Query Number: 1111-2 November 2011
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Requested Information:
Darlene, a member of SGS, is wondering if we can find the parents of her great-great-grandfather John B. Seeley. He was born June 3, 1835 in Niagara, New York and died June 14, 1903 in Prairie City, McDonough Co., IL. He is buried with his wife Sarah and daughter Susan in the Prairie City Cemetery. He married Sarah Elizabeth Miller, daughter of Avery and Susan (nee Wilson) Miller of Canada, later they moved to Richfield, Genesee, Michigan Darlene doesn’t know the date of their marriage but their first child was born in 1862 and Sarah was still listed on 1852 Ontario, Canada census living at home with her parents. Sarah was born Sep 23, 1837 in Canada (probably York, Ontario) and died Sep 12, 1905 in Dorchester, Saline, Nebraska at the home of her brother Arthur and his wife. John and Sarah had 5 children. Two died in infancy. The others are:
George Avery Seeley
b. Mar 17,1862 Watertown, Wisconsin, d. Mar 4, 1920 Macomb, McDonough, IL
Melissa E. “Lissie” Seeley
b. 1866 Richfield, Genesee, Michigan, d. Feb 15, 1915 Prairie City, McDonough, IL
Susan Seeley
b. 1868 IL, d. 1871 Prairie City, McDonough, IL, burial: Prarie City Cemetery, IL
A distant cousin had listed “Brown” as John’s middle name but Darlene hasn’t been able to verify that info. She found a John Seeley in Niagara, NY in the 1850 US Census that matches his age. The father’s name is Gideon Seeley but she can’t verify that this is her John Seeley. Darlene’s father had a DNA test through SGS and he has been matched to the Nathanial profile.
Requester: Darlene Seeley Baker
Initial Response Information:
1900 census Prairie City, McDonough, IL
Seeley, John B b. Jun 1835 NY, OH, CT, day laborer, md 43 yr to
Seeley, SE b. Jul 1837 CAN, CAN, CAN, dressmaker, 5 ch., 2 living
1880 census Prairie City, McDonough, IL
Seeley, John B age 45 b. NY, CT, DE, optician
Seeley, Sarah E age 42 b. CAn, CAn, CAN
Seeley, George A age 18 b. WI, NY, CAN, optician, Malissa age 14 b. MI, NY, CAN
1870 census Prairie City, McDonough, IL
Seely, John, age 35 b. NY, hardware merchant
Seely, Sarah, age 34 b. Canada W
Seely, George age 8 b. WIS, Melissa age 4 b. MI, Susan age 2 b. IL
There are many John Seeleys born in NY in the 1860 census but none is obviously the right one.
The problem with John being the son of Gideon of Hartland, Niagara, NY is that we have Gideon in the Obadiah line and Darlene’s father DNA matches the Nathaniel line.
1851 census Zorra, Oxford, ONT
Miller, Avery age 49 b. CAN, farmer
Miller, Susannah age 38 b. CAN
Miller, Elizabeth age 15, Arthur age 11, both b. CAN
From the 1900 census above it looks like John B Seeley and Sarah Elizabeth Miller were married in 1857. Unfortunately I can’t find them in the 1860 US census or the 1861 Ontario census.
If you can shed any light on the origins of this John B. Seeley contact Darlene and your Query Editor
Responder: Query Editor
