Silliman, Gershom

1783 - 1856  (73 years)

• Name	Silliman, Gershom
  Birth	24 May 1783	Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA
  Gender	Male
  Death	2 Dec 1856	Medina Township, Peoria, Illinois, USA
  Burial	La Salle Cemetery, Rome, Peoria, Illinois, USA
  Person ID	I2264	Shane and Beck | Ancestors of Norris Charles Shane
  Last Modified	14 Jun 2023

  
  

  Father	Silliman, Daniel,   b. 14 Jun 1752, Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA d. 13 Sep 1818, Easton, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA (Age 66 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Brinsmade, Sarah,   b. 12 Nov 1756   d. 30 Jul 1838 (Age 81 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Family ID	F1057	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Coleman, Mary (Polly),   b. 16 Aug 1787, Coventry, Tolland, Connecticut, USA d. 24 Dec 1864, Chillicothe, Peoria, Illinois, USA (Age 77 years)
  Marriage	6 Oct 1809	Connecticut, USA
  Children	+ 1. Silliman, Minott,   b. 24 Sep 1810, Delaware, Sullivan, New York, USA d. 6 Jan 1894, Toulon, Stark, Illinois, USA (Age 83 years)  [Father: natural] + 2. Silliman, Marshall Bennett,   b. 12 May 1812, Roxbury, Delaware, New York, USA d. 31 Mar 1888, Toulon, Stark, Illinois, USA (Age 75 years)  [Father: natural] + 3. Silliman, Fanny,   b. 5 Nov 1813, Roxbury, Delaware, New York, USA d. 2 Apr 1886, Princeville, Peoria, Illinois, USA (Age 72 years)  [Father: natural] + 4. Silliman, Joseph,   b. 28 Aug 1815, Ross, Jefferson, Ohio, USA d. 27 Mar 1873, Peoria County, Illinois, USA (Age 57 years)  [Father: natural]   5. Silliman, Daniel,   b. 13 Sep 1817, Jackson County, Ohio, USA d. 11 May 1836, Peoria County, Illinois, USA (Age 18 years)  [Father: natural] + 6. Silliman, Sarah,   b. 4 Apr 1819, Jackson, Jackson, Ohio, USA d. 15 Feb 1897, James, Plymouth, Iowa, USA (Age 77 years)  [Father: natural] + 7. Silliman, Emily,   b. 28 Jan 1824, Jackson County, Ohio, USA d. 2 Oct 1849, Mossville, Peoria, Illinois, USA (Age 25 years)  [Father: natural]   8. Silliman, Mary,   b. 26 Feb 1826, Jackson County, Ohio, USA d. 7 Feb 1847 (Age 20 years)  [Father: natural] + 9. Silliman, Phebe,   b. 4 Mar 1829, Peoria, Peoria, Illinois, USA d. 25 Feb 1913, Azusa, Los Angeles, California, USA (Age 83 years)  [Father: natural]
  Family ID	F928	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	14 Jun 2023

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 24 May 1783 - Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA Marriage - 6 Oct 1809 - Connecticut, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  Born at Fairfield, Fairfield County, CT, 24 May 1783; died at Medina Township, Peoria County, IL, 2 December 1856, age 73 years 6 months 6 days; buried at LaSalle Cemetery, Chillicothe, Peoria County, IL; married at Coventry, Tolland County, CT, 6 October 1809, Mary Polly, daughter of Ebenezer and Phebe (Carpenter) Colman, born 16 August 1787, died at Chillicothe, Peoria County, IL, 24 December 1861, age 77 years 4 months 8 days, buried at LaSalle Cemetery, Chillicothe, Peoria County, IL. "served in the United States army until the close of the war of 1812, and while in the service saw much fine farming land, and becoming disgusted with the rough and stony country in which his family awaited his return, after being discharged he removed with them, and in company with many of his neighbors, in wagons, crossed the Alleghany mountains to Ohio, settleing at first in Ross county, and afterwards in Harrison township, Jackson county. Here he was followed in a few years by many of his old neighbors from Delaware county, some of whom were afterwards pioneer settlers in Peoria county, among them the families of Reeds, Roots and Hicks. After a residence of some thirteen years in Ohio, during which Simon and Aaron Reed had removed west to Peoria county, [Gershom] became smitten by Illinois fever, caught from Simon Reed, who had returned with glowing accounts of the land to be had in that State, and in the year 1828 the family left their farm in Ohio, and started in their wagons for Illinois, piloted on their way by Simon Reed. The journey occupied twenty-days, camping out every night, but two, in a tent. They arrived in Peoria, September 21." (The History of Peoria County, Illinois) "Gershom Silliman and family settled on Section 2 of Medina Township, Peoria County, IL, in 1831." (The History of Peoria County) "The family records show that Rev. Gershom Silliman, who was born and reared in Connecticut, served as a soldier during the war of 1812, in Capt. Denio's Company, Col. Fitzwilliam's Regiment, First New York Militia. After his marriage to Polly Colman, of Connecticut, he removed to New York and settled in Delaware County, thence proceeding further west in 1814, and identifying himself with the pioneers of Jackson County, OH. Still there came to his soul the call of the wilderness. While Illinois was still on the outpost of civilization and the region beyond the Mississippi an unexplored land of opportunity, he traveled to Illinois, settling in Peoria County, in 1828, and remaining in the locality until his death. To him belonged the distinction of being the first Baptist clergyman to settle in Peoria County. A man of fine education, broad classical attainments, the highest patriotism, and an undying faith in the future of our country, he gave to his descendants the example of a noble life and left to them an unblemished name." (History of McLean County) Gorsham Silliman in Harrison Twp, Jackson County, OH Page 244 in 1820 Ohio Census. Gerskom Silliman in LaSalle Precint, Peoria County, IL in 1840, Page 43. Gershom Silliman in Peoria, Peoria County, IL in 1850, #123, Page 223. Polly Silliman at Medina Township, Peoria County, IL in 1860, age 72 years. # 318.