3rd Generation in America
Obadiah Sawtell, Jr. was born in Groton, Massachusetts on May 18, 1701 and married Rachel Parker in Groton on November 16, 1721. He was killed by Indians in Charlestown, New Hampshire (Fort #4) on June 17, 1749. Obadiah and Rachel had 6 children:
Obadiah was also known as Ensign Obadiah Sawtell because he was the
head of a garrison house, and the rank of ensign was always given to the
garrison house commanders.
At some point in time (the exact date is unknown) when Fort #4 was in
danger during the Cape Breton War, a band of militia commanded by Robert
Dinsmoor (1692-1751) came to the fort's assistance from Windham, NH.
Little did Robert Dinsmoor and Simon Sartwell (Obidiah Jr's. son) dream
that some one hundred plus years later in 1850, two of their
great-grandchildren, namely Helen Milne Dinsmore and William Lovell
Sartwelle, would meet in Texas and be married.
It is assumed that Obadiah Jr. was buried in Charlestown's first
cemetery. All of the graves were later moved to Forest Hills Cemetery in
Charlestown, but no headstones. Many of the Sartwells were buried in
Forest Hills in the lower part of the southeast quadrant including his
wife, Rachel.
Obadiah Sawtell, Jr.
Family Group Sheet (PDF)
Rachel’s Grave
Marker