RHAM
Horsford House
(no longer standing)

RHAM High School now.

S. B. Pendleton watercolor circa 1890

Obadiah Horsford’s house was located on the RHAM campus in the early 18th century. It started out as a simple two room house. A lean-to addition was eventually built on to it. By the late 1800’s, the house had fallen into decay and was demolished. Obadiah Horsford was one of the town’s early leading citizens. He was Hebron’s first physician. Congregational church services were held in his barn until the meetinghouse was built in Hebron center in 1716.

Although Obadiah Horsford was not one of the Saybrook Legatees who initially owned all of Hebron, he was an early settler and became a major land owner. When he died in 1744, he was one of Hebron’s wealthiest citizens. Although Obadiah Horsford owned many items, he was not a slave owner. However, his son Daniel who inherited the house on this site owned two young African American slaves, Rose and Prince.

Think about it
Slavery was a cruel institution.  Slavery in New England broke up African American families. Children were often sold away from their parents. If you were 8 to 10 years old, how would you feel if you were sold away from your parents to work on a stranger’s farm?
Use your imagination – what jobs might Rose and Prince do on a farm?

Where to go next?
From here walk toward the old burying ground on the sidewalk along Route 316