The first of our Seevers family seems to have arrived in America on September 18th, 1732. The ship was called "The Johnson Galley". It was also called "The Pink Johnson". It arrived at the Port of Philadelphia on the 18th, but was not qualified until the next day. The passengers on this ship were listed as "Palentines". Palentine is a broad term for people of Germanic race. (1)

The ship sailed from Rotterdam, Holland, but the passengers had more than likely sailed up the Rhine River to the port in Rotterdam before sailing out on the North Sea. These journeys usually took about 6 months to complete. The Commander of this ship was David Crockatt. On this ship was imported a total of three hundred and thirty persons. (1)

Many years later, Giles Alpheus Seevers, the grandson of Abraham Seevers Jr. would write at the beginning of his own family history, that "My paternal ancestors came from Holland." This fits well into the first Seevers setting sail from Holland. (2)

There were three lists nameing the passengers on board the Johnson: the Captain's list, the list of signers of the Oath of Allegiance and the list of signers of the Oath of Abjuration. (1)

The Captain's list included:

Conradt Seyver (male above 16 years of age)
Conradt Seyver (male under 16 years of age)
Lawrence Seyver (male under 16 years of age)
Matelina Seyver (female above 14 years of age)
Elizabeth Seyver (female above 14 years of age)

The older "Conradt Seyver" obviously being the head of the family and Conradt and Lawrence probably being his sons. Either Elizabeth or Matelina were probably the wife and the other the daughter.

On September 19th, 1732, the passengers were qualified at the Courthouse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (1)

Our probable ancestor signed his name on the Oath of Allegiance as "Conrath Siebers". He then signed the Oath of Abjuration in the same manner. (3)

As far as the name on the two lists that he signed being spelled as "Siebers" is concerned, one thing must be considered. These were people of German background. Some words when in german that contain the letter "b" is changed to the letter "v" when translated into english.

Examples include:

The german word "haben" translates to "have" in english.
The german word "liebe" translates to "love" in english.

This could explain how "Siebers" in original german became "Seevers" in Enlish.

From this point on, I will refer to him as Conrad Seevers.

What happened to the elder Conrad Seevers after after his arrival in America is unknown.

The younger Conrad signed on as an indentured servant. This indenture began in 1732, when Conrad was only ten years old. It was to continue until he reached the age of twenty one. This would place the younger Conrad being born in about 1722. (4)

This was quite a long service indenture, as the average lasts between four and seven years. Also, the fact that he was only ten years old is a little unusual in itself. It is possible that his father Conrad Sr. died and that could explain the indenture specifics.

During the time of his indenture, he was not permitted to marry. So, he would not have been free to marry until about 1743 or after. (4)

He met and married the daughter of Johannes Busenberg (John Busenberger). Her name was Charity. Her father, in his Will refers to her as Cheretrout. It is believed that she was born in about 1714 in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.

According to John Busenberger's Will that was written October 5th, 1773, his daughter Charity had three children by her first husband. This husband would have been Conrad Seevers. (5)

Charity's siblings were Abraham, John and Elizabeth.

Conrad and Charity seemed to have stayed in the Hunterdon County, New Jersey area after they were married. At least we know that he was there in 1751 as he signed a note for 100 pounds in German script. (6)

Conrad and Charity's three children were logically named in the book "A History of East Amwell 1700 - 1800" as John, Abraham and Sarah. The only one that has an approximate birth year is Abraham. According to his death notice in a Marietta, Ohio paper, he was born in about 1748. (6)

Conrad Seevers must have died sometime between 1758 and 1762. He had traveled to New York and wrote a distraught sounding letter to his wife Charity telling her to sell everything that they owned and join him in New York. She obliged, but before she could join him, he died.

The letter, dated April 20th, 1758 reads as follows:

"Heartly beloved wife If This finds you well I shall be heartly glad. I ame well at present God be thanked. God help us further. I can Tell you nothing more but that you must sell off all and pay our debts. and If you Can Come here, do so as soon as posable, for I can nor date not come from here, But you must Come verry soon for we shall not stay long more, and the money which I shall get here, you must Try to get in your hands. it is 10 pounds, it is in Rocky hill already or els will be there soon. and you must go to John Hart and get the 10 pounds which he promise me from the other expedition or from the other time and herewith I leave you to the care of God and Live well until I come home again." (6)

After Conrad Seever's death, Charity married a man named Jacob Race. Jacob was born in 1716 and was the son of Jacob Race. This marriage took place in about 1762. Jacob Race was married prior to this to a woman named Elizabeth. Jacob and Elizabeth had a son by this first marriage. This son's name was William.(7)

After Charity and Jacob Race married they had a son that they named Jacob. This younger Jacob Race was born on August 11th, 1764. So, counting half-brothers and step-brothers we know that Abraham's probable brothers and sister were John Severs, Sarah Severs, Jacob Race, and William Race. (6)

When you look at our ancestor Abraham Seevers' nameing pattern for his children we see a connection. He named his first known daughter Charity after his probable mother and his sons Jacob, John, and William. These could have been named after his brothers. Abraham Seevers' first known son Jacob could also have been named after Jacob Race, his probable stepfather. This may have been the man that he grew up with as a father figure.

In July of 1782, Jacob Race gave Charity power of attorney.

He stated:

"I do hereby my wife Charity Race impower to act in my behalf as I am uncapable to leave home" (6)

As for the death date of Charity herself, her brother Abraham Busenberg, who was the executor of the estate of their father John, made payments to Charity through 1810. (6)

Jacob Race died in 1804. (7)

Sources:

#1 - Pennsylvania German Pioneers - by Ralph Beaver Strassburger, LL.D. - Edited by William John Hinke, PH.D., D.D - In three volumes - Volume 1 - Picton Press - 1992

#2 - A family history (incomplete) written by Giles Alpheus Seevers (born June 4th, 1871)

#3 - Pennsylvania German Pioneers - by Ralph Beaver Strassburger, LL.D. - Edited by William John Hinke, PH.D., D.D - In three volumes - Volume 2 - Picton Press - 1992

#4 - Conrad Severs - Service Indenture - 1732/3

#5 - Will of John Busenberger - October 5th, 1773 - Proved March 20th, 1782

#6 - A History of East Amwell 1700 - 1800 - East Amwell Bicentenial Committee - 1976

#7 - Early Germans of New Jersey