Seth Staples - Connecting Yale to the Mayflower

Seth Staples is my VERY Great Grandfather. He was born about 1699 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts. He didn't always hang around Taunton because about 18 miles away in Plympton, Massachusetts lived a lovely girl, Hannah Standish and he knew who she was. He married her on 4 January 1721 in Plympton with Isaac Cushman performing the ceremony and promptly moved her back to Taunton.  

Seth became a deacon in the First Parish Church. He was respected, well liked and must have been a man with integrity. He bore witness to several local men's wills, and was trusted to appraise many more of their estates. He was a father to 12 children and grand father to several children. One of those grandchildren was Seth Perkins Staples, founder of Yale Law School and a VERY Great Grand Father to me. 

Do Grandchildren of the Founder of Yale Law School get tuition free education because I have a 10 year old granddaughter who will make a Brilliant attorney. She loves to debate with me and is getting better and better at preparing her case. 

Hannah Standish the woman Seth Staples married is the Great Grand Daughter of Myles Standish who came over to America on the Mayflower. Making me and my children descendants of a Mayflower Pilgrim.

Thanx! Grandpa Seth!

In 1778 Seth contracted Smallpox and on 20 March 1778 he passed away. 

Seth Hatcher - Remembers the War of Independence

Born to Josiah Hatcher and Ann Elizabeth Cheatham Hatcher on 13 January 1760 in Goochland, Virginia was a son, Seth. He was their seventh child.  In 1777 Josiah packs up his wife, children and household and moves to Powhatan County, Virginia. 

In September of 1777 Seth is called to service for his new county, and new home. He was under the Command of Captain Thomas Harris and the first place they went to was Williamsburg. After duty there for a time the Company was sent to Yorktown. After a few months of duty Seth was discharged. He served a second tour under Captain George Williamson and their first duty was Petersburg where the Company is put under the command of Major Duval. Then they marched on to St. George Church. They proceeded a few more miles to Hood's Landing this might actually be Hood's Point and there in the night they fired upon the British who had decided to come ashore under cover of darkness. The company then marched on to Cabin Point in Surrey County and then to MacKay's Mills and onward to Suffolk. They were moved once again to Jericho where they camped for some time. Once again the Company was ordered back to Suffolk where they are put under the command of Colonel Parker. From Suffolk Seth was once again discharged.  After a few months Captain George Williamson again made a call to arms and Seth joined in. The Company marched through Prince Edward and Cumberland Counties crossing the Roanoke River at Taylor's Ferry. They arrived in Guilford, North Carolina in March 1781 and on 15 March 1781  were engaged in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. They were under the command of General Robert Lawson, Col. Beverley Randolph and Major St. George Tucker. During the Battle General Nathaniel Greene arrives and takes command. Seth is wounded during the battle.



Captain Thomas Harris owned the land next to where Josiah, Seth's father held land in Goochland. It would seem Captain Harris knew Seth and his brothers. 

In 1805 Seth is called to witness about a sick horse. One claimant accuses the other of causing a horse to be sick and die. The other claims he cared for the horse and that it was not well when he borrowed it. Cared for it better than he would his own horse because it was not his horse.  Seth's testimony is to say that he refused to let the owner keep the horse with his horses because the horse was sick already. 

In 1808 Seth starts to work on what will become his Plantation. There will be housing for his slaves, a creamery, a pond, a smokehouse, barn and several other buildings. Legend tells that Seth built his home in an antebellum Italianate Design for a Bride to be who would die before she ever set foot in the home. Seth would not marry again until 1820. 

In 1816 Seth is appointed a Commissioner along with a few others to access the width of the cross streets in the town of Scottville by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Apparently an old survey is inaccurate and buildings have gone over cross street designations and chaos reigns in the construction of buildings. 

Seth's Bride in 1820 is Elizabeth Ligon and from this union are born Elizabeth and Daniel Hatcher. 

During the 1830s when Seth is in his 70s he bears witness to several "war Buddies" so that they can apply for pensions. His memory of Officers, locations and dates are amazing. I can't even tell you the building or number of my last flat from 4 years ago. 

In September of 1842 Seth writes his Last Will and Testament. He gives testament to a few more "War Buddies" and in December of 1843 Seth passes away. 

Seth Minard - I See You

Trying something a little different to make my Ghost Hunting more creative and fun for me and maybe you. I am going to focus on a name and hunt every Ghost I can find who bears that name. Today I am on the hunt for ghosts named Seth. I love this name. It feels strong, brave, sturdy. The name of a man you can rely on. 

Seth was the name of Adam and Eve's third son. The one born after the death of Able. Seth was often given to the next son born after the death of a son in early America. The name means appointed, to set or to place. As in GOD appointed Eve the son Seth to comfort her after the death of Able.

My first Seth today is Seth Minard. He is the son of Abiathar Minard and Elizabeth Willoughby Minard his wife. All I have found in my hunting of this Ghost is that he died on or about the 30th of January 1820. It was added that he was 20 years of age. That puts his birth at about 1800 which puts him in birth order as the third child born to Abiathar and Elizabeth. Seth's death was printed in newspapers in villages around New London County, Connecticut which is where his family lived. 

Seth is buried in Chester Burying Ground. 

His parents Abiathar and Elizabeth Minard are also buried there.