American Seymour Genealogy

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[[084.elias|(<-- 84. Elias(5) Seymour)]] [[start|(Back to Start)]] [[086.zachariah|(86. Zachariah(5) Seymour -->)]]

====== 85. Ashbel Seymour ======

85. ASHBEL<sup>5</sup> SEYMOUR (//[[029.bevil|Bevil]]//<sup>4</sup>,
//[[009.thomas|Thomas]]//<sup>3</sup>, //[[003.John|John]]//<sup>2</sup>,
//[[001.Richard|Richard]]//<sup>1</sup>), born at Newington, Conn., 25 Jan.
1748, died at West Hartford, Conn., 31 July 1814 (1 Aug., aged 67, by church
record); married first, at Newington, 13 Feb. 1777, ABIGAIL<sup>6</sup> WELLES,
born 6 Apr. 1749, died at Newington, 4 Dec. 1786, daughter of Capt.
Robert<sup>5</sup> (//Robert//<sup>4</sup>, //Robert//<sup>3</sup>,
//John//<sup>2</sup>, //Gov. Thomas//<sup>1</sup>) and Abigail (Burnham);
married, second, 11 Sept. 1788, HONOR<sup>5</sup> WILLARD, born at Newington, 5
Nov. 1746, died at West Hartford, 13((Family Bible at Payson, Ill., says 10 Feb.
1819, ae. 72 y.)) Feb. 1819 aged 72, daughter of Daniel<sup>4</sup>
(//Simon//<sup>3</sup>, //Josiah//<sup>2</sup>, //Simon//<sup>1</sup>) and
Dorothy (Deming).

Ashbel responded to the Lexington Alarm in a company from Wethersfield. Later in
1775, he was sergeant in Capt. H. Welles' Co., 2d Regt., and again in 1776. In
1804, he purchased land in West Hartford of Aaron Seymour and Anne his wife. He
deeded land in West Hartford to his son Erastus, in 1806. He was probably the
Ashbel Seymour who was one of the early teachers in the parish of New Britain,
some years previous to 1788.

The following letter, written in the early days of the War, when Ashbel was a
young, unmarried soldier, brings us an authentic picture of the Revolution.

//Endorsed on the back,//\\ To\\ Josiah Willard\\ in Newington in\\
Weathersfield in\\ Connecticut\\ Cambridg June 19 1775

//I have now an opportunity to Right to you to inform you that throu the
Goodness of God I am alive & well Notwith Standing the many hazards I have bin
in of Late. Last Satterday was a day wich New england Never beheld the Scene
before Cannons Roaring drums Beating Bells Ringing to Alarm her sons to go
fourth in her defense & to spill their Precious Blood to save her from Ruing &
misery Last Satterday the Battel began about 2 Clock in the afternoon & Lasted
near 3 hours Grape Shot & musket balls as thick as Hail had not the Lord been on
our side thousands must have fell but our lives wear spared so that we hope that
50 is the moste that are dead. Aboute as many more wounded their is 4 of our
Company missing we suppose one dead 3 wounded Not mortally Wilson Roulinson,
Roger Fox, Larance Sullivan Garshum Smith Dead newington people are well excep
Daniel Demuns finger Shot of//

//In battel Some Shot throu their cloaths A remarcable providence that we were
preserved For the Regulars stormed our entrenchment we was obliged to Retreat
they firing upon us A mile their was above 4000 of the enimy tis supposed. It
was thought we took an imprudent step by going so near the mouth of their cannon
to entrench For they played upon us on three Sides with cannon.//

//Charlestown is all burnt down they intend to burn Cambrig.//

//Received yours dated June 12 which informs me that you are well & all your
fathers family I remember my Love to them all & to all Enquirers//

//I subscribe my name\\ Ashbel Seymoure.//

[From "The Revolutionary War Letters of Captain Roger Welles," Hartford, 1932, pp. 34-5.]

^ Children by first wife, born at Newington: ^^^
| 178. | i. | [[178.ashbel|ASHBEL]]<sup>6</sup>, b. 6 Dec. 1777. |
| 179. | ii. | [[179.erastus|ERASTUS]], b. 2 July 1779. |
| 180. | iii. | [[180.bevil|BEVIL]], b. 4 Sept. 1782. |
^ Children by second wife: ^^^
| 181. | iv. | [[181.martin|MARTIN]], b. 24 Aug. 1789. |
| | v. | HONOR, bapt. 26 Feb. 1792; d. young. |

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