American Seymour Genealogy

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
====== William Seymour ======

//Note: This information was supplied by Paul Carleton Seymour.//

WILLIAM<sup>6</sup> SEYMOUR (//[[038.samuel|Samuel]]//<sup>5</sup>,
//[[015.samuel|Samuel]]//<sup>4</sup>,
//[[006.Matthew|Matthew]]//<sup>3</sup>, //[[002.Thomas|Thomas]]//<sup>2</sup>,
//[[001.Richard|Richard]]//<sup>1</sup>), born 1758 in Greenwich, Fairfield, CT, 
died 1811 in Newburgh, Orange, NY.  Married first Esther SANDS of Long Island.
Married second Eliza POWELL (daughter of Henry, Long Island).  Had one son, William Jr. with Rhoda Chidsey [[http://www.chedsey.com/probate/john56.html|Rhoda Chidsey of E. Haven, CT]].
William is recognized in the book -- [[http://books.google.com/books?id=PxgXUZMJSzUC&lpg=PA328&ots=GhLWj7dC7S&dq=william%20seymour%20newburgh&pg=PA328#v=onepage&q=william%20seymour%20newburgh&f=false|History of the Town of Newburgh]]

^ Children with first wife, Esther Sands of Oyster Bay, Long Island (1766-1796): ^^
| Drake | b. 1783 Greenwich, CT d. near Newburgh, NY June 25, 1824 accidentally shot in hunting accident http://www.pawchs.org/newspapers/SusqDem1824.html No information on any children|
| Samuel Sands | b. 1790 Newburgh, NY, S. S. Seymour married Abigail Fowler who died 1817, thay had 3 children, Elizabeth, Martha Jane and Augustus.  SS was Aide de Camp in Army. No info on Augustus|
| William C. | b. 1791 in Newburgh, living as of 1861 in Brooklyn, NY.  m: Jane Ann Maison 1815.  He was the father of Rev. Charles Seymour, a graduate of Columbia College (B.A., 1836, M.A., 1839), born at Newburgh, N.Y., 16 Jan. 1819; he was graduated from the General Theological Seminary in 1844 died at Nyack. N.Y., 29 June 1895|
| Esther E. | b. 1796 |
^ Children with second wife, Eliza Powell, daughter of Henry Powell, Long Island: ^^
| Margaret | b. 1804 Newburgh, d:1845 New Orleans, married Joseph Kernochan, had son Joseph Frederic Kernochan-Yale, Columbia law, Wall St. Lawyer. Daughter Elizabeth Garr\\ //Note: See portrait below.//  |
| Mary Powell| b. 1805 Newburgh, married James S. Abeel, US Army|
^ Child with Rhoda Chidsey, b. 1764, d. c 1820, daughter of John Chidsey, E. Haven, CT: ^^
| [[william7|William, Jr.]] | b. 1785 E. Haven, CT, d. 1827 Cannonsville, Delaware, NY. Ten children |

---- 

This portrait miniature was found by a collector and reported to me in 2023.  It shows Margaret Elizabeth (Seymour) Kernochan and appears to have been done around 1830.  (This is just a guess based on her apparent age in the portrait).  Note also that the text on the back describes the debunked story of the Seymours' relationship to Edward Seymour, Lord Protector.
|{{portrait_of_margaret_elizabeth_seymour_kernochan_front_.jpg?400|Portrait of Margaret Elizabeth (Seymour) Kernochan (front)}}|{{portrait_of_margaret_elizabeth_seymour_kernochan_back_.jpg?400|Portrait of Margaret Elizabeth (Seymour) Kernochan (back)}}|

----

**//William Seymour, Sr. (1758-1811), and other Seymours
in the Revolutionary War, then First in our line of the Connecticut Seymours to move into New York state//**

**by Paul Seymour**

When I set out on my quest to learn my ancestry I didn't even know who my
Great-Great Grandfather was.  He could have been from England for all I
knew.  As it turned out, finding the link between Great Grandfather Clinton
Seymour to his father was the biggest challenge.  Once I learned that
Clinton was descended from William Jr., I then had a link to William Sr.
over in Newburgh.   I found some conflicting information on this
relationship, as it was a little bit murky, which I'll explain later in this
chapter.  First, William Sr.'s youth and the Revolutionary War.

As we just saw in the previous chapter, William's father was an important
political leader in Greenwich during the Revolutionary War.  William would
have turned 18 in 1776, so naturally I started looking for his war service
records, and discovered that he enlisted and was made a fifer, along with at
least 59 other Seymours who served in various roles during the War.
Following is the list of Seymours from the Daughters of the American
Revolution website,
[[http://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search_adb/default.cfm]] with
our 2 guys, William and Samuel listed here first:

**__SEYMOUR__, [[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102459|WILLIAM]]**
Ancestor #: **A102459**\\
Service: CONNECTICUT    Rank: FIFER\\
Birth: 4-13-1758    GREENWICH CONNECTICUT\\
Death: 4-18-1811     NEWBURGH ON HUDSON NEW YORK\\
Service Description:  1) CAPT CASE

**__SEYMOUR__, [[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102447|SAMUEL]]**
Ancestor #: **A102447**\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: PATRIOTIC SERVICE\\
Birth: 1730    NORWALK CONNECTICUT\\
Death: 4- -1818     GREENWICH CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description:  1) MEM COMM SAFETY

**SEYMOUR, DRAKE**
Although not listed on the DAR website, I stumbled across a record of a Drake Seymour, Sergeant and Drummer, who served under Capt. Abraham Meade of Horseneck.  Therefore, although 60 Seymours have been officially recognized, we now have proof that at least one wasn’t, and maybe more.  Since I found this in the book – Ye Historie of ye town of Greenwich (page 133) [[http://www.archive.org/stream/yehistorieofyeto00mea#page/132/mode/2up]], I think it’s safe to assume that this is Samuel’s son and William’s brother.

Drake lived in Greenwich until 1819, and had 5 daughters, 3 of whom lived and died in Greenwich, while the other 2 married and moved to Fishkill, NY.   Drake was also listed along with his father, great-great, etc. Grandpa Samuel, amongst those who were officially recognized as losing property during the War, and eligible to receive land grants (aka Fire Lands because the British had burned their town) in Huron and Erie Counties of Ohio In this listing, [[http://www.archive.org/stream/historyoffirelan00wil#page/16/mode/2up/search/seymour]] it shows Samuel with a greater loss than Drake.  William would name his first son Drake, so he obviously had a lot of respect for his big brother.

**SEYMOUR, SAMUEL**
Similar to Drake, I also found a record in the book: Ye Historie of ye town of Greenwich (page 137) [[http://www.archive.org/stream/yehistorieofyeto00mea#page/132/mode/2up]],for William’s brother, Samuel (born 1763).  He’s listed as a private in Capt. Joseph Hobby’s company.  As he would have been a young teenager, and since no Samuel Seymours from Greenwich are listed on the DAR website, I think we can assume that this was Drake and William’s younger brother, and may explain his early death, but there’s no direct evidence of how he died.

I have found no history at all of Samuel III, beyond this revolutionary war record, and noted that he wasn’t listed in his father’s will of 1818, so evidently he died young, making William’s line the only one that has carried on to today, since Drake had only daughters.  William named his second son Samuel Sands, maybe for his younger brother coupled with his wife’s surname, as evidently she died giving birth to Samuel.




I think it's kind of cool that great- great, etc. grandpa William
was a fifer in the Revolutionary War.  I remember watching movies about the
war, and when seeing the fifer and drummer out in front of the advance,
walking directly into enemy fire, thinking that they must be crazy.  I would
want something more dangerous than a piccolo in my hand under those
circumstances.  But really, I know nothing about the fife and drum role, so
I went and looked it up: [[wp>Fife_(musical_instrument)]]

{{william6_1.jpg|}}

"Fifes are an ancient instrument, referred to in Europe as the 'Schweizer
Pfeife', or Swiss flute. When played in their upper register, the fife is
loud and piercing, yet also extremely small and portable. By some reports a
band of fifes and drums can be heard up to 3 miles away over artillery fire.
These qualities made it useful for signaling on the battlefield by European
armies beginning in the Renaissance period (See also Early modern warfare).
Armies from Switzerland and southern Germany are known to have used the fife
(Soldatenpfeife) as early as the 15th century. Swiss and German mercenaries
were hired by monarchs throughout Western Europe, and they spread the
practice of military fifing. By the 16th century, the fife was a standard
instrument in European infantries.

The fifer also gave signals at camp such as the call to arms. While the
infantry company marched, the drummer and fifer set the cadence. During
marches, the fifer improvised tunes, creating variations on a theme while
keeping the rhythm of the march. While the unit rested, the drummers and
fifers played music to entertain the soldiers.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the protocols of the Fifes and drums
became intricately associated with infantry regiments only. They were never
used as signaling instruments by the cavalry or artillery. These units used
trumpets and/or kettle drums. Each company of an infantry regiment was
assigned 2 fifers and 2 drummers. When the Battalion (5 companies) or
Regiment (10 companies) was formed up on parade or en masse movement, these
musicians would be detached from the companies to form a 'band' from which
the term band rises. Detached to their individual companies, the signal
duties included orders to fire, retreat, advance, and so forth. By the 18th
century, the military use of the fife was regulated by armies throughout
Europe and its colonies. The rank of Fife Major was introduced, a
noncommissioned officer responsible for the regiment's fifers, just as a
Drum Major was responsible for the drummers. Books of military regulations
included standard fife calls to be used in battle or at camp. During the
American Revolutionary War, the British and Americans used the 'Scotch' and
English Duties (particular melodies associated with various military
duties). American martial music was influenced by that of the British
Military throughout the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Beginning in the early 19th century, warfare was changing and fifes were no
longer practical as combat signaling devices. The fife was gradually
replaced by the infantry bugle (origin of the valved cornet). They were
still used as signaling instruments (opposed to musical instruments) by
American units during the Civil War but gradually phased out by the 1880s.
//See the biography of General Truman Seymour in Wikipedia, and note that he
established much of the bugle protocol for the US military that still exists
today.  //A similar regime occurred in the British Army. The US Marines were
the last American units to drop fifers from their roles. However, the
British have an unbroken tradition of using fife and drums corps attached to
their regiments. They still parade regularly with the regiments. Germany
also continued with an unbroken tradition of fife and drum corps until the
end of World War 2. They were not a mere function of the Hitler Jugend but
integral to the Regular German Army. The bands of fifes and drums were
regularly at the head of regimental parades and ceremonies of the infantry
regiments."

//I also wondered if there was some sort of honor code which protected the
Fifer and Drummer from being targeted since they were unarmed, and found out
that: [[http://putnampark.org/Apr2010NewsLetter.pdf]]//

<blockquote>
"The drums were used for two main military purposes: the first for cadence while
marching; and the second, and most important, for relaying commands to the troops. The
drummers, usually one per company, stayed close at hand to the company Captain. Many
of the instructions to the troops were relayed by drum calls. These calls were standardized in the Continental Army. A drummer (**and then with addition of fifers**) earned the same pay as a corporal. There are various arguments as to the reason for the higher pay, like the drummer marched in battle either out in front with the Captain, or on the side of the front line with the Captain. This made him a primary target, especially during hand-to-hand combat which pitted a drummer with a seventeen inch drum stick against a Brown Bess musket with bayonet with a reach of 75 inches. With the number of drum calls they had to learn (and be good at ) skill was certainly a factor. Music for entertaining was another story. Even though this occasionally happened, Entertainment music, or Band Musick, was never played during normal camp or march periods, so has not to confuse critical commands like the //Assembly //call played before the skirmish at Lexington.."
</blockquote>

//So I guess they were exempted from doing any killing, but were definitely
targets.//

There were two Captain Cases from Connecticut.  Job and Zaccheus, both from
Simsbury and both in the 18<sup>th</sup> Regiment.

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A020380|
CASE, ZACCHEUS]]** Zacheus served in Capt. Case's Co. at the Lexington
Alarm. He was Capt. of the 18th Militia Regiment in 1778 Col. Noadiah
Hooker's Connecticut regiment which was in the brigade of General Erastus
Woldott

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A020351|
CASE, JOB]]** Capt. Job Case was born on 3 Jun 1737 in Simsbury, Hartford Co.,
CT. He died on 6 Oct 1798 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT. Served in the
Revolution. Entered the army as Lieutenant, and, 1779 was captain of militia
when New Haven was attacked. He had charge of the company transporting
cannon balls from the iron works at Salisbury to Boston.  Served under
Colonels Phelps and Hooker.

I did a lot of searching but didn't find any information about what either
of the units of these two Captains did during the War.  Above we see that
Job Case was leading a unit transporting cannon balls to Boston, and they
were both at the "Lexington Alarm".

Below are the other 58 men who were //officially// recognized for their
service.  All but three are from Connecticut and NY, so almost certainly
descended from our Richard.  Another Seymour had also settled in Virginia.
Also not included here, of course, are the sons, grandsons, etc of Seymour
mothers, grandmothers, etc. who also trace back to the same family tree, but
with different last names.

We can only imagine what hardships many others in our family, who were not
officially recognized, went through during the war.  For example, you'll see
later that Samuel's property, and one of William's brothers' property were
burned by the British during the War.  Therefore the families were in great
danger, and probably left homeless for a period.

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102378|
SEYMOUR, AARON]]**  Ancestor #: A102378\\
Service: CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth: 3-4-1749    HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death: 8-20-1820     HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description: **1)** LT SEYMOUR, MAJ NEWBERRY, 4TH CO.,**2)** 1ST REGT.,HARTFORD

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102381|
SEYMOUR, AARON]]**   Ancestor #: A102381\\
Service: CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth: 3-11-1744    HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death: 11-26-1795     HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description: **1)** LEX.ALARM; ALSO UNDER CAPTS SEDGWICK,**2)** JONATHAN WADSWORTH

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102383|
SEYMOUR, ABEL]]**    Ancestor #: A102383\\
Birth: 5-5-1760    HAMPSHIRE CO VIRGINIA\\
Death: 8-26-1823     HARDY CO VIRGINIA

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102384|
SEYMOUR, ABIJAH]]**    Ancestor #: A102384\\
Service: CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth: 7-9-1762    RIDGEFIELD FAIRFIELD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Death: 4-26-1848     WILTON FAIRFIELD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description: **1)** CAPT DAVID OLMSTEAD'S CO.  **2)** COL NEHEMIAH BEARDSLEY,CAVALRY REGT.MIL.

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102385|
SEYMOUR, ALLYN]]**    Ancestor #: A102385\\
Service: CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth: 7-12-1757    HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death: 7-15-1828     REDFIELD OSWEGO CO NEW YORK\\
Service Description: **1)** CAPT SEDGWICK,COL CHESTER **2)** WADSWORTH'S BRIGADE

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102386|
SEYMOUR, ANDREW]]**   Ancestor #: A102386\\
Service:  CONNECTICUT    Rank: SOLDIER\\
Birth:  5- -1734  Death:  12- -177     NEW CANAAN CONNECTICUT

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102388|
SEYMOUR, ASA]]**   Ancestor #: A102388\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth:    9-16-1756    WEST HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death:    2-12-1837     GRANVILLE MASSACHUSETTS\\
Pension Number:  *S6072

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102389|
SEYMOUR, ASA]]**   Ancestor #: A102389\\
Service:  CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth: 3-5-1760    HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death: 10-28-1810     HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description: **1)** CAPT MATTOCK

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102390|
SEYMOUR, ASHBEL]]**   Ancestor #: A102390\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: SERGEANT\\
Birth:   1-25-1748    WESTHERSFIELD HARTFORD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Death:   7-31-1814     WEST HARTFORD HARTFORD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Service Source:   CT MEN IN THE REV.BY JOHNSTON P 25,50-51\\
Service Description:  **1)** ALSO PVT, CAPT JOHN CHESTER 9TH CO

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102391|
SEYMOUR, CHARLES]]**   Ancestor #: A102391\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: CAPTAIN\\
Birth:   (BAPTISED) 1-29-1738    HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death:   5-16-1802     HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description:  **1)** ALSO LT

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102392|
SEYMOUR, DANIEL SR]]**    Ancestor #: A102392\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: CAPTAIN\\
Birth:   7-19-1730    HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death:   11-8-1815     HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description:   **1)** COL HEZEKIAH WYLLYS

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102396|
SEYMOUR, EBENEZER]]**   Ancestor #: A102396\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth:   (ANTE) 1757    WEST HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death:   1808     ONEIDA CO NEW YORK\\
Service Description:   **1)** CAPT CHARLES SEYMOUR

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102395|
SEYMOUR, ELI]]**   Ancestor #: A102395\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth:   11-1-1761    WEST HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death:   (POST) 1838     ERIE -PROB PENNSYLVANIA\\
Service Description:   **1)** CAPT WYLLYS,LCOL GROSVENOR,3D REGT.

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102399|
SEYMOUR, ELIAS]]**   Ancestor #: A102399\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth:   8-23-1738    WEST HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death:   (POST) 1782     LITCHFIELD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description:   **1)** CAPT WOOSTER,COL SAMUEL B.WEBB

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102400|
SEYMOUR, ELIAS]]**   Ancestor #: A102400\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth:   2-28-1746    NEWINGTON HARTFORD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Death:   10-6-1828     NEWINGTON HARTFORD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Service Source:   JOHNSTON, CT MEN IN THE REV, P 581\\
Service Description:   **1)** CAPT POMEROY, COL CHAPMAN

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102398|
SEYMOUR, ELIJAH]]**   Ancestor #: A102398\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: CORPORAL\\
Birth:  8-6-1745    WEST HARTFORD HARTFORD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Death:   7-22-1806     SKANEATELES ONONDAGA CO NEW YORK\\
Service Source:   JOHNSTON, CT MEN IN THE REV PP. 17, 480, 483\\
Service Description: **1)** LEXINGTON ALARM, CAPT SETH SMITH; MAJ SHELDON'S REGT LIGHT HORSE,  **2)** CAPT URIAH SEYMOUR'S CO

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102415|
SEYMOUR, ELISHA JR]]**   Ancestor #: A102415\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: SERGEANT\\
Birth:   1-27-1744    HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death:  10-20-1776     W.HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description: **1)** CAPT ABRAHAM SEDGWICK,COL CHESTER  **2)** GEN. LEE

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102402|
SEYMOUR, ELISHA SR]]**   Ancestor #: A102402\\
Birth:   1722    HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death:   1790     HARTFORD CONNECTICUT

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102416|
SEYMOUR, EZRA]]**   Ancestor #: A102416\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth:   6-19-1748    NEW CANAAN CONNECTICUT\\
Death:   1815     NEW CANAAN CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description:  **1)** CAPT SCOFIELD,COL MEAD

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102439|
SEYMOUR, FELIX]]**   Ancestor #: A102439\\
Service:   VIRGINIA    Rank: PATRIOTIC SERVICE\\
Birth:   1725    IRELAND\\
Death:   2- -1798     MOOREFIELD HARDY CO VIRGINIA\\
Service Source:   ABERCROMBIE & SLATTEN, VA REV PUB CLAIMS, VOL 2, P 449\\
Service Description: **1)** FURNISHED BEEF FOR PRISONERS  **2)** AT WINCHESTER,1782

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102417|
SEYMOUR, FREEMAN]]**   Ancestor #: A102417\\
Service: CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth: 1-17-1756    HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death: 4-29-1800     HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description:  **1)** COL WOLCOTT

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102418|
SEYMOUR, HEZEKIAH]]**   Ancestor #: A102418\\
Service:  CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth:  7-11-1745    HARTFORD HARTFORD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Death:  8-28-1815     NEW HARTFORD ONEIDA CO NEW YORK\\
Service Source:  JOHNSTON, CT MEN IN THE REV P 382,483\\
Service Description:  **1)** CAPTS PRIOR, URIAH SEYMOUR; MAJ SHELDON
**2)** COL WOLCOTT JOHNSTON, CT MEN IN THE REV P 382,483

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102419|
SEYMOUR, HORACE]]**   Ancestor #: A102419\\
Service: CONNECTICUT    Rank: CAPTAIN\\
Birth: 1761    HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death:      LANSINGBURG NEW YORK\\
Service Description:   **1)** COL SHELDON

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102421|
SEYMOUR, JAMES]]**   Ancestor #: A102421\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: QUARTERMASTER SERGEANT\\
Birth:  5-26-1752    NORWALK CONNECTICUT\\
Death:   12-11-1835     NORWALK CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description:   **1)** CAPT SEYMOUR

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102422|
SEYMOUR, JESSE]]**   Ancestor #: A102422\\
Service: NEW YORK    Rank: ENSIGN\\
Birth: 6-30-1754    NEW CANAAN FAIRFIELD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Death: 1829     BREWSTER PUTNAM CO NEW YORK\\
Service Source: O'CALLAGHAN, DOCS REL TO THE COL HIST OF STATE OF NY, "NY IN THE REV," VOL 15, PP 306-307\\
Service Description: **1)** LCOL THADDEUS CRANE, CAPTS BENJAMIN CHAPMAN, EBENEZER SCOFIELD,4TH REGT.,MILITIA

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A207051|
SEYMOUR, JESSE]]**   Ancestor #: A207051\\
Service: CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth: 12-4-1763    NEW HARTFORD LITCHFIELD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Death: (BURIED) 12-6-1811     STILLWATER SARATOGA CO NEW YORK\\
Service Source: BATES, ROLLS & LISTS OF CT MEN IN THE REV, VOL 8, P 105\\
Service Description: **1)** SHORT LEVIES, CT LINE, 11 JULY -- 30 OCTOBER, 1781

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102423|
SEYMOUR, JOASH]]**   Ancestor #: A102423\\
Service: CONNECTICUT    Rank: CAPTAIN\\
Birth: 5-1-1742    WATERBURY NEW HAVEN CO CONNECTICUT\\
Death: 11-17-1795     WATERTOWN LITCHFIELD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description: **1)** ALSO PVT,CAPT BENEDICT ARNOLD  **2)** COL DAVID WOOSTER

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102424|
SEYMOUR, JOHN]]**   Ancestor #: A102424\\
Service: CONNECTICUT    Rank: PATRIOTIC SERVICE\\
Birth: 11-24-1726    HARTFORD HARTFORD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Death: 2-5-1809     W.HARTFORD HARTFORD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description: **1)** INSPECTOR OF PROVISIONS,HARTFORD

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102425|
SEYMOUR, JOHN]]**   Ancestor #: A102425\\
Service:  CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth:  1711    NORWALK CONNECTICUT\\
Death:  9-8-1796     NORWALK CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description:  **1)** LT CARTER,9TH REGT.

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102426|
SEYMOUR, JONATHAN]]**   Ancestor #: A102426\\
Service:  CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth:  8-27-1759    KENSINGTON HARTFORD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Death:  7-26-1819     OTSEGO CO NEW YORK\\
Service Source:  JOHNSTON, CT MEN IN THE REV, P 499\\
Service Description:  **1)** CAPT BRAYS CO, COL HOOKERS REGT

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102427|
SEYMOUR, JOSEPH]]**   Ancestor #: A102427\\
Service:  CONNECTICUT    Rank: ENSIGN\\
Birth:  (BAPTISED) 7-14-1728    HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death:  1790     COLEBROOK CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description:  **1)** CAPT SAMUEL ROCKWELL, 18TH REGT.,MIL.

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102428|
SEYMOUR, JOSEPH]]**   Ancestor #: A102428\\
Service:  CONNECTICUT    Rank: SOLDIER\\
Birth:  (BAPTISED) 2-23-1751    HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death:  1828     WESTERN NEW YORK\\
Service Description:  **1)** CAPT JOHN HARMON,COL DURKEE

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102429|
SEYMOUR, JOSIAH]]**   Ancestor #: A102429\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: SOLDIER\\
Birth:  10-11-1759    WATERBURY CONNECTICUT\\
Death:  12-20-1804     WATERBURY CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description:  **1)** CAPT ELIPHALET LOCKWOOD,COAST GUARDS

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102430|
SEYMOUR, LEVI]]**   Ancestor #: A102430\\
Birth:  (BAPTISED) 3-19-1764\\
Death:  1850     GREENWICH HURON CO OHIO

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102431|
SEYMOUR, MOSES]]**   Ancestor #: A102431\\
Service:  CONNECTICUT    Rank: MAJOR\\
Birth:  7-25-1742    HARTFORD HARTFORD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Death:  9-17-1826     LITCHFIELD LITCHFIELD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description:  **1)** ALSO CAPT

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102432|
SEYMOUR, NATHAN]]**   Ancestor #: A102432\\
Service:  CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth:  (ANTE) 1760\\
Death:  (POST) 1796\\
Service Description:  **1)** CAPT SCOFIELD, GEN WOOSTER

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102433|
SEYMOUR, NATHANIEL]]**   Ancestor #: A102433\\
Service:  CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth:  1-28-1757    CANAAN PAR FAIRFIELD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Death:  9-12-1846     GREENFIELD GREENE CO NEW YORK\\
Pension Number:  *S15225 Service Source: *S15225\\
Service Description: **1)** CAPTS BENEDICT, SEYMOUR, SCOFIELD
**2)** COL JOHN MEAD

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102438|
SEYMOUR, NOAH]]**   Ancestor #: A102438\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth:   11-10-1759    NEW HARTFORD LITCHFIELD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Death:   3-6-1832     SODUS WAYNE CO NEW YORK\\
Service Source:   JOHNSTON, CT MEN IN THE REV., P 495\\
Service Description:   **1)** COL BELDEN,CAPT PETTIBONE, 6TH MILITIA

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102440|
SEYMOUR, RICHARD]]**   Ancestor #: A102440\\
Service: GEORGIA    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth: 1758    GEORGIA\\
Death:  1848     PUTNAM CO GEORGIA

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102441|
SEYMOUR, SAMUEL]]**   Ancestor #: A102441\\
Service:  CONNECTICUT    Rank(s): SOLDIER, FIFER\\
Birth:  10-20-1759    NORWALK CONNECTICUT\\
Death:  7-25-1821     VESTAL NEW YORK

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102442|
SEYMOUR, SAMUEL]]**   Ancestor #: A102442\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth:  9-21-1755    NORWALK FAIRFIELD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Death:  1-23-1834     WALTON DELAWARE CO NEW YORK\\
Pension Number:  *S28873  Service Source:   *S28873\\
Service Description: **1)** 3RD REGT OF LIGHT HORSE  **2)** CAPTS CALEB ST JOHN & ABRAHAM GREGORY

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102443|
SEYMOUR, SAMUEL]]**   Ancestor #: A102443\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: SERGEANT\\
Birth:   1-21-1754    HARTFORD HARTFORD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Death:   11-14-1837     LITCHFIELD LITCHFIELD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Pension Number:  S*W17797  Service Description:  **1)** ALSO PVT,CAPTS SEDGWICK,GOODWIN,MARSH &  **2)** BEACH,COLS HOOKER,STRONG

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102444|
SEYMOUR, SETH]]**   Ancestor #: A102444\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: CAPTAIN\\
Birth:   (CIRCA) 1740    NORWALK CONNECTICUT\\
Death:   1777     NEW YORK CITY NEW YORK

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102445|
SEYMOUR, STEPHEN]]**   Ancestor #: A102445\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: CAPTAIN\\
Birth:   7-21-1718    WATERBURY NEW HAVEN CO CONNECTICUT\\
Death:   11-13-1807     SHARON LITCHFIELD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Service Source:   HOADLY, PUB RECS OF THE STATE OF CT, 1776-1781, VOL 1, P 273\\
Service Description:   **1)** ALARM COMPANY 10TH REGT

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102446|
SEYMOUR, THADDEUS]]**   Ancestor #: A102446\\
Service:  NEW YORK    Rank(s): PRIVATE, PATRIOTIC SERVICE\\
Birth:  8-25-1737    WESTCHESTER CO NEW YORK\\
Death:  1- -1811     POUND RIDGE NEW YORK\\
Service Description: **1)** LCOL BENEDICT,4TH REGT.,WESTCHESTER CO
**2)** MIL.,EXEMPTS; OATH OF ALLEGIANCE 1777

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102448|
SEYMOUR, THOMAS]]**   Ancestor #: A102448\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: LIEUTENANT COLONEL\\
Birth:   3-17-1735    HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death:  7-30-1829     HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description:  **1)** LIGHT HORSE

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102450|
SEYMOUR, THOMAS]]**   Ancestor #: A102450\\
Service:   VIRGINIA    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth:   1756    HARDY CO VIRGINIA\\
Death:   4-16-1831     LICKING CO OHIO\\
Service Description:  **1)** GEN MCINTOSH

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102451|
SEYMOUR, THOMAS]]**   Ancestor #: A102451\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth:   1727    NORTH WILTON CONNECTICUT\\
Death:  2-16-1812     NORTH WILTON CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description:  **1)** CAPT REUBEN SCOFIELD

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102453|
SEYMOUR, THOMAS YOUNG]]**   Ancestor #: A102453\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: CAPTAIN\\
Birth:  6-19-1757    HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death:  5-16-1811\\
Pension Number: *S

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102454|
SEYMOUR, TRUMAN]]**   Ancestor #: A102454\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth:  (BAPTISED) 11-9-1760    WEST HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death:  7-27-1812     ALBANY NEW YORK\\
Service Description:  **1)** LT CHARLES SEYMOUR,COL BELDEN,MIL.

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102455|
SEYMOUR, URIAH]]**   Ancestor #: A102455\\
Service:  CONNECTICUT    Rank: CAPTAIN\\
Birth: 9-9-1735    HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death: 1800     NEW HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description:  **1)** ALSO LT

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102456|
SEYMOUR, WILLIAM]]**   Ancestor #: A102456\\
Service:  CONNECTICUT    Rank: LIEUTENANT\\
Birth:  1730    NORWALK CONNECTICUT\\
Death:  1821

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102458|
SEYMOUR, WILLIAM JR]]**    Ancestor #: A102458\\
Service:  CONNECTICUT - NEW YORK    Rank(s): PRIVATE, FIFER\\
Birth:  11-15-1754    NEW HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death:  12-22-1841     POMFRET NEW YORK\\
Service Description: **1)** CAPTS LATHAM,AUSTIN,STRONG,LAWRENCE,
**2)** THOMPSON,COLS LEDYARD,BURRALL,MC CREA

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102457|
SEYMOUR, WILLIAM SR]]**    Ancestor #: A102457\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank(s): CIVIL SERVICE, PATRIOTIC SERVICE\\
Birth:  8-18-1728    HARTFORD HARTFORD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Death:  5-18-1782     NEW HARTFORD LITCHFIELD CO CONNECTICUT\\
Service Source:  TOWN RECORDS, NEW HARTFORD, CT EXCERPTS MADE BY TOWN CLERK, JANUARY 8, 1929, DOCUMENTATION WITH NSDAR #863114+993\\
Service Description: **1)** SIGNED OATH OF ALLEGIANCE,SURVEYOR OF
**2)** HIGHWAYS,& SEALER OF WEIGHTS

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102460|
SEYMOUR, ZACHARIAH]]**   Ancestor #: A102460\\
Service:  CONNECTICUT    Rank: CORPORAL\\
Birth:  1-4-1759    HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death:  7- -1822     CANANDAIGUA NEW YORK\\
Service Description: **1)** PVT,COL SAM'L B.WEBB,CAPT WHITING ASST.
**2)** CMSRY OF ISSUES,DEP.COM.OLIVER PHELPS

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102461|
SEYMOUR, ZACHARIAH]]**   Ancestor #: A102461\\
Service:  CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth: 9-24-1712    HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death: 8-27-1777     HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Service Description:  **1)** CAPT CHESTER WELLS,COL CHESTER

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102463|
SEYMOUR, ZADOCK]]**   Ancestor #: A102463\\
Service: CONNECTICUT    Rank: PRIVATE\\
Birth: 4-30-1757    WATERBURY NEW HAVEN CO CONNECTICUT\\
Death: 11-2-1845     POMPEY HILL ONONDAGA CO NEW YORK\\
Pension Number: *S29440 Service Source: *S29440
Service Description: **1)** CAPT JOSEPH MANSFIELD, COL RETURN MEIGS

**[[http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A102464|
SEYMOUR, ZEBULON]]**   Ancestor #: A102464\\
Service:   CONNECTICUT    Rank: ENSIGN\\
Birth:  9-12-1736    HARTFORD CONNECTICUT\\
Death:  7-27-1807     HARTFORD CONNECTICUT

While looking for our William, I found first another William Seymour.  He kept a diary which is an important historical account and a very interesting read. "Journal of the Southern Expedition, 1780-1783, by William Seymour, Sergeant-Major of the Delaware Regiment."    Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 7 (1883): 286-98, 377-94.
http://www.battleofcamden.org/seymour.htm 

William Sr. was born in Greenwich CT, the fourth child and second son of
Samuel Jr. in 1758. In 1790, about 150 years after his GGG Grandfather
Richard landed in Hartford as a founding member of that town, and then later
also a founding member of Norwalk, William Sr. then  moved to Newburgh,
Orange, NY at the age of about thirty two.  We don't know much about what he
did in Greenwich, or between there and Newburgh.  But we do know that he
started his family in  Connecticut, as he had his first two sons there.
[[http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~dav4is/ODTs/SEYMOUR.shtml#MARVIN1_2]]

To complicate matters they were with two different women, one of whom was
his wife Esther Sands.  Our William Jr. was born to Rhoda Chidsey in 1785
two years after Drake was born to his legal wife in 1783.  I've seen
conflicting evidence of where William Jr. was born, either in Greenwich or
East Haven.   It would make more sense that he was born in East Haven, as
this is where Rhoda is from, and she was a bit young at 21 to have been in
Greenwich on her own.  Either way, it sounds a bit sticky, and might explain
the subsequent withdrawal of William Sr. and Esther to Newburgh in 1790.

**Rhoda Chidsey of East Haven (1764-1820?)**

First let's learn about the Chidseys.
[[http://www.chedsey.com/probate/john56.html]]  As you can see at this site,
Rhoda, born 1764, is mentioned as having married William Seymour, but this
doesn't mesh with other facts as noted above.  Of interest regarding Rhoda
Chidsey, GGGGG Grandma Chidsey as a matter of fact, you also see that her
time and place of death are unknown, and I haven't been able to find any
other information about her, except that she probably accompanied William
Jr. to Delaware County around 1800.   If you follow Rhoda's trail on the
above site, you'll also see that she was the GG granddaughter of an early
arrival of East Haven.  Deacon John Chedsey (//spelled this way on site//)
arrived from England in 1645 or 46.

She was the 8<sup>th</sup> of 11 children born to John Chidsey (1720-1783)
and Sarah Shepard (1728-1783), married 1745.

[[wp>East_Haven,_Connecticut]] The Town of East Haven, after being founded
by Puritans in 1638 and then changing names several times, became an
incorporated town in May 1785. "At the initial town meeting, Isaac Chidsey
was named First Selectman on July 5, 1785." Ironically the year of William
Jr.'s birth.  Isaac was neither a brother nor an Uncle, so some sort of
cousin, but we can guess that E. Haven was a small town, and having an
illegitimate child in a prominent, politically active and religious family
might have been inconvenient.   A Chidsey Boulevard still exists there
today.

**Newburgh, New York**

Back to William Sr., he was evidently a good businessman, and a civic leader
in the young, and growing town of Newburgh.  Newburgh is about 60 miles up
the Hudson River from NYC.  It seems that it was a safe haven for some
people escaping NYC from the British during the Revolutionary War, and was a
patriot stronghold.  It was also home to an "almost military coup" in 1783,
just seven years before William arrived, which is interesting but beyond the
scope of this ancestry, but here's a link with information.
[[http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/milestones/newburgh/]]

[[http://www.firststepsdesign.com/historyindustrial.htm]] "Before the days
of railroad and canals, Newburgh was a natural outlet for much of the
country's trade. After all, it was on the Hudson River and was the only main
shipping point north of New York City. The construction of the turnpikes in
the early 1800s initiated Newburgh's ascent. It opened up an avenue of trade
extending miles into the interior, bringing products to Newburgh for
shipment to New York City. As merchants relocated to Newburgh, the Newburgh
Bank opened its doors and the city began to prosper. Between 1800 and 1810,
the population of the town grew almost 50 percent to 4,600."

William Seymour Sr. played a major role in the development of the turnpikes
mentioned above in the early history of Newburg as we'll see later.  He also
played a major role in what was apparently a big dispute over the Episcopal
Church's power, thereby establishing a separation of church and government.
According to the book
//__[[http://books.google.com/books?id=PxgXUZMJSzUC&lpg=PA328&ots=GhLWj7dC7S&dq=william%20seymour%20newburgh&pg=PA328#v=onepage&q=william%20seymour%20newburgh&f=false|
History of the Town of Newburgh]]__//

{{william6_2.gif|}}

Obviously William was highly trusted, even though he had just arrived from
Greenwich.  William was also a major local businessman.  I wonder where the
money to start the shipyard came from?

{{william6_3.gif|}}

{{william6_4.gif|}}

//Later he was also entrusted with the construction of a new courthouse//.

{{william6_5.gif|}}

//His 3rd son William C. also carried on William Sr.'s civic duties after
his early death//.

{{william6_6.gif|}}

//And finally, the author wrote an extremely complimentary biographical
sketch of the man//.

{{william6_7.gif|}}

{{william6_8.gif|}}

As an objective point of view from an unrelated third party, this is very
telling.  If you review the entire book, you'll note that he was especially
complimentary of William.  Also note that neither Rhoda nor William Jr. are
mentioned at all.  I don't know if this means that they were kept secret by
William, or if it was an intentional omission by the author.

It also raised another question, at least for me.  What was the Liverpool
Trade?  Well, leave it to me to go and look it up.  According to Wiki-
[[http://www.liverpoolwiki.org/Liverpool_History#head-0e81feea2011f352afc8e576e8e767c54f0ace78]]

"From about 1730 the merchants of Liverpool made profits from the slave
trade. The trade formed the 'Slave Triangle'. Finished goods were traded to
the Africans in return for slaves. The slaves were transported across the
Atlantic to the West Indies and the Southern States with sugar, cotton and
tobacco brought back to Liverpool.

Liverpool was late in the slave trade behind Lancaster and Bristol, yet
quite quickly eclipsed all others monopolising the trade. Two thirds of all
slaves transported from Africa to the Americas sailed in Liverpool ships.
Slaves never entered the port of Liverpool. The reality was that the slave
trade was only a sideline for many merchants and shippers, being just one of
the legs in the trade triangle, not the foundation of the great port. When
slavery was abolished in 1807 it made little impact to the ports economy,
with many prominent Liverpool people campaigning against slavery.

After the abolition of slavery, many slave merchants turned to building
cheaply made, congested housing around the dock areas to cater for the
expanding port - which quickly turned into slums. They turned from dealing
from one human misery to another."

//Oh well, William just built the ships.  I did another bit of research on
the ships that he built.  I'm not sure if there was more than one Liverpool
Packet, or not, but one was very famous, and I didn't come across proof that
it was, or wasn't the same ship.//

[[wp>Liverpool_Packet-wp>Liverpool_Packet]]

"Liverpool Packet was a privateer schooner from Liverpool, Nova Scotia,
which captured 50 American vessels in the War of 1812. During the war the
privateer ship was briefly captured by American privateers, eventually being
recaptured by the British. The Liverpool Packet was the most successful
privateer vessel ever to sail out of a Canadian port.

Canadian privateer

The Liverpool Packet was originally the American slave ship Severn, captured
by HMS Tartarus in August 1811. The American schooner was condemned as an
illegal slave ship by the Halifax Vice Admiralty Court as both Britain and
the United States had recently outlawed the Transatlantic Slave Trade.  The
ship was ordered sold at auction by the Court, she was purchased by Enos
Collins and other investors in October 1811. They renamed her Liverpool
Packet, although she was sometimes bore the nickname The Black Joke, a name
of several infamous slave ships. At first, her owners used the small and
fast schooner as packet ship carrying mail and passengers between Halifax
and Liverpool, Nova Scotia.

War of 1812

Upon the outbreak of the War of 1812, the owners of the Liverpool Packet
quickly converted her to a privateer. Under the command of Joseph Barss Jnr,
she captured at least 33 American vessels during the first year of the war.
His strategy was to lie in wait off Cape Cod, snapping up American ships
headed to Boston or New York.

Captive

She was a menace to New England shipping until the Americans captured her in
1813. On 10 June the privateer schooner Thomas of Portsmouth, New Hampshire,
Captain Shaw, master, mounting twelve guns and manned with a crew of one
hundred men encountered Packet. Thomas chased her for about five hours but
light winds prevented Liverpool Packet from escaping.

Liverpool packet struck her colours but then as the Americans came alongside
the two vessels ran into each other. As the British ran up to push the
vessels apart the Americans, fearing they were going to be boarded, boarded
Liverpool Packet. Firing broke out that killed three Americans.[4] American
anger over their earlier losses to the Packet resulted in poor treatment of
Barss, who languished in jail for months on a diet of bread and water until
he was exchanged for American prisoners held in Halifax.

In American hands she was briefly renamed Young Teaser's Ghost and then
Portsmouth Packet. Under the name Portsmouth Packet, Captain John Perkins,
she had a short, unsuccessful career failing to capture a single prize for
the Americans

Recaptured

The HMS Fantome recaptured the Liverpool Packet off Mount Desert Island,
Maine, after a chase of thirteen hours. At the time, the privateer schooner
was armed with five guns, carried a crew of 45, and had sailed from
Portsmouth the previous day.

The recaptured schooner was brought into Halifax where her original owners
repurchased her and restored the name of Liverpool Packet. Under a new
captain named Caleb Seeley, she captured fourteen prizes before the year
ended. In 1814, she captured additional prizes in May and June. Then in
August, she took two prizes while acting in concert with HMS Shannon while
they were sailing off of Bridgeport and New York. Liverpool Packet continued
to work often with British naval vessels right to the war's end.

After the war, her owners sold her in Kingston, Jamaica; her subsequent fate
is not known. The War of 1812 was the last time the British allowed
privateering, since the practice was coming to be seen as politically
inexpedient and of diminishing value in maintaining its naval supremacy."

//Although the Packet is listed as being from Nova Scotia, I don't know if
that means that it was purchased by and sailed by Canadians, or if it was
built there, but I tend to think it was a different ship.//

As we see, although William was very active and accomplished a lot for the
new town of Newburgh, he was incapacitated at the age of 47, and died at 52.
It makes me wonder how much more he could have done if he hadn't had the
unfortunate fall.

If you happen to be from the Esther Sands line, I've done a fair amount of
research on that family as well, since it appears to me that there was some
kind of partnership between the Sands and Seymours at this time.  I say this
because both William Sr., and William Jr. named sons Samuel Sands Seymour
which is discussed more on William Jr.'s page.

Regarding William Sr.'s sons with Esther Sands, I found a record of an oft-
cited civil court case, Seymour vs. Delancy, where Drake was suing on behalf
of William C. for performance of a contract to trade some waterfront lots in
Newburgh for 2 large farms outside of town.  Drake had lost at the local
level and had taken this case all the way to a unique level called - The
Court for the Trial of Impeachments, and the Correction of Errors, of the
State of New York.  This body constituted the entire State Senate, the
Supreme Court, the Chancellor, and the Lieutenant Governor.  In the appeal,
Chief Justice John Savage and 9 State Senators voted to uphold the original
finding of the local Chancellor, but the Chancellor was reversed, and Drake
won the case on William C.'s behalf.  I'm not sure why Drake is fighting
William C.'s battles, as William was already grown and married, and
apparently living in Newburgh as his son was born there in 1819.  In the
book, History of the Town of Newburgh it was noted that William C. had moved to Brooklyn at some point, and was there
in 1861, so he lived a very long life.  Following is a summary of the case.

The lots, which were on Water Street, and inherited from William Sr., were
owned in 1/3 shares by William Jr.'s three half-brothers, and were sold for
a total of about $40,000, which makes the $1,000 reportedly given to Jr. in
1800 appear pretty small.  William Jr. wasn't named in Sr.'s will.  The lots
included wharves and buildings, and sounds like it could have been William
Sr.'s old ship-building site.  At the time of the deal, there was a rumor of
the Navy building a big ship yard, and the buyer, Ellison, was reportedly
hoping to make a bundle on the subsequent appreciation in value.

This was seven years after William Sr. had died.  Drake, acting on behalf of
his little brother William C., traded William C.'s 1/3 share of the lots in
1818 to a Thomas Ellison, for 2 farms, totaling 799 acres, outside of
Newburgh in the towns of Montgomery and Wallkill, also in Orange County.
Not long after the contracts were signed, Ellison died and his heirs, his
oldest daughter Mary DeLancy and her little brothers and sisters who were
minors, decided that they would rather have the farms than the lots and
refused to complete the deal, which is why Drake sued.

Ellison had also bought the 2/3 shares in the lots from Drake and Samuel
Sands in 1818 for about $13,000 each.  Ellison's heirs, claimed that Ellison
was a habitual drunk and therefore not capable of making a fair and
beneficial deal.  To make things worse, Ellison's widow had also recently
died as well, so the children were orphaned, and being looked after by the
only adult child, Mary.

I read the entire ruling, in Google Books, which was extensive, and it seems
that all of the witnesses agreed that Ellison was a drunk, but half said
that when he was sober he was quite capable, while the others thought he was
never capable.  The heirs were also claiming that the farms were worth much
more than William C.'s 1/3 portion of the lots, which is what the Chancellor
had ruled in his original verdict.

In my opinion, it looks like the local Chancellor just felt sorry for the
recently orphaned kids and made an emotional rather than a legal judgment,
and that Drake had made a perfectly good deal and that it should be
completed.   The Senator, John Sudam, who wrote for the majority was quite
critical of the local chancellor.  I can imagine, though, that maybe Drake
wasn't real popular with some members of the local community due to this
case.

This ruling was made in 1824, so it had been dragging out for six years.
Later the same year Drake was killed by one of 3 other men who he was
hunting with, when one of the other guys' guns accidentally fired at close
range. [[http://www.pawchs.org/newspapers/SusqDem1824.html]]  Hmmmmmmm....