Person:Obadiah Horsford (1)

From Ye Horseford Booke

Obadiah became resident and prominent at Hebron.

Obadiah and Mindwell were both buried in "Obadiah's Nine Acres." This nine acres he bought from the Deweys in 1720 and he allowed priviledge of burial to all persons from the town. No stone appears for Mindwell but Obadiah's stone displays a long and curious inscription which reads as follows:

"These in memory of that most Worthy and much serviceable and well beloved Capt. Mr. Obadiah Hosford, Capt. of the First Military Company in Hebron and Grate Practicnor of Phisick who after sarveing God his generation & the publick Faithfully many years in this life and a patient looking for the Blissful dawn of that Illusterous day wherein our Victorious and tryumphant Joshua will lead the Armies of Israel into the land of Canaan and command the Sun of Glory to stand still in the noon of Eternity and that Permanent Happiness... love to know an evening did with the holy disciple lean himselfe upon the Breast of his Beloved and the will of God ...lly fell asleep in the cradle of Hope on the 27th day of February A.D. 1741 in the 63 year of His Age.
By Benjamin Collins-Lebanon Crank"

The Benjamin Collins of the last line was the maker of the tombstone, possibly the composer of the epitaph. Lebanon Crank does not refer to Mr. Collins but denotes a town adjacent to Hebron which later became Columbia.

... Court and land records show him at Hebron in and after 1706. The people worshipped for a time in Dr. Obadiah Horsford's barn. Sheldon's History of Northfield states that David Barber and 13 others were baptized in this barn in 1717. The church was later built upon the N.W. corner of Obadiah's farm. In 1712 Obadiah petitioned the General Court for leave to practise medicine. The following testimonials are on file:

The first was given by Gershom Buckeley, by profesion first a minister, later a physician. He was evidently of a discreet and cautious temper.

"Gasen bury May 7, 1712
As to Mr. Obadiah Horsford's desire of a Testimonial to ye wld fr his allowance to practise Physick, my answer is that when men give any Testimony whatever, they ought to testify what they know, not what they do not know.

I know by written report and in part from himself that he hath practised divers years, but as for his having skill and success in ye art and practise of Physick, I know nothing. It may be very good for ought I know. G. Buckeley"

The second testimonial is from Samuel Mather, also a physiscian:

"Whereas Docter Obediah Hosford of Hebron, desireth a testimonial from us as to his qualifications fitting him for ye practise of Physick in this Collony - We do by what we have heard of his practice some years past and by ye good acceptance he hath had among his people and by what we conceive he hath gained, by Reading and Experience in that Science, approve of his being an allowed Physitian and hope he may be allowed and encouraged therein. Saml Mather (Practr Medicine) Windsor May 16, 1712"

At New Haven, Oct. 11, 1722, The Court of Conn. Colony established and confirmed Mr. Obadiah Hosford to be Captain of a Train Band in Hebron. In 1729 and 1731 he was Deputy from Hebron to the General Court. He kept an inn at Hebron and in 1731/2 was one of the incorporators of the New London Company "invited for trade and commerce."

Obadiah's will, dated Sept. 14, 1737, proved June 1, 1741, describes him as Captain Obadiah Horsford of Hebron...

1. ↑ Hosford, Henry Hallock. Ye Horseforde Booke: Horsford-Hosford families in the United States of America. (Ann Arbor, Michigan: Cleveland, Ohio: Tower Press, 1936).

   Will uses name Horsford

2. ↑ Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, United States. Records of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1638-1925
   Bk I p. 18.

   "Obediah son of John Hossord (or Hofford or Hosford) was born Sept 28th 1677"