Re: Rev Elijah Sill, Dorset, VT 1784
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In reply to:
Rev Elijah Sill, Dorset, VT 1784
Miriam Hughes 2/21/01
Miriam,
I am a descendant of Rev. Elijah and his first wife Dorcas Bennett.The following is information I have found about him on the internet and in family history books.I hope it is helpful.
John
Elijah Sill was born November 8, 1724 in Lyme, Connecticut.He attended Yale and received his B. A. degree in 1748.He then studied theology with his pastor Rev. George Beckwith.In 1751 he became pastor of the North Society in New Fairfield, Connecticut.
Elijah married Dorcas Bennett on August 29, 1754.Elijah and Dorcas had one son and one daughter.Dorcas died one day after the birth of their son Elijah.Elijah married Mary Hubbell on November 15, 1759.Mary was born in 1734.Elijah and Mary had one daughter.Mary died a week later, on August 30, 1761.She is buried in Sherman, Connecticut.Elijah married for a third time, but the wife's name is not known.It is suspected that her surname may have been Southmayd, but I do not know if that has ever been proven.They hadfour sons and two daughters.
In 1779 Elijah was dismissed as pastor due to difficulties regarding his salary.He then moved to Dorset, Vermont.He organized a Congregational church there and became it's first pastor in
1784.In 1790, no Sill was shown in the Vermont census, so he apparently had left the church at Dorset by that time.In 1789, Elijah was described as "a good friendly man" but "extremely poor."
Perhaps salary difficulties caused him to leave his church in Dorset as well.
From Vermont, Elijah moved to New York.He preached for a time in Saratoga
Springs.He then moved to Chenango, located in Broome County.He soon moved again to
Burlington Township in Otsego County.He died there in 1792 and is buried near the Church at
the Green in Burlington, New York.No monument marks his grave, however, the church is still
standing and being used.It can be found at the intersection of State Highway 80 and County Highway 16 in Otsego County, New York.
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Re: Rev Elijah Sill, Dorset, VT 1784
Ruby Coon 8/01/01