386                                                           NOR W ALK.

Harriet (Mrs. Lewis O. Wilson) ;i

Amos, son of John^^^ and Rebecca (Bartlett) Belden, married Elizabeth, born October
12, 1770, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Scudder) Isaacs (see pa^;es 96 and 331 1. and had
as per page 96, none of whom, excepting Julia,^ belonged in Norwalk.

Henr^-, son of John^'" and Rebecca (Bartlett) Belden, marned EsthcT, iiorn October
14, 1773, daughter of Goold and Elizabeth (Dimon) Hoyt, and had as per page 35.S. A
description of the home of his parents (John^"' and Rebecca Belden) and afteruards that of
his brother, John Belden*'", here  naturally follows.
 

BELDE.X   SELLECK  HOl'SE,   1899.         (See plates pages 382 and 387.)

This is one of the only few remaining ante-revolutionary Norwalk homes, and its
history repays perusal. .\t the Tr\on visitation General Garth caused it lo be fired, but his
men were seemingly too much in haste to tarry until it was completely flame undeiway, con-
sequenth- the fire was e.vtinguished just as its destruction had commenced. The premises
were purchased h\ the Beldens before the Revolution. John Belden^''' here brouglit up his
children, John*"', Isaac, Amos, Henr)-, Mary Esther, and Sarah.

The famil}' of John'"* and Rebecca (Bartlett) Belden were tenants of the home^ in 1779.
Thomas, son of John^""*, had a hearthstone of his own (afterwards Governor Bissell place),
and Samuel his brother resided in Wilton. The John Belden** barn for many 3'ears after the
Tr\on conflagration bore an oak inscribed fire-record.     .Accepting the Moses Webb statement
 

iLewisO. Wilson, when young,came to Xorwalk
as a clerk. He became afterwards a Xorwalk mer¬
chant, and finally a heavy business man of .\ew Vork
city, where he was ciicr.t;ctic, enterprising and success¬
ful. His country home at Belden's Neck was a lovely
site. Mr. Wilson liked well kept highways. He was
much intei-ested in the Wilsiiii Point Road and seemed
to be fond, at leisure hours, of himself having a part
in the work, .\fter he had (|uit "The .Xeck," and
given up business, and buried most of his family, he
was wont, in old a.i^c, to be seen, in kid protected
hands holding a rake and indulging his old incli¬
nation. He was well known in Aletropolitan mer¬
chant circles and made his country scat inviting.
(S-c page 00.) .Mrs. Wilson was a devoted mother,
and enjoyed, with her cliildren, the attractive proper¬
ty, her father's bequeathed patrimony, at "the
Point." The children of L. O. and Harriet Wilscm
were Capt. Henry, U. S. X., Cli;irlcs, OHvcr, William
and X'ictor B. Charles and \'ictor were the onlv
married sons. The first married Charlotte Tillotson,
of X. v., and the second Sarah Searles of .X'cjrwalk.

2JuUa (see last note p i.ye 96), daughter of Amos
Beldenist, married, .March 1.-!, 1S16, Hooker, born
January 30. 1792, son of WilHam and Mary Esther
(Belden)   St.   John.     She   had   one   son,   Frederick
 

.-Vugustus, bt)rn January 15, 1S17, who died unmar¬
ried, June 13, 1S39. Both second cousins, Frederick
.\. St. John and John (son of Henry) Belden, died
young. John Belden had commenced a business en¬
gagement in Xew York city, but soon came home to
close his days. He w,is a social favorite and had
much to live tor. Mrs. Hooker St. John survived the
birth oi her <mly child nne day short of eight months.
3This home was established prior to the Revolu¬
tionary war. \t the Tryon visitation General Garth
caused it to be fired, but his men, who on their march
from "Old Well" northward had almost reached the
crossing, place to the east side of Xorwalk river
where the Tryon and Garth forces were to unite,
were seemingly in haste and did not tarry until
sure that the building was fully fired. The fire
was extinguished ere the structure was destroyed. It
was afterwards repaired and continued the property
of John Belden3rd^ father of john+'h, Isaac, Amos,
Henry, Mary Esther, and Sarah Belden. The same
(14 acres area) was sold, Alarch 18, 1796, by the
heirs of JohnSrd and Rebecca (Bartlett) Belden to
John-i-thand his brother Isaac. John*th took the north
portion (Selleck house and land of 1899), and Isaac
occupied, with the adjoining grounds, the present St.
.Mary's Assembly House, opposite St. Mary's Church,
on West Avenue.    After the day of John Belden-nh his