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A History of the Seeton Family of Nova Scotia

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Unmatriculated Arms, symbolizing Seeton of Nova Scotia
> example only, not for official use.
> Kenneth Robert Seton, 2003.

It is likewise recorded for the Seeton's in Nova Scotia that James Seeton, 1st of Nova Scotia, had a brother Thomas and a sister Mary.  We know that James was the youngest of his family, and the above inscription confirms that, by the death-date of his father, brother and sister.  James was born circa 1776, was married to Martha Crawford of County Tyrone (of the Crawford's of Moneylagan) in 1808 in Donaghmore, County Donegal by the Rev'd Samuel Dill.  He and his family immigrated to Nova Scotia, Canada, leaving from the port of Belfast in either May 1821 or the 22nd of June 1822 and arriving in St. John's New Brunswick in either June 1821 or the 22nd of July, 1822 respectively.  There are two stories regarding their crossing, which are both currently under research.  Nevertheless. they remained in St. John's for only one month before settling at Londonderry, Nova Scotia (now called Glenholm, just north of Truro) and he died there in his 82nd year, in 1858.

The old Government House, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 19th century.
> built on Joseph Seeton's lands in Halifax.

Our family then, descends from Thomas Seton (Seaton), who’s descendant, James Seeton (also spelt Seaton and Seton) was raised in County Tyrone and married in Donaghmore, County Donegal, Ireland.  James married Martha Crawford of nearby County Tyrone, in 1808.  James was a Presbyterian, and an active freemason like most of the family, and Martha was a Methodist. 

They were married in the Donaghmore Presbyterian Church in Co. Donegal by the Reverend Samuel Dill, Presbyterian, and had seven children, the first four children were born in Ireland:  Mary Ann (1810), Andrew (1812), James (1814) and Elizabeth (1818).  In 1820 and 1821, James attempted to gain a grant of land in the colony of Nova Scotia and was unsuccessful.  However, in June of 1822, after liquidating his assets, he left on a ship with his family from Belfast, Ireland and landed in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, in July, 1822. 

There he remained with his family for one month before acquiring land in what was then called Londonderry, Nova Scotia (now called Glenholm), just north of the city of Truro.  James and Martha had three other children in Nova Scotia:  John William Seeton, Joseph Seeton, and Robert B. Seeton.  The family is listed on the 1838 Census for Londonderry, Nova Scotia, held in the National Archives in Ottawa, Canada.

Author's Note:
The senior line of the family of Nova Scotia, then, follows that of Andrew Seeton and Matilda Porter and which line I will follow along with shortly. The family farm at Meagher's Grant, known as the Seeton Farm was passed to James Seeton (3rd), who had my grandfather Harold there in "The Grant", before passing it to the Bayers family by marriage.  Harold (d. Nov, 1963) had, as his oldest son, Robert Seeton, my father, and I (website author Kenneth Robert Seton) am Robert's oldest son and now live in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Of the family in Nova Scotia, some remained there and others left for America.  However, before the death of James Seeton Sr., the family had relocated from the farm at Londonderry to that of Meagher's Grant near Mosquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia. 

Besides farming, the family in Nova Scotia were also involved in various business ventures, including Robert and Joseph Seeton's merchant and shipping business which held the contract for the overseas mail in the mid-to-late 19th century and having a martial-alliance with the Inman family of the famed shipping line, the land in Halifax which became the site of the Government House, and the Old Public House in downtown Halifax, which miraculously survived the Halifax Explosion during World War I. 

Robert and Joseph were both younger sons of James Seeton, and their older brothers', Andrew and James, acquired lands in various parts of Nova Scotia,  finally settling in Meagher's Grant. 

The family burial in the Cemetery at Meagher's Grant is as follows:

SEETON, Aldon R.  b. d. 1863 age 10
SEETON, Rupert b.  d. 1875 age 4 mos
sons of James & Sophia SEETON broken stone

SEETON, Fenwick Willliam b.  d. June 14, 1867 age 4 mos
son of Andrew & Matilda SEETON
SEETON, Frances b. 1864 d. 1940
  

SEETON, James b. d. Nov. 9, 1901 age 87

SEETON, James E.  b. 1870 d. 1936
SEETON, Emma M.  b. 1872 d. 1939

SEETON, John W.  b. 1844 d. 1907
VAUGHAN, Margaret b. 1859 d. 1903

SEETON, Joseph H.  b. 1846 d. 1922
SEETON, Annie L. b. 1855 d. 1951

SEETON, Lottie Maggie b.  d. Dec. 30, 1880 age 1 mo
daughter of Howard & Ruby SEETON

SEETON, Mary b. Oct. 2, 1834 d. May 29, 1918
wife of James SEETON

SEETON, Maud b.  d. May 4, 1900 age 23
daughter of James & Mary SEETON

SEETON, William S.  b. March 26, 1879 d. Jan. 11, 1943
buried at Crescent City, California, USA
SEETON, Frederick E.  b. Jan. 6, 1886 d. Aug. 18, 1963
buried at Gays River, NS


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