112 
Silliman. The Silliman family is supposed to be of Swiss 
origin, From the early settlement of the country they had 
been residents of the neighboring town of Fairfield. In July, 
1779, the British forces, under Governor Tryon, invaded the 
maritime towns in the vicinity, carrying consternation to the 
inhabitants, and conflagration and pillage to several of the 
towns and villages. The family of General Silliman sought 
refuge in the town of Stratford, somewhat removed from the 
coast. And it was there, as before stated, that the subject of 
this memoir was born. It may be proper to add, that Gen- 
eral Silliman graduated at Yale College in 1752, was a 
lawyer by profession, and an ardent patriot. During the 
Revolutionary struggle he rendered honorable service to his 
country, and evinced a devotion to the principles of liberty 
that might well become a descendant of the heroic and lib- 
erty-loving Swiss. 
We have not at hand the means of tracing the childhood 
and early youth of young Silliman. At the age of eleven 
years he was bereft of his father, and was left to the foster- 
ing care and guidance of his mother. It is a sufficient in- 
dication of his diligence and aptitude in learning, that he was 
fitted to enter Yale College at the early age of thirteen years. 
His older and only brother, Gold Selleck Silliman, who still 
survives him, was a member of the same class. They both 
graduated in 1796. 
We have now before us a young man of seventeen years 
of age, deeply imbued with religious sentiments, ‘honorably 
distinguished as a student, and emulous of rivalling him who 
was foremost in the pursuit of good learning. To these 
advantages he united those of a fine physical constitution, 
_ and a kindly and pleasing address. With such “ vantage- 
ground” to start from, we might confidently predict that, to 
a whatever field of study he might turn his attention, his life 
ie would — a success. 
a4 
