The Seabury Family has for many years been prominently identified with history of Long Island and especially that portion of it comprised within the limits of the town and village of Hempstead. Established in America by one of the illustrious "Pilgrim Fathers," it has since borne an honorable part in the growth and development of this country. It has had representatives both in the trades and professions, though predominating in the latter, and has given to the world men of intellect and enterprise, whose labors in life have elevated the race mentally and morally.

The first of the name known to have settled in America was John Seabury, who came here at an early Colonial period and endured all the hardships incident to life in a newly settled country. His son, Dr. Samuel Seabury, was born in Boston in 1639, and by his union with Patience Kemp had a son, John, whose birth occurred in 1673. The latter chose as his wife Elizabeth, daughter of David Alden and granddaughter of John Alden and Pricscilla Mullen, of "Mayflower" fame.

Samuel, son of John and Elizabeth Seabury, was born September 3, 1706, and while a student at Yale College he renounced the Presbyterian religion and embraced the faith of the Protestant Episcopal Church. This created such a disturbance in the college that he withdrew and entered Harvard College, where he graduated. Leaving his family in America he went abroad, where he was ordained to the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal Church by the Bishop of London. On his return he accepted a pastorate in New London, Conn., where he was rector of the church for thirteen years. Meantime, he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity. For twenty-one years he was rector of St. George's Church at Hempstead, in which capacity he was serving at the time of his death, June 15, 1764.

Among the sons of Dr. Seabury was Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., who had the distinction of being the first bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in America, and was one of the most brilliant men that denomination ever had. Another son, Dr. Adam Seabury, born in 1741. became a prominent physician of Hempstead and married Miriam Peters. Their son, Adam, who was born in 1767, married Jemima Skidmore and followed in one place for nearly a half century, teacher. A son of the latter, Robert Sands Seabury, was born in Hempstead in 1809 and was the father of the present generation of Seaburys in this village. For many years he was engaged in the mercantile business, and from 1850 to 1853 served as sheriff of Queens County, also for some time was president of the village board. In St. George's Church, of which he was a member, he served as vestryman. A man of prominence and worth, he was regarded as one of the leading men of the place.

The two brothers of Robert S. Seabury were John Skidmore and Henry P. The former, born January 8, 1812, was for many years a druggist in Jamaica, where he died; his daughter is the wife of John M. Crane, president of the Shoe and Leather National Bank of New York. Henry P., born January 28, 1815, spent his entire life in Hempstead, of which place he was a venerable and highly esteemed resident. When a young man he learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed in one place for nearly a half century. His death occurred February 13, 1896, aged eighty-one years. He was a bachelor, and as he had no extravagant tastes, accumulated a comfortable competency. His membership was in St. George's Church, the doctrines of which he upheld in practice and life.

May 10, 1837, Robert Sands Seabury married Elizabeth Hentz, who was born in Hempstead April 25, 1817, and was a daughter of Albert and Elizabeth Hentz. Her father was an inn keeper and also a dealer in real estate. She became the mother of eleven children, but five of the number died in infancy. Her husband, Robert S., died March 8, 1877, and at this writing she is living with her two bachelor sons. Her children who attained mature years were as follows: Albert, who died in 1889; Adam, a banker in New York; Robert, a prominent attorney, Charles, who is engaged in the real estate business in Hempstead; John, a wholesale merchant in New York; and Samuel, a real estate dealer in Hempstead.

The eldest of the surviving brothers, Adam, was born June 6, 1842, and received a fair education in the schools of Hempstead. In boyhood he went into a leading Nassau Street banking house, where he has since remained, having been the paying teller for many years. He is the owner of much valuable property in Hempstead. In St. George's Church, of which he is a member, he has officiated as vestryman, junior and senior warden. Like the other members of the family, he adheres to Democratic principles in politics. He is bachelor and, with his mother and brother Samuel, occupies a beautiful residence in the most popular part of Hempstead. Business duties have engrossed his attention to the exclusion of public affairs.

Robert Seabury, the second of the brothers, was born December 10, 1844, and was educated in the schools in Hempstead and at Union Hall Academy, Jamaica. His law studies were commenced under the supervision of his uncle, Alden J. Spooner, of Brooklyn, and completed with ex-Surrogate William H. Onderdonk. Shortly before the close of the Civil War he enlisted in the Fifty-sixth New York Infantry, but saw little active service. In 1866 he was admitted to the bar and for two years was with John W. Leveredge of New York, later formed a partnership with his uncle, Alden J. Spooner, in Brooklyn, establishing a branch office in Hempstead. Of this he has since been in charge, carrying on an active practice in the general courts. At different times he has occupied positions of trust and honor, all of which he has filled with credit to himself. For thirteen years he was president of the board of education. In 1874 he was elected town clerk of Hempstead, which he held for two years, and the, in 1876, was appointed clerk of the county board of supervisors, which he has held continuously since that time. He was one of the founders of the Bank of Hempstead, in which he is a director.

Fraternally Robert Seabury is prominently connected with the Masonic lodge at Hempstead, of which he is past master. In religious views he is a member of St. George's Church. In 1870 he married Miss Amelia Hendrickson, who died in 1882. The only child of this union, Albert H., graduated from Cornell University in 1895. In 1884 Mr. Seabury married Mary Hendrickson, a sister of his former wife, and they occupy a fine residence in Franklin Square.

*"Portrait and Biographical Record of Queens County (Long Island) New York; Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County." (Copyright 1896 by Chapman Publishing Company)

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Transcribed and Edited© by Linda Pearsall Harvey