From "Connecticut Trilogy" by Marguerite Allis, 1934, p. 298, "... for in May of 1776 a scouting party of British came along this road (King's Highway). General Silliman was at home with his wife who was in delicate health and, even when some of the redcoats entered the house, he stood his ground by her bedside. Quickly he snatched a blanket and threw it over a basket standing near by so that the British, although they carried off the American officer, failed to notice the sacred chalices and tankards which Gold Selleck, who also a deacon,had taken home for safe keeping. This communion service is today the most prized prossession of Fairfield Congregational Church. The General was taken to Long Island and later exchanged; meanwhile, Mrs. Silliman remained on Holland Hill, where she succored many refugees from the July disaster. However, when her son Benjamin was born she had departed for a safer place. This (Benjamin) was that illustrious Professor Silliman who for forty years instructed the youth of Yale and who was called by Edward Everett the Nestor of American Science."
The son of Ebenezer & Abigail (Selleck) Silliman, he married (1) Martha Davenport on Jan. 21, 1754 and (2) Mary (Fish) Noyes, daughter of Rev. Joseph & Rebecca Fish and widow of Rev. John Noyes, on May 21, 1775. A graduate of Yale College, he was made General in 1776, and was one of Washington's top Generals in the Rev. War being in charge of protecting the southwestern frontier of Conn. from the British who occupied New York City, Westchester Co. and Long Island. He took part in the battle of White Plains, N. Y. He was a scholar, patriot and Christian.
Gen. Data from Colonial New Haven Newspapers, Scott & Convers, Baltimore: Gen. Pub. Co., 1979,
"Mr.'s Ebenezer Wakeman, G. Selleck Silliman, & David Burr, Jr., were appointed managers of a lottery for the purpose of raising money to compensate a widow & her partners for loss of a dwelling house in Fairfield."
According to a FAG visitor, he is a distant cousin of the actor, Tom Selleck.
______________________
Death place and date from Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection)
The son of Ebenezer & Abigail (Selleck) Silliman, he married (1) Martha Davenport on Jan. 21, 1754 and (2) Mary (Fish) Noyes, daughter of Rev. Joseph & Rebecca Fish and widow of Rev. John Noyes, on May 21, 1775. A graduate of Yale College, he was made General in 1776, and was one of Washington's top Generals in the Rev. War being in charge of protecting the southwestern frontier of Conn. from the British who occupied New York City, Westchester Co. and Long Island. He took part in the battle of White Plains, N. Y. He was a scholar, patriot and Christian.
Gen. Data from Colonial New Haven Newspapers, Scott & Convers, Baltimore: Gen. Pub. Co., 1979,
"Mr.'s Ebenezer Wakeman, G. Selleck Silliman, & David Burr, Jr., were appointed managers of a lottery for the purpose of raising money to compensate a widow & her partners for loss of a dwelling house in Fairfield."
According to a FAG visitor, he is a distant cousin of the actor, Tom Selleck.
______________________
Death place and date from Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection)
From "Connecticut Trilogy" by Marguerite Allis, 1934, p. 298, "... for in May of 1776 a scouting party of British came along this road (King's Highway). General Silliman was at home with his wife who was in delicate health and, even when some of the redcoats entered the house, he stood his ground by her bedside. Quickly he snatched a blanket and threw it over a basket standing near by so that the British, although they carried off the American officer, failed to notice the sacred chalices and tankards which Gold Selleck, who also a deacon,had taken home for safe keeping. This communion service is today the most prized prossession of Fairfield Congregational Church. The General was taken to Long Island and later exchanged; meanwhile, Mrs. Silliman remained on Holland Hill, where she succored many refugees from the July disaster. However, when her son Benjamin was born she had departed for a safer place. This (Benjamin) was that illustrious Professor Silliman who for forty years instructed the youth of Yale and who was called by Edward Everett the Nestor of American Science."
The son of Ebenezer & Abigail (Selleck) Silliman, he married (1) Martha Davenport on Jan. 21, 1754 and (2) Mary (Fish) Noyes, daughter of Rev. Joseph & Rebecca Fish and widow of Rev. John Noyes, on May 21, 1775. A graduate of Yale College, he was made General in 1776, and was one of Washington's top Generals in the Rev. War being in charge of protecting the southwestern frontier of Conn. from the British who occupied New York City, Westchester Co. and Long Island. He took part in the battle of White Plains, N. Y. He was a scholar, patriot and Christian.
Gen. Data from Colonial New Haven Newspapers, Scott & Convers, Baltimore: Gen. Pub. Co., 1979,
"Mr.'s Ebenezer Wakeman, G. Selleck Silliman, & David Burr, Jr., were appointed managers of a lottery for the purpose of raising money to compensate a widow & her partners for loss of a dwelling house in Fairfield."
According to a FAG visitor, he is a distant cousin of the actor, Tom Selleck.
______________________
Death place and date from Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection)
The son of Ebenezer & Abigail (Selleck) Silliman, he married (1) Martha Davenport on Jan. 21, 1754 and (2) Mary (Fish) Noyes, daughter of Rev. Joseph & Rebecca Fish and widow of Rev. John Noyes, on May 21, 1775. A graduate of Yale College, he was made General in 1776, and was one of Washington's top Generals in the Rev. War being in charge of protecting the southwestern frontier of Conn. from the British who occupied New York City, Westchester Co. and Long Island. He took part in the battle of White Plains, N. Y. He was a scholar, patriot and Christian.
Gen. Data from Colonial New Haven Newspapers, Scott & Convers, Baltimore: Gen. Pub. Co., 1979,
"Mr.'s Ebenezer Wakeman, G. Selleck Silliman, & David Burr, Jr., were appointed managers of a lottery for the purpose of raising money to compensate a widow & her partners for loss of a dwelling house in Fairfield."
According to a FAG visitor, he is a distant cousin of the actor, Tom Selleck.
______________________
Death place and date from Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection)
Inscription
GOLD SELLECK SILLIMAN Esq'r.
Attorney at Law.
Justice of the Peace
and during the late War
Colonel of Horse
& Brigadier Gen of Militia
died July 21st 1790.
Aged 58 Years:
Having discharged these
and other public Offices,
with Reputation and dignity:
and in private life shone
The affectinate Husband
tender Parent
exemplary Christian
and Man of fervent Piety
"Ye OLD BURYING GROUND OF FAIRFIELD, CONN." by Mrs. Kate Perry
