New-York tribune., 1877-08-23
THE SELDEYS ar S4YBROOK.
AN INTERESTING FAMILY REUSIoN-CHIEF JUSTICE
WAITE PREsIDEs AND SPEAKS.
fnoo,, sDvcr,r coppEspoNDFyr OP THE rRTBUNEl


WAITE PREsIDEs AND SPEAKS.
fPRos A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNE |
SAYBROoK, Conn.,, Aug. 22.-A unique cele-
bration was held here to-day the outskirts OF this
quiet old town. To the uninyted outsider 1t may nave
appeared to be than mere picnic or social re-
union in reality it an historical AFFAIR." quite u
like anything yet held in the centennial line The occa
sion the gathering OF the representatives Oh an ou
American family, who have come from many parts OF
the country 20 revive the memory OF their ancestors
some OF whom are identified with the history OF the
state and the Nation The family IL that OF the seden
or more properly which has sprung from selden an
cestry IL has had somewhat remarhaDie
groytb-the number Of the descendants OF the |
original immigrant now living being over three
hundred-and unlike some socaed old families" it ap
pears not to have thuned out in quality IN proportion to
ITS increase in quantity-no at least, we may judge
from certain connected with IT, For instance IN
the direct line OF descent to be included ChetJustce
Waite MajorGen Mcdowell, the late President Mott Of
Union College Judge Henry R. scden Of Rochester, Dr.
VIM selden OF Norfolk Va Gen Lewis Cass, Prof d. c.
Eaton OF Yale Col Joseph selden Of Norwich Conn., and
large number OF others less local note scat
tered through the country
TIE Chief Justice presided at the celebration, ana
between three and four hundred persons were present
Fenwlck Grove at saybrook selected as tue point
Of meeting partly because OF its convenience, but
mainly because the history OF the family is associated
with the settlement Of the Connecticut Valley Thomas
seden the first American SETTLER was one OF tue found
er OF Hartford to-day It has required the running
of special from that city TO saybrook to accom-
odae those of his descendants at various points in the
Valley who wished to attend the gathering In addition
trains from the East brought other NewEngandcrs. and
trains from NewYork brought representatives from ihat
state Pennsylvania, Onio, Michigan and elsewhere III
ucn an asemDge of course the s0cal element WAS not
wanting and there was much handshaking and intro
ucipg OF relatives OF all degrees but the principal ed
L. rpal land
d,v Condensng the main points OF the several ad
dresses it appears that the family anquarans connect
Thomas seden with John selden Of legal and literary
fame IN England, who one Of Shakespeares partle-
Ir friends Be it may II is certaln tDat Thomas
too snakespeares al in Twelfth Night There lies
voir course due West and he came West. After as
nq in LAYING out Hartford he ended his days, and his
nn Jo.eph took up the march down the Connecticut and
about 1861 settled Hadyme twelve miles above tue
mouth OF the river
Judge Waite in his address to-day followed out the his
trv of this early settlement and developed the interest
inc fact that original grant TO Joseph selden
more than two hundred years ago, the Old Hadlyme
homestead has passed from father to for gen.
aratons-Mr william Selden being the present occupant
and that the original deed IL the only deed OF
tbe place The venerable parcnnents were exhibited,
and look as though they would stand the test OF time
,r 900 wears longer. IL around this old selden
pcile that the Chef Justice spent most Of his time
tr hoy. and here he still delights u pay annual
sit Tomorrow many Of the descen dants propose 70
meet there and again revive ancestral recoilectons
rr this spot began the dispersion Of the sedens in che
carly part OF the last century, and che dispersion still
continues over country but the representatives pre-
uonderate in the Connecticut Valley
Many curious and entertaining things were said by the
rar, .pealers respecting early settlers. In his
historical address Mr.. Henry NJ. seden Of Hadiam |
Neck 10 whom the OF the reunion Is due, told
the audience for instance how Capt samuel selden, the
thIrI in the line secured his wifc. Across IN chester
b1rah Dudley. Tradition -tates that she liked Capt
rscords show thas she was engaged 10 "an- |
other" one Noa!diah Branerd In due time |
the marriage banns were posted up, challeng |
tnS anv objection % union OF the twain. |
Capt samuel sees the announcement ana suffers menal
nfsh ut nothing daunted, lie walks up to the banns
ana ~ nahes o,Vn And on tne weddin gdav Inc is
pberr and s duly married % Deborah History Is silent
A. to Noadahs feelings line OF action but u Is not
eDt - ~ ss +" the sequel When Capt samuel a. ed, De
horab married Noadiah The wedding ring used at the
drsf wedding was exhibited by one Of the speakers
In Revolutionary the seldens appear quite az ac
in the earlier Colonial days Among these patrouc
ancestors was Col samuel seden. son OF the redouD-
aie Captain He a man Of fortune aud pubic spirit
and when old GOV Trumbull called for extra levy Of
troops tor Wasnng,Ou.s army IN Ne"-forh during the
critical OF l776 Col seiden entered the service
although past lty years OF and having family Of
twelve children, bali OF whom were still young HIS mill
tary short Tor ne W taken prisoner
on the 0f september 1916 on the day OF the retreat
rom New-Yor and died in prison IN October following
lie lies buried iu what was once the ga bticA tnlcn
graveyard, and only rod or two from the present
Vuft
Revoution; also his nephew Ezra Selden who, as Cap
min Was one the picked corps that st0rmed stony
Point Nor the patriotism OF the family confined 10
tho male aide OF house for are told tna on one
ocrasiou assistance was needed 10 secure some
cat he from a party OF Tories, the Coloneis eldest
daughter Elizabeth, then the wife Of Deacon Marvin
hving near Joslins Rocks on the Connecticut donned
her husbands cOcked-lat aud military coat ana stood
ttrd AT ght over the stock Tue speaker VINO gave
mi. INCIDENT SAID that she carried broom In lieu OF
nusker wnereupon elderly lady IN tne audience who
nn red greatly interested In the pr0ceedngs rose and
terrupted the speaker with the enthusiastic remark,
" No sir Sue carried gum That woman WAS my grand
mother" This brought down wclldcserved round OF
ppause Nobody believed the broom version after that
Tbe celebratiOnlOr reunion was IN every way sue
cess. and mach pubic well as private history was
nrought out addresses. Tne programme OF the day
va carried 'he following order Prayer, the Rev.
Fdwarrii sclden. Manchester, ~ H.; Hymn; - HisoIi-
cal Outline" Hsnry M. Selden Haddam Meek, Conn;
John seden OF England" the Rev. Theo. 1. Munger,
East Hartford, Conn; The Old selden Homestead"
Cnief Justice Morrison K. Waite, Washington. d. c.
{. Genealogical Studies In New England" Elias
J. Hawley ESQ., Buffalo, n. " Col samue!
selden Of the Revolution, etc." Henry r. Johnston,
New-York City; Deborah selden and her descendants"
the Rev VIM d. Morton, Hartford Conn. Elizabeth Sci
den" Prof Cady Eaton, Yale College, the Rev. David
seldeu' the Rev Frederick Munson Haddam Neck, CT.
George sedeu OF Erie. Penn. made an interesting Inn
promptu speech the close The exercises closed with