In Sept 27, 1825, Andrew Williams purchased three lots from John Whitehead for $125 ($3811 in 2023). He was African American and an early settler to Seneca Village and stayed there near the end of the community’s existence. Not formally educated, he was a shoe shiner and a cart man by trade. However he had an entrepreneurial spirit and was committed to seeing his family and community thrive. When the city was paying families to leave Seneca Village, Williams protested his offer. He ultimately did not win and accepted the $2,335 ($71,191 in 2023) offer made on his property. He had valued his property at around $4,000 ($121,954 in 2023). After the displacement of Seneca Village, Andrew Williams took his family to the Newton neighborhood of Queens. The Williams family eventually migrated to California. Historians Celedonia “Cal ” Jones and Cynthia Copeland were able to trace Ariel Williams, the great great great great granddaughter of Andrew Williams. They discuss the history of Seneca Village and the legacy of Andrew Williams. The video is called Seneca Village: The Williams Family Legacy.

Eliza Webster was born in New York around 1819, but not much is known about her family and childhood. In 1850, census records show that Eliza lived downtown in the city’s Fifth Ward. The ward was integrated and had a Black community sometimes referred to as “Little Africa.” Many African-Americans in the early 19th century lived in working-class wards. Other records like the 1850-51 Doggett’s directory show Eliza listed as the widow of John A. and doing “washing” at 11 Anthony Street.

Another notable resident in her building was her soon-to-be-husband George, whose employment was listed as selling oysters at 161 Church St. The area nearby had a coal yard and sugar refinery, which may have not provided the best physical environment. What quality of life could one have with smoke coming out of factory chimneys? In addition to the smog, how would it feel to constantly have to wipe off a coating of coal residue? While sugar is sweet, it doesn’t smell well as it’s being refined. Living in an industrialized area is something that should be avoided if you can. Over time, these conditions take their tolls on residents’ respiratory health

In 1855, Eliza lived in Seneca Village with her second husband Geroge, and four children and is not listed as employed. They occupied one of the larger houses in the area, a two-story house valued at $3,000 ($104,081 in 2023). If they were AME Zion members, they may have been motivated to move uptown with their church. The AME Zion church expanded into Seneca Village in 1853, and both George and Eliza were not listed as members of other churches in Seneca Village.

After the razing of Seneca Village, Eliza and her family returned to the Fifth ward where records show a baby was born in 1858. The 1860 census shows George and Eliza living with two of their children, Edward and George, and Harriet Woodruff who is listed as a servant. Her husband passed away in May 1861, at age 42. The subsequent years after showing Eliza moving around the city, in 1870 she lived near 80th street not far from her old residence in Seneca Village, this move may have been motivated by escaping the Draft Riots of 1863, where a mob attacked and burned town tenements on their block. Later on, she lived in the 20th ward, perhaps with her son George Jr who was 19 at the time, and her personal estate was worth $400.

In 1879, Eliza Webster died at age 56. Her story of moving and taking on jobs for financial security prior to and post living in Seneca Village may allude to how that community provided her with a sense of stability that was not found elsewhere at the time.