Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

in High Ridge, on the homestead farm.
He married Sarah Provost, daughter of
John Provost, of High Ridge, and they
were the parents of four children.
(Ill) Stiles C. Stevens, the third child
of Jared and Sarah (Provost) Stevens,
was born in Pound Ridge, September 13,
1840. He attended the district schools
there, and later conducted the homestead
farm until 1868, when he struck out for
himself in agricultural lines. He lived in
High Ridge for two years and conducted
a retail meat business. In 1870 he came
to Stamford, and continued in that line,
being connected with the "People's Mar-
ket" until 1887, and in the latter year engaged
in the live stock business. This
he continued until a few years before his
death. Mr. Stevens was a man of public
spirit and progressive ideas. He served
repeatedly in public office, and was selectman
from 1888 to 1891, and served on the
Board of Burgesses for one year. Mr.
Stevens married, in December, 1865, Kate
Lockwood, daughter of Lyman Lockwood,
and their only child, Fannie L.,
became the wife of Stephen S. Chadeayne.
SEELY, Charles H.,
Business Man.
The first authentic record of the name
of Seely, which has been variously
spelled Seely. Sealy, Seelye, and Seeley.
appears in Froudes "History of Eng-
land," as follows: "In the year 1563, the
following petition was addressed to the
Lords of Elizabeth's Council
In most lamentable wise showeth unto your hon-
ors, your humble orator, Dorothy Seely of the
city of Bristol, wife of Thomas Seely of the
Queen Majesty's guard, that here her husband,
upon most vile, slanderous, spiteful, malicious,
and most villainous words spoken against the
Queen's Majesty's own person by a certain subject
of the King of Spain, here not to be uttered, not
being able to suffer same, did flee upon the same
:
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
32
slanderous person and give him a blow. So it is
most honorable Lords that hereupon said husband,
no other offense in respect of their religion then
committed, was secretly accused to the inquisition
of the Holy House and so committed, to most vile
prison, and there hath remained now three whole
years in miserable state with cruel torments.
A son of the aforesaid Thomas Seely
is mentioned as captain in command of
the "Minion," accompanying Drake in his
famous voyage to the West Indies in
1685-86. The name Seely is associated
with the early history of England,
Shakespeare in his play, "Richard II,"
representing Sir Bennet Seely as hav-
ing been beheaded by the followers of
Bolingbroke for his loyalty to Richard,
who was dethroned in 1399.
(I) Captain Robert Seely, the ancestor
of the family herein traced, was born
about 1600. He came to America with
Governor Winthrop, landing in Salem,
Massachusetts, June, 1630, bringing with
him his wife Mary, and sons, Nathaniel
and Obadiah. From thence he proceeded
with Sir Richard Saltonstall. Rev. George
Phillips and others up the Charles river
four miles from Charlestown, commenc-
ing a settlement which was called Sir
Richard Saltonstall's Plantation and afterward
named Watertown. Homesteads
averaging five or six acres were assigned,
Robert Seely receiving the maximum allotment
of sixteen acres, near the north
bank of the Charles river. This homestead
was later sold to Simon Erie, and
is easily located at the present day by
reference to "Bond's Map of Ancient
Watertown." In July, 1630, upon the
formation of the Watertown church,
which was the second church in the Mas-
sachusetts Bay Colony, the first being
that in Salem. Robert Seely was one of
the forty who entered into covenant : in
163 1, he was one of the first twenty-five,
together with Rev. George Phillips, R.