John Seaman (1778 - 1869)

Born 19 Sep 1778 in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 19 May 1869 at age 90 in Pennsylvania, United States

Biography

From Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania:

John (2) Seaman, son of John (1) and Elizabeth (Schlabbig) Seaman, was born in Bern township, Berks county, Pennsylvania, September 19, 1779, died near Petersville, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1868, aged eighty-nine years and eight months, and is buried by the side of his wife at Zelienople, Butler county, Pennsylvania. He was baptized by the Rev. W. Lehman, his sponsors being John Rentschler and Salome Seaman, and had the advantage of a good education. He was a superior penman, writing both German and English, and books from his hand containing rules for the solution of problems in higher mathematics as well as books relating to th^ study of other branches, are still in existence. He followed the profession of surveying and was appointed by the governor as a justice of the peace, there being on record a number of settlements, agreements, and other legal documents which were drawn up under his hand and official seal. For a time he was engaged in mercantile dealings at Rehrersburg, Pennsylvania, but it is said that he was too generous in extending credit to his neighbors and in endorsing their notes, so that he failed in business. On account of some financial assistance received from his father, probably about this time, a legal document was drawn up in which he renounced all rights, title, claim and interest in his father's estate, a paper on file in the records of the Berks county court at Reading, Pennsylvania. At a later period he repaid every dollar of debt which was incurred in his business misfortunes. After these events John Seaman moved to Upper Paxton, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and then to Pillow, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, but remained only a short time in either place. He then lived for about a year in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, but did not like the locality, for while wolves were still plentiful in the forests, its greatest disadvantage was that the inhabitants of the region were also rough and "wild." About 1825 he moved to Harmony, Butler county, Pennsylvania, where he made his permanent home. At that period there existed at Harmony a peculiar German communistic organization known as the Harmony Society, of whom Father Rapp was then the spiritual head, and he sent for Mr. Seaman to come to Harmony. When Mr. Seaman arrived there he was employed by the Society, and later became its clerk and trusted agent, remaining so for many years. Father Rapp declaring that he never knew a more honorable man than John Seaman. In connection with this employment he still followed surveying, and was appointed justice of the peace, which office he held until 1860, prospering in his new home, finding contentment and enjoying the respect of the community. While here he wrote to his son Samuel in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, inviting his son to sell his property and to join him in the new home, urging as a reason better opportunities and better moral conditions in the community, which latter clause casts a flood of full light upon the sweetness of his character. In 1860 he left Harmony and made his home with his daughter, Lydia, wife of Francis Heckert, and there died.

He married, January 10, 1799, Catharine, daughter of John and Eva Alwein, of Bern township, Berks county, Pennsylvania. Children: i. Samuel, married Anna M. Spade and had twelve children. 2. Elias, of whom further. 3. Lydia, married Francis Heckert and had eleven children. 4. Elizabeth, married (first) Philip Heckert, (second) Samuel Teets, (third) William Ruby ; had two children by first marriage. 5. John. 6. Catharine, married Nicholas Miller and had six children. 7. Daniel. 8. Rachel. 9. Edward.

John Seaman, son of John Seaman, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and later removed to Harmony, in the same State, with the society known as "Harmonites." He married Katherine Allwine, also of Berks county, and they had three daughters and five sons.

Sources

• Jordan, John W. Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (Lewis Historical Pub. Co., New York, 1915, Vol 1, p. 90-92, 182-186)
• Find A Grave: Memorial #67191661