Richard Sylvester, immigrant ancestor of this family, was born in England. He settled first in Dorchester, Mass., of which he was one of the proprietors. He was propounded for freeman Oct. 19, 1630. He removed to Weymouth. He was fined two pounds, and disfranchised March 13, 1638-39, for joining in an attempt at organizing a church which was not authorized by the government. He sold his house and lot at Weymouth, Sept. 23, 1640, and removed to Marshfield, Plymouth colony. He was a town officer there.
He married (first) Emeline ____; (second) Naomi Torrey, of Weymouth. His will was proved Sept. 24, 1663, bequeathing to wife, Naomi, and sons John, Joseph, Israel, Richard and Benjamin; daughters Lydia, Dinah, Elizabeth, Neomi and Hester.
The widow's estate was administered Nov. 26, 1666.
Children:
Lydia, born Dec. 8, 1633.
John, April 12, 1642.
Elizabeth, Jan. 23, 1643.
Naomi, baptized April 14, 1650.
Hester, March 26, 1654.
Benjamin, baptized May 17, 1657.

(II) Eliezer Sylvester, descendant of Richard, settled in Copenhagen, Lewis county, N.Y. He married Betsey Moore.

(III) Sidney, son of Eliezer Sylvester, was born at Copenhagen, June 15, 1818. He was educated in the common schools of his native town and at Clinton Liberal Institute and a select school, taught by Alfred Taylor, of West Lowville, N.Y.
He taught school in the vicinity for several years, and became superintendent of schools in the county. He was elected county clerk in 1857, when the shire town wsa Martinsburg. He was elected to the assembly of the state in 1873, and served one term. For a number of years he conducted a grist mill, which he purchased at Martinsburg, N.Y., and for three years he was a general merchant with a store at Copenhagen.
He died Nov. 26, 1889.
He married (first) in September, 1846, Henrietta L. Ward, who died in May, 1847. Her father was born in Middletown, Conn. in 1797, son of Joshua Ward, of an old New England family.
He came to Copenhagen, N.Y., where he followed his trade as tailor and conducted a general store.
He married (second), Mary B. Ward, sister of his first wife, July 10, 1856, born in Copenhagen, Aug. 23, 1833.
Children of second wife:
1. Sidney Ward, born Nov. 13, 1857; educated in the public schools of Martinsburg, and Martin Institute; emplooyed in the postoffice in New York City for several years, now (1910) a general merchant at Martinsburg; married, Oct. 5, 1887, Nellie R. Wilcox, who died Jan. 20, 1891; married (second) Minnie Kilham, by whom he had: Antoinette, Theodore, and Ethelyn (who died in infancy).
2. Florence, born June 13, 1859; died aged two years.
3. Grant B., born April 7, 1864, educated at Martin Institute, and took an active part in politics; died March 23, 1897.

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