-- A rare piece of American history has come to market in New Canaan, Connecticut. The Seely House at 68 Old Stamford Road believed to have been the home and shoemaking workshop of British Loyalist Wyx Seely during the Revolutionary War is now listed for sale.
The property carries a remarkable and deeply human story. Wyx Seely, born in Stamford in 1736 to Eliphalet Seely and Sarah Holly, was a shoemaker whose Loyalist sympathies placed him under house arrest in 1775. Stripped of his firearms and forbidden to leave Canaan Parish for the duration of the war, he remained bound to Old Stamford Road while the colonies fought for independence.
The full listing and photos are available on Zillow: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/68-Old-Stamford-Rd-New-Canaan-CT-06840/58791250_zpid/
His brother chose the opposite path. Samuel Seely joined the Patriot cause and, in 1776, was wounded and died while serving under General George Washington in Westchester County. Two brothers from one New Canaan family stood on opposite sides of the same war — one confined as a Loyalist, the other giving his life for the Revolution. It is a documented split that captures, at the scale of a single household, the personal toll and conflicting loyalties of the era.
“The Seely House is not just a historic property, it is a living testament to the complexities of our nation’s founding,” said owner Gary S. Gruber, ND. “Wyx and Samuel Seely’s story reminds us that the fight for independence was not abstract; it divided families and neighbors. I am honored to have been the steward of this home and am now passing it to new custodians who will appreciate its profound heritage.”
Physical evidence of Wyx’s trade survives inside the home: tiny nails embedded in the original first-floor flooring, consistent with 18th-century shoemaking practices. The family’s history is documented in local sources, including Portrait of New Canaan by Mary Louise King.
The Seely roots in the region run deep. The lineage traces to Captain Robert Seely, who arrived in 1630 with Governor Winthrop’s fleet, served as second-in-command in the Pequot War, and helped establish early Connecticut and New York settlements. Later generations held civic leadership roles in New Canaan as selectmen and delegates to constitutional conventions. Descendant Nathan Seely took part in the 1817 Constitutional Convention, and his 1836 will details family estate matters spanning generations.
The listing is being handled by Ted Sibilia of Keller Williams. It represents a unique opportunity for buyers seeking an authentic pre-Revolutionary home with documented ties to the Revolutionary War and to one of New Canaan’s founding families.
About the company: Ted Sibilia is a licensed real estate broker with Keller Williams, serving New Canaan and the surrounding lower Fairfield County market, including Darien, Wilton, Stamford, and Norwalk. He specializes in residential properties and brings years of experience helping buyers and sellers across the region.
Contact Info:
Name: Ted Sibilia
Email: Send Email
Organization: Keller Williams Prestige Properties
Address: 2777 Summer Street Stamford CT
Phone: 203-249-7287
Website: https://tsibilia.kw.com/
Video URL: https://youtu.be/L4HYzgidlRM?si=0DCuLNLwmkDz7ha9
Release ID: 89198576
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