CHAPTER X. 



HIS MARRIAGE: REMINISCENCES OF GOVERNOR TRUMBULL. 



His Marriage. The First Governor Trumbull. The Second Governor 

 Trumbull : His Person, Manners, and Character; His House and Family; 

 His Appearance in Public; Experience of his Personal Kindness. 

 First Introduction to Miss Trumbull. Governor Trumbull's Political 

 Firmness. Popular Chemical Lectures in New Haven, and Further 

 Acquaintance with Miss Trumbull. Visits to Lebanon. Death of 

 Governor Trumbull. His Marriage. 



AN important event in the life of Mr. Silliman 

 occurred about three years after his return from 

 Europe. This was his marriage to Miss Harriet 

 Trumbull, daughter of the second Governor Trum- 

 bull. Jonathan Trumbull, the elder, a graduate of 

 Harvard College, had distinguished himself by re- 

 fusing to join a part of his colleagues on the Coun- 

 cil in administering to Governor Fitch the oath to 

 execute the stamp-act, and being chosen Lieutenant- 

 Governor, he had himself likewise refused to take the 

 oath to carry out the oppressive measures of Parlia- 

 ment. Chosen Governor in 1769, he was reflected 

 for fourteen consecutive terms, the only Colonial 

 Governor who retained his office after the beginning 

 of the Revolutionary war. He stood very high, as 

 is well known, in the esteem of Washington, who 

 pronounced him " one of the first of patriots," and 

 whom he sustained with resolute, unfailing patriot- 

 ism to the end of the great struggle. A sedate 



