Robert Seely

Robert Seely's LondonJASFO Newsletter
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Robert Seely's London, by LeAnne Seely
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We had a great conference in June to highlight the life and times of Robert Seely (1602-1668).
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Do you wonder why we have spent so much time dwelling on the life of Robert Seely lately?He is our direct ancestor, albeit 400 years ago, and he made decisions and sacrifices that made a huge difference in each of our lives.I saw the production of Camelot in Cedar City this summer, and in that famous and poignant scene at the battlefield, King Arthur reveals his revelation to his confidante: "We are all just a drop in the bucket of life; but Peli, some of us shine."

I believe Robert Seely is one of those who shines.I have been fascinated by his life and the decisions he made.He must have had great courage.In trying to understand Robert better I have read several books about those with whom Robert associated: John Winthrop (leader of the Massachusetts.
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Bay Company and the Winthrop Fleet with whom Robert came to America in 1630), John Davenport (minister at St. Stephen's church on Coleman Street in London and minister in the newly founded New Haven Colony in Connecticut, both of which counted Robert as a member in good standing of the congregations), and a book about the Pequot War wherein Captain Robert Seely was second in command.
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Bay Company and the Winthrop Fleet with whom Robert came to America in 1630), John Davenport (minister at St. Stephen's church on Coleman Street in London and minister in the newly founded New Haven Colony in Connecticut, both of which counted Robert as a member in good standing of the congregations), and a book about the Pequot War wherein Captain Robert Seely was second in command.
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Robert was a Puritan and sailed to America in 1630 with the Winthrop Fleet.The Pilgrims were a different colony and had settled in Plymouth in 1620, ten years earlier.The Pilgrims of Plymouth were separatists and were seeking a place where they could practice their religion-they had cut all ties to the Church of England and their native country.The Puritans (Robert) who settled in the Massachusetts Bay, were reformers who tried to reform the Church of England from within.
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We don't know exactly why Robert and Mary left England for America.
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Robert was skilled in leather work and skilled craftsmen were needed so he may have been recruited.Following are quotes from "The Puritan Dilemma" and "Builders of the Bay Colony" that describe the voyage and the circumstances of the early Puritan settlers who came with the Winthrop Fleet (Robert and probably Mary and two year old Nathaniel):
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As we think about the pilgrims and celebrate Thanksgiving this year, I hope we will remember our pilgrims, our puritan pioneers, Robert and Mary Seely.
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I am thankful that Robert had the spirit of adventure, served "his" country on the battlefield and helped establish the foundation of religious worship and government that makes our life in the United States of America blessed.Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas.
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Robert Seely lived in London from 1623 to 1630.To understand what London was like in the early 1600's, let's make a short review of the city and its environs from pre-history up to Robert's arrival from his birthplace in Huntingdon, which is north of the London area.
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This brings us culturally, socially, economically, and geographically to the time of Robert Seely in London.We know very little about his early years, except the bare facts that his parents had, by 1602, moved to Huntingdon, where Robert was christened on the 4th of July of that year.We assume he was educated in Huntingdon and that he was apprenticed to his father as a joiner or carpenter there.Then, on 25 March 1623, he became an apprentice to John Plomer, a cordwainer in London.We don't really have any concrete evidence of why Robert left his country roots and migrated to the city.He was already over 20 years old and had completed an apprenticeship.Apprenticeships of the time could last up to seven years, so most young men were journeymen by the time they were in their early twenties, and they looked to settle down with a nice young lady to build a family. For whatever reason (a row with his father? jilted by his childhood sweetheart? religious discontent? simply a restless spirit?) he set himself up in London.After three years with Mr. Plomer, he bought his apprenticeship, got married, and moved into #7 Coleman Street, right at the heart of things.London's Guidhall (the equivalent of the town hall) was a three-minute walk.The Thames was a ten-minute walk, and on a fine Sunday, with little commercial traffic, Westminster Abbey was a brisk half hour away.Of course, in a city where the Reformation was in full swing, a chapel could be found within five minutes in any direction, and young tradesman eager to make a good impression had better make use of them!

Much political and religious strife formed the undercurrents of everyday life in London while Robert and his family lived there.Charles I came to the throne in 1625.The Puritan and Separatist movements gained strength, and after living in London fewer than ten years, Robert took his family to the New World, part of the Puritan group of settlers forming the Winthrop Fleet and landing at Salem, Massachusetts, on 12 June 1630.
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It will contain updated information on our common lineage from Robert Seely down through Justus Azel Seelye and his descendants.

Timeline of Robert Seely
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Timeline of Robert Seely
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The original records of St. Stephen's Church, Coleman Street, London spell the name, Seely.
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Feb 1662 At a town meeting in Huntington, Long Island, it was ordered that a boat be sent to Connecticut to bring Captain Seely to Long Island. 28 Apr 1662 New Haven General Court requested encouragement for Capt. Seely to settle among them. 14 May 1663 The Court ordered the Town of Stratford to pay Robert 25 pounds in exchange for him giving up all rights and titles to land holdings there.At the same session, Robert was appointed commissioner for the town of Huntington, Long Island. 1665 Robert and several others settled Elizabeth, N.J. About 1666 Robert married Mary Manning Walker.
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We were in New York lookin' for the tracks of Robert Seely.
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This is a 1550-acre tract that Robert owned.It is connected to Long Island by a narrow neck of land, that, in one section, is only wide enough for a two-lane highway.Then it spreads out and there are 1550 acres.We drove around on "Robert's land."Now it's full of "millionaire homes."There's no evidence that Robert, a humble shoemaker, ever walked here.

Tracing Our Roots to Robert Seely
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Timeline of Robert Seely, updated
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Back to Robert Seely
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How do you know that you are a descendant of Robert Seely, the Immigrant?In the process of doing our detective work to see for sure if we are descendants of Robert the Immigrant, we will first examine the document called A Brief History of the Seely Family.
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And Robert Seely, the Immigrant, is the father of this Nathaniell.
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So I know that Robert Seely the Immigrant is my 8th great-grandfather.I'm in the 10th generation from Robert-but he is my 8th great-grandfather.What a great little exercise!We're glad to be Robert's descendants!

Timeline of Robert Seely (SGS #1)
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The original records of St. Stephen's Church, Coleman Street, London spell the name, Seely.
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The program will be focused on the life of Robert Seely.

We are planning a "Renaissance Faire" on June 25th in Mt. Pleasant, to honor the life of Robert Seely 1602-1667.
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I read the first 70 pages of the red book, and realized that I had served in many of the towns that Captain Robert Seely, and his son Nathaniel had lived in.Robert was even the founder of several towns that I had served in.

Robert Seely's London, by LeAnne Seely
...
We had a great conference in June to highlight the life and times of Robert Seely (1602-1668).
...
Do you wonder why we have spent so much time dwelling on the life of Robert Seely lately?He is our direct ancestor, albeit 400 years ago, and he made decisions and sacrifices that made a huge difference in each of our lives.I saw the production of Camelot in Cedar City this summer, and in that famous and poignant scene at the battlefield, King Arthur reveals his revelation to his confidante: "We are all just a drop in the bucket of life; but Peli, some of us shine."

I believe Robert Seely is one of those who shines.I have been fascinated by his life and the decisions he made.He must have had great courage.In trying to understand Robert better I have read several books about those with whom Robert associated: John Winthrop (leader of the Massachusetts.
...
Bay Company and the Winthrop Fleet with whom Robert came to America in 1630), John Davenport (minister at St. Stephen's church on Coleman Street in London and minister in the newly founded New Haven Colony in Connecticut, both of which counted Robert as a member in good standing of the congregations), and a book about the Pequot War wherein Captain Robert Seely was second in command.
...
Bay Company and the Winthrop Fleet with whom Robert came to America in 1630), John Davenport (minister at St. Stephen's church on Coleman Street in London and minister in the newly founded New Haven Colony in Connecticut, both of which counted Robert as a member in good standing of the congregations), and a book about the Pequot War wherein Captain Robert Seely was second in command.
...
Robert was a Puritan and sailed to America in 1630 with the Winthrop Fleet.The Pilgrims were a different colony and had settled in Plymouth in 1620, ten years earlier.The Pilgrims of Plymouth were separatists and were seeking a place where they could practice their religion-they had cut all ties to the Church of England and their native country.The Puritans (Robert) who settled in the Massachusetts Bay, were reformers who tried to reform the Church of England from within.
...
We don't know exactly why Robert and Mary left England for America.
...
Robert was skilled in leather work and skilled craftsmen were needed so he may have been recruited.Following are quotes from "The Puritan Dilemma" and "Builders of the Bay Colony" that describe the voyage and the circumstances of the early Puritan settlers who came with the Winthrop Fleet (Robert and probably Mary and two year old Nathaniel):
...
As we think about the pilgrims and celebrate Thanksgiving this year, I hope we will remember our pilgrims, our puritan pioneers, Robert and Mary Seely.
...
I am thankful that Robert had the spirit of adventure, served "his" country on the battlefield and helped establish the foundation of religious worship and government that makes our life in the United States of America blessed.Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas.
...
Robert Seely lived in London from 1623 to 1630.To understand what London was like in the early 1600's, let's make a short review of the city and its environs from pre-history up to Robert's arrival from his birthplace in Huntingdon, which is north of the London area.
...
This brings us culturally, socially, economically, and geographically to the time of Robert Seely in London.We know very little about his early years, except the bare facts that his parents had, by 1602, moved to Huntingdon, where Robert was christened on the 4th of July of that year.We assume he was educated in Huntingdon and that he was apprenticed to his father as a joiner or carpenter there.Then, on 25 March 1623, he became an apprentice to John Plomer, a cordwainer in London.We don't really have any concrete evidence of why Robert left his country roots and migrated to the city.He was already over 20 years old and had completed an apprenticeship.Apprenticeships of the time could last up to seven years, so most young men were journeymen by the time they were in their early twenties, and they looked to settle down with a nice young lady to build a family. For whatever reason (a row with his father? jilted by his childhood sweetheart? religious discontent? simply a restless spirit?) he set himself up in London.After three years with Mr. Plomer, he bought his apprenticeship, got married, and moved into #7 Coleman Street, right at the heart of things.London's Guidhall (the equivalent of the town hall) was a three-minute walk.The Thames was a ten-minute walk, and on a fine Sunday, with little commercial traffic, Westminster Abbey was a brisk half hour away.Of course, in a city where the Reformation was in full swing, a chapel could be found within five minutes in any direction, and young tradesman eager to make a good impression had better make use of them!

Much political and religious strife formed the undercurrents of everyday life in London while Robert and his family lived there.Charles I came to the throne in 1625.The Puritan and Separatist movements gained strength, and after living in London fewer than ten years, Robert took his family to the New World, part of the Puritan group of settlers forming the Winthrop Fleet and landing at Salem, Massachusetts, on 12 June 1630.
...
It will contain updated information on our common lineage from Robert Seely down through Justus Azel Seelye and his descendants.

We will learn about and honor the life of Robert Seely, who was Justus Azel Seelye's great, great, great, great grandfather.Robert (1602-1666/67), was born in England and at the age of 28 gathered his wife Mary and young son, two year old Nathaniel, and came to America.
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We will have activities for all ages and informative mini-classes as well as a presentation on the life of Robert Seely.Come "gather" with us to jolly olde England, June 25, in Mt. Pleasant.See you there!

Cilley, Robert Seely, Capt.

Robert Seely

Seely, Lieut.Robert--resided in Wethersfield in 1636--came from Watertown.He was ordered in 1636, to look up the property of John Oldham--was a lieutenant and commander under Major Mason in the Pequott battle in 1637.After the conquest, he was sent with 30 men under him, to settle and hold possession of the territory, with an addition of 10 men, afterwards ordered there.He with Major Mason, Stanton, Adams, Gibbs, Henry Starks and Tho.Merrick were appointed by the General Court to treat with the Indians for corn.He was for a time an officer at the Fort after it was purchased by Connecticut.He was a useful man in the colony as an Indian fighter as well as a civilian.He is supposed to be the ancestor of those of his name in Fairfield county, and New York.In 1663 he was a captain and chief military officer at Huntington, L. I., to exercise the men there; and the same year was appointed a commissioner for the town of Huntington, L. I., by the General Court of Connecticut.

Hinman, Royal Ralph."A Catalogue of the Names of the First Puritan Settlers of the Colony of Connecticut," Hartford, CT: E. Gleason, 1846