When Mr. Heywood was about 14 years old his brothers, Benjamin, Levi, Walter & William began to make chairs and sell them throughout the area including Boston. As Seth matured he would join the family enterprise and eventually his two sons, George and Henry, would work for the company as well.
The Heywood Brothers Co., later called the Heywood Wakefield Company, would become the biggest chair manufacturing company in the city and the world.
---------------------------------------
Interesting finds in old newspapers at GenealogyBank.com:
1) According to the Worcester Daily Spy [Worcester, MA], printed on May 7, 1853, Messrs. Seth and Charles Heywood of Gardner were among the fortunate survivors of the Norwalk rail accident which occurred the day before. It's assumed that this Seth is the individual mentioned. He's the only Seth Heywood buried in Gardner that was alive at the time. Same goes for Charles. Coincidentally they share the same birthday. Here's the first paragraph from its Wikipedia page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwalk_rail_accident):
The Norwalk rail accident occurred on May 6, 1853, in Norwalk, Connecticut, and was the first major U.S. railroad bridge disaster; 48 were killed when a train travelling at 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) plunged into the Norwalk Harbor off of an open swing bridge.
2) Notably a very small part but Seth accompanied Charles Hartshorn, also of Gardner, in search of the alleged murderer, George Stacey, 19, of the two elderly Kneeland sisters, Miriam Kneeland and Sarah Phinney. They were killed at their home in Gardner on March 7, 1855. It was two days after the murder when Seth and Charles went to Ashburnham, then took the rail to Winchendon where Charles spotted Stacey and asked him to return to Gardner with him which he did. Heywood's chair factory was also mentioned as possibly the place where Stacey may have acquired the assumed murder weapon, a heavy chair post. (Source: Coverage of Stacey's trial printed in the Worcester Daily Spy [Worcester, MA] on December 12, 1855.)
3) Seth was a democratic candidate for Representative to the General Court for Westminster and Gardner. (Source: The Barre Gazette [Barre, MA] October 29, 1858.) He went on to win the seat.
4) Apparently Seth had a "fat cow" that weighed 1740 pounds. Curious persons were encouraged to visit Mr. Heywood on Central Street to see for themselves. (Source: New Hampshire Sentinel [Keene, NH] March 26, 1884.)
--------------------------------------
Census information:
1850 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 37, chair manufacturer; wife, Emily, 35; children, Henry, 13, George, 11, and Frances, 3; and a servant(?), Catherine Joyce, 28. The next family enumerated on the same census page was Sarah (Comee) Heywood (widow of Seth's brother, Benjamin) and four of her children.
1855 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 42, chair manufacturer; wife Emily, 40; children, Henry, 19, chairmaker, George, 16, Frances S., 8, and Mary E., 1; and a servant(?), Catherine Murphy, 17.
1860 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heyward, 48, chair manufacturer; wife, Emily W., 46; daughters, Fannie S., 13, and Mary, 6; and a servant, Ellen Conway, 21. Note the incorrect spelling of Heywood. The home visited by the census taker just before Seth's belonged to his brother Levi and family.
1865 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 52, chair manufacturer; wife, Emily, 50; children, George, 26, bookkeeper, Frances S., 18, and Mary E., 11; and a servant, Mary Conway, 50.
1870 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 57, chair manufacturer; wife, Emily 55; children, George, 31, clerk in a chair shop, Fanny S., 23, and Mary E., 16; and a servant, Mary Conway, 50.
1880 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 68, chair manufacturer; wife, Emily W., 66; daughter, Fannie S. Heywood, 33; son-in-law, Howard L. Ballard, 26, clothing store; daughter, Mary E. Ballard, 26; their children, Emily W., 3, and Seth H., 1; and servants, Nellie Hagarty, 24, and Maggie Hagarty, 21.
1900 at 105 Central St. in Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 87, retired chair manufacturer & farmer; daughter, Fannie H. Smith, 53; son-in-law, Frank W. Smith, 52, sterling silverware manufacturer; grandson, Frank H. Smith, 10; step-grandson, William D. Smith, 23, silversmith; and servants, Mary A. Murrey, 31,and Kittie E. Frain, 43.
The Heywood Brothers Co., later called the Heywood Wakefield Company, would become the biggest chair manufacturing company in the city and the world.
---------------------------------------
Interesting finds in old newspapers at GenealogyBank.com:
1) According to the Worcester Daily Spy [Worcester, MA], printed on May 7, 1853, Messrs. Seth and Charles Heywood of Gardner were among the fortunate survivors of the Norwalk rail accident which occurred the day before. It's assumed that this Seth is the individual mentioned. He's the only Seth Heywood buried in Gardner that was alive at the time. Same goes for Charles. Coincidentally they share the same birthday. Here's the first paragraph from its Wikipedia page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwalk_rail_accident):
The Norwalk rail accident occurred on May 6, 1853, in Norwalk, Connecticut, and was the first major U.S. railroad bridge disaster; 48 were killed when a train travelling at 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) plunged into the Norwalk Harbor off of an open swing bridge.
2) Notably a very small part but Seth accompanied Charles Hartshorn, also of Gardner, in search of the alleged murderer, George Stacey, 19, of the two elderly Kneeland sisters, Miriam Kneeland and Sarah Phinney. They were killed at their home in Gardner on March 7, 1855. It was two days after the murder when Seth and Charles went to Ashburnham, then took the rail to Winchendon where Charles spotted Stacey and asked him to return to Gardner with him which he did. Heywood's chair factory was also mentioned as possibly the place where Stacey may have acquired the assumed murder weapon, a heavy chair post. (Source: Coverage of Stacey's trial printed in the Worcester Daily Spy [Worcester, MA] on December 12, 1855.)
3) Seth was a democratic candidate for Representative to the General Court for Westminster and Gardner. (Source: The Barre Gazette [Barre, MA] October 29, 1858.) He went on to win the seat.
4) Apparently Seth had a "fat cow" that weighed 1740 pounds. Curious persons were encouraged to visit Mr. Heywood on Central Street to see for themselves. (Source: New Hampshire Sentinel [Keene, NH] March 26, 1884.)
--------------------------------------
Census information:
1850 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 37, chair manufacturer; wife, Emily, 35; children, Henry, 13, George, 11, and Frances, 3; and a servant(?), Catherine Joyce, 28. The next family enumerated on the same census page was Sarah (Comee) Heywood (widow of Seth's brother, Benjamin) and four of her children.
1855 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 42, chair manufacturer; wife Emily, 40; children, Henry, 19, chairmaker, George, 16, Frances S., 8, and Mary E., 1; and a servant(?), Catherine Murphy, 17.
1860 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heyward, 48, chair manufacturer; wife, Emily W., 46; daughters, Fannie S., 13, and Mary, 6; and a servant, Ellen Conway, 21. Note the incorrect spelling of Heywood. The home visited by the census taker just before Seth's belonged to his brother Levi and family.
1865 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 52, chair manufacturer; wife, Emily, 50; children, George, 26, bookkeeper, Frances S., 18, and Mary E., 11; and a servant, Mary Conway, 50.
1870 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 57, chair manufacturer; wife, Emily 55; children, George, 31, clerk in a chair shop, Fanny S., 23, and Mary E., 16; and a servant, Mary Conway, 50.
1880 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 68, chair manufacturer; wife, Emily W., 66; daughter, Fannie S. Heywood, 33; son-in-law, Howard L. Ballard, 26, clothing store; daughter, Mary E. Ballard, 26; their children, Emily W., 3, and Seth H., 1; and servants, Nellie Hagarty, 24, and Maggie Hagarty, 21.
1900 at 105 Central St. in Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 87, retired chair manufacturer & farmer; daughter, Fannie H. Smith, 53; son-in-law, Frank W. Smith, 52, sterling silverware manufacturer; grandson, Frank H. Smith, 10; step-grandson, William D. Smith, 23, silversmith; and servants, Mary A. Murrey, 31,and Kittie E. Frain, 43.
When Mr. Heywood was about 14 years old his brothers, Benjamin, Levi, Walter & William began to make chairs and sell them throughout the area including Boston. As Seth matured he would join the family enterprise and eventually his two sons, George and Henry, would work for the company as well.
The Heywood Brothers Co., later called the Heywood Wakefield Company, would become the biggest chair manufacturing company in the city and the world.
---------------------------------------
Interesting finds in old newspapers at GenealogyBank.com:
1) According to the Worcester Daily Spy [Worcester, MA], printed on May 7, 1853, Messrs. Seth and Charles Heywood of Gardner were among the fortunate survivors of the Norwalk rail accident which occurred the day before. It's assumed that this Seth is the individual mentioned. He's the only Seth Heywood buried in Gardner that was alive at the time. Same goes for Charles. Coincidentally they share the same birthday. Here's the first paragraph from its Wikipedia page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwalk_rail_accident):
The Norwalk rail accident occurred on May 6, 1853, in Norwalk, Connecticut, and was the first major U.S. railroad bridge disaster; 48 were killed when a train travelling at 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) plunged into the Norwalk Harbor off of an open swing bridge.
2) Notably a very small part but Seth accompanied Charles Hartshorn, also of Gardner, in search of the alleged murderer, George Stacey, 19, of the two elderly Kneeland sisters, Miriam Kneeland and Sarah Phinney. They were killed at their home in Gardner on March 7, 1855. It was two days after the murder when Seth and Charles went to Ashburnham, then took the rail to Winchendon where Charles spotted Stacey and asked him to return to Gardner with him which he did. Heywood's chair factory was also mentioned as possibly the place where Stacey may have acquired the assumed murder weapon, a heavy chair post. (Source: Coverage of Stacey's trial printed in the Worcester Daily Spy [Worcester, MA] on December 12, 1855.)
3) Seth was a democratic candidate for Representative to the General Court for Westminster and Gardner. (Source: The Barre Gazette [Barre, MA] October 29, 1858.) He went on to win the seat.
4) Apparently Seth had a "fat cow" that weighed 1740 pounds. Curious persons were encouraged to visit Mr. Heywood on Central Street to see for themselves. (Source: New Hampshire Sentinel [Keene, NH] March 26, 1884.)
--------------------------------------
Census information:
1850 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 37, chair manufacturer; wife, Emily, 35; children, Henry, 13, George, 11, and Frances, 3; and a servant(?), Catherine Joyce, 28. The next family enumerated on the same census page was Sarah (Comee) Heywood (widow of Seth's brother, Benjamin) and four of her children.
1855 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 42, chair manufacturer; wife Emily, 40; children, Henry, 19, chairmaker, George, 16, Frances S., 8, and Mary E., 1; and a servant(?), Catherine Murphy, 17.
1860 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heyward, 48, chair manufacturer; wife, Emily W., 46; daughters, Fannie S., 13, and Mary, 6; and a servant, Ellen Conway, 21. Note the incorrect spelling of Heywood. The home visited by the census taker just before Seth's belonged to his brother Levi and family.
1865 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 52, chair manufacturer; wife, Emily, 50; children, George, 26, bookkeeper, Frances S., 18, and Mary E., 11; and a servant, Mary Conway, 50.
1870 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 57, chair manufacturer; wife, Emily 55; children, George, 31, clerk in a chair shop, Fanny S., 23, and Mary E., 16; and a servant, Mary Conway, 50.
1880 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 68, chair manufacturer; wife, Emily W., 66; daughter, Fannie S. Heywood, 33; son-in-law, Howard L. Ballard, 26, clothing store; daughter, Mary E. Ballard, 26; their children, Emily W., 3, and Seth H., 1; and servants, Nellie Hagarty, 24, and Maggie Hagarty, 21.
1900 at 105 Central St. in Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 87, retired chair manufacturer & farmer; daughter, Fannie H. Smith, 53; son-in-law, Frank W. Smith, 52, sterling silverware manufacturer; grandson, Frank H. Smith, 10; step-grandson, William D. Smith, 23, silversmith; and servants, Mary A. Murrey, 31,and Kittie E. Frain, 43.
The Heywood Brothers Co., later called the Heywood Wakefield Company, would become the biggest chair manufacturing company in the city and the world.
---------------------------------------
Interesting finds in old newspapers at GenealogyBank.com:
1) According to the Worcester Daily Spy [Worcester, MA], printed on May 7, 1853, Messrs. Seth and Charles Heywood of Gardner were among the fortunate survivors of the Norwalk rail accident which occurred the day before. It's assumed that this Seth is the individual mentioned. He's the only Seth Heywood buried in Gardner that was alive at the time. Same goes for Charles. Coincidentally they share the same birthday. Here's the first paragraph from its Wikipedia page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwalk_rail_accident):
The Norwalk rail accident occurred on May 6, 1853, in Norwalk, Connecticut, and was the first major U.S. railroad bridge disaster; 48 were killed when a train travelling at 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) plunged into the Norwalk Harbor off of an open swing bridge.
2) Notably a very small part but Seth accompanied Charles Hartshorn, also of Gardner, in search of the alleged murderer, George Stacey, 19, of the two elderly Kneeland sisters, Miriam Kneeland and Sarah Phinney. They were killed at their home in Gardner on March 7, 1855. It was two days after the murder when Seth and Charles went to Ashburnham, then took the rail to Winchendon where Charles spotted Stacey and asked him to return to Gardner with him which he did. Heywood's chair factory was also mentioned as possibly the place where Stacey may have acquired the assumed murder weapon, a heavy chair post. (Source: Coverage of Stacey's trial printed in the Worcester Daily Spy [Worcester, MA] on December 12, 1855.)
3) Seth was a democratic candidate for Representative to the General Court for Westminster and Gardner. (Source: The Barre Gazette [Barre, MA] October 29, 1858.) He went on to win the seat.
4) Apparently Seth had a "fat cow" that weighed 1740 pounds. Curious persons were encouraged to visit Mr. Heywood on Central Street to see for themselves. (Source: New Hampshire Sentinel [Keene, NH] March 26, 1884.)
--------------------------------------
Census information:
1850 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 37, chair manufacturer; wife, Emily, 35; children, Henry, 13, George, 11, and Frances, 3; and a servant(?), Catherine Joyce, 28. The next family enumerated on the same census page was Sarah (Comee) Heywood (widow of Seth's brother, Benjamin) and four of her children.
1855 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 42, chair manufacturer; wife Emily, 40; children, Henry, 19, chairmaker, George, 16, Frances S., 8, and Mary E., 1; and a servant(?), Catherine Murphy, 17.
1860 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heyward, 48, chair manufacturer; wife, Emily W., 46; daughters, Fannie S., 13, and Mary, 6; and a servant, Ellen Conway, 21. Note the incorrect spelling of Heywood. The home visited by the census taker just before Seth's belonged to his brother Levi and family.
1865 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 52, chair manufacturer; wife, Emily, 50; children, George, 26, bookkeeper, Frances S., 18, and Mary E., 11; and a servant, Mary Conway, 50.
1870 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 57, chair manufacturer; wife, Emily 55; children, George, 31, clerk in a chair shop, Fanny S., 23, and Mary E., 16; and a servant, Mary Conway, 50.
1880 at Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 68, chair manufacturer; wife, Emily W., 66; daughter, Fannie S. Heywood, 33; son-in-law, Howard L. Ballard, 26, clothing store; daughter, Mary E. Ballard, 26; their children, Emily W., 3, and Seth H., 1; and servants, Nellie Hagarty, 24, and Maggie Hagarty, 21.
1900 at 105 Central St. in Gardner, MA: Seth Heywood, 87, retired chair manufacturer & farmer; daughter, Fannie H. Smith, 53; son-in-law, Frank W. Smith, 52, sterling silverware manufacturer; grandson, Frank H. Smith, 10; step-grandson, William D. Smith, 23, silversmith; and servants, Mary A. Murrey, 31,and Kittie E. Frain, 43.
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SETH HEYWOOD
NOV. 12, 1812
FEB. 23, 1904
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