Query Number: 1211-3 November 2012
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Requested Information:
Chris was working on the SGS database and noticed that we had 2 different wives listed for Leonard Johnson Seely of NJ. Leonard is a son of William and Hannah/Ann Sickles Seely and grandson of John Seely d. 1825 Monmouth NJ and Phoebe Truax. We do not know John Seely’s lineage.
In the database we had Leonard md to Catherine M Van Emburgh and also to Catherine M. Walter. There is nothing except the two names to suggest that Leonard was married twice.
Requester: Chris Havnar | chris.havnar@gmail.com
Initial Response Information:
1900 census Kearney Ward 4, Hudson, NJ
Folkman, Charles b. June 1868 NY, IRE, DEN, painter md 12 yr to
Folkman, Frances b. Aug 1874 NJ, NJ, IRE, 4 ch., 3 living
Folkman, Charles b. Oct 1889, Henry b. Jan 1894, Frances b. Feb 1898, all b. NJ, NY, NJ
Seely, Leonard J., uncle b. May 1818 NJ, NJ, NJ, widower
(Several Van Emburgh families further up the page)
Is Frances or Charles a Van Emburgh relative?
1900 census Harrison, Hudson, NJ
Walter, John B. b. July 1863 NY, GER, GER, bottler, md 12 yr to
Walter, Elizabeth b. Jan 1858 NJ, NJ, NJ, 4 ch., 2 living
Walter, Katherine b. May 1888, Olive May b. July 1897, both b. Nj, NJ, NJ
Seeley, Minnie, sis-in-law b. June 1870 NJ, NJ, NJ
Seeley, Leonard J, father-in-law b. May 1818 NJ, NJ, NJ
(In 1910 the family is just John H., Elizabeth and Olive)
1880 census Harrison, Hudson, NJ
Seely, Lenard, age 63 b. NJ, NJ, NJ, boiler maker
Seely, Cathrine M age 60 b. NJ
Seely, Alice V age 26, Elizabeth age 23, works in tailor shop, Minnie age 12, all b. NJ, NJ, NJ
1870 census Harrison, Hudson, NJ
Seally, Leonard, age 53, b. NJ, boiler Maker
Seally, Catherine, age 48 b. NJ
Seally, Richard age 23, Allice age 20, Samuel age 16, Elizabeth age 14, all b. NJ
1860 census Harrison, Hudson, NJ
Seely, Leonard J age 42, b NJ, boiler Maker
Seely, Catherine M age 40 b. NJ
Seely, Leonard W age 18, saddle maker, Mary age 16, Richard M age 12, Henery age 11, Samuel F age 10, Alice V age 7, Elizabeth age 4, all b. NJ
(Cannot find them in 1850)
1920 census Harrison, Hudson, NJ
Walter, John age 58 b. NY, GER, GER, street car conductor
Walter, Elizabeth age 62 b. NJ, NJ, NJ
Wagner, Catherine, dau. age 30 b. NJ,NJ, NJ, md
Walter, Olive, dau. age 21, single
Wagner, John, grson age 2 yr 6 mos b. NJ, NJ, NJ
Wagner, John, son-in-law age 33 b NJ, NJ, NJ, electrician
Kissto, Owen, roomer age 22 b. NY, NY, NY, street car conductor
1930 census Harrison, Hudson, NJ
Wagner, John age 43 b. NJ, GER, GER, iron worker md 21 yr to
Wagner, Katherine age 36 b. NJ, NJ, GER
Wagner, John Jr age 12, Grethel age 10. both b. NJ, NJ, NJ
(In 1940 in Kathryn M Wagner age 52 and son John O age 22, paper co. messenger are still in Harrison with many lodgers living with them)
This research shows that Leonard and Catherine Seely’s daughter Elizabeth married John Walter and had a daughter named Catherine/Katherine who married John Wagner. I am supposing that a submitter transcribing their records got confused with all the Catherines and Johns and entered Leonard’s wife as Catherine Walter instead of Van Emburgh by mistake. If you can find proof of the surname of Leonard J Seely’s wife I would love to hear from you.
Responder: SGS Query Editor
