Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922) and Hattie Louise Hildreth (1857-1920)

One set of my great-grandparents were Frank and Hattie (Hildreth) Seaver who resided in Leominster, Massachusetts for many years. I don't have a clear picture of Frank Seaver. The only picture I have of Frank Seaver is this group photograph in front of the house at 149 Lancaster Street, taken in about 1907.


The photograph includes Sophia (Newton) Hildreth (seated) the widow of Edward Hildreth; Frank (second male from left standing) and Hattie (Hildreth) Seaver (seated on left); Frederick and Alma Bessie (Richmond) Seaver (third and fourth standing from the left); Harry Seaver (standing on left); and the three children of Fred and Bessie Seaver - Marion, Evelyn and Stanley (standing in front on the left).

I do have a good picture of Hattie (Hildreth) Seaver in her later years, as shown below, obtained from Marion (Seaver) (Braithwaite) Hemphill, one of Hattie's granddaughters. Hattie had red hair, which has been passed to several females in later generations.





Frank Walton9 Seaver (Isaac8, Benjamin7, Benjamin6, Norman5, Robert4, Joseph3, Shubael2, Robert1) was born 06 June 1852 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA (MA VR 64.198), and died 27 November 1922 in Leominster, Worcester County, MA (VR). He married Hattie Louise Hildreth 14 December 1874 in Keene, Cheshire County, NH (VR), daughter of Edward Hildreth and Sophia Newton. She was born 28 November 1857 in Northborough, Worcester County, MA (MA VR 107.232), and died 29 November 1920 in Leominster, Worcester County, MA (VR).

In the 1880 U.S. Census, the Frank W. Seaver family resided in Leominster, Worcester County, Massachusetts (National Archives Microfilm Series T9, Roll 565, Page 525, dwelling # 354, family #436, line 15). The family included

* Frank W. Seaver -- white, male, age 27, married, works in a comb shop, born MA, parents born MA/MA
* Hattie S. Seaver -- white, female, age 22, wife, married, keeping house, born MA, parents born MA/MA
* Frederick W. Seaver -- white, male, age 3, son, single, born MA, parents born MA/MA.

In the 1900 U.S. Census, the Frank Seaver family resided at 149 Lancaster Street in Leominster, Worcester County, Massachusetts. The Seaver family was renting the house (1900 U.S. Census for Massachusetts, National Archives Microfilm Series T623, Roll 692, Page 264, Enumeration District 1645, sheet 16, line 44). The family included

* Frank W. Seaver -- head of household, white, male, born June 1852, age 47, married 26 years, born MA, parents born MA, a teamster, rents home
* Hattie L. Seaver -- wife, white, female, born Nov 1856, age 43, married 26 years, mother of 3 children, 2 living, born MA, father born MA, mother born VT
* Fred W. Seaver -- son, white, male, born February 1876, age 24, single, born MA, parents born PA a painter of combs
* Harry C. Seaver -- son, white, male, born March 1885, age 15, single, born MA, parents born MA, a painter of combs
* Sophia Hildreth -- mother-in-law, white, female, born September 1835, age 64, widow, mother of 1 child, 1 living, born MA, father born ME, mother born MA

In the 1910 U.S. census, the Frank W. Seaver family resided at 146 Lancaster Street in Leominster, Worcester County, Massachusetts (1910 US Census for Massachusetts, National Archives Microfilm Series T624, Roll 629, Page 100, Enumeration District 1772, Sheet 13B, dwelling #149, family #257, line 96). The family included

* Sophia Hildreth -- head of household, female, white, age 73, widow, mother of 2 children, 1 living, born VT, father and mother born MA, speaks English, no occupation, can read and write, owns the home, free of mortgage
* Frank W. Seaver -- son-in-law, male, white, age 57, married once, 35 years, born MA, father and mother born MA, speaks English, foreman, works in horn supply, a worker, reads and writes
* Hattie L. Seaver -- daughter, female, white, age 52, married once, 35 years, mother of 3 children, 2 living, born MA, father born MA, mother born VT, speaks English, can read and write
* Harry C. Seaver -- son, male, white, age 25, single, born MA, father and mother born MA, speaks English, laborer, works in comb shop, a worker, can read and write

In the 1920 U.S. census, the Frank Seaver family resided at 149 Lancaster Street in Leominster, Worcester County, Massachusetts (1920 US Census for Massachusetts, National Archives Microfilm Series T625, Roll 747, Page 116, Supervisor District 3, Enumeration District 102, Sheet 5B, dwelling #68, family #132, line 7). The family included

* Frank W. Seaver -- head of household, male, white, age 66, married, born MA, father born MA, mother born MA, an assistant superintendent at a horn shop, a salaried worker, owns home free of mortgage, able to read, write, and speak English
* Hattie L. Seaver -- wife, female, white, age 62, married, born MA, father born MA, mother born VT, no occupation, able to read, write and speak English
* Harry C. Seaver -- son, male, white, age 34, single, born MA, father born MA, mother born MA, a button turner in a button shop, a wage worker, able to read, write and speak English
* Sophia Hildreth -- mother-in-law, female, white, age 82, widow, born VT, father born MA, mother born MA, retired, able to read, write and speak English
Family stories about Frank Seaver include that he was a dapper, handsome man, and had black curly hair and brown eyes, and looked like his mother, Lucretia Smith. He was about 5'10" tall. He was jolly and full of fun, but liked to drink beer, and smoked a pipe. They had a large home at 149 Lancaster St in Leominster with a wonderful garden, fruit trees, a barn in which they used to keep a horse and buggy, and raised bantam chickens. Frank was a manager of the Leominster Horned Goods Company, and died of a stroke at age 70 while at his work.

Frank W. Seaver died intestate, and his probate records are in Worcester County Probate Records, Probate Packet B-81,100 (viewed at Worcester County Court House, in Worcester, Massachusetts). The petition for administration was filed by J. Ward Healey on 6 September 1923. The heirs were listed as son Frederick W. Seaver and son Harry C. Seaver, both of Leominster, who assented to the petition. A $2,000 bond was posted by J. Ward Healey, Frederick W. Seaver and Harry C. Seaver. An inventory was taken 10 September 1923 by the administrator, finding a personal estate of $321.15 and real property valued at $1,200. The property was a one third interest as tenant in common in a two family dwelling house, farm and 10,890 square feet of land, all at 149 Lancaster Street in Leominster, MA, free from Mortgage.

The estate of Frank's mother-in-law, Sophia (Newton) Hildreth was probated before the probate of Frank Seaver. The estate of Frank's wife, Hattie (Hildreth) Seaver, was probated after Frank's estate was probated.

Frank Seaver died of a stroke, and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Leominster with his wife.

Hattie L. Seaver died intestate before her mother and her husband, and her estate was probated simultaneously with that of her husband (Worcester County Probate Records, Probate Packet B-81,101, reviewed at Worcester County Court House, Worcester, Massachusetts). J. Ward Healey petitioned the court to be named administrator of her estate on 6 September 1923. The heirs included husband Frank W. Seaver (who has since died), son Frederick W. Seaver and son Harry C. Seaver, both of Leominster.

An inventory was taken by J. Ward Healey on 10 September 1923 and found $33.10 in personal estate and $2,825 in real estate. The latter was the two family dwelling house at 149 Lancaster Street in Leominster, including a barn and 10,890 square feet of land. Bond of $4,000 was posted on 7 September 1923 by J. Ward Healey, Frederick W. Seaver and Frank C. Seaver.

The real estate was sold on 31 October 1923 for $6,000. The land is described as "land owned by the heirs of Edward Hildreth, Leominster, Mass." by Wm. P. Ray, C.E. It was on the southwesterly side of Lancaster Street, containing 19,317 square feet of land.

The final account of the estate of Hattie L. Seaver was submitted by J. Ward Healey on 10 December 1923, and approved by the court on 8 September 1924. The estate of $6,546.99 was distributed:

* To Harry C. Seaver, $2,700 in cash as his partial distributive share, including a $1,600 payment to Merchants National Bank which was borrowed by him.

* To Frederick W. Seaver, $2,700 in cash as his partial distributive share.

* The furniture was divided by Harry C. and Frederick W. Seaver.

$150 To the City of Leominster for perpetual care of the cemetery lots of Edward Hildreth and Frank W. Seaver.

$55 to Leominster Granite and Marble Works for gravestones, and $294 to Chas. H. Richardson, undertakers.

The balance went to the administrator for taxes, repairs on the house, insurance, and probate costs.

Hattie (Hildreth) Seaver died of stomach cancer, and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Leominster, Massachusetts with her husband.

Children of Frank Seaver and Hattie Hildreth are:
i. Frederick Walton10 Seaver, born 09 October 1876 in Leominster, Worcester County, MA (MA VR 279.311); died 13 March 1942 in Lawrence, Essex County, MA (VR). He married Alma Bessie Richmond 21 June 1900 in Leominster, Worcester County, MA (VR); born 16 February 1882 in Killingly, Windham County, CT (VR); died 29 June 1962 in Leominster, Worcester County, MA (VR).


ii. Harry Clifton Seaver, born 31 March 1885 in Leominster, Worcester County, MA (MA VR 360.330); died 22 May 1951 in Leominster, Worcester County, MA (VR). He married Rose Anna Noel About 1940 in prob. Leominster, Worcester County, MA; born 15 April 1897 in Nashua, Hillsborough County, NH; died 24 April 1948 in Leominster, Worcester County, MA (VR).


iii. Howard Edward Seaver, born 08 August 1893 in Leominster, Worcester County, MA (VR); died 10 April 1900 in Leominster, Worcester County, MA (VR).

The only descendants of Frank and Hattie (Hildreth) Seaver are through their son, Frederick Walton Seaver.

2 comments:

Terry Thornton said...

Randy, You mention that you don't have a clear picture of Frank Seaver. I was up against the same problem with my father --- the only photo I had of him as a child was a family group in front of their house. I turned the original photo over to a professional photographic restorer with great results --- the image of my father was isolated, touched up, and enlarged so that I now have a good 5 X 7 image of him as a lad. And while the restorer was at it, the entire image was redone, restored, and copied. It is a treasure. You might consider taking your one photo of Frank to someone and asking if they can "pull him out." TERRY

Bill West said...

Hi Randy,
After reading your post I checked
out your genealogy page because I
have some Hildreths among my own ancestors.

My ancestor Caleb Coburn's mother
Deborah Wright was the granddaughter of John Stevens and Elizabeth Hildreth.

There's a few more connections in that line but it's after 3am here so I'll leave those for another time!

Bill