The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1911-02-10
Relic of Old Saybrook Colony

Dfooke, daughter OF one OF the two
Titled Englishmen who backed the
founding of the colony. It was told
70 me In the summer of 1873, when
tne little town was holding a celebro
'ion commemorating its founding:
ana my informant was the late
inomas c. Acton, who became ia,
nous during the Civil war as the New
YORK chief of police who put down
inc draft riots; who for. years after
me war was an assistant treasurer OF
tue united States, and who was born
IN Saybrook and maintained a country
nome there the greater part of his
maturity.
Lady Brooke, | believe. was the first
woman of the English nobility 70 coma
wiz group OF colonists to this part
OF new England" said Mr.. Acton.
ana, alas, 1t WAS a sad day for her
Wnen she set sail from old England
one mad been brought up In luxury.
sne hau been sheltered from the storm
ana stress OF the world. The min.
ute she came In contact with ths
new world she was placed face To face
with rough and strange moda q,
me- She was too tender of body and
VI spirit to accustom herself to the
ne" conditions; she was among ths
nrst OF the little band to fall a vic
um TO the various illnesses that SOON
oroAe out among 1t. and not long there
aiter she was laid at rest In the III,
lie cemetery that was almost coinct
uent with the founding of the colon,
itself. ooion'
so much by way OF preface. Now
some years ago there was organized
company 10 build railroad from Hart
toio' the state capital, to Saybrooh
roint' Just below the town. where ths
0ohhecucut empties into long Island
sound One day a surveying corns an
rived In Saybrook, and after IT had a,
lshed Its work we discovered that ~.
me Oh the road had been laid directly
through the long unused colonial Gem.
elery' and, what was more startline
sun immediately over the grave tha,
had come down to US as thar ne an
last resting place OF the beautiful and
gentle Lady Brooke
Immediately there spread tbro,x.
the town feeling that II wonId ho
9aeiiiese Tor railroad trains TO run
over the grave of Lady Brooke ca a
was oecided to open the grave and
u .nere remained aught of relics of the
','ieu coionlst. to collect and reinte,
'neii' ana place over their new restino
pace suitable monument Thai ,yas
Inc plan, though really none or nc -
any strong belief that we would -
called upon to conduct a reburi.l NJ
more than 200 wears
Lazy brooke had been dead and snra
~ ~ that time, must have returned
10 dust completely
iet me grave was opened and rev.
srently the soil was upturnad A.
'onin depth there appeared absoluteIv
lothing that could be identified ovaa
n the faintset manner as ha1or.,
. CONN., shroud or body We were
urnlng to go when, suddenly. a slight
OF the soil was discov.
'reu' with great care we had tho
= VI Alnen remove the soil. Then wo
Aaiiiiueu lt-and what do you supnose
We ulscoVeredY A beautiful browr
ragg II DiOWD
ress' IN as perfect condition as tbouah
had been placed in that spot tha a.
,eiore' 1t was all that was left =,
ne beautiful and tender Lady Brooka
mere was not man there VIII
as not deeply stirred as he stood ~
ne presence OF that imperisbabIa
enc Ienderly we placed il in a sr,t
'ple receptacle and directed that q,
sposlted permanently In Hartford
And have never ceased tn hano
eep sense OF satisfaction in r.
nought that was among the numhae
eho Kept that beautiful ,ress tbo,
nee crowned Lady Brooke,o Ia
rom remaining forever buried benaats
he roadbed of railroad
copyright 1910, by E. ]. Edward. An
Rights Reservsd.) a"