The SEAVEY Family

Laura Mariah SEAVEY, circa 1960.

The Seavey Puzzle

Laura Mariah SEAVEY married Harry Guy KENISTON. She was the daughter of John Quincy SEAVEY and Drusilla Jane STEWART (photo taken about 1910)


    Children of John and Drusilla SEAVEY
  1. Sylvanus R. STEWART - b: 23 December 1858, Andover, NH. Never married.
  2. Clara Etta SEAVEY - b: 9 April 1862 in Andover, Merrimack, NH; m: Orrin VITTUM.
  3. Mary Lydia SEAVEY - b: 10 March 1866 in Andover, Merrimack, NH; m: Arthur H. KIBBE.
  4. Laura Mariah SEAVEY - b: 30 August 1869 in Andover, Merrimack, NH; d: 25 June 1961 in Northfield, Merrimack, NH; m: 30 August 1890 to Harry Guy KENISTON.
  5. Herman Hiram SEAVEY - b: 7 June 1875 in Andover, Merrimack, NH; m: 14 October 1898 to Emma Maria CROSBY.

    Children of Andrew and Lydia SEAVEY
  1. Herman Jenness SEAVEY - b: December 1826, Andover, Merrimack, NH; d: 7 January 1827.
  2. Mary Pike SEAVEY - b: 28 January 1828 in Andover, Merrimack, NH; m: William W. TILTON.
  3. Andrew Jackson SEAVEY - b: 7 October 1830 in Andover, Merrimack, NH; d: 5 December 1897 in Andover, Merrimack, NH; m: 9 May 1855 to Arvilla Lovina PIERCE.
  4. Samuel Jenness SEAVEY - b: 2 September 1832 in Andover, Merrimack, NH; d: 30 August 1834.
  5. James Munroe SEAVEY - b: 28 July 1838 in Andover, Merrimack, NH; d: 10 December 1896; m: 23 May 1857 to Lucy Cutting COREY; m; 2nd Vansana JEFFERS.
  6. John Quincey SEAVEY - see above.
  7. Lydia Jane SEAVEY - b: 31 January 1839 in Andover, Merrimack, NH; m: John HILLS.
  8. Joseph SEAVEY - b: 19 April 1843; d: 29 April 1843.

    Children of Joshua and Nancy SEAVEY
  1. Andrew SEAVEY - see above.
  2. True SEAVEY - b: in Andover, Merrimack, NH, d: 8 January 1886 in Springdale, Maine; m: Sarah Ann TRUSSELL.
  3. David SEAVEY - m: 2 April 1829 to Betsy MORGAN.
  4. Alpheus SEAVEY - b: in Andover, Merrimack, NH; m: 4 Mary 1829 to Almena SANBORN.
  5. Susan A. SEAVEY - b: 14 July 1834 in Andover, Merrimack, NH; m: Jesse F. WILSON
  6. Eleanor F. SEAVEY - b: 19 May 1836 in Andover, Merrimack, NH; m: 4 July 1853 to Jacob MOOAR
  7. Ploma SEAVEY - b: 19 March 1838 in Andover, Merrimack, NH; d: 8 October 1839.

    Children of George and Hannah SEAVEY
  1. Henry SEAVEY - b: in Deerfield, NH; d: 4 September 1857 in Andover, Merrimack, NH; m: 24 August 1797 to Joanna CILLEY. (His name appears as "Sceva" in the Andover records and his descendants subsequently used Sceva.)
  2. Susanna SEAVEY - b: 25 May 1778 in Deerfield, NH; m: Job CILLEY.
  3. Joanna SEAVEY - b 1780 in Deerfield, NH.
  4. Jane SEAVEY - b: 1780 in Deerfield, NH
  5. Joshua SEAVEY- See above.

The Seavey Puzzle

I hope you like brainteasers, 'cuz this is certainly a baffling one!

There is much debate about this George Seavey. However due to an exhaustive research of censuses, town records, military records, land records, church records, etc., I have formulated the following hypothesis: Comments, corrections and/or other theories wanted!

George Seavey – The Enigma

According to people who have been doing this research the belief is that there are three George Seaveys

  1. Born 1738, son of William and Hannah Seavey of Rye, NH
  2. Born 1768, son of William and Ruth (Moses) Seavey of Chichester.
  3. Born ? 1755, unknown origin. DOB theoretical, no proof.

George #2 was born, married and died in Chichester, NH. He is the nephew of George #1 being the son of William, George #1's brother, so he is not our direct ancestor.

Known information
George #1 married Mary Blake. She was born about 1740. We don’t have marriage date. They had five children: George, David, Mary, John and Joseph. The only birth date we have is for Joseph who was born about 1771.

George #3 married Hannah Flood. (We don’t know when she was born or when they were married. We don't have proof of her father but the theory was that it was Enoch of Newbury, MA, but I have found evidence that she was not his daughter!) She died in Andover, NH in 1808. They had at least 5 children, possibly 7: Henry, Joshua, Susanna, Joanna, Jane and possibly Betsey and Benjamin. (I doubt Betsey and Benjamin!)

Additional information:

  1. A George Seavey lived in Deerfield NH in the early 1770’s.
  2. There is a George Seavey on the tax rolls in Deerfield NH
  3. There is a George Seavey noted in the town records with a cattle mark.
  4. There is a George Seavey listed on the 1776 census for NH living in Deerfield.
  5. A George Seavey signed the Association Test in 1776 in Deerfield.
  6. A George Seavey of Deerfield enlisted in the Revolutionary War in 1776.
  7. There are two George Seaveys in the 1790 federal census for NH – one in Deerfield, one in Chicester (see above).
  8. A George Seavey sold property to a Henry Seavey in 1796 in Andover, NH.
  9. A George Seavey was a member of a committee who sold property to Elias Smith in Salisbury in 1798.
  10. Two George Seaveys on the 1800 federal census; one in Andover, NH, one in Chichester, NH (see above).
  11. Two George Seaveys on the 1810 federal census; one in Andover, NH, one in Chichester, NH (see above).
  12. Two George Seaveys on the 1820 federal census; one in Andover, NH, one in Chichester.
  13. A George Seavey paid taxes in Andover, NH each year until 1827.
  14. One George Seavey on 1830 federal census in Chichester, NH
  15. A George Seavey is listed as a member of the Baptist Church of Salisbury NH from 1810 to 1817. Also listed as members are Henry Seavey, Henry Seavey, Jr., Joanna Seavey, Hannah Seavey Keniston and Jane Seavey. (Henry, Joanna and Jane believed to be siblings of George).
  16. A George Seavey sold property to Weare Hillard in Andover, NH in 1816.
  17. A “Mr. Ceivy” died in Andover, NH 1830 (recorded by Rev. Josiah Babcock).

From the information above I have formed the following opinion and I have given my reasons.

Hypothesis: I submit that George Seavey who lived in Deerfield who was born 1738 who was son of William and Hannah Seavey and married Mary Blake is the same George Seavey who married Hannah Flood. (ie George #1 and #3 above are the same George).

Reasons: There was only one George Seavey living in Deerfield NH according to all known records searched. While married to Mary Blake he had George, probably born about 1763, David, Mary and John who may have died because there is no further record of them and Joseph who was born about 1771. I believe wife Mary probably died soon after Joseph’s birth. George then married Hannah Flood and had 5 or 7 more children all born in Deerfield: Henry born about 1773, Joshua born about 1775, Susanna born about 1778, twins Joanna and Jane born about 1780 and possibly Betsey and Benjamin born about 1782 and 1784. This is the same George Seavey who signed the association test in Deerfield and enlisted in the continental army in 1776. He is listed in Deerfield records as paying taxes and his cattle mark is noted. I believe he died before 1790 because there are only two George Seaveys on the 1790 census and one of them is in Chichester.

Hypothesis: I submit that the George Seavey found in the 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820 and 1830 censuses in Andover and on the church roll in Salisbury, selling land in Andover and Salisbury is George Seavey Jr, son of George Seavey and Mary Blake.

Reasons: On the 1790 census, George Seavey is head of household with the following: 2 males 16+ and 3 females 16+. So where are the rest of the children? If this is George Seavey Sr, then where is George Jr, Joseph and Henry who are all over 16, and Joshua and the girls under 16? If this is George Jr. then this could be him and Henry as males over 16, his mother and wife and perhaps sister Mary (who may not have died as mentioned above)?? But where are Joseph, Joshua and the rest of the girls.?? I suspect they are with a guardian other than their brother. Need to look into guardianship papers. What happened to the missing George Seavey? (George #1 and George #3 ? as Jr. is old enough by now to be head of household?)

On the 1800 census, George Seavey as head of household was between 26-45 years of age, making his birth between 1755 and 1774. There was one female over 45 being born before 1755. This fits with George Junior and could have had his stepmother Hannah living with him as she did not die until 1808, and was not found living with her son Henry or any other child.

On the 1810 census George was over 45, being born before 1765 but wife was between 26-45 making her born 1765 and 1784, which fits with a wife since his mother Mary would have been (70+) born 1740-ish and stepmother, Hannah (50-ish) born before 1755 and both were dead by now. (or did George Sr marry again, a much younger woman, and if so, where is George Jr?)

A George Seavey was on the rolls of the Baptist Church in Salisbury, NH from 1810 to 1817. Also on the list were Henry, Henry Jr., Jane and Joanna Seavey. They probably had to travel to Salisbury to attend a Baptist church. If this is George Seavey Sr. then where was he on all the other censuses???

On the 1820 census, George, head of household was over 45 and there was one female over 45 in Andover. I believe this is George Jr. and his wife. If this is George Sr. then who is the female over 45 and where is George Jr.?

On the 1830 census, there is no George Seavey in Andover, neither Sr or Jr. Perhaps this is the “Mr Ceivy” who died as noted in Rev. Babcock’s records.

Hypothesis: (Many researchers have indicated the George Seavey of Andover moved to Stafford, Genesee, NY. Even the LDS IGI has George Seavey born 1738 as being there.) The George Seavey in Stafford, Genesee, NY is the son of Joseph and grandson of George Seavey Sr (born 1738) and Mary Blake.

Reasons: On the 1820 census for Stafford, Genesee, NY, George Seavey as head of household is age 26-45, born 1776-1794, has one child female under 10 and one female (wife?) ages 16-24, born 1795-1804. We know that George son of Joseph was born 1794. Joseph is the son of George Sr and wife Mary. On the 1820 census he is 45+, born before 1775 which fits as he was born about 1771. We know he was in Vermont in 1810 from the census there, and we think he then moved to New York.

I would love for anyone to add information to this and send disputes. My final results thus far are.

George Seavey

married
  1. Mary Blake about 1762 had 5 children. She died about 1771.
  2. Hannah Flood about 1772 and had 5-7 children. She died 1808 in Andover, NH.

George Seavey Jr.

Send comments, disputes, corrections, theories, etc to Carol

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