Norwalk, history from 1896, Part 63

Author: Selleck, Charles Melbourne.
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: The author,
Number of Pages: 553

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George W., son of Isaac Selleck2nd, married January 9, 1854, Cordelia E. Twing of Great Barrington, Mass., and had Alice E., Mary E., Hattie, died young, Lucy A., died young, Lucy B., died young, and Clarence who died unmarried.

Charles, son of Isaac Selleck2nd, is a resident of Blair, Nebraska, and had a child who died young and Gertrude.

Isaacard, (Captain), son of Isaac Selleck2nd, married Mary Payne and had Charles, Frank, Mamie and an infant who died young. Charles married Lena, daughter of Rufus Raymond of Norwalk and had three children. Frank, son of Isaac3rd, married Nettie Sherwood and had Nettie.

Henry Stanton, son of Isaac Selleck2nd, married, November 20, 1867, Lydia, daughter of Sherman and Susan (Hurlbutt) Cole, and had Victor S., Willis H., Chester S. and E. Edward.

Franklin, son of Isaac2nd and Lucy Selleck married, first, October 14, 1874, Mattie A. Hazleton, no issue; married, second, November 21, 1889, Mary J. Gamble and had Dexter, born November 25, 1894, died January 11, 1898; Ellsworth G., born May 24, 1897.

SANDS-SELLECK-SCOTT.

On the opening day of the autumn of 1734 Nathan and Sarah Sands Selleck first saw their last born child, to whom the name of Sylvanus was given. The parents were married in Huntington, L. I., January 1, 1713, the groom (born September 12, 1676, having been the oldest son of Captain Jonathan and Abigail (Law) Selleck (pages 438 and 439), and the bride the daughter of Captain Samuel Sands, son of Captain James Sands of Berkshire County, England, one of the purchasers in 1660 of Block Island. The young Sylvanus Selleck was highly related. His paternal grandparents were of Law and Gold blood and his grandmother on his mother's side was a Ray of Block Island, while his mother's cousin, Abigail Sands, was the wife of the notable Hon. John Thomas (first Judge of Westchester County, whose home was a few rods removed from the present St. Paul's Chapel in Lewisboro, N. Y.), and his uncle (Samuel Sands) married Mary, daughter of Thomas Pell, Lord of Pelham Manor.

The boy Sylvanus Selleck grew to become a man of thirty-four when Dr. Ebenezer Dibble, Rector of St. John's Church, Stamford, was called upon to unite him in matrimony (March 2, 1768) to a Stratford lady, Tabitha (Siene or Pierce), and on November 17, 1772, the same rector baptized their two children, Molly and Betty. The father deceased while these children were minors, and in the distribution of his estate, July 6, 1786, Molly was awarded "Seventeen acres on Ox Pound," the present romantic and charmingly named "Con- tentment Island," while to her sister Betty was set off one-half of the near by Butler's Island. Molly married (May 17, 1787) Captain Stephen, son of James and Jemima Raymond, and her daughter Delia (Mrs. Gershom Raymondard) had Angelina (Mrs. John Scott), who was the mother of the forceful John Winfield Scott of New York City whose telling remarks after the eloquent address by General Russeli Frost at the unveiling, in 1898, of the Norwalk Lud- low monument are an emphatic memory, and of his sister Angeline, now the intelligent, effi- cient and interested South Norwalk Librarian. Another sister of John W., Delia R., (Mrs. George E. Weeks), died in 1889.

447

NORWALK.

URIAH SELLECK DESCENT.

Nathaniel4th, son of David and Mercy (Waterbury) Selleck, married, August 7, 1744, Sarah, born August 12, 1723, daughter of Nathan and Sarah (Sands) Selleck, and had Uriah1st, died young; Ray, Mercy, Sarah, Nathaniel and Uriah2 11 (see page 305).1

This last child, Uriah211, baptized October 31, 1762-3, married, May 18, 1784. Hannah, baptized about 1760, daughter of Ephraim Smith of the Haynes Ridge family (page 94), and had :

Zalmon, born March 31, 1795;

Nancy, born July 6, 1806, died in infancy ;

Zalmon, son of Uriah and Hannah (Smith) Selleck, married Eliza Phillipse, and had : Henry Augustus, born August 14, 1814.

Maria Phillipse, born September 6, 1815, (Mrs. William K. James, page 376).

1Uriah2nd, baptized by the patriot Dr. Moses Mather of Darien, October 31, 1762-3, son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Selleck) Selleck, had a sister Rhoda, who married August 2, 1782, John Byxbee, Jr. Mrs. Rhoda (Selleck) Byxbee occupied the fine dwelling for that day now standing on Harbor avenue and known in late years as the " Captain Merritt place." Mrs. Byxbee survived her husband and finally removed to Flax Hill, near the present only store on the crest of that height. She had two daughters one of whom married the recalled Ray Selleck of the same hill and the other, Fanny, of lovely face and features -which are picture-preserved at the residence of the late Captain William H. Wilcox on Flax Hill-died young. John Byxbee, Jr., her father, was of the Eastham, Mass., Byxbee family, the first of whom to come to Norwalk, chose the summit of Flax Hill for his home.

There stands in St. Paul's church yard, a plain stone inscribed to the memory of Catharine Baker, the epitaph upon which is singulary pathetic from the fact that it is the epitome of the sleeper's perturbed life. Catharine Baker was carefully brought up on the Hudson River, but marrying against the wishes of her parents trouble soon befel her. One of the old families of Trinity church, New York, knew her well and fully sympathizing with her delicately but substantially assisted her. Disinherited, how- ever, trials so told upon her that she made her way to Norwalk, where resided an intimate of the old Trinity family before referred to. Here she was wel- comed, but death soon put a period to her life of vicis- situdes and she was laid to rest at the head of Nor- walk Green. She was possessed of something of a property, notwithstanding the fact of her family alienation. This snug little sum was Norwalk-be- queathed, but such was the strict character-probity of Uriah Selleck that he would not permit his grand- daughter to retain it, but insisted that it should go back to the deceased's blood, and the consequence is

that only three (quite choice) chairs are all that re- main, barring the tender mound and gravestone- marking in St. Paul's churchyard, to tell of Catharine Baker.

"Tread softly on this hallowed ground. Pale sorrow's child lies here; Ye who have felt misfortune's frown Here stop and drop a tear."

Not far from said stone and on the west side of the church walk is a broken slab in memory of Sarah Selleck, a sister of the first Mrs. William Lockwood and an aunt of the late William S. Lock- wood of North avenue. The good young woman left her estate to St. Paul's church, but albeit her rector, Rev. Henry Whitlock and many of his people went to court to contest the estate's diversion in another direction, still the parish lost the benefaction.

Hannah, daughter of Ephraim Smith, baptized according to Stamford register, about 1760, married Uriah Selleck, who lived in what in recent years has been known as the Matthias Hubbell home in Main street. She was the grandmother of the present Mrs. William K. James and her branch of the Smith family inherited, through the Bartletts, quite a portion of the noble Haynes Ridge in New Canaan. The Nor- walk records clearly show how the later members of the family transferred their rights in that large estate to the Long Island James and Moses Smith children of the blood. A portion of their Haynes Ridge prop- erty embraced the handsome vicinity of the "Church Hill" of 1896. Thomas Smith who lived in the west- ern part of the Stamford Main street, was a son of Dr. Nathan and Elizabeth (Betts) Smith, who belonged to the same line. The residence of Thomas Smith is seen to-day and his son Thomas and daughters Mary (Mrs. Burgess) and Sally (Mrs. David Holly) are Nor- walk recalled. They were friends of the Stamford Jarvises and visiting this town on the occasion of a church sociable in the days of Dr. Jackson Kemper's rectorate of St. Paul's church sought out their Nor- walk kin. The Thomas Smith Stamford home was a

778

NORWALK

NOAH AND GEORGE SELLECK.

Noah and George Selleck were Norwalk house-names of fifty years ago. Captain Noah Selleck, brother of Captain Isaac2nd, had no children. He lived, during his later years, in Brooklyn, and was the instigator and proprietor of the Selleck's line of New York Pack- ets (see page 306). Mr. Selleck accumulated a competency and closed his years surrounded by the comforts of life.

George Selleck was the oldest son, by his second wife, of James Selleck (see page 441), son of David and Mercy (Waterbury) Selleck.

James, son of David and Mercy Selleck married, second, Joanna Morgan of Wilton and had George,1 Joanna (Mrs. Amos Barnes) and John M. of Bryantsburgh, Ill.

George, son of James and Joanna Selleck, married Harriet, daughter of Hyatt and Sarah (Somers) Banks of Redding, and had Sarah Jane (Mrs. John Plander). Ann Eliza (Mrs. George Evarts, first, Mrs. Stewart, second, Mrs. John March, third, and Mrs. James H. Beers, fourth); Harriet (Mrs. Edward Merrill); George F. and Donna Maria (Mrs. John Woolf).

Harriet, daughter of George and Harriet (Banks) Selleck, married Edward, son of Thomas B. and Sally Ann (St. John) Merrill (see page 235), and had George Thomas,2 Laura P., James Titus (died young); Annie Betts (Mrs. Frederick R. Beach); Frank S. and Harriet St. John (Mrs. Banford S. Banks).

The Selleck family constitutes an extensive constituency and to complete the line to date would demand time and space. Its main lines have here been indicated from which it may not be impossible to establish any particular lineage branch.

prominent abode in the Stamford of olden times, and there is probably no portion of that prospered and popular township that has more changed or is more improved than that same to-day pretentious and progressive centre. The public buildings arrest atten- tion, the stores and offices are noticeably fine, and the whole street and structure aspect is imposing. The godly Daniel Smith's sanctuary is missing, but churches of stately architecture have taken its place; the village school house near the present City Hall is gone but the commanding High School Building more to the east is a monument to the people's intelligence and admirable taste and judgment; the stage coach and horn are things of the past, but the electric cars and the rythm of the motorman's bell make transit and thoroughfare trouble-free and tuneful. In the days when the Bells, Bishops, Davenports, Hollys, Hoyts, Quintards, Rogers, Scofields, Scelys, Smiths, Waterburys, Webbs and Weeds were on the stage Stamford was indeed fair, but now it is grand, and its projenitors, ancestors, many of them, of striking lines, are entitled to record and memory-regard.

Nathan Smith of New Canaan, married Sarah, daughter of Jesse and Mercy (Selleck) Tuttle and was

the father of Jesse Smith, who died at about the age of eighty some years since in West Norwalk. The children of Mr. Jesse Smith are to-day somewhat scattered. One of the daughters, Mrs. William Bes- sey, resides in 1899 with her sister, Mrs. John H. Romaine of Ludlow street, Stamford. Two other daughters, Mrs. Frank H. and Mrs. Dudley Hoyt, reside in Stamford. The brothers and sisters of Jesse Smith were Frederick, Orville, Bethol Mercy (Mrs. Cornelius Schenck), and Harriet (Mrs. Alfred M. Platt).

1George Selleck was Norwalk's first confectioner. Ile amassed a neat sum by his business and built the brick house (now Bishop place) on Wall Street. It was at his house that Rev. William Cooper Mead, D. D., and wife and daughter Jane Maria were enter- tained on the occasion of the visit of the future rector of St. Paul's Church before his acceptance of the call to the same.

"George Thomas Merrill married, January 11, 1898, Phebe, daughter of John Roff of New York City, and had George Kennith, born February 16, 1899, and baptized August 20, 1899.

449

NORWALK.

THACHER.

THE ORIGINAL NORWALK THACHER HOME-SITE (1724.)'

Genius, scholarship and piety conspicuously characterized this Norwalk family name of the eighteenth century's second quarter.

"Thacher, 'tis virtue that thy name endears. Virtue that climbs beyond the starry spheres."

Ant A. D. 1678 Massachusetts Indian's Thacher-tribute.

The town of Norwalk was nearly seventy-five years of age when a member of the Yarmouth Church was dismissed from his ecclesiastical relations in that Massachusetts set- tlement and made his bow to the fast growing plantation known by the name of Norwalk. This man proved a contribution to the Norwalk progenitors' quality-stock. He came, indeed, after the first founders had passed hence, but the influence of such corporators as are named in the town's original deeds was still felt. New generations were stepping upon the stage, but the old leaven yet worked, and the body was permeated with its beneficent transforma- tion effects. The true glory of the children of Josiah Thacher's day was that their fathers had been right and righteous men, and their Massachusetts adopted citizen-brother was no exception. The story of Captain Josiah Thacher's ancestry is as follows :

"This plate represents the locality fixed upon hy Captain Josiah Thacher one hundred and seventy- five years ago for his earliest Norwalk residence. The

town had now grown northward from its original plant-place (East Norwalk, 1896) and vacant home- sites in that upper direction were being one by one

+50

NORWALK.

After a voyage of two months less two days there stepped from the ship James, on these western shores, on June +, 1635, a brother (Anthony) of Rev. Peter Thacher1 of old Sarum, who had for several years been a vicar of the established church of the mother land.

occupied. The line of trees to the picture's left, oppo- site, as it is supposed, the first Thacher home-site, were of after growth, and indicate the approach to the property (now Hunter home on East Avenue) later transferred by Captain Thacher to the society of the First Church (Congregational) for parsonage use. Rev. Moses Dickinson, who came to Norwalk somewhat after Captain Thacher's arrival, was con- versant with the area. Dr. Burnet came after Pastor Dickinson's incumbency. Under the leafless branches sorrowfully gathered the people in the early spring of 1819 on the occasion of the funeral of the Rev. Ros- well R. Swan, while Sylvester Eaton evidently there took solid comfort in his great ease-suggesting chair which was long kept in Norwalk as an Eaton relic. Mr. Eaton was an exceptionally large man, and as a daughter of Captain Hezekiah Betts (Eliza Susan), who was also very stout, was wont to accompany and introduce him on the occasion of his parochial calls the two, whether walking or riding, constituted a striking Norwalk personal picture.

After Mr. Eaton's vacancy, in 1827, of the pas- torate, the once old Thacher surrounding and owner- ship gradually fell into other than parsonage service. Martin Kalbfleisch, a Norwalk chemist and late Brook- lyn, L. I., high official, made the premises for several years a home, since which time Jacob A. VanZandt, who married a Norwalk St. John, has tenanted the property. It is now owned in part by George W. Hunter, and its northern portion by a Norwalk law- ver, E. M. Lockwood, who with his wife, a daughter of the late staunchly solid John Patterson, of sturdy Scotch stock, and a New York City merchant and New Canaan Summer resident, occupy it, having there reared, in 1898-9, an imposing home-seat of Colonial pattern-excellence. No portion of Norwalk has probably been more appearance-affected by mod- ern topographical alterations than this same Thacher adjoining. Immediately south (Bennett home, 1899), stood the "Mansion" of James Brown, the partner of the famous William Smith of New York in the great Oblong land purchases of early times. These men owned a vast tract in what was and is to-day known as Salem, one of their Indian bought tracts covering eleven thousand acres. Brown had been married a few years when Captain Thacher planted himself within a short distance of his house, and the Captain probably knew the barrister and future Ob- long operator well.

Smith, the business partner of Brown, was the eminent New York Judge of the Supreme Court and father of the eloquent and opulent Judge "William Smith the Historian." The partnership of Brown and Smith is an exceptionally interesting Norwalk

mention (see page 113). Smith was born in 1696, and Brown, it is surmised, not much earlier. Both died the same year (1769). Brown's son, James, who was some four or so years old when Captain Josiah Thacher founded his home within a stone's throw of the Browns, grew to become the important James Brownend of the Oblong, whose sister Mary married Samuel, the oldest son of Ralph Isaacs, Sr., of Nor- walk (page 329). Smith's son William, baptized July 7, 1728, attained to legal and professional emi- nence. He married Janet Livingston, was the brother of Joshua H. Smith, who landed Major John Andre on shore near West Point on the Hudson, and brought about Arnold and Andre's interview at his house near Stony Point, and went eventually to the Provinces. This son of the partner of Norwalk's lawyer, James Brown, left New York City "at the peace." He was found in the Provinces where dwelt "Hester (Esther) Burlock with one child." This Mrs. Burlock (see pages 272 and 279) was the DeForest widow of Job Burlock of Wilton, and her child (Sam- uel, born in Wilton in 1770) was the father of Samuel DeForest Burlock referred to on page 280.

Job Burlock is said to have been shot dead on his Wilton door step, and his widow marrying, sec- ond, Captain Barker of His Majesty's army in the Provinces, had two beautiful Barker daughters. Mrs. Job Burlock (afterward Mrs. Captain Barker) was the mother, also, of Thomas Burlock, whose city establishment near "the Hook" the Norwalk boats passed on their New York trips, and who was the brother of Mrs. Nathan Bouton, whose daughters became Mrs. Nathan Warren and Mrs. LeGrand Can- non. (See page 272.)

Samuel Burlock (page 280), who went at the age of thirteen with his widowed mother from Wil- ton to New Brunswick, married into the Long Island Layton family. This family lived at what is now known as Little Neck, Great Neck and Wheatland. They were, evidently, thrifty people, and have had well known descendants. Among the later of these is the family of David Layton.

It is believed that the present residence, on East Avenue, of the Bennett family, contains timber that formed a portion of the old James Brown man- sion frame (page 113), and also that its neighboring ancient Thacher well is still, quite possibly, in exist- ence.

1A line of well known American professional men sprang from this Thacher founder. His son Thomas, born on May day, 1620, came, a youth of fifteen, to this country, and here studied for the ministry, hav- ing been ordained January 2, 1644. The young man

451

NORWALK.

Rev. Anthony Thacher, a curate in the old world and one of the Plymouth Colony founders in the new, married, second, Elizabeth Jones, and had John, born March 17, 1638-9, in Salem, Mass. John, sonof Rev. Anthony and Elizabeth Thacher, became a man of Colonial renown. He held a noted military position (Colonel), was for a score of years selectman of Yarmouth, and for fifteen years a representative to the General Court of Massachusetts; was Governor's Assistant and a member of the Council of War and of the Provincial Council. This distinguished progenitor married Rebecca, niece of Governor Edward Winslow, and was the father of Josiah Thacher1st, whose son, Josiah2nd (Captain), settled in Norwalk.

Captain Josiah Thacher2nd, born at Yarmouth, Mass., July 7, 1701, son of Josiah1st and Mary (Hedge) Thacher, appeared in Norwalk in 1724. From Alexander Ressiquie1 he bought,

married Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Ralph Partridge, first minister of Duxbury, Mass. Rev. Thomas and Elizabeth Thacher had a son Peter, born 1651, who was the first minister of Milton, Mass. This Peter married, 1677, Theodora, born 1659, daughter of Rev. John and Susannah Oxenbridge of Boston. Rev. John Oxenbridge was a son of Dr. Daniel Oxenbridge, whose wife Katherine Harby was a granddaughter of Lady Katherine Nevill, who was a granddaughter of Baron George Nevill, who was a grandson of Isabel Beauchamp, who was a great granddaughter of King Edward III. Rev. Peter and Theodora Thacher had a son Oxenbridge, born 1680, whose learned son Oxenbridge Thacher, Jr., born 1725, was a member of the Massachusetts General Court. He had a son, Rev. Dr. Peter Thacher, D. D., born March 21, 1752, who was the Brattle Street Boston minis- ter whom Whitfield prayer-denominated "the young Elijah." This eminent man's brother, Thomas, born 1756, was a minister in Dedham, Mass., and a dis- tinguished sermonizer and lecturer. These all and others of like prominence were descendants of Rev. Peter Thacher of England and of kin to Captain Josiah Thacher of Norwalk.

1COPY OF ORIGINAL DEED TO CAPTAIN JOSIAH THACHER.

Norwalk Land Records, Vol. V., Folio 285. To all people to whom these presents shall come, Greeting :

Know ye that I, Alexander Ressiquie of ye town of Ridgefield in the County of Fairfield within his Majesties Colony of Connecticut in New England. For and in consideration of the sum of One hundred and Seventy pounds to me in hand before the enseal- ing of these presents well and truly paid by Josiah Thatcher of ye town of Yarmouth in the County of Barnstable in the province of Massachusetts Bay in New England, the receipt thereof I do hereby ac- knowledge and myself satisfied and contented, Have given, granted, Bargained, Sold, and by these pres- ents Do freely fully and absolutely give, grant, Bar- gain, Sell, Alienate, convey and confirm to him the

sd Josiah Thacher his heirs and assigns forever a cer- tain House Lott lying within the Township of Nor- walk in ye County of sd Fairfield Containing Three acres be it more or less Bounded on the East by the Town Street on ye South by a house lot belonging to ye heirs of Benjamin Keeler deceased, on ye North by John Eversley's House Lot on ye West by the Creek with all ye Right of Sedge I have West to the Chan- nel adjoining to sd lot now sold all called Three acres be it more or less. To Have and to Hold the sd granted and bargained premises with all the appur- tenances, privileges and comodities to ye same be- longing or in anywise appertaining to him the sd Josiah Thacher his heirs and assigns to him and their only proper use benefit and behoof forever. And that the sd Josiah Thacher his heirs and assigns shall and may henceforth and forever by force and virtue of these presents Lawfully peacefully and quietly Have Hold and occupy, possess and enjoy the sd demised and bargained premises with the appurtenances thereof, free and clear : and clearly acquitted and Dis- charged of from all and all former and other Gifts grants bargains sales, leases, mortgages and of and from all other incumbrances whatsoever Had Made Committed Done or Supposed to be Done by me the Sd Alexander Ressique my heirs or assigns at any time or times before the ensealing and delivery of these presents. Furthermore I the sd Alexander Res- siquie for myself my heirs, Executors Administrators Do Covenant and ingage the above demised premises to him the sd Josiah Thacher his heirs and assigns against the Lawful Claims and Demands of any per- son or persons Whatsoever forever hereafter to war- rant secure and Defend, and Moreover I the Sd Alex- ander Ressiquie for myself my heirs executors Admin- istrators or assigns to make to perform and Execute any further or other Lawful and reasonable act or acts Thing or things Device or Devices in re Law needful or requisite for ye more perfect assurance, settling and the sure making of the premises as afore- said.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 22 day of December in the Eleventh year of ye reign of our Sovereign Lord George of Great

+52

NORWALK.

December 22. 1724, a desirably situated house lot (see front piece page 449) on the east bank of Norwalk River, not far from the present George W. Cram home site on East Avenue. The Captain appears to have been a coast mariner, and also an active Norwalk citizen. He signalized his Norwalk coming by marrying (February 17, 1724) Ann (Burr, it is believed), and had :

Ann1st, died in infancy :

Josiahªn, born February 15, 1728-9; Ann2nd, Mrs. Isaac Hayesard (see Thacher-Hayes, page 462) ;

Mary, Mrs. Stephen Davis, first, and second, Mrs. Hoyt of Pound Ridge.

Mrs. Ann Thacher died February 25, 1733-4, and Captain Josiah Thacher2ud married, second, either August 7 or September 15, 1735, Mary, daughter of Rev. Daniel and Elizabeth (Gooking) Greenleaf of Boston, and had :

Elizabeth1st, born April 25, 1737, died young ;

Daniel1», born June 29, 1739 ;

John1", born July 25, 1742 ;

Hannah, Mrs. John Banks of Rhinebeck;

Elizabeth2nd, Mrs. John Blackleach of Stratford, afterward Mrs. Hill of New Haven; Stephen Greenleaf.

Josiah3rd, son of Captain Josiah2nd and Ann Thacher, married, December 19, 1751, Mary, daughter of Governor Thomas and Hannah (Hall) Fitch, and had :

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Norwalk, history from 1896, Part 63

Author: Selleck, Charles Melbourne. Publication date: 1896 Publisher: The author, Number of Pages: 553

Author: Selleck, Charles Melbourne.
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: The author,
Number of Pages: 553