about the 22nd of September last by the aconts we have
had. a child I sot much by but he is gone I think the second
trial I ever met with, my 3rd son Joseph is in the armey over
in the Jarsyes and was well the last we heard from him my
other son that was in the service belonged to the melishey
and is now at home my son Enoch is gone to take the small
pox by enoculation. Brother Robinson and famley are
well we are all threw the Divine goodness well my wife joins
in love to you and Mrs. Hale and your children
===============Your loving Brother=====
===============RICHARD HALE=====
=====COVENTRY March 28th 1777===============
For a while after Nathan Hale's death, in the
crowding events of the Revolution, his personal
friends appear to have been his chief mourners.
One lady is said to have told Professor Kingsley
of New Haven that she had never seen greater
anguish than that experienced by Deacon Hale and
his family when they heard of Nathan's death.
What the news meant to his "good grandmother
Strong" we are not told. For her, so faithful
and unselfish in her loving, we can but be glad
that if she went home all the earlier for this blow,
she must have gone all the more serenely; assured
that if the earth was the poorer, heaven was the
richer, because the grandson she had loved so
truly was there awaiting her.
Mrs. Abbot, daughter of Deacon Richard Hale's
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