Description:

G. S. Silliman Gets Paid for Prosecuting a Man “Joining the Army of the Enemy”

[SILLIMAN, GOLD SELLECK]  Manuscript Document Signed, “Wm. Pitkin”, as Clerk, 1p, 8” x 5”, Fairfield, February 7, 1783. Signed vertically across Pitkin’s name, “Huntington”. Docketing at verso. Flattened fold, uneven edges, else Fine.

To John Lawrence Esq, Treasurer, in part, “Please to pay Gold Selleck Silliman Esq…out of the two Penny Tax grant by the General Assembly…the Sum of Twelve Pounds Seventeen Shillings & 4 lawfull Money it being a Bill of Cost allowed him on a Prosecution before the Superior Court…against Joseph Smith for Joining the Army of the Enemy who hath broke Goal & gone again to the Enemy.”

Gold Selleck Silliman (1732-1790) was a Connecticut militia General during the American War for Independence. Born in Fairfield, Connecticut, Silliman graduated from Yale University, practiced law and served as a crown attorney before the American Revolution. He was appointed Colonel of the Fourth Regiment, Connecticut militia, in May 1775 and became Brigadier General in 1776. He patrolled the southwestern border of Connecticut, where the loyalists of Westchester County, New York, caused constant irritation and concern for patriot towns and farms along the Connecticut coast.

Silliman also fought with the main army during the New York Campaign of 1776 and opposed the British raid on Danbury in 1777. At the beginning of Tryon's raid on Danbury, Silliman was at his home in Fairfield. As soon as he heard word of the British landing on the coast, he sent out expresses to alarm the nearby towns and to collect the militia. By noon the next day he arrived in Redding with five hundred men and was joined by Major General David Wooster and Brigadier General Benedict Arnold in the Battle of Ridgefield.

One night in May 1779, nine Tories crossed the sound in a whale boat from Lloyd's Neck. One of the Tories had been previously employed by Silliman as a carpenter, so he knew the house well. Eight of the men forced their way into the house at midnight and took the general and his adult son. They were taken to Oyster Bay, New York, and finally to Flatbush.

The Americans had no prisoner of equal rank to exchange for Silliman, so they captured one. Thomas Jones, a highly reputed loyalist, was captured in November 1779 by Continental Navy Captain David Hawley and brought back to Connecticut. Silliman and Jones were exchanged in May 1780, with Silliman's son being exchanged as well.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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