William Seaver (abt. 1782 - 1821)

Born about 1782 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Martha (Davis) Seaver — married 12 Dec 1809 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Died 6 Jul 1821 at about age 39 in Alexandria, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Randy Seaver [send private message]

Biography

This biography was auto-generated by a GEDCOM import. It's a rough draft and needs to be edited.

Death

Death:

Date: 6 JUL 1821

Place: Alexandria, Virginia, United States^[1]

User ID

User ID: 5B7158F348AC4E229EAB59D09D58B65BF37E

Data Changed

Data Changed:

Date: 15 FEB 2013

Prior to import, this record was last changed 15 FEB 2013.

Note

Note: In the 1820 U.S. Census, this family resided in the Second Ward of Washington, D.C. (Page 81, National archives Microfilm Publication M33, Roll 5). The household included:

* 1 male aged 0 to 9

* 1 male aged 10 to 16

* 1 male aged 26 to 45

* 2 females aged 0 to 9

* 1 female aged 16 to 25

* 1 female aged 26 to 45.

William Seaver was a merchant and grocer in Washington D.C. in 1821, as evidenced by this advertisement in the City of Washington Gazette, dated 14 December 1820 (and published for another five weeks, accessed on GenealogyBank):

"Wholesale and Retail

Grocery and Commission Store

"The subscriber informs his friends and the public, that he has taken the large and commodious store, the west-house in Varnum's new Row, on Pennsylvania Avenure: where he intends keeping a complete assortment of Groceries, consisting in part, of the following articles:

New Orleans, St. Croix, and Leaf SUGARS.

Gunpowder, Imperial Young Hyson TEAS

Oranges, Almonds, English Walnuts, Muscatel, Bloom and Keg Raisins, Prunes and other FRUITS

London particular Madeira, London particular Teneriffe, Sicily Madeira and Choice Claret WINES

Nutmega, Cinnamon, Pepper, Alspice and other SPICES

Vognac Brandy, Spanish Brandy, Best Holland Gin, Best American do [Gin]

, Jamaica spirits, Antigua do [Spirits], New England do [Spirits], and other LIQUORS.

"Best Havana Segars, best London bottle Mustard, Keg do Honey, Sugarhouse West and India Molasses, Mould and Dipt Candles, Cheese, Jamieson's Crackers, Windsor and brown Soup, Chocolate, &c &c

"Best Esmily Flour, Buckwheat Flour and Penobscot Potatoes.

"A great variety of other articles, on hand, which, with additional supplies, daily expected, will form a complete assortment.

"N.B. All goods sent home for customers gratis, and if not approved, taken back, and the money returned.

"WILLIAM SEAVER."

William Seaver was murdered in Arlington, Virginia in July 1821. A Presidential Proclamation, signed by James Monroe, is on the James Monroe Presidency web page (http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=66271), which says:

"Proclamation 27 - Offering Reward for the Apprehension of the Murderer of William Seaver

July 10, 1821

"By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

"Whereas information has been received that an atrocious murder, aggravated by the additional crime of robbery, was on the 6th or 7th dau of this present month, committed in the county of Alexandria and District of Columbia on William Seaver, late of this city, and

"Whereas the apprehension and punishment of the murderer or murderers and his or their or accessary or accessaries will be an example due to justice and humanity and every way salutary in its operation:

"I have therefore thought fit to issue this my proclamation, hereby exhorting the citizens of the United States, and particularly those of this District, and requiring all officers, according to their respective stations, to use their utmost endeavors to apprehend and bring the principal or principals, accessary or accessaries, to the said murder to justice.

"And I do moreover offer a reward for $300 for each principal, if there be more than one, and $150 for each accessary before the fact, if there be more than one, who shall be apprehended after the day of the date hereof and brought to justice, to be paid upon his conviction of the crime or crimes aforesaid.

"In testimony whereof I have caused the seal of the United States to be affixed to these presents, and signed the same with my hand.

"Done at the city of Washington, this 10th day of July, A.D. 1821, and of the independence of the United States the forty-sixth.

"JAMES MONROE.

By the President:

"JOHN QUINCY ADAMS,

Secretary of State."

A newspaper article described the murder ("Murder," North Star (Vermont), issue of 26 July 1821, page 3: accessed on GenealogyBank (www.genealogybank.com)):

"Murder. -- The body of Mr. William Seaver, a respectable merchant of the city of Washington, was foundi n the bushes by the side of the road, leading from Potoman Bridge to Alexandria, on Sunday morning the 8th inst. He was shot through the head, and had his throat cut! His pockets were empty, and were doubtless rifled. He was on his return from alexandria, where he had been to purchase goods. He has left a wife and several children to lament this atrocious deed.

"The President of the U.S. has offered a reward of $300 for the apprehension of the murderer or murderers of Mr. Seaver."

Subsequently, the Mayors of Alexandria, Georgetown and Washington offered a $500 reward. The notices appeared in the Washington-area newspapers through October 1821.

The Boston Semi-Weekly Advertiser newspaper, dated 4 May 1822, reprints from the Washington Gazette newspaper (accessed on GenealogyBank):

"Murder of Wm. Seaver -- A man named Van Orden, whilst under confinement in the Baltimore penitentiary, it is reported, confessed to a fellow prisoner that he was the murderer of the late William Seaver. Orden, who, we understand, has, in consequence, been removed to the Alexandria jail for trial, was shortly after the perpetration of the horrid deed, apprehended on suspicion, examined in this city and discharged, for want of sufficient evidence. An intelligent friend, tells us Orden at that time, gave very contradictory statements, when closely questioned on the subject, seemingly incompatible with innocence; but still there was not sufficient testimony against him then to justify detention."

Reference

Reference: 23524

Marriage

Husband: William Seaver

Wife: Martha Davis

Marriage:

Date: 12 DEC 1809

Place: Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States^[2]

Husband: Ebenezer Seaver

Wife: Sarah Coolidge

Child: Sarah Seaver

Child: Ebenezer Seaver

Child: @I15015@

Child: Joseph Seaver

Child: John Seaver

Child: Andrew Seaver

Child: Richard Seaver

Child: Thomas Seaver

Child: William Seaver

Child: Anna Seaver

Marriage:

Date: 29 NOV 1763

Place: Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States^[3]

Sources

• Source: S708 Abbreviation: James Monroe Presidential Papers Title: "Proclamation 27 - Offering Reward for the Apprehension of the Murderer of William Seaver," The American Presidency Project (http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=66271)

1. ↑ Source: #S708
2. ↑ Source: #S716
3. ↑ Source: #S514 Page: 349 Quality or Certainty of Data: 3

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Randy Seaver for creating WikiTree profile Seaver-257 through the import of Robert Seaver Descendants - 6 generations.ged on Dec 13, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Randy and others.