Seth, Irene, Mary Morse Lifelong Farming Family

Seth Morse (1780-1853)

Irene Rhoads Morse (1781-1833)

Mary Witham Morse (1786-1861)

Seth Morse was born on April 24, 1780 in Dedham. He was one of ten children born to his parents Seth Morse (1753-1801) and Mary Dean Morse (1754-1842).

Seth Morse married twice. He first wed Irene Rhoads, the daughter of Eliphalet and Mercy Holland Rhoads, in January of 1803. They had two children: a son, Benjamin Dean Morse (1806-1864), and a daughter, Julia Ann Morse (1809-1890), who later married Lemuel Dean. Irene Rhoads Morse died on July 5, 1833 at the age of 52.

On April 19, 1835, Seth Morse married Mary Witham in Dedham. Mary Witham Morse died on September 15, 1861 at the age of 74 of consumption (tuberculosis).

Eight years earlier, on October 6, 1853, Seth Morse had died of heart disease at 73. A farmer for entire life, Morse was a well-known member of the South Dedham community. Seth and both his wives are buried in Old Parish Cemetery.