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Note: rk. Elizabeth(76) was the daughter of Dr. Valentine Seaman and Anna Ferris. Elizabeth died 9 February 1900 in Drayton Plains, Oakland County, Michigan, at age 84.(77) OBITUARY - Mrs. Elizabeth Seaman Leggett ___
Widely-Known Friend of the People died yesterday.
Patriotic Woman Accomplished much for humanity. ___
Interesting Story of Her Long and Busy Career. ___
Mrs. Eliza Seaman Leggett, widow of the late Augustus W. Leggett, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. C. C. Randall, of Drayton Plains, at ten minutes after 7 yesterday morning. Her seven children and many of her grandchildren were with her at the end.
In the death of Eliza Seaman Leggett friendship loses one of the most faithful exponents, peace one of its most insistent advocates and kindness one of its most shining examples. She had the faculty of gaining the admiration and love of everyone with whom she came in contact, and in her eighty-five years of life she endeared herself to hundreds of people by gentle acts of charity and loving-kindness. Always active and energetic, her every thought was for the promotion of the good and the happiness of others, her every act for the benefit of sone fellow being.
Eliza Seaman Leggett was born in New York May 9, 1815. Her father was Dr. Valentine Seaman, a prominent physician, the first to introduce vaccination into the state of New York. On November 23, 1836, she married Augustus W. Leggett and moved with him to Roslyn, L.I., a village to which she gave its name. There was made the acquaintance of William Cullen Bryant and Charles A. Dana and she knew many interesting anecdotes of the professional side of those two men. After twenty two years in Roslyn, Mr. & Mrs. Leggett removed to Michigan and settling in Pontiac. They afterwards moved to Mill Farm, Clintonville and remained there until they came to Detroin in 1864.
Center of Literary Activity. The Leggett home on East Elizabeth street early became a center of social and literary activity. Mrs. Leggett was the founder of the Detroit Woman's Club. She had made a practice of entertaining Madame King and Mrs. L. H. Stone at her home one afternoon every week, the club grew out of those gatherings and the preliminary meetings were held in the basement of the old Unitarian church. Mrs. Cheaney, of Boston, was also prominent in the work of the orgainzation and Mrs. John J. Bagley was the clubs first president. The "Aurora Boraslis" was the work of Mrs. Leggett and the first meeting of the Prismatic Club was held at her home. Mr. Leggett was this clubs first president. It was Mrs. Leggett who was one of the first to advocate taking Belle Isle for a public park, and the idea of having public drinking fountains originated with her. The plan of setting aside a day dedicated to the memory of Columbus came from Mrs. Leggett and was suggested by her to the poet Walt Whitman whom she knew intimately well. The Custer School owes its first flag to her generosity, and she was among the first to advocate the flying of the national colors from the staff of every school-house in the country.
The slavery question interested Mrs. Leggett deeply and she was an ardent and outspoken Abolitionist. She was closely in touch with the Underground Railroad and helped many a poor creature to escape into Canada. During the time of the war she was in close correspondence with Garrett Smith and other men prominent in anti slavery matters. She knew Laura Haviland intimately and was of great service to her in her work. Her lovable nature gave her a strong hand on many poor creatures whom no one else could move to repent since she never shrank from any person, no matter how vile. On one occasion a woman who was known as a thoroughly desperate character called at the home and insisted on meeting Mrs. Leggett, after she had refused to yeild to the words of any other human being but Mrs. Leggett drew from her whole story and afterwards aided her to reform.
--- Earnest Worker--- In the work leading up to and connected with the Freedman's Fair. Mrs. Leggett played a prominent part, she was a delegate to the fair at Chicago, and appeared there in the character of Mrs. Partington in her work against slavery and in the work she was doing for literature. Mrs. Leggett knew some of the most prominent reformers and literaries or her time. Among them were Theodore Parker, Lucretiaa Mott, Washington Irving, Alcott with many others. One of the best instances of her far reaching interest in the work of reform and aid was the fact that she opened her house for a fair for the benefit of the Working Woman's Home. The fair lasted three days and such was the prestige given to it from its place of meeting and such was Mrs. Leggett's influence on those surrounding her that she turned over to the treasurer of the home over $ 1,300.
Mrs. Leggett resided in Detroit until the death of her husband in 1885. In that year she went to Drayton Plains and took up her residence with her son, Mortimer A. Leggett. Her failing health two years ago necessitated her removal to the residence of her daughter, Mrs. C. C. Randall, whose home she lived until the last summon came.
[Detroit Free Press - 10 February 1900]
Her body was interred at Oak Hill Cemetery in Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan. [1815 NY City-8 Feb. 1900 Detroit 84 years][Plot 4-447]
She made her will 12 October 1887 in Drayton Plains, Oakland County, Michigan. Dear Children, - I have written so often regarding the disposal of bits of furniture and things. And in looking them over I have destroyed a great deal, thinking it best to do so. I hope and do believe you will all do just right. So I leave what I have not designated to your good judgement. To Willie, I have given so much already that you must count that for him, I mean bits. The plated stuff, the urn to John, the looking glass, many, etc., The old English poets, three volumes, are for Guss W. Ives. The Bryant books and bits you mustdivide pleasantly. This old round table for Mort. The pretty china vases I gave to Eliza L. Randal long ago-the shells that are about came from Grandma Margaret Leggett. Divide them as you think best. Make sure each grandchild has a bit. You know how I want the silver divided - weigh all there is except the gift of cups to Lizzy and Blanche. Let every scrap be put together and weighed and equally divided. I think you all know how feel about everything. My little writing desk for Elizabeth Barthel. Elizabeth Seaman Leggett, Drayton Plains,Michigan 11/10/1888
My dear Mort., I give you my father's watch, the one that he always wore and after he died my mother wore the one my brother, John F. Seaman sent to me. I've intended it for Valentine T. Ives, he seemed to think he'd be my doctor but he will probably have the picture of Valentine Seaman, M.D., that will due. Also I say in this for Anna T. Randall, the largest looking glass as I feel it best that she should have it. By some way, Willie should should have the other glass.- I feel happier for Annie to have this. Mortimer should also have the old bookcase. Lamb's History of New York the very old book L. Seaman sent to me. The Universal Histories of the magazine from Lee Seaman, the, the Leggett Family Bible, the one of W. H. Leggetts grandfather Anna Randall to have my mother's bible. The handsome Shakespeares to Augusta W. Pease the choice of the eminent women as Lizzy had the beautiful photo book. I've given many books to William. I own and also to Elizabeth. The great encyclopedia to Blanche. I gave them to her when she was sixteen. Make the division of books as little trouble as you can and also other bits of appreciation. You must manage as you can. You must not say mother said I could have this or that but do exactly right. The old green and the old round table for Anna Randall. Many bits you must settle among yourselves. I have made lissts and torn them up. the Henry chair, the old clock , the marble slab, my Mother's bureau, the handsome library table, my pictures, my mother's picture, father's, Percy's picture crayon oh, and lots that I have not given Now Do exactly right. the lounge, bedstead I want Mort to have the bedstead and all that appertanins to it. The small bedstead in the room I now occupy for Blanche in lieu of the mattress she gave me and I think the pillows. This is my last will and testament. Eliza S. Leggett Nov. 10, 1888
Detroit, Oct. 12th., 1887 This is my last will an testement, I give & bequeath to my children: Mortimer, William, Margaret, Anna, Elizabeth, Augusta and Blanche, all my property real and personal - all of which I may die possessed to them, and to their heirs and assigns forever to be equally divided between them and it is my will that should any of my said children die before this will becomes operative, leaving issue that such child's share go to such issue. The special disposition of certain parts of my personal property such as pieces of furniture and the like is suggested in a letter, which I leave with this my will: the provisions in which will I trust, be followed by my children, since the said gifts are in nature of special bequeaths, and expresses my wishes therein. It is my wish that all sums of money that may be due me from any of my children at the time of my death, be deducted from their share of my said estate, but that interest due and unpaid at the such time be considered as cancelled and be not deducted. The share of my said estate here given to my son William, is subject to advances heretofore made to him, and amounting in all, to $ 1.150, I wish that all interests on this sum that is not paid at my death, be not charged against him, but that the principal sum only, be deducted. This sum he having already had his portion of my estate, will be lessen to that extent. Should I leave any real esstate, I impower my executors to sell the same, at either public or private sale, as they may deem best, in the interest of all. It is my wish that my funeral be as inexpensive and unostentatious as possible, and that no badges or indications of mourning be worn after my death in commeration of me. I appoint D. J. Davidson and Lewis T. Ives as executors of my will, in testimony thereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twelfth day of October, 1887. Elizabeth Seaman Leggett The above instrument was, at the request of the testator, and in her presence, and in the presence of each of us, signed by us as attesting witnesses thereto, and declared by the said testator to be her last will and testament. Harry J. Hartz and Fred W. Baker [Proved - 25 March 1901]
Source:
Larry and Kathy McCurdy
From LotLL, 7-17:
(The following Valentine6 Seaman would be the brother of Eliza6 Seaman)
Newspaper Clipping, undated, (ca June 1901)
VALENTINE6 SEAMAN DEAD
HE WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE OLDEST NATIVE NEW YORKER
Valentine Seaman6, who was undoubtedly the oldest native New Yorker living in this city; died yesterday afternoon at his apartments, No. 12 West Twenty-second st. Had he lived only another eighteen months he would have reached his one hundredth year. He was born on September 30, 1802 in Beekman st., nearly opposite the Old Brick Church. When he was born Beekman st. was one of the most fashionable thoroughfares of the city. Its aspect was, however, much different from that of an uptown street or avenue to-day.
Mr Seaman's6 earliest recollection of his birth place was a house surrounded by large flower gardens and vineyards, and the first impressions of the child of the first decade of the century, who lived almost to the end of the last decade, were of quiet and shady walks, flanked by apple and peach trees in brilliant bloom.
Although Mr. Seaman6 had outlived his generation he was widely known, and thanks to the attentions of his sons and a host of friends, the quiet and contented life he lived in his bachelor quarters was not devoid of animation. He was an interesting man, not alone because of his great age, but because of the charm of his disposition, his remarkable mental activity, his reminiscences of old-time New York and because also of his historic family associations. He was a descendant of Captain1 Seaman, who sailed from Brightlingsea, on the south coast of England in 1620, in his own ship to this country. Charles I issued to him a grant of a great part of Long Island. His twenty-three sons, by two marriages, were the ancestors of Americans prominent in the Indians and revolutionary wars. Captain1 Seaman himself, although a Quaker, led a troop of militia against the Dutch when they attempted to take possession of Long Island.
Mr. Seaman's6 father, Dr. Valentine5 Seaman was a man of great distinction. The friend of Chief Justice John Jay and Jenner, he was the first man to teach clinical surgery in this country. He was the first also to introduce vaccination. His children were the first persons vaccinated in America, and for his faith in Jenner's discovery he was threatened with death by a New York mob. He was the president of the Medical College, the first runner of the present College of Physicians and Surgeons, and wrote the first pharmacopoeia published in the New World.
For many years he was chief surgeon in the New York Hospital, and a fine case of imported surgical instruments presented to him by John Jay is still in the possession of Dr. Louis7 Livingston Seaman, his grandson. Although his father was so famous a surgeon, Mr. Seaman6 would often recount, with a merry twinkle, that he was so weakly up to his fourteenth year that his father used to say he would not live long. Mr. Seaman6's mother was born in the homestead at Great Neck. a structure about 215 years old and, still standing. The house was used by Lord Howe as headquarters in the War of the Revolution.
Mr. Seaman6 was educated at the Friends' School at Nine Partners. Until the great fire in New York, in 1835, he was a member of the firm of Seaman Brosawin (?) Water st., the largest wholesaler druggists in the city. Since 1835 (?) he has not been connected with any business, save for a brief interest in the old publishing firm of Seaman & Jenkins.
For the last quarter of a century his principal occupation, practised purely as a pastime, was the painting of landscapes in monochrome. With remarkable skill he would, with the aid of a sheet of celluloid, a little ivory black, some turpentine and a piece of cloth, execute with his forefinger pictures that were greatly admired for there artistic merit. He was an expert backgammon and chess player, and could defeat three times out of five his son, Dr. L.L. Seaman7, although the latter was president of the Cornell Chess Club.
Mr. Seaman6 married Miss Anne Ferris, of the Great Neck, whose mother was a member of the Livingston family, in 1838. He leaves four sons. The eldest is Vernon Seaman7. The others are John F. Seaman7, a merchant in Shanghai; Lindley Ferris Seaman7 and Dr. L.L. Seaman7.
In the course of a published conversation about two years ago, Mr. Seaman chatted cheerily about himself. "I suppose." he said to a reporter, "that I am the oldest native New Yorker now living. There are only two of my schoolmates left. They are the Jenkins boys, and they live in the next street. William L. Jenkins used to be president of the Bank of America, but he doesn't do anything now. I guess he is eighty-eight or eighty-nine years old. Sylvanus Jenkins is younger, and he is still down in the Seamen's Savings Bank. We went to a Quakers' school in Pearl st. My family were all Quakers. No I don't read as much as I used to, it makes my eyes smart, and the newspapers are printed in such fine type nowadays."
"I don't know whether I am sick or not." replied he, in reply to a question regarding his health, "I have no appetite. I eat because I have to eat. I don't live to eat, I eat to live. I sleep pretty well. Go to bed about 10 o'clock at night unless I have company, then I stay up later. I generally wake up about 6 o'clock in the morning, and get up at 8 o'clock. I have a pretty good time. One or the other of my sons takes me out to the park, and I sometimes meet George Francis Train over in Madison Square."
"Stimulants? No, I never take anything strong. It makes me sick. I don't smoke and never used tobacco, excepting in the form of snuff. When I was young I used to do as the rest did about drinking. In those days everybody drank wine. It was the custom to keep a decanter of wine on the sideboard all of the time. I can remember when my father bought a cask of Madeira and had it hoisted up into the third story of our house. I used to draw pitcherfuls out of it."
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Eliza Seaman Leggett Elementary School
3621 Pontiac Lake Road Principal: Keith Wunderlich
Waterford, MI 48328 Tel: 248-682-9450
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LETTERS OF ELIZA SEAMAN LEGGETT TO HER GRANDDAUGHTER EMMA WHITTEMORE, 1887, 1888 AND 1893
Letters from Eliza (Seaman) Leggett, (1815-1900), wife of Augustus Wright Leggett (1816-1885) to her granddaughter, Emma Whittemore (1883-?), later Mrs. Kenneth I. Guest, daughter of her youngest daughter, Blanche Irving (Leggett) Whittemore, (1860-1922) and James Whittemore, (1860-?) may be found in two segments, beginning in the Notes for Emma and continued in the Notes for her future husband, Kenneth Guest.
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LETTERS OF ELIZA SEAMAN LEGGETT TO HER GRANDSON AUGUSTUS WRIGHT IVES, 1888
Letters from Eliza (Seaman) Leggett, (1815-1900), wife of Augustus Wright Leggett (1816-1885) to her grandson, Augustus Wright Ives (18??-?), son of her daughter, Margaret Wright Leggett, (1843-1928) and Lewis T. Ives, (1833-1894) may be found in six segments, beginning in the Notes for her grandson Augustus and continuing in the Notes for his second wife, Clare Chandler, then in the successive Notes for each of their four children, in order of birth.
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Bible Records
Augustus & Eliza Leggett
[Transcribed by Kathy and Larry McCurdy, received via email, 13 Feb 2003.]
Births:
Augustus Wright Leggett born New York June 11 1816
His wife Eliza Seaman Leggett born N.Y. May 9th 1815 90 Beekman Street
Their children:
Mortimer Allen Leggett born New York October 18th 1837 at 76 Mercer Street at ¼ before 9 pm
William H. Leggett [crossed out] Percival S. born New York January 8th 1839 16 Mercer Street at ½ past 3 Tuesday morning.
Percival Seaman [crossed out] Leggett William H. born near Peekskil November 7, 1840 at 25 minutes past 3rd am
Margaret Wright Leggett born April 27th 1843 at Hillside Hempstead Harbor at 1 o.c. am
Emma Leggett born September 26th 1845 about 12 o.c. at night at Hillside Roslyn L. I. on Friday
Anna Leggett born April 19th 1848 at Hillside at 4 o.c. pm Elizabeth Hicks Leggett born at Roslyn Hillside October 18th 1849 at 4 o'clock in the afternoon
Augusta W. Leggett born at Roslyn L.I. November 14th 1861 about 10 pm Friday
Catherine Maria Allen Leggett born at Mill Farm Michigan Sunday February 5 1854 at 10 pm
Henrietta Eastman Leggett born at 3 o'clock in the afternoon on Thursday 20th December 1855
William H., son of Mortimer A. & Jane M. Leggett, March 3rd [Thursday] at 5:15 pm at Mill Cottage Clintonville, Michigan [in margin written grand]
Blanche Irving Leggett born May 22nd 1860 at 2 o'clock at night at Mill Farm Oakland County, State of Michigan [on Tuesday]
[Note: written around the outside of page starting upper left]
Lucile Viola Leggett born February 23, 1885 Elizabeth Sharon Pease born Detroit, Michigan 636 Second Ave. January 27 1897 - Wednesday - great granddaughter
Percival Sharon Pease born July 29 1872 at quarter of 5 pm Valentine Seaman Leggett born October 13 1861 John W. Leggett born May 23 1864 Wilhelmina Leggett July 4 1895 Eliza Seaman Christian born December 1 1868 daughter of Anna at 2 pm 129 East Elizabeth Detroit, Michigan
[Note written at bottom of page - The names of the second and third children were altered by request of friends The third receiving the name of the second & the second receiving that of the third. AWL]
Marriages:
Augustus Wright Leggett Eliza Seaman November 23rd 1836 at 89 Madison Street New York - Quaker
Mortimer Allen Leggett and Jane Mais Whitehead at Elizabeth Lake Oakland Co. Waterford, Michigan on the 7th April 8 o'clock 1858 by the Rev. Mr. Dooley - Episcopal
Lewis T. Ives & Margaret W. Leggett at Mill Farm Waterford, Oakland County, Mich. On June Tuesday June 26 1860 by Rev. A. Taylor at 12:15 pm - Episcopal
Wm H. Leggett Jr. & Annie Beardslee Nov 7th 1860 at Independence, Oakland Mich. - Quaker
Anna Seaman Leggett & William H. Christian at no. 115 East Elizabeth Street by Mr. Mellen June 6th 1867 - family present 8 o'clock pm Detroit - Episcopal
Elizabeth H. Leggett & David S. Snow June 1st 1869 at no. 129 East Elizabeth Street Detroit by M. Mellen, relatives present - Unitarian
Augusta W. Leggett & E. Brooks Pease September 5th 1871 at 169 East Elizabeth Street Detroit, Mich. By Rev. McLarran at 7:30 pm - Presbyterian
Percival S. Pease & Grace E. Camp February 4th 1896 Birmingham Mich. By Reed Stuart - Unitarian
Anna Seaman Leggett married second - Corodon Chandler Randall 1871 married at 169 Elizabeth St Detroit - June 14th 1882 - Blanche I. Leggett to James Whittemore
Deathe:
Catherine Maria Allen Leggett died of scarlet fever March 6th 1855 interred in Sashabaw Burying Groung
February 5th 1856 Henrietta E. Leggett of Crysipelas at Mill Farm laid in Sashabaw
Clipping: handwritten above clipping "January 1865" - Death Notice: On the 14th instant, at the residence of her father in Clintonville, town of Waterford, Oakland County, Michigan. Emma Leggett, aged seventeen years, second daughter of Augustus W. and Eliza S. Leggett. Cut off in the very blossom of life, she has left friends and relatives to mourn a full loving, patriotic heart.
Cliping: Death Notice: Shot on the Banks of the Rappahannock River while reonnoitering within the enemy lines on the evening of September 1st, Lieut. Percival S. Leggett, of Waterford, Oakland County, Michigan, age 24 years. [handwritten below: died in camp of General Kilpatrick and Lieut. of Company I, 5th Michigan Calvary. He was murdered without challenge by the rebels. He is interred at Pontiac.]
William H. Leggett died December 23 1863 age 74 interred at Greenwood, New York
Elijah Brook Pease died at 424 Second Ave. Detroit, Mich. Aug. 16, 1895
Family Records:-
Mortimer Allen Leggerr innoculated January 1837. Percival S. Leggett innoc. with Kinepox 1839, d. 1851. William H. Leggett innoc. with Kinepox 1840. Margaret W. Leggett innoc. Kinepox 1844. Mortimer A., Percival S., William H. and Margaret W. had measles during later part of April and first part of May 1845,
Emma Leggett innoc. Kinepox 1845. Mortimer, Percival, William, Margaret, Emma had chicken pox in June 1847 and whooping cough in summer 1847.
Anna vaccinated in May 18, 1848. Mortimer, Percival, William H. & Margaret all had mumps in April 1849.
Elizabeth vaccinated in 1849. Augusta vaccinated April 1852. Anna, Elizabeth, Catherine Maria & Augusta W. had whooping cough in August 1854. . [note: I am very nearly certain that Augusta had the whooping cough with the last children although her name was not put down at the time - I have therefore - amended that she did]
Margaret W., Anna, Elizabeth, Catherine Maria, and Augusta W. L. scarlet fever March 1855.
Augustus W. L. & Eliza L. vaccinated March 1855. Augustus, Mortimer, Percival & William vaccinated April 1860. William H., Minnie, Emma, Annie, Gussie, Lizzie, and Eliza vaccinated 1860.
Blanche & Gussie had whooping cough in 1866.
Note: Elizabeth was born 9 May 1815 in New York City, New York County, New Yo
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