Much of the following information on the Jordan family was found in The Jordan Memorial by Tristram Frost Jordan, published in 1892 and reprinted in 1992 by the New England Press, Somersworth, NH. Saco Valley Settlement and Families by G. J. Ridlon, published in 1895, contains information on the Milliken family.
Dominicus Jordan was the son of Robert and Sarah (Winter) Jordan. He was born about 1650 in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Dominicus married Hannah Tristram on April 1, 1678. They had seven known children born between 1683 and 1696. On August 10, 1703 there was an Indian attack, and Dominicus was killed by a hatchet blow to the head. Hannah and six of the children were taken captive, along with a number of others from the area. They were taken through the wilderness to Quebec and were held for a number of years, part of the time with the Indians and part of the time with the French at Trois Rivieres. Dominicus Jordan Junior was 19 at the time of the attack. Eventually Hannah and all of her children but one were released. One daughter, Mary Ann, born in 1687, stayed behind in Quebec. It is likely that she did marry, but her husband was probably a Frenchman rather than an Indian chief.
The younger Dominicus married Joanna Deering in Kittery, Maine about 1714. Their first son, another Dominicus, married Phebe Gray on February 12, 1739 in Falmouth, Maine. They were the parents of Phebe Jordan who was the third wife of Benjamin Milliken, the Loyalist. Benjamin and Phebe had two daughters who married Seelye brothers. Rebecca Milliken married Stuart Seelye and Rachel Milliken married Orange Seelye.
The eldest son of Rebecca and Stuart was Henry Seelye. His wife was Maria Clinch, a daughter of the Loyalist, Peter Clinch. Two of the children of Henry and Maria married into the Simeon and Hannah (Dawes) Howe family of St. George. Henry Seelye Junior married Lucretia Howe on August 31, 1843 at St. George. Clementine Seelye married James Howe at Lake Utopia in the St. George area on August 1, 1843. James Howe and his brother Henry went to the California gold rush in 1849, and their families followed them in 1852. For an account of this adventure, as told by James Howe Junior, son of James and Clementine, see their gold rush story. Henry Seelye Junior and his wife Lucretia moved to British Columbia about 1861. Henry Howe and Henry Seelye Junior went to the Cariboo gold rush in British Columbia in 1863. The story of this trip appeared in a New Brunswick newspaper in 1864.
The elder Henry Seelye also went to California, apparently caught by the gold bug like so many others. The November 9, 1850 issue of the New Brunswick Courier announced the death of his wife, Maria, at the residence of her son-in-law, William Mahood, in St. Andrews. Maria's husband was described as "Lt. Col. Henry Seelye, late of St. George, now of California." The same newspaper announced his death in the Oct. 24, 1857 issue. He died in Cannon Creek, Weaverville County, California, age 63.
The next son of Rebecca and Stuart was Philo Seelye. The story of his death was told in the January 31, 1857 issue of the New Brunswick Courier. Philo and two of his sons, Theodore (age 20) and Dunbar (age 19), plus another young man, were cutting cordwood on one of Philo's farms on the St. Andrews road. They were staying in a camp on the property.
It appears that Mr. Seelye, as was his custom, called at the house of Mr. McEwen who resides within sight of where the camp was situated and on departing said that he would not bid them good night as he purposed returning. This occurred about 7 o'clock. Mr McEwen and family did not retire, but sat up expecting his return. About 10, on Mr. McEwen's sister going to the door, saw the camp in flames and gave the alarm. McEwen and sister on reaching the spot at first hoped that the inmates had effected their escape; but on moving away a portion of the burning materials, they saw the three young men extended as if in sound sleep; but alas! in the sleep of death, and Mr. Seelye's body a short distance from them, nearly consumed....
The obituary of the third son, Edward, appeared in the Saint Croix Courier on July 11, 1878.