Person:Benjamin Seaver (13)

Data for this family was obtained from Jim Kendall of Houston, Texas (kendall_ja@@yahoo.com) on 17 August 2005 via email, in a report "Descendants of Benjamin Seaver (RD)," dated 17 August 2005.

The marriage of Benjamin Seaver occurred at Brattle Street Church, and was recorded in the "Columbian Centinel" newspaper issue of 15 August 1818. It reads:

"MARRIAGES. in this town, by Rev. Mr. Palfrey, Mr. Benjamin Seaver of the house of Whitwell, Bond & Co to Miss Sarah Johnson, both of this town."

In the 1820 United States Census, Benjamin Seaver was a head of household residing on South Street in Boston Ward 11, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. The household included one free white male under age 10, one free white male aged 16 to 26, one free white male aged 26 to 45, one free white female aged 10 to 16, one free white female aged 16 to 26, one free white female aged 26 to 45 and one free white female over age 45 (1820 United States Census, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Population Schedule, Boston Ward 11, Page 289, FHL Microfilm 0,193,741).

In the 1830 Federal Census, Benjamin Seaver was a head of household in the 4th Ward of Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. The household included one free white male under age 5, two free white males aged 5 to 10, one free white male aged 15 to 20, two free white males aged 30 to 40, one free white female age 5-10, two free white females aged 20-30, one free white female aged 30-40 and one free white female aged 50 to 60 (1830 United States Census, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, 4th Ward of Boston, Page 149, Roll 65, National Archives Microfilm Series M19).

In the 1850 US Census, Benjamin Seaver (age 54, male, merchant, born ME) and Chas Seaver (age 21, male, clerk, born MA) resided in Ward 4 of Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts [National Archives Microfilm Series M432, Roll 335, Page 203, Dwelling #??, Family #??, Lines 21-22]. Sarah Seaver (age 54, female, born MA) resided in the McLean Asylum for Insane in Somerville, Middlesex County, Massachusetts [National Archives Microfilm Series M432, Roll 324, Page 375, Dwelling #??, Family #??].

The Memorial of Benjamin Seaver in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register (Volume 10, April 1856, page 196) reads:

"Seaver, Hon. Benjamin, of Boston, at Roxbury, 14 Feb. in his 61st year. He was a native of Roxbury, b. there 12 April 1795, was brought up at the auction business in the well known establishment of Whitwell, Bond & Co., and finally became a partner in it, until its failure in 1837. Soon after that he became associated with a similar house, which went under the name of Whitwell & Seaver and was chosen Mayor of the City in 1852. Having been defeated of an election in 1852, he soon after visited Europe. Not being in sound health since his return, he had not been much in active business, living somewhat retired, enjoying the society of his friends, by whom he was much respected."

Another summary of his civic career appeared in the book "Boston, 1822 to 1922: the Story of its Government and Principal Activities During One Hundred Years," published by the City of Boston Printing Department, 1923. It reads:

"Born in Roxbury, April 12, 1795; died February 14, 1856; served during 1852-53.

"Two elections were necessary before Mr. Seaver was chosen, and at the second he received only one vote more than the united votes of his four opponents. He had been a member of the Common Council for five years, and at the time of his election was in business as an auctioneer. Mayor Seaver applied most of his efforts to keeping down the expenditures for municipal purposes. On his recommendation, the Board of Land Commissioners was established in 1853, in place of a joint committee of the City Council. During the first year of his administration, the tax rate stood at $6.40 and was raised later to $7.60, in order that all expenditures might be met from taxes. The city debt was reduced $234,000, through the sale of city property and through higher taxes. Mayor Seaver will be remembered principally through his effort to secure a building for the Public Library."

An obituary for Benjamin Seaver was published in the New York Times newspaper dated 16 February 1856. It reads:

“Obituary. We announce the death of HON. BENJAMIN SEAVER, a distinguished citizen, with regret and sadness. He died at the residence of his son-in-law in Roxbury, yesterday morning. He had been ill for several months. MR. SEAVER for many years occupied a prominent position in the mercantile circles of Boston, having for years been a member of the auction and commission house of WHITWELL, SEAVER & Co. He was esteemed for his honest and honorable dealing, and for his strict integrity in his business connections with his fellow-men. In 8145, '46, '47, '48, and '49, he was an influential member of the Common Council, over which body he presided during the later portion of his services. In 1852 and '53 he filled the office of Mayor. It is not too much to say that the various trusts of a public nature committed to his care, were executed with fidelity, zeal, and to the best of his ability. --Boston Bee, 15th”

1. ↑ Roxbury (MA) Vital Records to 1850
   page 309.
2. ↑ Births - Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841 to 1905
   Volume 103, Page 167.