Thomas Cilley was born on 27 June 1707 at Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts.^2,1 He was the son of Benoni Cilley and Elenor Getchell.¹ He married Elizabeth Fowler in 1731.¹ He married Lydia French, daughter of Edward French and Jane True, on 22 June 1736.³ He was buried at East Weare Cemetery lot 98 range 5, East Weare, Hillsborough, New Hampshire.⁴
     Thomas Cilley was also known as Thomas Sella.⁵ As of 7 June 1707, Thomas Cilley was also known as Silley.
     The Weare selectmen sent Thomas Cilley, in charge of a messenger, home to Seabrook. Cilley's wife had died in Weare and they sent a bill for her funeral expenses, support, doctor bill and Mr Cilley's board and demanded payment. They also demanded that the messenger's expenses be paid all of which must have been exceedingly pleasant to that seaside town.
     Thomas Cilley Sr who lived in the northeast part of town was a great woodchuck hunter. He said that he always knew when he had got one because he could hear him 'chickawhicker' in the wall. From this Mr Cilley bore the name chickawicker even after.
     Jacob Sella of South Hampton in 1761 bought of his father Thomas Sella the south half of lot seven range five for 20 old tenor bills of credit. He soon after settled on the old center road one forth mile west of East Weare.⁴