Dr. William Ferris Seaman

     William Ferris was born on Monday, 13 February 1797 in Manhattan, New York County, New York, at the family home at 90 Beekman Street. He was the son of Dr. Valentine Seaman and Anna Ferris. He was the first white child vaccinated in New York City. He was never very strong. About 1819, he and his brother traveled to Europe. This trip seemed to help prolong his life for a few years. William married Elizabeth Hicks on 30 October 1822 in Westbury, Hempstead Town, Queens County, Long Island, New York, at the Friend's Meeting House.^1,2 William & Elizabeth had children: William [5/07/1824-3/26/1825] & Sarah [11/26/1825-2/26/1828]. The family lived at 300 Pearl Street across the street from the store of Howard & Clinton Leggett. William made his will on 5 January 1827.

I William F. Seaman of the City of New York, Physician Do make and publish my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say: First I order and direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid as soon after my decease as can conveniently be done. Item: I give and bequeath to my brother Valentine Seaman the sum of Five hundred dollars. Item: I order and direct that all the rest residue and remainder of my estate both real and personal be converted in to Cash and divided into two equal halves or portions. The one equal half part thereof I order and direct to be placed and kept at interest on Bond and Mortgage or invested in Stock of a permanent and productive nature during the natural life of my beloved Wife Elizabeth H. Seaman and the interest income or dividends thereof or thence arising to be paid to her annually of oftener as the same may be received during her natural life for her own use and benefit and after the decease of my said Wife I give the principal of the said one half so to be invested for her use to my daughter Sarah H. Seaman if she shall then be living and if she shall then have deceased leaving lawful issue then I give the same to such issue if one Soley if more than one jointly and equally each child of hers if any taking one share and the child or children if any of such of her children as shall then have deceased taking the Share which his her or their parent would have taken if living and in case my said daughter shall die before her said mother without leaving lawful issue living at th time of her decease I give and bequeath the same after the decease of my said Wife to my brothers-in-law John D. Hicks Robert Hicks and Benjamin D. Hicks or such of them as shall be living and the issue of such of them as shall be then deceased leaving lawful issue in equal proportions share and share alike each of my said Brother’s in Law to take on share and the issue of such of them as shall be ten deceased if one Soley if more than one jointly and equally to take the share or shares of his her parent or parents. Item: The remaining one equal half part of my said residuary estate with the accruing interest income or dividends kept at interest thereof I also order and direct to be placed and kept at interest on Bond and Mortgage or invested in Stocks of a permanent and productive nature until my said daughter shall arrive at the age of twenty five years when I give and bequeath the same to her – But in case she shall not live to arrive at the age of twenty five years and shall die leaving lawful issue at the time of her decease then I give the same to such issue if one solely if more than one jointly and equally and in case my said daughter shall die under the age of twenty five years without leaving lawful issue living at the time of her decease then I give such equal half part with the increase thereof to my brothers and Sisters James V. Seaman John F. Seaman Valentine Seaman Marianna Seaman Anna Seaman and Elizabeth Seaman and the issue of such of them as shall have then deceased if one solely if more than one jontly and equally taking the share which his her or their parent or parents would have taken had he she or they been living and Lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint said Brother John F. Seaman my said Brother in law Benjamin D. Hicks and my kinsman William R. Thurston Executors of this my last will and testament and guardians of the person and estate of my said daughter during her minority hereby authorizing them and the Survivors or Survivor of them and such of them as shall act for the time being to sell and dispose of all my real estate in fee simple absolutely and give good and sufficient conveyances in the law for the same to compromise and compound with any and all my debtors and to submit to arbitration any and all disputes that may arise in the settlement of my estate and hereby revoking all other Wills and Testaments by me made I hereby declare this and this only to be my last Will and testament. In Witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the fifth day of First month January in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty seven - - - William F. Seaman - - - Witnesses: E. C. Benedict, W. C. Wetmore & Benjamin Clark.³

He wrote a codicil to his will on 9 January 1827.

In his codicil, he repeats his will and adds this section: And if my said Wife shall afterwards die leaving other lawful issue if one Soley if more than one jointly and equally shall take after the decease of my said Wife the said one half part to be invested for the use of my said wife in preference to my said Brothers in law and their issue each child of said of my said Wife taking one share and the Child or children of such of them as shall then have deceased leaving lawful issue taking the share which his her or their parent or parents would have taken if living.³

William died on Friday, 12 January 1827 in New York City at the family home at 300 Pearl Street at age 29 years, 10 months and 30 days of consumption.⁴ He was buried at New York City in the Friend's Burying Ground on North Street.⁵ His will was probated on 19 January 1827.