Robert Seeley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Seeley
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| Born | 1602 Bluntisham, Huntingdonshire, England
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| Died | 1668 |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | landowner, second in command in Pequot War, |
| Known for | Founder of Watertown, Massachusetts, Wethersfield, Connecticut, and New Haven, Connecticut |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Mason |
| Children | Nathaniel |
Robert Seeley (1602-1668) was an important early settler in America. He was a Puritan, which means he followed a strict form of Christianity. Robert Seeley helped start three early towns: Watertown, Wethersfield, and New Haven. He was also a brave leader in the Pequot War, serving as second-in-command to Captain John Mason.
Contents
Robert Seeley's Early Life
Robert Seeley was born in 1602 in Bluntisham-cum-Earith, England. His father, William, was a joiner, which is like a cabinet maker. In 1623, Robert moved to London. There, he became an apprentice cordwainer, learning how to make shoes.
In 1626, Robert married Mary Mason. She was a widow. That same year, he started going to a church led by a Puritan minister named John Davenport. Robert and Mary had one child, a son named Nathaniel, who was born in 1627.
Journey to the New World
In 1630, Robert, Mary, and Nathaniel sailed to America. They were part of a large group of Puritans led by John Winthrop. This journey was a big part of what is called the Great Migration.
Soon after arriving, Seeley became one of the first 40 settlers in Watertown. This was one of the first Puritan communities in Massachusetts. Robert used his skills in surveying to help measure and plan out the land for the new settlers. In 1631, he was given "freeman" status. This meant he had the right to vote and own land in the colony.
Founding Wethersfield and the Pequot War
Around 1633 or 1634, Robert Seeley joined an expedition of ten men. They were led by John Oldham and explored the Connecticut River. This group soon started Wethersfield, which was the first English settlement along the Connecticut River.
In 1636, John Oldham died. The colonists believed the Pequot people were responsible. This event helped start the Pequot War in 1637. Robert Seeley was a key leader in this war. He was second-in-command to Captain John Mason.
During an attack on a Pequot fort near the Mystic River, Seeley was badly hurt. An arrow hit him in the eyebrow. Captain Mason, who called Seeley a "valiant soldier," pulled the arrow out himself. Robert Seeley carried a scar from this wound for the rest of his life.
Helping Establish New Haven
In 1638, Robert Seeley joined his old friend John Davenport again. Together, they helped create the New Haven Colony. Seeley became New Haven's first town marshal, which is like a police chief. He was also a lieutenant in the local militia, a group of citizen soldiers. People in the community often called him Lieutenant Seeley. He also explored Long Island Sound with another leader, Theophilus Eaton.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1659, Robert Seeley went back to England for a short time. He returned to America in 1662 and settled in New Amsterdam, which is now Huntington, New York, on Long Island. He passed away in New York City in 1668.
Years after his death, in 1695, Robert Seeley's family received 40 acres of land in Watertown. This settled a lawsuit Seeley had started 60 years earlier. He had claimed he wasn't given all the land he was promised as one of Watertown's first settlers.
Sadly, Robert Seeley's son, Nathaniel, was killed during the events leading up to the Great Swamp Fight in King Philip's War.
Honors and Recognition
- Robert Seeley's name is on three historical plaques. These plaques honor him as one of the founders of Watertown, Wethersfield, and New Haven.
- He is also listed on a plaque at the base of a statue honoring John Mason. This plaque recognizes Seeley for his help in the colonists' victory over the Pequot people.
