SQL: Return only first occurrence

for PostgreSQL there is DISTINCT ON

If your seenTime increases as seenID increases:

select personID, min(seenTime) as seenTime
from personAttendances
group by personID

Update for another case:

If this is not the case, and you really want the seenTime that corresponds with the minimum seenID (assuming seenID is unique):

select a.personID, a.seenTime
from personAttendances as a
    join (
        -- Get the min seenID for each personID
        select personID, min(seenID) as seenID
        from personAttendances
        group by personID
    ) as b on a.personID = b.personID
where a.seenID = b.seenID

You're making it way too difficult:

select personID, min(seenTime)
from personAttendances
group by personID