Zebulun Seaman

149. Zebulun4 Seaman (David3, Jonathan2, John1) was born March 17, 1717/18 in Oyster Bay Twp., Queens [now Nassau] Co., NY (Source: Hinshaw, William Wade, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1991), 3:445.), and died February 19, 1784 in Oyster Bay Twp., Queens [now Nassau] Co., NY (Source: (1) Hinshaw, William Wade, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1991), 3:445., (2) Heritage Books Inc., New York Abstracts of Wills, 1665-1801 (CD #9), (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1997), "CD-ROM," 2:270, will proved March 17, 1784.). He married Phoebe Valentine April 17, 1743 (Source: (1) Hinshaw, William Wade, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1991), 3:445, 462., (2) Armbruster, Eugene L., Marriages of Long Island Settlers and Allied Families, (Jamaica, NY: Long Island Collection, The Queens Borough Public Library, 1941).), daughter of Obadiah Valentine and Martha Willets. She was born November 29, 1721 (Source: Hinshaw, William Wade, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1991), 3:445, 462.), and died August 4, 1803 (Source: Hinshaw, William Wade "Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy"[Compiled by Thomas W. Marshall] [Genealogical Pub. Co., Baltimore,MD:1977] Vol. III p. 445 ). 

Notes for Zebulun Seaman:

Zebulon Seaman was a lieutenant of the Jerusalem militia, one hundred strong, who joined the patriot army at the outbreak of the Revolution. He was in the Assembly at Albany from 1769 to 1775. The Assembly offered a premium for the best linen that the Assemblymen could produce. They had to raise the flax, the wives to spin and perhaps weave, the cloth. Zebulon raised the flax, Phebe spun the thread, and they took the premium. A piece of the homespun linen was preserved by the family for several generations and was in the hands of Mary Powell Bunker at the time she compiled her "Long Island Genealogies" in 1895.

Zebulon Seaman changed his name in later life to WILLIAMS in order to inherit land. [From Mather, Frederick Gregory "The Refugees of 1776 from Long Island to Connecticut" [originally published in 1913 reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co.:1972] p. 638:]

"Zebulon, b. Seaman, son of David and Temperance (Williams) Seaman... took the name of Williams, in 1772, in order to inherit some property. (Mr. George W. Cocks. also Onderdonk's "Queens Co.. Olden Times," p. 45) He was a delegate from Queens Co., to the first N.Y. Prov'l Cong."

EARLY CHANGES OF NAME IN NEW YORK

by John Austin F.A.S.G. NYGB Record 127-3 p.137 (1996) The following is in footnote #1:

Chapter 1531 of the Colonial statutes ("Laws of the Colony of New York 5:303") bears this lengthy but genealogical instructive title "An act for confirming to Zebulon Williams, second Son of Temperance the daughter of John Williams late of Jericho in the Bounds of Oyster Bay in Queen's County in the Province of New York Yoeman deceased, and to Robert Williams, second Son of Hannah another Daughter of the said John Williams, who were heretofore respectively called Zebulon Seaman and Robert Seaman, the

Sirname of Williams which they have lately respectively assumed comfortable to the last Will and Testament of the said John Williams devising to them certain Lands in the Township of Oyster Bay, in the Parish of Hempstead."

The statute passed 26 Feb 1772 making it lawful for Zebulon and Robert "to bear and use the Sirname of Williams instead of the Sirname of Seaman," the only discovered Colonial name-change statute.

Considering that Zebulon Seaman/Williams was a colonial assemblyman at Albany between 1769 and 1775, it seems strange that Mary Powell Bunker "the compiler" [of "Long Island Genealogies"] who had the piece of homespun linen Zebulon took a prize for, didn't mention the name change but knew of much else.

Don't know when John Williams died in Oyster Bay. Estimate he was born about 1660. In 1783 he was listed as a shoemaker. He was living in 1702 in O.B. when he purchased land in the New General Purchase. By the time John Williams wrote his will (or transferred land to his two daughters) it was probably evident that this family ran to girls and the (Robert) Williams line would die out unless some of the male grandsons changed their name to Williams ("second sons").

Bunker (p.329) stated that Temperance and Hannah (Williams) Seaman were co-heirs of their father. It would seem that Zebulon and Robert Seaman were married, had grown children and probably grandchildren (all named Seaman) before they exercised the option of the name change in 1772.

[from Janet Newman <janetn@igc.apc.org>] Don't forget Zebulon Seaman,"2nd son", who changed his name to Williams, or his cousin Robert Seaman,"2nd son", who also changed his name to

Williams. Bunker only mentions David and Zebulon Seaman but says that David Seaman (?first son) and Mary Willets had 15 children. The Frost Genealogy says that David Seaman and Mary Willets had Temperance, "5th dau", who married Lott Frost, son of Benjamin and Rose Springer. They were Quakers and removed to Duanesburg, Washington Co. NY. Gives Frost children.

More About Zebulun Seaman:

Fact 4: August 8, 1761, mentioned in brother-in-law's will, Solomon Doty of Oyster Bay, Queens Co. (Source: Heritage Books Inc., New York Abstracts of Wills, 1665-1801 (CD #9), (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1997), "CD-ROM," 6:136.)

Fact 5: March 23, 1759, mentioned in brother's will, David Seaman of Oyster Bay, Queens Co., NY (Source: Heritage Books Inc., New York Abstracts of Wills, 1665-1801 (CD #9), (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1997), "CD-ROM," 5:355.)

Fact 6: Bet. 1769 - 1775, Member of Assembly at Albany

Fact 7: 1776, signed the Association Test in Queens County, New York (Source: The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Volume 16.)

Fact 8: resided at Jericho, L. I., NY (Source: Seaman, Ardon, A Copy of an Account Written by Jordan Seaman, of Jericho, tracing the family of Seamans descended from Captain John Seaman, of Hempstead., (Privately published 1866).)

Will: May 31, 1781, proved March 17, 1784 (Source: Heritage Books Inc., New York Abstracts of Wills, 1665-1801 (CD #9), (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1997), "CD-ROM," 12:270-271, [...] I, ZEBULUN WILLIAMS, late Zebulun Seaman, of the Township of Oyster Bay, Queens County, this thirty-first day of May, 1781, being indisposed in body. I leave to my ... wife, Phebe Seaman, her choice.... Unto my son, Zebulun Seaman, John Williams Seaman, and Leonard Seaman, all my wearing apparel... Unto my son, John Williams Seaman, my ivory-head cane. Unto my son Leonard, 25 [pounds], or choice... Unto my wife, sufficient provisions..., until my lands be sold by my executors, who are directed to sell,..., my whole remaining estate; after my just debts be paid they to divide the remainder of proceeds of sale amongst my wife aforesaid, and my children, namely: Zebulun, John Williams, Leonard, Leah Willits, Mary, Martha Doty and Phebe Seaman; my sons to have a double share with my wife and daughters; which division is made with this reserve: as my daughter Leah and my sons, Zebulun and John, have already received a part of their portion, my daughter to have œ60 less than my other daughters; my sons, Zebulun and John, œ100 each less than my son Leonard. The bequests to my wife to be in lieu of dower; she to choose and have such articles of my estate, ..., at the appraisement of impartial men, in part of her legacy. The legacies of those under age to be put at interest by my executors, for their respective uses. Whereas, there is a body of land at Jericho belonging between William Seaman, deceased, and me, of which no division has been settled by us; Also, an exchange of land between Richard Willits and me, not confirmed by writing, my executors: John Williams Seaman and Leonard Seaman, my sons; and Thomas Willits, my son-in-law, and John Williams, my brother-in-law, are to make a settlement with any person appointed by... William Seaman, deceased, for that purpose, and Richard Willits respecting said lands. After settlement, my executors are to sell lands then belonging to me; the proceeds to go in manner above described. .)

More About Zebulun Seaman and Phoebe Valentine:

Marriage: April 17, 1743 (Source: (1) Hinshaw, William Wade, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1991), 3:445, 462., (2) Armbruster, Eugene L., Marriages of Long Island Settlers and Allied Families, (Jamaica, NY: Long Island Collection, The Queens Borough Public Library, 1941).)

Children of Zebulun Seaman and Phoebe Valentine are:

+ 524 i. Leah5 Seaman, born March 11, 1743/44; died 1848.

+ 525 ii. Mary Seaman, born November 5, 1745; died December 19, 1796.

+ 526 iii. Lt. Zebulun I. Seaman, born November 22, 1747; died April 1, 1806.

+ 527 iv. John Williams Seaman, born November 9, 1749; died February 26, 1826.

+ 528 v. Martha Seaman, born February 27, 1755; died April 29, 1816.

+ 529 vi. Leonard Seaman, born September 27, 1762 in NY; died June 25, 1821.

+ 530 vii. Phoebe Seaman, born 1771; died March 19, 1846.

	531	viii.	 	Esther Seaman, born Infant; died Infant.

	532	ix.	 	Rachel Seaman, born Infant; died Infant.

	533	x.	 	George Seaman, born Infant; died Infant.