"I was the fifth wealthiest man in Wethersfield as determined by the town tax lists. I had this impressive house built in 1766 (see next page) for my wife Mehitable and our young son Jesse (see portrait). Before that, we had been living next door in the Webb mansion. I had married Mehitable after her husband Joseph died and I assumed the duties of stepfather to her brood of six children. But I thought a new house just for our family would be good."

"I was born in Ledyard, Connecticut in 1737, attended Yale, came to Wethersfield, became a lawyer, married Mehitable Webb, as I already told you, and got involved in the Webb business ventures; I was able to enter politics, first on the local level and eventually the national level as a delegate from Connecticut to the Continental Congress, was sent to France as America's first diplomat, had success there but was, unfortunately, obliged to spend the last years of my life defending my time in France to the American people. But enough about me. You will be able to learn all the details of my life as you spend time reading the lessons on this web site, Silas Deane Online. Right now, I hope you will enjoy the tour of my house that I was so proud of."