Abigail Gates

The Gardner, Mass. Town Record that recorded the births of the children of "Nathan Gates and Abagail his wife" included:

"Abigail Born Feb. 24th 1797"

The marriage record in the Westminster, Mass. Town Records says:

"Feb^y 15 1817; Mr. Benjamin Sever and Miss Abigail Gates both of Westminster March 2; published for marriage as the law directs."

Abigail and Benjamin had four children - Abigail, Lucinda, Isaac and Benjamin. Benjamin Seaver died in 1825, and Abigail requested the Probate Court to appoint Edward Jackson to be administrator, and he was. The estate was inventoried, Abigail's dower rights were set off to her, and the estate was declared insolvent. The property was sold at auction, and Abigail was left with $29 in early 1827. She requested appointment as guardian of her four children on 1 april 1826, and it was granted, with Isaac Seaver, Nathan Wetherbee and Henry Collidge, Jr posting $5000 bond as sureties

Abigail Seaver married Isaac Seaver in 1832, her first husband's younger brother, as her second husband.

The Westminster, Mass. Town Record for the marriage of Abigail (Gates) Seaver to her second husband, Isaac Seaver, says:

"Feb 13 1832: Mr. Isaac Seaver and Mrs. Abigail Seaver both of Westminster 29th: published for marriage as the law directs"

Abigail and Isaac Seaver has two children, Lyman and Loring, soon after their marriage. Her son, Benjamin died in 1836.

In the 1850 US census, the Isaac Seaver family resided in Westminster, Worcester County, MA. The household included:

• Isaac Seaver -age 47, farmer, $1,200 in real property, born MA
• Abigail Seaver - age 53, born MA
• Leyman Seaver - age 16, farmer, born MA
• Loring Seaver - age 13, born MA

In the 1860 US census, the Isaac Seaver family resided in Westminster, Worcester County, Mass. The household included:

• Isaac Seaver - age 57, born Mass., farmer, #1,200 in real property, $300 in personal property
• Abigail Seaver age 63, born Mass.
• Emma Seaver - age 1, born Mass.

In the 1865 Massachusetts State Census, the Isaac Seaver household in Westminster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, contained:

• Isaac Seaver - age 62, male, born Westminster, Mass., married, a farmer, ratable poll checked, legal voter checked
• Abigail Seaver - age 68, female, born Gardner, Mass., married, a housekeeper
• Cynthia Ray - age 53, female, born Westminster, Mass., single, a domestic

The death record for Abigail Seaver (maiden name Gates) in the Gardner, Mass. list of deaths in 1867, from the Massachusetts Vital Records books, 1841-1915, includes this information:

• Date of death: January 4 1867
• Name and surname of the Deceased: Abigail Seaver, M.N. Gates
• Sex: Female
• Condition: Married
• Age: 69 years, 10 months, 20 days
• Disease or Cause of Death: Cancer
• Residence and Place of Death: Gardner
• Occupation:

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• Place of Birth: Gardner
• Name and Birthplace of Parents:

      Father:  Nathan Gates, Gardner

      Mother Abigail, Lexington

The gravestone inscription for Benjamin and Abigail Seaver in Whitmanville Cemetery in Westminster, Massachusetts says:

"Benjamin Seaver died

May 25 1825 AE. 33 Abigail  wife of Isaac Seaver formerly wife of Benj. Seaver died Jan. 4 1867 AE. 69."

Abigail Seaver of Westminster died in 1867 intestate (Worcester County Probate Records, Probate Packet 52,857). Her husband Isaac Seaver was named administrator of her estate, on 1 February 1867 (Worcester County (MA) Probate Records, 376:394). Bond was signed by Isaac Seaver, Samuel A. Munroe, Abigail Munroe and John Edgell on 9 February 1867 (Worcester County (MA) Probate Records, 376:394).

In the probate records are a list of relations:

Isaac Seavers (husband, of Westminster) Abigail Munroe (Daughter of Gordon) Samuel A. Munroe (son-in-law of Gordon), Lucinda Bruce (daughter of Westminster), James A. Bruce (son-in-law of Westminster), Isaac Seavers (son of Westminster) Lyman Seavers (son of Westminster) Loren B. Seavers (son of Austin, Nevada)