfilm 0,584,128.

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NOTE:  Genealogical sketches of many of my ancestors and relatives are in 52 Ancestors/Relatives Biographies.

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

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