Person:Ebenezer Seaver (12)

From the work by William Blake Trask, "Robert Seaver of Roxbury 1634", in the New England Historic Genealogical Record, Vol. 26, July 1872.

"Instead of studying a profession, as was the case of a large portion of the graduates of that day, he chose the calling of a farmer. The fine rich acres of his ancestor had descended to him, and he enjoyed their cultivation. His table was abundantly supplied with the best the market afforded, as the write hereof can testify, and gave one the idea of a substantial country gentleman.

"He was chosen a member of Congress in Norfolk district from 1803 to 1813, a period of ten years. He was a member of the State Constitutional Convention of 1820. He was well versed in the history of his country, and true to what he held to be its highest interests. He belonged to the republican in distinction from the federal party of that day. He was in favor of the embargo, and advocated the declaration of war with Great Britain in 1812. He

had much influence with the administration during his several  terms in congress; was a great admirer of Jefferson, who was his  model of a gentleman, a statesman and politician.  Party spirit  at that time was exceedingly high; and numerous were the insults  offered him by his opponents, but he bore them with patience and  great forbearance.  He was, however, more intimately known to his  townsmen by his long continued services as Selectman, representative  to the general court from 1794 to 1802, and moderator of their  town meetings.  Here he came in contact with his fellow citizens; he knew their history, and the history of their progenitors back  to the first settlements of Roxbury.  For many years he held the  first named office, generally chairman of the board, and
administered their affairs with scrupulous integrity, wisdom  and economy.  Swindlers and imposters fared hard under his  administration, and it was the prevalent opinion that he was more  careful and attentive to the affairs of the town than to his own. 

No person was so wealthy, or so high, but he would denounce him  if he was dishonest.  In 1832, the town of Roxbury passed him a  vote of thanks 'for his long, faithful and unremitted services  for nearly forty years past'.

Notwithstanding his peculiar views in relation to religious opinions and customs, holding sentiments which would now perhaps be termed of the free religious type, his friends, associates and the public had the most unbounded confidence in his integrity and honor. While he was not obsessive in urging or parading his own views, he was candid, and tolerant of the opinions of others. With all these traits were combined many of the old puritan character. He was tender-hearted as a child; he felt deeply for the sufferings and woes of humanity, yet was firm in every post of honor or of duty, and inflexible against all encroachments prejudicial to the public weal, by whomsoever made.

In his death the town lost an honest man, his neighbors a counsellor and friend".

And from "Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1971":

"SEAVER, Ebenezer, a Representative from Massachusetts born in Roxbury Mass. July 5, 1763; was graduated from Harvard University in 1784; engaged in agricultural pursuits; member of the State house of representatives 1794-1802; elected as a Democrat to the Eighth and to the four succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1803-March 3, 1813); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1812 to the Thirteenth Congress; member of the State constitutional convention in 1820; again a member of the State house of representatives in 1822, 1823 and 1826. died in Roxbury Mass, March 1, 1844."

In the 1790 US Census, Ebenezer Seaver was a head of household in Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. The household included four free white males over age 16, one free white male under age 16, and three free white females (1790 United States Census, Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Page 205, FHL Microfilm 0,568,144).

In the 1810 United States Census, Hon. Ebenezer Seaver was a head of household residing in Roxbury, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. The household included three free white males under age 10, one free white male aged 10 to 16, five free white males aged 16 to 26, two free white males aged 26 to 45, one free white male over age 45, two free white females under age 10, two free white females aged 10 to 16, one free white female aged 16 to 26 and one free white female aged 26 to 45 (1810 United States Census Population Schedule, Roxbury, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, Page 550, FHL Microfilm 0,205,626).

In the 1820 United States Census, Ebenezer Seaver was a head of household in Roxbury, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. The household included two free white males aged 10 to 16, six free white males aged 26 to 45, one free white male over age 45, two free white females aged 10 to 16, three free white females aged 16 to 26 and one free white female over age 45 (1820 United States Census, Norfolk County, Massachusetts Population Schedule, Roxbury town, Page 078, FHL Microfilm 0,193,740).

In the 1830 United States census, Ebenezer Seaver was a head of household in the 1st Ward of Roxbury, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. The household included one free white male aged 5 to 10, nine free white males aged 20 to 30, two free white males aged 20 to 30, one free white male aged 60 to 70, one free white female aged 15 to 20, one free white female aged 20 to 30, one free white female aged 30 to 40 and one free white female aged 60 to 70 (1830 United States Census,Norfolk County, Massachusetts, Population Schedule, 1st Ward of Roxbury, Page 202, FHL Microfilm 0,337,918).

In the 1840 United States census, Ebenezer Seaver was a head of household in Roxbury, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. The household included two free white males aged 10 to 15, four free white males aged 20 to 30, two free white males aged 30 to 40, one free white male aged 70 to 80, one free white female aged 10 to 15, one free white female aged 20 to 30, one free white female aged 30 to 40 and two free white females aged 40 to 50 (1840 United States Census, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, Population Schedule, Roxbury, Page 120, FHL Microfilm 0,014,679).

Ebenezer Seaver died testate, and his probate records are in Norfolk County (MA) Probate Docket #16,329 (viewed on FHL MicroFilm 1,509,414): The will and petition were filed on 30 March 1844 and the will was accepted by the Court. However, the Executrix declined to serve, a bond was filed, and Aaron D. Williams was appointed the administrator.

The Will reads (transcribed from Norfolk County (MA) Probate Records, Vol. 77, Page 73):

"I, Ebenezer Seaver of Roxbury in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Esquire, do make and publish this my last will and testament follows to wit -

"I give and devise to my son Ebenezer Seaver, about twenty acres of pasture land situated in said Roxbury called the Walk(?) Hill pasture. Also about three and a half acres of fresh meadow land in the Great Meadow socalled in the middle parish in said Roxbury, also about twelve acres of woodland in Muddy Pond Woods socalled in Dorchester. To have and to hold the aforementioned parcels of land to him the said Ebenezer Seaver his heirs and assigns to his and their use and behalf forever -

"To my son Jonathan Seaver, I give and bequeath my silver tankard which came to me from my ancestors, and has been a long time in the Seaver family - I will, order and direct that the amount due in the note for two thousand dollars secured by mortgage of real estate, which my daughter Elizabeth Davis wife of Benjamin Davis holds against me, is paid her within one year of my decease.

"To my daughter Sarah Parker, widow of Thomas Parker deceased, I give and bequeath all the household goods and furniture which belonged to her in the lifetime of her said husband and which were conveyed by him to me. To have and to hold the same the said Sarah Parker, her executors, administrators, and assigns to her said use and behalf forever. And I do further will and direct that my said daughter, Sarah Parker, have a comfortable maintenance in sickness and in health from her two sons George J. Parker and Augustus Parker out of the estate which I have herein given them, so long as she shall remain a widow.

"I will order and direct that the amount due on the note for two thousand dollars secured by mortgage of Real estate, which my daughter Susan Seaver holds against me be paid her within a year of my decease. I do further give and devise to my said daughter Susan Seaver the use of such rooms in my mansion house in Roxbury, as she shall select, as long as she remains unmarried. And I do also give and bequeath to my said daughter Susan Seaver furniture of the value of one hundred dollars, to be selected by her, from the Inventory, made at the appraisal of my estate.

"To my two grandsons, George J. Parker and Augustus Parker, I give and devise my homestead farm in said Roxbury including five acres of land adjoining the land occupied by Ebenezer Davis(?) containing in all about twenty acres with the buildings thereon, also about eight acres of land in said Roxbury called the Long Pasture, adjoining the land occupied by said Davis(?). Also about nine acres of woodland in Muddy Pond Woods in Dorchester called the Martin Lot. Also about six and a half acres of marshland in Dorchester and also about five acres of marsh land upon the Island so-called in the full basin of the Boston and Roxbury Mill Corporation in said Roxbury. They the said George and Augustus providing for their said mother Sarah Parker out of said estate a comfortable support in sickness and in health, so long as she shall remain a widow, to have and to hold the above parcels of Real estate to them the said George and Augustus their heirs and assigns to their use and behalf forever. I also give and bequeath to my said grandsons all my farming tools, carriages produce of the farm, .... and on hand and stock upon the farm and also all my household furniture which is not herein otherwise disposed of, to have and to hold the same the said George and Augustus, their executors, administrators, and assigns to their use and behalf forever.

"And after the payment of my just debts, the legacies given by this last will and testament, funeral charges and expenses of settling my estate, I give bequeath and devise all the rest and residue of my estate, real and personal of every name and nature in equal undivided fifth parts to my said son Ebenezer Seaver, my said daughter Susan Seaver, and my three grandchildren, Thomas H. Parker, Lucy Parker and Sarah Parker to have and to hold the same to them the said Ebenezer, Susan, Thomas, Lucy and Sarah their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns to their use and behalf forever.

"And I do hereby appoint my said son, Ebenezer Seaver, Executor of this my last will and testament - In witness whereof I the said Ebenezer Seaver have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty eighth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three."

                                        Ebenr Seaver (seal)

"Signed, sealed and declared by the said Ebenezer Seaver to be his last will and testament, in presence of us who at his request, and in his presence have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto.

           Catherine Leland
           Henry Leland
           Wm Leland"

On 20 April 1844, an Inventory was filed (Col. 77, Page 1107). On 23 November 1844, a list of claims against the estate was filed, and a petition was filed to sell the real estate (Vol. 77, Page 1162). The court ordered the sale of the real estate (Vol. 77, Page 1000). On 12 April 1845, the return from sale of the real estate was filed (Vol. 78, Page 1263). On 19 April 1845, another list of claims was filed, another petition to sell the real estate was filed, and the Court ordered the sale, with a bond to be posted (Vol. 78, Page 1130).

On 19 April 1845, the Account of the administrator with the annexed will was allowed (Vol. 78, Page 508).

On 17 May 1845, the return of the sale of the real estate was filed (Vol. 78, Page 1264).

On 31 May 1845, the Account of the administrator was allowed by the Court (Vol. 78, Page 510).

For more information, see the EN Wikipedia article Ebenezer Seaver.

1. ↑ Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States. Vital Records of Roxbury, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849. (Salem, Massachusetts: Essex Institute, 1925-1926)
   page 310.
2. ↑ Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States. Vital Records of Roxbury, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849. (Salem, Massachusetts: Essex Institute, 1925-1926)
   page 633.
3.   Ebenezer Seaver, in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.