William Robert Seeley, ^^[1]

Abt 1868 - 1929  (~ 61 years)

• Name	William Robert Seeley
  Suffix	^
  Born	Abt 1868	MA   [1]
  	His birth name was William Robert Smith.
  Gender	Male
  Census	1920	Brookhaven, Brookhaven, Suffolk, NY   [1]
  	In his household was George H. Burnett, a boarder. He was a theatrical actor. While recorded as married, his spouse was not in the household.
  Occupation	Bef 1920	Brookhaven, Brookhaven, Suffolk, NY   [2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
  	proprietor, Better 'Ole Inn
  	The "Better 'Ole Inn," was a famous country restaurant throughout much of the 20th century. It operated under various proprietors, and today is known as 'Painters." It also was known as the "Better 'Ole Teahouse" (often an euphemism for a speak easy) during the Prohibition era. It has Brookhaven/South Haven Historic site ID Br04A.1-S.
  Residence	1920	Brookhaven, Brookhaven, Suffolk, NY   [1]
  	Address: South Country Road.
  	His entry in the enumeration listing suggested that his residence was at the location of the Better 'Ole restaurant, of which he was the proprietor.
  Misc	Aft 10 May 1923	Brookhaven, Brookhaven, Suffolk, NY   [7, 8]
  	a member of the Brookhaven Fire Department
  	He is recorded on a plaque as being a founding member.
  Name	William Robert Smith  [9, 10]
  	William Robert Smith was his birth and legal name. However, it was not the name he used in either his professional or public life.
  Occupation	theatrical actor  [1, 3, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20]
  	He toured widely throughout the United States, United Kingdom, and elsewhere and was often on the same billing as his wife, Bessie Bonehill. He was frequently mentioned together with his son, Jack West, billed as Seeley & West, comedy instrumentalists.
  Died	29 Mar 1929	New York, New York, NY   [21, 22, 23, 24]
  Notes	William R. Seeley was his stage or professional name, and used almost exclusively as his public name even after he had retired from an active acting career. It is for this reason that it is used here as his primary name, although his birth and legal name was William Robert Smith.
  Person ID	I12934	Brookhaven & South Haven Hamlets
  Last Modified	9 Sep 2011

  
  

  Father	William A. Smith,   b. Abt 1814, the English Channel ,   d. 28 May 1899, Sayville, Islip, Suffolk, NY  (Age ~ 85 years)
  Family ID	F4734	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Bessie Bonehill,   b. 17 Feb 1855, West Bromwich, Sandwell, West Midlands, England ,   d. 21 Aug 1902, Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England  (Age 47 years)
  Married	14 Sep 1890	Buffalo (Saint Paul's Episcopal Cathedral), Erie, NY   [25, 26]
  Residence	Aft Abt 1896	Sayville, Islip, Suffolk, NY   [27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33]
  	Address: Deer Hill Farm
  	This property, said to have been about two to three miles north of Sayville village on Broadway, was purchased in about 1896. She called it Deer Hill Farm. See source references for a detailed description. Sayville was home to several vaudeville performers during the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. They, including Bessie Bonehill, became active in the affairs of the community, performing benefits and sponsoring (along with the seemingly unlikely patronage of the local fire department) the Sayville Opera House. It was said to have been an architectural gem. In January 1961 a massive fire destroyed the building, leaving only one wall and the chimney. It is now a parking lot.
  Children	1. William R. Seeley, Jr. <,   b. Abt 1890/1,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F4728	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Florence [Seeley], ^,   b. Abt 1885, England ,   d. Aft 1938, {Huntington, Suffolk, NY}  (Age ~ 54 years)
  Married	1905	{London, England}   [34]
  Photos » Slide Show		Drawing Room, "Better 'Ole Tea Porch" .. Br04A.1-S.
  		Better 'Ole Restaurant .. Br04A.1-S. First know as the Better 'Ole Tea Room. Founded by vaudeville actor William Seeley and his wife shortly after World War II, it has had several proprietors and names, most recently as "Painter's."
  		The Better 'Ole Tea Porch .. Br04A.1-S.
  Family ID	F4726	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Sealey and West .. in a professional photograph. Seeley was William R. Seeley (birth name of William Robert Smith) and West was Jack West (birth name of Michael Elias Abrahams). Jack West, who also used the name John Seeley, was the son of Bessie Bonehill and her first husband, Louis William Abrahams. William R. Seeley was the second husband of Bessie Bonehill.

  
  

  Documents

  Better 'Ole Inn .. First know as the Better 'Ole Tea Room. Founded by vaudeville actor William Seeley and his wife shortly after World War II, it has had several proprietors and names, most recently as "Painter's."

  
  

• Sources

  [S107] 1920 Census (Heritage), Ancestry.com., Census Place: Brookhaven, Suffolk, New York; Roll T625_1268; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 85; Image: 632. [S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 18 July 1930, p. 1, 6. http://brookhavensouthhaven.org/history/Prohibition/NineSuffolkResortsRaided.htm. [S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 8 October 1926. p. 9. "Better 'Ole" Players at Brookhaven. Captain Baines, the writer of the play "The Better Ole," with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Coburn and Charles MacNaughton, spent the week end with Mr. and Mrs. William Seeley at the Better Ole Tea Room. Old Captain Baines has written a new play in which Mr. and Mrs. Coburn, Charles MacNaughton and all the cast who played in "the Better Ole" are booked for parts. Mme Lucile has arranged her tea room for the winter and it is one of the most beautiful on the Island, the color scheme throughout being orange and black. Mme Lucille will not tour this winter but will spend her first Christmas at home in Brookhaven. "Captain Baines" may have been Bruce Bairnsfather, the artist who produced the original WW I cartoon after which the restaurant was named. He also was the playwright for the original play of the adventures of Old Bill and his friends Bert and Alf in the trenches of the first World War. The play, "the Better 'Ole," had different versions; in 1917, a successful musical based on the character Old Bill, "The Better 'Ole," opened in London at the Oxford Music Hall, where it ran for over 800 performances, starring Arthur Bourchier as Old Bill. In 1918-1919, it ran successfully in New York City at several different theaters, where Charles Coburn starred as Old Bill. It was made into a 1919 silent film and a 1926 Warner Brothers sound film, the 1926 version staring Syd Chaplin, Harold Goodwin, Jack Ackroyd, Edgar Kennedy, and Charles K. Gerrard. The 1926 version has been restored and is available on DVD. [S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 16 Mar 1928. p. 4. "Mrs. Virginia Neuroni, 25, who is under arrest in Detroit in connection with the theft of $315 in cash and jewels valued at about $2,000 from The Beter 'Ole, a tearoom at Brookhaven, has seriously impaired the defense to be interposed by her husband, Mario Frank Neuroni, 26, by statements she is alleged to have made to the Detroit police. "It is reported that Mrs. Neuroni stated that the jewels and money were secreted in a bar of soap when they were searched immediately following the discovery of the theft. "Neuroni and the woman who is now his wife were employed last summer at The Better 'Ole, he as a waiter and she as a cook. A week before Labor Day, Mr. and Mrs. William Seeley, proprietors of The Better 'Ole, missed the cash and jewels, consisting of unset pearls, diamonds and rubies. The waiter and the cook were at once suspected of the crime, but when they were searched no trace of the cash or jewels could be found. "Mr. and Mrs. Neuroni returned to Detroit, their former home, and engaged in the restaurant business. It is understood Neuroni gave a person employed in his restaurant one of the Seeley diamonds, valued at $50, in payment of services and in some way the Seeleys learned of the transaction and the arrest of Neuroni by New York State Troopers followed. "When arraigned before County Judge Furman on Monday, Neuroni pleaded not guilty to the indictment, which charges him with grand larceny, first degree. William L. Undersood, of Patchogue, is his counsel." [S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 30 Dec 1927. p. 11. "Mario F. Neurino, a former employee of "The Better 'Ole," a tearoom in Brookhaven, was arrested in Detroit last week. On Labor Day Proprietor William Seeley reported the theft of jewelry, silverware, and linen valued at $8,000 to Assistant District Attorney Alexander Blue, which resulted in a three months' search for the burglar. Suspicion fell upon Neurino when it became known he had been seen in the vicinity of "The Better 'Ole," and State troopers began a search for him. Word was received that the man was in Detroit with jewelry that appeared to have been stolen on his person, and Troopers were sent to Detroit with extradition papers, the man being held in $10,000 bail in the meantime." [S97] Historic Structure Survey, http://brookhavensouthhaven.org/history/BuildingInventoryForm.aspx?InventoryCode=Br04A.1-S. [S735] Email: Kinsella 8 Jan 2010. A William Seeley is mentioned in the Brookhaven Fire dept,. history. ......May 17 [1923] "at the same meeting, Ev. Bartman, Wm. Seeley and F. Liebschick were appointed a committee to get donations. Seeley and 'Chick' were a committee on entertainment." Willaim Seeley is mentioned on a bronze plaque as being one of the founding members of the Brookhaven Fire Dept. [S127] Advance, Long Island, 7 Jun 1935, p. 12. Memorial day was observed by the [Brookhaven] fire department with a service at the grave of Leverett D. Brown, a member who died four years ago. Twenty firemen rode on the trucks to the Yaphank cemetery where the Rev. Newell D. Lindner made an address and read a letter from the chief of the New York State Volunteer Fireman's association. Flowers were placed on the grave by Chief George A. Waldron and by Mr. and Mrs. Alfred A. Brown, parents of Leverett Brown. Several other relatives and friends and friends attended the service and the process was escorted to and from the cemetery by motorcycle policeman, Arthur Waldron. The fire department also presented a wreath of flowers to Mrs. William Seeley of South Country road in memory of her late husband, who was a member of the department, but is not buried here. [S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 2 June 1899. p. 2. William A. Smith. The funeral of William A. Smith, who died on Sunday at Deer Hill Farm, the summer home of his daughter, Bessie Bonehill, the well-known actress, took place from the Roman Catholic Church on Tuesday, the Rev. Father Thomas L. Duhigg officiating. The deceased was born on board a ship in the English Channel 85 years ago. [S731] Email: Richard Bonehill, Bessie Bonehill of Sayville, Long Island, NY & William Seeley, her husband; EMail; 4 January 2010; John Deitz. See main entry under Bessie Bonehill. [S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 11 Sep 1903. p .3. "William Seeley who has arrived in this country from his Australian trip has very nearly completed the circuit of the globe and is playing in some of the western cities. He is expected to return home in two or three weeks however and to remain until the beginning of his season's engagements in December." Note that this item is dated after the death of Bessie Bonehill in 1902, and suggests that William was living at that time at the Sayville estate, "Deer Hill Farm." [S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 23 Oct 1903. p. 3. "Actor William Seeley is making arrangements to leave this country in a few weeks, intending to be absent three years. He will go first to England where he will open an engagement Christmas week, and after a little time will go to South Africa for quite a long stay; returning later to England, and then paying another visit to Australia, where he has already been successful. His little son Willie will accompany him to England, where he will remain with his grandmother. The tour occurred after Bessie Bonehill's death. Was the "grandmother" in the article Bessie Bonehill's mother? One might expect that she was quite elderly. [S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 17 July 1903. p. 3. "Letters from Actor William Seeley, who is now playing in New Zealand indicate that he is doing well." [S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 14 Dec 1900. p. 3. "Bessie Bonehill, Will Seeley and Jack West were in town on Monday and paid a visit to their summer home. They sailed for Europe on Wednesday." [S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 15 June 1900. p. 3. "Miss Bessie Bonehill, the actress, her husband, Wm. Seely (sic) and her son Jack who have been playing an engagement in South Africa and in various parts of England, Scotland and Wales, returned home last Saturday. They are so pleased with their foreign experience that they will probably go again next season." [S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 5 Aug 1898. p. 3. STARS EVERY ONE. Programme for the Benefit to be Given in the Patchogue Lyceum. The benefit performance for St. Lawrence's Roman Catholic church which is to be given in the Patchogue Lyceum next Monday evening will be one of the finest things ever seen in this section combining as it does a number of star performers never before seen together.  The fact that all are well known locally makes the interest in the event unusually lively and probably the attendance from Sayville will be fully as large as that from Patchogue.  The advance sale already very nearly covers the whole house.  The following will be the programme: Overture .......... Selection Prof. Benjamin Micheals. Mr. Al Laurence and assistants in Living Pictures.  (A) "Love is Lighter Than a Butterfly."  (B) "Rock of Ages."  (C) "Paint"  (D) "Me and Jack."  (E) "Jack and Me."  (F) "The Angelus."  (G) "Cupid and the Butterfly."  (H) "The Bath."  (I) "Nature's Mirror."  (J) "Hagar and Ishmael." Miss Lena Hilborn & Grey, Miss Dappa Vocalists and Dancers Mr. James F. Hoey Comedian. Miss Dorothy Drew Songs and Dances. Mr. Will Seeley & West, Mr. Jack, Comedy Instrumentalists. Mr. George W. Monroe, Monologue. Miss Bessie Bonehill, Character Impersonations. Mr. Al Laurence and Company In Patriotic Tableaux Vivants, "The Drummer Boy."  "Toral's Surrender to Shafter, "Columbia Crowning Heroes of '98."  (Star Spangled Banner.) Rev. Father T. S. Duhigg will make a few remarks.   St. Lawrence the Martyr Roman Catholic Church is located in Sayville, NY. The original church, build in 1896, was destroyed by fire on April 25, 1967. Father Duhigg was the founding priest. [S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 12 Aug 1898. p. 3. A GREAT SUCCESS. Local Theatrical Talent in a Benefit Performance. Probably the finest vaudeville entertainment ever given in Suffolk county was the benefit performance in the Patchogue Lyceum on Monday evening for St. Lawrence Roman Catholic church, of Sayville. The talent was all from this village and more than half of the audience as well. The pretty little theatre, which by the way was designed by a Sayville architect, was filled to the doors by a fashionable audience, who enjoyed the performance especially owing to their acquaintance with the actors. Al. Laurence, who acted as stage manager, and to whom a large share of the credit for a performance without a hitch is due, opened the programme with living pictures of which were the titles: "Love is Lighter than a Butterfly," "Rock of Ages," "Paint," "Me and Jack," "Jack and Me," "The Angelus," "Cupid and the Butterfly," "The Bath," "Nature's Mirror,"Hagar and Ishmael." They were very beautiful and artistic. Miss Lena Hilbon and Miss Dappa Grey followed in songs and dances, their fresh young voices and graceful, modest ways quickly winning favor with the audience, most of whom knew them as daughters of Bessie Bonehill. Jimmie Hoey convulsed the audience by announcing "I will now proceed to sing George Avery's favorite song, "Oh! What a Night it Must Have Been." His imitations were clever and his appearance as the bearded lady, singing, "Merry Marriage Bells" to his own cowbell accompaniment was very funny. Dainty and pretty Dorothy Drew sang and danced to the delight of all and with consummate art did some high kicking which was a revelation because of what it did not reveal. Seeley & West, know here respectively as husband and son of Miss Bonehill, are an excellent musical team and do a very amusing turn, introducing a number of novelties. The young man is especially well known and popular among the boys of Sayville, though few of them knew of his talents. George Monroe, the inimitable "Aunt Bridget" was very clever indeed in a monologue introducing the fat and happy Irish woman, whom most of us haven't known for years, but who never becomes tiresome. His brogue and his jokes are better than ever and his local hits, especially those at the expense of "Pat" Whelan provoked much merriment. The most charming feature of the evening's programme, however, was Bessie Bonehill in character impersonations and clever songs. In male parts she has no rival. Petite and graceful she flits on and off the stage changing with wonderful rapidity from one character to another. First a gay young blade in XVII century costume; then a modern young man in evening dress; a newsboy, poor and ragged; and then a brave young man o'warsman gracefully waving a silken flag in time with a patriotic song. Miss Bonehill now numbers all Sayville among her admirers. Father Duhigg in a few well chosen words thanked the actors who had taken part and Manager Colton, who had done so much to make the affair a success and also expressed his thanks to the audience who had responded so generously. In conclusion Mr. Laurence gave some very fine patriotic tableaus vivants, "The Drummer Boy," "Toral's Surrender to Shafter" and lastly "Columbia Crowning the Heros of '98" while the audience arose and sang "The Star-Spangled Banner." The affair netted the church very nearly $400. [S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 17 November 1899, p. 3. Bessie Bonehill in South Africa. Landlord James F. Rorke and Mr. Fred Johnson have recently received copies of Transvaal newspapers from Jack Seeley and Miss Bessie Bonehill who are playing a theatrical engagement at Johannesburg. The Standard and Diggers' News, The Johannesburg Star and the Transvaal Critic all have highly complimentary references to Miss Bonehill and to Seeley & West, although war news naturally occupies the greater part of their attention. The following from The Standard and Digger's News, the best known paper in the Transvaal, indicates that the talents of our Sayville friends are much appreciated in South Africa: "Thank goodness there is one place in Johannesburg where you can get away from "the situation," and that is the Empire. Messrs. Alexander and Hyman deserve every credit for their enterprise and pluck in carrying on their music-hall in these times, and in giving us such first-class artistes as appeared last night, when the new company showed for the first time. Bessie Bonehill is the star, and those who saw her years ago in England and America must acknowledge that she is as clever and artistic as ever. She has a good voice, a splendid stage presence, dresses well, and established herself as a favorite at once. Seeley and West are clever instrumentalists, and humorous in their business. The show, which concludes with a number of new pictures, is an excellent one, and, in good times, would crowd the house night after night. There was a good house last night, hardly a seat being vacant." [S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 13 Dec 1901. p. 9. "Mr. W. R. Seeley, Miss Bessie Bonehill and son Jack sailed for Liverpool on the Oceanic Wednesday morning, after enjoying a five months rest at their Deer Hill Farm on Broadway avenue. They have engagements in all the principal cities of Europe, including a month's stay in Berlin. They will return to Sayville about July 1st. Meanwhile, it is said, that plans will be drawn for a $4,500 country residence to be built upon Deer Hill Farm. The work, however, will not commence until the early part of June." This article provides the middle initial in a contemporaneous account with Bessie Bonehill, suggesting that the William R. Seeley, proprietor of the Better 'Ole in Brookhaven and the husband of Bessie Bonehill are the same. [S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 19 July 1901, p. 3. "Miss Bessie Bonehill and Messrs. Seeley and West arrived in New York by steamer last Saturday, having been somewhat delayed by foggy weather. They came to Sayville on Sunday, receiving a very cordial welcome, after an absence of about six months, during which they have made a most successful tour of the British Isles." Seeley would have been William Seeley, Bessie Bonehill's husband. West would have been Jack West, William and Bessie's son. [S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 5 April 1929, p. 12. Obituary. "William Seeley, proprietor of the Better 'Ole Inn at Brookhaven, died last Friday in the French Hospital in New York City after an illness of several months. Mr. Seeley, who was for many years an old time stage star, had traveled through nearly every state in the Union and although he retired from the stage many years ago, always remained in touch with his theatrical friends and often entertained them at the Better 'Ole. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Lucile Seeley, and a son, William Seeley, Jr. Funeral services were held on Monday morning from the Campbell funeral parlors in New York City." Oddly, his son John (Jack) and daughters are not mentioned in the obituary, nor was his prior marriage to Bessie Bonehill. [S542] New York Times, 7 April 1929. p. 26. William R. Seeley, Actor Funeral services for William R. Seeley, ole-time actor and minstrel man, who died on Friday in French Hospital, at the age of 65, will be held tonight by the B.P.O. Elks at the Funeral Church, Broadway and Sixty-sixth Street. A religious service will be held Monday morning at 10 o'clock. Mr. Seeley, who was an actor for forty-five years, lived at Brookhaven, L.I. He was a former husband of Bessie Bonehill, famous male impersonator. He left his present wife, Lucille, and a son, William. This death notice confirms that the William R. Seeley of Brookhaven, N.Y. was a husband of Bessie Bonehill. [S127] Advance, Long Island, 9 April 1929, p. 6. "William Seeley, old-time actor and minstrel man and well known throughout the section as the proprietor of the Better Ole at Brookhaven, died Friday morning in French Hospital, Manhattan. He was 65 years old. He had been ill for several months and had undergone an operation early in the winter. About a month ago he returned to his home in Brookhaven but suffered a relapse and returned to the hospital about two weeks ago. "Mr. Seeley was on stage for 45 years and traveled all over this country and had made trips to other parts of the world. His inn at Brookhaven was the scene of many parties where stars of today and yesterday were entertained. "When he retired from the stage he came to Brookhaven a few years ago and opened the inn. During the past year it had been enlarged and beautified to a great extent. He was a member of the Patchogue Lodge of Elks. He leaves his widow, Mrs. Lucille Seeley, and a son William, Jr." [S127] Advance, Long Island, 12 Apr 1929, 16. "A number of Brookhaven residents attended the funeral services of William Seeley in New York, Sunday. Mr. Seeley was the proprietor of The Better 'Ole for a number of years." [S463] Brooklyn Eagle, 11 July 1902. p. 7. See main entry under Bessie Bonehill. [S731] Email: Richard Bonehill, Bessie Bonehill of Sayville, Long Island, NY & William Seeley, her husband; EMail; 4 January 2010; John Deitz. It was a real pleasure to receive your email . It is always good to hear from someone with a mutual interest. You will be pleased to hear that I can confirm much of your information , correct a little and hopefully add a little. All my family history information is based on documentation. Firstly I can confirm that William R Seeley was the second husband of Bessie Bonehill . When I first started researching Bessie I was rather confused because of the use of stage names and nicknames but I was eventually able to establish the truth. William R Seeley was the stage name of William Robert Smith and Bessie Bonehill was the name used by Betsey Bonehill (Christened Betsey not Elizabeth) and buried as Betsey Smith otherwise Bessie Bonehill. The basic details are as follows ; Elias Bonehill m Rebecca Rodway 1846 They had five children including Betsey Bonehill b 17 February 1855 West Bromwich. Betsey married Louis William Abrahams 20 September 1877 Shoreditch. They had three children ; Selina Abrahams 1878 ( aka Lena Hilbon) Michael Elias Abrahams 1880 (aka Jack West) Marion Rebecca Bessie Abrahams 1881 (aka Dappa Grey) In 14 September 1890 Betsey married William Robert Smith in Saint Pauls Episcopal Church , Buffalo , Erie , New York. They had one child ; William Smith b about 1891 Other information ; Bessie Bonehill died 21 August 1902 in Portsmouth , England and was buried as Betsey Smith otherwise Bessie Bonehill . I can confirm that the double act Seeley and West comprised of William Robert Smith and Michael Elias Abrahams (please see photograph attached) I have been researching the Bonehill family history (when time allows) for the past thirty years and have a great deal of information but I hope the above is of interest . To date I have been able to trace my family back to 1650 . In 2003 I published a book entitled ‘England's Gem’ (now out of print ) the story of Bessie Bonehill. Following additional research I hope to finish the ‘all dancing and singing’ 2nd Edition this year . This research took me to Sayville , New York and Washington in 2006 . The trip proved to be very useful which included a trip to The Smithsonian Institute who have a couple of Bessie's stage costumes . [S542] New York Times, 22 Aug 1902. Obituary. [S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 2 December 1898. p. 3. "The barn at Deer Hill Farm, the summer home of Bessie Bonehill, the well-known actress was destroyed at an early hour on Tuesday morning, together with two horses, a cow, a goat, pigs, etc. A surry and a lumber wagon were the only articles saved. The barn is said to have stored in it a number of musical instruments and a quantity of other stage paraphernalia, which will make the loss considerable. Miss Bonehill is playing an engagement in the city and her husband, Mr. Wm. Seeley is playing at St. Paul, Minn. Both were notified of their loss by the young man who has charge of the place during the winter. He says that he has no idea how the fire originated." [S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 21 Sep 1900. p. 3. "S. A. Fisher has just finished erecting a fine new windmill upon Miss Bessie Bonehill's place north of this village." [S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 13 Dec 1901. p. 9. "Mr. W. R. Seeley, Miss Bessie Bonehill and son Jack sailed for Liverpool on the Oceanic Wednesday morning, after enjoying a five months rest at their Deer Hill Farm on Broadway avenue. They have engagements in all the principal cities of Europe, including a month's stay in Berlin. They will return to Sayville about July 1st. Meanwhile, it is said, that plans will be drawn for a $4,500 country residence to be built upon Deer Hill Farm. The work, however, will not commence until the early part of June." [S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 20 Dec 1901. p. 3. "We were not fully informed it seems regarding the cottage which is to be built for Miss Bessie Bonehill who sailed for Europe with her husband and son last week. The plans have already been approved and Builder Nelson Strong has the contract and will begin work this winter. Shortly before his departure Mr. Wm. Seeley bought from Fred Johnson a tract of land consisting of about 14 acres fronting their present home, Deer Hill Farm. We understand that the new House is to be a very handsome one." [S730] Sayville.com, 2 January 2010; The Sayville Opera House: http://www.sayville.com/news.asp?news=242. [S463] Brooklyn Eagle, 11 July 1902. p. 7. [S604] Suffolk County News (Sayville), 21 July 1905. p. 3. "Mr. William Seeley, accompanied by his bride, arrived in Sayville on Sunday last from London, and is now occupying his country home, Deer Hill Farm, to the north of this village. Mrs. Seeley is known abroad as the society lady juggler and has just completed a tour of portions of Australia, Asia and New Zealand. She is known on the stage as Miss Rhodesia and was married to Mr. Seeley in London."