Person:Norman Seaver (4)

Norman Seaver was born about 1734 or 1735, according to his age 53 (on his gravestone) at the time of his death in 1787 in Westminster.

He came to Narragansett No. 2 (later Westminster) in 1750 with his father, and money was paid to him by the proprietors in 1751. After the death of his father in 1752, he probably lived in Sudbury or Framingham with his mother. After he married in 1755, he lived in Sudbury where three children were born, and moved to Shrewsbury in 1760. Six children were registered there, and he moved to Westminster (formerly Narragansett No. 2) in 1773, purchasing lots 76 and 122 of the 3rd division from Heman Kendall; the property was between Prospect Hill and Beech Hill (Heywood, "History of Westminster, Mass.", Lowell MA, Vox Populi Press, 1893, hereafter "Heywood").

Norman Seaver, husbandman of Sudbury, bought 100 acres of land in Shrewsbury for 120 pounds on 15 September 1760 from Edward Raymond of Shrewsbury (Worcester County (Massachusetts) Deeds, Volume 47, Page 97, recorded 2 May 1762, FHL Microfilm 0,843,179).

Norman Seaver of Shrewsbury sold 15 acres of land in Shrewsbury, at the northeast corner of Maldin farm, on 14 January 1769 to Isaac Temple of Shrewsbury for 15 pounds. The land was bounded by land of Isaac Temple (east and west) and Norman Seaver (north and south) (Worcester County (Massachusetts) Deeds, Volume 72, Page 84, recorded 8 December 1773, FHL Microfilm 0,843,358).

Norman Sever, yeoman of Shrewsbury, bought 1 acre in Shrewsbury on 8 April 1772 for 2 pounds from Thomas Andrews, gentleman of Shrewsbury. The land was a triangular piece, bounded by land of Norman Sever, Thomas Andrews and Philip Munroe (Worcester County (Massachusetts) Deeds, Volume 77, Page 47, recorded 3 May 1777, FHL Microfilm 0,843,360).

Norman Sever, yeoman of Shrewsbury, sold land in Shrewsbury to Abel Osgood of Rutland on 22 April 1772 for 200 pounds, 13 shillings, 4 pence (Worcester County (Massachusetts) Deeds, Volume 87, Page 158, recorded 10 December 1782, FHL Microfilm 0,843,364).

Norman Sever, yeoman of Westminster, bought 127 acres of land in the northerly part of Westminster from Heman Kendall, yeoman of Lancaster, on 12 May 1773; It included 2/3 of lot 76, lot 125, part of lot 65, and another 3rd division lot; this land bounded land of Edward Jackson, Amos Gates, Joseph Spaulding, Asa Taylor and Wheeler (Worcester County (Massachusetts) Deeds, Volume 74, Page 142, recorded 12 August 1774, FHL Microfilm 0,843,359).

Norman Seaver, and several of his sons, served in the Revolutionary War. He was a Sergeant in Captain Noah Miles company which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775 to Cambridge and joined Colonel John Whitcomb's regiment there for eleven and one half days of service. He was reported as not having enlisted into the army. He served as an Ensign in Captain Francis Willson's company in Colonel Danforth Keyes regiment from June 27 to July 27, 1777, with the roll dated Providence; he served in the same company and regiment from December 1, 1777 to January 3, 1778, with the roll dated Providence. As a First Lieutenant in Captain Ebenezer Belknap's company in Colonel Nathaniel Wade's regiment, he was engaged on April 1, 1778 and discharged January 3, 1779, serving in Rhode Island. Muster rolls dated North Kingston, Rhode Island were taken on November 6 and December 1, 1778, and muster rolls at East Greenwich, Rhode Island were dated September 28, November 6, November 10, December 1, and December 30, 1778, with his term to expire on January 1, 1779. Several other Westminster men, probably sons of Norman Seaver, who served in the Revolutionary War were Benjamin, Joseph, and Isaac Seaver. In addition, Norman's brothers, Moses Seaver and Samuel Seaver of Westminster, served ("Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War", Volume XII, pub. Boston, 1905, p. 1006).

Norman Sever, yeoman of the county of Worcester, sold 5 acres 100 rods of land in the northerly part of Westminster to Joseph Spaulding, housewright of Westminster, for 10 pounds on 5 July 1776. The land was taken from the southeast corner of the Second Division lot No. 250, and was bounded by a maple tree, stakes and stones, and land of Joseph Spaulding (Worcester County (Massachusetts) Deeds, Volume 77, Page 35, recorded 28 April 1777, FHL Microfilm 0,843,560).

He also bought a different 5 acres and 100 rods of land in the northerly part of Westminster from Joseph Spaulding for 10 pounds. The land was bounded by stakes and stones (Worcester County (Massachusetts) Deeds, Volume 76, Page 148, recorded 5 August 1777, FHL Microfilm 0,843,360).

Norman Sever, yeoman of Shrewsbury, bought land in the northerly part of Westminster from Thomas Farnsworth of Westminster for 18 pounds on 25 December 1782 (Worcester County (Massachusetts) Deeds, Volume 87, Page 228, recorded 7 February 1783, FHL Microfilm 0,843,364).

Norman Seaver, gentleman of Westminster, sold about 3/4 acre of land in the Beech Hill meadow in the northeasterly part of Westminster to Amos Gates for 2 pounds, 5 shillings on 8 March 1784. The land was in the southwest corner of meadow number 40, and was bounded by lot 41, land of Norman Seaver and Amos Gates (Worcester County (Massachusetts) Deeds, Volume 91, Page 476, recorded 8 July 1784, FHL Microfilm 0,843,366).

Norman Seaver may have been commissioned as Captain of the Militia after the Revolutionary War ended, since he is styled "Captain" on his death record and his gravesite in Woodside Cemetery in Westminster.

Norman Seaver is listed as the holder of Pew No. 2 on the lower floor near the wall of the Second Meetinghouse. The pew cost between $31 to $66 (Heywood).

Norman Seaver was a carpenter by trade. He took a contract for enclosing and shingling on the second meetinghouse of the town. During the raising of the building he fell from the frame receiving fatal injuries (Heywood).

Norman Seaver, gentleman of Westminster, died intestate. His probate docket (Worcester County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, Probate Packet 52,914, reviewed and copied at Worcester Court House) includes the following documents:

On 25 Sep 1787, Widow Sarah Sever was appointed administratrix of the estate, and bond in the amount of 2000 pounds was given by William Edgell, and Josiah Puffer, sureties [Worcester County Probate Records, 179.530, LDS Microfilm 0,860,627]. On 28 Sep 1787 a Warrant of Appraisal was given for an inventory to be taken. [Worcester County Probate Records, 21.487, LDS Microfilm 0,856,285]. On 21 Oct 1788 the Account Balance of 150 pounds 19 shillings was allowed (Worcester County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, Volume 22, Page 139, FHL Microfilm 0,856,286).

On 21 Oct 1788 a Warrant for partition of the estate was issued to William Edgell, Josiah Puffer and Edward Jackson [Worcester County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, Volume 24, Page 263, FHL Microfilm 0,856,314). They found the home place with buildings and land comprised 106 acres lying in Westminster. An additional 3 acres were held in common with Timothy Heywood, Samuel Miller, and William Murdock, all of Westminster. In 1791, the inventory was recorded, with Real estate 215 pounds and personal estate of 159 pounds,19 shillings and 9 pence. The real estate included the 106 acre house lot with buildings (212 pounds) and a piece of land in common with Timothy Heywood and Samuel ??? and William Murdock (3 pounds) (Worcester County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, Volume 24, Page 370, FHL Microfilm 0,856,314).

On 3 Jan 1792, the Account balance of 3 pounds, 13 shillings and 9 pence was allowed and distribution to the heirs was ordered (Worcester County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, Volume 24, Page 358, FHL Microfilm 0,856,314). Heirs named in the distribution are:

       widow Sarah Seaver (1/3 dower right)
       son Benjamin Sever (2/3 real estate + double portion)
       son Isaac Sever,
       son Ethan Sever,
       son Daniel Sever,
       son Heman Sever,
       son Luther Sever, 
       son Asel Sever,
       daughter Eunice Whitney (wife of Elisha Whitney)
       daughter Sarah Cutter (wife of Josiah Cutter),
       daughter Relief Sever,
       daughter Faithfull Sever,
       daughter Lucinda Sever

In the distribution, son Benjamin Sever was awarded his double portion of 22 pounds and was ordered to pay the other children their equal share of 11 pounds each. (Worcester County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, Volume 24, Page 358, FHL Microfilm 0,856,314).

On 3 January 1792, Sarah Seaver was appointed guardian for daughters Feathe and Lucenden Seaver, while Samuel Gerrish was appointed guardian for Asel and Relief Seaver (Worcester County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, Probate Packet 52,863).

Norman Seaver is buried in Woodside Cemetery in Westminster, Massachusetts. There is a rough aged stone with "Norman Seaver" on it, and a newer stone noting that he was a Revolutionary War Soldier placed by the Sons of the American Revolution.

1. ↑ Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States. Vital records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849. (Worcester, Massachusetts: Franklin P. Rice, 1908)
   p. 247.

   SEAVER, Capt. Norman, [died] July 31, 1787, in 53d year. GS1 (Revolutionary marker.)
   [In 53d year, so age 52, born about 1735. GS1=Old Cemetery]

2. ↑ Find A Grave: Woodside Cemetery, Westminster, MA, in Find A Grave
   Capt Norman Seaver.

   In Memory of
   Cap^t NORMAN SEAVER
   who Deceased July
   31st, 1 7 8 7
   in the 53 Year
   of his age.