72. CAPT. ISRAEL⁵ SEYMOUR (Jonathan⁴, John³, John², Richard¹), born in 1735, killed by lightning standing in his doorway, at Hartford, Conn. (the house being about where the Capitol now is), 14 Aug. 1784, in his 49th year; married ABIGAIL —, born 1743, died at Woodbury, Conn., 23 Nov. 1827. She married second, — Sheldon. She married third, 18 Jan. 1796, Rev. Noah⁵ Benedict of Woodbury, born at Danbury, Conn., 25 May 1737, died at Woodbury, 30 Apr. 1813, son of Daniel⁴ and Sarah (Hickox) Benedict; he married first, 16 Feb. 1763, Rhoda Bennet. No children.

He kept a tavern where Trinity College afterward stood. He commanded the 1st Co. in Col. Chester's Regt. in June 1776, which was part of the Conn. Militia serving in the neighborhood of New York City. In 1778-79 he carried on a Pottery in Hartford, and advertised “Earthenware for exchange, or sale, also Hollow-ware.” In 1784 he was a member of the Common Council.

Administration upon the estate of Capt. Israel Seymour, late of Hartford, deceased, was granted to Joseph Bull and Nabby Seymour, widow of said deceased, 22 Sept. 1784. Inventory exhibited 26 Apr. 1785. One-third of the house and land is to be deducted as belonging to the mother of said deceased. The estate was insolvent. Joseph Bull, one of the administrators, made return that he had sold a right of land in Caldersburgh, Vt., being part of the real estate.

Last Saturday, about 4 P. M. Capt. Israel Seymour, of this city, was instantly killed by lightning. The lightning first struck the chimney, then dividing, one branch descended by the side of the chimney, forcing its way thro' the garret stairs into a closet in the chamber, the door of which it burst open & shattered, where it was probably attracted by two muskets, that stood by the door. From this it proceeded to the kitchen and penetrated the hearth. The other branch divided and was conducted down the roof by two rafters, which it shattered, below these, it seems to have been united & conducted by a stud, directly over the front door where Capt. Seymour was standing. The quantity of electricity that passed through his body was very great, as is evident from several marks of violence, especially from his shoes, both of which, tho' new, were burst open. Several persons who were in the room were affected by the shock, particularly Mr. Alderman Bull, & Mr. Root who received a slight injury. In the death of Capt. Seymour, the public have lost a valuable citizen, his acquaintances a benevolent friend, his wife a kind husband, and his mother an only son. On Sunday a Sermon suitllble to the occasion was preached by the Rev. Mr. Boardman, before the two congregations in this city, & the funeral of the deceased attended with due solemnity, Tues. Aug. 17, 1784. [Mr. Boardman's sermon was published the next month.]

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