Nathan Hale

Notes:

NATHAN HALE was born on June 6, 1755 in Coventry, Connecticut. His father was a prosperous Coventry farmer, and Nathan was the sixth of twelve children born into the family. His parents held very strong religious beliefs and were advocates of a rigid Puritan work ethic. The Hale children grew up very much influenced by their parents' beliefs in religion, hard work, and education. The days of Nathan Hale's youth were marked with mounting political controversy. The American Revolution was in its infancy, and more and more people were promoting radical ideas that pertained to individual liberties and sovereignty. Nathan Hale took the ideas of individual and political freedoms to heart, and gained a sense of purpose. In a sense, he was very fortunate. His family had the means to send him off to Yale College at the young age of 14. His older brother Enoch was also sent to Yale at the same time. In these years, Yale was primarily a school that prepared young men for the ministry, focusing on religion and the classics. The school was evolving, however, and Nathan absorbed not only ideas in religion and the classics, but also other areas of thought, such as business, astronomy, writing, mathematics, philosophy, and law. During his years at Yale, Nathan Hale became a confident young man, supported by his ethical beliefs, willing and able to speak to others about his ideas. He graduated from Yale at the age of 18, at the top of his class.

When he graduated from Yale in 1773, he accepted a teaching position in East Haddam, Connecticut, and shortly thereafter he was offered a position as the master of the New London, Connecticut Grammar School. All during this period, the political controversies between the Colonies and England were rising to a head. When war broke out, Nathan Hale put his ideals ahead of his immediate comfort, and volunteered his services to the cause of the Revolution. He served as a lieutenant, then a captain, and then as an officer in Thomas Knowlton's elite Knowlton Rangers. In 1776, George Washington needed to gain an advantage on the British. He solicited capable officers who could infiltrate the British forces; in short, Washington needed spies. Nathan Hale volunteered. The details of what happened next are not entirely clear, and never will be. But we do know that Hale was captured by the British in New York on September 21, 1776. We also know that the British General William Howe attempted to bribe Hale for information and a change in allegiance. Nathan Hale stood by his principles. He refused to betray his country, and without a hearing or a trial, he was sentenced to be hanged.

Nathan Hale died in New York on September 22, 1776 because he held to his convictions. Before he was hanged, he bravely spoke words that will never, ever, die: "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." Nathan Hale died very young, at the age of 21, but his dedication to his beliefs are one of the symbols of of American bravery and principles.

http://www.netstate.com/states/peop/people/ct_nh.htm

A painting depicting this scene can be found in the Aug-Sept DAR Magazine, and is copied in the November 1996 SFAA newsletter. (The Nov. 1996 Newsletter also contains a five page biography of him).

Richard married Elizabeth Strong on 27 May 1746 in Newburyport, Essex County, Massachusetts. Elizabeth (daughter of Capt. Joseph Strong and Elizabeth Strong) was born on 2 Feb 1727 in Coventry, Tolland County, Connecticut; died on 21 Apr 1767. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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A farmer in Coventry, Ct.: for 13 years a selectman: for a long time justice of the peace; and for 34 years (1739-73), deacon of the First Congregational church. He was for nine sessions a member of the General Assembly and was much in public life. (Dwight, p 330).

Joseph married Elizabeth Strong on 12 May 1724 in Coventry, Tolland County, Connecticut. Elizabeth (daughter of Preserved Strong and Tabitha Lee) was born on 27 Sep 1704 in Northampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; died on 1 May 1792. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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Married:
Captain Joseph Strong and his wife Elizabeth Strong were both great-grandchildren of Elder John Strong and Abigail Ford, and thus second cousins of each other. They married in Northampton, MA.

http://strongfamilyofamerica.org/2012/04/prince-william-duke-of-cambridge/

Notes:

He removed from Northampton to Coventry, in March, 1716, seven years after the first settlement of that town. He was a farmer and a man of property and consideration. He held various town offices of importance, as town treasurer in 1716; selectman for six years; and justice of the peace for many years from 1723 onwards. In 1721, the first year that Coventry was respresented in the Colonial Legislature, he was sent to it as the representative of the town. There were two sessions yearly of the Legislature, in May and October, until 1819. Justice Joseph Strong was for fifty-two times elected a member of the Legislature and including extra sessions was during sixty-five sessions a member of the General Assembly of Connecticut. He was moderator of the first town-meeting held April 24, 1718, and often afterwards of others, holding the office for the last time April 11, 1763, when 90 years old. He was a member of the Colonial Legislature for the last time in May, 1762, when 89 year old. His son, Phinehas being the other representative from Coventry. His second wife was Ruth (last name not discovered) of Coventry, Ct. They had no issue. She died at Glastenbury, Ct., Feb 14, 1768. (Dwight, p. 309).

Joseph married Sarah Allen about 1694 in Northampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Sarah was born on 22 Aug 1672 in Northampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; died before 1724. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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The daughter of Nehemiah ALLEN of Northampton and Sarah WOODFORD. Nehemiah was the son of Samuel ALLEN who came to Cambridge, Mass., from Braintree, Essex, England in 1632. (Dwight, p. 308).

Notes:

He is said to have received his name from the fact that he was born in a great snow storm and was preserved alive nonetheless. He removed from Northhampton to Lebanon, Ct., in 1714, and after 1720 to Coventry, Ct., and was one of the selectmen of Coventry in 1730, '31, '34, and '35. (Dwight, p 986).

Preserved married Tabitha Lee on 23 Oct 1701. Tabitha was born about 1677; died on 23 Jun 1750 in Coventry, Tolland County, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The dau. of John LEE of Farmington, Ct., and Mary HART dau. of Stephen HART. It was the widow of this John LEE (Mrs. Mary LEE), that his father, Jedediah STRONG m. Jan. 5, 1692 as his third wife. (Dwight, p 986).

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Married:
Married in Northampton, MA or Coventry, CT.