William SELDEN

• Name	William SELDEN
  Gender	Male
  Person ID	I63458	mason
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2026

  
  

  Father	John SELDEN,   b. England d. 1753, , Virginia
  Mother	Grace BOSWELL
  Family ID	F727	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  SEE ALSO:How Firm A Foundation, p. 55. Rev. William^ Selden (Johii^, SamueP) son of John and Grace (Boswell) Selden, was born in 1741. He received his education at WilHam and Mary College. He qualified himself for the practice of the law and practised for a few years, but, in 1770, abandoned this profession, and went to London, where he was ordained an Episcopal minister. He returned to this country, and was, for the rest of his life, pastor in Elizabeth City County, residing at the Glebe, opposite the town of Hamp- ton, wdiere he was Rector of Hampton Church from 1771 to '83. He cultivated a farm and was also master of an Academy. Previous to his going to London in 1767, he married Mary Ann Hancock, of an old family of Princess Ann County, by whom he had a large family. The old Selden Bible gives the following record of their marriage : "Wm. Selden intermarried with Mary Ann Hancock on 29th of May 1767 * ^ *." He w^as tall, thin, and of a delicate constitution, credulous and amiable to a fault, but much respected for his fine talents and worth of character. He died in the year 1783, on June 25, aged forty-two years, leaving his w^idow with small means, which she used to the best advantage in the support and education of her children. She died in 1800, leaving two children, Sarah H., and William Boswell. the latter the only sur- vivor of the family now (1831). The daughter, Sarah H. Seldon, married Richard Bagnall, an Englishman. Wil- liam Selden's will w^as probated October 25, 1799.