The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-23
THE SELDENS.
REUNION OF THE FAMILY At FExwIcK GROVE,

CONN.
HARrFoRp. Conn, August %, 1877.
The representatives OF the seldsn family OF New
England and tho Middle States held grand reunps It
Fen wick Grove, At this mouth Of the Connecticut
River, today. Nearly six hundred wsse present.
bearing either the pane OF seldsp or that Of warnsr
which closely allied with It in early New Eng
land history Many of those present sentIemen
whose names prominent in the land Among
these Chief Justice Waite tprssldng officer OF the
day. related by marriage; ex-senator Trumbull, of
Illinois, whose grandmother belonged to tho Now
England Sedens; Rev. Leonard Woosey Bacon, late
pastor or the American Chapel Ia Geneva, Switzer-
land, related by marriage; Elias Selden Hawley, OF
Buffalo, n. Y; George Selden, OF philade-
phia; Elijah Sedep, OF Providence; Cornelius
waydsll Of New York city, William II. and Colonel
Charles Scranton, OF Oxford, N. j. G. and George
Spencer. oil Erie, and Henry p Johnston, OF New YORK
city. The larger representation was OF the Connecti'
cut seldens tue most prolific of the family de-
scendans Of Thomas Seldeu, who came from Boston TO
Hartford With John Hooker in 1885, and lott large
family. second Connecticut branch became extinct
At Windsor and tho third branch located in Virginia
whore the name survives IN the James River section.
TINS small branch, however, and comes into no
great prominence other than claiming Instant rca-
lonship with President Washingtou through bis mar.
rage. The Connccucut sedsns. and inc warmers,
Win Which name thsy are Related Somas
solden Andrew Warner, Of Hadley, Mass, are most
prominent to-day, and have thousands Of relatives
aud largely IN New York, Now Jersey and Pennsyl'
wanna. Tho family Is OF Ergiish origin and tho ae-
fv nc old 81 sa s name md .sS rns s
prominent name IN the family Is that oil John Seiaen
OF Shakespeare, aud one Of mo leading
Of his day IN literature and law. From MIN tue
American branches are directly descended.
INTERESTING FAMILY HISTORY.
Al The reunion to-day Chef Justice Waite presided
n n other addresses were delivered
AS ioiiows:-.'distorical OuIhne," by Henry b. Sci
aon. Of Haddam Neck Conn John Seidep, Of Eng
land by Rev. Theodore T. Munger, oil East Hartford.
Conn I; "Ine Old Seden Homestead IN Lyme, Conn.,
by Chief Justice Morrison X. Waite, OF the United
England" by Elias 5. Hawey OF Bu ao, N. Y; 'Col.
onel uel seldcn, OF the Revolutionary War, and
Poiut," by Henry +. Johnston, Of New YORK CITY;
'Deborah Selden and Her Desccp dants," by the Rev.
William D. sorton OF Hartford CHe1 "EzH Eay
David seiden."by Rev. Frederick Munson, Of Had
dam Neck, Conn.
The papor by Chief justice Waite was Of generally
interesting character troapg as II did OF one Of the
oldest and best preserved family estates IN ths coun
termed. is now owned by Colonel Jo.eph Selden, OF
Norwich, and William 4. Seldcn, OF Lyme. II was
Connecticut RIVER and on The death OF the beautiful
Lady Fenwick passed through several hands BY Will
soaen one Of the sons OF Thomas selaen, Of Hart.
iordl From linn II passed down IRON generation to
generation, never gong out Of ne hands OF hs iamiy
OF the finest properties 10 tho State In the country
It's location on The banks OF the river, near
Chester, IS delightful; It's soil is fertile ana
tho family residence = century old, is IN
fine state of pr servatton During his address Chief
Justice Waite exhibited one OF the family reiics the
venerable parchment deed OF 1885, by wh,ou Johu
Leveret Boston merchant then lis owner, conveyed
the properly OF 1900 to Joseph Selden Tor f22U
This covered the ''settlers ttie as IL Is termed And
the conveyance OF the Iudian title Is ouad deed
(an ancient copy Of which was SHOWN Dy Owana cuo
sschcm OF tho 'Moheghnnso 10 Joseph Sedcn for
.'vauable consideration" The regular addresses
followed by remarks by George S"iden, of Philadelphia,
alter (which The asscnDlagc sat down 10 acapia duner,
reunion and after discussing the bill Of iare the party
dspcr The credt Of arranging tho analr giyen
to Henry NJ. Soldep, OF Haddnnl, Conn, who has de-
voted much time 70 compiling The family history.