Ann Drake

     Ann was born in 1797 in New York. Ann married John Ferris Seaman, son of Dr. Valentine Seaman and Anna Ferris, in New York. 21 August 1850, Ann and her husband, John, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in the City, County & State of New York. Enumerated in this household were John F. Seaman [50 New York], his wife: Ann [50 New York], servants: Isabella Wilson [24 Ireland] & Sarah Parler [22 Ireland], & coachman: Thomas Gould [25 New Jersey].¹ 20 August 1860, Ann and her husband John were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in the City, County & State of New York. Enumerated in this household were John F. Seaman [60 New York-Gentleman], his wife: Ann [56 New York], servants: Mary J. Vandersee [11 New York], Jane Egberts [30 New York], Caroline Kelly [19 Ireland], & coachman: James Steward [26 New York]. The real estate was 100,000 & personal assets 100,000. The Post Office was Manhattanville.² 20 July 1870, Ann and her husband, John, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in the City, County & State of New York. Enumerated in this household were John F. Seaman [69 New York], his wife: Ann [69 New York], domestics: Jane Lowrey [21 England], Sarah Rayhey [27 Ireland], & Gabela Wilson [40 Ireland], coachman: Rich Dickson [38 New York].³ Ann's husband, John, died on 26 May 1872 in his family home west of Kingsbridge Road & northeast of the Isham Estate, the City, County & State of New York, leaving her a widow. Ann made her will on 11 January 1876 at her home on the South side of 53rd Street, East of 5th Avenue in the City, County & State of New York.

Surrogatre Calvin yesterday admitted to probate the will of the late Ann Drake Seaman, widow of John F. Seaman, formerlyu of this City. The will contains 27 bequests, and disposes of property amounting to nearly a$1,000,000. The Executors of the will are William C Isham, and John Cartree. The following are the divises made by the testatrix: To James Crow, of Crystal Lake, Ill., she bequeaths all her riparian rights to certain lands under water in Lake Michigan; to Isabella Wilson, her faithful friend, her wearing apparel, $2,000 in cash, and the house and lot known as No. 250 East Broadway; to Frances Henrietta Hoyt, daughter of Daniel drake, deceased, the house and lot at the south east corner of Cherry and Catherine streets; to Susan Melissa Anthony, daughter of Moses Drake, the house and lot No. 237 ½ Division street; to Mofgan Washburn, grandson of Charles Morgan, deceased, the house and lot No. 237 Division street; to Charles Drake, son of Elias G. Drake, the premises No. 176 West street and Nos. 123 and 125 Warren street, together with the riparian rights on the Hudson River in front of said premises; to Lawrence Drake, son of Joseph Drake and Susan Ann Drake, the marble house and grounds at King's Bridge, where the testatrix resided during the Summer, together with all the furniture therein; also the store and lot on the south-westerly corner of Reade and Washington streets, and all the premises belonging to the testatrix bounded by Market, Monroe, and Hamilton streets, in this City; to Mary W. Drake, daughter of Joseph and Susan Ann Drake, the house and grounds on the south side of Fifty-third street, cast of Fifth avenue, in which testatrix resided at the time of making the will, with all the furniture therein, and all the diamonds, plate, and jeweled ornaments belonging to the testatrix; to Benjamin Drake, son of Joseph and Susan Ann Drake, the store and lot No. 120 Water street; to Angeline E. Skidmore, daughter of John Drake, the house and lot No. 141 Hudson street; to Charles M. Drake , son of Moses Drake, the house and lot No. 225 Cherry street; to Thomas Drake, son of David Drake, the houses and lots situate at No.19 Broome street and No. 13 Mangin street; to Charles Drake , son of Joseph and Susan Ann Drake, the house and lot No. 49 Bowery; to James Morgan, of New Rochelle, son of Charles Morgan, the house and lot No. 1, 372 Broadway; to William T. Treadwell, at the Soldiers' Military Home, Montgomery County, Ohio, the house and lot at No. 468 ½ Pearl street; to Jacob, Daniel, Mary, and Susan, children of Susan Drake Bennett, the house and lot No. 258 Washington street; to Susan, Jane, Marvin, and Soulice M., children of Nancy Drake Bennett, the house and lot No. 94 Chatham street. She also bequeaths $10,000 to the children of Mary Ann Rich Scott; to Augusta, daughter of Moses and Susan Drake, and Abigail Eliza Rich, daughter of above, $10,000 each. To James Treadwell, of Ann Arrbor, $2,500. The remainder of her estate she gives to .Lawrence Drake, son of Joseph and Susan Ann Drake heretofore named in the will. The will is dated Jan.11, 1876. A codicil bequeaths $5,000 to “my friend, John Castree, for assisting me in the transaction of my business and declining all compensation therefore.”.

Ann departed this life on Tuesday, 12 March 1878 in the City, County & State of New York. Her will was probated on 12 March 1878 at her family home near Inwood.⁴ Ann, at the time of her death, was a very wealthy woman, owning a large amount of real estate in and around Manhattan. In her will, she bequeathed the greatest part of her estate to a Lawrence Drake and his sister Mary. It is not certain how these two were related to Ann, but they were not close relatives - possibly second cousins. There were other relatives, much closer, who were up set with the distribution. They believed that after Ann's accident (she fell off a boat and nearly drowned), she had lost a substantial amount of her mental ability, and that she was incapable of writing a will with her true intensions of distribution, before her accident. These relatives started a court action which was in and out of the courts until as late as 1893. In the end, the original will was upheld. During the court proceedings, however, there were many interesting facts brought to light involving Lawrence Drake. Among them were observations of his destroying papers of Ann, and Ann being unhappy with the way that he dealt with her affairs. It almost seemed from the testimony that she felt helpless in these matters. Another interesting development, a John Townsend Jr. was the center of another attempt to over turn Ann's will; he, according to the other plaintiffs, had hard evidence that would clearly have the will over turned. Tragically, the gentleman was found dead under suspicious conditions, but the coroner report listed his death as suicide. Many felt that he had been murdered and the plaintiffs were sure it was to silence his testimony. The proceedings continued, but with the same result and Lawrence Drake maintained the large inheritance.