LOCAL STORY
OLD OBED's SACRIFICE
A Story of Indian Girl's Love and Fatherly Affection.
A short distance above the village of Saybrook, on the right hand side of the road to Essex, and not far from the "parting paths" at which the old Boacum road branches off, a rough rock projects from the soil, perhaps a little less rough than most of the other rocks on the hillside, its upper surface being nearly level. This table-like rock is Obed's Altar.
The story of Obed, the Indian chief, and of the sacrifice which he offered on the rock, has been told in different ways; and doubtless, it is impossible to tell it now with all the accuracy that history requires. There is no doubt, however, as to the outline of the narrative, as it has come down by tradition and has been verified by investigation.
But some of those who have written it, dwelling on its romantic side, have not inquired into the historical setting; and it is to be feared that the well-established facts of the old Indian's life may come to be forgotten.
The Story of Obed's Altar was written out for the present scribe by one who remembers it almost word for word as it was told to her by a kinswoman whose accurate memory reached far back. With this story, in its simple form, has been joined the recital of historical facts and traditions kindly firnished by a well-informed and painstaking local antiquarian.
Obed As First Heard Of
Obed is first mentioned in the Saybrook Records as a servant to Colonel Fenwick. He was the son of a Hammonasset shief;, but after the subjugation of the Pequots, he accepted a subordinate position among the whites. Colonel Fenwick gave him a piece of land to the west of the mouth of the river, at a place known as Obed's "Homake" of Hummock.
GOSSIP
MARRIED:
pg 2 col 2
DIED
DEATH of CAPTAIN MEHAFFEY
The Well Known Coast Captain to Have a Knights Templar Funeral
Capt. Alexander Mehaffey died at his home in Portland Saturday night, aged 62 years and 6 months. Captain Mehaffey was well known and well liked by every one in Portland, where he made his home for about forty years. He built several schooners in Hartford and New London.
The first few years that he was on the water he carried stone for the Portland quarries, but later went outside, running mostly from New London and New York to Florida. He leaves a wife and one son. The funeral will take place from hsi late residence Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. The Knights Templar of Middletown will take charge of the body and conduct the services at the grave.
pg 5 col 1
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