After reviewing listings in Boston, MA: Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1630-1699, (AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015) carefully, I disagree with the conclusion that the second dates for Elizabeth and Mary Seaborne are when they died. Instead, I think the first date under the heading “City” is their birth date and the second date under the heading “First Church” is their baptism. The pages throughout the source are labeled “Births and Baptisms” with marriages and death dates usually identified as such.
We find two entries (birth and baptism) for Elizabeth:
- page 13 – Boston, 1642, "Elizabeth of John & Mary Seavorne born 21st — 8th month"
- page 19 – First Church, 1644, "Elizabeth of Mary & John Seborne, 11 day 9 mo."
And two entries (birth and baptism) for Mary:
- page 18 – Boston, 1644, "Mary of John & Mary Severne born 15th — 7th month"
- page 19 – First Church, 1644, "Mary of Mary & John Seborne, aged about 7 days, 22 day 7 mo."
Notice the three entries (birth and death in city; baptism in church) for Deborah:
- page 20 – Boston, 1645, "Deborah of John & Mary Severne born 26th — 12th month & died 6th — 1st mo.
- page 24 – First Church, 1646, "Deborah of Mary & John Sebborne aged about 4 days, 1 day, 1 mo."
The second baptismal dates correspond almost exactly with the entry for John Seaborn/Sibborn in Savage’s Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers or New England, (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co, 1965), 4:47 which says (quote): "Sebborn, Sibborne, Seborne, or Seaborn, John, Boston, by w. Mary, wh. join. our ch. 10 Aug. 1644, had Elizabeth bapt. next day; Mary, 22 Sept. foll. a 7 days old; and Deborah, 1 May 1646, a. 4 days old." However, it appears Savage may have mistaken the month Mary joined the church as August rather than September (as given by Elizabeth’s baptism). The three dates for Deborah are sequential: her birth on Feb 26, baptism 4 days later on Mar 1, and death several days later on Mar 6th.
Consequently, I see no reason to question the marriage of Thomas Farnum to Elizabeth daughter of John and Mary Seaborn/Sibborn.
