Son of David Sealy and Mary Dickerson Canfield and brother of Mahlon Dickerson Canfield. He graduated at the College of New Jersey in the class of 1829. He studied law and was admitted to the New Jersey bar in November of 1832. He practiced in Paterson NJ, and was elected Surrogate of Passaic County in 1837. He was elected to the Legislative Counci lin 1841 and 1843, and to the State Senate in 1849-51. He was President of the Senate in 1851 and County Clerk for Passaic County from 1852 until his death. He never married. Francis Canfield Studied law with Silas, and Augustus Canfield possibly also studied law with Silas.