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Requested Information:
Irvin W. Seeley is the grandfather of Joseph’s wife but apparently he was born with a different name, Irvin Fuller in 1905 in PA. Irvin died in 1993. He was reared by Andrew A. and Sarah Jane Seeley. Irvin’s wife was Annabel P. Seeley (1911-1994). Joseph really hopes to find some information on Irvin’s biological parents. His mother-in-law said that her father (Irvin Seeley) had a half-sister (same father) named Beatrice Fuller (who his wife remembers visiting as a child) and that their father’s name was Joseph Fuller. She vaguely remembers someone saying that Sarah Jane was Irvin’s biological mother and that Andrew adopted him.
Requester: Joseph W Mornhineway
Initial Response Information:
I found a transcript of Irvin and Anna’s marriage in Corning, NY on Rootsweb: Marriage License #434 was issued in Corning, NY, by town clerk, G. Merle Hunt, to William Irvin? Seely, of RFD#1, Corning, NY, and Anna Bell (Annabelle) Peterson of RFD#1, Corning, NY. Groom info: white, age 22, b. PA, s/o Andrew Peterson? and Sara Fuller, both b. US, first marriage.
Information on bride: w, age 17, b. Big Flats, NY, d/o Justin Peterson, b. US, and Myra Aker or Oker, b. US. The couple was married on 14 November 1927 in Corning, Steuben, NY, by George S.G. Haus?, clergyman, witnessed by Raymond T. Coon, of Campbell, NY, and Marion A. Peterson of Coopers Plains, NY.
From Findagrave.com
– Irvin W Seeley
– Birth: Mar. 23, 1905, Homestead, Allegheny, PA
– Death: Jan. 1, 1993 Campbell, Steuben, NY
– Spouse: Anna Bell Peterson Seeley (1911 – 1994)
– Burial: Rural Home Cemetery, Big Flats, Chemung, NY
– Plot: D-C-18-5
– Find A Grave Memorial# 44970201
1930 census South Canaan, Wayne, PA
– Seeley, Wallace, age 34, b. PA, PA, PA, single, farmer
– Robinson, Eugene, age 58, hired man, b. PA, PA, PA, farm laborer
Next family:
– Seeley, Edward, age 38, b. PA, father b. PA, written over by Vermont, mother, b. PA, farmer
– Seeley, Andrew A., foster father, age 83, b. PA, PA, PA, md abt 58 yr to
– Seeley, Sarah J., age 79, foster mother b. NJ, NJ, NJ
– Seeley, William, age 78, foster uncle b. PA, PA, PA
Next family:
– Seeley, Wesley J., age 50, b. PA, PA, PA, farmer, md abt 23 yr to
– Seeley, Mary A., age 40, b. PA, PA, PA
– Seeley, Leroy A., age 20, laborer, Beatrice H., age 19, Raymond, age 17, Robert A., age 15, Gerald W., age 13, Lawrence, age 11, Irene E., age 9, Margaret H., age 7, Laura E., age 3 yr, 8 mos., Mildred K., age 1 yr, 6 mos., all b. PA, PA, PA
Next family
– Seeley, Hershel age 71, widower b. PA, PA, PA
1920 South Canaan, Wayne, PA
– Dwelling 162: Seely, Wesley, 40, and Mary, 31, with Harold, 13, Leroy, 12, Beatrice, 10, Raymond, 8, Robert, 6, Gerald, 4 and Lawrence, 2
– Dwelling 163: Dingy, William, 68, b. PA, PA, PA, single
– Dwelling 164: Seely, Andrew, 73 b. PA, PA, PA, with Sarah J., 70, b. NJ, NJ, NJ, and Walace, grandson, 25, Irving, son, 15, both b. PA, PA, PA
1910 census South Canaan, Wayne, PA
– Seeley, Andrew A., age 63, b. PA, father b. NY, mother b. PA, farmer, md 39 yr to
– Seeley, Sarah J., age 62, b. NJ, NJ, NJ, mother of 4 children, 2 living
– Seeley, Wallace, age 15, grandson, b. PA, PA, PA
– Niles, Eddie, age 18, laborer, b. PA, PA, PA, odd jobs
– Fuller, Irvin, boarder, age 5, b. PA, PA, PA
1900 census Lake, Wayne, PA
– Seeley, Andrew A., b. Nov 1848, PA, PA, PA, farmer, md 28 yr to
– Seeley, Serry Jane, b. Jun 1850, PA, PA, PA, 4 ch., 4 living
– Seeley, Willie, son, b. Sep 1881, day laborer
– Seeley, Eddie, son, b. May 1891, PA, PA, PA
– Seeley, Walice, son, b. Dec 1895, PA, PA, PA
1880 census South Canaan, Wayne, PA
– Seeley, Andrew A., age 33 b. PA, PA, PA, farmer
– Seeley, Sarah J., wife, age 29, b. NJ, NJ, NJ
– Seeley, Dennis H., age 7, Birtha A., age 4, John F., age 2, all b. PA, PA, NJ
I find it difficult to believe that Sarah Jane, married to Andrew A. Seeley since 1872, suddenly had two children (Irvin and his sister Beatrice) out-of-wedlock while in her 50s and then Andrew adopted at least one of them. It seems more likely that Irvin is a grandson like Wallace (and possibly Eddie Niles/Edward Seeley) or some other relative or is not related by blood at all. It would help to find obituaries for some of these folks, birth records, etc.
If you recognize this family or can do some research in Steuben Co., NY, or Wayne Co., PA, please send us your information.
Responder: Query Editor