Another Abraham: This Time Lincoln, and My Great, Great, Great......Grandfather's Murder by Indians

Oh, I forgot another important connection to “Abraham.” Abraham Lincoln the president this time. Abraham Lincoln is my great, great, great….cousin. My great, great, great….grandpa, Mordacai Lincoln, was the oldest brother of Thomas Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln’s father.  President Lincoln had a high opinion of his uncle, and was reported to have said "Uncle Mord had run off with all the talents of the family". 

We have a table, chair and mirror, with real wood nails, that has been handed down over the generations. Our kids used to say Uncle Abe must have looked in that mirror sometimes when he was over visiting his Uncle Mordacai’s family. Below is something I found on Wikipedia reported as “one of the most profound stories of President Abraham Lincoln's memory.” Thomas, Mordecai, and their brother Josiah witnessed the murder of their father by Native American Indians in May of 1786: 

“While Abraham Lincoln and his three boys, Mordecai, Josiah and Thomas, were planting a cornfield on their new property, Indians attacked them. Abraham was killed instantly. Mordecai, at fifteen the oldest son, sent Josiah running to the settlement half a mile away for help while he raced to a nearby cabin. Peering out of a crack between logs, he saw an Indian sneaking out of the forest toward his eight-year-old brother, Thomas, who was still sitting in the field beside their father's body. Mordecai picked up a rifle, aimed for a silver pendant on the Indian's chest, and killed him before he reached the boy." 

         Below are some photos of the family table, mirror and chair. I love the intricate carving all over, especially the top and legs. The mirror can be hung, but ours is leaning against the wall on the table. We had the chair reupholstered about 20 years ago, trying to match the fabric to the original.