- Biographical Information
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Children:
- Polly Seward (1752-1772) m Richard Edsall
- Obadiah Seward (1754-1799) m Heila Edsall
- Nancy Seward (1756-62)
- Helia Seward (1758-62)
- Elizabeth Swazey (1760-1795) m Jonathan Swazey
- Hester Seward(1762-62)
- John Seward (1765-1845) m Mary Butler
- Samuel Swezey Seward (1768-1849) m Mary Jennings
- Israel Seward (1773-) m Elizabeth
John Seward was a freeholder in Hardyston township records in 1767. Eight years later when the hostilities broke out between England and the colonies, he enlisted as a private in Captain McMire's company of the First Battalian, New Jersey line. He was soon promoted to the Captaincy of the Second Regiment; then Feb. 28, 1777, promoted to be Lieut. Colonel; and soon after upon Col. Ephraim Martin's resignation, to the Colonelship of the Regiment. He did much service during the war in driving off the gangs of tory marauders that infested the Snufftown mountains, and the enemy once posted a reward of $50 for his head. He kept his house barricaded for defense. One afternoon while he was walking through the woods he heard the click of a flint gunlock. He looked around and saw an Indian who had attempted to shoot him but whose gun missed fire. He drew his own rifle so quickly that the redskin could not get away,and ordered him to surrender, which he could not help doing, and so was taken prisoner.
The Colonel once shot a man supposed to be a British spy, who was lurking around the house apparently for a sinister motive.
He reared a family of ten children, and died upon his farm Dec. 17, 1797,in the 68th year of his age.
