SELDEN AND KINDRED OF VIRGINIA BY EDNA MAE SELDEN Press of VIRGINIA STATIONERY COMPANY Publishers Richmond •Virginia DEDICATED to my son, MURRELL GAIL SELDEN and to all of his succeeding generations. Praises on tombs are Trifles vainly spent, A man•s good name Is his own best monument. IN6IRODUe'IION A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. The Seldens never sought prominence or celebrity, but their name has continued to live in Virginia some two hundred forty years, honored and respected. In each generation there have been descend­ ants worthy of their ancestors· records-men and women who have continued to add luster and respect to that name with which they were entrusted. It has been said that a worthy ancestor is half the battle in winning life·s victory. All are not a credit to that example. So often in genealogical work we find two kinds of lineages, some deriving their pedigree from the highest, most noted people of the country, and yet time has gradually reduced until they have ended in a point like a pyramid. Others have had a low origin and have risen without capital by their brains and courage until they have become truly great characters of position and honor and often wealth. This proves that some have been what now they are not, and others are now what they were not before, from one extreme to the other. If one chooses to investigate his ancestors, he must take them for better or for worse. However, one does not need a laborious search among the records of the Selden ancestors to discover one or more ancestors of distinction and may take pride in the thought that some of his qualities of greatness may have descended to them; or if genera­ tions have passed by, be inspired by a pardonable pride in mere kin­ ship with the great man or men associated with deeds of valor or acts of good citizenship. Readers may find within these pages material that will speak for itself. I have no intention_of over estimating the families of this book, or, ··to faults be a little blind.·· In this work I feel free to write the same of this family as I would any other family. Being a Selden by marriage I am proud of this privilege. It has taken much patience and many months of digging among every possible source to gather together the material for this book. The task has been greater and the scope has extended beyond what was first contemplated. It is my hope in some small way to interest others in their ancestoral lines, their history, and genealogy of the past and the present generation that they may find inspiration to take a part in the knowledge of their family and allied families and may even remember that posterity should be given just cause to be proud of them as we have reason for revering those who have gone before. This accomplished, my work will not have proven in vain. Daniel Webster, said, ··Those who do not look upon themselves as a link connecting the past with the future do not perform their duty to the world.·· 8 Selden and Kindred of Virginia I have been especially anxious to record and to carry out the Selden branches who have in so few years multiplied into a great number. With all these in mind I find the number of direct descend­ ants really comparatively few because so many died young, unmarried, or without issue. The larger number of female descendants marrying and not using the name are proud of the Selden blood flowing in their veins and thought much of the Selden line, giving the name, ··selden.. as a first or second given name to more than half of their descendants. The many branches of this great family are widely distributed, having married into other first families whose names have been continuously identified and listed in the history of the Common­ wealth. All these branches can trace their lineage to Samuel and Rebecca (Yoe) Selden. The larger number of the above group would naturally be expected to descend through Mary (Selden) Milner, the eldest maternal line. However, this is not the case, since Mary, the daughter of the immigrants, had but one son and he died without issue. There were also many spinsters of great distinction in the earlier records equally as interesting as their married sisters. In some cases it may seem that the connected families go quite far from the Selden connections. In this I hoped to supply a useful purpose for those in pursuit of information of the family by marriage connection. There naturally are many who are unfamiliar with technical genealogical work and many who may not have the time or access to the original records and other sources of research. This arrangement also gives the Seldens more knowledge of their maternal and paternal lines and supplies the necessary and general outline from which they very easily can continue on the various lines until a thorough research is ac­ complished on all lineages. Then, too, at times, when this work may seem to go quite far with other families, distinct and disconnected as they may seem to be at first, later on will be seen that the intermarriages between their posterity and the posterity of the other branches to a great extent will merge into each other time and time again. This brings to mind the old adage that birds of a feather flock together. It is regrettable that this work was not undertaken by someone years ago. Many valuable facts of men, women, and places could have been preserved that have now passed into conjecture and mists of tradition which are not always trustworthy for records. Every man or woman, as far as his or her own family is concerned, should have it in their power to establish their rights and protentions, what­ ever they may be, by reference to such records and proofs as may have at any time existed. Everything connected with those who have gone before us is, or should be, a matter of interest. I regret that some requests for material have been met with no response whatever. This indifference on the part of some has, in some instances, farced me to fail in carrying out some branches. In a study of this nature where the sources of general material are so Selden and Kindred of Virginia 9 widely scattered, any lightening of the burden is most welcome. A great part of my information came from the kindness of persons who generously took the time and trouble to give me their family records, for which I am most grateful. To these I extend my sincere thanks. The remainder of my information came from Bible records and other reliable sources. Much of the data was gathered from the Bibliography list on the last page. Mistakes will be made in a work of this nature. I endeavored to be authentic and particularly careful with dates which have their peculiar as well as important value. I find records that conflict, and in these instances chose the data from the most dependable sources. There are no perfect histories. With the hope that all will be pleased with my undertakings and by these pages be inspired with a deeper treasured regard for the name they bear, I submit these pages. EDNA MAE SELDEN 1941 CHAPTER I SELDENS OF ENGLAND The surname of ··selden," much to the surprise of most of us, was, for about one hundred fifty years, spelled · ·selkeden. · · Then during the later part of the reign of Henry VIII, the name became shortened to ··selden" and from the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth (1558-1603) the name ··selden.. only was used, and has continued to be used for centuries among the most honored and respected names on record. It is thought that the name is borrowed from one of the many dens of County Kent or East Sussex. · ·oen· · was a local termination which occurred frequently in the Kent and Sussex section and was synonymous with ··dean:· meaning valley. The prototheme is the Anglo-Saxon .. sel, ....Sele,'· a dwelling, mansion, hall, or place. This leads one to believe that the original home of the name ··selkeden.. was presumably in one of the dens of southeastern England. The earliest record available states that the Selden ancestory begins with John de Selkeden, an ancient yoeman of Ecclesden in Augmering, born about 1210. He possessed a small landed estate and died before 1308. John was the father of William Selkeden, born about 123 5, who married a widow by name of Agatha. She died in 1329 at the age of 90. They had three sons, all ofEcclesden; 1. Richard, born about 1260. 2. William, born about 1265. 3. John __ (a priest), born 1270. From Richard Selkeden descended William de Selkeden, born about 1290. His son was Robert Selkeden, born about 1320-on Rolls records, 1370. Robert had a son, John of Selkeden, born about 1350 (on court rolls, 1401-2). His son was Richard Selkeden, born about 1380, who also had a-son, name not given. This son was born about 1405 and had three sons. Two of them were: 1. Thomas Selkeden (1430-1505) of Tarring, named on Tarring Court Rolls, 1490, 1504. Wife, Agnes. 2. Ralph Selkeden(1435-1504),married Margery_ ,(1435-1505), named on Ecclesden Gourt Rolls (1485-1504). They had a son, Maurice Selkeden, of Eccesden, Little Hampton, and Patching, born about 1465. His name was on Ecclesden Court Rolls, 1499, 1504, heir to his father, Ralph, in 1504.