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Seeley Genealogical Society
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Query Number: 0105-3

  • Query Date: May 3rd, 2001
Requested By: Sheila Cooke-Goodwin
Unresolved - Needs More Research
Requested Information

Sheila is a member of SGS and very interested in documenting her family’s Seeley line back to Castle Seeley, SGS # 2280. (An asterisk * indicates her line.) She believes that Castle Seeley and Grace Nichols had 3 children:
(1) Sarah, m. Nathan Clark, (2) Henry and (3) *Theodore Thomas. Other family members indicate that Castle Seeley, SGS # 2280, was married a second time in Oswego, NY to Ossina? and that Castle had 3 more children from this marriage (4) George, (5) Edward and (6) Elvinah.

Sheila is a descendant of Theodore Thomas Seeley, b. 1823 in Athens, NY, d. 1870, and the 3rd child of Castle Seeley. Theodore married twice, 1st to Elisabeth Darby 1815-1847 (Cairo, NY). Sheila does not believe there were any children from this 1st marriage.

After Elisabeth Darby Seeley passed, Theodore married her younger sister as his 2nd wife, Anna Maria Darby 1836-1917. They had 4 children: (1) Edgar Belmer Seeley 1859-1924, (2) *George Castle Seeley 1861-1933, (3) Thomas B. Seeley, and (4) Emma Seeley 1863-1926.

George Castle Seeley
b. 28 April 1861 Athens, NY,
d. 29 Jan 1933 Hensonville, NY
m. 1st Elma G. Pelham,
b. 14 Jan 1866,
d. 18 Jun 1891 Windham, NY.
dau of Joseph Pelham, farmer, and Julia M. Jacobs.

George and Elma had 2 children:
(1) Clark Joseph Seeley b. 27 Apr 1886 Hensonville, NY, m. Martha Barnes and
(2) *Elma Beulah Seeley b. 16 Apr 1891 Hensonville, NY. Elma Beulah is Sheila’s Grandmother.

George Castle Seeley m. 2nd Elma Stimson. Their children: Alfred Seeley and Graham Seeley.
George m 3rd Alma Simpson, no issue.
Sheila’s grandmother, Elma Beulah Seeley m. Leslie B. Cooke.

Their children were
(1) Emma Louise Cooke McGuinness b. 9 Dec 1914,
(2) and (3) twin girls who died at birth and
(4) *Seeley Burton Cooke
b. 6 Sep 1917 Ashland, Greene Co., NY,
d. 6 Apr 1962, Colliersville, Otsego Co., NY,
bur. Oneonta, NY. Seeley Burton Cooke is Sheila’s father.

QUESTIONS:
(1) Does the SGS have any information on the children of Castle Seeley, SGS # 2280?
(2) What do I (Sheila) need to send to the SGS to verify my family line?
(3) Are any descendants of my great uncle Alfred Seeley members of SGS?
(Alfred moved to Burbank, CA.) He referred to a book on the Seeley line. I can only assume he was referring to SGS’s work.

Initial Response Information
Query Responder: SGS Query Editor

Regarding Questions 1 and 3, John Seely, SGS Database Coordinator, responded that he had records sent to SGS by Alfred Thomas Seeley of Burbank years ago that had Sheila’s father, Seeley Burton Cooke’s birth date. John also said SGS LIFE member, Edgar George Seeley III descended from Clark Joseph and Martha (Barnes) Seeley and provided Edgar’s address. Finally, John provided Sheila with the address of SGS member Mrs. Joan M. Becker, a descendant of Edgar Belmar Seeley, son of Theodore Thomas Seeley and Anna Maria Darby. Regarding Question 2, SGS does not verify the Seeley line of its members. The objects and purposes of SGS are “To preserve and make available for Genealogical research the family records of the Seeley Ancestors, to encourage and assist the study of family history; to promote the exchange of knowledge and to encourage the deposit of family records, to cooperate with other Societies and assist in the publication of Genealogical holdings, to publish all of the generations of the Seeley family beginning with Capt. Robert Seeley who immigrated to America in 1630, to assist in the education of Genealogical methods, standards and record keeping.” (OBJECTS AND PURPOSES from the SGS Newsletter)

Updates
Update // Re Castle Seeley, SGS # 2280

SGS member Ann Hall found a research note that may help and it is quoted as follows: “In History of Genealogy of Samuel Clark, Sr., and His Descendants –1636-1892 by Rev. Edgar W. Clark, A.M., Pana, IL, Second Edition, page 41: Nathan Clark, Jr., son of Nathan and Julie Clark, born in Athens, NY, 18 Dec 1819, died 15 Jun 1891, of Bright’s Disease of the Kidneys. On 6 Dec 1842 he married Sarah Cornelia Seeley, daughter of Castle Seeley of Athens. She was born in Athens, 10 Mar 1819, and died of Consumption 18 April 1857, aged 38 years. He carried on successfully the Athens Pottery, as did his father. Their children were four, viz: Julia Estelle, who died of Consumption, 24 March 1869, aged 25 and unmarried. Her education and character made her the light of her home. Edgar Nathan, died in Athens 21 Mar 1848, aged 5 or 6 months. Ogden Clark, born in Athens, NY, 15 May 1850, died 8 Aug 1888. He married Isabella Edwards. Nathan E. Clark, born 19 Oct 1852, married Elizabeth DeLamater. Together they conduct the Athens Pottery.”

Query Update Responder: SGS Query Editor
Genealogy is an ongoing journey, full of unexpected discoveries. The information here reflects our best knowledge at the moment, but it may have gaps or the occasional error. And, it will change as we learn more.