Query Number: 1502-3 February 2015
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Requested Information:
Douglas has traced his ancestry with actual documents back to Captain William Sprats, the renowned Connecticut architect, who married Elizabeth Seelye. He visited our website and found Elizabeth Seelye as SGS# 303, daughter of Justus Seelye and his second wife, Phoebe Bissell. Douglas wants to know our sources, so he can verify Elizabeth’s parentage and help his sister be admitted to the DAR.
Requester: Douglas Drake | capndrakedav@konacondo.biz
Initial Response Information:
Elizabeth was born in 1763 in Litchfield, Litchfield, CT, died May 17, 1800, and is buried at Carver Falls Cemetery, West Haven, VT, wife of William Spratt. We list no children. Our information states that Justus’s will mentioned his wife, Phoebe, “and all my children” and that he was insolvent, so that is no help. None of the other sources listed seems likely to have the data that Douglas needs (birth/baptismal record, marriage record listing parents, transfer of property, etc.). If you have (or can find) any information substantiating Elizabeth as a daughter of these parents, please send it to Douglas and send me a copy as well.
Responder: SGS Query Editor
Updates
Update to Query #1502-3 // Update to Query 1502-3 Re: Elizabeth Seelye SGS# 303
We were looking for sources verifying that Elizabeth, wife of William H Spratt/Sprats was Elizabeth, daughter of Justus Seelye and Phoebe Bissell. Douglas Drake (capndrakedav@konacondo.biz), the original submitter, had some research done by NEHGS. This uncovered not only the will of Justus Seelye, mentioning his wife Phoebe and children (but no names for the children) but also the probate record. Apparently Justus (SGS # 99) did have property of value when he died (we listed him as insolvent at death). The executors of his estate were his wife Phoebe and William Sprats. This indicates a close relationship between the two and supports the claim that his wife was one of Justus Seelye’s daughters. A further suggestion is to check the land records for Litchfield County to see if property was transferred between Justus Seelye and William Sprats since their relationship might be stated in the record.
Douglas is descended from Clarissa, daughter of Elizabeth and William Sprats. Clarissa was born 15 Jun 1786 in CT, married Daniel Kellicut in 1806 and died in Concord, Jackson, MI in 1873. The other children of Elizabeth and William were William H Jr. b. 1778 CT, Andrew b. 1784, Hannah Marcy, Susan, Floritas S, Polly b. 1792/3, Phebe, Elisa and Hannah. If you would like more information on the Sprats family please contact Douglas. If you can add anything to further verify that William Sprats’ wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Justus Seelye contact your Query Editor.
Responder: Douglas Drake and NEHGS
Update to Query #1502-3
Responder:
