While there is no known record of Anthony Selin's date and place of birth, it is known that he arrived in America in December of 1776. Captain Selin served under George Washington at Valley Forge in 1777-1778. He must have had some financial means, as he advanced $50,000 to help the Continental Army meet its expenses during dark days of the war. He never made an effort to recover this money from the government. He bought the land upon which Selinsgrove sits at auction and laid out the town in 1787. Selin died in 1792.